What It Does: It has a soft-focus effect and keeps makeup fresh throughout the day
Who It’s For: Whether you’re looking for a product that just evens out your skin a little or for a primer that make your base wear longer, this does the trick.
A hydrating primer that goes above and beyond, Sephora Collection Smooth + Blur Primer is a silky, vitamin E-infused formula that has a supernatural way of blurring skin, like a soft-focus filter on Instagram. It immediately makes complexions look so smooth and even — hiding redness with a sheer, subtle, tan tint — you may just hesitate to add foundation on top. After letting your sunscreen (the last step in any skincare routine) absorb, smooth on the hydrating vitamin E-infused primer. Immediately, your skin will look smoother…so good, in fact, you’ll hesitate to even add foundation. Target a bit of extra coverage over any redness and your makeup will stay perfectly fresh throughout the entire day.
As mask mandates begin to lift around the world, here’s a look at my absolute favourite statement red lipsticks. (Even though I wear red on the daily, like its a go-to nude!)
L’Oreal Liquid Lipstick in 422
Wet’n’Wild Liquid Lipstick in 930B Missy and Fierce
Well, this was unexpected…Dinosaurs and unicorns will be featured on the products that are being targeted to Gen Z and Millennials.
Break out your quilted Coach cosmetic pouch because, for the first time ever, Coach makeup is now a thing. Thanks to a new sure-to-sell-out collab with Sephora Collection, the American heritage brand is debuting a flashy new assortment of beauty must-haves. Think glittery lip glosses, groovy makeup brushes, and collectible eye-to-face palettes in the likeness of Coach’s unofficial mascots, Rexy, Sharky, and Uni. “This collection is inspired by Coach’s free-spirited attitude, which really comes to life through the colorful and animated packaging, and is grounded in the beauty expertise of Sephora Collection,” Brooke Banwart, Vice President & General Manager of Sephora Collection, exclusively tells Refinery29. “Together with Coach, we set out to create a unique collection of wearable essentials that will evoke a sense of confidence and embody the core values of both brands.”
As any Coach stan will notice, iconic brand motifs like the brand’s animal friends, ladylike tea roses, and hangtag charm feature heavily in the packaging. “We took all of [the brand inspiration] and developed product formulas and shades that were high-quality at an affordable price point, which is what our clients know and love about Sephora Collection,” Banwart adds. “We worked closely with Coach to finalize the color palette and align on all details from metal finishes to colored glitter.” The full collection became available on March 2, and prices start at $16 for a pack of soothing eye patches and top out at $68 for the five-piece brush set. Palettes clock in at $38 apiece, and feature cheeky designs like rose-embossed pans, and a fashion-forward color palette that evokes Coach’s downtown-cool vibe.
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Coach x Sephora Collection Rexy Eyeshadow Palette
Inspired by the fearless and playful spirit of Rexy, leader of the Coach mascots, this palette provides impeccable payoff with blendable formula. The versatile shades allow you to create both everyday and playful looks that are easy to apply on the go, making this palette a must-have accessory for your handbag.
This glittery five-piece brush set features playful Coach mascots and the tea rose, a symbol of the Coach girl’s wild, feminine spirit. Each brush was custom designed with a glitter handle and vegan, synthetic bristles. The set comes housed in a fun, glitter brush stand with detachable and adjustable rings in featuring Coach’s favorite mascots and the tea rose.
This Set Contains: – Powder brush – Angled blush brush – Highlight brush – Shadow brush – Crease brush – Stand – 5 x Adjustable rings
Coach x Sephora Collection Sharky Eyeshadow Palette
Inspired by the fun and ferocious Sharky, one of the Coach mascots, this palette provides impeccable payoff with blendable formula. The versatile shades allow you to create both everyday and fun looks that are easy to apply on the go making this palette a must-have accessory for your handbag.
Inspired by the tea rose, a symbol of the Coach girl’s wild, feminine spirit, this nail set features an essential quick drying base/top coat and universal pretty pink shade for a complete nail look. Add a twist to your classic manicure with the self-adhesive nail stickers—an easy and convenient way to accent the nails. This free-spirited and ambitious set lets you sport whichever Coach mascot speaks to you on any given day.
This Set Contains: – 4 x 0.156 oz/ 4.6 mL Lip Glosses in Nude Pink (pinky nude with subtle shimmer), Mauve (creamy light cocoa), Shimmer (multi-dimensional dazzling pink), Berry (burgundy).
