recommended: your _____, but better

i'm a girl who generally wears no makeup, but doubles up on the skincare. lately i've been feeling like my skin is in a better state and started to look for products in the makeup department that will give me that teeny-tiny bit of umph!

your lips, but better

revlon's colorburst matte balm in "sultry"

my favorite part about any makeup routine is putting on a beautiful lip (remember when i posted about my favorite lipsticks?). but instead of going bold these days, i've taken to balmy, buildable textures like this revlon colorburst matte balm in the deep pink-brown tone, "sultry". the winter months typically make my lips a chapped disaster. even worse, i find that i tend to lose all the color in them after a brief outing in the cold weather. this revlon matte balm helps me maintain a healthy color to my lips without being obvious. it's applies thin but has an opaque color, so less is always just right!

your eyebrows, but better

anastasia's brow pen in "universal deep shade"

anastasia's "universal deep shade" is, admittedly, a bit warm for my hair's natural dark brown/black color, but it is mostly undetectable when applied, which i'm all for. using a liquid to shade my brows has given them that little bit of love that isn't overly exaggerated, and something people don't think twice about–– in fact, they think these are my natural eyebrows! i've blogged about this product before, and will again, because i like it that much. i even recently converted my roommate to it!

your skin, but better

maybelline's "fit me" shine-free fondation stick in #130

at the moment, i'm over bb and cc creams! their sheer coverage can definitely give your skin a refreshing look, but you really need full-faced coverage to see it in action. for me, it's all about finding your most accurate shade and spot-correcting. maybelline's "fit me" shine-free foundation stick has been my go-to for just that! it's stick-form allows pretty precise application (though always apply it on a clean face, or it might not be too hygienic of an option!), and my oily-prone skin approves of the anti-shine core. the formula can be a bit difficult to blend, but for me, that only aids how far of a reach i want for my foundation. i wear the shade #130, and find the color match to be almost 100% spot-on.

your nails, but better

essie nail polish in "sand tropez"

i usually opt for my white nail polish from sephora's x-factor collection when i need a fresh manicure, but recently rediscovered my favorite nude polish, "sand tropez" by essie. when it comes to natural-looking nails, i hate pink-toned nudes, they just don't suit my skin tone. "sand tropez" is a very cool, very muted shade of beige that actually does. on the downside, essie's formula has always been problematic for me. it requires at least two coats, and often the polish gets rather tacky while on the brush, but i do it for the beautiful color!