Tag: Makeup Guide

TikTok’s Coquette Trend Is Giving Flirty Energy (& We Love It)β€” Plus, Some Stunning Inspo

Published on by Lee3 Comments

We don’t know about you, but we can’t resist a major TikTok trend, especially one as cute and flirtatious as #CoquetteMakeup. The coquette aesthetic has been gaining MAJOR traction on TikTok for the past year. It’s all about embracing your feminine energy, romanticizing your life, and being oh-so-girly.

@mariahkayley

love it #coquette #coquetteaesthetic #blackgirltiktok #dovecore #barbiecore #dollete #pinterestaesthetic #pinterestmakeup

♬ Say Yes To Heaven – Sped Up – Lana Del Rey

Now, #coquettemakeup is making waves, and it makes TOTAL sense since it relies heavily on everyone’s fave product RN, AKA blush. For us, it ticks every box: it’s super cute, easy to achieve, and also customizable. And it appears to have graduated from TikTok and elevated its status to the celeb stratosphere, with icons like Hailey Bieber and Lizzo both experimenting with the trend. So without further ado, here’s everything to know about #coquettemakeup, plus soooo much inspo… we just couldn’t help ourselves; it’s TOO cute.

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Okay, let’s start by clarifying WTF a coquette is?! A 17th-century French word, coquette was originally a derogatory name for a flirtatious, attention-seeking woman. Now, however, a few hundred years later, we know that it can be empowering to flirt and that femininity does not equal weakness, so TikTok and Instagram users are reclaiming the word. In its current cultural context, β€œcoquette aesthetic” is a phrase used to describe a style of dress, makeup, and design sensibility inspired by the aesthetics of the 18th and 19th centuries β€” with a hint of 2010s Tumblr vibes. Think ribbons, fresh flowers woven into braids, lace trim, and all pink everything. It’s hyper-girly with a slight winking, satirical edge.

@my.heart.is.4.her

everyone is beautiful and can fit any aestheticπŸ™„πŸ’— (especially poc<33) #greenscreen #coquette #fyp #viral #coquettegirl #coquetteaesthetic #lanadelrey #foryoupage #wlw #coquettemakeup #woc #poc

♬ original sound – speed songs

When it comes to translating the coquette aesthetic to beauty, the flirty, ultra-feminine makeup look hinges on romantic rosy hues and soft-focus finishes. It’s flirtatious, it’s cute, and it’s utterly irresistible. So lean into your DIVINE feminine energy, be a bit of a tease, and have some fun *wink wink.*

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If you’re looking for coquette queens to inspire your look, head to Netflix and binge-watch Bridgeton. It’s the ultimate coquette mood board. IRL, celebs like Hailey, Lizzo, and Madison Beer lurrve dipping their toe in coquette territory. And then, of course, you have BeautyTok and FashionTok. The hashtag #coquette currently has over seven billion views, so you won’t be short of inspo. It also leans on other TikTok makeup trends like cold girl makeup, siren eyes, doe eyes, and douyin blush. Ahead, we’re breaking down the key elements of the look and sharing some inspiration.

@ladestinyluna

quick grwm πŸ§–πŸ»β€β™€οΈβœ¨ #makeuptutorial #grwm #coquette #makeup

♬ theyd be bens partner – bells

How To Slay Coquette Makeup Look  

Concealed Under-Eyes

When it comes to your complexion, you want a fresh and dewy glow, so opt for a light to medium-coverage foundation with a natural, luminous-skin finish. With Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Liquid Touch, Brightening Concealer is perfect for this look as it has buildable coverage and is perfect to use in place of traditional foundation. We’re obsessed with the Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Positive Light Liquid Luminizer Highlight as it can be applied as a highlighter, or you can add a couple of drops into your foundation for a little glow-getting boost.

Since your complexion should look luminous and youthful, generously concealed under-eyes are a must. We adore the Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Positive Light Under Eye Brightener β€” use it to brighten up your eye area.

Lots of Blush

There are tons of different ways to interpret the coquette aesthetic, but most takes on the trend revolves around statement blush. Find a pigmented formula like the Soft Pinch Liquid Blush –Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez, and apply it along your cheekbones for a sculpted, rosy glow. You could also opt for a draped blush look, which is when you apply your blush along your cheekbones to your temples and up around your browbone.

