Best products from r/PaleMUA

I LOVE this. You're gorgeous so you're going to look fantastic no matter what, but I've got some suggestions for small improvements:

• Blush. You've said you don't like the way it looks, but I think you need something. In photos the absence of blush looks jarring and was the first thing I noticed. Maybe try an extremely subtle color like Tarte's Exposed (neutral) or Benefit Dandelion (very light pink)? Also, maybe try visiting some makeup counters for advice on the application on your face. It's possible you haven't liked blush because you haven't learned the best location for your particular face shape? Here, you're going for a sophisticated look, so I think it would look great applied on the sides on your cheekbones. Then sweep only what's left on the brush onto the apples as a last step. You only want a tiny touch of color there.
  
  
• Eyebrows. Yours are lovely in today's style, but you want something timeless so that your grandchildren can post their pretty grandma on r/oldschoolcool one day and no one will say "what's up with her eyebrows?" (Trust us: those of us who lived through the 90s thought our skinny brows looked fantastic. Looking back - not so much. Classic is best!) Go for more of a rounded shape on the inside corners, don't come in so far on the inner corners, and, overall, use a lighter touch guided by the shape of your actual brows. Your natural brow shape looks very pretty, so your effort should be on lightly shading those and not so much extending and amplifying.
  
  
• I love the bold lipstick, but I agree with another commenter that it's a little too purple and is washing you out a bit. I appreciate that it matches the roses, though :)
  
  
• Minor things for eyes. I love the upper liner and lashes. You nailed retro but timeless! The frosty light color on in your inner corners extends a little too far out. Use a smaller brush to keep it closer to the corners. It looks like you've lined your lower lid, and I think it's making your eyes look smaller. I don't like the lower liner on your inner corner, either. I'd ditch the lower liner in deference to what you already have: pulling some of the warm brown eyeshadow down on your lower lashline and subtle mascara on the lower lashes.
  
  
• The foundation does look a little cakey, particularly around your jawline. You've gotten some application tips, but I see what looks like dry patches of skin on your chin and jaw. Have you tried any chemical exfoliants to smooth your skin? Another thing that may help is dermaplaning. I got these and it gets all the peach fuzz off, exfoliates, and helps makeup look seamless with skin. It seems intimidating but it's pretty easy!

>tons of redness to cover up

>dry skin

Warning: novel ahead... We're practically skin-twins! I have distinct pink tones, but aside from that, my biggest concerns with base products are:

• Will it cover ALL THIS REDNESS?
  
  
• Will it match?
  
  
• Can it wrangle with my dryness without emphasizing my pores/looking generally greasy?
  
  My best match yet (across the board- coverage, color, finish, etc.) is Graftobian HD Glamour Creme Foundation in "Silk Sprite". Can't rave enough about it! I believe this was originally brought out as part of one of their palettes- more specifically, as a new palette ("Ultra Lites") featuring the lightest shades they offer in cool(C), neutral(N), and warm(W) undertones. As you are exceptionally yellow, (W) Ivory would probably suit you best. If you find that this is still too dark, however (as this is the "darkest" of their "Ultra Lite" range), a similar product (and the lightest, yellowest, foundation I've ever seen!) is Mehron's Celebre HD Cream Foundation in "Eurasia Ivory". It practically looks like butter! This blog shows it swatched (final photo).
  
  In regards to working with these, there's definitely a "learning curve" (kind of like Dipbrow- you'll look "off" until you finally nail it)! I found applying it with brushes created texture; the product is so thick that applying with fingertips left visible prints on my face. I apply with a damp sponge, conceal my undereyes afterward (using a mix of Glamoflauge in "Ultra Light" and KVDs Whiteout), douse myself in UD's All-Nighter spray, and then apply Physician's Formula's Mineral Correcting Powder in "Translucent". This powder blurs imperfections in an imperceptible way- don't be freaked out by the color(s) (kind of looks like the milk in a bowl of Fruity Pebbles).
  
  I wish you the best of luck! We all know how bad that lobster face/pumpkin mask look is.
  
