Product Reviews: W3LL People Foundation, Multi-Use Color Sticks, and More
A few weeks ago, as I keep mentioning for no reason, I visited the great state of Texas for the very first time! Another fun thing I did?
Hung out with our old pals at W3LL People, a natural beauty brand we fell in love with when we were writing the book.
We figure everyone who’s read the book (and you’ve alllllll read it, right?) knows how much we love them, but just in case: We love them! W3LL People was created in Austin by three people with very different backgrounds a common desire to create high-quality super-pigmented cosmetics that wear like a dream. There’s Shirley, who used to work at NARS—known for its gorgeous colors, especially for face (Orgasm blush, anyone?). There’s James, a charming environmentalist with a marketing background. And there’s Renee, an MD who helps with their formulations.
From the line, I have three favorite go-tos:
1. First up is the Narcissist foundation sticks (I wear color #2), which offers amazing coverage that isn’t too shiny and which is not coconut-oil based, thank god for me. Coconut oil is amazing, but it breaks me out on my chin, so it’s verboten for spot coverage. This one works well for me on undereyes, on my nostrils and on any other spots that need evening out. I also have a friend who uses it, mixed with her face oil, for all-over coverage, and she always looks terrific. So there’s that. Plus, it comes in a stick, making it great for surreptitious, on-the-go application.
2. I also love love love the Universalist multi-use sticks, in matte. These are blush and lipsticks in one, and the color is so concentrated that one sweep provides a bright shock of pink on my lips. I wear #7, and have for years. It’s so freaking pretty! My preferred method of application is to literally kiss the top of the tub, then blend with my fingers. (No, I’m not kidding!) If you prefer a more subtle color, apply then put some gloss or balm on top to dilute it. I’ve also taken to wearing it as a blush. Now, I’m generally averse to wearing blush since I’m pink to begin with, but as Shirley has told me, pink people can benefit a lot from blush because it offsets the natural hue, actually minimizing it. Turns out, she’s right!
3. The Nudist lip tints are also amazing. We wrote in the book about #2, which reminds me of Clinique’s Almost Lipstick in Black Honey, but while I was there I also got my paws on #4, which is a matte, nude pink that I find really chic. The color looks just like Brigitte’s lips in this picture—what more could you want (other than BB’s actual lips)?
Have you ever tried W3LL People? Found any other makeup lines you love?
I’m using Vapour Organic foundation stick which is fantastic – good coverage without being cakey or thick, I think it’s a nice, natural finish. I love the RMS un-concealer and their luminiser as dabble with using a few of their other eye shadows or lip-2-cheek products. Also discovered Revolution Organics, they have what I guess is a multi-purpose stick of shocking pink colour which is a gorgeous blush and lip colour, and I sometimes sweep a dab across my eyelids just to liven them up a little (but very carefully as I don’t care to look like a kid playing with clown paint). I’m also using (and I hope I don’t get scolded for this, I didn’t perform my “due diligence” before purchasing!) a Josie Maran blush stick in Petal Pink which I cheat & use on my lips, too. I’m all about the multi-purpose products as (a) I’m a little (ha!) lazy; and (b) it makes travelling soooooo much easier. Like the RMS un-concealer – in a pinch I use it as my foundation, blending it really well with some argan oil or anything else to “cut” it a little.
What I NEED is a recommendation for a good mascara! I haven’t gone clean on that yet so to anyone who cares to share some advice, I would be most grateful!
Ive really been curious about trying a new foundation, I’m having to basically restock from scratch bc my things got stolen. I usually use mineral foundation but am kind of over it. It’s great in the humid summers here and I still have a place in my heart for it but I find myself wanting to venture into an actual foundation bc my skin can be a bit on the dry side. But I don’t want shiny or super heavy. And though I love rms beauties other products the foundation kind of creases under my eyes. I’m also very pale, with a pretty neutral skin tone and I have trouble finding shades that match my skin but I was wondering of you guys have any suggestions? My skin tends to have a few red spotted and the occasional bright red mark from a left behind zit…or a zit. Any suggestions would be welcome!
I love love love W3ll people! Thank you for introducing me! I love the Narcisisst stick and the powder foundation as well as the lip tints. So great. So good on my skin and they smell good too.
Oh yessss, I really love my Narcisisst #3 and Nudist Lipshine#3. The red lipstick ist one of my clean alltime favourites. Thank you so much for your recommandations and inspirations!… says one of your readers from Germany
Sounds perfect for a Friday deal! :)
Can’t wait to try. Didn’t know that about coconut oil…
I have really dry, peeling skin. I’m wondering if anyone would recommend W3LL’s HD matte mineral setting or the satin finishing powder? I’ve been having trouble finding a powder that doesn’t dry my skin out
Cannot get enough of their products. The Nudist colors are beautiful, comfortable enough to wear on a Sunday, but pigmented enough to be appropriate at my formal workplace. I second the request for a Friday Deal at W3ll People!
I have the Narcissist stick and forgot I had it! I prefer mineral foundation in the winter, but my skin tends towards dry in the winter. I am basically in love with Couleur Caramel’s Hydracoton foundation (from The Nature of Beauty) – it’s full coverage, liquid, matte, and covers my acne scars and acne nicely. I’ve also been using CC’s conealer stick but I think I’m going to try Narcissist for that tomorrow and see if I like it!
@Naomi, Real Purity mascara is perfect for me, though I find the brown and brown/black wear better than the plain black.
