039. 2020 Index: Makeup, Recently Watched

Sharing the most memorable makeup of 2020 and the tv portion of what I watched over the break.

Hi! I'm Maggie, and welcome to Tender Forms Off-Camera: a weekly newsletter about slow beauty and slow living. If you enjoy and would like to support this newsletter, click the button below! No pressure but thank you if you do.

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Jumping right in because there’s a lot to cover today!

T I N T E D S P F : Saie Slip Tint ($32, 40ml | 1.35floz)

This one is a bit of a cheat because I only started using it at the beginning of November 2020. But there wasn’t anything else like it for me last year. It’s the closest I can find to my dream tinted SPF. The most exquisite thing is that my skin doesn’t need time to acclimate to this. Mineral-based sunscreens (non-nano zinc oxide) can be difficult for my reactive, acne-prone skin. There’s always a period of a few weeks where my skin needs to get used to it. That means when I first start using a sunscreen, it may cause itchiness, breakouts, etc. I had no such experience with Saie; thus, incredible. However, this is a very dewy formula. I always have to powder when I wear this. I hope they’ll expand the shade range because I use a mix of shades Two and Three right now. I love the feel, efficacy, and price point. I just wouldn’t want to purchase two shades moving forward.

F O U N D A T I O N + C O N C E A L E R :

Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick ($68, .31oz | 9g)

I’ve done a series of Instagram posts and cheered on and on about this foundation. It is the best foundation stick out there, clean or conventional. It’s pricey, but you need so little. Plus, the formula is impressive: silky, has coverage, buildable, looks, and feels like skin. The only tricky thing is shade matching, but they have excellent customer service. Returning and purchasing a new shade was easily accomplished. I use Atelier N, which is more my winter shade, but it’s easier going lighter than darker for me. And I won’t ever be purchasing two shades with this hefty of a price point.

evanhealy Tinted Oil Serum Foundation* ($29.95, 1floz | 30ml)

This was the year of foundations because while I did fall head over heels for Westman Atelier, out of nowhere, evanhealy launches one and hits it out of the park. This is the best tinted oil foundation, clean or conventional. I love its paired down, digestible ingredient list, price point, elegant, fuss-free packaging, and wide range of shades. Another silky, looks and feels like skin, and customizable formula. My winter shade is 15, and summer is 25. They also offer samples!

P O W D E R : RMS Beauty “Un” Powder ($34, .32oz | 9g)

I purchased this back in May of 2019, and it’s been the only powder (loose or pressed) I have on hand. You can’t beat the price point, amount, and 24-month PAO (period after opening). It also comes in tinted versions though the ingredient list is slightly different in those. I prefer this one because it’s got a silkier, lighter finish. Plus, a little goes a very long way. I have until May of this year before it expires, and with daily use, I still have over half of the jar left.

B R O W S :

DIY Brow Balm (free by shopping your stash)

I was on a no-buy for the latter half of 2020, so I got used to shopping my stash regularly. I’m so happy I did because I created a DIY brow balm that I used for almost 4 months! The link is to my IGTV tutorial on how to make your own. I love that I got to rediscover some old loves and create something new out of them.

Aether Beauty Joshua Tree Palette, shade New Moon ($58, 12 matte shades, use my affiliate code “tenderforms” for 10% off your order)

2020 was the year I found my perfect brow powder shade match. The shade New Moon from the Aether Beauty Joshua Tree palette is the ideal cool-toned charcoal to match my thin, black hairs. I also need the tiniest amount to fill them each time, so I don’t see myself hitting pan anytime soon, which is great for my beauty budget!

B R O N Z E R + C O N T O U R : Ilia NightLite Bronzing Powder in Drawn In ($34, 0.26oz | 7.47g)

I expressed my love for the Ilia bronzer back in Newsletter 006, and I still love it. There’s nothing like the simplicity of a matte, powder bronzer dusted almost all over the face with a fluffy brush. Looks beautiful as a bronzer, contour, and eyeshadow. I also appreciate the large mirror and minimal packaging design.

B L U S H : Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in Poppet ($48, .21oz | 6g)

This was truly a sleeper hit for me. I love blushes that give me that fresh, pink, wintry flush, and Poppet does just that. But it’s also much more versatile than I had anticipated. The range you can achieve by how many layers are applied offers beautiful, distinct looks, and I love each one. Plus, it’s equally stunning on the eyes and lips as well. Use it for a monochromatic look; you won’t be disappointed. Like the foundation stick, the texture is exquisite: it dries down satin matte, and your loose hairs won’t get stuck in it.

E Y E S H A D O W / P A L E T T E : Aether Beauty Joshua Tree Palette ($58, 12 matte shades, use my affiliate code “tenderforms” for 10% off your order)

Undoubtedly, my favorite palette of this year. I love colorful matte eyeshadows, and Aether Beauty’s (whether matte or shimmer) are so buttery, pigmented, and joy-inducing. I love to wear each as a single color wash or a few blended together. They all make amazing colorful liners as well.

