Last month I hit up the Bobbi Brown friends & family event and used the discount to justify trying a few new products. Always on the look out for an amazing new makeup moment, I splurged on Bobbi Brown EXTRA Repair Foundation. This ultra-rich base contains shea butter, evening primrose oil, broad spectrum SPF 25, and color corrector. It seems like I’d love it, but I don’t. 
I’m a fan of Bobbi’s tinted moisturizer, but occasionally crave more coverage. Bobbi Brown EXTRA Repair Foundation definitely provides it, but the richness of the formula makes it difficult to blend. Furthermore, the seemingly genius notion of adding color corrector in practical application doesn’t really work. First, we don’t need color corrector everywhere. Second, it compromises the integrity of Bobbi’s otherwise usually flawless foundation shades. Meaning the shade “Warm Ivory” in Bobbi’s tinted moisturizer isn’t the same “Warm Ivory” of Bobbi Brown EXTRA Repair Foundation. The latter has a decidedly yellow cast. 
Lastly, the SPF burns my eyes. These broad spectrum sunscreen ingredients irritate me to the point of tears. 
For years I have been flirting with the idea of investing in my own makeup airbrush system. A few things have held me back. First, many systems on the market have proprietary mechanisms which only allow you to use their very expensive makeup in their airbrush system. Considering the relative simplicity and ubiquity of airbrush technology, purchasing such a limited device makes no sense. All these airbrushers are basically the same whether you are decorating a cake, making miniature models, or painting your face. Don’t let those sneaky cosmetics companies convince you that you need to pay several hundred dollars for a device that is widely available for well under $100 bucks. 
I did consider purchasing an airbrush system originally developed for crafting or cake decorating, but during my dithering fate made my choice. This Christmas I received the Tickled Pink Airbrush System. At first, I was off-put by the cutesy-ness of it all. It was just so pink and precious and that shit makes me heave. Also, the makeup looked cheap in the bottle, and I was skeptical I could blend a color that would rival the natural look of my perennially favorite base Bobbi Brown. So the system sat on my shelf for several months. 
Only when a photo shoot threatened to expose my skin’s most obvious flaws did I pull Tickled Pink out and give it a whirl. My prejudices rarely work in my favor. I need to learn to give things a chance because Tickled Pink is the absolute bees knees bitches. 
Ignore the cheesy cheap packaging and focus on the splendid makeup. Mix the colors in your range to create the perfect customized shade from day to day. Super duper weightless yet full coverage, with Tickled Pink you are living the dream (right Lisa?).
I know you are thinking that learning to airbrush your own face could be tricky. Yes, it takes practice, but it isn’t that hard. Five times and you’ll find your fluency. With the awkward angle of self-application, I personally find using my thumb to pull back the trigger helps with control and steadiness. 
Prepare to enjoy weightless, airy, flawless coverage glowiness all day long with Tickled Pink Airbrush. Once you’ve had airbrush, traditional methods just won’t do. 
Hear this ya’ll, I’m having a new favorite lip moment: Nars Lip Lacquer in Chelsea Girls. 
I confess I find pinks hard to wear. Soft pinks tend to create an optical illusion of yellow teeth. Too matte can be aging. Even though pink seems like a low maintenance look, it can be rife with challenges. 
This pink is perfect. Not too baby, not too nude, not too salmon. The consistency upon first application is a skosh sticky, but as the product warms to body temperature it begins to luxuriously penetrate the lip with moisture without color fade. Another can’t-live-without cult product from Nars. Lip Love. 
My girl Anne-Marie and I have a friendly rivalry going over which mascara is superior Blinc or FAIRYDROPS. She recently tucked some FAIRYDROPS into a care package for me, and I have to admit FAIRYDROPS Scandal Queen is pretty fucking fantastic. 
Developed in Tokyo, FAIRYDROPS is extremely smudge-resistant as well as lengthening. If you like the bright-eyed doll look (and really who doesn’t?), then FAIRYDROPS is for you. 
I have a new sunscreen obsession: Arcona Reozone 40. It is lightly tinted, but I’m not convinced Arcona really fancies Reozone a tinted moisturizer per se. 4 ounces of UVA/UVB relies on zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to provide 40X your natural sun protection. 
I particularly like the consistency and coverage of this product. It loyally endures for meaningful protection during a sunny fun-filled outdoor day. Drawbacks? One lonely exclusionary shade. Arcona claims one shade fits all, but I predict this cream would look chalky on those blessed with darker skin. Fair-skinned folks looking for superior protection should consider Arcona Reozone for sure. 
I’m loving Dr. Hauschka Translucent Bronze Concentrate right now. Wear alone or enjoy the way it mixes beautifully with foundation. 
Natural, with an earthy botanical fragrance, Dr. Hauschka Translucent Bronze Concentrate is easy summer glow in just one pump. The bottle will last you forevah. Highly recommended even for the make-up haters. 
You must be thinking “what else could this bitch possibly say about this GD serum?” Would you be surprised if I told you I indeed had more insights to share? Not unless this is your first day joining us, in which case, welcome. 
Estee Lauder Even Skintone Illuminator doesn’t play particularly well with other products. If this lightweight gliding lotion provides enough moisture for you under your make-up, then you may like it just fine. Add a deeper emollient over top and the pilling commences. This mica-infused light reflector gums up into little balls. File pilling products under major beauty pet peeve. 
By week three, I should be seeing maximum results, but instead I haven’t noticed any additional lightening in hyper-pigmentation. The Demeter Clarc beauty-meter is tipping towards disappointment, but we’ll give Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator its fourth week to win us over. 
As you well know, I was very skeptical of this product and other products claiming to perfect skin tone. 
After a little over fourteen days of continuous use, I’m shocked to report that I do actually notice a slight improvement in a particularly stubborn dark spot. 
Now quite a few folks complained of breakouts associated with this serum. I too have experienced in uptick in activity, but at this time I don’t feel 100% comfortable blaming Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator. I’m optimistic. Let’s see where we are during week three. 
DIORSHOW Mascara has a cult following in the prestige market the way Great Lash does in the mass market. A good friend of mine swears by the stuff, so I threw down $24 for a tube of the mascara with a magical reputation. 
Some of you will consider this sacrilegious, but I don’t think this mascara is all that impressive. The waxy, sticky formula caused an unfortunate lash clumping situation. 
Even though my friend swears this stuff to be smudge-free, my experience did not sync with hers. Ultimately DIORSHOW was a big fat disappointment. I still prefer Blinc for my mascara splurge. 