Halsey Just Launched a New Makeup Line, and We Tried It First

Lately it feels like I can’t open my email or scroll through Instagram without hearing about a new beauty product launch. Even for a makeup lover like myself, it can be pretty overwhelming. But when I heard about Halsey’s new makeup line about-face, I knew this was one launch I could not miss.

I mean, have you seen Halsey’s makeup? Flaw. Less. The unexpected color! The megawatt highlighter! And the glitter! Oh, and did I mention she does it all herself? No really, it’s that good. I’ll even give you a pass to click off this review for a minute, open up a new browser tab, and Google Halsey red carpet or take a quick swipe through her Instagram. Trust, you will not be disappointed.

Ok, you back? Yep, she is not messing around. And it turns out, about-face is just as stunning. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a few products from the line early—one of the benefits of being a beauty editor at IPSY! Let’s just say they went straight from the UPS package onto my face (with a brief hand sanitizer break in between, tyvm). At first swipe, I knew I was in for a treat. Keep reading for my full review of Halsey’s about-face.

The ABOUT-FACE vibe is straight fire.

I am here for a good aesthetic—what can I say, I’m a millennial—and it all starts with the packaging. about-face’s graphic cartons don’t just open from a few flaps at the top, they also feature a super satisfying wrap-around pull tab so you can effortlessly get to the goods without battling stickers or tape.

Once you're inside, the component (fancy speak for tube) is just as innovative. These components take all the guesswork out of finding your shade. Each tube matches the color of the product inside. Plus, the matte soft touch material with a transparent frosted finish, just looks chic. And best of all, Halsey’s entire line is vegan, cruelty-free, and formulated without any nasties, like gluten, phthalates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances.

These Matte Paint-It Lip Colors are a must-have.

As a makeup enthusiast, I’m not new to the liquid lip. In fact, they’ve been my lipstick of choice for years. Meaning I’m pretty picky when it comes to formulas. The second I started painting one on (I started with the mauvey-nude shade Last Goodnight, which will probably come as no surprise if you know me), I could tell this was going to be good. It started as a mousse-like texture, making it easy to spread around, then dried down to a smudge-proof color that felt like I had nothing on at all. It wasn’t drying, it wasn’t overly slick and moisturizing—it truly felt like nothing, which in my opinion, is the true sign of a winning lipstick.

And can we talk about the easy-to-use pointed applicator for a second? I’d like to start a petition to make it the industry standard for liquid lipsticks (who’s with me?!). The fine tip let me draw the exact shape I wanted with just the right amount of overlining, then the flat base helped me fill it in with just one swipe.

Last, if you’re one of those people that smells all their products before they put them on, I’m sure you’re curious about the scent. I’m happy to report that the lipsticks had a fresh peppermint and eucalyptus smell, which dissipated as soon as the product set, fyi.

The Matte Fluid Eye Paints give eyeshadow a whole new meaning.

The next product I opened up was her Matte Fluid Eye Paints in the shades Cloned and Dionysus. I’m not going to lie, these eye paints stumped me at first. Their liquid-y texture and doe-foot applicator were so different from the cream shadows in a pot that I’m used to. But the second I traced Cloned along my lash line, I was sold.

The pigmentation in these shadows is no joke. You can paint them on in a graphic shape, which will set and not budge for hours, but you can also easily buff them out with a fluffy brush or your finger. Not to mention how easily you can mix and match the colors. They truly feel like paints because the options are endless.

My favorite way to wear the shadows? I like to dot Dionysus over my lids, then blend it out with my finger to create a pretty wash of pinky-purple. Then, I will use Cloned like a liner, and buff out the edges with a small shadow brush before it has dried. The result: a pretty and hazy, no-makeup makeup take on eyeshadow.

Want to try out about-face for yourself? Good news! IPSY is exclusively featuring these products first. The Lip Colors will be in February’s Glam Bag X, and the Eye Paints will be in February’s Glam Bag Plus. Take our Beauty Quiz now to get started. Already an Ipster? Refer your friends to earn points, which you can use toward products. Either way, don’t forget to check us out on Instagram and Twitter @IPSY.

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