Inspired by magical Uni, one of the Coach mascots, these softly romantic matte and shimmer shades will take your glow to the next level. Use these three shades to complement your natural glow. They can be worn day or night and through every mood and memory you make. This palette is the perfect accessory to apply on the go making it a must-have for your handbag.
This Set Contains: – 0.07 oz/ 1.99 g Rose (matte blush) – 0.07 oz/ 1.99 g Bronze (shimmer highlight) – 0.07 oz/ 1.99 g Clay (matte bronzer)
Inspired by the tea rose, a symbol of the Coach girl’s wild, feminine spirit, these cucumber-rose infused masks are thin, curved sheets that contour to the shape of the under-eye area perfectly to stay in place. Apply while getting ready for the day or when winding down for the night.
Highlighted Ingredients: – Aloe Vera: Imparts conditioning and calming properties. – Chamomile: Helps soothe the skin. – Cucumber: Softens and moisturizes.
Inspired by the tea rose, a symbol of the Coach girl’s wild, feminine spirit, this nail set features an essential quick drying base/top coat and universal pretty pink shade for a complete nail look. Add a twist to your classic manicure with the self-adhesive nail stickers—an easy and convenient way to accent the nails. This free-spirited and ambitious set lets you sport whichever Coach mascot speaks to you on any given day.
This Set Contains: – 0.25 oz/ 7.5 mL Pink Nail Polish – 0.25 oz/ 7.5 mL Clear Base/Top Coat – Nail stickers
A large glass of red wine, a steamy bubble bath, and a cooling face mask are all it takes to make a perfect night in my book. There’s just one (very big) issue: this sheet mask habit of mine isn’t exactly eco-friendly, thanks to all of those single-use materials. That’s why I was more than intrigued when several brands debuted reusable sheet masks in 2020. Nurse Jamie, Sephora Collection, Avant Guard, and Honest Beauty have all created silicone versions of the masks we know and love — but these treatments don’t contain serum of any kind. They’re designed to be worn on top of skincare products of your choosing, then washed, stored away, and re-used infinitely, therefore cutting down on waste from cotton, plastic, hydrogel, and other materials.
At the risk of sounding like Carrie Bradshaw, I couldn’t help but wonder: What difference can a reusable mask make in my skincare routine if it’s not infused with some sort of brightening or hydrating concoction? I want to make more sustainable choices, but will I have to sacrifice my favorite self-care activity in order to do so?
Nurse Jamie Face Wrap Skin Perfecting Silicone Mask
After doing my full night-time skincare routine, complete with serum, moisturizer, and sometimes a face oil, I simply wear the reusable mask anywhere between 10 to 30 minutes, just as its instructions advise. It has loops on either side to hook around the ears, so it never slides around or falls off, even when I’m up and walking around. When I’m done, I simply take it off, wash it in the sink with warm water and soap, pat it dry with a towel, then place it back in its provided storage bag until next time.
What benefit does this serve beyond the benefit of the skincare routine itself? According to the people who created the Magic Mask, a combination of things — the first one being sustainability, which is what initially drove brand founder Jessica Alba to create it.
“There’s all of this plastic that you throw away immediately… it’s almost like the sheet mask has become the plastic straw of 2021,” Alba tells Allure. “At the end of the day it’s just some serum and some moisturizer that you’re penetrating into the skin with the mask, so I thought wouldn’t it be great if we could have a more sustainable option?”
Beyond the environmental benefits, a silicone sheet mask can actually make your already-established skincare routine a little more effective, another reason Honest Beauty opted to create its iteration. “Often when we apply serums and moisturizers, most of the water evaporates during application, but our sheet mask helps to lock in product,” says Mallory McMahon, the associate director of research and innovation at Honest Beauty. “Using [exfoliating serums] with a [reusable] sheet mask may help boost efficacy; when used with hydrating products, it helps lock moisture in and decrease evaporation overall.”
Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara concurs. “Essentially [a silicone mask] acts as a canvas to drive active ingredients [into the skin] as opposed to being the active itself,” she explains. “It works to protect the ingredients so they don’t rub off.” And because these silicone alternatives aren’t already infused with active ingredients, customers get the freedom of fully customizing their mask experience.
OK, so it might look like I’m wearing a piece of thin-sliced hickory ham on my face, but it’s worth it to cut down on sheet mask waste. – Nicola Dall’Asen @Allure
It’s all possible because, as McMahon points out, silicone is a “chemically inert” material. I’ll let cosmetic chemist Ginger King explain exactly why that’s important. “[Chemically inert materials] will not have potential reactions to active ingredients,” she says. “You want to avoid any potential interaction of materials that may eat up the mask or leach out undesirable ingredients.” In other words, the silicone material of the mask ensures that you can wear it on top of any skincare product safely and without any adverse reactions.
