Okay, let's get real - sometimes it's hard to find the right makeup for your face. I've tried countless foundations of different forms, brands and price points. I've tried mascaras all the way from Wet N' Wild to Lorac and Too Faced. I have a collection of lipsticks that I rotate through, always satisfied with my selection, but never impressed with one that I reach for on the daily. I feel like I will always be on the search for the 'latest and greatest' of some products, but for others, I've found certain brands and formulas that I will never stray from - that, to me, is a Holy Grail product. Below I'll share the only two products I've ever used that deserve such recognition, and one other that I am waiting to try, after hearing tales of how it will steal my heart (and my paychecks).
Those of you who have followed me on past blogs and tumblr know that I am a barista. I work long hours by myself, and I sweat like a pig. Those little coffee stands look all cute and cuddly, but inside they are a furnace of sticky makeup destruction. Foundation, eye makeup and lip products melt off my face after the second hour...if something makes it all the way home with me, it's a winner in my book. Unfortunately, not many products have stood up to that challenge. That being said, I'll share what I've found, and I'd love to hear about your favorite products too!
#1 - Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
This stuff is THE BOMB, you guys. If there is any product you should just go out and buy, this is it. Do it. You won't be disappointed.
It's hard to find a product that stays on (both of) my eyes all through the day. I finally put up the cash to buy this after coming home from work for the 9342094th time with one wing of eyeliner on my left eye, looking like an idiot. This stuff stays on my face all day, sun-up to sun-down, but it's also very easy to remove with eye-makeup wipes, meaning you won't be rubbing and tugging at your eyes at the end of the night, trying to get it off. It comes in an amazing selection of 15 (yes, fifteen) colors, providing neutrals, blues, greens and even pinks for your choosing. I've personally tried both the jet black and cobalt, both of which provided strong lines of any thickness, and great pigmentation.
The applicator has a long and flexible pen/paintbrush styled tip. It is like a paintbrush in the way it behaves, flexing when you add pressure and bending to draw smooth lines, but it is like a pen in the fact that all of the 'bristles' are attached, providing one unified, soft applicator that tapers to a point.
With a $20 price tag, this is the most I've spent on an eyeliner, but it performed better than any other eyeliner that I've ever bought, and it lasted longer than any other liquid eyeliner I've had. If you're interested in purchasing, it's available here !
It's hard to find a product that stays on (both of) my eyes all through the day. I finally put up the cash to buy this after coming home from work for the 9342094th time with one wing of eyeliner on my left eye, looking like an idiot. This stuff stays on my face all day, sun-up to sun-down, but it's also very easy to remove with eye-makeup wipes, meaning you won't be rubbing and tugging at your eyes at the end of the night, trying to get it off. It comes in an amazing selection of 15 (yes, fifteen) colors, providing neutrals, blues, greens and even pinks for your choosing. I've personally tried both the jet black and cobalt, both of which provided strong lines of any thickness, and great pigmentation.
The applicator has a long and flexible pen/paintbrush styled tip. It is like a paintbrush in the way it behaves, flexing when you add pressure and bending to draw smooth lines, but it is like a pen in the fact that all of the 'bristles' are attached, providing one unified, soft applicator that tapers to a point.
With a $20 price tag, this is the most I've spent on an eyeliner, but it performed better than any other eyeliner that I've ever bought, and it lasted longer than any other liquid eyeliner I've had. If you're interested in purchasing, it's available here !
#2 - The Balm Nude'Tude Palette
This was one of the first high-end product I purchased, and though I've acquired many more palettes since then, I always seem to reach for my Nude'Tude. It has a wide range of neutrals, from a snowy white to a heavily pigmented black and many colors in between. Temptalia has a thorough review and swatches here to really show you all the colors that this palette has available.
The Balm usually impresses me with their shadows, and this palette was definitely not an exception to that. The shadows were buttery but not powdery - easy to blend and apply without much fallout.
The palette comes with a brush, but I usually use my own...the one they provide has thin applicators on both sides and I prefer a more rounded and bushy eyeshadow brush (I'm currently using these two brushes from elf). The selection that they give you allows you to do everything from a simple, light look to a deep smoky eye, and the white is hands-down the best inner-corner white shadow I have ever found.
The packaging is also awesome. I love The Balm because all of the eye palettes I've purchased through them are packaged in cardboard, meaning that even though I've dropped this on my bathroom floor at least 10 times, none of the shadows have broken or come out of the packaging. If you're not into the 'naughty' packaging pictured above, there is a 'nice' version available as well with a more kid-friendly background.
With 12 shadows for $36, this is a pretty well-priced palette averaging out to only $3 per shadow. If you are interested in purchasing, it is available here, though if you wait until it is available on discount at a website like hautelook you'll be able to get one much cheaper - I got mine brand new from a private seller for $18, and have seen many for sale since then.
The Balm usually impresses me with their shadows, and this palette was definitely not an exception to that. The shadows were buttery but not powdery - easy to blend and apply without much fallout.
The palette comes with a brush, but I usually use my own...the one they provide has thin applicators on both sides and I prefer a more rounded and bushy eyeshadow brush (I'm currently using these two brushes from elf). The selection that they give you allows you to do everything from a simple, light look to a deep smoky eye, and the white is hands-down the best inner-corner white shadow I have ever found.
The packaging is also awesome. I love The Balm because all of the eye palettes I've purchased through them are packaged in cardboard, meaning that even though I've dropped this on my bathroom floor at least 10 times, none of the shadows have broken or come out of the packaging. If you're not into the 'naughty' packaging pictured above, there is a 'nice' version available as well with a more kid-friendly background.
With 12 shadows for $36, this is a pretty well-priced palette averaging out to only $3 per shadow. If you are interested in purchasing, it is available here, though if you wait until it is available on discount at a website like hautelook you'll be able to get one much cheaper - I got mine brand new from a private seller for $18, and have seen many for sale since then.
Waiting to Try a New Primer...and I'm Stuck Between Two!!
| <<< Take my poll and let me know which primer YOU think I should drop my money on next! If you have found a better product, select 'other' and shoot me a comment! I'm always open to trying new products(: |