My Top 18 of 2018 - Where To Buy

If you are wondering where to purchase the items seen in my Top 18 Makeup Products from 2018 post, you are in luck.  To make shopping easy for everyone, I've included where you can purchase below.*

I do not get any commissions or payments if you shop through these sites, I'm just posting to be helpful*.

1. Jeffree Star Cosmetics Thirsty Palette - beautylish.com 
2. Coloured Raine Beauty Rust Palette - Riley Rose 
3. Marc Jacobs Eye-Conic Scandalust Palette - sephora.com 
4. Jeffree Star Cosmetics Blood Sugar - beautylish.com 
5. Jeffree Star Cosmetics The Alien Eyeshadow Palette  - beautylish.com 
6. Lottie London Angled Bronzer Brush - Riley Rose 
7. Wet n Wild Brush Set - Walgreens 
8. Aveda Inner Light Foundation Brush - Aveda.com
9. Aveda Inner Light Dual Phase Mineral Foundation - Aveda.com 
10. IT Cosmetics Color Correcting Full Coverage Cream - Sephora.com 
11. E.L.F. Cosmetics Beauty Sponge (Total Face Sponge) - Target
12. Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define - ulta.com
13. Hourglass Cosmetics Veil Retouching Fluid - beautylish.com 
14. Fenty Beauty Match Stix (Linen, Amber, Starstruck) - Sephora.com 
15. Beauty Bakerie Flour Setting Powder - beautybakerie.com 
16. Physicians Formula Butter Highlighter - physiciansformula.com 
17. Buxom Plumpline Lip Liner in Confidential - sephora.com 
18. Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipstick - beautylish.com 

I hope you find this post helpful. I wish you a very happy New Year's Eve. Thank you for reading. Make sure you are subscribed for even more product reviews, tutorials, and beauty posts in 2019!

❤💋

~Makeup Matters 

Top 18 Beauty Products of 2018

I am bringing back my year end favorites, and this year was harder than most! There were a ton of really high quality items that I discovered this year. Not all of the goodies on my list were launched in 2018, but every single one left a lasting impression on me. 

Here are my top 18 beauty products of the year:

It was a good year for palettes.  Finally brands incorporated more colorful mattes and rust tones that complement my blue eyes.

• Jeffree Star Cosmetics Thirsty Palette - This was the palette of the summer.  Upon launch, it sold out quickly and it is no surprise that it did. From smooth mattes to shiny metallic pigments, this palette is for those who want something more exciting from their eyeshadow. 

• Coloured Raine Beauty Rust Palette - My first trip to Riley Rose resulted in me purchasing this 6-pan palette.  A must-have for fall, this palette enhances blue eyes like no other. 
  

• Marc Jacobs Eye-Conic Scandalust Palette - If you like a bit of luxury in your makeup collection,  this 7-pan sleek palette is for you. With mattes, shimmers, neutrals and bold colors, this palette will satisfy those who like a variety of finishes to choose from. 

• Jeffree Star Cosmetics Blood Sugar - I almost passed on this palette.  What a mistake that would have been! The quality of these shadows is truly spectacular, and the case is among the most creative I've ever seen. It holds 18 pans and while it may look intimidating at first, there are enough neutrals to round out the palette perfectly. 

• Jeffree Star Cosmetics The Alien Eyeshadow Palette  - Maybe I should just name this post the top Jeffree Star Cosmetics beauty products.  Honestly, this brand is killing it. While other companies crank out the same boring products year after year, JSC managed to create products as innovative as they are interesting.  The quality of the shadows in this palette are out of this world!

Now, let's move on to my favorite topic; brushes!

• Lottie London Angled Bronzer Brush - This was such a great introduction to this brand. Another buy from Riley Rose, I never guessed this brush would become a favorite. There is something about the large brush head, soft bristles and fun color that make this a go-to tool for me.

• Wet n Wild Brush Set - My cousin tipped me off to this set which was on sale at Walgreens. The quality is impressive, especially when you consider the super low sale price. It is no surprise these sold out fast!

• Aveda Inner Light Foundation Brush - This was another impulse buy. I was at my local Aveda salon and picked up this brush. If you wear mineral foundation, you will love the dense, angled bristles on this oversized foundation brush. It blends on powder products like a dream.

• Aveda Inner Light Dual Phase Mineral Foundation  - I just reordered this product because it is something I use daily. The kind folks at Aveda sent me my first pan of this earlier in the year and now I am hooked. Even on days that I wear liquid foundation, I top it with this mineral foundation because it adds such amazing coverage. On days where my skin is looking less than stellar, this powder helps me feel more confident. Plus it can be used wet or dry. 

• IT Cosmetics Color Correcting Full Coverage Cream - This is an amazing CC cream. Like everything this brand makes, this product is great for those concerned about their skin. It is super hydrating and the perfect one and done beauty product. 

• E.L.F. Cosmetics Beauty Sponge - Move over Beauty Blender, there is a new pink sponge in town. This one has a nice flat edge to spread product on with and cost a fraction of what you will pay for that other little pink sponge. 

• Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define - This is another gem my cousin got me into. A true dupe for Tarte's Shape Tape Concealer, this tube retails for under $10 and is available in a large variety of colors. It can be used to conceal, highlight or contour. 

• Hourglass Cosmetics Veil Retouching Fluid - This is probably the most misunderstood product of the year. I know some people could not figure out if this was a concealer or a foundation. It is neither.  A totally new product,  this is a light coverage hydrating fluid meant for mid-day makeup touch-ups. I never leave home without a tube of this in my bag. 

• Fenty Beauty Match Stix (Linen, Amber, Starstruck) - Makeup artists everywhere are raving about these little sticks. They come in a variety of colors, and can be used anywhere on the face. I love them because unlike most cream products, these never seem to dry out.

• Beauty Bakerie Flour Setting Powder - A new brand to my collection, Beauty Bakerie has taken the beauty community by storm. High quality products housed in some of the cutest packaging on the market....What more can you ask for?

• Physicians Formula Butter Highlighter - This drugstore gem comes in a variety of colors. I consider this to be one of my "grownup" highlighting products because it doesn't emphasize my fine lines. 

Finally, I am ending my list with my favorite lip products.  The two on this list are truly standouts and I highly recommend them. 

• Buxom Plumpline Lip Liner in Confidential - This is a chubby pencil with a capped lip brush on the other end. The formula is matte, but very comfortable to wear. Plus it makes your lips look fuller!

• Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipstick - I own so many of these. The formula is like no other on the market. These are eye safe, so can be used as lipstick or liquid eyeliner. They provide one swipe full coverage that is long lasting, but never drying. The color pictured above is called Allegedly, and it is my favorite from the brand.

I hope you enjoyed this post. I will be working on my usual follow up post complete with links and where you can shop all of my 2018 favorites. I intentionally did not include brands that I have an affiliate link with for this post. 

*This post may contain some products sent for consideration. However, this is not a sponsored post. I do not get paid to write reviews. I do not accept money or products in exchange for posts. 

Special Event / Party / Holiday Look - Tutorial 2018

If you are anything like me, you will probably find yourself attending a number of holiday parties and events this month. Even if you are not someone who enjoys this time of year, you may have to attend an office holiday party or two. Obligation or jubilation, this is a good time to fine tune your holiday makeup look. 

A few years back, this was my go-to makeup for special events: 

http://www.makeupmatters.blog/2014/03/special-eventpartyholiday-look-tutorial.html?m=1

My taste has certainly changed, and my 2018 look is not only easy to achieve, but there is a good chance that you already have these eyeshadows in your collection! 

Let's Get Started!

• Using a Coastal Scents BR-C-S06 brush, I dipped into some of the reddish brown colors in my Urban Decay Naked Heat palette. Taking a mixture of He Devil & Dirty Talk, I swept the color onto my eyelid taking it slightly into the crease. 
• Next, I picked up a smaller tapered brush and applied a mix of En Fuego and Ashes to the outer corner of my lid. Once there was hardly any left on the brush, I brushed the color into my crease. 

• For my lower lash line, I used a Sigma Flat Definer E15 brush to press the same blend of colors just beneath the lashes. 
• Switching to my Urban Decay Naked Petite Heat palette, I grabbed Inhale on a Cozzette P355 brush pressing it on to the inner corner of my eye, and just beneath my brow for a highlight. If you want to stick with one palette for this look, you can use Ounce from the Naked Heat palette instead. These colors are extremely similar, but Inhale has a slightly more brightening effect on my skintone. 
• For liner, I used Jeffree Star Cosmetics Lip Liner in Dominatrix (chocolate brown) gently tracing along my upper lash line. Although this is technically a lip liner, the formula is eye safe. 

• Sticking with the Petite Heat palette,  I picked up the color Strike on an Antonym  #13 angled brush and traced over Dominatrix. Layering the powder eyeshadow over the cream pencil will provide extra staying power so you can have fun all night without your makeup moving. If you don't have this palette, Ashes from Naked Heat will work just fine in place of Strike. The colors are very similar, with Strike leaning more toward an orange brown, vs the darker plummy brown of Ashes. 
• I could have stopped here, but since this is an evening look, I blended just a touch of Scorched from the Naked Heat Palette along the lower lash line with a pencil brush. I blended it just below the mixture of En Fuego and Ashes that I applied earlier.  
• I left the waterline bare so that the focus is on the eyeshadow. 
• I applied a few coats of mascara and drew through my brows with just a little brow pencil. 

I applied my usual primer,  base and powder for my face makeup. Special events are generally not a good time to experiment with new foundation.  Wear whatever you feel comfortable and confident in. Just make sure that there is not too high of an SPF or you may see some flashback come photo time. 

I used a mixture of blush and bronzer along my cheekbones to add warmth to the face. 

For lips, I applied my brand new Chai lipstick from Bite Beauty. To make my lips look just a bit fuller, I used a Milani lip liner in Most Natural to slightly over draw the lip line. 

Here is the final look:

As you can see, someone snuck in the background as I was taking pictures! 

