It took me longer to get into blush, and though I don’t know that I’d say I’m super, super excited over blush, I do love a good satin blush formula and am always keeping an eye out for more options there.
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I’m with you, Christine…blush! I used NARS Orgasm for many years and never felt the desire to try anything else. But over the past year, I bought so many blushes that I had to establish a blush no-buy for myself. I’m currently working hard on diminishing my urge to buy what would be my first Hourglass blush.
1. It would be blush for me, too. Of course, there used to be a lot less options. Plus, being so fair, I used to shy away from most shades. Now that there are better formulas (easier to sheer out) and a huge selection of colors and finishes — and I know more about what kinds of brushes to use — I’m much more into blush than when I was younger.
Also, it kind of fun to add new blushes, considering I’ve always been into eyeshadows and lip color more. Then it was highlighters. I feel like those collections are pretty complete, and I know what works on me. Now I can try out blushes.
2) I wouldn’t say I get “excited” about foundations and concealers, but I’m much more interested in them now that I it’s more likely a new product might work for me. Better shade matches, formulas, and primers make them more enjoyable. Older skin brings on a whole slew of issues, so I’ve had to relearn what kind of products and application methods will work for me.
Bronzer. I didn’t know how to wear it or hated how orange it made me look but then Physicians Formula came out with the Butter Bronzer and finally a more neutral bronzer became a thing and now I’m obsessed with bronzer!
Eyeshadow was never something I thought about wearing, until I was gifted an empty palette and it started everything. I don’t own a ton of loose shadows though. I do however own a bunch of palettes now.
Skincare that is involved and highly effective. I just never used to care. Up until 5-6 years ago, I was fine using just cleanser, a daytime moisturizer with some sunscreen, a single eye cream for day and night, and a face cream for night. Now, though? Separate cleansers for a.m. and p.m., exfoliating treatments, toner, a heavy duty sunscreen moisturizer for days out, a non-spf one for days in, retinol serum, hyaluronic serum, vite C serum, 3 different eye treatments/cream, rose hip and marula oils, etc. And I’m anything but bored by the science involved with my obsession for great skin!
Charlotte Tilbury products. I don’t know what’s come over me; I never paid the brand any mind before. I only have the Darling eye palette but it may have ignited my interest oop.
Cream products. I’m in deep, folks, and I’m never going back!
Make-up wise, it’s brow products. I transitioned from no brows at all to a little bit of brow gel to being a eye brow pencil snob (it has to be a tear drop shape, creamy but not too much, I don’t mind paying extra for the ABH or Hourglass one). And it’s not even like I do the full ‘instagram brow’ look… I keep it more natural… but still brow products get me more excited that I could believe years ago.
Skincare wise, it’s boosters. I had for many years a good skincare routine, using moisturizers and serums at night, SPF during the day, alternating BHA and AHA at night, always using a toner after I wash my face (even if I end up washing 3 times if I go to the gym). But lately extra steps excite me… I started using a hyaluronic acid booster, then I added an azaleic acid in the morning, now I’m hooked on peptides…
Foundation, for awhile. It’s on the back burner again because I have too many and trying to use it up before it spoils is not worth having so much.
For me it was eyeshadow. – I’m not very good at it ( I use 2 colors most of the time and 4 colors max) and I don’t enjoy cleansing it off so if I’m in a pinch, that’s the one thing I’ll put off and just got with eyeliner and mascara. As for blush- I’m a total blush girl and have too many to ever hit the pan in this lifetime. Growing up my mother mostly used lipstick so I grew up thinking that was really it for getting your look put together but as soon as an artist put MAC Harmony on my cheeks, it was a game changer. Now if I’m really in a pinch, I’ll put on blush and tinted lip balm.
Skincare – I am now using far more steps to my skincare regime, like many of the other readers above. Using an oil on my face at night has really improved my overall skin in terms of moisturising it and having a face dedicated sunscreen has helped too. Using serums, day and night moisturisers has also had a beneficial effect.