To make a long point short: Reusable silicone sheet masks are, indeed, effective — maybe just as much as traditional ones. I might not have seen a visible difference in my skin after I began using one, but you can take that with a grain of salt (my skin stays pretty stagnant regardless, thanks to genetics and a skincare obsession). The real benefit is that I can kick my feet up in my bubbly tub with the knowledge that I am not creating as much waste as I once did, so consider me a reusable sheet mask convert.
If you, like many other folks across the globe, are trying to become more sustainable this year, this could be a great, albeit small, first step. Then, it’s time to ponder: What other aspects of your routine are due for an eco-friendly upgrade?
The thought of slathering on a face mask before you go to sleep sounds like a bed linen nightmare, seeing as no one wants to wake up to product smeared all over their pillow.
But the good news is overnight face masks are pillow-proof formulas that quickly dissolve into the skin when applied, and stay put as you sleep. And they offer a lot of skincare benefits, too.
“While you sleep, blood flow to the skin increases, and the skin tries to repair itself,” explains Dr. Rosemarie Ingleton, dermatologist and medical director of Ingleton Dermatology. “Overnight face masks can help this recovery process as active ingredients are better absorbed and penetrate more deeply.”
So if you’re looking to take your nighttime skincare routine to the next level, it’s time to try this bedtime treat.
Ten overnight masks that will help enhance your skin while you get your beauty sleep, ahead.
Chanel Hydra Beauty Masque de Nuit au Camèlia Hydrating Oxygenating Overnight Mask
This creamy formula transforms to a water-like texture when massaged into skin, helping to soothe, plump, and intensely hydrate. A great restorative mask, its exclusive complex of zinc, copper, and magnesium encourages skin oxygenation for a radiant morning glow.
This super-cooling gel mask is clinically proven to lock in moisture for up to 24 hours, creating a veil that helps prevent overnight water loss. It also fights the visible signs of tired, dull skin with peptide4, a yeast peptide that helps balance and support the skin’s barrier function.
Think of this overnight mask as a corset for the face. Its potent blend of black tea extract and other powerhouse ingredients improves the skin’s elasticity for a visibly more defined, contoured look. Black tea is known for its ability to protect against free-radical damage and soothe the skin. Other ingredients include blackberry leaf extract; known for its firming properties, and lychee seed extract, which helps maintain elasticity and smoothness.
Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Retinol Sleeping Face Mask
Avocados aren’t just great on toast; they are rich in antioxidants, which help soothe acne and inflamed skin. We love this mask because it combines avocados with retinol to help reduce hyperpigmentation, and also helps to nourish and repair blemish-prone skin.
If you’ve been feeling a bit stressed lately, chances are it’s affecting your skin. This mask delivers powerful regenerating effects through its infusion of cica, a perennial herb that boosts collagen production to strengthen the skin’s barrier.
Neogen Dermalogy A-Clear Aid Soothing Overnight Mask
Prevent future breakouts with this soothing face mask, made with salicylic acid to help remove pore-clogging impurities and control excess sebum. Extracts of centella asiatica and tea tree instantly help repair the skin and reduce the appearance of acne scars, to reveal a brighter, clearer complexion.
Olay Firming Overnight Gel Face Mask with Vitamin A
Sleep like a queen knowing this firming face mask is working through the night to plump your skin with moisture for a visibly toned look. The ingredients at work include vitamin A, vitamin B3 and hyaluronic acid, specially formulated to promote smooth, firm skin.
Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Hydrating Mask with Avocado & Swiss Glacier Water
Every application of this emollient rich mask is like drinking a tall glass of water for your skin. Packed with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, D, E, Swiss glacial water and avocado oil, your skin will benefit from intense, targeted hydration, and 72 hours of long-lasting moisture.
Say goodbye to dry, dull skin with this radiance boosting mask, formulated with natural-origin glycolic and hyaluronic acid. The result? Brighter-looking, moisturized skin that looks renewed and well-rested.
Dry skin can cause all types of annoying irritations, from itchiness to flaking. Made up of a combination of powerful plant-based ingredients, including saffron flowers and shea butter, this soothing mask helps intensely nourish and moisturize dry skin to help it regain comfort and suppleness.
Because the ink doesn’t go as deeply into the skin as body art, microblading fades over time. Depending on your skin type, it could last one to two years. Sometimes, you even need a touchup four to eight weeks after your first appointment.
