What We Want to Have Now: 02.17.2021

LEFT: A recent New York Times article reports that during these masked times, blush is taking over for lipstick for adding a pop of color to the face. But the way to apply it has changed—blush has moved above the mask line, closer to the eyes and on the tops of cheekbones. New to me is Ritual de Fille’s Inner Glow Cream Pigment ($29, Ulta), which comes in nectarine, mauve and in dark and light pink. As well as the cheeks, you can also apply to lips and eyes and blend for a sheer wash of color or go glam and layer the color when an occasion comes around (soon, maybe).

CENTER: Tinted Face Oil Foundation ($42, Violet Grey) from clean-beauty brand Kosas contains no sulfates, parabens or fragrance. It’s made from a blend of six botanical oils with benefits: avocado oil hydrates; meadowfoam oil moisturizes and plumps; red raspberry repairs and tones; jojoba soothes; green tea defends against pollution, and rosehip seed brightens. Choose from 16 shades—say, light with golden undertones, fair to light with neutral undertones and tan with olive undertones. For those days when you want to look glowy but not feel as if you’re wearing makeup.

RIGHT: Le Volume Révolution de Chanel ($35) doesn’t flake and it fluffs up less-than-abundant lashes. I’ve worn Le Volume De Chanel but not in a couple of years, trying out other brands like Benefit, Boots, Ilia and Lancôme. But I’m intrigued by a new color in the new Volume Révolution line introduced this spring—it’s a deep burgundy/purple I think might bring out the color of my hazel eyes. BTW, when you buy any Chanel product directly from the Chanel site, it arrives nestled in tissue paper in a striking black-and-white box with the  label’s famous logo. It’s a treat; perhaps put jewelry in it, or use it as a gift box, as my arty friend does.

LEFT: Fans of fancy brushes, consider this: Whether you’re applying applying a creamy foundation, concealers or blush, the elliptical shape and consistency of Beautyblender’s Classic Makeup Sponge ($15, Skinstore) makes applying it all easier and quicker. Rather than absorb makeup, the product rests on top of the sponge, which not only reduces waste but also creates coverage that looks like your skin, not as if it were caked on.

CENTER: About a year and a half ago, I bought a Lit-Up Stick from Westman Atelier at the gone-but-not-forgotten Barneys New York. Since then, makeup artist Gucci Westman has come up with several other products. I intend to try the brand’s Baby Cheeks Blush Stick ($48, Violet Grey), too, because the stick is a like a big, fat crayon, which makes it so easy to swipe on cheeks, lips and lids. Plus when you go to the Westman Atelier site, Gucci has produced several videos with useful hints on how to use her products most effectively. And, she’s so darn cheerful.

RIGHT: Iris & Romeo Best Skin Days ($64) is a new product—or at least new to me. It advertises as a serum, moisturizer, sunscreen (SPF25) with UVA and UVB protection and blue light/pollution protector, plus it gives skin a dewy look. What’s not to like?  As the majority of us continues to shop online, picking the right shade for you skin from little squares on your computer screen ain’t easy. The folks at Iris & Romeo have a solution—send a photo to them (care@irisandromeo.com), and they’ll match you with the right shade.

LEFT: Using a pencil like Paula Dorf’s  Baby Eyes Enhancer Eye Liner ($18.70, Amazon) can make a big difference in the way your eyes look by  brightening their lower rims. It contains vitamin E so it’s creamy and won’t pull at delicate skin. It also works above the lip line, giving the illusion of fullness to thin lips.

CENTER: I’m beginning to notice dark circles under my eyes. Maybe they’ve been there for a long time, but now that I’ve seen them, I’m on the hunt for remedies. A while ago I bought The Ordinary’s Caffeine Solution 5% to reduce puffiness and said circles. But now I’m also thinking about Olehenricksen’s Banana Bright Eye Cream ($39, Sephora), which contains vitamin C to combat under-eye darkness and collagen to improve skin elasticity and reduce fine lines. The name is inspired by banana powder, a yellow-tinted powder that makeup artists use to color-correct dull skin.

RIGHT: I tried a sample of this Babyfacial ($80, Sephora) from Drunk Elephant with good results—smoother and more alive skin. It’s made from a blend of glycolic, lactic and citric acids for gentle exfoliation without the redness you sometimes get after a facial. Included in the purchase is a “tiny jar” of Drunk Elephant’s super-moisturizing marula oil, according to an email response to my question from Sephora. The dispenser on Drunk Elephant products really rocks.

LEFT: My brows have not been waxed or otherwise shaped in a year, and it shows. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer ($23, Nordstrom) has three points to recommend it—the sharp tip creates fine hairlike strokes, the angled part and the side of the pencil are for broader strokes and filling out the brows. The spoolie on the other end distributes and blends it all together. Plus, you have 12 shades to choose from to match your brows.

NEAR LEFT: A liquid tint like Armani’s Blush ($36, Nordstrom) works well on dry skin like mine. It’s kind of like playing with watercolors on your face—you can apply a little for just a flush or layer it on for more impact. The wand makes it easy to mete out how much you want.

ABOVE RIGHT: Chanel’s Travel Makeup Palette ($95) packs it in with essentials for eyes and lips in a versatile range of shades—including two coral and two pink tones for lips, and three warm and three cool eyeshadow shades, plus a travel mascara in noir. For the face, there’s a Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Color in No. 20 and a shimmery blush. It’s a compact full of eye candy whether you’re traveling or not. And, don’t forget about that bonus box.

BELOW RIGHT: I’ve read that this E.L.F. Flawless Brightening Concealer ($5) stacks up well against the more than five-times-more expensive ones from the likes of Yves St. Laurent and Hourglass. Ingredients include antioxidant vitamin C and hydrating hyaluronic acid. You can choose from five shades ranging from “fair” to “rich,” and then pick an undertone —cool, neutral or warm.  As you probably noticed, you can’t beat the price.

—Janet Kelly