I love the foundations from Living Nature, a very clean brand from New Zealand. I have been using their foundation, and powder, and bronzer for over five months and love them. The foundation is light, dries quickly but doesn’t leave my skin dry at all, provides medium coverage (which I can increase if needed by dabbing on a bit more) and lasts all day on me.
Their powders (both the transparent, which I use for late in the day touchups when I occasionally need one, and the bronzer) are sheer and leave a pretty, subtle glow.
Buying from them- via their website or an organic products like Saffron Rouge- is easy. I have even changed the color of foundation I wanted, mid-order, and their US distributor was very nice and intercepted my order and changed it out to different colors. I highly recommend Living Nature products.
@Rebecca – thanks, I’ll give that a try!
I second Sarah! When is the Friday deal with W3LL People??? :)
Don’t forget to ship to Canada! I would LOVE to try this line.
I second the real purity mascara!I had it sitting in my drawer for a while and just started using it a few days ago. Looks very natural,stays put and doesn’t smudge. Great for my sensitive eyes.I used the organic wear jumbo mascara beforehand, but it seemed to irritate my eyes slightly whenever I wore it:(
As a foundation I use Laura Mercier minerals and really love it!I cannot wear the natural foundation sticks as they make me breakout…Very acne prone here:(
I’m yet to try the brand…maybe a Friday Deal sometime soon?:)
My fave: Vapour Organic Luminous Foundation stick over RMS un-cover-up that I’d tried before..
@ Naomi… mascaras that I tried and liked: Dr.Hauschka Volume Mascara , Couler Caramel Mascara in second
@Renee… look into Vapour Organic, you may find exactly what you are looking for:)
Naomi…My favorite mascara combination is one coat of Jane Iredale Pure Lash Conditioner followed by one coat of 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Blackberry mascara. A great combination that lasts all day. I liked Couleur Caramel Mascara until I found it on the Skin Deep database with a rather high number. I think it was a six.
Another vote for a W3ll People Friday deal! :) Been wanting to try them, but I wear make-up so seldom that I never use a full stick or anything… if I got a deal on it though, maybe I’d be more inclined to buy something! Their adorable simple packaging and multi-use formula is really intriguing.
Wait, I followed the link through for the nudist lip color and it only has seven colors listed? and #7 describes itself as a sheer, nude pink whilst #4 looks like an ice pink? Could anyone clear this up for me?
Woops sorry all I corrected the post! The black honey one is #2. And #7 it looks like an ice pink but it isn’t — the internet just has a hard time with colors, sometimes! I have it on right now.
@Dylan Not drying to me!
@Siobhan Thanks!
Naomi and Dylan-after reading the book, I am using almost exclusively Jane Iredale cosmetics, and will be exclusive after I run out of my current eyeliner pencil and eyebrow pencil. I’m lucky to have a spa here in town that sells it. I would recommend the PureLash Mascara. It is a natural finish. I use two coats for a regular day but could go more for night. The Amazing Base powder is fantastic! I love the coverage and it is not drying.
These sound really great! Don’t know if I can get them here in Australia, but will definitely check it out. I quite like the Vapour products too. They go on easily and give a nice natural look. I also love Lavera eyeliner, Josie Maran mascara and Burts Bees tinted lip balm in Pink Blossom.
I actually just received a foundation stick (2), multi-use stick (5), and lip tint (1) from W3ll People in the mail for review! I’m loving each of them and am currently working on the reviews. :)
@Annette, thanks!! I’ll check it out!
@Dawn, I’m jealous.
My skin is so much better and happier now that I only use fab clean products on it. So much so, I only use a light tinted moisturizer on it, which evens and brightens my dry skin quite nicely. I use a pump of Marie Veronique Organics Moisturizing Face Screen (SPF 30) in their Light Tint, mixed with 1 pump of Living Nature’s Illuminating Tint in “Dawn Glow.” I have relatively pale skin, and it’s fabulous: good sun protection, not too drying, get a boost of illumination from the Living Nature product. I highly recommend ‘em! (For those of you who haven’t tried Marie Veronique Organics products, I find her Moisturizing Face Screen to be the closest liquid tinted moisturizer/foundation to non-clean foundation–in terms of consistency and performance. It doesn’t provide much coverage (light, I’d say), but the consistency is much better than most other liquid natural/clean products for my needs.)
As for W3LL People products, I find the Narcissist too drying and thick for my dry skin, even (or perhaps especially?) under my eyes. (The only natural under-eye concealer that works for my dry skin is Christopher Drummond’s–great stuff.) I have several W3LL People lip sticks, and especially like #s 2 & 5.
@Naomi: I second the reco of using Jane Iredale’s Pure Lash Conditioner under a natural mascara: it makes ALL the difference in turning natural mascara into something that actually works. Wahoo!
Another vote for a W3ll People Friday deal here too.. and I second the shipping to Canada thing.
I get nervous mentioning what I use because I am not sure if ‘natural’ or ‘pure’ is actually natural! Or if vegan products are natural.. or whether they still can have hidden terrible stuff in them. lol.
I have been using W3LL People Universalist and Narcissist since I read your book a few months ago. They are both great – even on my dry (and aging) skin. In my search for product recommendations from your book, I found a Houston store called One Green Street that carries W3LL People.
Another side benefit of using clean cosmetics – less shopping in department stores.
Thank you for the book and the blog!
How does one go about choosing a shade of foundation when ordering online?