My makeup journey started at the young age of 11 when I used the essential duo: eyebrow pencil — which I’d use to overline and darken my eyebrows — along with some drugstore-bought mascara. Now, at 21-years-old, I have about 10 years of experience exploring makeup products.
Don’t worry, everyone! I wasn’t like those 10-year-old girls who now take over every Sephora store worldwide. I was genuinely curious about makeup and didn’t explore the art form that is that!
From drugstore products to bank-breaking products, I have explored an endless road of makeup products. However, which ones are my holy grail of makeup products? Here is a list below:
Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush ($36)
Girlies! You know that blush is essential to your makeup routine (unless you have naturally rosy cheeks, I’m jealous of you!). However, as a Black girl with a crazy combination of skin types, it’s always hard for me to find a good blush that doesn’t look so cakey.
I know Rare Beauty is a popular favourite for blush, but that wasn’t the case for me. One of my best friends introduced me to the Fenty Beauty blush during a random trip to Sephora. She told me the pigment would look perfect against my skin, and she wasn’t wrong. Ever since that day, I have lived by this blush like no tomorrow!
The shade I wear is Summertime Wine.
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Setting Powder ($49)
As crazy as this may sound, for the longest time, I never wore setting powder. I thought it was just like highlighter but more powdery, which meant more money spent.
However, I didn’t know it was just a clear-looking powder that helps your makeup stay intact, shine-free, and flawless! When I actually learned of its importance, I was hunting to find one that worked well with my skin.
I’m a lover of all Fenty Beauty products. It doesn’t help that I’m a huge Rihanna fan, so you know I will support her unless I find a dupe. However, I was scared when I heard mixed reviews about this one. But I decided to try it anyway, and the way it’s so light on my skin is perfect, especially with my long days at school. I can barely tell it’s there, and it blends perfectly with the concealer I use!
The shade I use is Honey.
Sephora Collection Retractable Rouge Gel Lip Liner ($18)
Hey you! I know your makeup look has got to look flawless for when you’re taking on back-to-back three-hour lectures or eight-hour shifts at work. But you want to be different; you want your lips to stand out but not too boldly. A way to do that is to find a perfect lip liner to line your lips and give that extra pow!
Finding a good colour lip liner can be challenging; there is a wide range of them, from pencil ones to gel-like ones. Do you want to find one that’s on a budget? I love a good save when it comes to makeup, which is one of the reasons why I love the Sephora Collection. Also, the way it effortlessly glides across my Cupid’s bow and outlines my lips nicely is a huge plus!
The lip liners I use are Molasses, Rose Wine, and Rosewood.
NYX Professional Makeup Butter Gloss ($10)
What did Lil Mama say? “They say my lip gloss is cool, my lip gloss be poppin.’”
Lip gloss is a daily essential for all you baddies out there. You can’t have a finished and popping lip combo if you don’t have any lipgloss to make your lips shine like a diamond.
I use lip glosses from different brands like Fenty Beauty and the dollar ones from the beauty supply store. However, NYX’s butter gloss is my top-tier lip gloss. Every time I’ve used it, I’ve never complained about it drying out my lips or crusting up. It stays on for a long time, and the different colours blend perfectly with my lipliners, which is exactly what I want!
I use the shades Sugar Glass, Brownie Dip, and Caramelt.
NYX Professional Makeup Fill & Fluff Eyebrow Pomade Pencil ($11)
Ah, eyebrow pencils! I have a love-hate relationship with them. Growing up, I was always insecure about my eyebrows because I barely had any compared to other girls growing up. I mean, even some boys had bushier eyebrows than I did. I remember I used to overline and overdraw my eyebrows; they were like the Nike symbol on my forehead. I took “Just Do It!” too literally.
However, the older I got, the more I practiced how to shape my eyebrows properly without looking like a clown. I finally got it down but never had the right eyebrow pencil. I had one version from NYX that I was so loyal to. Yet, I accidentally picked the wrong one without looking and didn’t realize it until I opened the box.
However, this one worked even better for me because the pencil was an angled one, and the little brush at the end helped me fluff the pomade around my eyebrows to make them fit the shape and colour of my eyebrows perfectly!
Espresso is the colour pencil I use.
Urban Decay All-Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray ($33)
To all my makeup lovers, your makeup isn’t completely done until you set that makeup beta face down with some setting spray. Let’s be honest: if you go to a concert where you’ll be in a mosh pit like me, you have to make sure that makeup is set to the Gods above.
I used plenty of setting sprays before, thanks to my sisters. But, before, I used to use a spray bottle of water to get my makeup done because I didn’t have my own. I then used the good old internet to find a perfect setting spray, and most of the suggestions said that Urban Decay is where it’s at.
Those suggestions were right! I use it every day, and my makeup always stays set. It’s a huge lifesaver because it doesn’t take long and literally lasts like an all-nighter.
Out of the various sprays that Urban Decay has released, I use the All-Nighter.
E.L.F Hydrating Camo Concealer ($9)
All my dark eyebags peeps know that concealer is the way to cover up sleep deprivation signs. I can attest to that completely! However, concealer that matches your skin tone and works on your skin type is hard to find. You can’t pick a random one and say, “This will do!” because it won’t, trust me.
As a Black girl, finding concealer has always been a struggle because makeup products aren’t all-inclusive for every shade. However, I was scrolling through TikTok, and a Black makeup influencer promoted this. I thought, this is definitely for clicks and money, but she tested it on her skin, and it worked perfectly. Not to mention, she had the same complexion and skin type as me. I thought it was unbelievable, but I bought it and now use it daily. It’s full coverage and makes my undereyes bright. Also, it’s hydrating, so it doesn’t dry my skin!
The shade I use is Medium Sand.
Mac Eyeshadow…But Make it eyeliner ($30)
Eyeshadow has always been so cool to me. The different colours makeup artists use to make their eyes pop even more is pure talent. I know I couldn’t do it because I’m not advanced in makeup like that. But you know what eyeshadow is good for? An eyeliner dupe, yes, you heard me, an eyeliner dupe.
During another day of scrolling through TikTok, I saw this girl’s eyes pop so effortlessly with the eyeliner she used. I, unfortunately, wasn’t one of the lucky ones because I couldn’t use eyeliner to save my life.
I searched for eyeliner tutorials on the same app and saw a Black girl using the Mac eyeshadow on her waterline with a small angled brush, which looked amazing. I was in awe of how easy it was to apply. I bought the eyeshadow and a small brush and would practice till I perfected it. Now, whenever my friends see me, they know my eyes are on full display, thanks to my not-so-secret dupe!
The eyeshadow I use as my eyeliner dupe is called Carbon.
Well, there you have it! A complete list of my holy grail of makeup products. I personally live by all these products and would be devastated if any of them get discontinued (knocking on wood as we speak).
I hope this list has inspired you to try something new. Who knows? One of my holy grails can fall into your holy grail of makeup products!