Anyone who knows me knows I love makeup. I love playing with it, learning about it, and finding the best products to add to my makeup bag. There are always a few products that I continuously go back to and really know I count on to work well. So when it comes to the basics, there are few things you should always have ready in your kit. Here are some makeup must-haves:
Primer: Maybelline FaceStudio Master Prime Blur + Smooth Primer
When starting your makeup, it’s always great to have a nice smooth base. Having a good primer in your makeup bag will change your life for the better. I tend to lean towards primers that minimize and blur the look of pores, so this is one of my favorites. It is super affordable (only $10) and really preps your skin well for makeup. The best part is that it can be found in almost every drugstore, Ulta or online.
Foundation: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless
After you have prepped and primed your face, having the perfect foundation is key. With so many different brands and options to choose from, you can decide what works best for you. I prefer full-coverage foundations and I always have one ready to go. This is my favorite foundation that I reach for again and again. It pairs so well with the primer and does everything I need coverage-wise for a great price. The Fit Me Matte + Poreless line also includes a wide variety of shades, so you’re sure to find one perfect for your skin tone. Like the primer, this foundation can be found in almost every drugstore, Ulta or online.
Blush and Bronzer: Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer and Blush
I typically follow foundation with any setting powder I have and follow that with blush and bronzer to add some color back in! Physician’s Formula has the most amazing formula for blush and bronzers and I can’t get enough. The Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer is the perfect go-to without being too orange or shimmery. Likewise, the brand’s new Butter Blush follow suit with beautiful pigments. In addition to being great products, they also smell like coconut! As if you needed another reason to go out and grab them, both products are super affordable and can be found in drugstores all over.
Highlighter: E.L.F. Cosmetics Baked Highlighter
There is nothing better than a little shimmer…. Or a lot. I love a good, glimmering highlighter to top off the high points of my cheeks. My go-to is the E.L.F. Cosmetics Baked Highlighter in Moonstone Pearls. It gives off the perfect amount of shimmer with just one sweep of a brush or if you want to amp it up, apply it with a damp brush for a more vibrant look. Not only does it give you the perfect shimmer, this highlighter is only $4 and can be found in Target and drug stores.
Eyeshadow: Tarte Cosmetics Tartelette in Bloom
Investing in a high-quality versatile eyeshadow palette for your makeup bag is a great idea. While drugstore products have really started to step their game up with pigment pay-off, higher end eyeshadows still reign as top dog in my book. This is one of my all-time favorite palettes to grab for. It contains the perfect mix of matte and shimmer shades that will let create a number of great eye looks. Retailing at $46, the Tartelette in Bloom palette can be found on Tarte’s website and in stores at both Ulta and Sephora.
Mascara: Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash
There are so many mascaras out there that claim to do this, that and the other thing but you never really know how it they will look until you buy them yourself. This is true for a lot of mascaras out there but some stand out from the crowd. My favorite mascara is the Benefit Roller Lash. It claims to be a mascara that is both super curling and super lengthening, and I am here to tell you that beyond true. Roller Lash, while it retails at $24, really goes above beyond for your lashes in both claims, making it well worth its price tag! You can find Roller Lash in Sephora, Ulta and online.
Lipstick: ABH Liquid Lipstick
My final must-have is liquid lipstick. I can’t tell you how many different brands, shades and types of liquid lipstick I currently own without you thinking I’m crazy, but take it from me, I know my stuff. My all-time favorite must-have liquid lipstick comes from the everyone’s favorite eyebrow brand, Anastasia Beverly Hills. The ABH liquid lipstick formula is unlike anyone I have tried before. It dries down to the most comfortable matte finish and truly lasts all day. I recommend my favorite nude shade in Crush because it is so versatile, but I own a few different ones that all follow suit. These liquid lipsticks can be found in Sephora for $20, and I highly, HIGHLY recommend them!
These are just some suggestions for must-have products. When it comes down to it, makeup is all about your own preferences! Either way, I hope this article provided you with some more insight on new products you might not have heard or changed your mind about ones you may have heard about before.