Smokey Berry Face of the Day

Hey doll hey!! How’s your day/night going? Great I hope. I’m doing pretty good. I finally got the whole house cleaned…. including putting away the wash… I feel so accomplished today. I also found out that hubby has planned a wedding vow renewal for us this January for our 20th wedding anniversary!!! I am so stinkin’ excited. I’ll be making my dress for the ceremony.

I chose all the items for week 4 of May 2021’s stash box you can see all the items that the Tiny Decisions app chose for me HERE. I also used this app to chose my makeup looks for the week as well… today’s look was Smokey eye…. so without further ado… let’s jump into today’s walk through….

Today’s Scent Is:

Top Notes: White Lily, Green Accords, Freesia, Violet Leaf, Pink Peppercorn, Tuberose and Red Berries.

Heart Notes: Black Lilac, Black Lily, Peony, Jasmine, Karo Karounde (a flowering shrub native to west Africa), Lily of the Valley, Geranium and Jasmine.

Base Notes: Sandalwood, Patchouli, Musk and Cedar.

My thoughts on this scent: This is a very beautifully simple yet exotically complex all at once. This is an everyday scent for me. Whenever I don’t know what I want to smell like 9-10 it’s this one I chose because it goes with any occasion. I typically don’t like rose scented perfumes but this one is so smooth that I almost wish the rose was the hard hitter of this scent.

Eyes and Brows:

I started with my brows… I used the L.A. Girl Brow Pomade – shade Dark Brown ($5.99 for 0.27 oz / 7.98 ml of pomade at Ulta). I cut the brow using P.LOUISE BASE SHADE 2 ($15 for 0.50 fl oz / 15 ml of shadow base on their website) for the brow line and to prime my lids and Huda The Overachiever Concealer – shade marshmallow 02B (fair with beige and peach undertones) ($30 for 0.34 oz/ 10 ml of concealer on their website and at Sephora) for the top of the brow. I set the whole lid from lash to brow line using the shade Desert Sand (warm light peach – matte) from the Huda Desert Dusk Eyeshadow Palette ($65 on sale for $39 on their website). For the rest of my eye look I used the Huda Naughty Nude Eyeshadow Palette ($67 on their website). I started with my transition using the shade Juicy (soft peach toned tan matte). I deepened the outer v of the crease and the outer 1/2 of my mobile lid using the shade Naughty (mahogany matte). I then deepened the outer most 1/3 of the whole crease using the shade Spicy (mulberry matte). I then used a tiny bit more of the P.LOUISE BASE SHADE 2 ($15 for 0.50 fl oz / 15 ml of shadow base on their website) to cut just the inner 2/3 of mobile lid. For the middle 1/3 of the mobile lid I used the shade Rough (café au lait matte) and on the inner 1/3 of the mobile lid I used the shade Please Me (antique gold with pink reflection metallic). For the lower lash line I used the residual from the crease brushes to create a soft drop shadow and then tight lined both my upper and lower waterlines. I highlighted the inner corners of my eyes and the arch of my brow using the shade Flower Power (camel and gold marble shimmer cream).

Complexion:

I primed my face using the Huda Water Jelly Hydrating Primer ($33 for 1.18 oz/ 35 ml of primer on their website and at Sephora). I started with my contour, I used my NYX Wonder Stick – shade Deep ($12 for 0.26 oz /8.28 ml of total product at Ulta). I highlighted my high points using Huda N.Y.M.P.H. Not. Your. Mama’s. Panty. Hose. – shade Luna (soft, white-gold shimmer with hints of rose gold and silver) ($49 for 1.85 oz / 55mL of liquid highlighter on their website and at Sephora). My foundation today is Huda #FauxFilter Luminous Matte Foundation– shade Shortbread 200B (light skin with pinky-beige undertones) ($40 for 1.18 oz/ 35 ml of foundation on their website and at Sephora). I bronzed my face using Huda Tantour Contour & Bronzer Cream – shade Tan (tan to deep with cool undertones) ($30 for 0.42 oz/ 12g of cream bronzer on their website and at Sephora). I skipped corrector this week because I really wanted to test out the Huda The Overachiever Concealer – shade marshmallow 02B (fair with beige and peach undertones) ($30 for 0.34 oz/ 10 ml of concealer on their website and at Sephora), which I used to conceal my under eyes and to clean up my nose contour.

