My Recent Beauty Bag Swaps

A few Sundays ago, I had an hour to myself in a Sephora. I felt like a hunter on safari. It had been so long since I’d had uninterrupted shopping time, I forgot what it was like to just mosey through a store sampling products and Googling reviews. And while not all of the trophies I took home were worth the money, some deserve your attention.

Face Powder // I need a powder to hold my foundation in place.  Without it, even with setting spray, my makeup evaporates in a matter of hours.  For years, I have used Charlotte Tillbury’s Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder.  I liked that it doesn’t settle in lines or pores, and helps blur uneven texture.  So when I spotted One/Size’s Boucle Silk Airbrush Powder, I had to give it a try.

The Boucle powder is a more versatile product than the CT powder.  On a day when I wear a full face of makeup, I can apply it with a fluffy brush and use it as a setting powder.  When I only want to wear CC creme, but want a little more coverage, I apply it with a denser brush to get a medium-sheer look.  

The Boucle powder has a wonderful finish to it, and I love that I can turn the intensity up or down based on need.  It’s a great product, best buy of the year so far.

Bronzer/Contour // As perimenopause causes my face to sag, I need to use trompe l’oeil to give the appearance of cheekbones.  For years, I used the Merit bronzer, but I found that in winter, I just don’t want to look so sun-kissed.  I work in Olympia, WA, no one has seen the sun since July, and there’s simply no need to pretend.  So I swapped the Merit for this Westman Atelier Contour Stick.  

While a pricier choice, I buy the mini-size, and find that it lasts for longer than I would have guessed (currently six weeks). I will probably switch back to the bronzer, but for now, I am very happy to be contoured and not bronzed.  Also, if you’re struggling to learn the perfect contour method, this video walks you through contouring for your face shape.

Mascara // Ever since Max Factor retired the 2000 Calorie Mascara, I’ve been on a grail quest for a replacement. Recently, I started using L’Oreal The Extensionist mascara. It provides lengthening and some volume. It’s an excellent drugstore mascara, but after four weeks of use, I found myself back in the loving arms of the Caliray Hell or High Water tubing mascara. It lifts, separates, fluffs and darkens in a way that gives the appearance of more lashes, not just longer ones.

Detox Shampoo // If you have fine hair, or you dry shampoo multiple days per week — or both (don’t judge) — you need a good detox shampoo. Yes, a great volume shampoo like this one from Aveda can also help, but to get that all day volume, you need to scrub-a-dub-dub with something high test. This Ouai Detox Shampoo and a good conditioner give me all day volume even in the winter humidity.

{this post contains affiliate links that generate commission for the author; also, I’m an Aveda partner, which is an easy thing be since I started using their products at 16}