Believe me when I say that a new makeup brand has to sound seriously good for me to give it my attention. You see, the makeup market is hugely saturated with thousands of products to choose from. And as somebody who likes to spend no more than five minutes on her face each morning, I’m not a big fan of too much choice. I like makeup offerings to be clear-cut and concise—full of products that are easy to use and require no real effort, all while delivering natural-looking, your-face-but-better results.
Sadly, over recent years, brands that deliver such lineups have become harder to find, with many having spent the past 18 months cashing in on our changing beauty desires by bringing out new products almost every other week. Shopping for makeup became more and more confusing, with hundreds of products on offer all promising to do the exact same thing. But just as I was about to give up on makeup altogether, Bite Beauty launched in the UK, and everything changed.
I know this might sound a bit dramatic, but as a beauty journalist who lives and breathes no-fuss makeup formulas, I spend hours researching the very best products. I’m talking skin-perfecting bases that can be slapped on in seconds, pretty blushers that leave skin glowing, dewy lipsticks that can be swiped on without a mirror and mascara that leaves lashes looking full and fluffy with just one coating.
And throughout my hefty research, one particular brand has cropped up over and over again. Bite Beauty is a Canadian makeup brand that formulates its products with superfoods rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids to leave skin glowing and healthy-looking. On top of that, every product in the brand’s offering has been designed and formulated with speed and ease in mind. I know… Heaven, right?
Shannon wearing a full face of Bite Beauty.
It was previously unavailable to buy here in the UK, so I have had to watch on as beauty buffs around the world had the joy of experiencing Bite Beauty products. Until now, that is. Having just launched at Boots, the concise 11-product lineup now brings the joys of fuss-free, glowing makeup to the UK, and it’s safe to say I’m in love.
The minute the range landed on my desk, I put the products straight on my face. I have been waiting what feels like years to try these products, and I wanted to see if the hype was justified. While the base products looked nice, it was the game-changing lipsticks and expert-adored mascara that I couldn’t wait to get my mitts on.
It’s very rare that I even try new makeup, let alone fall in love with it, but believe me when I say that every single product in Bite Beauty’s offering has me gobsmacked. If you like full-coverage, high-intensity makeup, it won’t be for you. But for those, like me, who love quick and easy products that deliver natural, healthy-looking results, prepare to be amazed.
Keep scrolling for a full and honest Bite Beauty review.
If you have dry skin, I would say that this mattifying primer probably isn’t for you. However, if your skin is oily and has visible pores that you want to disguise, it’s a great option. Personally, I prefer to apply my makeup first thing straight after moisturising, so I rarely use a primer. As far as primers go, this stuff is nice. It’s lightweight and gives smooth, even results, but personally, I could take it or leave it.
Again, I’m not a huge foundation wearer. Most days, I just apply concealer to the areas that need it, so personally, I’d prefer to see a concealer in the Bite offering more than I would this. However, with that being said, this dewy foundation is really nice. It’s super lightweight with light-to-medium coverage (which is right up my street). At first, I tried applying it with my fingers but found it blended better with a buffing brush. For an everyday base, this is gold.
I’m a fairly recent powder convert. Usually, I favour a glowing complexion over a matte one, but my oily skin has been calling out for some mattifying over the past year or so. I’ve been testing every powder that comes my way and so far prefer translucent options infused with hyaluronic acid to boost glow. This stuff is neither of those things, but it’s quickly become my go-to. It offers some very subtle coverage and blurs pores and takes down shine in no time at all. It’s buildable without looking cakey and dusts onto the skin like silk.
For me, there are two real standout products that Bite Beauty offers, and this is one of them. It’s a liquid blush that has a dense, whipped texture. In feel, it’s not too dissimilar from Glossier’s iconic Cloud Paints, but the finish couldn’t be more different. This stuff has light-reflecting pigments in it to keep skin glowing, and it sheers out on the skin unbelievably beautifully. On no-makeup days, I’m still dabbing a little bit of this stuff into my cheeks for a bit of a pick-me-up. Not only is this my favourite Bite Beauty product, but it’s also probably my favourite makeup product of the year so far.
I’m not a huge fan of matte lip crayons because I usually find they turn my already-dry lips even drier and flakier. However, this stuff is creamy and doesn’t leave lips feeling tight. I also like the fact it has a pointed tip so that you can line and fill all in one. It’s definitely one of the most hydrating matte crayons I’ve come across.
I am shook. This mascara holds joint first place with the aforementioned Daycation Whipped Blush in terms of my favourite products, both in the collection and of the year. I have heard experts rave about this mascara (my absolute beauty idol, Allana Davison, swears by it), and it did not disappoint. It fluffs up lashes and leaves them looking full, lengthened and curled with just one coat. And without any hint of clumping, too. I have tried hundreds of mascaras, but this one trumps them all. Forget everything you’ve ever read about any other mascara—this is the only one that matters. You’re welcome.
I don’t wear liquid eyeliner. Not because I don’t like the way it looks, but because I am absolutely terrible at applying it, and its high-maintenance application process doesn’t align with my five-minute face mantra. With that being said, for the sake of this review, I did try it. The brush is firm and agile and delivers an intense black pigment. If you’re a liquid-liner person, I’m certain this is a really great choice.
Disclaimer: I didn’t actually get the chance to try this product. From what I can tell, it’s a super-hydrating, plumping lip primer, which I assume is great to use before the matte lip products that Bite Beauty offers. I prep my lips with my usual balm, and I do feel like I need something else to get the most out of the pigment. Before having tried the lipsticks, I thought this was a totally pointless product, but if it provides a bit of hydration without making lips glossy or jeopardising the powdery matte pigments, then I can totally see myself getting on board.
I actually got rid of every single one of my matte lipsticks a couple of months ago. The truth is, while I like the way they look, I just can’t seem to make them work with my naturally dry lips. This stuff is truly beautiful, though. The formula is creamy but powdery and soft. It definitely feels like you’re wearing something, but it doesn’t leave lips looking cracked and flaky. It also layers up really well. The best bit is the shade selection, there are heaps of beautiful shades for every skin tone.
If you’re after a plumping gloss that doesn’t make your lips burn, this stuff is lovely. It’s formulated with cinnamon oil (rather than chilli or peppermint, which more aggressive glosses use), so it gives a mild tingle but nothing that makes you want to slather your lips in aloe vera. It’s juicy, not sticky, and gives a subtle shimmer. All in all, 10/10.
This is sadly the only other product I haven’t tried, which is a shame as it sounds totally up my street. Formulated with nourishing oils and waxes, it is said to deliver a sheer-matte finish that’s still vibrant and bold. Sign me up! Next up, trust me—this cool L.A. makeup brand is actually worth the hype.
