My Desert Island Makeup

Disclosure: Affiliate links.

A tropical backdrop would be more appropriate, but slow unpackers can't be choosers.

I moved to a new apartment last week, and I still haven't found unpacked most of my makeup. I also haven't unpacked my camera, so please accept this shitty photo that I took with my phone.

In the meantime, I've been subsisting on a makeup diet limited mainly to the few things I shoved in my dufflebag to get me through the first few days. Those days have extended to over a week, and here we still are. So I guess these are my desert island makeup essentials: not the most exciting things I own, but the things I can use day after day and be totally satisfied.

I'll go through the items in the photo clockwise starting at the upper left corner. Swatches and more detail are available at the previous posts I've linked below if you're curious. I've reviewed most of them--they made it to the island for a reason!

Wet N Wild ColorIcon Blush in Pearlescent Pink (reviewed briefly here, compared to Nars Orgasm here). I have the old version of this blush, which I've heard has been reformulated in the new line and is no longer as perfect. Can anyone confirm? (This old one is still available on Amazon for under $5, but apparently only 2 left!) I can use this everyday and it's always flattering on me. Just pigmented enough that it's easy to apply without layering, but not so pigmented that I risk clown-face. The only flaw is that in direct sunlight it's a little sparklier than I'd like, but it's not too obnoxious.

Paula's Choice Endless Lash Mascara. This is a decent mascara, but overpriced. It's what I'm using now, but if I were actually headed to a desert island I'd prefer to have a tube of Covergirl LashBlast Volume with me (reviewed here).

Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer in Fondant (reviewed here). Still the best undereye concealer I've used. I recently bought a new tube in the shade Butter Cream to see if it's a better match. I'll open that when I'm getting closer to finishing this one. The yellow undertones in Fondant do a good job of canceling out the purple under my eyes, but it's not ideal elsewhere on my face.

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze (reviewed here). It's quick to smear on eyelids with my finger in the morning and it always looks pretty. I just recently hit pan on this jar that I've had for a couple of years, but I think I have at least a year to go. Amazon has it on sale for less than $4 (with coupon) right now.

TheBalm Stainiac. This is one thing that I've loved for years and never reviewed, because it photographs terribly. In a closeup shot of my lips it just looks patchy. In real life, it adds a nice pink flush--probably the slight unevenness helps it look more natural. (I can see how it might not look great on lips that are lighter than mine, though.) It's comfortable and longlasting. I can apply lip balm right over top without affecting the stain. I don't use it on my cheeks, because I find it hard to blend smoothly.

Shiseido Natural Eyebrow Pencil in Ash Blond (swatched here). I am using this sample I got from Choix, because I finished up my last Avon Ultra Luxury pencil (reviewed here). I have another one somewhere, but I haven't dug it out. I prefer the Avon pencil slightly, but in general I find pencils to be the easiest and quickest eyebrow product to use, provided they are hard enough that they don't deposit a ton of product and make a mess.

PUR Cosmetics 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Powder Foundation. I haven't completely made up my mind about this stuff. I like how it applies and how it looks on my face, but it picks up sunscreen from my brush and forms a hard film on the surface. That might be a problem worth dealing with. I really like combining base and powder into one step. Any recommendations for other pressed powder foundations? I don't really like messing around with BareMinerals loose powder, and I find it looks heavier than I like, anyway.

Black Radiance Eyeshadow Primer (reviewed here). Without this stuff, my eyeshadow would melt right off in 15 minutes in this heat. I've also found that eyeshadow primer works well to keep concealer attached to ugly chin zits, fyi.

So that's been my #FOTD for a lot of days now. Soon I will pull out all of my other shit and be more creative, but this works in a pinch.

What makeup would you want to have with you on a desert island? Basics like this or something more exciting? (Let's all pretend that we would actually wear makeup on a desert island for some reason instead of just eating leaves and crying.)

Introduction

This BAMF is the patron goddess of not spending too much money or something. You too can be this awesome. (Source)

UPDATE: See the updated About page here.

It really pisses me off when people waste their money on products when there are cheap alternatives that are just as good or better. You’re letting them beat you! Don’t do it!

Of course, sometimes you just want to spend extravagantly, because YOU CAN, and fuck everything, the packaging is really pretty, okay? Do what you want! But when you’re not in the mood for reckless consumerism, I am here to help you find cheap and awesome shit.

I’ll only post reviews of things I have tried personally and loved and am willing to stake my non-existent Internet reputation on. Or maybe terrible stuff that you should avoid. Whatever. Heavy on the beauty products and skincare, but if I want to tell you about something else, I will! Just try to stop me.

I haven’t been paid to endorse any of this crap. If I am ever be given something for free to review, I solemnly swear to be honest about what I think and to tell you that I got it for free.

UPDATE/DISCLAIMER: I’ve started to sign up for affiliate programs. I’m still not going to recommend anything to you that I don’t actually really like, though. And you are totally welcome not to click the links if that bothers you, obviously. I will always include a disclosure at the bottom of every post that contains affiliate links.

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Other affiliate programs: Ulta, e.l.f., ModCloth, ZenniOptical, Cherry Culture.

About Me:

I’ll tell you a little about myself, because as they say on the internets, YMMV. Especially when it comes to things you put on or in your body, everyone will react differently. So I’ll tell you what works for me, and you can decide based on whether or not we have anything in common if you want to try it out too.

I'm in my early 30s, with dyed red hair, and pale, oily skin that breaks out pretty regularly. I doubt I will be reviewing any facial moisturizers around here, because my skin is plenty moist already, thankyouverymuch. (Please stop sending them to me, Birchbox, even though I am a young-old!) Anything else you need to know, I will include in my reviews.

Thanks! Please always feel free to let me know (via comment or email at cheapasf@gmail.com) if you have any cheap shit to recommend.