If you’re an avid Instagram user, you probably scroll through your home page about five times before you realize nobody has posted anything new, in which case you inevitably go to your Explore page. Then, you find yourself falling down a rabbit hole, clicking new post after new post on public accounts, finding people who are friends of friends or who are famous celebs you didn’t even know existed. One of the best things to do (and tbh, it’s also cathartic) is to watch condensed makeup tutorials. One of our faves is watching Kylie Jenner try out new swatches or lip kits. Maybe you’ve even thought about buying one of these promoted products, but weren’t sure if they just looked great when an expert was trying them out. Well, have no fear! We have the insight into what makeup products (that you probs already stalked on Instagram) are *actually* worth the hype.
1. Kat Von D Eyeliner, $20
Let’s admit it: the Kat Von D Beauty Instagram is aesthetically beautiful, even if you’re not a huge makeup user. The zoomed-in pictures of color swatches and expertly-done lips is enough to make anyone want to hit the website and fill up their virtual cart. Kat Von D Beauty has been around for 10 years now, but the brand’s tattoo eyeliner is making waves again after it received a 5-star review from a woman who had been in a car accident, whose cat-eye stayed perfectly in place through the tears. If that’s not a ringing endorsement as to the brand’s high quality products, then what is?
2. BECCA x Chrissy Glow Face Palette, $46
Chrissy Teigen is everyone’s favorite Twitter user, so when she collaborated with BECCA, it seemed too good to be true… except that her palette is awesome. Teigen picked her favorite color that was already in the BECCA collection, which was Shimmering Skin Perfector [link], and she joined it with three new shades in the pink/gold/bronze family to create a glow similar to the one you wished you got on the beach during spring break. The BECCA site also has application tips that give you step-by-step instructions for putting the shades on depending on what kind of a look you are going for.
3. Huda Beauty Mini Palettes $27
Huda Kattan is Instagram-famous for her makeup skills and has a whopping 25.1 million followers. She has two new mini palettes that came out on May 1, and celeb icon Jennifer Lopez is a fan.
Both palettes feature nine unique colors. The Gemstone Palette is dripping in glitter, with purple and pink shades as the stars. The Coral Obsessions palette has some matte shades in red, orange, and yellow, and two glitter colors to round it out.
4. That Bling Brush Set by Morphe, $69
This seven-piece brush set includes a powder brush, a liner/brow brush, a foundation buffer brush, a blender brush, a contour/blush brush, an eyeshadow crease brush, and a concealer brush, and it all comes in a trendy silver case. Morphe Cosmetics has 6.2 million followers on Instagram, and everything from the palettes to the brushes is a hit. Makeup gurus like Jaclyn Hill (who has an eyeshadow palette collab with Morphe) and James Charles wear products from the brand.
5. MAC Cosmetics $31
Celebrity stylist Hasblady Guzman, who also owns a salon in Pasadena, CA, uses a spray primer from MAC like this one for $26
“Spray at the beginning and the end of your makeup routine,” she says, which will then set the look and keep it fresh during long or hot days.
The primer also has caffeine in it from green tea infused in the blend, which will keep your skin hydrated and awake.
Though primer isn’t necessarily the most exciting thing to showcase on an Instagram page, primer from Mac is sure to start your makeup routine off right.
6. Melt Cosmetics $19
From liquid lipsticks to liners, to lipsticks with a matte finish, Melt Cosmetics has it all. Though the company sells makeup for the entire face, co-founders Lora Arellano and Dana Bomar started it because they wanted a market for “matte lipstick with crazy colors.” The Instagram is filled with soft pinks and nudes for the summer season, and it features real makeup artists and makeup aficionados who use the brand regularly.
7. Pat McGrath Labs lipstick $38
From the gloss application videos to the photos of real people wearing the lipstick shades, it’s clear why the Pat McGrath insta has 1.9 million followers. The 19 shades are mainly in the pink and red families, but pops of purple make the collection unique. If you’re ever in the market for a new shade, check Pat McGrath on Instagram—we guarantee you’ll click on a few of those application videos along the way.
8. Fenty Foundation $34
Ever since Rihanna released her makeup line last year, it has been celebrated for its diversity in shades, proving yet again what an ICON she is. The foundation comes in dozens of shades and has a shade finder on the site to help you figure out your closest match. Finding the right foundation is a true makeup struggle, but with Fenty foundation, it just got a whole lot simpler.
It’s easy to be tempted by the colorful swatches and celebrity testimonies on makeup-brand-Instagrams. There are sure signs to tell if the product is worth the purchase. Here’s one: See how many *unsponsored* users are using the products and being featured on the brand’s page. Another tip is to check the reviews online. Happy shopping (and exploring), collegiettes!