Curated Picks of Holy Grail Makeup Products

Cosmetics: Classic & the Latest Must-haves

Cosmetics for the curated makeup bag. How to apply the must-have new and classic cosmetic makeup for face, eyes, and lips.

Hourglass, Chantecallie, By Terry, Lash Star, Too Faced, BlueMercury, SpaceNK, MAC, Ulta, Sephora, Boutique Brands.

Find your go-to makeup products for everyday and special occasion events.

How to guides ranging from how to best use YSL Touche Eclat to How to Apply Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara.

Best Brightening Shadow: Chantecaille Eye Shade Ginger

January 17, 2023 · Leave a Comment

Chantecaille Eye Shade in Ginger looks rather underwhelming in the pan but it sings on the lid. See what is to love about this eyeshadow.

PRODUCT TYPE:

Eyeshadow

WHAT IT DOES

It appears transparent when applied wet and opaque when applied dry. It layers beautifully with no flaking or powdery appearance.

Instead of glittery looking shimmer, the non-matte shades have a lovely shifting iridescence that looks great on eyes over 30.

There is a brightening quality, similar to YSL Touche Eclat but not as pink.

It is not a overly warm or orange peach. It pairs well with shimmers, mattes, neutrals and a smokey eye.

WHAT WE LOVE

It has a finish like a finely milled powder.

Multiple layers don’t look cakey. No fallout, no chalky buildup. There is a slew of flattering shades. The formulation is free of unfriendly chemicals.

This particular shade, Ginger, is our favorite Brightening Eyeshadow.

Ginger Eyeshadow is a brightening pale peachy nude basic

We love the Chantecaille Eye Shade in Ginger as a subtle brightening base for pale skin: it adds just a hint of pink pale peach that looks like natural skin but better.

Basically what we wish our lids looked like naturally.

Where to Shop It

Find Chantecaille Eye Shades at BlueMercury, Saks and SpaceNK

NYX Bare With Me Concealer Serum

January 10, 2023 · Leave a Comment

A lightweight go-to concealer with a secret weapon: Tremella Mushroom to make your concealer do double duty as a eye treatment.

*NYX Bare With Me Concealer Serum contains a secret weapon: Tremella Mushroom*

WHY IT IS SPECIAL

NYX Bare With Me Concealer Serum contains Tremella mushroom. Tremella mushroom is better know as Snow Mushroom. Snow mushroom is a traditional beauty secret because it boosts skin hydration and skin elasticity.

Snow Mushroom functions similar to hyaluronic acid but has a smaller particle size so it absorbs better. It also reduces signs of inflammation. It makes skin look dewy without irritating skin.

Tremella or Snow Mushroom is like hyaluronic acid but with a smaller molecule

THE EXPERIENCE

As a concealer, NYX Bare With Me Concealer Serum is relatively light coverage. It is not cakey or heavy. I do not find this to be opaque enough to cover a red blemish or thick enough for reshaping and contouring. Concealer Serum is accurate – it is a lightweight kiss of coverage.

However, it is excellent as a brightening under-eye concealer and eyelid primer for shadow, and it makes for a great orbital skin treatment. Skin looks very natural and dewy. Multiple layers do not look cakey.

WHERE TO SHOP IT

Find NYX Bare With Me Concealer Serum at Ulta

*NYX Bare With Me Concealer Serum comes with a secret weapon: Snow Mushroom!*

FYI: Eddie Funkhouser Eyeshadow Quads Alert

August 18, 2022 · Leave a Comment

If you want Vegan makeup, you probably know about Eddie Funkhouser. So FYI Eddie Funkhouser Fans: four HYPERREAL® EYE COLOR PALETTE quads are on their sale page, and it says “while supplies last”. It is a good time to pick up your favorite quad.

We tried this Eddie Funkhouser quad “Bedroom Eyes”

About HyperReal Eye Color Palettes

The shadows are a creamy formula and well pigmented color payoff.

Cruelty-free
Vegan
Paraben free

These quads are highly versatile. The colors work for basic day makeup and transition to nighttime and weekend looks.

We tried the “Bedroom Eyes” quad as shown here. The color combinations are fairly goof proof.

The Experience

It is a smooth formulation. There is some light fallout during application, less so with thorough blending. But once the shadow is on, IT IS ON, even after several hours.

The shimmer shades blend well over the matte taupe. Layering doesn’t look cakey, even when combining matte and shimmer shades.

Smooth texture, high color payout.

Application Tips from Eddie Funkhouser

There is fallout during eyeshadow application, especially with the coppery and plum shimmers. A layer of loose powder on your undereye area or shadow shields are helpful if you are doing a smokey metallic look.

Eddie Funkhouser Eyeshadow Application tip:

“To give your eye makeup a high fashion edge, contour the crease of the eye with a dark shade using an Eye Contour Brush. Apply a second application of the same shade to the crease of the eye using a Crease Brush.”