  **UD's cruelty free stance is a bit "up in the air" at the moment, but all of the other products are cruelty free (Graftobian is manufactured in the USA, as well, while Mehron is on PETA's "does not test on animals" list). :) If that's relevant to you.

Our skin tones are super similar! I'm about NW13/NW15 and Colour Me Beautiful matched me as clear, cool and deep (so bright/clear Winter then). It not often I meet someone online who loves seasonal colour analysis and who's similar skin colouring as myself.

Do you wear MAC Frankly Scarlet often? It's so scary in the pan! Any tips for it? I've recently bought MAC Breezy now that Autumn is almost here. I've too many pink blushes so this is adventurous for me. What's your favour lipsticks? MAC Show Orchid is my current everyday favourite.

OP I don't have very many cream products but absolutely love Revlon PhotoReady Cream Blush in Flushed! It's been discontinued but Amazon still sell it. Also Bourjois Blush Exclusif is a lovely delicate pink colour. Try using a stippling brush to apply cream blushes, it was a game changer for me. As for cream highlighter, I quite like Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight in Hefty Highlight but it was gift-with-purchase. Also heard good things about MAC Strobe Cream but try asking for a sample to take home. Would also recommend MAC Lightscapade or Soap & Glory Glow All Out Luminizing Face Powder even though they're not creams.

Edit: spelling

i'm pretty late to this thread but i HIGHLY recommend the IPKN New York Flash Cream Radiant Primer. it's suppose to be a primer but it gives just enough pink-ish shimmer that your skin will seem to have that natural "korean glow" without committing to 10-step skincare regimens. it's water based so there isn't any fallout whatsoever, you literally can't even feel it on your face, and a little goes a loooooong way. plus, if that's not enough to convince you the smell is ~heavenly~ (even if you're sensitive to fragrance)! it's not as pink or bright as Benefit's High Beam nor as show stopping as the NYX Duo Chromatic Illuminating Powders (when you build then up) but it's nice to have a wide range of highlighters that vary from a "lit from within" look all the way to absolutely blinding IMHO🔅🔆✨💖

takes breath

imo there are two ways to go here: find the palest shade that matches you, or make your own cushion! i would stay far away from drugstore foundations, as those are typically pretty dark/pink.

this might be a long response, as i have an odd passion for cushion makeup 🤓

option 1: palest shade

here are some ideas, bearing in mind none of these are from personal experience and it's all word of mouth/people on the internet (but hey, that's what i am to you, right? 😏)

laneige bb cushion whitening, shade 11.
where to buy: Amazon and YesStyle.

notes
> i have this in my amazon cart currently, just waiting to pull the trigger! both littleporcelainprincess and arna alayne have mentioned it, and they're some of the fairest blog/vloggers i know. i think this is low coverage. they also have a pore control they also offer shade 11C for cool toned people, but afaik this is a new product so not a lot of reviews are out yet...


espoir face slip nude cushion (nude cushion dewy? not sure of name), shade porcelain.
where to buy: Amazon(?) and ShopAtKorea.

notes
> i remember reading and watching this review by LPP and thinking "!!!!" because she swatches it against Nars Siberia and it's a close shade to it. Then I got super bummed because it's hard to get my hands on, apparently; I'm no good navigating which Asian Beauty sites are reputable and which are not, but hopefully ShopAtKora is?

others are the iope matte finish cushion in m13 i believe? it doesn't seem to be available outside of asia. as for innisfree water glow cushion in 13 light beige and innisfree long wear cushion in 11 ivory, they are both listed on innisfreeworld.com but sold out, it seems :/ possibly a'pieu air fit cushion in shade 13, but no clue where to purchase that one 😩

thataylaa has a few reviews, but she's a bit darker than you and me.


option 2: make your own!

this is what i ended up doing, purely because any cushions that would match me (i see you, maybelline and l'oreal!!!!) were so inaccessible to me living in the U.S.! it was much easier (and more cost effective) to simply make my own. here's what i did:

literally just followed a conglomeration of these posts:

