I must’ve handled thousands of beauty products during the last twenty years. Did some of them turn out to be favourites? Sure! You’ll see that partly on the blog. But the following isn’t just favourites. These are the Greatest of all Times, makeup edition – and that means products that stand the test of time, and that always, always work.
Which products are so failsafe that they ALWAYS work (for me), that I take them everywhere, would re-buy without a moments’ thought and recommend them to strangers? This is the list.
Base products
The discontinued duo (cue the world’s saddest violin): L’Oreal Nude Magique Cushion (dc) (review) and MAC Mineralize Foundation Loose (dc) (review). Yes, I realise that I have to find replacements soon, especially as MAC Mineralize is my summer go-to. I’m onto it!
My concealer of choice is Maybelline Fit Me (more). It’s the right shade of peachy yellow that it makes a decent dent in my dark shadows, but isn’t too heavy. Let me tell you, when you develop lines and generally veer into the direction of ‘older woman’, light and thin formulas are your friend. This is it for me.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light (review) is the ray of sunshine that lets me look alive. It’s been in my life only for about six months, but I use it every time when I apply a full face, and I can’t imagine a life before that. How did I cope?! It’s a mystery.
Powder
Nars Translucent Light Reflecting Setting Powder (review). Yup, it lasts ages, I’ve had it for years, and it’s great. Not heavy, cakey or whatever, doesn’t leave a white cast, and is neither too deadly matte nor sparkly. By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder is great, too, but I don’t know if price point is justifiable.
Brows/mascara/ eye primer
Don’t really care (as long as I use RevitaLash for longer and more lucious lashes). Both Urban Decay Primer Potion and Nars Smudge Proof Eye Shadow Base both work great for me, and I use them indiscriminately. Sorry. I’ve used brow gels from the drugstore for ages, pencils from the drugstore and high-end pomades – yup, all good. Preferences? Nah. Depends on the day and my mood.
Eye shadow
You’ve no idea how long it took me to determine that. And it turns out I didn’t? Kinda? I can’t say that I’d love to only use Modern Renaissance from now on. Or Stila’s Shimmer & Glow liquid eye shadows. Or whatever. But! Catrice’ Pale Barley dupe called Oh Toffeeful (dc), and Burberry’s Pale Barley itself, are lovely colours that are a no-brainer for me. I honestly like Catrice’s version better because the formula isn’t as dusty as Burberry’s.
If we’re talking palettes, I take my MAC homemade palette everywhere that includes Shale, Typographic, Blanc Type and Kid. These go with everything, no matter which occasion and how I have to dress.
Eyeliners
Oh, Estée Lauder, you had such a winning formula with the Pure Color Intense Kajal EyeLiners, and then you made them Limited Edition. Why?! I own them in every colour they ever came out with, and they are the best. A close second are Sephora’s Contour Eye pencil 12HR wear waterproof – a wide range of colours, shimmers and mattes, reasonably priced. Also very easy to work with – you can blend and smudge them, but when they’re set, they don’t budge.
Cheek products
I couldn’t love those more: for people with my skintone, both are winners. I love the whole Charlotte Tilbury package, and the Filmstar Bronze & Glow is gorgeous (review). The highlighter is just right (it highlights, but your cheekbones won’t be visible from outer space), and the bronzing powder isn’t orange and very slightly glowy. Both are hard to overdo. Only con is the pricepoint. Ouch.
Max Factor’s Pastel Compact Blush in Nude Mauve (called Creme Puff Blush in English speaking countries), is the exact opposite of that, pricepoint-wise, and looks and feels like a much more expensive product (hello Hourglass!). It is also, co-incidentally, the only blush I’ve ever used up.
Lips
Lipgloss
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in Fenty Glow (review) is glossy, cheerful and just right for all skin tones. That’s no small feat. For something a bit more pigmented and less sparkly, I moun MAC’s Vamplify Lipcolor (Tuned In, dc) (review). Plush, glossy, and just so good.
Lipstick
When it comes to lipsticks, I believe in polyamory. But, let’s get to the ‘what does always work perfectly’ question from the beginning – when I want something moisturising, comfortable and glossy, I’ll use MAC’s Huggables (dc) – I love their nude shades, like Touche, Rich Marron and Rusty (review). MAC’s Ruby Woo is maybe the most classic red around, and for a reason. It looks great on everyone, even though the comfort level of MAC’s matte lipstick isn’t great. Hourglass Confession Ultra Slim Lipstick delivers impeccable colour, comfort and longevity. They’re on the right side of creamy, and might be my favourite formula right now.
Lip liners
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk (review), because it actually deserves its cult status. It’s versatile and wears great. Kiko Creamy Colour Comfort Lip Liner has a great formula (I can’t tell the difference between them and CT’s) and comes in a lot of colours (review).
Liquid lipstick
I rarely see the need for a matte liquid lipstick, but mostly it’s when I wear a smokey eye with a nude lip that needs to stay on for the evening. Lancome Matte Shaker in Beige Vintage is my choice for that (review). Easy to apply, stays put, doesn’t turn your lips into shrivelled raisins.
Recommendations
Budget products to look out for
Kiko Lip Liner, Max Factor Blush, Sephora eye liners, Maybelline Fit Me concealer
Luxury products worth the splurge
CT Filmstar Bronze & Glow, Pillow Talk Liner, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders, Hourglass Lipstick
Workhorse products
MAC Ruby Woo, MAC classic/perm eye shadows, Nars Setting Powder
Please note that this review is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods, or money, for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
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