Thursday, January 30, 2020

Doubledown Cosmetics: A Philanthropic Indie Brand that Delivers Incredible Glow

Greetings, dear readers! It feels like it has been forever since I have sat down and written up a blog post, and looking back at my scarce number of posts thus far this year, I'm not far off on this judgement call. This year has started out rough, including my 10+ year old laptop deciding to stop charging and working properly for me. As a result, I've had to get a new computer and start the long and daunting process of transferring files over to my new one. On top of that, which was and still is pretty painful, I have had to attempt to learn newer programs. It's a little embarrassing to admit how far behind I was when it came to updating software, so I'm just going to say it has been awhile and the learning curve has added into the delay of posting to my blog. Thus far, I've been unable to get any of my photos from the past 8 months to transfer easily and have had to manually worth through them all. I still have a lot to do, but here is hoping I can get the last of it sorted out this weekend and start February out on a more positive note. If you've been following me on Instagram, you may have seen in my stories about some skincare issues I've been having this month; needless to say, January has not been my friend! Please cross your fingers for me as I've been losing my mind and my mental health is at an all time low lately. I really try to keep things positive here on my blog, and I just don't have much left to give at this point. Now let's jump in on something pretty to help lighten the mood!

Gifted Samples

Last month, when I was getting over the flu, I received a package from Doubledown Cosmetics with a few items to try out. I've been following the brand on Instagram for a little while, and even before trying the products, I already had warm fuzzy feelings for the brand since I stumbled upon them. Founded by husband and wife team Marvin and Kristen Speller, I found myself connecting to the brand with Kristen's openness about her experience with domestic violence. Doubledown Cosmetics gives back to their local LA community to help those impacted by domestic violence, homelessness, and addiction. I love brands that give back, and this is one of many reasons I've been following the brand. I've definitely been eager to try out some products, and they did not disappoint! Let's check them out!


Doubledown x Medeaij
The Confidence highlighter and The Concise eyeshadow

Doubledown Cosmetics collaborated with UK Beauty Influencer and Content Creator Medeaij to create this beautiful loose powder duo. The Confidence has a sifter with a slide over closure, which I greatly appreciate to keep my powder from going crazy when I have it tossed in my bag. The Concise also has a sifter. although it does not have a sliding seal. I've not had any issues with The Concise making a big mess, and I'm sure it's larger due to the smaller overall packaging size.

I have these swatched on the skin with another Doubledown Cosmetics highlighter coming up in this post, so let me show you how I wore these two products first.


My skintone falls in the medium category, and most makeup brand put me towards the lighter side of medium. In spite of wearing sunscreen and reapplying, I tan really easily and my skin gets a little darker during the summer. Because I got these products in the winter, I'm currently at my palest state. While The Confidence was created as a highlighter, it is too dark for my skintone to be used as one. I might be able to pull it off as a highlighter when my skin gets darker, but even then it still may be too dark for me. This is definitely not a deal breaker for me as I was all too happy to use both these shades on my eyes!


I use The Confidence on my lid and inner half of my lower lash line. The Concise is on the outer half of my lower lash line and carried out to create a wing. Even though I didn't wear these shades as they were created, I love having them paired together to create this look! I have mixed feelings on the wing, especially since I opted to keep it lower than usual due to my hooded eyes. I know this is a style recommended for us hooded guys and gals, but I'm still on the fence about how I feel about it on myself. Feel free to leave a comment below if you like the lower placement!


The Equation highlighter

In addition to The Confidence, I was sent The Equation, another gorgeous highlighter and face illuminator. The colour is different from The Confidence, but it is also too dark for me to use on my face with its intended purpose. Again, I opted to use it on my eyes. Check out my look below!


For this look, I wanted to skip eyeliner (which I'm known to do. I do enjoy eyeliner from time to time, but it's just not my go-to when it comes to creating makeup looks). I opted to pull in a few neutral mattes from Natasha Denona's Biba palette into my crease and outer corner of my eye to add some more definition to my eyes. I swept The Equation on a large area of my eyelids as I would a shimmer eyeshadow.


Here is another look at my eye makeup so you can see how The Equation glows on my lids. I don't intentionally tan, nor do I use fake tanning products, but I'm looking forward to wearing this beauty on my face this summer when my skin is darker and more compatible with this depth of colour. Out of the loose powders I was sent (the two highlighters and the eyeshadow), I believe this one is my personal favorite. All three are gorgeous, but the more golden hue really speaks to me and what I tend to wear most often. On a different note, keep this photo set in mind because we'll be back to it soon with a focus on the lips. 

As promised, here are swatches on my skin so you can see how all three of these shades compare.

