Holy Grail Makeup Products

I like to do beauty posts every so often because I love learning about makeup and trying new products! Today though, I thought I would share my all-time favorite makeup products! These are all products that are the best I've ever tried in their respective categories, and ones that I will keep coming back to for a long time. I'm always a bit conflicted because I LOVE trying out new products, but once you find something great you don't want to try something else and not like it as much. These are all amazing though, and I can't recommend them enough! Read on for details/reviews... :)

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Liquid Makeup (in Fresco)
This stuff. I cannot rave enough. I've found a lot of foundations that look great when I put them on, but by lunch time of my desk job have melted off of my face - which I find utterly ridiculous. This stuff lasts ALL day! Usually when I'm washing my face before bed at night my makeup still looks good, and that's never ever happened to me. I owe it all to Amber of Barefoot Blonde for recommending this magic stuff, and I also bought this pump for it thanks to Emily of The Sweetest Thing's suggestion (so I don't have to pour it and waste product). It's the priciest foundation I've ever purchased, but you won't have to reapply it during the day, and I only use about a pump and a half each day, so it's lasting me quite awhile. It is a full coverage foundation, so not all of you may need that. They have a Double Wear Light foundation that is also supposed to be good. I personally need a fuller coverage foundation due to the skin issues I'm still battling in my mid twenties, but this one has never looked too thick or dry...it's full coverage with a natural look. I apply it in a pressing/blotting motion (not swirling) with this brush, and it makes makeup last longer!


MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural (in Medium Plus)
I've tried a lot of powders and this one has a beautiful finish. It perfectly seals and blends in my foundation + concealers without looking cakey. I love that it cuts down on any shine I have without taking away my glow. Most powders end up making me too matte, and I like my skin to still shine through my makeup. I apply it in a pressing/blotting motion with this brush!


NARS Ita Kabuki Brush (for contouring)
This little guy is definitely a splurge, but I love love love it. As someone fairly new to contouring, it makes it incredibly easy. I'm impressed with the quality, and I like that it's thin enough to easily contour the sides of my nose and along my forehead. It really gives such nice control when you're contouring, but also doesn't create too harsh of a line! I plan on taking really good care of it so that it will last me a long time and pay itself off :)


MAC Mineralize Skinfinish (in Global Glow)
MAC has a couple of mineralize skinfinish lines...this line is a bronzer/highlighter line and the 'Natural' line is more like finishing powders (like the one I discussed above). This little bronzer is so beautiful on!! I use a different bronzer for contouring (it's matte with cooler tones), but I use this one to blend everything in and add a very natural, warm glow to my face. It even makes a really pretty eyeshadow. It's such a beautiful product that I can't recommend it enough!


IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Concealer
I've talked about this before, but I have very dark hereditary dark circles that I've had my whole life. If I'm not wearing makeup it's almost a guarantee that someone will ask me if I'm sick. So, I've tried many undereye concealers over the years, and so far this is my favorite! It's very pigmented and brightening, so you barely have to use any. I legitimately use two tiny tiny drops and it's plenty, which means that this little tube is lasting me such a long time. I think it will easily last me a year, which makes it a pretty affordable product.


MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter (in Radiant Rose)
This product is basically a liquid highlighter, and it's so illuminizing! When the girl at MAC put it under my eyes and down the bridge of my nose I had to buy it immediately - it was that good. Because it's liquid, it's very blendable. And I love that it reflects light away from my dark circles. Mary Kay and Bare Minerals also make similar products that are really good too!


Anastasia of Beverly Hills Brow Whiz
Sadly, I didn't start filling in my brows until last summer (it really is a fairly recent trend though, right?), and I had no idea what I was missing all these years! I have naturally thick brows, but now I can fill in sparse spots and define my brow shape. This brow pencil is hands down the best I've ever tried, and they offer so many color options! It also comes with a brush on the end so I first brush all of my brow hairs into an orderly direction, then apply the pencil in short, light strokes going in the direction of the hairs, and then blend it all together softly with the brush. It's incredibly easy to use, and I can go bold or natural. I use the color 'medium brown' but may try the 'taupe' soon as I continue to go blonder.


Let me know if you have any questions about application, other products, etc.! I LOVE talking about makeup, so I'm always up to chat about it :) Also, if you have a favorite contour bronzer, let me know! I like mine, but want to try some others.

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

xo,

Jacy

PS - Now that I know what color I am in these products, I love ordering replacements online from Nordstom! They have free shipping and returns on everything, so I can order a new powder or foundation (or whatever else) online without driving an hour to my nearest Sephora. (No this is not sponsored, I just love ordering from Nordstrom)!