Other Eddie Funkhouser Products We Love

We have tried a few Eddie Funkhouser Products that are quite good, especially for vegan!

Another products you may wish to check out is:

See our LuxLight Eyeshadow Palette review here. It is ten pans of nudes and neutrals, closer to a soft pinkish nudes, some shimmers and some mattes. Very flattering.

LuxLight Eyeshadow Palette closeup

LuxLight Palette has ten lovely and highly useable pans. We found each shade to be usable, no fillers.

More Vegan Beauty

Love Vegan makeup? Then check out our coverage on Viola Rouge Lipsticks and Eye Creams

You may also love Vegan skincare brand SigiSkin. Check out this wonderful Sigi Skin Kaleanser, a hypoallergenic and vegan face wash.

Celebrating National Lipstick Day with 4 Clean Beauty Lipsticks

July 29, 2022 · 1 Comment

Happy National Lipstick Day! Today we celebrate the expanding range of clean beauty lipsticks. Gone are the days that clean meant waxy formulations and weird shades. Now clean beauty includes pretty packaging, flattering shades and skin friendly ingredients. We look at 4 clean lippies seen on Style Chicks.

Madame Gabriela Beauty Clean Luxury High-Performance Ingredient Driven Lipsticks

Here are our findings on four clean beauty lipstick brands with flattering shades and sleek packaging!

Why Clean Lipstick

Many lipsticks contain chemicals you would not voluntarily ingest. But for years, most clean or natural lipsticks had hard, waxy textures and limited color selection. They generally were only found in natural health stores, and most of us felt much was to be desired.

Here are beauty brands who upgraded the clean beauty lipstick experience.

Viola Rouge

VIOLA ROUGE lipsticks come in 24 shades of satin or shimmer finish. We got to try two of them, Status Symbol and Blueberry Flower, as seen here:

Viola Rouge recommended these two shades for my skin undertone

The texture is silky, weightless, and glides on evenly and with precision. It contains Saffron flower extract to diminish hyperpigmentation and protect against UV radiation.

It also has Organic Blueberry Oil to minimize fine lines, and Black Cumin Seed Oil to lock in moisture.

This non-GMO formula is made without:

paraffin
gluten
mineral oil
nanoparticles
parabens
phthalates
sulfates
ureas
silicone D5

Read our full Viola Rouge lipstick review and ingredient analysis coverage here

Madame Gabriela

The Madame Gabriela range has three shades held in sleek packaging and magnetic push button base. The ingredient list is exceptional for what it does – and does NOT contain.

Rich color payoff and the sleek magnetic load lipstick bullet makes me feel like a Bond Girl.

It is an ingredient-driven lipstick that has a luxury lipstick look, texture and feel. Packed with hydrating Bamboo extract and Manuka honey, plus Sesame Seed, Avocado, Jojoba, Castor, Sunflower Oils, along with Shea and Cocoa butters, there are no fillers or chemicals. Even the vanilla scent is natural vanilla!

Read our full Madame Gabriela review with ingredient analysis here

This creamy nude imparts just enough warm pink to be a flattering shade even on fair skin tones

Caley Cosmetics

This clean beauty lipstick contains notable skin treating ingredients such as:

Abyssinian Seed Oil is high in linoleic acid which forms the lipid barrier to hold moisture in skin cells. This keeps lips hydrated.
Watermelon Seed Oil is rich in the unsaturated fatty acids linoleic and oleic acids. It has antioxidant activity and the vitamin E compounds protect the skin from oxidative stress and photo-aging. It also contains essential vitamins, and minerals to enrich lip skin. It absorbs quickly. [1]
Mango Fruit Extract is high in copper, which is fantastic for delicate lip skin! Copper builds Collagen, Elastin and increases Hyaluronic Acid production which keeps lip skin plump and springy.[2]

Read our full Caley Cosmetics Wave Lipstick review and ingredient analysis here

Pinch Of Colour

Pinch of Colour Matte Velvet Waterless Lip Colour has long-lasting coverage and a rich dimension to it’s a glam finish. Plus it is packed with lip-loving hydrating ingredients such as Jojoba, Mango Seed, and Rosehip oils.

You will note water is missing from the Pinch of Colour ingredient lists.

The colors range from muted to bright. They are quite vibrant and pigment intense, and the macadamia oil makes them especially nourishing and creamy.

Read our full Matte Velvet Waterless Lip Colour review

A crisp red perfect for late summer or early fall

Summary of Clean Beauty Lipsticks

There are more options than ever for those desiring lipsticks free of chemicals.