Top: The Equation
Bottom: The Confidence and The Concise

The Equation: a beautiful warm toned bronze face glow product

The Confidence: a cool toned bronze shimmery highlighter

The Concise: a gorgeous, russet pearlescent, bronze eyeshadow

These apply so beautifully to the skin, and while the highlighters are too dark for me to use as a face highlighter, I find all three shades flatter my skintone nicely. I'm definitely thrilled to have all three in my cosmetic collection and will be incorporating them into more makeup looks!


I was also sent the Doubledown Cosmetics lip balm lineup to try out. All three shades are organic. The clear lip balm is also vegan. Please note the tinted shades contain beeswax and are not vegan.

Top to bottom: The Punk, The Present, and The Future

The Punk: a nude, earth toned pink, with a hint of shimmer for an everyday look

The Present: a clear vegan lip balm with spearmint essential oil

The Future: a buildable cool toned red, with warm overtones

I do want to note that The Punk and The Future contain peppermint oil and The Present also contains rosemary extract. Based on conversations with some of you lovely readers and comments you have left for me throughout the years, I know a few of you are allergic to these particular ingredients. I'm sure you already look closely at ingredients yourselves anyway, but I did want to draw your attention to the ingredients. The Present definitely gives my lips a tingly sensation. I notice it a little with the tinted lip balms, but it's much less noticeable and I no longer notice it with the tinted balms after a very short period of time.

I really enjoy these tinted shades in particular as they impact colour to your lips but still keeps your lips looking natural. Don't get me wrong, I totally rock some dark and intense shades on my lips, but I love these to keep in my purse for no makeup days to add just that little something extra to help me look put together. Given how crazy the past several months have been for me, I definitely can appreciate that!


Remember the look I said we would be getting back to? Here we go! I have used The Future on my lips to give a pop of colour.


For this and the following photo, I have used The Punk. I have built it up with a few layers to give it more intensity; a single layer is much more subtle and leaves my lips looking a little frosted.


After trying out these products by Doubledown Cosmetics, I can say with certainty that I am a fan! I knew I liked the brand based on principles alone, but at the end of the day, we want products that are beautiful to look at that also perform well on the skin. I am happy to report that I loved all these products, and I certainly am not the only one! Doubledown Cosmetics won not one, but an astounding five Indiemood Rewards this past December. These awards include the following:

Best Loose Highlighter- Editor's Choice
Best Loose Eyeshadow- Editor's Choice
Best Loose Eyeshadow- Audience Award
Best Blush- Editor's Choice
Best Giving Back Award Social Justice- Editor's Choice

Congratulations to Doubledown Cosmetics for your incredible achievement! I have thoroughly enjoyed the products I have used, and I definitely have my eye on a few others!

Dear readers, if you are looking for quality indie products from a brand that gives back, Doubledown Cosmetics is here to deliver! I’m looking forward to seeing where the brand goes from here! If you have tried their products, please let me know what you've loved!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful night!
XO!


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13 comments

  1. I like the cause the owner supports. It's rare for companies these days to give back to communities. Bless her heart! I'm going to check out this brand!

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    1. Please do! There are so many brands on the market now, and I hope others take note and start to give back as well!

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  2. These look terrific on you. The way you did your eyes is so pretty. Those are my kind of shades. I think you won too by using them this way. The pink lip is gorgeous.

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    1. Thank you! I love the highlighter on my eyes although I am admittedly a little jealous of those with darker skin tones and can wear these for glow on their faces. The colours are so lovely!

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  3. I'm so sorry your computer crapped out! I love all the looks you created. Also your photos are amazing and I love this light setup - I can see your makeup so well!

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    1. Thank you! My laptop was over 10 years old so I had been thinking of getting a newer one, but I would have preferred to do it on my own time rather than because I had to. And I've been playing with lights and appreciate your thoughts on them too!

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  4. I’m sorry to hear that your computer died. I completely get it about the learning curve for using new software. I live in fear of it. In spite of it all, you look fantastic! And i love these loose powder looks on you. Loose powder takes so much skill. All are beautiful, but the pinks are my faves!

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    1. Thank you! I'm still trying to figure the ins and outs of some things, but I'm trying to keep my expectations more realistic for my sanity. And I love loose powders but don't have many in my collection. I love having these in my stash now!

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  5. Sorry about your computer that’s the worst. I love these loose powders on you every shade looked amazing with your complexion. Great control as well whenever I use loose powders they end up all over my face. ☺️

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    1. I enjoy using loose powders but don't have a lot in my collection. I like to start with just a little and build up to keep product ending up everywhere all over my face.

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  6. I love the natural look of these products.

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