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Gator Glam: Five “Must-Haves” for Your Makeup Bag

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UFL chapter.

These days it seems as if every makeup commercial boasts the best lashes or most flawless coverage. It can be difficult to choose which products are the best on the market or give the most “bang for your buck.” But not to worry, collegiettes! I’ve asked around and came up with five “must- have” items that you should have in your makeup bag right now.

1. The Naked Palette by Urban Decay
This eye shadow set comes with twelve neutral shades ranging from daytime nudes to dramatic darks. With a variety of tones, these colors are easy to blend and apply, and it’s known for being long-lasting. There’s also a newer “Naked2” with a different set of shadows if this one still leaves you wanting more. It’s a little pricier than others, but it makes for a perfect Christmas or Hanukkah present!

2. Maybelline Volum’ Express Falsies mascara
“Falsies” has been my personal favorite for quite some time now! With only a few coats, the Falsies mascara simultaneously gives eyelashes length, volume, and drama. You don’t have to worry about clumping, and you definitely don’t have to worry about price. You can find this in your local drugstore for less than $10.

3. bareMinerals original foundation
This foundation contains crushed minerals that you apply to achieve a no-makeup look while evening your skin and diminishing your blemishes. This type of foundation can be great for oily or acne-prone skin as it goes on light and doesn’t give a “caked on” appearance. It’s fairly cheap and can be found at stores like Ulta or Sephora.

4. LipSurgence lip tint by Tarte
If you’re looking for something in between ChapStick and a lip stain, this is the perfect makeup item for you. The “LipSurgence” keeps your lips hydrated and adds a nice gloss to the color to make your lips polished and kissable. This lip tint can be used for any time or occasion and comes in a variety of different tints. Added plus: there’s a hint of mint in the formula!

5. NARS blush/bronzer duo
This duo is to die for! With a blush and a bronzer in one, you can achieve summer’s glow all year round while adding the blush for a soft, flushed face. The duo also comes in a variety of different color combinations to match any skin type, including people who prefer matte or shimmery shades. It’s more on the expensive side, but it works for universal and year-round wear.

These products proved to be worth it to some people, but we all have different skin types and tones that can make our personal favorites vary. Experiment with some of these, and pick a perfect fit for you!

Hi, my name is Kelli Eichorn. This spring I am a fourth year Telecommunications major, specializing in Media and Society and minoring in Anthropology. I love reading and writing, and have a strong passion for both print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media and it's influence on society. My dream is to one day write for a major fashion magazine. This is my fourth semester being involved with Her Campus and I am so excited to be serving as a blogger for GatorGlam! GatorGlam is a blog about beauty, makeup, and skin care for the "Florida" girl. Some of my favorite things include spending time with my sorority sisters, going to the beach, naps, animals, and listening to music.
Cara oversees Her Campus Media's community department and serves as strategic lead for the expansion, development and management of all HCM communities, including the Her Campus Chapter Network, InfluenceHer Collective, College Fashionista, Spoon University, Campus Trendsetters, alumni and high school. She works closely with company leadership to develop new community-related sales offerings and the Integrated Marketing team to support all community-focused client marketing programs from end to end. Cara has experience working with high-profile talent, such as Jessica Alba, Andrew Yang, Amber Tamblyn, Aja Naomi King, Troian Bellisario, Jessica Marie Garcia, Nico Tortorella, Nastia Liukin, Rebecca Minkoff, Cecile Richards and Samantha Power, as well as brands like Coca-Cola, L'Oréal Paris, The New York Times, HBO, Uber, H&M and more. Having been a part of the HC family since 2011, Cara served as Campus Correspondent of the HC chapter at the University of Florida where she studied journalism, women’s studies and leadership. A New Yorker turned Floridian, Cara has a Friends quote for any situation. You can usually find her with her friends and family at the beach, a concert or live sports event or binge-watching Grey's Anatomy or Sons of Anarchy. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @thecararose.