My 'Ride or Die' Makeup Products of 2016

Too Faced Hangover Rx Primer

Recently I’ve found that my skin has been a lot dryer (still have acne), and this primer masks the dryness in a way that helps my foundation not stick to my dry areas. In terms of longevity, it helps my foundation stay on slightly longer, and initially gives it somewhat of a dewy finish without becoming oily throughout the day.

Maybelline Matte and Poreless Foundation

I know that this is my ‘ride or die’ foundation, because it is the foundation I reach for when I don’t know which one to choose, whether my skin is covered in acne or clear, oily or dry, the formula seems to remain consistent. Also, the pale princess friendly shade (110 Porcelain), doesn’t oxidize throughout the day, and keeps my skin from getting oily. It doesn’t break my skin out or clog my pores, and gives medium to buildable coverage while still appearing natural.

Manic Panic Dreamtone (Lightener)

I have decided to include this as I use it almost every day. I can get away with wearing my foundation without it, but with 1 pump in my ‘Maybelline Matte and Poreless’ it matches my skin tone perfectly. No matter what foundation I use it doesn’t seem to change the formula, and a little bit goes a long way. When I want super bright under eyes I mix it with my MAC Pro-long wear concealer in NW15 (which is way too dark), and it transforms into a beautiful brightening under-eye concealer that doesn’t crease and stays put.

Too Faced Born this Way Concealer

This is my favourite concealer that I don’t have to lighten. I can use it for spot concealing on my face without worrying that it’s too dark, and it conceals and camouflages my (usually dry and flaky) blemishes without highlighting them. It stays put on my face for a significant amount of time, and doesn’t crease under my eyes. I also use this concealer (and a concealer brush) to calve out and shape my eyebrows, and clean up lipsticks on a daily basis.

MAC Studio Fix Powder

This is my go to ‘holy grail’ powder. I don’t use powder to mattify my face as I don’t usually need it, but usually to add coverage. I only set certain areas of my face with powder, and I love using the Studio Fix powder to set areas that need more coverage / where I’ve covered blemishes with concealer. If I feel the need to set my whole face, I find that on top of foundation, Studio Fix powder can appear slightly cakey, but it can be disguised with setting spray, and settles into the skin throughout the day.

NARS Velvet Loose Powder in ‘Snow’

I originally picked up this powder because of Nikkie (@nikkietutorials) as she used to bake the under eyes. Now I’ve found that I can’t put my makeup on without doing this step – with this powder. A lot of under eye powders tend to get cakey on me and my concealer tends to crease no matter what I do. However, this powder sets my concealer in place perfectly, and doesn’t look thick, dry or cakey (it also has minimal flash back with flash photography). I experience minimal creasing that is barely noticeable, and the shade is perfect for pale princesses! (also works well to ‘bake’ the cheek bones for contouring).

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Pomede ‘Medium Brown’

2015-16 has been the year of the brow- thick and shaped brows have been embraced, Hallelujah my time has come. I have tested a lot of brow products (mostly drugstore brands), but I found that nothing could replace my dipbrow – it is creamy and easy to apply, stays all day, and the product doesn’t dry out.

Essence ‘Make Me Brow’

Similar to Benefit’s ‘Give Me Brow’, this brow thickening mascara adds texture and definition to my eyebrow hairs and makes sure that my brows stay in place all day. I have tried benefit’s ‘Give Me Brow’ and I like it just as much, but I can’t justify spending $40 on an eyebrow gel. ‘Make Me Brow’ is almost exactly the same and costs $5.10. I use this on a daily basis, whether I am going full glam with fleeky brows (which is what I do on most days tbh), or the ‘no makeup’ look – just a bit of concealer, eyebrows and mascara.

M.A.C ‘Painterly’ Paint Pot

This product was all the rage on YouTube a few years ago - I got it when I first started getting into makeup, and I’ve re-purchased it about 3 times so far. It covers up my veiny eyelids well, allows shadows to apply more vibrantly, and helps with the longevity of eye shadow. I’ve tried a few other cheaper alternatives, but I find myself going back to ‘painterly’ in the end.

