MAKE Beauty – First Impressions

Some cosmetic brands really know how to pull you in with their beautiful packaging and MAKE beauty is one of them. I’m not sure how I came across this luxurious-looking brand but I stared at their Instagram page for over a year before trying their products. You could say there was a serious build-up to trying their products out.

MAKE Beauty makes multi-functional skincare and cosmetic products using sustainable botanical ingredients and technologically advanced formulas that are luxurious to the touch. All products are vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, and free of phthalates, PEGs or petrolatum. 

Serum Balm Intense – $26 /  0.14oz

If you prefer glosses and balms like me over lipsticks, this one had me say wow at first swipe. There is something extra special about how this feels on the lips. Like a deeply hydrating lip treatment, but with gloss and color payout. Truthfully, I had a hard time choosing a share to try for the first time, but ultimately chose Magnetic Mauve as mauves always work for me.

This serum smooths, plumps and softens while you wear it. It’s cushiony on the lips which is something I always love! The feel of it is very similar to Bare Minerals Mineralist Lip Gloss balm .There are 11 shades to choose from — some are quite bold too! I learned that application can control how deep the color is so I apply sparingly for a wash of color on the lips. I have my eye on “Anti-Gravity” next, which is a nearly nude shade.

The balm intensely moisturizes with the help of sodium hyaluronate, liquid jojoba oil and pomegranate extract and THD (a form of vitamin C) to plump the lips. 

Shop the product: Serum Balm Intense 

Heat Stroke Dewy Gel Cheek Tint – $30 / 0.17oz

Make Beauty’s Heat Stroke Cheek Tint’s are what originally got me interested in the brand. The bright, boldly colored tubes are enticing in the packaging, and blend out on the skin like a dream. These cheek tints are hydrating on the skin and don’t slide around as one would worry about in the middle of Summer. 

I’ve used both hands and brushes to blend out and I do better with a brush. I like to use my Real Techniques Expert Make Brush for these because they work so well with all my cream blushes. You can build up the color to your liking or really sheer them out with lots of blending. 

These don’t apply super “shiny” to the skin, but you can see a slight dewiness if the sun catches it right — a finish that I prefer over matte. Algae extract adds the skincare component to these cheek tints by helping the skin retain moisture while caster seed oil adds a touch of shine. 

I got two colors, stimulated and Inflamed, both of which I think are perfect for me. I am curious how Toasted (warm light brown) would look since it’s not a bronzer but a blush. There are 8 shades total of Make Beauty’s Heat Stroke Cheek Tint and I expect the two I have to last a very long time. 

Shop the product: Heat Stroke Dewy Gel Cheek Tint

Skin Memetic Microsuede Matte Bronzer – $32 / 0.26oz

Bronzer is something I like to use daily — doesn’t matter of it’s winter or summer — I just like how it looks on me year-round. Matte bronzers in particular are great for contouring the face a bit. I am absolutely not a pro when it comes to contouring, but I like to use it to contour under my cheeks and around my jaw and hairline. 

Make Beauty Skin Memetic Matte Bronzer may be matte but contains skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid to keep the skin hydrated and ceramides to restore the skin barrier. The bronzer itself is not overly powdery. The packaging feels substantial and has some weight to it. It does include a mirror which I don’t think most of us need but it’s there in case you need it. 

I love the color I got (aura)– it’s the perfect milk chocolate shade for my light-medium neutral complexion. It has some warmth without looking orange and has a silky touch to it. 

Shop the product: Skin Mimetic Microsude Matte Bronzer 

Final Thoughts

Overall I am very happy with each of the products I have tried.I think their packaging is beautiful and functional and the products deliver as expected.  I definitely plan to dive into more products once I can, like their skin tint, concealer, and more lip products. I actually just ordered two more lip balms and will share about those when they arrive.