This look is much less dramatic than previous holiday makeup looks that I have created.  As I am getting older,  I try to play up my features rather than going for all out glam. The orange tones in these eyeshadow palettes really bring out the blue in my eyes. Orange and blue are complementary colors, so this look is perfect for those with light eyes. There is a reddish hue to these palettes as well, which will add emphasis to green eyes too. Those with brown eyes are quite lucky, as pretty much every color eyeshadow works! 

What is your favorite holiday makeup look? 

*All products in this post were purchased by me.  This is not a sponsored post. I do not get paid to write reviews.  I never accept products in exchange for a review. 

It's all the little things...

Sometimes it is the little things in life that make all of the difference.  This rings true when it comes to makeup application as well! I have compiled a list of some of the little things that I find make makeup application just a bit easier.

*This post contains affiliate links. All products in this post were purchased by me. 

• WAYNE GOSS Brush 23 Spoolie Brush $12 on beautylish.com 

This upscale brush can be used for brows or mascara application. 

• MYKITCO My 'on Point' Sharpener $6 on beautylish.com 
  

This is the  best sharpener on the market. It is an absolute must have for professional makeup artists. 

• Tweezerman Rose Gold Classic Curler $14.99 on Amazon.com 
  

This affordable curler has an ergonomic design with cushy pads to keep lashes protected. 

• Hotop 100 Pack Makeup Brush Protector Makeup Brushes Pen Guard Expandable Mesh Cover $6.95 on Amazon.com 

These brush guards are reusable, easy to use, and one size fits most brushes! At only $6.95 for a pack of 100, this truly is a great buy.

• Crown ProCROWN PRO - PROFESSIONAL STAINLESS METAL SPATULA $5.00* 

http://bit.ly/2LgIJhy (affiliate link)*
Use this handy tool for scraping & mixing product on the palette of your choice. 

• Synthetic Blue Squirrel Tapered Brush – Large $65.00 on kelleyquan.com 

This is Kelley Quan's Vegan Beauty Brush™ #22
It is soft & luxurious.  This brush is hand crafted in the USA and nothing helps makeup application more than using the right tools. 

All of these tools are staples in my kit, and I notice that they truly help. If you are a makeup artist, or simply a makeup lover, these tools can change your makeup game!

*This post contains affiliate links. I do receive a small commission if you chose to shop through this link. This helps support the site. All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. I do not get paid to write reviews, nor do I accept products in exchange for a review. 

Alien Invasion Part 2

As promised,  I decided to create a bolder look using the Jeffree Star Cosmetics Alien Eyeshadow Palette.  With all of the beautiful greens in this palette, creating a green look seemed like an obvious choice. 

Here is how I got the look:

I kind of worked backwards in terms of how many people apply eye makeup. I began by prepping the lid with Titan. I applied this matte cream colored shadow allover from lash line to just below the brow using a Coastal Scents BR-B-S03 brush.

Next, I darkened the upper lash line with Space Cowboy, applying it as eyeliner with an elf small angled brush.

Next, I applied Ghost OG very lightly in the crease with a Princeton Neptune #6 art brush.  I blended it out with a Bdellium Tools 776 brush. I repeated this until I created the desired depth. 

Moon Rock is one of my favorite colors in this palette. It is a metallic green-gold. Using my Furless Cosmetics PRO1L lip brush, I picked up some of the pigment, then sprayed the brush with facial spray. This helps intensify the metallic effect, and is a common technique called foiling. 

I used a lip brush so that I could easily reach the inner corner of my eyelid.

I smudged Flying Saucer along my lower lash line, as well as on the outer corner of my lid using an Eco Tools Smudge brush. I used a Furless Cosmetics PRO2E brush to blend everything out.

Next, I grabbed another one of my art brushes, a Princeton Oval Mop brush and used it to lightly blend Abduction through my upper crease. 

I couldn't resist using the color Alien. It is such a beautiful shimmery lime green. I smudged it along my lower lash line using a Furless PPE2.

Interstellar is a light antique gold, and another personal favorite.  I applied just a touch on the very inner portion of my lid using a Furless Cosmetics PRO1L brush.

On a Wet n Wild blending brush,  I brushed on a light coat of Pluto just under the brow, as well as on the inner corner of my eye to brighten things up. 

I could have stopped here, but I had to use UFO. It is a stunning metallic gold. I took just a touch along the inner portion of my lower lash line using an Eco Tools angled brush. 

Outside of the palette,  here are other products I used to complete the look:

• NYX jumbo pencil in Lime on my waterline 
• Celebrity Skin Velour Liquid Lipstick (JSC)
• Snow Globe Supreme Frost (JSC)
• Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Radiant Magenta
• It Cosmetics CC cream
• Wet n wild concealer
• Covergirl mascara on top lashes
• Wet n wild megaslim skinny mascara on bottom lashes 

Here is the final look:

What do you think? I am in love with this palette and find all of the shades easy to work with. 

Do you have the Alien Eyeshadow Palette?

*The cosmetics in this post were all purchased by me. Some of the brushes may have been sent by the company for consideration.  This is not a sponsored post. I do not get paid to write reviews, or accept products in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.