makeup capsule – marginalia and such

Summer makeup declutter

I haven’t worn makeup more than 2 or 3 times since March 17th. March 16th was the last day I went to the office, and I probably didn’t wear makeup then, but let’s call it the 17th. Regardless, quarantine has taught me that I really don’t need any of this stuff for the foreseeable future, if at all. Part of me was tempted to toss everything or only keep a hand-full of products, but I know myself—I’ll end up repurchasing the shades I tossed as soon as I get bored, so I kept a decent amount of variety.

A lot of my beauty products are “natural” or small-batch, which means expiry dates are short (6-12 months on average). The first round of cuts included everything that had started to turn/smell/separate/or looked wrong – which meant all my sapphos, fitglow, and two of my twinkle * apothecary lip to cheeks. The rest are products I: a) don’t use, b) was forcing myself to empty for the sense of accomplishment (I’m over it), or c) don’t work for my skin or skin tone.

The result is a curated collection of lip products in my preferred shades/brands, and a small batch of cheek and eye options. Not pictured is my small collection of palettes (and by small, I mean 3 palettes and 1 on the way because how could I resist the Colourpop Sailor Moon?) and a couple of basic shades that are part of my WFH rotation when I need a lift.

I’m satisfied for now.

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makeup capsule: week of 2.24.20

A bit late, but I’ve been migrain-ing and all non-essentials have fallen to the wayside… As a result, I’m going for a light and fresh look with minimal effort.

This week I’ll be using:

Twinkle * Apothecary the Stain on lips – this is a versatile product and probably my favorite blush of the last few months, but it’s also a beautiful, light lip stain
Twinkle * Apothecary petal on lips and cheeks – for the monochrome, 1-product days
Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream – I think I have 1 more use out of this, maybe 2.
Sappho New Paradigm CC Cream in light – Starting on this as soon as the Juice Beauty becomes an empty. This looks dark at first, but blends to a skin-perfecting finish. It’s also about to turn, so I hope I can make it an empty before it does.
Wet N’ Wild Retractable Brow Pencil – for ze brows (per usual)
Rituel de Fille lipstick in Fortune Teller – in case I need a power lip
Sappho mascara – possibly my fave eco beauty mascara
Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance – I’ve been craving the berry lid look
Smith’s Rosebud salve – a constant
Twinkle * Apothecary scent in Bad B*tch – reminds me of my dad’s perfume. A warm, masculine scent that lasts for hours.

I post #motd stories on my capsule closet insta @emilia____grace

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makeup capsule: week of 2.10.20

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Still no eye shadow this week… I might be brave and try some eyeliner, but perhaps not.

This week I’ll be using:

Twinkle * Apothecary the Stain on cheeks – still loving it and it’s just the right amount of blush without looking madeup
Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream – almost an empty!!!! maybe 1 more week left…
RMS uncoverup 22 – for concealing
Wet N’ Wild Retractable Brow Pencil – for ze brows (per usual)
Honest Beauty Liquid Lipstick in Love – this is a pure red to replace a recent empty (really, a declutter) – note, this takes a REALLY long time to set
Rituel de Fille lipstick in Fortune Teller – a dark, deep plummy red that I need to start using (another recent acquisition)
Kuumba Made Egyptian Musk fragrance oil
Smith’s Rosebud salve – a classic

I post #motd stories on my capsule closet insta @emilia____grace

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makeup capsule: week of 2.2.20

This week I’ll be using:

Twinkle * Apothecary the Stain on cheeks – this is a perfect flush
Twinkle * Apothecary bronzing balm – to highlight my cheekbones (also works as a blush for me)
RMS uncoverup 22 – for concealing
Wet N’ Wild Retractable Brow Pencil – for ze brows
Kosås lipstick in Royal – a plummy rose shade
Twinkle * Apothecary Mulholland perfume – a lovely flower-based scent that dries down to a powdery jasmine

A streamlined #makeupcapsule this week. Why? Because my eyes were nearly shut on Saturday morning and I think I finally found the culprit behind the eye dermatitis I had last year….

dun dun dun

ELF MAKEUP BRUSHES!

Yep. Brushes, not shadows. For nearly 9 months, I stopped using eye shadow (hence, my failed #projectpan), thinking I was allergic to an ingredient in the shadows.

A few months ago, I picked up some new brands and bought some Morphe brushes. This time, no dermatitis. I thought it was over, all healed.

Not so.

On Friday, I switched to one of my old elf brushes (one I hadn’t touched in months) and BAM swollen eyelids and what looked like contact dermatitis up to my brow bone. I’m a delicate flower and allergic to sooo many things. I suspect a fiber in the synthetic bristles is the culprit, so I’m putting these in quarantine, but I’m pretty sure I have my answer.

I post #motd stories on my capsule closet insta @emilia____grace

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makeup capsule: week of 1.27.20

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A new series for 2020! Part of my #projectuseitup and #projectpan

I committed to panning several of my products in 2019, to limited success, so this year I’ve started working on a weekly capsule to make regular use of what I own and determine what needs to go. My collection is fairly tame compared to some, but I still have more than I can use up in a year. My goal is something similar to the #30wears concept for clothing–making regular use of my makeup through intentional wear.

If I buy it, I have to use it.

(I’m also including scent as part of the capsule.)

This week, I’ll be using:

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC cream in Light (soon to be an empty!)
Sappho New Paradigm mascara in Black
Wet n’ Wild Retractable brow pencil in Medium Brown
RMS concealer in 22
Twinkle * Apothecary’s the Stain
Twinkle * Apothecary’s Bronzing Balm
Kosas Rosewater (it has a few uses left – this was 2019’s project pan) and Royal
Smith’s Rosebud Salve (I use this every morning and have for years)
Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics (this palette has weird aspirational vibes for my 2010 self who wanted but couldn’t splurge on the original)
Kuumba Made Egyptian Musk fragrance oil

I post #motd stories on my capsule closet insta @emilia____grace

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video: current makeup capsule

My current makeup capsule and a preview of what I’m planning to pan in 2019. My goal is to learn is to fall in love with what I own and curb future beauty spending…