I Finally Retired My 20-Product Makeup Routine After I Discovered *This* Brand

The inclusive beauty movement is stronger than ever, thanks to brands like CTZN Cosmetics. Upon first discovering the brand, I immediately resonated with the sisters who founded it, their stories, and the inspiration behind the brand. Growing up, Aleena, Aleezeh, and Naseeha Khan were disappointed by the lack of South Asian women represented in beauty campaigns and set out to be a guiding force for change. I had a similar experience and was always bummed to discover that many popular eye shadow palettes weren't visible on my skin tone. Beauty brands have come a long way since then, but I still love discovering brands that create incredible makeup specifically for darker skin tones.

I'm ditching my 20-step makeup routine now that I've tried some of CTZN's key offerings. Instead, I'll opt for just a few of this brand's wonderful multi-use items from here on out. They're every makeup minimalist's dream. Read on below if you're curious about my thoughts on the brand. 

The Eye Elements Collection

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(Image credit: @shawnasimonee)

Let's start with the brand's newest offering, the Eye Elements collection. It was love at first swipe, to be honest. These double-ended eye shadow sticks come with a shimmery shadow on one side and a matte shadow on the other. The shimmer side allows you to create a flashier look on the lid, while the matte side can be used to add more depth. These eye shadow sticks are also the brand's first collaboration with legendary makeup artist Sir John, now the brand's chief creative officer. I can tell a lot of time, thought, and love was put into these eye shadow sticks because the formula is unreal. It's creamy and blends so beautifully with a brush or your finger. And holy moly—those colors are gorgeous. I loved applying the matte shade all over my lid, blending it with a flat concealer brush, and swiping the shimmer shade over the top. Each shade is *chef's kiss* and perfect for everyday wear, in my opinion.

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The Lip Products

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wearing CTZN Cosmetics Nudiversal in Kuala Lumpur

The Globalm

Up Next: These 15 Beauty Products Were Pivotal in Turning Halle Bailey Into Ariel

Shawna Hudson
Associate Beauty Editor

Shawna Hudson has worked in editorial for over six years, with experience covering entertainment, fashion, culture, celebrities, and her favorite topic of all, beauty. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton, with a degree in journalism and has written for other publications such as Bustle, The Zoe Report, Byrdie, Elite Daily, Mane Addicts, and more. She is currently an associate beauty editor at Who What Wear and hopes to continue feeding her (completely out-of-control) beauty obsession as long as she can. Stay up to date on her latest finds on Instagram @shawnasimonee.