It’s been a while since I updated my makeup wardrobe. Makeup just doesn’t get the same love and attention from me as skincare. I recently did however get a few new things, so I thought I’d share.
In this post, I’m diving into three recent purchases that have quickly become my go-to’s: the Hermès Plein Air Complexion Balm, the Rose Inc Blush in Delphine, and the IDUN Minerals Lip Liner in Harriet. With the main attraction being: is Hermès makeup worth the splurge?
Hermès Plein Air Complexion Balm in shade Chanvre 40
Aside from having their slippers on my second-hand watchlist, Hermès beauty line wasn’t on my radar. I didn’t even know they did makeup! 👀 What happened is that I stumbled upon their $59 lip oil… I thought to myself, “who splurges that much on lip care?” Yet, in my bougie era of trying high-end expensive products, I added their makeup to my watchlist. Just for fun.
Fast forward, I chanced upon a slightly used Plein Air Complexion Balm in what appeared to be just my shade, priced just under $20(!). Despite mixed reviews on their makeup, the allure of a bargain was hard to pass on. The timing also felt right, coinciding with my birthday. Plus, I needed a new foundation after finishing my Milk Makeup Sunshine Skin Tint (check my review here). It’s been my go-to for the last two years but I’m sensing it’s being discontinued… So as a reason to find something new, I indulged in a “self-care treat”.
My Experience
The Hermès Plein Air Complexion Balm is best applied with fingers as it has the consistency of a moisturizer. Then go in with a brush to blur out any streaks. It’s a sheer, tinted foundation perfect for evening out skin tone and redness, but won’t tackle major blemishes or spots. It has SPF 25 (physical sunscreen). I found that using too much can cause cakiness, especially on dry skin (which this product might even accentuate). Not to mention that when applied, it tends to streak a little bit. However, if your skin is prepped and smooth–avoiding moisturizers/sunscreens with grip–you get a pleasantly lovely natural finish.
Luckily, shade 40 Chanvre works very well for my yellow/neutral/olive tone. However, perhaps it fits more as a summer shade for me going off the pictures. The finish is beautiful and lasts well throughout the day, enhancing my skin’s natural glow. But note, my skin is neither dry nor oily. The shade darkens slightly. I wouldn’t say opting for a lighter shade is necessary considering the coverage is quite sheer and it’s not meant to be applied heavily.
Conclusion
While Hermès Plein Air Complexion Balm impresses as a sheer foundation, its $90 price tag is a bit excessive. (No sh*t Sherlock..) A fair evaluation places its value closer to $49, around the same price as the Milk Makeup Skin Tint.
The Hermès Complexion Balm has more of a natural radiant finish as opposed to the dewy finish of the Sunshine Skin Tint. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of looking waxy or like a glass ball. So I love that about the Hèrmes balm.
While Hermès makeup is said to be formulated and made in Japan, it doesn’t compete with established Japanese brands like Shiseido, which offer similar and, perhaps better, formulas for a couple of dollars less. Hermès makeup feels more like a luxury purchase than a high-performance product – perhaps a way to feel “bougie” or qualify for a Birkin bag waitlist?
Is it worth it?
That said, it’s not by any means a bad foundation. On the contrary, I do enjoy it quite a lot! The finish is like your skin but way better and does seem almost unoticable. The way it lasts throughout the day makes it feel worth a higher price tag. However, while it’s good and comparable to other high-end foundations, it’s not $30 to $40 better than those half its price range.
I’m not completely sold that I’d repurchase at a lower price though. There are simply other tinted foundations that I prefer and that give a tiny bit more coverage. One is the Shiseido Sports BB (review here)–which sadly only comes in 3-4 shades. One of the things that lowers the performance of the Hèrmes balm is the application. There’s something about the formula that could’ve been smoother and more sensorial, making it easier and more enjoyable to apply. Hard to explain or even show, yet it’s one of the major things that makes it not worth paying $90 for. The strong fragrance of the Hermès tinted foundation is also a concern – it took me time to adjust, and some might find it overpowering. Not to mention, at $90 a pop, the packaging is strikingly plain. But at least it’s easy to cut open and get every last bit of. Another bonus is that you do get 40ml, which is 1/3 more than most foundations on the market.
