I have always wanted to put together a list of my holy grail products and I finally set aside some time to get it done! So far, this list is only makeup, but I hope to include skincare and hair products soon. Also, as I discover new products I love, I'll be sure to update this list.
In some categories, I have more than one favorite. I decided to do it that way because in many cases, I use different products depending on the look I'm creating or even the time of year it is. For example, I have two different holy grail face primers because one is lightweight and ideal for the summer, and one is more hydrating for the winter months.
Next to each product is a link so you can purchase the product or check out other reviews. I should mention that I have dry skin so the products I've chosen are the ones I've found are best suited to my skin type. If you're interested in purchasing a product, I highly encourage you to read the other reviews on Ulta or Sephora first to make sure that others with your similar skin type liked the product as well. My personal favorites may not always be yours! :)
In some categories, I have more than one favorite. I decided to do it that way because in many cases, I use different products depending on the look I'm creating or even the time of year it is. For example, I have two different holy grail face primers because one is lightweight and ideal for the summer, and one is more hydrating for the winter months.
Next to each product is a link so you can purchase the product or check out other reviews. I should mention that I have dry skin so the products I've chosen are the ones I've found are best suited to my skin type. If you're interested in purchasing a product, I highly encourage you to read the other reviews on Ulta or Sephora first to make sure that others with your similar skin type liked the product as well. My personal favorites may not always be yours! :)
Face Products:
Favorite Primer
- High End: Mally Beauty Perfect Prep Poreless Primer (buy/more info), Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer (buy/more info).
- Drugstore: L'oreal Magic Perfecting Base (buy/more info), NYX Angel Veil (buy/more info)
Favorite Tinted Primer
- High End: Tarte BB Tinted Primer (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: Flower E.E. Erase Everything (buy/more info)
Favorite Pore Minimizer
- High End: Benefit The POREfessional (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: NYX Pore Filler (buy/more info)
Favorite Light to Medium Foundation
- High End: It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: L'oreal True Match Lumi (buy/more info), Maybelline Age Rewind (buy/more info)
Favorite Full Coverage Foundation
- High End: Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Foundation (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: Hard Candy Glamoflauge (buy/more info)
Favorite Concealer
- High End: Tarte Shape Tape (buy/more info), Benefit Fake Up (buy/more info), It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer (buy/more info), Maybelline Fit Me (buy/more info)
Favorite Powder Foundation
- High End: It Cosmetics Celebration Foundation (Buy/more info)
- Drugstore: Milani Multitasker Face Powder (buy/more info)
Favorite Bronzer
- High End: The Balm Balm Desert (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer (buy/more info), Hard Candy So Baked Bronzer in Hula Hula (buy/more info)
Favorite Contour Palette
- High End: Lorac PRO Contour Palette (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: Profusion Studio Contour Palette (buy/more info)
Favorite Blush
- High End: The Balm Instain Blush (buy/more info), Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush (buy/more info), Lorac Color Source Blush (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: City Color Be Matte Blush (Buy - More Info), Milani Baked Blush (buy/more info), Flower Transforming Touch (buy/more info)
Favorite Blush Palette
- High End: Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani Blush Palette (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: Makeup Revolution Ultra Blush Palette (buy/more info)
Favorite Highlighter Palette
- High End: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: NYX Strobe of Genius Palette (buy/more info), Profusion Studio Highlight Palette (buy/more info)
Favorite Face Palette
- High End: Becca Afterglow Palette (buy/more info) The Balm in the Balm of Your Hand palette (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: BH Cosmetics Forever Nude Sculpt & Glow (buy/more info), City Color Timeless Beauty Palette (buy/more info)
Favorite Cream Blush
- High End: The Balm How Bout Them Apples (buy/more info), Stila Convertible Color (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: L.A. Girl Velvet Blush Sticks (buy/more info), Colourpop Supershock Cheeks (buy/more info), L'oreal Visible Lift Blur Blush (buy/more info)
Favorite Highlight
- High End: Benefit Watts Up (buy/more info) The Balm Mary LouManizer (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: Colourpop SuperShock Cheek in Wisp (buy/more info), Hard Candy Tiki (buy/more info)
Favorite Mattifier
- High End: Mally Poreless Face Defender (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: Haven't found one I like yet.
