What products do you use for your go-to neutral look?
I don’t think I have a “go-to” look for anything any more… I just flit around, often reaching for something I’ve recently reviewed (but really liked personally!) and will reuse it if I’m looking for something quick and easy. It used to be using Tom Ford Nude Dip on eyes, Tom Ford Lovelust on cheeks, and Estee Lauder Naked Truth on the lips. I’m more inclined to reach for Natasha Denona Biba for a general, neutral-hued eye palette but would have less obvious go-tos for cheeks/lips.
— Christine
These days it’s just a Sephora Collection twist up brow pencil, a bit of CT Flawless Filter mixed with moisturizer, a Glossier Cloud Paint (usually in Puff) and some kind of lip color. My go to lip color has been Bobbi Brown Crushed lipstick in Ruby blotted way down, but I’ve been throwing Black Honey in there a bit too. I rarely go for neutral eye makeup lately; for some reason the hassle of taking it off isn’t worth the look, unless it’s a bright eyeliner or funky highlighter. Super brights and bright pastels seem to be the only eye makeup that’s sparking joy for me!
I’ve been keeping things really minimal while I get used to using Differin bc my skin has been wacky, but it’s been a good journey with it so far!
I’ll use Fenty gloss bomb on lips, a warm pink-with-some-coral cheek (lately Becca’s Flowerchild), and then usually just prime and set my eyes with skin tone shadow if I’m really going for a neutral look—though I MIGHT pull out a neutral shadow single and use it all over the lid. Usually the gold, champagne, bronze, or rose gold shimmer by Ardency Inn (are they even around anymore?); or a neutral matte like ColourPop Wattle.
If I do keep my eyes just primer+setting, I might reach for Lipstick Queen Medieval instead of the Fenty, since it’s a great my-lips-but-redder shade and appears neutral if the rest of my makeup is lowkey.
For my eyes, I will almost always reach for either Chanel’s Tisse Rivoli or the original UD Naked palette (aka “Naked 1”). Sephora Cappuccino pencil liner, MAC Sweet Sentiment blush and Craving lipstick. I wear this look probably 80% of the time. If I want to liven it up a bit, I’ll liner my lower lids with something like UD’s The Night King liner – a lovely teal-tinged blue – or Sephora’s Waterfall or Go for a Ride – something to bring in a bit of colour.
MAC costa Riche or Powersurge pencils, mascara, bronzer.
For neutral eyes, I’ll most often use Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks in Au Naturel, Burnished Bronze, or Amethyst; or ColourPop Going Coconuts Palette. My current favorite blush for a neutral look is MAC Glow Play Blush in Blush Please, and for lips my favorite neutrals are MAC Laissez Faire and Modesty, Clinique Dramatically Different Lipstick in Canoodle, Chanel Rouge Angelique, and Estée Lauder Knockout Nude.
Christine, thank you for Temptalia. Coming here to read the reviews and participate in the comments adds a bit of normalcy to my day during this very difficult time. Best to you and your family, and please stay safe.
I feel that’s the best thing I can do — keep on keeping on and provide some distraction in a time where so much is uncertain. It is nice to escape, for a little while, from the news. I know I’ve been jumping off social media for longer periods for my own mental health. Stay safe! xo
Christine, I don’t know how feasible it would be, but have you considered revisiting some older products, to give inspiration to those who can’t (or aren’t comfortable enough financially to) purchase new products, just so they can feel included? Or, perhaps a post or two to get input from readers about some “old” favorites. I’m fortunate enough to not be overly concerned financially, although I’m personally out of work, but I thought I’d just put it out there, with so many expressing economic uncertainty…
We actually already ask readers to share their favorites across topics (and have for a long time – it used to be tagged as “hit list” but we made it an entire feature!) — it’s on the homepage (third item) and rotates through different topics on the homepage that invites people to share their favorites 24/7 (it randomly shows a topic each time you visit)!
You can access these at any time by going to “Favorites” -> Makeup Recommendations. We set up this entire system so people can share their favorite products and allow anyone looking at those results to filter by all sorts of things – from price to color to the characteristics of those who loved it (e.g. skin tone or skin type).
Also, each color cosmetic review, there is a Dupe List that should show that very few shades are that unique and encourage people to see if they own something similar or to revisit a product they have if they happen to have something similar.
