Wearing makeup has always been a tricky thing for me. I’ve never been into anything super heavy or dark and have always opted for things that look really natural and accentuate my good features instead of masking everything altogether. That being said, I have done my fair share of experimenting over the years and feel as though I have narrowed it down to a good selection of basic makeup essentials that I find myself repurchasing time and time again. I don’t necessarily wear all of these everyday (although I always curl my eyelashes and put on mascara at minimum), but they’re the products I constantly find myself reaching for.
To be honest, I really only ever use a few of the brushes in my little cup, but I just think it’s so much more fun to look at an assortment rather than just two or three. And who knows? Maybe one day I’ll decide to change things up!
As you can see above, I have a lot more makeup than I really need #wretchedexcess. Some of the products are ones I just can’t part with and others are ones I save for special occasions. I really like having my makeup on display on my vanity and store it all in this acrylic makeup organizer, which I love because I can easily see everything and keep it organized when I go to do my makeup in the morning. Also, though it’s not one of my must-have products, I feel like I should give my Kiehls Micro-Blur Skin Perfector a little shoutout. This bad boy saves the day when I’m in a hurry and want to make sure my skin doesn’t look splotchy or shiny. Just spread it around your face with your hands and you’re good to go. So easy!
Above I’ve laid out my must-have products and brushes, but below you will find a breakdown of the products according to region of the face.
Bobbi Brown Eyeliner (Mahogany) | Kevyn Aucoin Mascara | Anastasia Brow Gel | Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler | Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow Brush | Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow Palette (Similar)
Let’s start with the eyes. I must preface this by saying that I rarely do anything to my eyes besides curl my lashes and apply some mascara. And, even when I do decide to branch out, I rarely go that far outside of the box. You can’t really tell in the picture, but, in my palette, I pretty much only use the center shade and the one right above it. This particular palette was give to me as a gift and is now out of stock, but I also really really love my Marc Jacobs Lolita Palette. The colors are very similar.
The Bobbi Brown eyeliner pencil is great because it glides on super easily despite my somewhat unsteady hand and comes off even easier at the end of the night. I use my Anastasia Brow Gel to hold my eyebrows in place especially when I’m between waxes and they’re a little bit more unruly. The real golden ticket though in this photo is this mascara. I’m telling you, if there is one thing you buy from this entire post, it should be the mascara. I can confidently say that this is the best one I have ever tried and trust me I’ve tried more than I can count. It volumizes, lengthens, and does not clump! Best of all, when you take it off it doesn’t make dark circles all around your eyes. Instead, it comes off in little tubes, sliding off your lashes with warm water. (This was the real selling point for me!)
Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturizer | Bobbi Brown Kabuki Brush | Chanel Lipstick (Romance) | Lancôme Concealer | Beauty Blender | Bobbi Brown Finishing Powder (Porcelain Pearl)
Going with my whole “I like to look natural” thing I’ve got going, I’m a huge fan of tinted moisturizer, because it evens out your skin tone and hides most impurities without masking your face. I used to use the Nars Tinted Moisturizer which I loved, but recently made the switch to Bobbi Brown, which is a thicker formula, offering a little bit more coverage. It also smells amazing.
The Lancôme concealer is great because it is so easy to apply and blends really well into the skin. I like to top it all off with this Brightening Powder to mattify everything using my kabuki brush. I also make sure to blend everything as I go along with my trusted Beauty Blender.
I have two blushes that I tend to rely on. First, is the Nars Orgasm blush. This blush is famous in the beauty world and honestly totally worth all the hype and the price tag. The color is universally flattering, and the perfect mix of pink and peach. I also love my Tarte Cheek Stain though. It’s perfect for when I want a more dewy look or am in a bit more of a hurry.
I’d love to hear some of your recommendations! What are your favorite makeup products?
