May

Matte Matters, Part I: Designer Blotting Papers

You may have heard that FabSugar is going to Greece lucky girl! So in honor of her upcoming island-hopping adventure, I devoted last week’s Beauty Mark It challenge to finding the beach beauty essentials she’ll need for her trip.

With hair, makeup, and skincare products to consider, this challenge was incredibly extensive, and I really think we’ve covered all the bases, from beach-inspired palettes to protective hair masks and post-sun balms. You can see all of the Beach Beauty Marks here, and check out my picks below. (To learn what a Beauty Mark is and how to make one, click here.)

Beauty Mark #1: Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock ($8.99), found by Mellie_608, who says: “This is my favorite sunblock. I like the cooling sensation and the ease of use. All you do is spray it on and let it dry. No more greasy hands. I hate greasy hands, especially when sand is involved!”

Beauty Mark #2: Pout Palm Beach Compact ($28), found by Spun Sugar, who calls this her “fave ‘do it all’ compact for summer. Two lip colors and two cheek/highlighter colors. Great on the go!”

Beauty Mark #3: Juice Beauty SPF 15 Tinted Lip Moisturizers ($15), found by Elpatterson, who calls these “perfect for beachy glamor” and says they “feel great on, like you’re wearing nothing but a creamy balm.”

Three more beach beauty essentials when you

Since I discovered the new and luxuriously large Perfecting Powdered Sheets from NARS, I’ve noticed that more and more designer brands are now making blotting papers. Until now, oil-absorbing sheets like the ones from Papier Poudre were available mainly as a budget buy, but now these products are getting an upgrade. So I’ve put together a three-part series to introduce the new market for designer blotting papers.

Dior Blotting Papers ($21) help absorb any excess oil on your face. All 150 sheets are folded into a beautiful silver envelope with a mirror inside. Simply blot around your T-Zone for a magnificent matte look.