Cheeks, Lips, Lashes and Touch Ups:

I applied my cream blush,  NYX Sweet Cheeks Soft Cheek Tint Blush ($9 for 0.22 oz / 6.51 ml of cream blush at Ulta) – shade Caralicious (coral). I set my under eyes using BECCA Under Eye brightening Powder (no longer in production) and the rest of my face using Huda Easy Bake Loose Baking & Setting Powder – shade Cupcake (fair to light skin tones. pink undertones brighten and disguise under-eye darkness) ($34 for 0.71 oz/ 20 g of loose powder on their website and at Sephora). I also used just a touch on the sides of my nose and the tip of my nose to bake the contour with. I touched up my bronzer using Hourglass Mini Ambient Lighting Bronzer – shade Diffused Bronze Light (cool bronze shade fused with Diffused Light to mimic a ray of warm sunlight ideal for light/medium complexions) ($26 for 0.04 oz/ 1.3 g of bronzer at Sephora) and touched up my highlighter using the BH Cosmetics Glowing in Greece ($17 but on sale for 6.80 for 16 g/ .57 oz of highlighter on their website) using the shade Athens (peachy champagne). I lined my lips with ColourPop Lippie Pencil ($6 on their website) in the shade BFF2 (mid-tone nude) and topped my lips off with Huda Power Bullet Matte Lipstick ($25 for 3 G/ 0.1 OZ on their website and at Sephora) in the shade First Kiss ( a cute warm toned pinky brick). I coated my lashes with MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara ($21 for 0.19 oz / 3.11 ml at Ulta) and then popped on a pair of KoKo Lashes Marilyn ($7.99 on the Lady Moss website)  and then set my face with  ColourPop Pretty Fresh Hyaluronic Acid Setting Mist ($12 for 3.72 oz/ 110 mL at Ulta) to set my face. For touch ups I am using Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder – shade Creamy Natural (0.49 oz for $3.17 at Walmart).

Final Thoughts:

I remember a few months back saying I would never purchase Huda eyeshadow palettes because they were so high in price. After today I must say…. I get it now! These shadows are buttery, blend like a dream and are almost effortless. As gen z says… it’s the GOAT! (Greatest of all time for those of us who don’t speak teen).

Huda Water Jelly Hydrating Primer ($33 for 35 ML/ 1.18 FL OZ on their website and at Sephora) is billed as an ultra-hydrating primer that smooths and quenches skin with a surge of moisture to create the perfect canvas that’s ready to grip makeup in place for long-lasting, flawless wear.

I give this primer a solid A++ : It smells a bit like candy but not to powerful. It felt hydrating and after it sunk in felt a little tacky (like ELF Jelly Pop Primer but not as tacky). It wasn’t anything Earth changing but it was a nice primer. I don’t know if I will repurchase this one because there are primers that cost less that I like more and only time will tell if this becomes a primer I would want in the … I must say that I did not have to touch up my makeup at all today… this could be because of the primer but it could also be because of the loose powder and the setting spray… I’ll have to test it more to see if this primer is the reason that I didn’t have to touch up.

Huda #FauxFilter Luminous Matte Foundation ($40 for 35 ML/ 1.18 FL OZ on their website and at Sephora) is billed as the same full coverage and long-lasting properties, you know and love from the OG formula, but with 24-hour flexible wear, a luminous matte finish.

It comes in 39 shades, I have the shade Shortbread 200B (light skin with pinky-beige undertones).

I give this foundation a solid A+++!!! and a stand ovation : First I have to say that this foundation does dry fast so it’s better to work in sections. I made the mistake of applying it to my full face and then tried to blend it out and ended up having to drench my face with setting spray to blend it out. Even with that said this foundation is STUNNING!!! I have never loved my complexion more than I do today. I look flawless and there is no texture. Even though it’s a matte foundation there is still this glow to the skin that is perfection. This is definitely one of my top 5 favorite foundations…. yes…. on day 1 it has become one of my favs.

Huda The Overachiever Concealer ($30 for 10 ML/ 0.34 FL OZ on their website and at Sephora) is billed as a full coverage creamy concealer, armed with skincare actives and a cooling zamac tip.

It comes in 17 shades, I have the shade Marshmallow 02B (fair with beige and peach undertones).