• LPP
  
• imabeautygeek
  
  and these videos:
  
• meejmuse
  
• gothamista
  
  and then ordered some empty cushion compacts off of Amazon!
  (and that's just where i got them, i think memebox has a version)
  
  next you decide what foundation to use (i recommend full coverage, i use mufe y205 and hard candy glamoflauge porcelain) and if you wanna add anything else (like liquid illuminators a la mac strobe cream or coverfx custom enhancer drops, or moisture cream, which i did because i freaking need it. it sheers out the super full coverage foundation a bit, too). i can't condone adding SPF as the amount you would actually get out of this DIY wouldn't be up to scuff. when the product found in the cushion are formulated they're supposedly much more concentrated, and idk how to diy that!
  
  and then you mix it all up in a bowl with a spatula or small spoon which is what i had and put the cushion included in your compact in and soak it through!
  
  if you have any questions, feel free to ask. and wow, that was long. my apologies 😬😬😬
  
  ps check out little porcelain princess for more asian beauty, she's got loads of it there and on her YT channel!
  
  
  ETA: Apparently the A'pieu cushion is available on YesStyle and eBay! Yay!

Here and here are great eyebrow tutorials I really like. You said you have really sparse natural brows- have you ever tried an at-home tint kit? They're really affordable, the one I use I get on Amazon here. It helps me use less eyebrow makeup, and it dyes the lighter hairs next to my brows so I have more to work with when I pluck and shape mine. :)


I'm still learning contour too- I spotted your blending thing because it's an issue I have with my own makeup. If I make my contour too dark, it's super hard to blend and is just stripes on my face. Too light and it just looks like I wiped dirt on myself haha. You're doing fantastic, I look forward to seeing future looks from you! Do you have an insta?

I've had that happen from a random foundation brush I got at TJ Maxx! My nose started breaking out and peeling and itching; it's like it was exfoliating my skin and I was maybe also allergic to it. Bad times.

Like someone else said, Elf brushes are great! I also LIVE for the basic EcoTools duo and this Wet n Wild blending brush. I can do pretty much all my eye looks with just those three brushes. I've also got a couple from Sonia Kashuk (which I think is Target-exclusive, so hopefully you're in the US) that are quite nice. And, like others have said, Real Techniques is really nice too! I highly recommend their face brushes and their blending sponge. (I do NOT recommend the EcoTools sponge. I've never hated a sponge more.)

You don't have to spend a ton! You can get a really great set of brushes, curated by you for your own needs, just in the drugstore/Target.

Might be the tone on my phone but your skin looks just like mine. You might be olive. I can’t link because i’m on mobile, but I think there’s a r/olivemua or something like that. Good luck, finding pale olive formulations is next to impossible. The loreal true match in N1-2 works okay for me. L'Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Concealer, Neutral/Fair Light, 0.17 fl. oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004BCT7A2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_LReBCbE3V9A4R

Multiple SPF in nonsunscreen products don’t help, you would need to empty the bottle for it to matter. You need a stand alone sunscreen that is the highest possible. Remember wrinkles / sun spots / aging are primarily from the sun (other things play a factor, but the sun is the main way you age).

I would highly recommend Asian sunscreen. Two that I like are Biore smooth UV carefree kids - no alcohol
And
Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel

As for redness Asian skincare has helped there too. I love Benton Snail Bee Essence. Check out /r/AsianBeauty

If you want to not go to crazy, this is a USA brand: Cerve PM Moisturizing Lotion that helped my redness.

Oh and Azelaic acid is a godsend. I am currently testing one from The Ordinary

I'm NC 10ish (probably more like NC5) and had the same problem until one day I was messing around with other brushes. I apply blush with a fan brush and find it gives a nice flush of color like natural blush.


i use the fan brush from this kit. It's only $8.99 for the fan brush and another brush. I'm in love with this brush. Ulta also carries them for $11.99.