Wispy Lashes

Long, wispy lashes are another staple of the trend, perfect for batting. Whether you swear by falsies or prefer a lengthening mascara, be sure to go for a super long, feathery effect. As for the rest of your eye makeup, feel free to play around. Siren’s eyes would look stunning with the other aspects of the coquette look.     

Blurred Lips

For the ultimate coquette pout, you want your lips to look full and juicy, but other than that, it’s really up to you. Pink, nude, and berry shades are all great, but you can make any shade work. Stick to shiny, glossy finishes, or if you are a matte lipstick devotΓ©e, look for a sheer one. We love the shade of the Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Stay Vulnerable Glossy Lip Balm Nearly Rose – flushed pink, Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Kind Words Lip Liner Strong – rich chocolate, Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Lip SoufflΓ© Matte Cream Lipstick Kindness – nude pink or with Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez
Kind Words Matte Lipstick Lively – rose pink. This is the perfect pink combo for the woc girlies.

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Coquette Aesthetic Makeup Ideas

It’s a clichΓ©, we know, but when we think hyper-feminine makeup, one color comes to mind, and that’s pink. Yup, when it comes to coquette makeup, think pink and roll with it. We’re talking rosy pink blush, soft pink eye shadow, and glowy skin. A pink monochromatic moment is THE moment, after all.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl1fAPbqtTE/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=b320d637-ca97-4c21-9a83-cf4366bd8217
@02dolls

c’est trΓ¨s rose #fypγ‚· #coquette

♬ Watercolor Eyes – From β€œEuphoria” An Original HBO Series – Lana Del Rey

Coquette Hair Inspo

Of course, no makeup look is complete without a stunning hairstyle, so we had to deliver some coquette hair inspo.  Ribbons and bows translate the coquette vibe effortlessly.

https://www.tiktok.com/@heavenlyfawnie/video/7189354142362651946
https://www.tiktok.com/@.rasberryq/video/7100106479834860806

Coquette Nails

@dollettedoll

coquette nail inspo🀍 #coquette #nailinspo #oldmoneyaesthetic #coquettecore #lanadelrey #dolletteaesthetic #madisonbeer #SimsSelves #SpotifyWrapped

♬ diet mountain dew bby – estelle β˜†
@.kissescards

nails inspo ❀ #nails #coquette #nailsinspo #lilyrosedepp #lanadelrey #fy #dior

♬ Γ©coute chΓ©rie bestspedup – bestspedup

As nail art STANS, we couldn’t forget about #nailspo! Coquette nails have garnered rave reviews on TikTok with 35.9 million views! However, there isn’t one nail design that dominates the trend; it’s simply nail art that’s hyper-feminine and pretty. The color palette features pastel pinks, milky nude tones, and of course, lustrous red. As for the design details, there are hearts, lace designs, and pearl adornments. Honestly, could it be any cuter?

Okay, now you know about the coquette trend, the real question is: are you going to try it? Let us know in the comments below.

Rare Beauty’s 6 best makeup products, reviewed by a celebrity beauty brand sceptic.

Published on by Lee1 Comment

I’ll be honest, when I first heard about the launch of Rare Beauty, I was hesitant to jump on the hype train. When celebrity beauty brands are launching at the rate of approximately 14930 a year, it can be difficult to get excited for everyone.

Despite this, not long after its launch, recommendations for Rare Beauty products came flooding in from friends, colleagues, and across my Tiktok FYP. I tentatively started trying out a few products from the brand, starting with its viralΒ Soft Pinch Liquid BlushΒ andΒ Liquid Eyeliner. If you’re already a fan of the brand, it probably won’t shock you to hear that it didn’t take long for Rare Beauty products to become my top-drawer makeup staples.

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The thing is, it can be easy for a celebrity to just attach their name to a beauty brand without putting much thought into it. This isn’t the case with Rare Beauty, which feels very much like an extension of Selena Gomez’s authentic approach to beauty. The products have been thoughtfully curated in beautiful packaging, yes, but more than that, they look to enhance and celebrate our beauty, rather than masking it.

In the end, I found it pretty difficult to narrow it down to my six favorite products, but after quite a bit of deliberation, these are my top Rare Beauty makeup picks that I recommend trying from the brand.

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush

A Tiktok fave, I can safely say this liquid blush is like no other that I’ve tried. The amount of pigment this blusher packs is astounding; when you apply it you only need the tiniest dot, which will seamlessly blend out into a natural, healthy flush.

