Last year, I wrote a story about my top five makeup products of the year, and it was a variety of primers, mascaras, lip stains, and blushes, but over the course of the past year, my style has obviously changed. I purchased (a lot) more makeup and tried a bunch of new stuff, and I’ve found myself with a new roster of favorites that capture my 2023.
Urban Decay Hydromaniac Dewy Liquid Blush
This year, I tried to get more adventurous with my makeup, not necessarily with bold eye makeup or bright lipstick, but simply in the variety of products I tried, and one of these was a liquid blush. I had exclusively owned powder products before this simply because they’re easy to apply and typically cheaper but I wanted to “expand my makeup horizons,” for lack of a better phrase. So, when I found this cute liquid blush at Ulta, and it was on sale, I figured it would be the perfect opportunity to try something new. In the past year, I would constantly see things on my feed about Urban Decay, and admittedly I was convinced that I should buy something of their products. The Urban Decay Hydromaniac Dewy Liquid Blush is easily one of the best blushes I’ve owned. It’s glossy, vibrant, and blends seamlessly with any other product. I decided to go with the shade recommended for my skin tone, Wrecked—a dusty rose color that the name doesn’t quite convey. This color was my perfect summer shade, and I think liquid blush works better in the summer for its hydrating and long-lasting effect. I actually loved this blush so much that I purchased it in a second color, Rebellious, a burnt terracotta, according to the description. I think this shade works the best for winter with its even mix of warm and cool tones, and while I was hesitant about how the darker hue would blend into my skin, I think it worked flawlessly, and the colors adjust well depending on your skin tone and how much you layer. While this was a risky purchase and I wanted to get out of my comfort zone I think it was definitely worth it and if you’re looking to try an easily blendable long-lasting liquid blush, I think this is the perfect starter.
Benefit Fan Fest Fanning Volumizing Mascara
If you’ve read my favorites from last year, you’d know that Benefit’s BADgal BANG! mascara (no matter how embarrassing the name) was my holy grail of products. I have spent probably upwards of a hundred dollars trying to find a mascara I genuinely like, one that works well, one that’s easy to take off but also long-lasting, and obviously, one that looks good. For a while, I had really found this in the Bad Gal Bang mascara, but I found out over the summer that it does not hold up well in heat and humidity. Its claim of “waterproof” didn’t really fit as it smudged all around my eyes whenever the tiniest bit of water touched them. While I would still definitely recommend this mascara it’s essential to know that it’s really only a cold-season type of product. I was, understandably, upset to find out my favorite mascara was no longer working for me, but, coincidentally the day I went out to find a new one was the same day of the release of Benefit’s new mascara: Fan Fest. This mascara was BADgal 2.0; it worked just as well, was just as volumizing, looked just as good if not better, AND was waterproof. I don’t mean smudge-proof when a little bit of water hits it, but FULLY waterproof. I wore this mascara fully submerged in water and while tubing on multiple occasions, and it stayed intact and on my eyelashes the entire time. Compared to drugstore mascaras, this one is a little bit more of a splurge purchase, with the full-size costing $28.00 and the mini costing $14.00. I would say the price is worth it because of the quality and that it’s my most consistently used product. I can’t recommend this enough, and I can’t wait to see what new mascara Benefit will release in 2024.
This is a product I was introduced to fairly recently, but it’s quickly climbed to the top of my list. As someone who finds most of my favorite products by raiding my mom’s makeup drawer, it’s no surprise that this is yet again how I discovered this. I was looking through my mom’s lipsticks and lip stains to find a cute new autumn color, and that’s when I came across the Bobbi Brown Extra Lip Tint. What was initially the most interesting about it was that it was purple but applied pink. When my mom requested a replacement for her birthday, I went to Ulta in hopes of finding one for her and myself, but they only had one left in the purple shade, Bare Blackberry. I decided to take a risk and get a similar shade, Bare Raspberry. This immediately became my new favorite lip product; forget Bentint from last year. This is the best one. Personally, I hate lipstick and lipgloss because of the uncomfortable residue and stickiness it leaves on my mouth and the awkward lipstick stains on every cup I drink out of. So, with those eliminated, it leaves lip stains and tints. Lip stains and tints are the perfect lip product for a number of reasons. Obviously, in the name, it stains your lips, so it doesn’t leave the uncomfortable residue that I hate; it’s probably the most versatile of lip products because it comes in liquid and more “solid” forms. Even though I was hesitant to get the new color it was definitely the best decision, the lip tint is the perfect shade between subtle and bold and it ties together my makeup every time. It’s a more expensive purchase at $36.00, and while this is the most expensive item on the list, it’s for a reason, the quality truly makes it worth it. If you’re looking for a go-to lip product for everyday and formal wear, then this is the lip tint for you.
For a solid stretch of the spring, this was the most popular makeup product on the internet. It seemed like every few videos I came across would be some review for how amazing this product is, and I am easily influenced. Last spring break, I traveled to Spain, and amongst all of the makeup stores and not-so-cheap products, I found one on display that seemed to be my perfect shade match. As someone who struggles to match my shade for concealers or even figure out what my undertone is, I kind of just go off of a vibe when shopping for makeup. If it seems somewhat right, I take my chance and buy it, and very often, it doesn’t work out. This, however, was a pleasant surprise because when I actually put it on, it was a perfect match. As far as the hype for this product goes, I wouldn’t say it quite lived up to the extremely high expectations I had for it, but it’s still by far the best concealer I own. If you’re looking to buy this, you should know that it does crease after prolonged wear, and for the $32.00 price, that’s not ideal, but it’s also easily the most hydrating concealer I own, and it’s smooth and easy to apply.
Every girl needs her good go-to blush that works for any and every occasion, and for me, Milani’s Baked Blush is that. From last year’s top five makeup products, this is the only one that has retained its spot, and it’s my staple item that I don’t think I could live without. This blush has lasted me two years now, and I’ve still barely put a dent into it; the shade is the perfect mixture of shine and matte, and it flawlessly blends into any makeup look. Not only does it work with anything, but it’s cheap, costing only $10.99, and you can buy it pretty much anywhere: Target, Walgreens, you name it. If I could give only one product a recommendation, it would be this one, and I don’t think that will ever change.
These are just a few of the products I decided were my favorites, and trust me, it was hard to narrow down. I don’t even wear makeup that much, but something about trying fun makeup looks and messing around is so enjoyable that I can’t stop myself from purchasing more. I will undoubtedly be buying much more makeup next year, and I can’t wait to see how much my style changes so I can look back on this and most likely make fun of myself.
