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My skin looks and feels happier!
Why I love it: This has been a fan fave for years, and a Laura Mercier makeup artist actually shade-matched me for a photoshoot for their Flawless Fusion Foundation, but I ended up liking the tinted moisturizer more. It has almost a ~watery~ texture to it, which makes it a total breeze to spread around and blend out. That being said, I like to dab on extra product on my more stubborn spots, especially on my nose and chin. The other caveat is that it only has SPF 20, so I always make sure to put on a layer of higher SPF beforehand — I like Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence. Still glowy, but not overly so!
Get it from Sephora for $45 (available in 15 shades — I wear Nude, though I suspect Sand would be an even better match *shrug*).
Why I love it: I feel like this product also transfers from cushion to puff the best — because nothing annoys me more than product not distributing evenly on my puff. BTW, if my skin looks flawless and spot-free in an iPhone selfie, that's the true mark of success — because my phone emphasizes imperfections a crazy ton, much more than what I see IRL. Korean companies still have a ways to go when it comes to inclusive shade ranges, but Innisfree is doing a good job so far in comparison to some other brands. Baby steps.
Get one from Innisfree for $25, which includes a cushion, puff (I replaced mine with a cute Line Friends puff I got from Seoul), and case. You can buy cushion refills from Innisfree for $12 or Amazon for $14 (available in 16 shades — I wear the shade N23 True Beige).
Why I love it: It looks scarily dark when it comes out of the bottle, but it somehow tones down to my skintone after I rub it in (I just use my fingers for this one), so yes, it does lean a bit more on the ~sunkissed~ side. The formula feels so luxurious and silky, and my skin feels extra hydrated and pampered thanks to vitamins A and E. Did I mention it smells so nice??? (And it doesn't irritate my skin.)
Get it from Winky Lux for $25 (available in five shades: Fair, Light, Medium, Medium Deep, Deep — I wear Medium, though I'm sure Light would also be ok). It's also sold at Nordstrom and Ulta.
Why I love it: It's really just sunscreen with a teensy bit of tint, and I like the "no fuss" nature of it. It doesn't earn top marks for coverage, but that's not the goal — I just want my face to be protected and, I could just be imagining things, but I feel like it diffuses light on my face just a tad, for just a slight bump in evenness and glow from my natural, sans-product face.
For more deets, check out my full review (#8)!
Get it from Sephora for $38.
Why I love it: I feel fancy having this in my bag (even if I just roughly toss it in, along with a mess of other products — heh). The formula really helps cover up any redness while feeling like nothing, which I have to expect from a product with a heavier price tag. Just like the name suggests, I like being able to control the amount of coverage I want — and even if I go over my face multiple times, it still feels as barely noticeable as one layer. It also never becomes cakey throughout the day, which I find becomes a problem around my nose, especially. I've gotten quite a few compliments while wearing this BB — probably because I think it's the best shade match for me out of the bunch.
Get it from Sephora or Amorepacific for $60 (available in five shades — I wear 104 Light/Medium Pink).
I'll always love and wear makeup, but I want to feel just as comfortable without it, too. And if I am a little closer to that goal with as simple of a switch from full-coverage foundation to BB cream and tinted moisturizer, then so be it! Here's to feeling my best, regardless of what's on my face!
While a lot of skin improvement has to do with my commitment to a well-rounded skincare routine and proper makeup removal (double cleansing is life!!), I've definitely noticed less overall breakouts — outside of the normal pre-period windows, of course — and that to me, along with the overall "less clogged" feeling that tinted moisturizers provide, I'm pretty sold!