What do Hailey Bieber, Dua Lipa, and Ashley Graham have in widespread? Truly, in all probability loads. However on the subject of make-up, all of them flock to MUA Katie Jane Hughes for her signature glowy pores and skin and creative eyeshadow seems. Final yr, Hughes took a significant step and launched her namesake model, KJH, with customizable cream and liquid highlighters that bottled her trademark glow.
And whereas she’s been busy cooking up beautiful seems for Lipa on her present world tour, Hughes has additionally been cooking up her second product launch, dropping on October 15. The newest in her lineup? The Mushy Smudge Lip & Cheek Stick, a multi-use chubby stick to a sublime blurred end that could not be simpler to make use of. Forward, Hughes fills us in on the brand new launch, plus my sincere assessment.
The Inspiration
If you already know something about Hughes, chances are you’ll be stunned that her sophomore launch is a matter formulation, however that is form of the purpose. “I used to be actually excited by a formulation I had seen throughout this one lab go to,” she tells Byrdie. “I hadn’t seen a powdery lip and cheek formulation like this and I actually wished to show folks how you can use this product. In the end that is at all times been my objective: to show folks how you can use their make-up.”
She additionally wished to ensure the product was as versatile as doable. “I went with a matte end as a result of you may at all times add shine to issues which might be matte vs. dulling issues which might be shiny,” she provides. “As you noticed with my first launch, The Hyper Shine Excessive Lite Equipment, customizability is basically vital to me. I actually like how complimentary this product is when used with the Hyper Shine Serum so as to add shine or how you should utilize it by itself for a velvety blur.”
The Formulation
The blushes may look easy, however there’s loads occurring inside their cute little tubes. Mushy Smudge has a waterless, cream-to-powder formulation that delivers a matte but sheer flush. The model wished the blushes to have the “longevity of a powder with the easy software of a cream product” and go away a “buildable watercolor impact” on the cheeks.
The formulation has that blurred, airbrushed matte look, as an alternative of a conventional super-dry matte. The formulation is enriched with vitamin E and salicornia plant extract to guard and moisturize the pores and skin and assist hold colour vibrant all day lengthy. Talking of colour, Mushy Smudge is available in 5 shades that Hughes says are a “spin on some conventional blush colours.” There’s Mushy Tomato, a heat purple; Mushy Berry, a pink-y plum, Mushy Coral, a retro coral, Mushy Raisin, a brown-y mauve, and Mushy Pink, a real scorching pink.
For software, Huges instructs to use instantly onto your pores and skin from the stick if you need probably the most intense payoff. “I additionally advocate warming it in together with your fingertips earlier than making use of to the lips and/or cheeks,” she says. “If you’d like a fragile wash of colour use the No 1 brush to choose up the pigment.” On the lips, you should utilize them with a liner or on their very own for a reasonably flush of matte colour.
My Evaluation
I am an enormous fan of blush and of Katie, so I used to be tremendous excited to place these to the check, even when I often desire a dewy cream formulation. Mushy Smudge has a very distinctive texture that just about feels weightless on the pores and skin—it has a slippery but powdery glide and an airbrushed matte impact that is so fairly. However regardless of their pure end, these sticks pack a punch within the pigment division, and Mushy Pink gave me the proper “chilly lady” flush that stayed put all day. I additionally paired it with a brown liner on my lips for a reasonably popsicle impact.