I haven’t historically turned to Urban Outfitters for beauty products. Affordable, nice-smelling candles? Yes. Silk pillowcases? I’ve found them there. That all changed a couple weeks ago when the retailer released its first in-house makeup, skin care, and body product line, Ohii.
I was lucky enough to receive a press package with some of Ohii’s launch goodies, and I’ve been rabidly testing them out since. And I have a lot to say, chief of which is that I love, love, love this brand. And not just for its smart-looking packaging. All of the products they sent me — from the natural deodorant to the highlighter-slash-under-eye-corrector — are effective and extremely easy to use. The formulas are long-lasting across the board, and the prices are insane: Most products are under $20. The line has been dubbed “minimal” by sites like Refinery29 and Cosmopolitan, but I actually love the makeup for it’s vibrant colors (I’m thinking specifically of the superbright matte lipsticks, and the frosty, sparkly shadow palettes). Most of all, I love the variety: Few brands launch lines that cover makeup, skin, and body.
It’s honestly rare that super-new brands earn a place in my take-with-me-everywhere makeup bag, but as I write this I have the lip balm and setting powder safely in there. Below, a guide to my Ohii favorites.
What makes a good setting powder? For me, it needs to let my makeup stay put all day, give me a soft, velvety finish without drying my skin out, and get rid of the perpetual spotlight on my forehead. This powder is totally dreamy and does all of the above. I don’t use the pad that comes with the compact — I use M.A.C’s 150 powder brush, put a few pats over my skin, and my makeup is set, smoothed, and perfectly matte. I recently subbed this in for my Laura Mercier setting powder, as I feel it’s less drying on my skin.
On super-minimal makeup days, I love dotting this highlighter-under-eye-corrector hybrid all over the high points of my face to make my skin look like I just left a spa. When I have the time to really dedicate to concealing and correcting, I’ll blend this into my under-eye concealer — it makes my eyes look insanely big and bright. It’s shiny, but not glittery, which means it’ll give you a natural glow instead of that super-sparkly, I’m-obviously-wearing-highlighter look. It comes in two shades, peach and pearl. I use pearl, the more silvery of the two.
I absolutely love all of these lipsticks. They go on super liquid-y, so my advice is to only dip the brush into the product once, otherwise it’ll be too runny. You can also just pat it onto your lips with your finger and it’ll give you a less severe lip line. The super-matte, but not drying, formula is everything. Seriously, I’ve been stopped on the street more than once by strangers asking what lipstick I’m wearing when I’ve worn this product. The bright red is a total Ruby Woo competitor, and I also adore the berry shade when I want a pinker look.
Finding a natural deodorant with no aluminum seems to be a challenge we all share. But I’ve worn this deodorant recently — on some hot, sweaty New York days — and have been more than okay. It has the loveliest rose scent and smells so good that I think I would probably wear it as a perfume. It’s not an antiperspirant, so I definitely do still sweat, but for me, at least, this did a great job of covering up any unwanted scent.
I also have recently been obsessing over this rose lip balm. First of all, it tastes amazing (sort of like how the deodorant smells), but it also deeply hydrates and nourishes my lips without feeling too waxy. And admittedly, this packaging slayed me.
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