Fall Neutrals | Revisiting Holy Grails Plus New Discoveries

Back to my holy grail foundation. I know it’s easy to get sidetracked when you own and test a host of products that will probably last you for ten or more years. But as the adage goes, why fix if it ain’t broke so after I have returned another Estee Lauder foundation that didn’t work for me, I switched back to what used to be my go-to foundation back in the day, the ever reliable Estee Lauder  Double Wear Stay In Place Makeup. But here’s the catch ladies, I know it’s supposed to stay matte all day but I notice slight dewiness on the 6th or 7th hour. Has there been a change in the formula? Not that I am complaining because I do love the dewy effect because it makes my skin look great under certain lighting conditions.

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My shade is Tawny which compliments my medium yellow skin tone. Since this foundation dries quick, you need to apply it with a fast hand. Between brush and beauty blender, the latter translates to a more flawless and even result, at least based on my experience.

A new favorite, the Estee Lauder Youth Infusing Brightening Serum + Concealer has become a staple  in my day to day essentials. One side is a retractable cream concealer, the other a tinted brightening serum. The shade Light Medium Warm gives my often-tired under eyes a much needed quick fix. I use the serum as base then the concealer for add-on coverage if need be.

In time for Fall, I am delighted to discover Arbonne It’s All In The Eyes Eye Shadow Duo from a new-to-me brand Arbonne. The palette I received is called Sequoia, very earthy and neutral, just the kind of shades I am inclined to these days. The case is supposed to be refillable and interchangeable. Retailing for $40, the quality vis-a-vis packaging somewhat reminds me of Marc Jacobs minus the heft.

While plum is a fall mainstay, neutral is not too far behind because the forthcoming season is all about minimalism. Clean to put it bluntly. For today’s look, I revisited one of my favorite neutral lipsticks, the YSL Rouge Pur Couture Le Nu. The new holiday limited edition has the same hue albeit a redressed version (featuring stars on the tube itself). After 10 years (or more I believe), my trusted Shu Uemura eyelash curler crossed the underworld. Sad and desperate (okay I’m exaggerating here, haha!), I tried Laura Mercier after reading some reviews online. Relatively cheaper, it is made from plastic and while it curls my lashes, it was no match to Shu. I mean it’s decent but I miss my Shu so I am going back to my first love.

Finally, here’s the look I came up with using all the aforementioned products:

I used Tom Ford Illuminating Powder Duo Moodlight on the side of my cheeks &  temples (full review here)