L’Oreal Volume Million Lashes

Over the years I have tried (probably) hundreds of mascaras, usually changing them out and buying a new one when they run out. This mascara is the only one that I have repurchased countless times – it separates my eyelashes beautifully, provides volume, and lengthens them without getting clumpy. One aspect of this mascara that is often neglected is how comfortable it is – the formula is not too wet, and doesn’t dry on your lashes leaving them crunchy or dry. It doesn’t transfer to the top of my eyelids (which is rare as I have hooded eyes), and lasts all day without being difficult to remove

Maybelline Master Contour Palette

After a few years of searching I have found the contour shade that works beautifully for fair skin, with sheer/buildable application and a natural finish. I bought into the hype regarding the Anastasia Beverly Hills contour kits (cream and powder), the Kat Von D Shade and Light palette, and the Australis contouring kits – but I always find myself going back to my Maybelline contour kit on a daily basis. I find it more wearable than most contouring kits, and doesn’t leave the skin looking muddy. The highlight in this palette is standard, the blush is nice, but the contouring shade is perfect. Can Maybelline please bring this out in an individual pan? Thanks.

Hourglass Luminous Bronze Light

I only purchased this a few months ago, but damn, I’ve found the one. Trying to get the right tone in bronzers is difficult for pale princesses like myself – I find ‘Milk Chocolate Soleil’ by Too Faced is too orange, NARS ‘Laguna’ is too muddy, and nothing in the drugstore seems to work. Luminous Bronze Light ambient bronzer is extremely pigmented and a little bit goes a very long way, and with the very sheer shimmer that it has, it makes your skin look naturally sun kissed and radiant. It lasts on my face all day without fading, and gives my face natural shape and dimension. Love!

MAC Blush in ‘Spellbinder’ (matte)

‘Spellbinder’ is like ‘Rosy Outlook’s (also a mac blush) lighter and brighter twin. I find that it lasts a very long time, and has the perfect rosy tone that I like – not too pink and not too orange. Even though ‘Rosy Outlook’ is a pro-longwear blush, I find that ‘Spellbinder’ lasts longer. Unfortunately, it was a part of a limited edition collection (Faerie Whispers collection) but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was re-promoted in the future. ‘Spellbinder’ has become my go-to blush when I don’t feel like having too much shimmer on my cheeks, it blends beautifully and doesn’t look too crazy.

Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder in ‘Incandescent Strobe Light’

2016 has definitely been the year of the highlighter so far, and I have purchased a fair few. Extremely intense highlighters from brands such as Becca and Anastasia Beverly Hills have dominated the market, but I found that the hourglass ‘Incandescent Strobe Light’ powder is the most natural and flattering on the skin. Compared to a lot of other highlighters, the Hourglass powder doesn’t have chunks of glitter in it, and doesn’t emphasize pores or texture on the skin. I use this on a daily basis when I’m not doing intense makeup, but sometimes I can even build it up to make it more intense – it’s stunning either way!

Urban Decay ‘De-Slick’ Makeup Setting Spray

This setting spray makes my makeup last all day and into the night (more so than the ‘All Nighter’ setting spray I’ve found . . . ). I’m not an oily gal, but ‘De-Slick’ helps prevent my skin from getting shiny throughout the day, and keeps my makeup looking fresh. Love!

MAC ‘s Viva Glam II Lipstick (Satin)

This was my first MAC lipstick ever and it still remains my favourite. On me it gives a ‘my lips but better’ vibe and is extremely comfortable to wear. Paired with different lip liners I can make it more matte, darker or lighter, and for a satin lipstick it does last quite long. It’s a nude lipstick (a muted beige) with a slightly pink undertone.

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in ‘Caramello’

For me this year so far has been all about liquid lipsticks. I currently own around 50 (I know I have a problem, not sorry!) and this is one that I always reach for on a day-to-day basis. Stila ‘Stay All Day’ liquid lipstick formula is my favourite formula – is completely matte but also smooth / doesn’t emphasize cracked lips, literally lasts all day, and is extremely comfortable. The shade ‘Caramello’ is a true nude, and pulls slightly cooler on my skin tone. It is similar to Jeffree Star’s ‘Mannequin’, but I always chose Stila over Jeffree simply because I like the formula a lot better.

Urban Decay ‘Ex-Girlfriend’ 24/7 Glide On Lip Pencil

This liner was originally released as a part of Urban Decay’s collaboration with Gwen Stefani (hence the cool packaging), but is now a permanent shade of lip liner in their vice collection. It is a light beige nude (matte), that lasts all day – some days I wear it by itself. I’ve found that it is most flattering on those with light to medium skin tones, and looks like a ‘Kylie Jenner’ inspired nude on those with pale skin. When wearing a nude lipstick I always reach for this lip liner; it increases the longevity of the lipstick and really does stay on for 24 hours (… probably).