Jillian Dempsey's Eye Tints (Part II)

C77A7155.jpg

Legendary makeup artist Jillian Dempsey has been leading the industry by translating her impossibly breezy LA cool-girl aesthetic into a covetable–and clean!–color line. It’s no secret I’m an unabashed fan of her work (as are Kirsten Dunst, Kristen Stewart, Jennifer Lawrence amongst the many others who continually request her for red carpet engagements and editorial projects).

Her fool-proof Lid Tints are a riff on the classic cream eyeshadow - finger-friendly, translucent, satin-y, and in a spectrum of shades that you’ve never seen before)—and didn’t realize you needed. (I’ve reviewed her initial launch of five shades, which you can find here.) You can be brazen with the application, they build up wonderfully and there’s no need to be perfectly precise. Packed with skin loving ingredients like Marula, Rosehip, Coconut and Jojoba Oils, Shea Butter and Vitamins A and C, these have an almost balm-like effect on the tissue thin skin around the eye area. As an exhausted working mother of three very young children, I skip the eye cream and reach for these time and again to rejuvenate and freshen up my tired eyes in the morning,

That being said, the latest launch of three shades are just as flattering as the initial iteration. However, the coolness factor is definitely kicked up a notch.

C77A7151 (1).jpg

Starting from the left is Ruby, a gleaming neutral crimson. My favorite of the pack, it gives the most modern, edgy eye when smudged with a brown eye pencil (check out her work using it on Caroline Hirons for inspiration!) or patted on the center of an otherwise bare lid before adding a flick of black liquid liner.) This is just on the rim of my comfort zone as far as color goes, which keeps things exciting. I’m often finding myself stuck in a makeup rut or burned out on the chromed out eyeshadow effects . If you’re a Sephora VIB-type with an arsenal of eyeshadows, Ruby won’t disappoint as you probably have nothing like it in your repertoire; you’ll be reaching for it time and again. Bonus: you can tap it onto lips and cheeks to get a fresh berry stain effect, making it a useful product when traveling.

Dew, top center, is a completely clear gloss. It’s definitely a product you see on editorials. Dew is the perfect name - it reflects light without looking too wet and there’s no shimmer at all. It’s fresh worn solo, but also modernizes any powder shadow texture when layered on top.

Glimmer, bottom right, is a universally flattering warm and sparkling nectarine. Tapped on the moveable part of the eyelid, it enlivens any eye color. And this shade being endlessly useful, adds a sensual post-summer tan effect to the cheeks. I can’t think of anyone this wouldn’t look amazing on and it’s a mainstay in my purse.

But again, if you’re at a loss what to pick up, make sure you get Ruby, pictured again below for good measure. And for further inspiration, check out Burberry makeup artist Wendy Rowe test driving the Lid Tints here.

Available at Jillian Dempsey’s site or Credo Beauty.

C77A7158.jpg

Beuti Skincare Beauty Sleep Elixir & Red Flower Little Candle Set: Two more Credo Beauty finds for gift giving inspiration

You know when a skincare item is constantly selling out, it must be really good. Such is the case with Beuti Skincare's Beauty Sleep Elixir, the (right now) sole product offered from this UK based line. This is an oil based anti-inflammatory serum that has none of the slipperiness or weight of a typical oil, so anyone who's afraid of oil will find this to function more like the serums they're accustomed to. Comprised of 14 anti aging plant ingredients (camellia oil, chia seed oil, seabuckthorn oil...) it also has some relatively unusual inclusions, like bitter cherry seed oil, strawberry seed oil, and sea whip extract–which is derived from Caribbean coral. (which I've confirmed to be sustainably resourced, only the tips of the coral are used, leaving the rest of the coral in tact and able to regrow). Sea whip extract is said to be particularly effective at quelling inflammation, which is the hallmark benefit of this bottle. In fact, they even suggest using this as a spot treatment for deflating acne spots.

A little goes a long way, and it's a nice change to have a facial oil deliver hydration that actually lasts throughout the day. (I've started keeping a bottle of Tata Harper's roll on facial oil in my bag because my cheeks become uncomfortably paper-dry during this winter months). The title suggests this being primarily used at night, but it's fantastic layered under SFP and doesn't interfere with foundation, blush or powder longevity. I'd suggest this for anyone dealing with acne, sensitive skin, premature aging, sunburn or recovering from laser therapy. Fun fact: Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge (formerly known as Kate Middleton) is said to be a fan.

I'm hard pressed to find someone who doesn't appreciate a well made, scented candle, but I'm also hard pressed to find one that actually scents the room, versus delivering a feeble 2" radius of fragrance. Not the case with Red Flower, their ubiquitous candles are sensory experiences. Their little glass gems with simple names (Indian Jasmine, French Lavender...)  belie unexpectedly complicated, rich and layered fragrances. If a candle can give off a cerebral olfactory effect, this would be it.

Plus I'm looking forward to repurposing these tiny beakers for mini succulent and air plant terrariums on my desk. 

Break apart this box for stocking stuffers or deliver this to a worthy recipient, it's like a box of chocolates but so much better.