When the CDC first recommended we wear face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19, I don’t think any of us thought they would become such an intergral part of our daily lives. I know I didn’t. And for the sake of public safety, masks are great. In terms of makeup? Not so much. Since mask mandates became a thing, makeup wearers have realized a whole host of problems including makeup smudging beneath their mask and, what has now been dubbed as, “mascne.” I could write another post on how to make your makeup last under your mask or how to combat breakouts from your mask, but that’s not what we’re talking about today. Today we’re talking about my above the mask favorites.
When it comes to makeup and COVID, above the mask kind of equates to above the fold in newspaper journalism. Your stories that are the most important and newsworthy are above the fold, at the face of the paper. These products are sort of like that. Since my mask covers more than half of my face, there’s no real use for experimenting with anything the mask will cover, like lipstick. Instead, I have been focusing on products and techniques that highlight the areas we do see. My eyes, brows, and cheekbones have been getting a lot of love lately. So what are these beloved above the mask favorites?
Above the Mask Favorites
[ mask friendly makeup techniques and trends ]
Sometimes the key to drawing attention isn’t product specific. Sometimes trying a new technique outside of your norm is enough to gain a few second glances. Likewise, there are certain makeup trends that are just friendly with face coverings. When thinking of my above the mask favorites, my mind jumped to three trends/techniques/finishes immediately. And they’re super easy!
no. 1 | Blush Draping
I could write an entire post on blush draping and how much I love the technique. Maybe it’s because it’s as close as I’m getting to Kate Hudson’s Penny Lane in Almost Famous, but I’m so happy this 1970s trend is back. At its essence, blush draping is contouring the face but with blush. There are a few different draping techniques, but the one I favor for mask wearing is a lifted type of draping.
The lifted look is about heightening, making your cheekbones look raised and more pronounced. And that’s perfect for wearing beneath a mask, especially if your cheekbones aren’t particularly high on their own. It pulls focus UP, up above the mask, and toward the eye. Which is a beautiful segway to number 2.
no. 2 | Different Eyeshadow Shapes
As I said before, wearing a mask has changed how I’m experimenting with makeup. While it hasn’t halted lipstick experimenting, it’s definitely shifted focus upward. I’m a creature of habit, and my typical eyeshadow shape is a little diffused at the edge, but generally in a V shape, pulling out toward my temple. I think it’s a shape a lot of people gravitate toward. But since my eyes are virtually the only thing you see above the mask, experimenting with different eyeshadow shapes has been fun.
no. 3 | Texture, Texture, Texture
I’m someone who loves texture and dimension in eye shadow, regardless of a pandemic. But when you want to play with makeup but the majority of your face is covered by cloth, you almost rely on it for some interest. That’s why I’ve been reaching for shadows that are gritty, flakey, dimensional. Anything to add a little intrigue to the eye.
[ face ]
Even pre-Covid, I was solidifying my place in the world as a glowy bitch. So the majority of these above the mask favorites are total glow-getters. But for good reason. We tend to use to most highlighting products on the high points of our face, where the sun naturally hits — the cheekbones, brow bone, etc. Now, our mask covers the majority of our face, except those places we generally apply highlighting products. So why not make them stand out even more?
no. 1 | Hourglass Ambient Strobe Blushes
I love the Ambient Strobe Blushes* from Hourglass. Their powders are truly something special. Some blushes can be quite flat on the skin. They don’t add much visual dimension to the cheek. But these blushes are a combination of two formulas — a color formula and a luminescent formula. And together they really create a seamless, almost blurring kind of color on the cheek with the most gorgeous radiant glow.
There are two finishes in these Ambient Blushes* — the radiant finish and shimmer finish. The radiant finish blushes are definitely a little less intense. They’re pretty and give a very natural kind of glow. But if you want something a little more intense, the shimmer finish is beautiful.
I really like using these blushes in conjunction with that draping technique I mentioned earlier. They’re pretty sheer and light in coverage, so even high on the face and concentrated, it doesn’t look clown-like. They’re really sophisticated blushes that I’ve been reaching for constantly.
You may be interested in this review: Hourglass Ambient Strobe Blush Review
no. 2 | Kosas Revealer Concealer
Am I still wearing foundation under my mask? Yeah, sometimes. Can you really see it? No. Not really. Do you know what you can see? Those under eye dark circles. The sleep pattern disruption is real. And so is the need to conceal the whole under eye situation. I have been reaching for the Kosas Revealer Concealer* non-stop. Sometimes I wear it alone, but the shade I have is a little too dark for me (luckily they came out with new shades; I just haven’t purchased one yet.) Other times I’ll mix a little bit of the Rare Beauty concealer* in. But regardless, I love this particular concealer formula.
This offers glowier, dewier finish for a concealer. It’s not shiny, but it makes your under eyes look healthy and bright and awake. The under eye area beneath my left eye is a little more hollow than the right, and because of that, I notice a lot more darkness. It’s just harder to make that side look bright and “flawless.” But this concealer*, I feel, fills it in in a way. Of course, it doesn’t literally fill in the hollows, but the formula allows light to reflect in a way that’s even and lively.
no. 3 | E.l.f. Active Workout Ready Lip + Cheek Palette*
It probably seems silly to include a cream palette* in a list of makeup to wear with face masks, but I have been wearing this a lot, even with the mask. The formula is quite waxy. It’s not one of those oily, slick types of cream cheek product. I think because it’s also a lip product, it’s a little waxier, stiffer, and a little harder to move. But because of that, it plays well as an above the mask product.
