I’m the kind of person who generally tends to shy away from using excessive amounts of makeup. In fact, I try and stay away from it in general. This is simply because I prefer the natural look of my skin. Also I’m conscious about using products that are free of ingredients that may be harmful to my health.

However, there are those times where you can’t really avoid having to use a blush or foundation – sometimes even an eye shadow, eyeliner or lip gloss, to help give you that glamorous finish. One thing I’ve learnt over the years is that when you look good, you feel good.

So when I was recently introduced to Stila I was surprised by the quality of their products. My skin was left with a natural finish. If, like me, you’re unfamiliar with the brand – or if you just want to find out a little more – stick around!

Stila Cosmetics Brand History And Background Explained

Stila cosmetics emphasizes natural beauty.

Jeanine Lobell spent a lot of time working directly in the cosmetics industry. She was involved long before private label cosmetics products became a norm. The fact that she had a clear vision helped her to start a business that flourished. Her aim was to focus more on shimmer and shine than the chunky sparkle effect that are commonly employed by makeup artists. Jeanine originally developed the brand to focus on emphasizing natural beauty rather than creating a false layer of makeup.

Stila makeup is smooth, easy to apply and cruelty free. So, you can get the effects you expect from a high end brand with the peace of mind that they’re safe for both you and the environment. What more could you want?

Stila Cosmetics Stay All Day Foundation Review

The Stay All Day Foundation works well as a moisturizer, allowing your skin to breathe when you apply it. So, you don’t feel trapped under a cakey layer of makeup. It’s definitely worth checking out if you have a dry skin type. Don’t get me wrong though, t’s also a solid option for more oily skin types too. I’ve enjoyed using it so far, and would highly recommend it for both personal use or in professional makeup artistry.

I would say that the foundation is really more suited to dry skin types. But if you’re planning to use it on oilier skin, simply treat the skin with a toner before applying the foundation. You can also apply a matte powder after the foundation. This will help to increase the products natural hold and reduce sheen over the course of the day. So far, it’s one of the few foundations I’ve found that lives up to its claims and gives consistent performance.

Order Now on Amazon: Stay All Day Foundation

Stila Cosmetics Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick Review

This is probably one of the best products in the Stila line in my opinion. It’s easily one of the best performing liquid lipsticks I’ve ever used. The lipstick has an ultra-matte finish. This means that it gives you a controlled, opaque colorful look emphasizing your natural pout. 

The Stila Cosmetics Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick line also comes in a range of colors from pink and red, to plum and mauve, among others. So you’ll definitely be able to find a few that are suitable for a variety of occasions or outfits.

The only issue that I feel I should mention with regards to using this lipstick is that if you apply too much of it at one time, or overuse your gloss, the matte effect may come off too strong and possibly emphasize the lines in your lips. I would use it in small amounts at first to see how it shows up on your lips before liberally applying it.

Get it Today: Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick

Stila Cosmetics Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner Review

I’m quite a fan of eyeliner in general but I usually stay away from it as it’s a challenge to apply correctly. So when I got a hold of the Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner, I quite liked that they extended the felt tip applicator. This means that I can apply the eyeliner with more precision. It gives me smoother, more controlled lines. It took a little getting used to at first, as eyeliners tend to come with shorter brushes or tips, but once you do – it’s a breeze.

True to it’s name, the Liquid Eyeliner really does stay on all day – given that you don’t go for a swim or take a shower with it on, of course. It has great hold. I love that it stays dark and bold without fading like some eyeliners tend to do over the course of the day. This means I don’t have to worry about smudging like I do with some conventional eyeliners.

I Want It: Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner

Stila Cosmetics A Whole Lotta Love Makeup Kit Review

You get what you pay for!

The Whole Lotta Love Makeup Kit is like an extra bonus product in this line. It makes for the perfect gift for anyone at any time of year. Unlike many of these makeup kits that are readily available on the market, you get what you pay for. Especially around the holiday times, the Whole Lotta Love kit really does give you great value for money.

It’s loaded with 20 unique eye shadow colors, 4 blushes and a small container of their Huge Mascara. The mascara alone is a good reason to buy this kit. That being said, the eye shadows and blushes are just as good. The eye shadows have a smooth and solid feel to them once they’ve been applied. They don’t smudge or run that easily, so you won’t have to worry about doing regular  touch ups. The blushes are especially noteworthy. They add a lovely finish to your skin, without drying it out or leaving a cakey finish on the surface.

The mascara is definitely my favorite product in the kit though and creates a cherry-on-the-top feeling to this amazing kit. It’s easy to apply, holds well and increases your lashes volume and length. You get a bold yet natural look.

The additional bonus to each of the products contained in this kit is that they are all cruelty free and don’t contain such a wide variety of harmful ingredients that we’ve come to expect from conventional makeup products. While they may not be vegan-friendly, they’re certainly safe to use on a regular basis.

Is Stila Cosmetics Cruelty Free?

For their first few years, Stila wasn’t listed as a cruelty free brand. However, in 2013, Stila decided to start progressing towards cutting out countries that required animal testing. They also refrain from using ingredients that necessitate animal testing.

Then, as recently as 2016, the brand decided to completely pull out of China and were then able to check all the boxes on PETA’s list of anti-cruelty guidelines. That means that as of this year, Stila is a completely cruelty-free brand. You can rest assured knowing that you’re buying ethically-made products.

Conclusion

I would like to reiterate that I’m someone who doesn’t use makeup on a regular basis. This means that when I do use makeup I’m more acutely aware of its effects. . I’m also someone who likes to lightly emphasize my own natural features, rather than trying to artificially create ones that weren’t there before with cosmetics products.

So, after using Stila products I was excited to find that they offer great coverage and quality. I would go so far as saying that Stila could even be a new benchmark for what I want from my makeup. They deliver both in performance and cost-effectiveness. 

All in all, this is a top-shelf brand that you can get for reasonably low-prices (given that you shop around wisely enough) and won’t be disappointed by. You simply won’t regret choosing this brand.

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