The sacred ritual of dabbing on concealer, picking out a hue of blush and combing through unruly brows is as important, if not more so, as a trusty mug of coffee in the morning. Makeup is an extremely personal routine and probably involves years of trial and error (at least for me, that is). I cannot even count how many tubes of mascara, pots of concealers or shades of lip tints that I have piled into miscellaneous drawers because they just don’t work well for me. My makeup journey has progressed from full-coverage foundation to figuring out that I prefer sheer, dewy concealers that let my skin peek through while keeping it hydrated. One of the amazing bits of the world of makeup is how every individual can tailor it to their style and preferences. It’s always so amazing to scroll through Instagram or Pinterest and see how makeup is truly an expression of self.
Makeup tells a story, and whether that story reveals how you use only cruelty-free products or focus more on your skincare rather than applying makeup, it is a story that I love to uncover. Whether you love a full face of makeup paired with a bold blue eyeliner or rock a bold lip each day, makeup is all up to you. Because of this, a few members of the Her Campus UFL team wanted to divulge their stash of makeup tips and products and answer a few questions. Here are their personal makeup stories.
What are five makeup products you can’t live without?
Although it may be difficult to narrow down must-have products, our team members were able to name their favorite products, which range from brow pomades to foundation sticks.
For Features Writer Julia Mitchem, some of her favorite products include Soap & Glory Thick & Fast High-Definition Collagen-Coat Mascara in Film Noir, Becca x Chrissy Lip Soufflé Matte Liquid Lip in Red Velvet, Bite Matte Créme Lip Crayon in Glace, Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector duo in Opal and NARS Blush Duo in Hot Sand and Orgasm.
Above: HC UFL Features Writer Julia Mitchem’s favorite beauty products.
Among so many amazing products in the market, it can be overwhelming to start building a personal makeup stash of favorites. Although I have my own favorite products, I still find it incredibly interesting to check out what others are loving as well. You never know when one recommendation can become a must-have product.
Lauren Reho, a PR/Events team member, also shared her ultimate pile of makeup favorites. Lauren cannot live without her Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in Fenty Glow, Clinique True Bronze™ Pressed Powder Bronzer in Sun-Kissed, Clinique Chubby in the Nude™ Foundation Stick, CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara and Wet n Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder in Precious Petals.
Above: HC UFL PR/Events Team Member Lauren Reho’s makeup essentials.
With all of these makeup products, I am definitely feeling inspired to try out a few new staples to add to my little collection.
Your holy grail?
As if choosing only five products wasn’t difficult enough, we wanted to get down to that one special product that really makes our team members sing.
For our Co-Campus Correspondents Nicole Akerman and Darcy Schild, it’s all about the eyes. Nicole and Darcy shared that their holy grail products were Tarte Maneater Mascara and Glossier Lidstar in Cub, respectively. Seems like a match made in eye-makeup heaven.
When it comes to base products, PR/Events team member Ashylyn Cano and Lauren have your back. In the realm of concealing products, Ashlyn swears by the Chanel Le Correcteur De Chanel Concealer. To top off any base products and ward off the effects of Gainesville humidity, Lauren uses the Dermablend Professional Setting Powder.
For an added burst of makeup fun, Features Writer Brianna Moye professed her love for Lush Feeling Younger, which she uses as a highlight and sometimes as an eyelid primer. For a splash of color on the lips, Julia reiterated the Bite Matte Créme Lip Crayon in Glace as her ultimate product.
If you think about it, the holy grail items from these team members could create a great full face of makeup. I guess it’s time to test these products out in my own routine!
How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
For someone like me who doesn’t use many products, I can easily apply my routine in less than five minutes. The real question is whether I actually take five minutes. I’m the type of person who wakes up a couple of hours before I actually need to head to class because I enjoy slow mornings without the hustle and bustle of trying to beat the clock. When it comes to makeup, I take my time because it’s a stress reliever for me to pay attention to the skincare products I press into my skin and the makeup I carefully apply. For some of our team members, it may take a short ten minutes or a lengthier 45 minutes to get ready for the day. On the shorter side, Darcy and Ashlyn usually spend around 10-20 minutes getting ready for the day ahead. This can fluctuate when deciding what to do with their hair. For Julia, Lauren, Nicole and Brianna, getting ready in the morning ranges from about 30 to 45 minutes. Whether your routine is more along the lines of a slow morning or an efficient, quick morning, getting ready is all part of the process.
Above: HC UFL Editor-in-Chief Darcy Schild’s beauty must-haves.
Anything specific you do to set the mood for your makeup routine?
From soothing playlists to lighting up your favorite candle, setting the mood for makeup application can be what elevates a mundane routine into something that sparks creativity and starts your day off on a positive note.
I’m always open to suggestions about the best way to ease into the day, so I will definitely be taking note of how some our team members like to set the mood. Before starting her makeup routine, Julia presses play on a chill Spotify playlist she curated or one she collaborated on with her friends. Lauren tends to blast a throwback playlist or uses the time to catch up on some TV because, let’s be honest, this is probably the only time to spare during the day. Depending on the day, Nicole chooses between the Viva Latino or Coffee Jazz playlists on Spotify.
Applying your favorite products can also be the time for you to stay informed and find out what’s happening in the news realm. Brianna tunes into NPR each morning as she goes about her makeup routine. Depending on the day, Darcy also taps into the news world and either catches a news brief/video or listens to some music. She also always finishes the last few drops of her morning coffee while swiping on some mascara.
For Ashlyn, the one thing that really sets the mood is a fresh spritz of Mario Badescu Rose Water Spray, and I completely agree. There is nothing like a burst of rose water spray to wake you up and set a refreshed tone for the day.
Favorite makeup tip?
Aside from the products themselves, sometimes the best thing in a makeup routine is the actual application itself. Our team members shared tips and tricks that are easily to implement into your own routines, and I am a definite proponent of quite a few of them.
When it comes to highlighting, Julia loves to lay the product on all of the high points of the face for a natural glow.
To add a bit of flair to the lashes, Lauren suggested curling the lashes before applying mascara. Pro tip: Avoid clamping on your eyelid in the process (I’ve definitely done this far too many times.) For a more cat-eye look, Ashlyn angles her lash wand to catch the outer lashes.
For the eyes, try taking Brianna’s advice and wetting your eyeshadow brush with a bit of setting spray to get more pigment out of your favorite eyeshadow hues. If you’re looking for a more subtle but still beautiful eye look, Nicole suggested taking your blush or bronzer across your lids for a wash of color.
Above: HC UFL President Nicole Akerman’s makeup essentials.
What item would you, hands-down, always splurge on?
Sometimes, you just have to take the plunge for a great product. For most of the team members asked, foundation and other base products such as tinted moisturizer are at the top of their splurge lists. Nicole, Darcy and Brianna agreed that you want to make sure to use quality bases, especially if your skin is sensitive to certain ingredients. Other members suggested splurging on high-quality versions of mascaras, lipsticks and eyeshadow palettes. All in all, it’s important to ensure the products you choose are not interfering with the health of your skin, and my fellow team members feel the same way.
I always find myself energized by the many stories that makeup can tell. There is something particularly interesting about the way someone chooses to dot a product on the high points of their face or how they prefer their brows to be brushed. These few tales of how our members do their makeup has certainly opened my eyes to a whole new trove of makeup possibilities.
What’s your makeup story?
Want to see more? Don’t miss our Instagram Story continuation of this article (feat. even more product recommendations).