Beauty Expert: Elise Marquam-Jahns
It’s always exciting to try out some new makeup products. Which I hope will work especially well for those of us with mature skin.
In today’s video, I’ll be trying out a variety of products from a wide range of drugstore and high-end brands. Everything from foundation to eyeshadow to powder, lipstick, and gloss. With a few other products included along the way.
And, there are several products I’ve already given a test run and they came out with flying colors. So I’m particularly excited to share those products with you today.
Eyeshadow Drugstore Brand:
The eyeshadow I’m using in today’s video is from a drugstore brand—Almay. And I so love what they’ve done. Each eyeshadow palette contains eye shadow colors that work especially well for particular eye colors. So there’s a palette for brown eyes, green eyes, hazel eyes and blue eyes. And they’ve numbered each color (by imprinting the number in the powder) to show where to place each color.
On their website, they describe the design of these palettes as a “paint by numbers” system for our eyelids. They also have a visual on the back of each palette that shows exactly where to place each numbered shadow. Now you certainly don’t have to place the colors where they recommend each color be placed, but this can be a helpful tool for many of us.
And by the way, I should also mention that Almay products are fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and come in paper packaging.
“Almay products are fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and come in paper packaging.”
Cost Of This Eyeshadow:
Each of these palettes is $10.99 on the Almay site. In the video, I’m going to go ahead and use the palette for brown eye. And I’ll apply the colors where they suggest they be applied except for number 5. Number five is a shimmer color which according to the guidelines on the package should be placed under the arch of the brow.
But since I prefer to use a matte color in that area. I’ll use the base color, which is number one, under the brow. So the color designated as number one goes on the inner 1/3 of the eyelid. Color number two goes in the middle of the eye. And number three goes on the outer corner and crease. It’s suggested that number four be used as eyeliner.
True Skin Hydrating Foundation:
Now on to face makeup. To provide a little bit of glow under my foundation– which is a matte foundation–I’m going to use Becca’s Backlight Priming Filter. I have the travel size which is half of a fluid ounce and costs $21.00. The regular size is one full ounce and costs $39.00. And I’m only going to use it on one side of my face so we can see if it does indeed add some glow to that side of the face.
Next, I’m going to apply foundation. Using Catrice’s True Skin Hydrating Foundation in shade 18 which is “Cool Rose.” And this product is one I couldn’t wait to share with you because I’m really impressed with it. It comes in 20 shades and is described as being long-wearing, vegan, with medium buildable coverage which provides a natural real skin finish. And It’s also described as an ultra-light texture that melts into the skin and is formulated with hyaluronic acid and watermelon seed for intense hydration.
Medium, Buildable Coverage Foundation:
I’ve already worn this foundation several times and I would absolutely agree that it’s a light texture with a skin-like finish and definitely provides a medium, buildable coverage. It is far more hydrating than their HD Liquid Coverage Foundation which I tried in an earlier video, but I wouldn’t call it intense hydration—at least not for my very dry skin.
But with a good moisturizer under it, it works beautifully. And, it’s only $11.00. I’d say it’s quite an amazing value. And if you want lighter coverage, you can certainly apply it with a sponge or sheer it out with a sponge.
Correcting Concealer:
Now I’m in need of a little correcting concealer under my eyes so I’m going to use Elf’s Hydrating Camo Concealer in “Light Peach” under my eyes, followed by just a touch of the same Elf concealer in “Fair Beige.”
And by the way, the Elf Camo Concealer costs $6.00. To help reduce the possibility of the concealer creasing, I’m going to press in a little of a new setting powder I’m trying: Maybelline’s Lasting Fix Banana Translucent Setting Powder. This Maybelline product is supposed to be brightening and blurring and costs $9.99 on the Maybelline site.
Wet ‘N Wild Contour Stick:
Next, I’m going to quickly apply my Wet ‘N Wild Contour Stick in “Where’s Walnut” and my Rare Beauty Stay Vulnerable Cream Blush in “Nearly Neutral.” This next product, which is a highlighter, is another product. I was really excited to try since it’s from one of my favorite clean beauty brands, Ilia. It’s their Daylite Highlighting Powder.
“It’s talc-free and is very finely milled and has a really buttery soft texture.”
It’s talc-free and is very finely milled and has a really buttery soft texture. The product information says that it’s possible to create a soft subtle shimmer or a more dramatic look. And, there are two colors: a soft gold color called “Decades” and a deep rose gold color called “Starstruck.” I have “Starstruck” which may be too dark for me.
Colorblock Lipstick:
Next comes lips. The lipstick is another product I’ve been looking forward to trying from Ilia. It’s their Colorblock lipstick in the shade “Knockout” which is magenta with cool undertones.
Ilia’s lipsticks are vegan and according to the description on the website they’re “crafted by hand and milled with customized pigments in organic Castor Seed oil to offer 4 times more pigment than any previous lipstick Illia has created.” These lipsticks are available in 15 colors, cost $28 and, they’re supposed to be hydrating and long-lasting.
And of course, I always love a little lip gloss on top of my lipstick. So I’m going to lighten and brighten the lipstick color a bit with this Sephora Glossed lip gloss in the shade “Wild.” These Sephora glosses are $10 each and they come in 28 different colors.
Hourglass Ambient Light Finishing Powder:
Now to finish the look, I’m going to take a damp sponge and just softly go over my entire face to give some added moisture and make sure everything blends together. And my final step is to use my Hourglass Ambient Light Finishing powder and blush from my Hourglass palette.
In the video, I’ll share my final thoughts on each of the products I’ve used in the video.
About the Author:
Elise Marquam-Jahns is a professional, working makeup-artist who is passionate about helping women 45+ get their glow back. In addition to her work as a makeup artist for a major cosmetics line, she founded Boomer and Beyond Beauty. Be sure to check out Elise’s YouTube channel which specifically focuses on makeup tips, techniques, and product reviews for those of us 45+. Don’t forget to subscribe! Elise is also an author and speaker and hosts Normandale Community College’s monthly Learning Well Edge Talk Radio show where she interviews experts in the field of health and wellness.