Favorite Finishing Powder
- High End: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: Wet 'n' Wild Reserve Your Cabana (buy/more info), Makeup Revolution Radiant Lights in Breathe (buy/more info)
Lip Products:
Favorite Lip Balm
- High End: Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask (buy/more info), Nuxe Reve de Miel (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: Burts Bees Lip Treatment (buy/more info), Smith's Rosebud Salve (buy/more info)
Favorite Tinted Lip Balm
- High End: Bite Beauty Smashed (buy/more info), Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm (buy/more info)
Favorite Lip Liner
- High End: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: NYX Slide-On Lip Pencils (buy/more info), Essence Lip Liner (buy/more info)
Favorite Jumbo Lip Pencil
- High End: Laura Geller Love Me Dew (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: Jordana Twist & Shine (buy/more info)
Favorite Lipstick
- High End: Urban Decay Revolution (buy/more info) and Sheer Revolution Lipstick (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: Hard Candy Plumping Gel Lipstick (buy/more info)
Favorite Liquid Lipstick
- High End: YSL Glossy Stain (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: Loreal Colour Riche Extrodinaire (buy/more info)
Favorite Lip Gloss
- High End: Lorac Alter Ego Lip Gloss (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: NYX Intense Butter Gloss (buy - more info)
Eye Products:
Favorite Eye Primer
- High End: Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: NYX Proof It! (buy/more info)
Favorite Cream Shadow
- High End: Mally Evercolor Shadow Sticks (buy/more info), bareMinerals BB 5-in-1 Cream Eyeshadow (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: Milani Shadow Eyez Shadow Sticks (buy/more info), Colourpop Super Shock Eyeshadows (buy/more info)
Favorite Small Eyeshadow Palette
- High End: Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Palette (buy/more info), Lorac Pro Matte Palette (buy/more info).
- Drugstore: Milani Everyday Eyes Palettes (buy/more info), Cover Girl TruNaked Palettes (buy/more info)
Favorite Large Eyeshadow Palette
- High End: LORAC Pro Palettes (buy/more info), The Balm Meet Matt(e) Nude (buy/more info), Tarte Tartelette Palette (buy/more info), Urban Decay Naked (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: Demi Lovato Lovatics palette (buy/more info), Makeup Revolution Iconic Palettes (buy/more info)
Favorite Eyeliner Pencil
- High End: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eyeliner (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: Essence Long-Lasting Eye Pencil (buy/more info)
Favorite Liquid Eyeliner
- High End: Kat Von D Tattoo Liner (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: NYC Liquid Liner (buy/more info)
Favorite Cream/Gel Eyeliner
- Drugstore: Colourpop (buy/more info)
Favorite Mascara
- High End: Benefit They're Real (buy/more info), The Balm What's Your Type Body Builder (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: Cover Girl The SuperSizer (buy/more info) Maybelline Lash Discovery (as a base and for bottom lashes) (buy/more info), Jordana Best Lash Extreme (buy/more info)
Favorite Brow Product
- High End: Anastasia Brow Wiz (buy/more info), Benefit Gimme Brow (buy/more info)
- Drugstore: NYX Micro Brow Pencil (buy/more info), Hard Candy Brows Now (buy/more info)
What a fantastic roundup! I already have a few of the same favorites. I am torn between getting the Covergirl Tru-naked palettes or the Makeup Revolution palettes. I would prefer satin finishes as opposed to metallic finishes. Would you say one choice would be better over the other for me?
ReplyDeleteeh... depends on a couple of things: you willingness to use primer, and level of lid texture. The tru-naked palettes will definitely give you more satin options, but they also last about 4 seconds unless you use a primer. The makeup revolution colors will work ok on bare skin ( but primer is always good) but if you foil some of the more metallic shades, they can emphasize any crepey-ness you may have happening. It should be said that this only seems to be a problem if you are really packing it on.
DeleteAwesome list and I'm so glad you put it together! I've been using Maybelline Lash Discovery ever since you recently reviewed it and it is incredible! I will always use it as a base and for lower lashes. That wand is the best. :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat list...very helpful and informative!
ReplyDeleteJust found your site and I'm loving every page! I am def going to try some of your favs. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteLovely blog great site loved reading this blog post xoxo
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Hi! I noticed you hadn't listed an inexpensive mattifying product that you liked yet-JOE FRESH has a great matte primer that I swear by!
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to let you know about my favorite brow pencil...believe me, I am over 50 and have tried many! Lancome's brow pencil is the BEST I have ever used. Sometimes I hear about new ones and take a chance they will be better than Lancome, but they never are!
ReplyDelete