Interested in using fewer chemicals in your skincare routine? Then you may enjoy:

Our DEFINING BEAUTY Glossary of Ingredients to know what exactly is in your products
Our DISCONTINUED CLINIQUE PRODUCTS GUIDE
Skincare Industry Expert EndyMed Answers Questions About NEWA At-Home Skin-Tightening

References

Tarek A. El-Adawy and Khaled M. Taha (2001). “Characteristics and Composition of Watermelon, Pumpkin, and Paprika Seed Oils and Flours”. J. Agric. Food Chem. 49 (3): 1253-1259. doi:10.10217
Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:648108. doi:10.1155/2015/648108

Caley Cosmetics Beach Babe Cream-to-Glow

April 20, 2022 · Leave a Comment

Caley Cosmetics Beach Babe Cream-to-Glow is an amazing multi-tasking product. It not only is a cream to powder blush and bronzer, but it contains amazing natural skin-friendly ingredients plus probiotics for sensational skincare.

Caley Cosmetics Beach Babe Cream-to-Glow in Signature Glow

A Mighty Multi-Tasker

Caley Cosmetics Beach Babe Cream-to-Glow is a multi-tasking glowing blush and bronzer duo that does your microbiome good with probiotics while enhancing your skin with natural, treating ingredients typically seen in quality skincare.

The Shades

Caley Cosmetics Beach Babe Cream-to-Glow comes in three flattering shades: Signature glow, Peach glow, or Gold glow. This cream to powder formula works on cheeks, and lips and even brightens lids.

fresh-faced color with a glow, not glitter

The blush gives a natural oomph of fresh-faced color with a glow, not glitter. The bronzer is not overly “orange” toned but still warm and gives a natural-looking contour, not a fake spray tan made-up look. It is very buildable and doesn’t look powdery on the skin.

The Features

This formula is:

hydrating
luminous
dewy
buildable
good for skin
does not contain water

Cream to powder texture, vibrant color payout

Key Ingredients

Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Seed Oil

Watermelon Seed Oil is an outstanding antioxidant and highly nutritive oil. High in linoleic and oleic acids, it has antioxidant activity and vitamin E compounds that protect the skin from oxidative stress and photo-aging.

Coconut Oil

Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) oil

Coconut Oil is highly moisturizing. It is also anti-inflammatory with mild UV protective properties. Coconut Oil exfoliates dry flaky skin and reveals smooth skin. It is antibacterial.

Crambe Abyssinica

Abyssinian Seed Oil is lightweight and absorbs easily.

It contains linoleic acid, which is the predominant fat in skin cells. It forms the lipid barrier that holds moisture in skin cells, which keeps the skin hydrated.

Sunflower

Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil

Sunflower is hydrating and nourishing. It functions as a lipid buffer and retains moisture in the skin. Rich in vitamin E, it can repair damaged skin.

Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract

Hibiscus promotes collagen production within the skin.

Sambucus Nigra (Elderberry) Fruit Extract

Elderberry Extract increases microcirculation. It is high in Vitamin C and E to decrease fine lines, but is still gentle enough to use on lips when included an emollient formulation such as this one.

Pineapple extract is a natural exfoliator

Pineapple extract is a natural anti-inflammatory

Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit

Pineapple Fruit contains fruit extracts that are effective exfoliants to sloughs off dead cells on the surface of the skin while imparting soothing skin benefits.

Indica (Mango) Fruit Extract

Mango Fruit Extract is high in copper. Copper builds Collagen, Elastin, and increases Hyaluronic Acid production which keeps skin plump and springy.

Lactobacillus Ferment

A probiotic to maintains the microbiome for a healthy skin barrier, reducing skin issues such as acne.

Rosemary

Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract

Rosemary Extract combats dry skin. It naturally protects skin from sun damage and free radicals. It also has natural antiseptic properties and is a gentle exfoliant for dead skin flakes.

It is stimulating and promotes better blood circulation to deliver the nutrients necessary to build collagen, elastin and to encourage scar repair.

Papaya

Carica Papaya (Papaya) Seed Oil

Papaya Seed Oil is high in Tocopherols and Carotenoids, it’s an antioxidant and improves skin elasticity, reduces wrinkles, moisturizes, and promotes skin cell regeneration.

It has an amazing fatty acid profile, including linoleic and Behenic acid. It is exceptionally soothing to dry skin.

Caley Cosmetics Beach Babe Cream-to-Glow gives a naturally sun-kissed look.

Where to Find It

Find Caley Cosmetics Beach Babe Cream-to-Glow at CaleyCosmetics.com

Caley Cosmetics has bright fun packaging

QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS?

Have any comments or questions about Caley Cosmetics Beach Babe Cream-to-Glow?

The Style Chicks are here to answer them.

ABOUT THIS POST

Caley Cosmetics Beach Babe Cream-to-Glow was submitted to Style Chicks for consideration purposes.

The Style Chicks team personally tests and thoroughly evaluates each product before it is featured.

Style Chicks independently researches product ingredients to understand how every featured product works.

All opinions and experiences are 100% our own.