Way back several years ago, and I can’t believe this, I wasn’t terribly interested in eyeshadows – here in Aus we either had DS brands (awful) or HE (expensive and awful). It was only through reading this blog that I found out about excellent eyeshadow brands such as UD, bareMinerals, Lorac, Stila, ABH etc that were just not seen here or available. I have made up for it since.
I’ve always been interested in all types of makeup and skincare. I’d even read about products I had no intention of trying. Like eyeshadow or liner as a teenager in the ’70s. Now I use an embarrassing amount of stuff, esp. skincare. The beauty industry’s explosion is one explanation. But growing older is foremost. I can’t believe it takes tiny amounts of 20 or more products to liven up my face and focus my features. Takes 10 min., would prefer five. It’s almost a no-makeup look but infinitely better than my naked face.
In a word, everything.
For nearly the first 40+ years of my life I never wore eye shadow and although I’m fascinated by it now (I’ve invested in too many palettes I barely use), it’s not my favourite thing to wear or apply.
More recently: blush.
Good satin hues and pretty matte pastels totally intrigue me and my stash is growing.
Additionally, this past year, very specific highlighters that make me glow rather than glitter.
POWDER: suddenly I have a half dozen for adding a warm glow, for baking, for highlighting…
Finally, in the past year plus, I’ve been far more invested in skin care. I’ve always had such good skin I never had to invest but since I was a young teen, I’ve always moisturized face and body. Now I’m trying to slow the inevitable signs of aging. I don’t buy all the hype of skincare, and have not found a product I cannot live without, but at this point in my midlife I’m willing to keep trying.
Dewy foundations. I’ve always been into matte foundations, even eschewing satin formulas. As time has gone by, my skin and my preferences have changed. I’m currently on the hunt for my perfect dewy foundation.
I have always loved almost all makeup. but the thing where my excitement level has grown is powder. I prefer loose, but I’m willing to try pressed also. I don’t bake, because my undereye area is just too dry for that (so I’m also more excited about concealers that don’t need to be set), but I do use powder to set the first layer of my makeup – the foundation, cream blush (I use a powder later), contour, brows, concealer. It just gives my skin a nice finish to put the colored items on top of.
Like Lauren, it’s Charlotte Tilbury products-only for me, it’s limited to Hot Lips. From the moment Hot Lips 2 launched last summer, Amazing Amal, Patsy Red, and Viva la Vergara caught my eye. I bought myself Vergara in November and just got Amal as a Christmas gift, and I love them both. Now I’m still looking at Patsy Red, looking at 11 more shades from both Hot Lips collections, and it doesn’t help/hurt (not sure yet which) that, from the photos I’ve seen on the Charlotte Tilbury site and elsewhere, the collections seem to be universally flattering!
For me, it is neutral/”work-appropriate” lipsticks and especially eyeshadows. I used to always be drawn by beautiful, bright eyeshadow colors or statement lipsticks, but I’ve realized that I don’t use them very much. I’m in a more traditional field where wearing bright or more intricate makeup would make me stand out for the wrong reasons. I’ve been experimenting more with slight variations of “work-appropriate” makeup to keep some of the fun in the process. I play with my more colorful makeup when I get home, hehe.
For similar “practical” reasons, I am now more interested in multi-use cream products than I was before. I’ve found some that work on my oily skin. I love how they look and how fast it is to put together a coordinated look using the same products.
Easy answer here, foundation! I figured one or two is enough and when you have a match it’s for life. Alas, not so I found out! My skin seems to have changed colors as I’ve age. I learned early that you can have a winter and summer color (dah! tanning) and even after being ill. And 2018-2019, I was caught up with the new updated formulas (because now you can find great quality at any price point!!! Oh yes you can!). Does, this mean I still don’t spend a tad bit for the foundation I like most, no, but I enjoy knowing I could if need be and can advise others who may not be able to pay higher prices for foundation.