Allison’s Makeup Faves from 2021

Although I didn’t wear a ton of makeup in 2021, I nevertheless did some makeup shopping and ended up with a number of favorites.

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While I did buy a few eye palettes in 2021, two I bought at the end of December and haven’t tried out yet. Truth be told, I didn’t use eye palettes very often last year, and when I did, I seemed to reach for Lime Crime Venus palette that I bought a couple of years ago, so it doesn’t count for this purpose.

Also, as a “mature beauty blogger”, I mostly get sent skincare products to try out for review. Though I occasionally and I mean very occasionally receive makeup for review, all of my makeup favorites I bought myself. No surprise, right?

Here are the makeup items that I bought in 2021 that were my favorites:

Two of my favorites came to me via Ipsy Plus:

• Half Caked Totally Tubular Mascara, The Heights: I really love this non-clumping, lengthening, easy to apply mascara. Although it doesn’t give tons of volume, there’s enough, and it helps my colorless lashes look long and curled. I don’t think this was specifically meant to be a curling mascara, but it truly helps my usually straight lashes hold a curl. As I have mentioned previously, though this is a tubing mascara, it doesn’t produce gross tubes when I remove it like other tubing mascaras do. I recently bought another version of Totally Tubular Mascara, The Ultimate, but though it’s a decent mascara, I do not love it like I do The Heights. For a little more than $10 for a full size tube, The Heights works for me!
• Maelle Beauty Clearly Brilliant Tinted Lips: Ever since I discovered Jordana lip crayons years ago (Jordana closed up shop in 2020 which IMHO is a real shame), I have loved lip crayons for everyday wear. They provide just enough color to prevent me from looking pale or dead. They keep my lips from drying out, and they’re easy to apply even without a mirror. So I was happy to receive Maelle Clearly Brilliant Tinted Lips in the shade Rose in one of my Ipsy Plus bags. Actually, it might have been an Ipsy Add-On that I bought for $3. Regardless, it’s a very pretty shade, hydrating like a lip balm, and I love it. I just discovered that Maelle Beauty, like Jordana, is no more. The random shades of Tinted Lips are being sold on Poshmark, Mercari, and Bonanza, boo hoo.

Although I had purchased others in this line before 2021, I liked it so much I bought another shade:

• Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize Cream Shadow, shade Champagne: In 2019 and 2020, I bought two pots of CT cream shadow, and no kidding, they are the best cream shadow I have ever owned. It’s a cinch to apply with a finger or a brush. It’s so creamy and feels great on my dry eyelids. Yet it doesn’t wander or fade but stays put all day long. Since the pandemic, I am spending less time on makeup application, so a single swipe on the lid and done is what I’m doing most often. I added Champagne, a light but bright icy-pale pink-golden shade is good for everyday, for the inner corner in a more complex eye look or in the arch under the brows. I am thrilled that CT just launched a few matte shadows. You can be sure I will pick up a couple: Smoky Taupe is a definite and Nude Cashmere is a probably. Now, if only CT would introduce a silver tone instead of variations on gold all the time.

The rest of the makeup were all new-to-me purchases make in 2021:

• bareMinerals BarePro Full Coverage 16 Hour Concealer, shade Fair/Light Neutral 03: I think I had a coupon at Ulta when I bought this terrific cream stick concealer at one of my rare trips to the store in the summer. The color match is perfect, and there are 15 shades to choose from. It’s a cinch to apply. It is full coverage in one swipe, and it lasts for hours. What more could I ask for?
• LYS Beauty Higher Standard Satin Matte Cream Blush, shade Confident: I saw this blush online in a number of places, and the triangular shape as well as the cream formula caught my eye. I had bought a disappointing cream blush earlier this year (Rare Beauty, I’m looking at you for not lasting more than 5 minutes!), so I strongly hoped that LYS Beauty would be a better choice. It most certainly was. Cream blush seldom lasts as long as powder, but LYS Beauty Higher Standard does quite well lasting for a few hours on me. It’s a “stiffer” formula than the greasier Rare Beauty. The shade I finally chose (out of 5 beautiful shades!), Confident, is pink cinnamon spice, and it is perfect for me. I also like the satin matte finish.
• Doll 10 Beauty T.C.E. Lipstick, shade No Boundaries: After reading a review on Prime Beauty Blog about a set from Doll 10 Beauty with foundation, brush, mascara, and lipstick, I decided to go for it. I always trusted Cindy’s reviews, and the shades she wears work well for me, too. The full coverage cream foundation is very nice, the mascara was good, the brush is fabulous, but I adore the lipstick and wear it often. No Boundaries is such a pretty pink satin shade that lasts for a few hours and doesn’t dry out my lips. Another great for everyday shade. It turns out that No Boundaries is only available as part of the 4 piece Makeup Miracles Set, but the set is a really good way to get introduced to Doll 10. 
• Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal Liner: I bought two of the Victoria Beckham Satin Kaja Liner in early December. They are so soft but so long-wearing, I adore them. Sea Gray is the perfect metallic gunmetal shade for me. I was disappointed with the shade, Ash, at first because I expected it to be a medium to charcoal gray instead of black, but I have discovered it’s an excellent pencil liner for the waterline. I would love to get Olive and Bronze next, but I have to wait for a sale!
• Olive & June Nail Polish, Manicure Set, Topcoat, and Nail Strengthener: I consider nail polish makeup, and I couldn’t end my post without including Olive & June. As you can surely tell from all my O&J posts, Olive & June nail products were my best discovery in 2021. I absolutely love this brand!

So those are my favorite makeup products from 2021. What are some of yours?

Today's Author

Allison Cohen

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