E Y E S H A D O W / S I N G L E :

Prisma Palette Delicate ($10.95, 26mm pan, use this link for 10% off your order)

I have always been on a search for a pastel lavender. I’ve tried a few, but none deliver the color and finish I want closer than Prisma Palette’s Delicate. I love Angelica’s (founder, creator) mattes, but Delicate has the perfect amount of shimmer that brings a brightness to this shade. Many purples lean grey on me, and the shimmer combats that, leaving a vivid lavender instead. Beautiful as a sheer wash of barely-there lilac or layered for a punchier hit of color.

Rituel de Fille Ash & Ember Eye Soot in Sigil ($38, .2oz | 5.75g, use this link for $10 off your order)

I have a sample of this, and it has lasted the majority of 2020 (I got it back in February). At first glance, it seems like nothing special, just an ordinary champagne shimmer. But I was wrong. I found myself reaching for this more often than I had anticipated. Yes, it’s a shade I’m naturally attracted to, a neutral with a bit of shimmer. But what really got me was the formula. It’s a genuine, no-fuss eyeshadow in all the senses. The shade is beautiful, there’s just enough shimmer, and it stays all day long. I never have to worry that it’s slipping and sliding or picking up other things on top of it. The formula makes this eyeshadow, and of course, the user-friendly shade doesn’t hurt. If this came in another packaging vessel, I’d buy it in a heartbeat. For now, this sample will suffice as it’s still going strong.

M U L T I - U S E :

Westman Atelier Super Loaded Tinted Highlight in Peau de Soleil* ($75, .14oz | 4g)

What else is there to say about this that hasn’t already been said or shown? My deep love for it was shared back in Newsletter 026 and in action in this IGTV. I’m eternally grateful to the Westman Atelier team for picking this shade for me because I otherwise would not have chosen it for myself. This sheers out beautifully, making it an excellent bronzer, and is a joy to use. It dries down and also creates a stunning gilded eyeshadow. Plus, the weighty gold compact transports me back to old Hollywood.

evanhealy Medina Color Balm* ($19.95, 0.17oz | 5g)

If you watched my YouTube video and read Newsletter 030, you’d know that I can’t choose a favorite between the three color balms I have. However, as time went on, Medina was the one I used the most as a multi-use item. Meaning, this was the shade I chose when I wanted to use it all over the face (though Sibyl comes very close). Medina brightens my overall appearance and brings me more to life. Excellent on the cheeks, eyes, and lips, this is the best, affordable multi-use color balm there is.

L I P S / N E U T R A L : evanhealy Sibyl Color Balm* ($19.95, 0.17oz | 5g)

Sibyl was, by far, my favorite neutral lip color of the year. The shade is very close to my natural lip color but gives my lips an added and welcome depth. Not to mention it looks beautiful on the rest of the face, too, as either blush, contour, or eyeshadow.

L I P S / B R I G H T :

Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in Minette ($48, .21oz | 6g)

There was no other brighter, more fun lip to put on than Westman Atelier’s Minette. It gives me the much sought-after, perfect Bardot lip. A bright coral with a hint of shimmer, the shade, texture, and glitter are simply fun. This shade will brighten your day no matter what. *Note: if seeing visible glitter isn’t for you, maybe skip this one. It’s rather subtle to me but just putting it out there! 

Olio E Osso Crema Lipstick in Marrone* ($30, 0.116 oz, use this link for $10 off your order)

I had to include this one because it’s a lipstick I use so often. I’m adding it in the bright category because while this can layer, creating a darker lip, I tend to wear it sheered out when I want a wash of color. It leans berry on me when applied this way, and I love it. Layered, it has a beautiful depth and offers a deep, warm red-brown quality. The lipstick formula is on the stiffer end but melts upon contact. If they came out with an everyday nude, it would surely be a favorite.

L I P S / D A R K : Rituel de Fille Forbidden Lipstick in Darkest Deeds ($24, .06oz | 1.8g)

Technically, this is past its PAO date. However, there’s been no change in scent, texture, or performance, and since I’m the only one using it, I feel comfortable continuing to do so. It’s been over a year, and it remains my favorite dark lip. There’s a richness and uniqueness to this hue that I haven’t found elsewhere yet. The formula is also incredibly creamy and comfortable to wear. I don’t think there will ever be another shade that could take its place; it’s one of a kind. The bonus is that it makes a great liner and somehow stays on all day with no smudging?!

B R U S H / B R O W S : evanhealy Duo Brow Brush* ($14.50, ~6" in length)

Brushes are an integral part of my makeup routines, so I thought I would include my favorites and most used this year. Starting off with an unsuspecting brow brush from evanhealy. I won this in a giveaway and was blown away by how much I loved it. What makes it is the stiffness, shape, and length of its bristles. The angled brush fills brows with ease whether you’re using a pomade or powder. I use this with powder, and it allows me to create hair-like strokes, which is no small feat considering my brow hairs are extremely thin. The spoolie end is also very sturdy and robust, making applying my DIY brow balm a breeze.

