Fall Beauty Favorites 2019
With everyone sharing their best of 2019 beauty favorites, I was veeerrrry tempted to stray away from my schedule and share my own. But, alas, I stuck to my guns so here we are with the fall 2019 favorites! Hope you guys are having an amazing start to 2020 and the new decade 🎊
In today’s post there are two products I’m describing as “clean.” Green/clean beauty is a huge umbrella that is not well defined or even regulated. I could write a post in the future on my evolving feelings on “clean” and “green” beauty, but for today’s post I’m simply pointing out that these brands self-identify as “clean” because I know some of y’all are interested in that.
PS every product with * is a PR sample!
Tower 28 BeachPlease Tinted Lip + Cheek Balm*
$20.00 via Sephora, Revolve, & Credo Beauty
2019 was very much the year of cream blush for me, and my most recent favorite has been the Tower 28 cream blushes (2 were PR and 1 I purchased myself.) The formula feels a little bit sticky in the pan but it dissipates. It doesn’t dry down or mattify, but rather stays a little bit dewy, minus the tackiness. They last really well for a cream blush, even in the hot and humid days of summer. And in the cold, dry days of winter— it doesn’t emphasize the dry patches or peeling acne scars. I can apply them with my fingers but prefer to use a brush because of the previously mentioned tackiness.
I also really like the color range! There are 3 shades but I think most skin tones will find at least one that works for them. As someone who’s in the middle of the spectrum, I get a lot of wear out of all 3.
Tower28 is also one of the newer, more affordable “green” or “clean” brands. Their products are specifically formulated for those with eczema-prone skin so they avoid common irritants and triggers.
PYT Beauty Glam Glitter Gel in Pink*
$18.00 via Credo Beauty, Ulta Beauty, & PYT Beauty
Similar to Tower28, PYT is another newer “clean” beauty brand that’s on the more affordable end of the spectrum (relatively speaking.)
They came out with 3 glitter gels which can be used on your eyes, face, and lips. The color I got the most use out of is Pink! If you’re looking for something opaque and glittery, I don’t think this is the best choice and it goes a bit streaky when you apply it that way. But, if you’re looking for something sheer, with a hint of pink and iridescence, and tons of sparkliness— this is for you! It wears relatively well throughout the day (all liquid shadows inevitably end up creasing after a few hours on me), but a good eyeshadow primer extends its weartime. I really like that this is an easy, peasy makeup product. I can swipe some on my lids, blend out quickly with my fingers, and boom, done! It’s low effort but still looks like I’ve done something. It also looks beautiful over powder shadows for an extra oomph! I sometimes wear it over the Natasha Denona palette that I featured in my summer favorites— they are a match-made in heaven.
One thing relatively unique about this glitter is that it isn’t made out of microplastic glitter, which is the most common kind of cosmetic glitter. Rather, they use mica. Mica has its own host of issues (it is often sourced through dangerously with minors) but when I reached out to PYT, they confirmed that their mica was ethically sourced.
Indeed Labs Squalane Oil*
$19.99 for 1.0 fl oz via Ulta Beauty & Indeed Labs
If you’re a longtime reader, you know I’m a longtime fan of squalane oil. Back in 2017, I wrote a blog post all about Squalane, its benefits for the skin, and a comparison of 5 different brands. If you’re not interested in reading the post, long story short, it’s a more shelf stable version of an oil our skin naturally produces. And as we start to age, we start producing less of it which can lead to dehydration and loss of skin elasticity.
Indeed Labs’ squalane oil is clear and odorless. It’s pretty light in texture. I would say it’s more substantial that Biossance’s but thinner than The Ordinary’s. It absorbs within a few minutes, depending on what I layer it with. The packaging is sturdy— one issue I remember having with Indie Lee’s squalane oil was that the dropper kept falling apart, and a few people told me they faced the same issue.
It’s an oil I like using day or night, as it’s not too heavy but not too light. I started using it while it was warm and humid out and have continued using it as the full force of winter has hit us. As long as I wait for it to absorb, it plays well with most sunscreens and moisturizers (the exceptions are very siliconey ones which tend to pill with this.)
Biologique Creme Dermopurifiante
$96.00 for 1.7 oz via Toska Spa & Aida Bicaj
First things first, let’s have a moment of silence for my wallet for purchasing this bb. There are very, very few skincare products I would spend $95+. In fact, I can only list two— Sunday Riley’s good genes and AmorePacific’s vintage single extract, and even those I only buy on sale. Unfortunately, Biologique Recherche NEVER goes on sale 😔
I went through two samples before purchasing the full size. It’s meant for reactive skin and has a whooole long list of claims you can find on the product page. But for me the main reasons I first tried this is because it claims to target acne prone skin and help it heal more quickly and counteract redness. It also claims to mattify the skin, but I (thankfully) have not experienced that, probably because I slather my face in oil after applying this. For me, this works really well on breakouts and inflamed skin. Every time I feel a cystic bump under my skin, I slap this on and within the week it’s on its way to healing. Usually, it would take a week just for the bump to come to the surface. And because it’s so gentle, I can use it every night and in conjunction with a chemical exfoliant.
Like every other BR product, it smells not so great. The scent is quite strong and lasts for some time— it’s sort of sweet and yeasty. For that reason alone, I don’t use it in the daytime.
Because of its price, I don’t recommend running out and buying this ASA{, but if you are interested, contact your local (if you’re in the US, Toska & Aida Bicaj can help you) BR spa about samples/ a consultation. Then you can try it out and figure out if it’s worth the splurge for you too.
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Moisturizer*
$60.00 for 1.69 fl oz via Sephora & Cult Beauty
Drunk Elephant’s Lala cream used to be one of my least favorite products from the brand, but after its reformulation its jumped to the top of the list! The previous formula used to feel like a mask on my skin. It would sit heavy on the surface and make me feel greasy, but underneath my skin would be tight and dehydrated. The new and improved version now has the addition of cholesterol and ceramides, as well as a slightly lighter texture (it still is a rich cream tho.)
The new ingredient additions are perfect for barrier repair and for helping to maintain a healthy moisture barrier. It absorbs easily and really helps moisturize my skin and keeps it moisturized all day/ all night long. It also plays well with sunscreen and makeup (no pilling!) When my skin is feeling a little overtasked or irritated, this doesn’t sting or burn but instead helps soothe it.
While I love the moisturizer, you can definitely find products that deliver similar results at a more affordable price point.