Currently, you can get your hands on 11 shades with two different finishes, dewy and matte, so there’s something for everyone. The doe-foot applicator is a welcome addition too, as it allows you to be precise with your placement and avoid depositing too much product.

At $23, it might be a pricier blusher buy, but it is worth the investment.

Rare Beauty Kind Words Matte Lip Liner

I’m super picky when it comes to my lip-liners, but this has become one of the top three I have on rotation. It features a soft, almost gel-textured pencil which I find preferable, especially for perpetually dry lips. Although it has a matte finish, the formula glides on smoothly and doesn’t tug or skip, before drying down and staying put.

The color payoff is intense too, with a range of 10Β nude shadesΒ that deliver immediate color. I’ll often just wear mine alone, but it also makes a reliable base for lipsticks and prevents them from bleeding beyond your lipline.

Rare Beauty Silky Touch Highlighter

One of Rare Beauty’s newest launches, the Silky Touch Highlighter was another immediate hit on Tiktok. When it comes to highlighters I’m super picky (I was raised on Becca Champagne Pop after all), so one had to perform to make it into my good books.

To me, this is a very unique highlighter formulation. It’s a silky powder but the finish and luminosity of the highlighter would make you think it’s a liquid. Where I’ll normally have to use my finger with a powder highlighter to get the intensity I want, a light dusting of a powder brush in this powder delivers the most insane pigment.

The finish is a mix of wet-look with some very fine shimmer, which I think is more obvious in the lighter shades than the more golden hues. It’s a highlight that will get you compliments and might just momentarily blind passersby.

Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation

When it comes to foundations, lightweight formulations are non-negotiable for me. While this used to mean that I was limited to skin tints and BB creams, more high-coverage foundations with barely-there textures are now entering the arena.

This one from Rare Beauty has become one of my go-to’s if I’ve got an event or a night out where a little more coverage is wanted; I love the serum-like feel which blends seamlessly for a second-skin finish.

The weightless formula makes it a great option for both dry and oily skin types as it won’t settle in dry lines or clog pores. It’s also ideal for that office-to-evening touch-up thanks to the no-mess doe foot applicator, so that’s one less excuse for not making it to the office after work drinks.

Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Eyeliner

Whether you’re an eyeliner pro or still trying to get to grips with a wing, this liquid liner is worth a try. Rather than a felt tip which the majority of liquid liner pens feature, this applicator is made up of 8000 super fine bristles for an ultra-precise brush tip that doesn’t feather or gets worn at the end.

I’ve tried probably hundreds of liquid eyeliners at this point and this one seriously impressed me. It doesn’t skip, drag, or require you to press down hard to release pigment; just give it a shake and get drawing. The matte finish is just that too; it doesn’t bleed or smudge throughout the day, so whether you’re battling against watery eyes or oily eyelids, these wings will stay sharp.

Rare Beauty Positive Light Under Eye Brightener

An under-eye brightener always seemed like an extra step I didn’t need, but this formula is truly brilliant. First off, it’s so hydrating.

Most eye-brightener products tend to be balmy or waxy, which only makes my skin even drier. This is deeply hydrating, while the metal applicator gives tired peepers a gentle cooling sensation to help wake them up.

My under eyes were disguised in a swipe and the formula didn’t seep into fine lines.

Black-Owned Beauty Brands We Love

Published on by Lee1 Comment

If we could only pick one thing that we have loved to see in the beauty space over the last several years, it would be the diversification of brandsβ€”especially, Black-owned beauty brands. Top retailers like Sephora, Ulta, Target, Nordstrom, and more have diversified their catalogs exponentially to increase the number ofΒ Black-owned brandsΒ that are carried both in-store and onlineβ€”and many retailers are evenΒ monitoring shelf spaceΒ to ensure it remains this way.

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Having access to more Black-owned beauty brands is not only an important way to support brands and founders but also toΒ drive changeΒ for the entire Black community. It’s easier than ever. And what’s more, so many of these brands are changing the game and challenging industry normsβ€”we’re talking extended shade ranges, and more inclusive skincare and haircare products. And more offerings that were hard (more like practically impossible) to find before.

To celebrate this, we have compiled a list of twelve of our favorite Black-owned beauty brands that offer products across all categories: skincare, haircare, makeup, body care, tools, and more.