B R U S H / F A C E : Westman Atelier Blender Brush* ($125, ~5.5" in length)

By far, my favorite brush of this year. I love complexion brushes, and if I had unlimited money, I’d spend it on them. Especially considering how pricey this Blender brush is. Though I can’t say for certain that I would purchase one full-price myself, but say, if it was 20% off (like during the annual Credo Friends and Family sale, for instance), I just might. It works great with creams and powders, and even liquid foundations (like the evanhealy tinted oil)! Though it uses synthetic bristles, you would never know the difference, thanks to how soft and well-crafted this brush is. It will make you feel like you’re getting your makeup done by a professional (since the feel and results will be that good).

B R U S H / E Y E S :

Wayne Goss Brush 06 ($25, ~5.7" in length)

My holy grail eyeshadow brush. I tend to gravitate towards powder eyeshadows, and no brush applies powders like this one. I also have monolids and sensitive eyes, and the soft blue squirrel hairs make the application safe and comfortable. It blends any eyeshadow like a dream and can be manipulated to be the only brush you use for a more complex eyeshadow look. I’m always surprised I don’t own more than just one of these.

Wayne Goss Brush 07 ($17, ~5.5" in length)

This is technically named a precision lip brush (and it does that fabulously), but I love it for any and all eyeliners and lashline smudging. It does a great job of packing on and smudging powder eyeshadows but spreads and blends creams equally well. Plus, the bristles are so soft that they don’t bother my sensitive eyes. In contrast, other smudgers can feel a bit prickly, causing my eyes to water.

B R U S H / P O W D E R : Wayne Goss Brush 02 ($35, ~6.5" in length)

My all-time favorite powder brush. Nothing applies setting powder like this one. What I love most about it is its tapered shape. It fits perfectly underneath my eyes towards the inner corners and is excellent for strategic powder placement. This is also the softest brush I own. In fact, this may be my favorite brush ever.

B R U S H / C R E A M : Bobbi Brown Full Coverage Face Brush ($52, ~5.29" in length)

I find creams to be most difficult to apply with a brush. It takes a very specific brush to apply and blend creams without disrupting your base or delivering a fuller coverage of cream foundations. Unless the brush is this Bobbi Brown Full Coverage Face Brush. This may be the oldest brush I own, yet it still looks new after all these years (upwards maybe 7). It truly lives up to its name because if applying foundation with this brush, it gives fuller coverage than with other face brushes. I don’t use that much foundation, so I tend to use this for blending cream colors like bronzers, blushes, etc. This one is always a favorite for any cream or balm.

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I’m continuing last week’s portion with the television series I watched over the break. I also want to quickly address something I couldn’t elaborate on last week (the newsletter was so long that it would’ve been clipped).

Regarding Sorkin’s ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7,’ I don’t recall seeing a “based on a true story” disclaimer at the top of the film. This feels troubling in a day and age where anything on a screen is rendered as truth. Sorkin’s is indeed based on actual events, but it contains fictional embellishments as well. Ones that, to me, alter how the audience perceives certain characters and actions (whether theirs or in response to theirs). A relatively recent film that does the same is Adam McKay’s 2018 ‘Vice.’ I also can’t recall whether there was a disclaimer at the beginning, but it doesn’t bother me as much because the fictional elements feel so surreal that they can’t be mistaken as factual. Sorkin’s feels rooted in reality from beginning to end. There are no stylistic choices to suggest otherwise, so reality and fiction blend seamlessly. All this to say, I hope people don’t mistake biopics to be 100% truth instead of the entertaining, fictional retellings we love.

‘Bridgerton’ ★★ © Netflix

Bridgerton: I binged this over the span of 3 days or so. It’s a period ‘Gossip Girl’ meets a teen ‘Downton Abbey.’ It delivered a few chuckles but mainly makes excellent braindead viewing (when your brain can only handle no risk drama and happy colors).

‘A Teacher’ ★★★★ © FX on Hulu

A Teacher: I have much to say about this, and I hate to do this to you, but I must make you wait. A full review will be in an upcoming newsletter!

‘The Ripper’ ★★ © Netflix

The Ripper: A very PG limited docuseries on a serial killer. Spoiler alert: this is not about Jack the Ripper (I thought it was and felt baited).

‘Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults’ ★★ © HBO Max

Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults: This short, 4-part docuseries is a good summary for anyone without prior knowledge of the Heaven’s Gate cult. Unfortunately, it’s all surface-level, and if you’re hoping for a deeper dive, you won’t find it here.

‘The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’ Seasons 1–4 ★★–★★★ © Netflix

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: I watched the latest season, not knowing it was the final one. I rather liked the ending. Season 1 started out so strong, with teetering middle seasons that were forgettable. I expected nothing from Season 4 and enjoyed the ride much more.

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Thanks for reading! It seems like January will be the month of extremely lengthy newsletters; it just can’t be helped. Make sure to leave a comment or reply directly to this email if any of these were your 2020 makeup favorites!

I hope you have a great start to your week. See you next Sunday!