In years past I was a big colour lover when it came to makeup. Purple was my comfort place. As I've gotten older (eww) I've found myself embracing a good neutral a lot more. I also learned that neutral doesn't have to mean straight up brown and beige - there are pink neutrals, plum neutrals, gold neutrals. You get the point. Here are my picks for some of my favourite neutral themed products as of late. Be prepared to read the word 'neutral' more times than you ever cared to...
When it comes to cheeks I think alot of blushes can get a bit muddy and dull looking if they have too much of a brown tone to them. I must prefer a peach based neutral like my Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Peaceful. It's got a very fine pearliness to it (read: not a shimmering hot mess glitter bomb) that gives a gorgeous glow without accentuating pores and fine lines. This is my go to when I just don't know what blush to use, because it truly looks good with every look from a smokey eye to a lick of mascara and a red lip.
Lips I have two neutral favourites, my Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Naked, which isn't pictured because it permanently lives in my handbag, and Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfector in 06 Rosewood. Both are a 'your lips but better' shade with the Urban Decay erring on the side of being a bit more warm and the Clarins being a slightly rosier neutral.
For swipe on and go neutral eye looks I love a good crease free cream shadow. Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in 13 is a gorgeous champagne that has solid pigment, sophisticated shimmer and sets bulletproof (seriously these were made for synchronized swimmers!) Another cream shadow that wears beautifully on its own is the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Creamy Beige - a matte tan beige shade that just adds some depth to the eye without shimmer.
Eyeshadow palettes are probably one of the easier products to play with neutral shades due to the surge in popularity of the Urban Decay Naked range in recent years; There is so much choice out there now. My pick is the Urban Decay Naked Basics 2 Palette - a collection of matte (and on pearl) shadows with a mostly cooler undertone. Honestly these shades were put together so well, there is a really good balance of light through dark and the colours make my green eyes POP.
Another recent favourite is the Tarte Tartelette Palette, which has a mix of warm and cool as well as some plum based neutrals. Every shade here is matte, and the formula is super buttery and smooth minus fallout. You have everything from highlight right through to a good solid true matte black.
Finally when it comes to liners, the Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel-Crayons in Ro(cocoa) and Brown(out) have it in the bag for me. Ro(cocoa) is a gorgeous coppery warm brown and Brown(out) is a more golden bronze brown and they just seem to pep up any boring or flat looking neutral eye look. The shimmer in these is super refined and not glittery at all - just enough to pick up the light and make your eyes sparkle. I often feel this is the step that just brings it all together for me and takes my look from casual to polished.
What are your recent favourite neutrals? What should I try out next?
