HC at Brandeis writer Ashley Loc shares her favorite beauty buys, plus which products you should splurge on and which you can save money on with less expensive but equally effective alternatives. Keep reading for her recs!
While the Modern Renaissance palette is gorgeous and the colors were selected very deliberately, I wouldn’t recommend this for someone who is usually on the go. The shape and size of the palette is a little too awkward for the average makeup bag, so I find myself reaching for this only when I’m prepping for special events. But thankfully, there are products with colors that are just as rich and smooth—in more convenient packaging! Instead, I love my Sleek palette in the color family “Storm,” as well as the Sonia Kashuk palette “Jewel of an Eye.” There is a great mixture of color and neutrals, and with prices that Anastasia can’t beat.
The Tarte Amazonian Clay blushes are phenomenal. They have amazing staying power and always complete a look, but I wouldn’t purchase these shades separately. As for L’Oreal True Match blushes? They are so underrated, but I wouldn’t mind adding more to my arsenal. This powder blends so easily; I don’t use a brush half the time. Plus, there really isn’t much reason to splurge on blusher, since where you apply the product usually creates a much larger effect than the product itself.
For this photo, I don’t have a high-end comparison because I returned it right after purchasing Rimmel Brow This Way. It is the one makeup product I always make sure to use before leaving the dorm, and I truly mean that. This completely transforms my face since we all know that a solid pair of brows frames all the other features. And aside from the very affordable price of roughly $5, the staying power is unbelievable. I have walked out of ten-minute showers with the product still set in place, so you can really trust this to survive rainy days.
Now, which products ARE worth the splurge? It Cosmetics makes my go-to foundation: Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream. This blurs my imperfections (and trust me, with all the studying, there are a lot) and also gives me some serious SPF coverage. It sinks in my skin so easily and makes me look more presentable, so combatting sun damage is practically second nature to me. And with Clarins Sunscreen Care Oil Spray, reapplying throughout the day no longer feels like a hassle. I always hated rubbing SPF because of that mineral scent, but this does not have that whatsoever. It leaves my skin feeling greasy for a minute, and after that, the only way you would know I used it is because my arms have a faint but pleasant scent to them. Highly, highly recommend you get this. Especially for all my fellow dark-haired sisters, whose heads get burning hot during the summer. Spray a little of this one your scalp, and it should help prevent sun damage in a place you often overlook.