I may be two generations away from Alpha (proud millennial here), but I’ve always seen beauty as an extension of my everyday life. After all, I work at Allure—applying a lip tint feels as natural as making my morning coffee.
About the ingredients
Stax has a soft, cloudlike texture, so it can’t exist in the brand’s signature stick format, Taylor tells me. To get more granular, cream-to-powder formulas like Stax’s “typically consist of lightweight, highly volatile emollients that provide a pleasant texture, smooth application, and excellent blendability,” explains cosmetic chemist Laura Lam-Phaure. “As these emollients—in Stax, they include silica, boron nitride, and calcium—are absorbed into the skin or evaporate, they leave behind a fine, powdery finish.”
I can attest that Stax blends in seamlessly and, thanks to the powdery finish, has serious staying power—even after a 90-degree summer day in New York City. Unless you have really dry skin, Stax is a good bet.
As with other Nudestix products, Stax is billed as “makeup-meets-skin-care,” so there are familiar ingredients you’ll find listed on its packaging. These include, notably, vitamin E, green tea, and rosehip oil, all of which have “significant benefits for the skin,” according to Lam-Phaure. “Vitamin E helps prevent the formula from becoming rancid, while rosehip oil enhances blendability and provides a smooth application,” she explains.
I’m all about makeup that has complexion-loving ingredients, because if it’s going to sit on my face for hours on end, it better not mess up my skin.
How I tested it
Before I apply any makeup in the morning, I run through my streamlined skin-care routine of splashing my face with lukewarm water (no cleanser!), toner, antioxidant serum, a lightweight moisturizer, and sunscreen—or, I consolidate the last two with a moisturizing SPF. Says makeup artist Lisa Aharon, “It’s crucial to have a well-moisturized, primed complexion as it allows makeup to be applied smoothly and last longer.”
You can use your fingertips—as the brand highlights—or a sponge to apply Stax, but both Aharon and I determined pretty quickly that using a brush is the way to go. “Brushes give the most amount of control in application and allow you to buff and blend easily,” Aharon points out. Note: For someone who’s into a light touch of blush, fingers should suffice but I, someone who prefers my blush to show up and show out, found that using my fingers alone wasn’t transferring enough pigment to my cheekbones.