I could write a full review on this palette, because I freaking love this thing. The three colors are really nice and not the typical colors in a palette. Instead of being bright and pink and peach, they’re a little richer and a little more brown toned. And I love that. It contains 3 blush colors and a highlight, and they all perform and blend together beautifully. I personally enjoy blending the highlight into the blush shades as they are matte, and I prefer a much glowier cheek.
no. 4 | Auric Glow Lust
And the last above the mask favorite I have is the newest to my collection, the Glow Lust highlighting product from Auric. I do have a full review on this coming up, but I felt like I needed to include it on this list. This is a liquid highlighting type of product, much like the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter* or the Algenist REVEAL Concentrated Luminizing Drops*, both of which I like. But this trumps both of them, truly.
It’s such a beautiful product that blends into your skin for the most lovely glow. It’s one that looks like a highlighting product; it’s not a natural looking, no makeup makeup kind of thing. But it’s a gorgeous highlight to place on your cheekbones, brow bone, nose, all over the face. Whatever you want.
[ eyes ]
The eyes have really become the star of the show in these Covid times, even for this lip lover. Curating this above the mask favorites list, I’ve learned how much I’ve come to rely on one and done shadow products that are shimmery and textured and dimensional, and also products that makeup my blue eyes pop. Basically I’ve been reaching for anything both easy and worthy of compliments.
no. 1 | ROEN 11:11 Eyeshadow Palette
My first eye pick for this above the mask favorites list was this little quad from ROEN*. And it’s because of how unique the shadows are to my collection. The colors are unique and some of my favorite one and done shadows. I can grab one of these on a finger and messily blend it onto the eye, and it still looks intentional and visually interesting.
Something I love about this is how chunky and textured the shadows are. It doesn’t look flat on the eye at all, and the light bounces around the shadows in the most beautiful way. Above the mask, it definitely pulls attention directly to your eyes.
You may be interested in this review: ROEN 11:11 Eyeshadow Palette Review
no. 2 | Auric Smoke Reflect
This is another eye product I love for similar reasons to the ROEN quad*. It’s great for a one and done shadow look, and it reflects light beautifully around the eyelid. But it’s a little more, as it’s a duo. It contains a cream, shimmery shadow on the bottom and a powder topper glitter on the top.
As for the cream side, the ROEN formula is creamy, but not something that’s going to dry down or apply in a wet way. The Auric Smoke Reflects, on the other hand, are a true cream shadow. They’re a little wet, a little goes a really long way, and are going to dry down to a more powder-like finish.
no. 3 | NYX Diamonds & Ice Shadow Jelly*
I received this as a PR sample a little while back, and I honestly just got around to using it a few weeks ago. I’m not one who reaches for intense glittery shades often. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good shimmer or metallic, but the formulas I choose are usually a little more sheer leaning. But intensely packed glitter? Not so much. But I broke this out one day during makeup playtime, and I am obsessed. This is a really wet, jelly formula, sheer silver base, packed with a ton of gold glitter. It’s dimensional and sparkly. But I find that it’s not too much for day wear.
Unfortunately, when looking for it to link to this post, I found it on sale on the NYX website*. So I think they’re being discontinued, because they were released for holiday. While it’s still in stock, I have included a few options below I think will give you a similar effect.
Get the look:
no. 4 | Natasha Denona Triochrome Palette*
I have been reaching for this palette* for a lot of reasons. It’s newer to my collection, most of the shades are really complementary to my blue eyes, and I’m constantly finding inspiration to create looks from it. I find the colors to be quite unique, both in my collection and in general. They look like they may common colors, but there’s just something about them that is different when I try to compare them to others in my collection.
You may be interested in this review: ND Triochrome Palette Review
no. 5 | Pat McGrath Mothership V Bronze Seduction Palette
Another palette I’ve been reaching for is the Bronze Seduction Palette from Pat McGrath Labs*. I’ve been eyeing this one for ages, and I finally pulled the trigger right at the end of 2020. The mattes are pretty and blend out and into each other beautifully. But the special shades are obviously the selling point of this palette. I’ve been reaching into the last two shades in the palette which are a glitter, color shifting chartreuse and white gold glitter.
I love taking a little of the special shades (the rose gold metallic, crimson metallic, and the two shades I just spoke on) on a tiny liner brush and popping them right on the center of the top lash line, right above the pupil of my eye. It’s seemingly unnoticeable when my eyes are open, but when I blink, you get this amazing peek of glittery goodness.
no. 6 | Gucci L’Obscur Mascara*
Part of me hates how much I love this mascara*, because it’s a little pricey. But it’s honestly my favorite mascara at the moment (and I have tried a lot of mascara!) This one isn’t going to be for you if you like a really natural, fluttery lash. But if you want impact and don’t mind a little bit of a clumpy look, definitely check this one out. One coat is enough to gives your lashes a dark wash of color and great length. Layering it only makes it better, albeit a little clumpy and spidery.
no. 7 | Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Eyeliner*
This liner* didn’t make it onto this list of above the mask favorites because of the formula. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy the formula. It’s creamy, but not too creamy. It blends and smudges and wears well throughout the day. But what I love most about this one is the color. It’s a really pretty berry brown shade, which is unique to my collection. And it makes my eyes look blue and bright. I think it’ll also play really well with green, hazel, and lighter brown eyes. With dark brown eyes, I think it’ll still be pretty, but might not make them pop quite as much.
What do your above the mask favorites look like? Have you found certain product work best with your mask? Have you also started to focus more heavily on your eyes than other parts of your face? Or have you largely forgone makeup lately?
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