So, the other day someone asked me 'What makeup item could you not live without?' and instantly, my brain went into meltdown.
ONE product?! I just couldn't pick.
However, when stranded on a desert island, or the makeup industry went under, these are the top 10 products I would buy in bulk, and would say are my top makeup products.
In here are a mixture of more expensive high-end products, along with products available for under £5 in Boots or Superdrug.
So, in no particular order, here are my top 10 makeup items! :)
This is probably up there as my number one favourite. It is a high coverage powder foundation, however I generally use this as a powder to set my makeup in place. It comes as a compact powder with a little mirror and compartment under for a powder puff. MAC products are the only brand i've found to perfectly match my pale skin tone, so I have no jibs about spending a little bit more money on something I know isn't going to glow orange. I've repurchased this as soon as it began running out, over fear I would be left without it.
Online, it is described as 'powder and foundation in one that combines good coverage with ease of application. Designed to be used dry, the powder and pigments create a matte velvety texture. It contains Silica, which helps to maintain a matte finish by absorbing oils on the skin, as well as Talc tp provide a smoother, less reflective, matte finish.
Which, yeah, sound's about right.
It goes EVERYWHERE with me. Im not even joking. Ask if you can borrow a mirror, and it'll be there, nestled in my bag.
I love it so much, because of it's small size, and the fact it has a mirror. It's perfect for carrying around with you, and the powder puff section means you can use it to top up coverage on your nose or mouth if you find your base beginning to slip.
On some occasion's I have ran out of foundation and used this instead (as it's intended purpose), and I can say that although I wouldn't choose to use it as a foundation, it can be used and looks fantastic.
It's just foolproof for setting your makeup and popping in your bag; safe in the knowledge that you have a mirror, a product and an applicator with you at all times.
2. Benefit Bronzer- Hoola- £23
With being particularly pale, comes great difficulty when finding something to warm your skin up and act as a contour shade.
I've gone through many bronzer's before, and have found nearly all of them to make my face resemble an Oompa-Loompa.
The trick is, however, to find a product that is brown based. Not orange. Brown.
This means that when it goes onto your skin and oxides, it's not going to go a 'rust tan' colour, but instead a light brownish shade.
This means it is going to look a lot more natural and suit your skin tone better.
I was recommended this bronzer, but after looking at it in the pan, I thought it would be waaaay to dark, however I swatched on the back of my hand and purchased the smaller test size.
After using it a few times, I fell in love.
It's so odd, but it really does suit most skin tones. I think because of the warmer brown undertones, it's a neutral shade, rather than it being made of varying degree's of orange-ness like most bronzers areMAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation.
I use this after contouring to warm up my pale complexion and to add a bit of colour to my cheeks.
The only issue with this is the container it comes in. Seriously, a cardboard box? Step up your game Benefit.
3. MAC prep and prime- fix + spray- £17
After having my makeup done in MAC a few years ago, the woman finished off my look with a few spray's of this, and my makeup instantly transformed from flat and matte to hydrated and glowy looking. It wasn't essential that day, so I returned a few weeks later to pick one up.
Some people say this is meant to be used before your makeup, to act as a primer and moisturiser, however I have never used it for that.
I spray 2-3 squirts of this over the base of my face (before I move onto my eyes), and it sets my makeup ALL day. And I mean, all day. It dries really quickly too, so you don't have to dance around like a loon waiting for it to set in place before moving onto your next product.
Not only that, but it makes your makeup look nicer on the face. It can really finish a look off, and make it look so much more professional. I love how light-weight it feels on the skin, and you really can notice a difference between how your make will look at the end of the night if you have or haven't used this product.
It is perfect for day long events, such as weddings, because it means you don't have to take your entire makeup bag with you (in a tiny clutch bag) and can just be safe knowing your makeup isn't going to budge.
I recently repurchased mine, and they had unfortunately ran out of the limited edition pink water, which was a shame, however I found that one big bottle lasted me an entire year, so it is well worth the money.
This was another product I had seen so many people talk about, but wasn't sure about the hype.
I decided to buy it, to see what all the fuss was about, safe in the knowledge a lot of people had said it lasts you a very long time.
If you don't know what it is, it is a product used on the eyebrows, but it comes in a pot, much like a gel eyeliner, and is applied to the brows using an angled brush.
Most people say 'Oh, you only need a tiny bit on your brush to do an entire brow,' which I have found to be false.
Although you don't need a considerable amount, you do need to use a little more than I think most people have you let on. Then again, it is always better to apply a little bit at a time, rather than all at once. I use this on the lower side of my brow first, then I complete the tail and fill in the bottom half before using excess product on the brush to feather it into the front of my brow.
I've found this to be a fool proof, easy way to get good natural looking brows, that I do get complimented on often.
The only downside to this is that you do need to spend extra money on a brush, and the top layer of my brow gel has dried out slightly.
This however, is out-weighed by the fact that you don't need to buy an extra brow kit to set it in place, as the waxy formula of the product means that this stuff is set already and will not be budging anytime soon.
5. MAC pro-longwear concealer- NW15 - £17.50
I was originally put off this product as the palest it goes too is NW15, and I am NW10 in MAC foundation. I wanted a concealer to act as a base for a highlight, and brighten up the area under my eyes. After a brief sales pitch from a MAC rep, I bought the palest shade they did to satisfy my curiosity.