I give this concealer a solid A+++!!! : When I first swatched this concealer I knew it was super pigmented and that a little would go a long way. So when I applied it I squeezed out about 1/2 a chocolate chip sized amount and that was perfect for both eyes and the sides of my nose. It blending in beautifully and seamlessly and it looked beautiful when I did my setting spray trick. I did not crease, did not emphasize my fine lines and completely covered my dark circles without having to color correct. 10/10 chef’s kiss for this one.

Huda N.Y.M.P.H. Not. Your. Mama’s. Panty. Hose. ($49 for 55 ML / 1.85 FL OZ on their website and at Sephora) is billed as a flawless summer skin that feels smooth and hydrated – without streaks or harsh lines.

It comes in 3 shades, I have the shade Luna (soft, white-gold shimmer with hints of rose gold and silver).

I give this liquid highlighter a solid A+++ : I really like this highlighter. It’s beautiful. The only reason I did not give this one a higher grade is because it was a bit difficult to blend the edges out. I ended up having to spritz my sponge with setting spray and bounce it around the edges to even it out. I think this one is best applied tapped out with a finger rather than my go to duo fiber stippling brush. None the less it is a beautiful highlighter.

Huda Easy Bake Loose Setting Powder ($34 for 20 G/ 0.71 OZ on their website and at Sephora) is billed as inspired by Huda’s strong belief that the technique of baking is a key step to a flawless finish while ensuring long-lasting, melt-proof makeup.

It comes in 8 shades, I have the shade Cupcake (Fair to light skin tones. pink undertones brighten and disguise under-eye darkness).

I give this loose powder a solid A+++!!! : This is a finely milled powder that really brightens. It felt weightless and I had to double check that I was getting powder on the brush because it just disappeared into the skin so seamlessly that unless you touched my face you would think there was nothing applied. I really like this powder.

Huda Power Bullet Matte Lipstick ($25 for 3 G/ 0.1 OZ on their website and at Sephora) is billed as highly-pigmented lipsticks that delivers unparalleled color payoff in a silky-smooth, plush-matte formula.

It comes in 24 shades, I have the shade First Kiss (cute warm toned pinky brick).

I give this lipstick a solid A+++!!! : This is the perfect warm toned pink nude. It is just deep enough to work for all 4 seasons. I can already tell this one is going to the one that I use up completely and repurchase.

Huda Naughty Nude Eyeshadow Palette ($67 for 16.8 G / 0.59 OZ of total product making it a little over $ 3.70 a shade on their website and at Sephora) is billed as a naughty re-imagination of our bestselling New Nude palette. 18 delicious shades in 5 ultra-wearable textures have been harmoniously curated to (un)dress your eyes and empower you to be your most fierce and confident self.

I give this palette a solid A+++!!! and also a standing ovation!!!! : I finally understand the hype behind her eyeshadow formula. The shadows are creamy, buttery and blend with no effort at all. I have never finished my eye look so fast in my life. I literally finished my eyes in 10 minutes (both eyes mind you). The shadows stayed put all day without creasing or loosing pigmentation. I am keen to purchase more palettes from Huda.

NYX Sweet Cheeks Soft Cheek Tint ($9 for .22 ounces of product at Ulta)

 This cream blush is billed as a buildable cream blush comes with a doe-foot applicator for easy & precise application with a weightless, blendable formula for a soft flush of color. It comes in 6 shades and I chose Caralicious (coral).

I give this cream blush a solid A+++!!! and if need be my first born child! : This blush is AMAZING!! RUN… grab it if you can!!! Not only did it blend super easily it was pigmented enough to shine through me setting my face with powder and not having to touch up the color! There was plenty of time to buff it out and I only had to do 3 dots per cheek. I loved this so much I ordered 2 back ups today.

LA Girl Brow Pomade $5.99 for 0.27 ounces of product at Ulta.

This pomade is billed as a creamy pomade glides on smoothly and locks into place. Water-resistant formula lasts throughout the day without fading or smudging. It comes in 4 shades and I chose Dark Brown.

I give this brow pomade a solid A : It’s a great color and stayed all day without smudging but it was a pain in the royal booty to apply. It literally took me 20 minutes to do my brows and they still came out wonky. I graded it so high because the shade and wearability are there… it’s just a pain to work with. I wont repurchase this but I will use this one up.

Well dolls… that’s all to this walk through for this Smokey Berry Face of the Day…. I hope that you enjoy the rest of your day/night and that you are in great spirits and health….

Save a spoon for a bit of lipstick….

XOXO, Nita