Considering how much new makeup I try on the regular it’s almost impossible to stick to the same products. However, for the past few months, my life slowed down a little – actually, I just felt like I needed a mental break from blogging after doing it for 8 years straight – so I was able to discover what I truly love using. Here are the products that I’ve been reaching for, when I was given the freedom to use anything I want from my stash.
1 // BASE – Clarins Skin Illusion Broad Spectrum SPF15* ($44). These are essentially foundation drops that can be spread into a very thin, breathable layer. The ultra-pigmented formula provides medium to full coverage and sets with a healthy, slightly dewy finish. I don’t think it will suit someone with very oily skin, but if yours is dry, normal, or normal/combination, it will look beautiful and natural. I use the shade 100.5, which I believe is the lightest this foundation comes in.
2 // CONCEALER – Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer ($14). I don’t even want to tell you how old this tube is. I found it – still unopened – while clearing out my makeup drawer and decided to give it a try. Boy oh boy, was I impressed! It kind of reminds me of the best features of KVD and Urban Decay concealers – that lovely fluffy wand and heavy coverage that won’t budge all day. It’s transfer-resistant too, which is another reason I ended up using it so much. I do think it’s finally time to toss it though because it’s gotten a little crusty lately. I am using 01 Bavarian Cream, which is the lightest shade available.
3 // BROWS – NARS Brow Perfector* ($25) – These brow pencils come in a bunch of wearable shades, so I couldn’t pick out the best-matching one for the longest time since they all looked pretty good. I finally settled on Naia, a cool-toned medium brown that has a hint of gray and even a little bit of green in it, which actually makes it look a lot more authentic. Despite the overwhelmingly negative reviews it got online, I really like this pencil. It’s soft, and thin, and makes drawing the ‘hairs’ easy and quick; and it lasts all day, too.
4 // EYES – bareMinerals Aurora Lights Gen Nude Eyeshadow Palette* ($48) came out last year and was part of their Holiday collection. I am so freakin in love with it! I was blown away when I first got it, and I still use it a lot for both daytime and evening makeup looks. It’s just got everything really – creamy mattes, super reflective metallics, nice pearly shimmers. It’s the perfect palette for someone like me who loves the idea of using fun colors [maybe someday, for a special occasion, when I feel like it sort of thing], but who really only wears neutrals on the daily. I wrote a full review here if you want to check it out.
5 // BLUSH – NARS Highlighting Blush* ($30) – I bet you thought this would be another famous NARS blush, but nope! As much as I love the classic Orgasm, the one I was using the most lately was none other than Free Soul. It’s hardly a popular color, and I don’t believe I’ve ever noticed anyone really talking about it when it came out. If you have fair skin and almost every other blush shade needs to be blended out into oblivion or you’ll look like a clown, then you need to try one of these pale pinks.
6 // BRONZER – Guerlain Terracotta Light* ($54) – Guerlain products are a hit and a miss for me, but their bronzers never disappoint. Since I avoid tanning, I like to imitate the sunkissed look with a touch of bronzer on my cheeks, nose, and forehead, and so far Terracotta Light is seriously my favorite one to use. Mine is in the shade 01 Clair Dore, which is perfect even for very fair skin because it doesn’t look muddy. Also, it diffuses beautifully, so there aren’t any sharp edges or unsightly streaks. I really love this formula! P.S.: Like all Guerlain products, it does have a bit of a strong fragrance [ylang ylang, orange blossom, tonka bean, vanilla, and white musk], so avoid it if you’re scent-sensitive.
7 // MASCARA – L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise ($10.99) – This is an almost identical dupe for Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara, and if it’s the same, why pay more? L’Oreal always had very solid mascaras that are comparable to the high-end ones, but this one is truly my favorite of them all. I receive mascara in PR packages from time to time, so I try to use those most of the time, but as soon as I run out, Lash Paradise is the only one I ever buy. Seriously, so good! Its best quality is how well it holds the curl from an eyelash curler – it pretty much cements it in place, which is not an easy feat to achieve.
8 // LIPS – Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm ($5.49) – You all know I love lipstick, especially matte formulas, but ever since this collaboration with Burt’s Bees, I got totally hooked on their tinted lip balms all over again. I used to wear these all the time before I got into lipsticks, and now we’re back. 🙂 These have lovely natural formulas, and the tint is not subtle at all. In fact, this shade – Hibiscus – is pretty darn bright, and sometimes I even use it as a blush. Check these out at your local drugstore, you won’t regret it.
What’s your most favorite makeup product right now? Share in the comments!
*Indicates PR samples.
