Well yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve written about make-up. I was over it to be honest. I started beauty blogging when I was eighteen, but it was always a struggle for me due to eczema. That was also why I loved it, we all want what we can’t have after all. Now my eczema is doing pretty well, and I’ve found my holy grail make-up products. As always, these are products I’ve used for at least a few months to a few years. I can actually say these make-up products are tried, tested and approved by yours truly. So let’s dive into these awesome little helpers right diddy!
Estee Lauder Double wear foundation – Shop here
I literally have more than thirty foundations in my beauty closet. None of them fit my skin tone and type (dry and sensitive) as good as the Estee Lauder Double wear foundation. I’ve already wrote a full review about this foundation, but here are some of the reasons why I really love it. I have quite some discoloration in my face and neck, but I don’t like those high coverage foundations that make you look like you’re wearing a mask. The Double wear foundation is very high coverage, but it looks really natural when you wear it.
I wear the color 2W2 Rattan, which has a strong yellow undertone. I might be very pale, but that yellow undertone is no joke! This tint is the one of the few foundations that doesn’t oxidize, turns pink or orange on my skin. It stays on really well all day, it doesn’t dry out my skin and it doesn’t feel sticky or heavy. This foundation has a matte finish which I prefer, because I like adding shine or glow myself. Another plus is that this foundation doesn’t sink into the fine and dry lines of my face. This truly is a winner and I’m on my third bottle.
Estee Lauder Double wear concealer – Shop here
What can I say, Estee Lauder also has the best concealer for me. It’s the perfect match with the foundation I wear. I like to use the color 1C light cool, which is perfect as I also use it to highlight my face. It’s a really high coverage concealer which I like. Because it doesn’t just cover, it really makes your highlight pop. Another really important point is that this concealer really does conceal my dark circles. And it doesn’t look cakey or sink into my lines. Which is perfect because I make long days and I have not time nor energy for touch ups. Check my full review for all the ins and outs.
Laura Mercier Secret brightening powder – Shop here
This is just the best under eye powder in the world, there’s no other! It’s very lightweight and it helps me keep my concealer on all day. I experience little to no creasing because of this amazing powder and it doesn’t dry my skin out at all. The tiny reflective particles in the powder aren’t overpowering and they fade away pretty fast. Which I do not mind, because I like a matte finish. I also use the Secret brightening powder on my forehead, nose and around my lips. It’s been especially handy around my lips, because it helps stop my lipsticks from bleeding. Which was a pretty big problem I used to have. Check the full review for this powder for all the details.
Laura Mercier Loose setting powder – Shop here
I’ve had this powder for a month because I read some good reviews about it. And yes, we have another winner! The Laura Mercier loose setting powder is very, very fine and easy to apply. It’s also very airy and lightweight, which is perfect for people with dry and even flaky skin. I don’t even have to pick up a lot of product on my brush to set my foundation. I apply the powder with a round kabuki brush and I usually just use one layer. It stays put all day and it behaves really well when I add a new layer a few hours later. The best part of this powder is that it doesn’t affect the color of my foundation, which was the main reason I wanted to give this powder a try.
Laura Mercier Candleglow sheer perfecting powder – Shop here
Oh yeah, another Laura Mercier product but it truly is one of my holy grail make-up products. This amazing allover face powder leaves my skin with a very subtle and healthy glow. The color I use is called light, it’s on the yellow side. It’s the perfect powder for that last finishing touch. You only need a light layer to bring back the life in your face. I personally really love this powder as I use a very matte base. Which is very pretty, but sometimes a bit dull. This powder makes my skin look very dewy and glowy in a good way, no disco ball effect! Find my full review over here.
Laura Mercier Matte radiance baked powder – Shop here
I promise, this is the last Laura Mercier product I’ll recommend to you. But I have to give it up for this highlighter. I use number one which is on the ‘white’ side of the highlight spectrum. Which I love because it creates a fresh contrast with my very yellow undertones. I like using this powder as a highlight when I wear really warm colors on my face. It freshens up the look and it looks really pretty at night. It takes away that orange tint you might get if you use a warmer highlight in the evening or during the summer. Check out my review for this powder, it’s great!
Becca highlighter in Opal – Shop here
When I purchased the Go on the glow kit, I was pleasantly surprised. The color Opal is not your average white frosty highlighter. Nope, this highlight is a bit warmer towards a champagne tint. It looks really natural on my face, which is exactly what I’m looking for on daily basis. I don’t like those extreme highlights that will blind anyone who comes your way, haha! When I use this highlighter it makes it look like that beautiful liquid shimmer you see when the sun hits water. It’s warm, subtle yet still very glowy in a sexy way. Check all the swatches and the full review if you’re interested in this amazing highlighter.