Even a super pigmented blush goes on lightly if you brush the blush with a fan brush and tap it to make sure no excess is stuck.

I got it in Asia.

Its the perfecting one.

It matches me pretty well! I like that it doesn't finish cakey or look like I'm wearing a mask.

With a light layer it's almost like a BB cream. I can build it into a pretty significant full cover, so it's versatile.

I wonder if anyone on Amazon has samples for you.

Here it is full size on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Sulwhasoo-Perfecting-Cushion-0-53oz-Refill/dp/B0757D5947

Try Missha's #13. I mix #21 and #13 when I'm slightly more pink in the summer, otherwise just #13 alone is great. The formula is easy to mix, as well as incredibly forgiving to smearing it on your face like a savage when you're in a rush (like me) or using a beauty blender to build coverage (also me).

I used it as a sunscreen stand-in on a vacation once and never went back. There's a great pearly Missha primer too.

It looks like you want something shimmer-free and cool-toned, and maybe drugstore brand so you can experiment a bit before settling into a new forever-brand. Trying to make sure these are available in uk!

Maybe:

Maybelline Fit Me! Blush Light Peach

Maybelline Face Studio Master in Coral Fever/Peach Pop/Rosewood

Loreal blush peach paradise enchanted Just Curious <--nevermind looks like not in uk

[Laval Powder Blusher - Peach Haze] (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Laval-Powder-Blusher-Peach-Haze/dp/B003BVZHVC) People are snobby about Laval bc cheap but they're great for experimenting. This one might be too dark for your purpose but cheap enough to play around with. The girl who posted a pic in the reviews shows it applied quite light and really pretty!

Applied

Clarins Blush Prodige Illuminating Blush in Rose wood/soft peach (palette-y)

I use Neutrogena Pure and Free Liquid. I have very sensitive, dry skin with rosacea and it doesn't irritate me at all. It blends pretty easy and has minimal white caste, and works amazing as a primer because it leaves a nice matte finish.

Product list:

Face:

• Milani Conceal + Perfect Longwear Concealer in 110 Nude Ivory

• Milani Rose Blush in Romantic Rose

• Becca Skimmering Skin Prefector Pressed Highlighter in Vanilla Quartz

• Essence Sun Club Matte Bronzing Powder in Lighter Skin 01

• Milani Prep+Set+Glow Illuminating Transparent Powder

Brows:

• NYX Microbrow pencil in Auburn and Taupe

Eyes:

• BH Cosmetics Love in London palette shades Scone and Big Ben

• MUR Reloaded Division palette

• Butter London Goddess Palette shades Enchantress and Queen.

• Neutrogena Healthy Volume
in 02 Black

Lips:

• Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
in Vanilla

I have combination skin that's pale with pink undertones too. I switched from using a heavy foundation to a high coverage BB cream with amazing results. I just make sure to moisturize the dry areas before putting it on. Right now I'm using Missha BB cream in shade #13. It's really cheap and has lasted a long time- so cheap that even if it doesn't work for you, you're not out that much. Good luck!

Hi, I have Misssha's perfect cover bb cream in no. 13 :) Some of my other shade matches are: NW10 & NARS Chantilly.

I buy off Amazon when I need to replace it. I've found it to lean very pink on me (though I am very pink), but I've heard others say it is very neutral on them.

I have normal/oily skin and I find it doesn't dry me out, I actually glow a little as the day wears on (AKA I get a little oily). I feel it's more medium+ coverage when applied with a beauty blender.

​

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilily is the lightest concealer I've personally tried. It has neutral undertones. I have pink undertones and on me it doesn't look too yellow when I use it on top of Bobbi Brown Corrector (either on Porcealain Bisque or Extra Light Bisque, depending on how intense my dark circles are that day.)

Also, Golden Rose stick concealer has a white shade and is less than $7. I recently bought one and use it under my eyebags to cover the shadow.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003HYPVM8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_FGN7yb9CQ9QM5


This bb cream is a favorite on this sub. There have been a ton of other threads about bb creams if you wanted do a quick search for more info.