A conversation with a fellow blogger shed light on the notion that unless you disclose you’re wearing Hermès, no one would know, at least when it comes to their makeup. This prompted me to ponder whether the overwhelming fragrance is an intentional branding tactic to assert its Hermès identity. While no one can tell by the look of it, they certainly can tell by the scent of it – for those familiar with Hermès fragrances, that is.
Rose Inc Blush in Delphine
After receiving Rose Inc blush in ‘Heliotrope’ in an advent calendar a few years ago, which replaced the shade ‘Azalea’ that wasn’t very flattering, I’ve wanted to expand my collection. ‘Delphine‘ seemed like a good fit, resembling the Kosas Blush in ‘Velvet Melon’ (review here and now seemingly discontinued) that I loved but felt faded too quickly.
My Experience
Unfortunately, I don’t have Kosas Velvet Melon anymore, so I can’t confirm if Delphine is a close dupe. One thing to note is that Rose Inc blushes have a slightly more matte finish. Regardless, I adore the shade Delphine. It perfectly complements Heliotrope! I also find it to be a more neutral shade that works with a variety of looks. Heliotrope, with its pink-neutral tone, requires me to wear pink lipstick and cooler colors like blues and pinks. Delphine, with its peachy hue, pairs beautifully with a wider range of colors. Especially with reds, oranges to browns, for both your lips and outfit.
The texture and wear of Delphine are very similar to Heliotrope. Both lean towards a sheerer finish compared to the more saturated Azalea. Since Delphine sits closer to my natural skin tone, similar to Kosas Velvet Melon, it appears to blend in and soften after a few hours. Still, it outperforms Kosas in terms of lasting power I would say.
Conclusion
While the Rose Inc blush in ‘Delphine’ isn’t an exact dupe for Kosas ‘Velvet Melon’, it boasts significantly better staying power! It does fade slightly faster than Heliotrope on me, but that might be because it blends more seamlessly into my skin tone. It doesn’t disappear entirely, it just sheers out a bit as it complements my natural complexion. As you may figure out, I do not recommend this shade for darker skin tones.
This blush is a definite repurchase for me! I’m also eyeing the Rose Inc blush brush and the shade ‘Camellia’. It’s a super lovely mauve shade with a bit more oomph than the others, which I think would be more flattering on me than the very pigmented Azalea.
IDUN Minerals Lip Liner in Harriet
I picked up the IDUN Minerals lip liner because their matte lipstick in ‘Jungfrubär‘ is a long-time favorite. I opted for the shade ‘Harriet‘, described as a beige brown, thinking it would be a versatile choice for many lipstick shades. For reference, it’s a close match to something between MAC Lip Liner in Spice or Stripdown.
My Experience
Brown/beige lip liners have been quite popular in recent years and I now see the appeal. ‘Harriet’ complements even Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk lipstick beautifully and creates a flattering illusion of fuller lips á la (subtle) Kardashian. I was considering trying out lip fillers, however, I think I can postpone that appointment now that I’ve discovered beige lip liner. Sorry if I sound a bit late to the party.
Overall, the IDUN Lip Liner boasts impressive staying power. However, a rookie mistake I made initially was lining my lips after applying lip balm. This definitely affects how long the liner lasts. Pro tip: apply lip balm beforehand, or at least blot your lips with a tissue before lining.
Conclusion
I don’t know why it took me such a long time to try out a nude lipliner. And while IDUN’s shade ‘Harriet’ is on the verge of making me look like a Bratz doll, it’s a definite repurchase for me! I’m also tempted to explore a few other shades in their range. This lip liner is a great way to achieve fuller-looking lips without resorting to fillers and offers excellent staying power when applied correctly.
Products Mentioned
So, what new makeup products did you recently purchase?
Share in the comments below! Let’s chat about all things beauty and whether you’ve found any holy grail products lately.
