Jaclyn Hill recently created a beauty ‘tag’ featuring your all time favorite products in various categories, and when I watched her YouTube video, I knew I wanted to take part in it. I’m a nosy person, so I was excited to be able to see other people’s favorite products.
The gist of the tag is to choose the products you can’t be without–so the products that you may not use everyday or display, but the ones you feel the need to repurchase as soon as you run out, just in case, the products you know will always work if something else fails.
Some of these were extremely easy to choose, and some not so much.
Primer: I’m not a super primer junkie. I never find much difference in them. However, I do like thinking it’s another layer between my skin and my makeup. I always have the Smashbox Photo Finish Blemish Control primer in stock. I don’t have particularly problematic skin when it comes to breakouts and acne, but I take comfort in knowing there’s salicylic acid in the formula. Not to mention, makeup applies well over top of it, and that’s good enough for me.
Foundation: Since it came out, I’ve found myself never being without the L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte foundation. It’s more of a demi-matte, so dry girls, give it a chance. It just sits so nicely on the skin and blends well. There’s also a shade that matches my skin, and that never happens. And the best part? It’s drugstore (affordable).
Concealer: Easy peasy. I cannot be without the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. It doubles as an under eye concealer and one to conceal blemishes on my face. It doesn’t get too cakey on me (though it might a little sometimes). There is a color that’s a great match for me (which is a struggle always). I also double it as my eye shadow primer, and it works wonders.
Face powder/Under Eye Setting powder: Jaclyn had these listed as two separate categories, but I honestly use the same powder for both, and it’s cheap. I love the Rimmel Stay Matte face powder. Sometimes I find face powders to be too dry under my eyes, but this isn’t. And it keeps me matte, so I dig it.
But I also really like the Banana Powder from Anastasia under the eyes when I want to brighten more.
Blush: I just recently got into blush. I always had a peach, a pink, a deep berry, the basics on hand. Now I may have a little too much blush, but hey, it’s a hobby. If I could only choose one, though, it’d be ‘Luster’ from NARS. I love the NARS blushes because they’re pigmented, a little goes a long way, and they last a long time. ‘Luster’ in particular in a apricot with just a bit of gold shimmer, and it goes with literally every makeup look I do. When in doubt, I always grab for that one.
*A good budget dupe for ‘Lustre’ in ‘Luminoso’ from Milani
Bronzer: Doing this tag made me realize, I really only use 2 bronzers: what came in the contour kit from Anastasia and Benefit’s ‘Hoola.’ If I had to choose between the two, I’d take ‘Hoola.’ It just works nicely with my skintone and blends well. I don’t use a ton of bronzer, because I’m so fair, and I’d have to bronze my whole body to make it look natural. But it adds a nice bit of color without being too obvious.
Highlight: When I wear highlighter, I basically am prepping for an extra terrestrial landing. But I know that’s not appropriate for all situations, so. The highlighter I use when I don’t want to look like a statue is the one I chose for this category. Technically it’s a primer. The Becca Backlight Priming Filter is so pretty, and gives me such a lit from within glow, that I let it suffice as highlighter all of the time. 1. It feels really good on my skin, and smells nice. 2. It technically is a primer so it’s a two for one. 3. The glow it gives to the cheekbones is fab.
Mascara: This was a really tough toss up between Too Faced ‘Better Than Sex’ or L’Oreal ‘Voluminous Carbon Black.’ Ultimately though, I had to go with L’Oreal. I’ve been using it for years. It’s a drugstore option, and it makes my lashes look great.
Lipstick: Lippies are my favorite. When I first got into makeup, that was what I liked buying the most…it still is. That made it really, really tough to choose just one that is my ultimate favorite. But I did it. And the winner is…‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ from Marc Jacobs Beauty. The formula of the Marc Jacobs lipstick is great. They’re really comfortable, pigmented, and opaque. ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ is a muted rose color. It’s bright enough to add life to your face, but is muted enough that it doesn’t look too obnoxious. I love a good hot pink, but sometimes I don’t want something super bright.
Liquid lipstick: The liquid lip was just as hard to choose as the lipstick. But I think it came down to the formula and wear I liked the best. When I wear a liquid lip, honestly I want something I don’t have to touch up, fuss with, or worry about. Rimmel’s Provocalips does. not. move. It doesn’t transfer. It’s pigmented. It’s really amazing, and so inexpensive. My favorite shade is ‘Heartbreaker.’ They’re just so good. If you haven’t tried these, I highly suggest them.
Lip gloss: I don’t like lip gloss. I have 3 in my collection currently. I don’t like shiny. I don’t like sticky. I don’t like thick. But recently in an Allure Beauty Box, I got ‘Nude York City’ from NYC, and I loved it. I remember using this in high school, but I’ve stopped using gloss since then. It’s not that sticky, smells like cake, and is a really pretty shimmery nude. I actually have been wearing it a lot. I’d be interested in trying out a few other colors from that line.
Lashes: I haven’t used a lot of false lashes, and I don’t wear them often. So maybe this will change once I’m more familiar with them, but as of now my favorite are the Ardell Demi-Wispies. They don’t look too dramatic on my eyes, and they’re comfortable.
Eye shadow palette: I’m going to be really cliche here, but my all time favorite palette is the first Urban Decay Naked. While most people have put theirs away, mine is still readily available on my everyday shelf. I just know that if I need a quick look, I have all the shadows to create it in that palette. I frequently take it traveling, because I know I’ll be able to create a pretty eye look. Although, I just got my hands on the ‘Modern Renaissance’ palette from Anastasia Beverly Hills…so the ‘Naked’ may be getting a run for it’s money. I love a good warm neutral.
Setting spray: This was a toss-up between Urban Decay’s Chill setting spray and L’Oreal’s Infallible setting spray, but I think Urban Decay wins this. They both set my makeup and make it last all day, but I like the chill factor of the UD spray. It feels really nice and cooling on the skin.
Perfume: My signature scent has recently changed. I’ve always liked heavy, musky fragrances. I just switched from Calvin Klein’s ‘Euphoria’ to the original Chloe perfume, which is a little lighter. It’s just so sophisticated. It’s the peony I love. Jo Malone’s Peony and Blush Suede comes in an insanely close second, however.
I’d love to read your responses and favorite products, so if you have a blog of your own, comment with the link, and if you don’t, just post your responses below in the comments!
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