The Makeup Products I Can't Live Without
From light reflecting powders, dramatic mascaras, staggering cheek bones, jelly blushes, red lips, creamy eye shadows, NARS orgasm and more, I've rounded up my thirteen beauty products I couldn't live without whether it's down to their colour, formula, finish or sentiment.
1. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser*
I've been using this tinted moisturiser for years now and it's been a firm favourite in my collection ever since my first tube. My admiration for this started with the Illuminating version which is the perfect glow perfecting product for Summer and on holiday but more recently, I've been using the Oil Free version non-stop which is a great everyday alternative. The coverage is light yet build-able so great for day to night makeup and despite being oil free, the finish is still incredibly glowy and it simply makes complexions look even and healthy.
2. BECCA Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation
For everyday makeup I always opt for tinted moisturisers but when I need something a little more long-wearing or skin perfecting then I always reach for this from Becca. This is the glowiest of foundations out there and the easiest to apply. The formula is very liquid-y so it blends into the skin seamlessly with fingers, a damp sponge or a buffing brush and the finish really is incredible; skin is beautifully illuminated and has a real lit from within glow to it.
The most recent of my makeup favourites comes from Glossier and this concealer hasn't bene in my makeup bag for long but is already my all time favourite. It's got an amazing creamy formula that covers dark circles, redness and small blemishes without caking or drying out the skin. In addition to a concealer, I love to use alone simply buffed around my nose, eyes and chin for barely there makeup looks.
4. NARS Orgasm
One of my first ever high-end makeup purchases was a NARS Multiple and I've been obsessed ever since. I've expanded my collection which started with the classic Orgasm shade to bronze and deep blush hues however Orgasm and it's beautiful pink and gold shimmer tones still remain a favourite. Cream blushes will always be my go to for healthy flushed cheeks and the formula of these multi-tasking eye, lips and cheek sticks is so buttery, allowing them to glide over the cheeks for a dewy finish that blends into the skin effortlessly.
In addition to the Orgasm Multiple, I've got two of the powder blush formulas which again were some of my first beauty purchases. NARS blushes are definitely some of the best on the market for their immense pigments that are so finely milled they almost have a butter like texture.
5. Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder:
This earthy toned contour powder has been my go to for strong cheek bones and a defined jaw line since I first picked it up years ago in SpaceNK. As one of my first Kevyn Aucoin purchases, I was hooked and picked up the cream version shortly after. The unique combination of pigments in this matte powder aid in the creation of perfectly crafted shadows that help accentuate the natural contours of the face to appear as natural as possible.
6. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder:
Being a glowy, radiant, illuminated and dewy skin fanatic, the thought of powder always scared me until these incredible powders arrived into the beauty world. Hourglass' finely milled, light reflecting, illuminating, soft focus powders come in 6 shades to flatter all skin tones in the best possible way and lightly dusted under the eyes, around the nose, chin and forehead, skin remain beautifully lit and glistens in the light.
7. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush:
Along-side the groundbreaking powder, Hourglass launched blushes with the same effect; marbled colours amongst soft highlighting powders to compliment the skin and a dimensional effect. These vivid blush pigments are build-able and offer a radiant finish that keeps skin look healthy. My favourite of these is 'Dim Infusion'; a coral shade thats been mixed with 'Dim Light' powder to add extra warmth and I apply this to the apples of my cheeks up to my hair line so everything blends into my skin as one.
Gel like stains for the cheeks and lips that blend into the skin so seamlessly they look like your natural flush. These cute, travel friendly, multi-tasking tinted tubes from Becca are all you need to add a hint of colour and life back into your complexion to keep skin looking energised and awake all day. Formulated with Vitamin E, they are help in the hydration department so cheeks look naturally luminous. Grapefruit; a pale coral pink that I wore all last Summer is my favourite alongside Fig (discontinued) which is a much more earthy, moody shade.
9. Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks*:
For me, day to day eye shadow needs to be quick and easy so shadow sticks are my go to and these creamy, shimmer or matte options from Laura Mercier have been my favourites since the beginning. Versatile, blend-able and pigmented colours that make an impact on the eye; subtle or dramatic and last all day/night without creasing. Amethyst is my most reached for shade; a metallic mauve with pearly shimmer running through it that creates a subtle and wearable smokey eye for everyday and Vanilla Kiss is my newest addition; a matte cream that's perfect as a base shade.
10. Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes Mascara:
Dramatic, voluminous, dark and long lashes in a stroke of the brush. This doesn't need much explanation as it's a true brand hero that works wonders at defining the lashes that stay looking full all day.
11. NARS Lip Pencils:
For a matte, full and long-wearing lip then these are what I'll reach for. These jumbo, creamy, easy to apply pencils from NARS add rich pigment to the lips making them look plump and defined with a velvety, non-drying finish. I have the shade Bahama in the matte finish which is a deep brown-toned nude and Marjella a bright red in a satin finish which is more comfortable and easy to wear for a red shade.
12. Rodial Lip Liners*:
Lip liners are one of those products that I don't reach for day to day but when I do use them, I realise what a difference they make. I've tried a few brands over the years but the ones that have always stood out to me are Rodial as they are incredibly easily to use and are highly pigmented with a great colour selection. Photographed here is Pink Espresso which is the perfect pink liner and my other favourite is Nude, a pale pink that is good for neutralising the lip for lipstick going on top.
13. Hourglass Illume Sheer Colour Trio Palette:
I'm not one to use / buy face palettes as there's always a shade I won't touch or the colours are never quite right but this incredible palette from Hourglass has been one of my top top makeup products; the bronzer being the best cream bronzer I've ever used (seriously wishing they will sell it as a single one day). Containing a neural bronzer, sheer rose blush and champagne-hued highlighter, everything from these luminous colours, buttery formulas and sleek packaging make this palette such a makeup bag staple.
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