However, getting that touchup right now isn’t exactly an option. With salons across the U.S. shuttered due to the COVID-19 outbreak, people have been trying professional services on themselves, like facials and haircuts. But at-home microblading is absolutely not an option. Luckily, brow pens that create the same effect — no painful incisions necessary — exist. Sure, their hair-like strokes for the illusion of fuller, defined arches last only about two days, but the pens work in a pinch. They provide a quick touchup for your next Zoom meeting and will hold you over until you can finally make an appointment with your favorite cosmetic tattooist once again. For those who’ve never gotten the procedure done before, consider this a way to satisfy your microblading curiosity, too.
Most of the brow pens on this list take a three-pronged approach to master a microblading effect — literally. Milk Makeup and Maybelline New York launched pens with toothed applicator for quickly etching on lines that look just like naturally grown brow hairs. MAC and Urban Decay also make ones with felt or brush tips like your go-to liquid liner, so you’ll be used to maneuvering it. No matter what applicator you prefer, you’re sure to find a suitable option for your brow grooming routine on this list of best brow pens for creating a microblading effect, below.
Essence The Eyebrow Pen
The Essence The Eyebrow Pen is a no-nonsense take on the toothed marker trend. Rake it through your arches with short, upward strokes, and your handiwork won’t budge until you wash your face. Fans of the tool also speckle on faux freckles with the pen.
Glossier Brow Flick fills in where Boy Brow doesn’t. The latter tames and fluffs up arches; the paintbrush-like applicator of Brow Flick, on the other hand, focuses on the details.
Fill in gaps and add definition where you need it, but keep this tip from New York City-based makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes in mind: the pen works best on “completely clean, oil-free brows, so you shouldn’t have any moisturizer on them or any oils or serums or any skin-care product — and no highlighters.”
Comb the L’Oréal Paris Micro Ink Brow Pen through your brows like a little brush to bolster every hair for up to 48 hours straight. Its applicator has the sharpest edge on the market. Flip it over and elongate the tails of your arches with it.
The ingredient list for the Milk Makeup Kush Triple Brow Pen could be confused for a skin-care product as it touts aloe, sunflower oil, and CBD oil – all to help nourish your brows and the skin underneath them. The pen is offered in a whooping eight hues in warm, cool, and neutral tones of blonde and brown, as well as auburn and black, so you’re find to find your perfect match.
The Revolution Pro Build & Grow Brow Serum Duo wants to be a part of all of your beauty routines. While doing your makeup, uncap the pigmented side in one of three variations of brown: ash, warm, and dark to sculpt your brows.
When it’s time for your nighttime skin-care regimen, remove the white cap to reveal a market-like applicator to coat your arches in a transparent serum. We can’t attest to its hair growth claims, but millet seed extract and panthenol are sure to moisturize the area.
The forces of a pen and powder join together in one powerful baton. One of the MAC Shape + Shade Brow Tint is an ultra-fine felt tip liner to fill gaps; the other houses a self-depositing sheer pigment in its cap that clings onto the spongey tip. Smooth it onto arches to add dimension and lock in your brow look all day long.
Press down the tip to conveniently replenish the long-lasting inkiness of the Maybelline New York TattooStudio Brow Tint Pen — a genius feature most of the other pens lack. (For the others, store them cap side down to force the pigment to collect at the tip.)
Another thin brush tip option if the three-pronged applicators intimidate you: the Sephora Collection Microblade Effect Brow Pen. You can pick from two universal shades – light and deep – to make the faux microblading process that much more foolproof.
Although the Urban Decay Brow Blade is the priciest option on this list, it’s the perfect selection if your partial to a pencil. The two-in-one solution has a tiny retractable one that’s equally as neddle-like brush applicator for a subtle stain. Its shade range is also the most numerous with nine to choose from, including a universal color called Taupe Trap.
By now we’ve all heard of THE Beauty Blender – the magic sponge for flawless makeup. Since it came out in 2007 (13 years ago) there definitely appeared many alternatives at competitive prices.
Of course there is a myriad of textures, colors, functions, etc. Please consider your personal needs and online reviews if you’re unsure whether it’ll be right for you. And if it’s not – on to the next one! Sponges should be replaced around every 3 months, due to product buildup and bacteria. As well, please wash your sponges after every single use.
What are your favourite makeup sponges? Do you use them or brushes alone? Let me know in the comments below!
Kassy Rose Makeup Artistry 