I’d also encourage readers to use the Vanity feature, which makes it easier to check what you own against dupes on the Dupe List with a click of a button. Each week, color stories and looks submitted by the community are also shared, and anyone who’s registered can submit, which are great ways to share how you’ve used products you own! A lot of readers who are on no- and low-buys find Temptalia helpful because there are a lot of features that are designed to help you use what you have already in place. I’ve had readers say they bookmark their user profile or their vanity, so when they visit Temptalia, they work from that space rather than the homepage.
P.S. — We’re working on some database updates, and my plan was to encourage and remind readers to use the Vanity to check for dupes once those updates are ready! 🙂
Seconding Seraphine’s comment! ♥️
MAC Glow Play Blush in Blush Please has become a favorite of mine, too! I must have picked it up 5-6 times in-store to swatch it, on different days, talking myself out of it each time, but I’m so glad I decided to get it, literally when I was paying for some other things at the counter. I haven’t used it all that much, but when I switch to sheer foundation in the warmer months, I have a feeling it’ll be my most reached for.
I have spent a lot of time and energy in the last 3-ish yrs using up products, rotating and shopping my stash so I don’t have a go to anything really either. Some neutrals I love my MAC shadow staples like Woodwinked, Wedge, Soba, Shroom. I wore Chocolate Dahlia from Kaja Beauty today and love!! I love my Natasha Denona Gold palette and Melt Gemini. I have a ton of MAC, Clinique, Tarte blushes in nude shades. I’m a huge fan of MAC Velvet Teddy, Hug Me and Half n Half lipstick. Yeah lots of nude or natural shades I wear regularly but no one go to!
For eyes: CP Going Coconuts, MAC Natural Vice Palette, MUFE Nudes You Need, and a plethora of MAC Pro Pan singles, like Kid, Folie, Arena, Bamboo, Uninterrupted, Woodwinked, etc.
Cheeks: Tarte Paaaarty, Essence Satin Love or MAC Highlight The Truth with a bit of MAC Burnt Pepper buffed in. ABH x Amrezy highlighter or MAC Skinfinish highlighter in Double Gleam.
Lips: UD Broken, Amulet, Crisis or Liar, MAC Mehr or Natural Born Leader, PML Omi MatteTrance or Strangé Luxetrance. Fenty Gloss Bomb in Universal or Chocolit (my most subtle picks!) .
I don’t have a go-to neutral look. Current favorites are:
EYES — Huda Nude Obsessions in Light; Too Faced Sugar Cookie; the gray-scale bundle palette from Lethal Cosmetics; UD Naked Honey; Sydney Grace Enduring Love (Light); SugarPill Capsule Collection C2. Old favorites I still use a lot: UD x Gwen Stefani; UD Naked Basics; UD Naked Smoky; Tarte Tartelette series; MUFE Nudes You Need; Tarte ROTS; Too Faced Chocalate Bar series.
CHEEKS — Tarte Exposed, Celebrated, and Paaarty; MAC Pink Cult; Physician’s Formula Butter Blush in Plum Rose; Sydney Grace Paris Skies.
Lips — UD Sheer Rapture, 1993, Bun Bun, Oblivion, and Abstract. Sephora Rouge Lacquers in Riot Girl and Squad Goals. ABH Dead Roses and Dusty Mauve. Fenty Gloss Bombs. MAC Halsey. NYX Lip Lingerie Liquid Lipsticks.
I have so many neutral products that I don’t have a “go-to” in any category… That said, I do tend to grab either NARS Skin Deep or Loaded palettes, or MAC Nude Model palette for work days, as I can pair those with warmer or cooler lip & cheek products. I’ve been “panning” my NARS Laguna/Orgasm mini & tarte Paaarty blush, but I’ve only been reaching for them as often as I have in order to reach a goal. As for lips, L’Oreal Colour Riche Shine lipstick in various shades, although as of yesterday, I’ve discovered Revlon Glass Shine lipstick, so those will be added to my work “basket”. As much as it pains me, my current favorite foundation for just looking “polished”, “out and about” product, is Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint, which costs more than most of my everyday outfits combined, LOL! I typically run errands in leggings & flip-flops from Old Navy, so a $65 foundation sometimes feels a bit awkward…
I don’t have a go-to look! I like variety too much and literally mix it up every day.
I really love NARS newer Overlust eye palette.. the shades are a beautiful mix of warm and cool but more leaning warm and you can play it up or not.. It’s one of my favorite palettes right now, this year. I seem to get carried away with eyes ,so it’s hard to be ‘neutral’ but my looks are typically on the warm side.
