I tend to be super picky with beauty products. I feel like people on YouTube are always saying "Oh my god! This product is life changing!" and I try it and I'm like- meh. So for something to be my go to Holy Grail product, it's gotta be something I truly love and can't live without in my everyday routine. Here are my current obsessions when it comes to makeup.
Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation
I have tried a lot of foundations. Like tons. I haven't found one yet that compares to this one. This is my go to foundation for flawless skin. It's a more medium to full coverage, which is what I prefer. What I love about it is that it makes my skin look super smooth and it lasts all day long. I put it on before work at 7 am and it looks the same (or close to it) at 7 pm. Even through my workout class. I don't have time for touch ups during the day so that's huge for me! I have super oily skin and my foundation tends to break up around my jaw line, forehead and chin but this foundation combined with my favorite primer handles my oil slick perfectly. The only downside to this foundation is that it does have a slight white cast in photos. Not a deal breaker for me but just something to note. (For reference I use shade Desert Beige or Dawn depending on how tan I am and I buy mine from Sephora.)
If you're looking for an awesome drug store foundation check out my faves here!
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
As with foundations, I have tried my fair share of primers. Some either make me even more oily or have no effect at all. This primer is one that when I am without it, I can definitely tell my makeup does not go on as smooth or last as long. It's a little pricey so I started out with the travel size but once I finished that, I went for the full monty. It's not sticky, nor slimy but just has a nice silky texture to it. I let it sit for a couple of minutes before I apply my foundation and I am good to go. And no fancy brushes needed. I just slather it on with my fingers. Sephora often offers these as a VIB Reward for 100 points so whenever I see them, I snag a few at a time. They're the perfect size for travel (as shown in the picture) and what's not to love about "free" quality makeup?!
Kat Von D Shade and Light Palette
I use this palette for setting my under eye concealer and for bronzing. The shades work well for me and I love that it's so easily thrown into my carry on for travel so I don't have to bring separate bronzers & highlighting powders. I typically use a mix of the first 2 light shades for my under eye area and then I like to use a mix of all three of the bronzing shades depending on what look I'm going for. Some days I want a more contoured look and I use the darker shades and a more angled brush. Other days I just want a slightly sun-kissed look and then I go for a light overall dusting on my cheekbones and on my nose and forehead. I also use the peachier highlight shade for an all over eyeshadow and throw that into my crease. It works great as an everyday shade.
Anastasia Brow Gel
There isn't a ton to say about a clear brow gel but this stuff gets the job done. After I fill in my brows, I run this through them and they are locked and loaded for the day. The little spoolie helps to comb any unruly hairs and the gel sets everything for the day. It's like brow glue. It goes on more wet but dries super quick and does not leave any residue. I've gone through like 5 tubes and it's the only brow gel I use. Good stuff!
Becca Pressed Highlighters
These highlighters never fail me. They are so glowy on the skin and they go on so smoothly without drawing more attention to fine lines or imperfections. My two faves are Opal and Champagne Pop. When Jaclyn Hill (aka my BFF in my head aka my idol aka my girl crush) came out with her version, I knew I had to have it. Sadly, my poor Champagne Pop is in a million pieces from sustaining a fall but I still use it as my every day go to highlighter. It's the perfect complimentary shade of peachy pink with a champagne-y type glow and it goes with any blush I pair it with. It's a must have for me and I will definitely repurchase when mine finally runs out. Opal (pictured) is a lighter more white-ish highlight that I love right at the tops of my cheekbones, down the center of my nose and cupids bow or mixed with a darker color to make my own custom shade. I also love using these highlighters on the inner corners of my eyes to brighten them up.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder
This powder is a fairly new find for me but I'm obsessed already. I used to use the MAC Studio Fix Powder to set my makeup and I was pretty loyal to that for years. This one is even better! When I brush it on over my foundation, it adds an instant filter over my face that blurs any problem areas. It contains almond oil and rose wax for hydration and I notice my skin stays hydrated without looking oily. When I was using the MAC powder, I would usually reapply a bit later in the afternoon but with this, I don't have to. In fact, I leave this at home since my foundation stays so well I don't need to touch up. This powder combined with my foundation and primer are like my holy trinity at the moment.
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer
This concealer is the best! It's thick enough to really conceal and brighten my under eye area but not so thick that it gets cakey throughout the day. It doesn't settle into fine lines and keeps everything looking nice and smooth. I apply this with either a synthetic hair pointed brush or with a damp Beautyblender. It's currently exclusive to Ulta and it took me months for my local store to have my shade in stock but now it should be readily available. (For reference I use light neutral)
MAC Sunbasque Blush
This blush is one of my all time favorite shades. It's an bronzy peach with a hint of shimmer that works well with my skin tone. It has great staying power throughout the day and it's just a nice basic color that pairs well with everything. When I don't feel like really thinking about my makeup choices, I know I can pull this out and it always works.
KAT VON D Ink Liner
Love love love this liner! I do much better with liquid liners than with gels so I am always on the hunt for one that meets all my needs. What I love about this one, is it stays matte. Other liquid liners can tend to dry with somewhat of a sheen and I like mine as matte as possible. And the darker the better. It's easy to apply and it lasts for-ev-ver. It holds up after a long day at work and even through a workout class. Usually when something has such great staying power, it's kind of a pain to remove but this comes off easily with a makeup remover wipe.
MAC Lipstick in "All Fired Up"
MAC is probably my favorite brand for lipsticks and this color is my go to when I want a fun and bright look. It's a beautiful shade of red without being too pink or too orange. It instantly brightens up my face and makes it look like I actually tried, even when the rest of my makeup is minimal. It's a matte shade so it lasts for hours, even through a meal. I'm a strong believer that bright lipstick is a lazy girls best friend when it comes to makeup application.
Those are my Top 10 faves for now. The list is ever-changing since I'm always on the lookout for the latest and greatest. What are your favorite products? I'd love to hear about anything you love that I need to try!
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