I can’t put a number on the amount of money I’ve spent on makeup. This may be embarrassing, I know, but I love makeup. It’s not that I can’t live without it, it’s not that it drastically changes my appearance, and it’s not that I’m just buying stuff I don’t use. I love the unique form of self-expression.
Each year, I write a story about my top five favorite makeup products, and each year, my makeup and style develop (hopefully positively). This year, I made an effort to spend less money on makeup.
I failed.
However, I did buy fewer products; I just instead splurged on expensive, high-quality items that will hopefully last me a while.
I, of course, have to begin with Milani’s baked blush in the shade Petal Primavera—with an honorable mention to the shade Luminoso. I don’t think I’ll ever get over this blush. I have been using it for four years in a row, and I don’t need a replacement. It takes maybe two swipes of my brush to achieve color that lasts all day and doubles as a natural highlighter. As someone who typically stays away from highlighters because I think they make me look greasy, I absolutely adore the light shimmer paired with the light pink. The texture, consistency, and easy application make it easily the best blush for me through all seasons. I also used the coral shade throughout the summer for a brighter, more summery makeup look, and the only new blushes I’ll be buying are new shades of this one. It is also extremely cheap at only $10.99 from Milani and even cheaper at Target.
For a drugstore makeup item, I will always swear by it and recommend it to everyone I know. My blush placement may have evolved across the four years I’ve used it—from the center of my cheeks to on my nose to on my cheekbones—but this blush will never leave its place by my side as the perfect powdered blush.
This summer, I made a switch I’ve been wanting to make for a while, from black mascara to brown. After endless videos on my social media feed about how great the swap has been for everyone and how much classier and simpler it made each look, I finally decided to swap. I am someone who typically invests my money in expensive, high-quality mascara, typically one by Benefit or Tarte, but for my trial run with brown mascara, I wanted to try something cheap and easy. Upon meandering around the makeup aisle at Target for ten minutes, trying to decide which one would be best, I landed on Maybelline. The esteemed constantly trending Lash Sensational Sky High mascara. To my disappointment, though, they were all out of brown, except at the very back of the ultra-black row where one was shyly tucked away: mine. I’ve had this mascara for six months now—yes, I know you’re supposed to replace mascara every three months—and it’s the gift that keeps on giving. It’s easy to remove, easy to apply, and even easier to love, and it truly is a perfect product. It’s rare that I find a product that lives up to its online hype, but truly, nothing is comparable to this mascara.
Morphe Bake & Set Soft Focus Setting Powder
This summer was my skin tint and SPF summer. Most days, I would just mix some sunscreen and Tarte Tinted Moisturizer, blend it in, add mascara, and call it a day. However, due to my love for having a put-together base, hence the tinted moisturizer, and my despise for looking oily, I needed a new product to perfect my summer makeup routine. I had tried many primers and setting sprays, claiming that they helped with a matte finish and keeping my makeup on all day, but both usually only contributed to the oil and left me feeling greasy overall. So when I found a sale on two mini setting powders from Morphe, as someone completely new to setting powder, I decided it would be a good purchase. I got a pack of two in shades Brightening Pink and Translucent Regular, and I fell in love. With one dab of powder, all oil and greasy finish disappeared, and my skin felt crazy smooth. It immediately became part of my everyday makeup routine, and even though I’m leaving my tinted moisturizer for the summer season, I still regularly apply it to add flawless finishing touches and guarantee a long-lasting effect to my makeup.
This concealer has been part of my everyday makeup routine for two years now. Of all of the fashion trends and fads, I believe this is one product that wasn’t overhyped. I’ve still never been able to find a shade match as good as the shade match of Vanilla in this concealer that has the perfect amount of paleness while not looking overly yellow or pink. I will never understand undertones or what mine is, but I know that this one matches.
Merit The Minimalist Complexion Stick
This is a product I’ve owned for around a month, and I have zero complaints. As someone who hates the heavy feel of foundation but wants a more overall put-together blended look than a concealer, I believe this was the perfect compromise. It can be used to spot cover and under eyes to color correct while also functioning as a medium to full coverage foundation depending on application truly earning it the name of a complexion stick. I love how mess-free and easy it is to use as it’s just in a stick, and all the effort it requires is applying it and then blending it out with either your fingers, a beauty blender, or a brush, which is my preferred method. I think it will translate well for makeup looks across seasons, and it is definitely earning its place in my routine as I find myself dabbing a little bit each morning thanks to its easiness and high quality; it was well worth the price.
I would like to give an honorable mention to my skincare routine, which is made entirely of one brand, my favorite brand: Caudalie. Despite its exorbitantly expensive prices and how detrimental it is to my bank account, I love it. My skin has never felt softer or cleaner than it has now and it is the perfect, and only, nightly routine that I have stayed true to.
Overall it has been a great year for make-up, and I feel like I’m going into the new year with less overall embarrassment looking back on photos. My everyday staples will remain in my makeup bag, loyal at my side, and I can’t wait to, again, expand my growing collection next year.