Rodial Eye Sculpt; Burberry Silk ES in Almond, Storm Gray, Taupe Brown; Burberry Light Glow Blush in Earthy and Tangerine; Revlon Sheer LS in Pink Truffle.
I always have my base in place, so it’s foundation+concealer+powder (just applied lightly, in a sheer low coverage), colored brow gel, mascara and a contour shade for both my checks and eyes (something like MAC Harmony or Sculpt).
All of my neutral looks are from Natasha Denona palettes: Biba, Safari, Mini Glam
My “go-to neutral look” is really “I need to wear makeup for work, this is the bare minimum”…
Highlighter on cheekbones, browbones, inner corners: ColourPop Super Shock Cheek in Flexitarian and/or Stole the Show
Clear brow gel: either e.l.f. or Anastasia (the latter if I received it as gratis)
Mascara: CoverGirl Clump Crusher in waterproof black on curled lashes. Once I finish this tube, I’m trying out either Thrive Causemetics’s Liquid Lash Extensions or Milk’s Kush waterproof.
Aaand some sort of lip product, usually sheer and often shimmery, like Urban Decay’s Vice lipstick in Ex-Girlfriend, Anastasia’s lip gloss in Freya, or Clinique’s Pop Lip Colour in Bare Pop.
I’ll just use a wash of Hourglass “Scattered Light” in “Foil” On the lid with a darker Matte Smokey plum on the crease and as an eyeliner.
Then I’ll use a touch of Bite Beauty agave lip balm topped with Sheseido Rouge Rouge in “Bloodstone “ ( blast from the not so distant past :)).
Your Tom Ford Nude Dip look is just stunning Christine. I always love it when you use that quad.
For me, a neutral go to look involves using one of several neutral palettes that I use:
Naked I – with Toasted, Darkhorse and Smog – sometimes Half Baked
Naked 2 – YDK, Suspect, Busted or using the more cool toned greys
Huda Smokey – the rose gold, soft taupes
City Color singles – All eyes on Me, Cleo and Sandstorm.
All paired with either CP’s lipsticks in LA Lady, Tea Thyme or Gallop.
Neutral for me differs than light makeup, so for neutral I do my usual foundation (right now Fenty Pro Filt’r Hydrating Foundation in 185) and concealer.
Next, always cream contour, which depends on my mood, either: Natasha Denona’s Sculpt & Glow palette, Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Contour Wand in fair/medium (easiest and quickest IMO), Huda Tantour in fair or Chanel’s Tan de Soleil.
Highlight: Hollywood Flawless Filter 1 (fair)
Bronze: generally Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer, Marc Jacobs O’Mega Bronzer in tan-tastic.
Cheeks: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Brilliant Nude or if I want a pop of colour maybe a light pink like Dandelion from Benefit.
Eyes: either a de-potted shadow which might (?) be Coolada (Colour Pop’s Going Coconuts) concentrated on lid and crease or Stila Liquid Suede Shade in Nude Awakening on lid and buffed upward.
Finish: Jaclyn Cosmetics Mood Light powder in Dew Me
Lips: either Becca Ultimate Love Lipstick in Sugar, CT Pillow Talk, or Marc Jacobs Enamored Hydrating Gloss in Sugar Sugar.
My IT Cosmetics Beauty Book from 2018 is my neutral look, all in one palette. There are 9 neutral eyeshadows with a brightening base shade, a universal taupe eyebrow powder and a darker eyeliner shadow, a Je ne Sais Quoi pink blusher, a neutral bronzer, a champagne highlighter, a Bye Bye Pores pressed powder and 3 shades of concealer. I always reach for it when I’m in a hurry, or when I’m traveling; I just know everything goes together and gives me a super flattering result. I did buy their 2019 beauty book but it’s not nearly as good as the 2018 version; they replaced the nice Champagne highlighter by a crappy looking gloss, and the bronzer is too dark/too warm to be universal.
Hmmmm, have to think about this a bit. I rarely ever do a neutral look, Ha! I’d like to have ND’s Biba just for that purpose, because it appealing to my funky, non-neutral side even though it’s only “sort of” a neutral palette. My first and probably only true neutral palette was a collaboration with Wayne Goss and Paula’s Choice, remember? And now, the only one I have that is sort of neutral is PMG Labs Mothership I Subliminal.