I was pleasantly surprised. I absolutely LOVE the stuff! I pump a small amount on the back of my hand, and dab it under my eyes, as well as any area's I want to brighten up. I then use my BeautyBlender to buff it all out into place.
For something I thought would be too dark, it does act as a brightening concealer, and because it is so high coverage, it lasts all day long.
My only issue is the size of the bottle. It is MAC, and therefore a little pricey, and the size of the bottle is rather small. I wish they could make it slightly bigger for what you are paying.
Also, the pump system is good, however it means putting product on your hand, which means you are going to loose a small amount as it soaks into your skin. I would find that an applicator where it can be applied directly too your face would be much more effective, as this means you are going to get the most out of your product.
6. Maybelline- Lash Sensational- £7.99
After being a firm lover of the Benefit They're Real, I was beginning to feel the sting of £20 a pop, especially when I go through quite a lot of mascara.
Im not usually a fan of mascara from the drugstore though, but picked this up when Boots had a 3 for 2 offer on.
I've tried both the normal and the waterproof mascara, and have the found the waterproof to be the longer lasting of the two (naturally).
However, it is extremely difficult to get off, so I would recommend using a remover specific for waterproof eye-makeup.
Im not normally a fan of synthetic applicators (except They're Real), but the wand for this is almost identical.
It is a curved wand, so I generally use one side to coat each individual lash to end length, and then turn on the thicker size, to add volume and colour.
I've found that is lasts a while and doesn't dry out in the bottle if you look after it well. It's a true black colour, and the shape of the wand means it is curling your lashes as you use the product.
It's an all-round fool proof affordable mascara.
7. MAC lipsticks- £15.50
I have an extensive and growing collection of MAC lipsticks, so I thought I would include this as one favourite, but include my top two from my collection.
Although they look very similar, they are quite different.
The first is Brave. This is a Satin finish, so is almost pearly on the lips, but is quite shiny and hydrating without looking like a gloss. It is a typically everyday pale pink colour, and goes well with any eye-look and any outfit. It is my go-to lip colour when I want something there that isn't going to completely change a look.
The next is Twig. This is a slightly darker version of Brave, so I generally use this more in the colder months. Again, this is a Satin finish so it is very similar.
It has pink undertones, but a slight brown/mauve hue in it, so I find goes really well with a brown smokey eye.
Both are really quick lipsticks to throw on as an everyday lip colour.
8. 2True Effortless Eyeliner- black- £1.99
I have been a lover of the winged liner for about 4 years now, and as a result of that, have tried many different eyeliners.
I was actually thinking about doing an entire blogpost dedicated solely to the eyeliner, as I have that bloody many.
In my experiences, however, I have found that the more you spend does not necessarily mean the better the product. I have tried a few 'high-end' eyeliners, and have found them to be no better than your £1 liquid eyeliner from Primark.
This exclusive to Superdrug eyeliner, is foolproof. The brush nib is fairly big, so your eyeliner is not going to be very subtle, however it is perfect for everyday use. It retains the colour of black and does not fade to grey during the day like some liners can do, and for the price of, you really can't knock it. The handle is fairly long and twists into the pot of product, meaning you can really get a grip on it, making the application a lot easier.
My only issue is if your eye's water, it will run, but if you know you are going to be in an eye-watering situation then you should be using a waterproof eyeliner anyway. Duh.
If you haven't already guessed, I have a slight problem in keeping makeup on my face. I don't have particularly oily skin, nor am I an excessive sweater, however my makeup tends to slip.
That is why I opt for a primer, a setting powder AND a setting spray to make sure none of my hard work goes to waste.
I rely heavily on a primer, and even if you find you don't have a major makeup slipping problem like I do, I would still suggest investing in a primer.
It will help your makeup glide onto your skin better, as well as making it look more flawless and last a lot longer.
I love the Bodyshop InstaBlur, as it is in between your high street and high end products. It is silicon based, which I have found makes my makeup look the nicest, however it doesn't necessarily fill your pores in.
It does make your face feel silky soft and light-weight though.
The only con of this product is that mine tends to shoot the primer out and go everywhere, rather than glide out onto my fingertips.
Last, but not least, is a highlighter.
Last, but not least, is a highlighter.
Having mentioned a few times in this blog post that I am pale, it is often difficult to find a highlighter pale enough to do it's job. Again, I have gone through a few different shades and formula's of highlight, and found this one to be the best.
It can sometimes be mis-leading when highlighter shopping, as it can look great when you swatch it on your hand, but fail to show up nicely on the skin.
I opted for the pink shade, rather than the white or gold, purely because I find it to compliment my skin and everyday make up better.
For the price, you can literally not fall off. Even if you have a million highlighters, just go out and buy this one and try it anyway.
I find this to finish off a look perfectly, and it adds a nice subtle shimmer to the tops of my cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose and cupid's bow.
But seriously, £3!! And its a normal size, its not tiny. I've had mine for over a year, and I am no-where near touching pan yet. It is so affordable, and out of all the other highlighters i've bought and tested, this one is the cheapest and the best, just proving that sometimes just because something has a big price tag, does not necessarily mean it's the best product on the market.
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