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12 Black-Owned Beauty Brands We Love

Topicals

Topicals offer one-step skincare solutions that are backed by science and made for every shade. With an emphasis on skincare products that are suitable for flare-ups, founder Olamide Olowe knows how connected skin health and mental health are, so Topical’s mission is to transform the way you feel about your skin.

Gilded Body

Gilded Body believes that feeling beautiful and achieving wellness is found through self-care. They carry body care products that engage the senses and invite the user to slow down and bask in the luxury of high-quality, botanically driven, dermatologically developed skincare and tools.

Pat McGrath Labs

Nicknamed the β€œMother of Makeup,” Pat McGrath is the world’s most influential and in-demand makeup artist. With countless launches selling out in record-breaking times, the hype for this brand is real. And it continues to push the boundaries of the makeup industry.

Range Beauty

Range Beauty offers makeup essentials for ultra-sensitive skinβ€”specifically, for acne and eczema. Alicia Scott, CEO, and Founder suffered from eczema and cystic acne. She was frustrated that she couldn’t find makeup that acknowledged both her skin tone and her skin conditions. Range Beauty was born to ensure that those with any skin type, in any shade, could find products they could trust.

Fenty Beauty

We’d be remiss not to include RiRi’s beauty brands, Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin. After years of struggling to find products that performed across all skin types and tones, Rihanna set out to create Fentyβ€”first starting with makeup and then extending into skincare.

Lys Beauty

The mission of Lys Beauty is to diversify theΒ clean beauty industry. Founded by Tisha Thompson, Lys Beauty was the first Black-owned Sephora Clean Makeup brand! Their products have universal shade offerings, provide high-performance results, and the best part: they are all under $30

Oui the People

Oui the People aims to build efficacious products, designed thoughtfully, that help you feel great in the skin you’re already in rather than pursuing flawlessness. Crafted without sulfates, parabens, synthetic fragrances, and phthalates, their products range from shaving necessities like razors and exfoliators to hydrating body balms and glosses.

Pattern

Powerhouse Tracee Ellis Ross founded Pattern with the promise of meeting your hair where it is and empowering your curl pattern. To keep hair healthy, hydrated, juicy, and joyful, Pattern offers a range of products for washing, treating, and styling.Β 

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Briogeo

Briogeo is on a mission to empower every person to succeed on their hair health journey. They know that everyone’s journey is different, so they have multiple lines of products that are suitable for damaged hair, thin hair, frizzy hair, dry scalps, and beyond. This way, each individual can confidently embrace their unique hair, texture, color, and everything else that makes them or exactly who they are.

Mielle Organics

Monique Rodriguez is an RN turned Founder and CEO who has taken the haircare market by storm through Mielle Organics. Created with nature and science, Mielle Organics is a haircare and beauty brand that believes healthier ingredients encourage healthier hair and skin.

Luv Scrub

Mesh exfoliators have been used in West Africa for generations. But it wasn’t until 2011 when Caroline, Founder of LUV SCRUB, realized it could become a cult-favorite product outside of Ghana. It immediately pushed boundaries in the body care space. And now, this magical mesh can be found in some of the largest retailers including Nordstrom, Ulta, and Bloomingdales.

Black Girl Sunscreen

Shontay Lundy created Black Girl Sunscreen after being frustrated with the lack of sunscreen options formulated for women of color. Made with melanated skin in mind, Black Girl Sunscreen has filled a large gap in the market and has continued to grow exponentially since its inception.

Is Rare Beauty Worth the Hype? Our Editors Weigh-In on Their Favorite Products

Published on by Lee2 Comments

A badass founder with a powerful mission is enough to make us fans of a brand, but when the products perform, have a broad shade range, areΒ vegan and cruelty-free, and areΒ affordable, you’ll be hard-pressed to get us to stop talking about them. Since its launch,Β Selena Gomez’s makeup brand, Rare Beauty, has had its fair share of waitlisted products, and for a good reasonβ€”everyone (including all of TikTok and our editors) is obsessed with them.

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We try a lot of productsΒ around here, so when the Founder Crystal Lee, calls a product β€œGod-tier,” you know we mean business. From the bronzing stick that melts into the skin, our Founder is sharing her favorite Rare Beauty products so you know which ones you need to get your hands on ASAP:

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Our favorites from Rare Beauty

Soft Pinch Liquid Blush

If you scroll on TikTok for a mere five minutes, there’s a pretty high chance you’ll come across this blush more than once. And while I hate to be preaching to the choir, this stuff is popular for a reason. When I say that a little bit of this formula goes a long way, I mean it. It takes one singular dot of this blush on each cheek to warm up my entire face, it blends so seamlessly and will last a long time. For me, that makes it worth every penny.

Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Sticks

I have dabbled with bronzing and contour sticks in the past but, earlier this summer, I wanted to find one that blended easily and warmed up my face. A lot of sticks I’ve used in the past were tough to blend (eating up way too much time of my morning routine) and, at times, would leave me feeling like I just smeared dirt on my face. I picked up this Rare Beauty bronzing stick and let me tell youβ€”this stuff puts in work. It’s super creamy without feeling too liquid-like and melts into my skin like butter. When it comes to warming up my face fast, this formula gets the job done and is one of my favorite parts of my makeup routine.

Kind Words Lip Liner

My lips are extremely sensitive, with most lip products I use causing reactions (plump lips are in, swollen ones? Not so much). The Rare Beauty Kind Words lipliner is truly a godsend. It glides on so smoothly and leaves my lips feeling nourished rather than dry. I use a shade close to my natural lip color for everyday wear and I couldn’t recommend it more.

Positive Light Luminizer Highlight

The second Rare Beauty launched I knew I’d need to get my hands on this highlighter, and it has not disappointed me. It gives a beautiful glow without being in your face about it. On days I want to wear a little less makeup, I mix a drop of this with my blush and blend the two. It’s a holy grail kind of combo.

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Stay Vulnerable Melting Cream Blush

Everyone always talks about Rare Beauty’s liquid blushes (which for the record, I love) but nobody ever talks about how incredible their cream blushes are. If you’re someone who loves a natural flush, you’re going to adore these. They blend out to give the prettiest, flushed cheek, and unlike the liquid blushes, they’re hard to overdo. I have two different shades that I love for day-to-day wear.

Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer

As a tinted moisturizer fanatic, this is one of my favorites of all time. Unlike many tinted moisturizers, this one gives me a bit of coverage and leaves me with a blurred, poreless, healthy-looking complexion. I love this for daily wear, but it’s also significant enough that I wear it to the office all the time, too.

Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara

This mascara has some mixed reviews on Sephora, but it still has a 4-star rating. Its eye-hugging brush is meant to lift, lengthen, curl, and volumize the lashes, and reviewers say that it doesβ€”as long as you wipe excess product off of the brush first to prevent clumping.

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Stay Vulnerable Liquid Eyeshadow

Liquid eyeshadows are a God-send because they make applying eyeshadow seamless and quick. This one in particular is a weightless, liquid-to-powder formula that remains creaseless and because of that, reviewers are loving it.

Always An Optimist 4-in-1 Prime & Set Mist

This 4-in-1 primer hydrates, primes, sets, and refreshes skin with ingredients like niacinamide to improve the appearance of skin and lotus, gardenia, and white waterlily to soothe and nourish. While oily-skin gals say it makes them look like a “grease ball,” dry-skin gals are loving the glow.

Primp Tip:Β This is for black and brown people aka POC, don’t apply too much because too much product will leave your face sparkly ghostly unless that’s your thing.

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Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation

Serum-like, weightless, and buildable foundations always sound too good to be true, and reviewers are torn on this one. Some say that it is the “best skin-like foundation on the market” and others are claiming that it is “patchy and cakey with REALLY bad separation.” This is one you’re going to have to test out for yourself to see if this foundation is for you.

Always an Optimist Soft Radiance Setting Powder

This talc-free, loose-setting powder visibly smooths, blurs, and controls shine on all skin types. Five shade options deliver a natural, comfortable finish. One reviewer says “it leaves your skin blurred and smooth, without mattifying,” so you can still get your glow on without looking greasy.

Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer

This lightweight, hydrating concealer offers medium-to-full coverage in 49 shades. With 1,500+ reviews on Sephora and a 4-star rating, this has been tested by the masses and the resounding verdict is that it’s a must-have.

Pore Diffusing Primer

This gel primer claims to blur the look of pores and fine lines, boost and extend makeup wear, and help fight shine. As confirmed in the reviews, it is suitable for all skin types and worth a try if you are on the hunt for a new primer.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RARE BEAUTY ESSENTIAL?