Inglot shaping powder in 505 – Shop here
I’ve been using the Inglot shaping powders for years. I ones received them from their Dutch marketing manager and I fell in love immediately. Inglot has a lot of shaping powders which means you have a lot of choice. Which is really nice because a regular bronzer isn’t always going to cut it. The Inglot shaping powder in 505 is a very cool toned shaping powder. It comes very close to a natural shadow color. Which is perfect when you want to contour, but not add any warmth or color yet. This truly is my favorite contour product! You can see how I contour my face with this powder in this video.
Charlotte Tilbury Bar of gold – Shop here
At first I was very disappointed with this product, especially with the cheap packaging. I do think they’ve improved it since I’ve bought this product. I’ve had it for a few years now and I still haven’t run out. This gold highlighter is perfect for the days I want to feel extra glamorous. This gold highlighter isn’t too warm or too yellow. It truly is the perfect gold highlighter which you can build up really easy. I think the Bar of gold will look good on almost every skin tone, as it’s so versatile. I personally like mixing it with a peach toned blush, that’s just the perfect combination on my skin. Check out my review.
Too Faced Sun bunny bronzer – Shop here
Best bronzer ever! Why you ask? Well, this bronzer is perfect for people with a yellow undertone. The two shades in one compact can be used separately or mixed together. I usually mix them up a little for that ‘liquid’ glow that I love so much. This gives you that Jennifer Lopez glow, I think that’s what describes the effect of this bronzer the best. It’s very pigmented, you only need a light layer for a nice glow. But I like to use a bit more so you can really see me shine like a bronzed goddess.
MAC blush in Style – Discontinued
The Style blush is a limited-edition blush so I can’t buy it anymore. For me it’s the perfect peachy/golden blush and I haven’t found a good dupe yet. Other blushes I like to use are the MAC Pink swoon and Coppertone. Other than these three I haven’t really found a blush that I like. I have my eyes set on the Estee Lauder blushes in Rebel rose, Wild sunset and Peach passion. But I haven’t bought them yet as I have enough blushes to use at the moment.
Too Faced Shadow insurance – Shop here
Do I really have to explain why this eyeshadow primer is the best? I don’t think so, you should just buy it enjoy. I’ve tried many eyeshadow primers, but this one really is the best in my opinion. It never dries my skin out, it really stays put all day and it brings out the eyeshadow colors like a pro. I’ve tried it on every skin tone and color, it works every time. This is a winner for all of your eyeshadows, eyeliners or creams. Find my full review here.
Too Faced Natural eye palette – Shop here
This is the first palette by Too Faced I bought. I bought it at least 8 years ago when I still worked at Sephora. This palette is still going strong. If I can only have one eyeshadow palette for the rest of my life, this would be the one. The colors, the pigment, the selection: It’s perfect! It’s a fantastic palette for daily life and you can easily turn your day look into a night look. I love using the color Sexpresso for my eyebrows when I run out of my eyebrow pencil. It’s the best color for my eyebrows in powder form. This is just the best palette ever, give it a try!
Yves Saint Laurent Faux cils waterproof mascara – Shop here
The one and only mascara that actually keeps my eyelashes up and curled. It’s also a mascara that is truly black, which I need for my short and straight lashes. I need them to stand out as much as they can. Mainly because I like how my curled lashes make my eyes look a bit bigger and my entire face more awake. It’s a pretty expensive mascara, but it truly does everything I need it to do. And if I can’t get my hands on this one, I like to use the L’oreal Telescopic mascara in the waterproof version. As it’s pretty similar to the Yves Saint Laurent Faux cils mascara. Read the full review here.
Make Up For Ever Aqua lip liner in 1C – Shop here
The best lip liner I’ve ever had is the Aqua lip liner by Make Up For Ever. The color 1C is the perfect nude shade for my lips. It’s not too creamy, not to dry and it stays on all day. If I can’t get this lip liner I use the Max Factor in Brown and Nude. And I also have a thing for Gosh velvet touch lip liners, which I love in the colors Nougat crips and Antique rose. These are all creamy, waterproof lip liners that stay on all day. These are truly a musthave on my holy grail make-up products list.
Urban Decay All nighter setting spray – Shop here
I’ve tried two or three other settings sprays, but this one by Urban Decay is simply the best. It sets my make-up and makes it look a lot smoother and airbrushed. As someone with very dry skin at times, the fine lines and cakey look are always around the corner. The Urban Decay All nightery setting spray helps me prevent creasing and build up in the fine lines of my face. It also prolongs the number of hours my make-up looks fresh, and I do not say no to that! This is my full review, check it out!
And here we are, these are my holy grail make-up products I can’t live without. Do you have the same holy grail items, or would you recommend me other brands and products? Let me know in a comment below!
Kaya-Quintana
P.S. Subscribe to my newsletter for more make-up tips and reviews.