I decided to wear a full face of makeup yesterday, and I was largely pleased with the result. I did run into some problems with a few things, and I’d like to keep track of my experiences with each foray into Full Face Makeup I make for a while. That’ll help me narrow down what problems are potentially the products, and what problems are potentially me being so out of practice.

Problems I Encountered

• Eyeshadow. I have slightly downward-sloping hooded eyes. In order to “lift” the eyes and make it seem like they are not hooded, I typically bring my crease color directly straight out from the top-most part of my open eye, then blend up slightly from there. But yesterday, I couldn’t blend out my outer-v to save my life. If you’re not aware, the outer-v is the outside corner of the eye, in/slightly above the socket. I’m quite disappointed in myself there. I’m not sure if my lid primer just didn’t set well there, or what was going on.
• Foundation. There are so many possibilities as to what’s going on here. What happens is that the foundation starts to wear away around my T-zone, and also acquires a slightly cakey look. So my thoughts are, either the foundation itself isn’t a good match for my skin, or I’m not blending it correctly, or I’m using too much, or I need to set it differently, or my skincare routine is interfering. I’ve never had a foundation so perfectly match my skin before, so I’m really hoping it’s a user error here!

What I’m Wearing + Mini Product Reviews

• Maybelline FaceStudio Master Camo Color Correcting Pen in green. My face has been exceedingly red as of late, so the green corrector is to neutralize the red. It’s properly called a pen, because it’s very like one of those twist-to-use pens. The applicator is really odd to me. It feels too small to cover the amount of red I have on my cheeks, though it was perfect for applying around my nose. I find it doesn’t really blend easily, but I can make it work.
• Milani Eyeshadow Primer. I’ve been using this for a couple years, since I’m too poor to afford Urban Decay’s. It works quite well, but I do find I have to set it with powder before I add eyeshadow.
• theBalm Smoke Balm eyeshadow trio (sadly discontinued!) and Cindy-Lou Manizer on the lids. The palette has a slightly glittery deep navy blue that I used as eyeliner, a matte gray that I used for the outer 1/3 of the lid, outer-v, and crease, and a very shimmery champagne color that I used on the inner 1/3 of my lids. I used their Cindy-Lou Manizer, which is a highlight, on the center of my lids. I have no complaints with the palette. I’ve used it quite a lot ever since I bought it — I’ve hit pan on the mid-tone! I’ve never found it difficult to blend before, so I’m thinking I just didn’t set the primer well enough. Or I’m just out of practice.
• NARS Climax Mascara. I love this. Unreservedly love it. Easily within my top 3 favourite mascaras. It gives my lashes more length and more thickness, it doesn’t irritate my eyes, and I don’t have to scrub at my eyes to get it off. Highly recommend.
• Covergirl Micro-Fine Fill + Define Eyebrow Pencil in Soft Blonde. I know, I have dark brown brows, so why pick up a blonde brow pencil? I’m not a fan of the super sharp gradient or colored-in brows. At least not for me. I prefer basically My Brows But Better. Darker colors make my brows look far too dark. And the blonde fills in the gaps where I just don’t have hair growth there. It’s perfect. I typically use taupe as a color, but really am digging this blonde.
• Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer in Brightener. I had this once before and wasn’t a fan of it. It kept creasing under my lids, even though it absolutely brightened them up. Once I learned that you shouldn’t put a ton of concealer or anything in the under-eye area, I thought I’d give it another whirl. Still creasing, but I wonder whether I’m just doomed to creased under-eye circles forever.

• Maybelline FITme! Concealer in 10 Fair. I just used this on my forehead and on a patch of reddish dry skin beside my mouth. I think I should try it under my eyes someday. I’ve heard it compared to Urban Decay’s Naked Concealer, so I’m interested.

• Too Faced Born This Way Foundation in Swan. This is the only foundation I’ve ever found that completely matches my skin. I guess the jury is still out as far as whether it’s a good formula for me.

• L’Oréal True Match Super Blendable Powder, in either Soft or Classic Ivory. I’m also wondering whether this is what’s making the foundation fade and cake. Isn’t this basically a powder foundation? Maybe it’s all just too much.
• theBalm’s Cindy-Loumanizer as blush. Yes, you read correctly earlier that this is a highlight. But when you’re a pale-ass bitch like I am, it functions as a blush. I’ve used it for years and adore it.
• Revlon Ultra Matte HD Lip Color in Kisses. This is another product I love. There is transfer, but I’m not too fussed about that. This time, I put it on, let it set, blotted, and put a second coat on. And the color lasted all day. It was like blotting it made it function something like a lip stain. I also love the formula. I have very dry lips that I often chew on, so matte lipsticks are often something I have to recover from for a few days. Not this stuff.
• Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray. Can I be honest? Can you keep a secret? …I’m not particularly sold on this setting spray. I know, I know, burn the witch. But I just am not sold on setting spray in general. I need to do proper scientific testing to decide how I really feel about it and if it really does anything to my makeup.

Makeup of the Day. For Science!

Realistically, I guess that last point is why I think I’m going to start doing these documentations and reviews. Proper scientific research, data collection, etc. You know. Like a good artist should.

Do you have any favourites that are comparable to what I talked about here? Do you have insight as to why my eyeshadow blending and foundation longevity are the way they were yesterday? I’d love to hear more!