My Makeup Must-haves (Fall 2020)

I’ve been wearing makeup consistently for about 5 years. Through out that time I have slowly stumbled products that are staples in my makeup bag. This is no way an extensive list of all the products in my collection, or every product I have ever tried and or liked. It is more what I would I bring if I was only allowed to bring one bag with makeup somewhere. Please be aware, all of these pictures are my own and of my own products. They are not stock images, meaning you can see how much I truly love these products.

Face

Foundation- I don’t think I am overly picky when it comes to foundation. I just want it be as pale as I am, be budget friendly and have sunscreen in it. Which can be surprisingly difficult to find. In some brands, the lightest shade is even too dark for me. Sometimes my other two requirements cancel each other out. The Milani Screen Queen meets all of those requirements. Not only does it have sunscreen in it but it also helps to protect your skin from blue light damage from screens. My only real complaint about this foundation is either I am applying to much or it is heavy and transfers easily.

Concealer- My current favorite concealer is the Milani Conceal+Perfect Long wear concealer. I believe it too has sunscreen in it too. This exact shade is a smudge darker than I would like but, it works. I may also be a little heavy hand with this one too because it feels a little heavy some days.

Powder- This powder is practically a family tradition. My used to use it and now it’s my go to. This is the Maybelline Shine free loose powder. I use it as a sort of setting powder. It has a little bit of color to it but not a ton, and its fairly light weight and doesn’t transfer too much. I have tried a couple different powders, and I prefer loose powders that are more on the translucent side. This particular powder is meant to control shine, so it’s a little bit drying. Which is fine with me, but depending on your skin type it may or may not work and it’s probably best to avoid excessive use on the under eyes.

Bronzer/Contour- This is probably the best bronzer that I have ever tried. I bought a Benefit sampler pack a while back and seriously, it was a great decision. This is the Benefit Hoola Bronzer in the original matte shade. They have a couple different shades too. I have also tried the lighter shade, probably wouldn’t try any of the darker shades just because of my skin tone. The light is good if your are as pale as me and want to use bronzer. Since I mainly use bronzer for contouring purposes this one works the best for me.

Blush- I never really used blush until like a year ago. I guess I was really going for the emo/goth vampire kid look. LOL. But like I said before I bought that Benefit sampler and it was kinda life changing. It came with one of a sample of Rockatuer blush in it and I love it. It’s the perfect little wash of rose-goldy pink. Not too bold, but there’s definitely something there. I haven’t really tried any of the other blushes from the sampler pack but I think this one might have sparked a journey.

Highlighter- I love highlighter and I love this palette. This is the Beauty Bakerie Milk & Honey Palette. First off, I love the theming of honey, bees, and honey comb. I love the shade Spoiler Alert, in fact I have hit pan on it. Which, just about never happens. I also really like the shades Oh Honey, and Queen Beeing. They’re all really great I just have a hard time styling Bee Sweet, and I like the formula. You definitely want to use setting spray to minimize the transfer.

Eyes

Eye Shadow- This is my Ulta Beauty Build Your Own Eye shadow Palette. Basically the palette comes empty and then you buy the single shadows, pop them out of their outer most packaging and into this holder palette. It’s pretty easy since there’s magnets in the original packaging of single shadows and in the palette. I will comment on one thing though, the holder palette has packaging, the single shadows have packaging, overall there’s just a lot of packaging and that kind of makes me feel icky. The shadows in my palette from left to right, from top to bottom are as follows; Say What, Buzzword, Suede, Coffee Bean, Pure as Snow, Modern Times, Plum Pop, and Late Night. These are definitely in my go to must have eye shadow shades, and I am pretty happy to have all my favorites in one palette.

Brows– This is my current go to. It is the Avon True Color Glimmerstick Brow Definer, in the shade Dark Brown. I like it, it does what I need it to. As you will begin to see have a few Avon products hanging around from when my mom was representative. When this runs out, I am going to either finish up my brow pomade duo, and or try out a Benefit brow product. I also kinda want to try out a darker color all together.

Eyeliner Pencil- This is the Avon True Color Glimmerstick Eyeliner Pencil, in the shade Blackest Black. I think, all of the writing has rubbed off. I like this because you don’t need a sharpener and you don’t have to worry about the risks that come with that. I believe I already have a back up Maybeline eyeliner in my back up stash that is a twist up for when this one runs out.

Liquid Eyeliner- This is a really good liquid eyeliner pen. This is the Maybelline Eyestudio Master Precise All Day Liquid Eyeliner. I really like using pens for liquid eyeliner, although I am intrigued by gel liner. I like this one because it kind of has grip to your fingers. This one is also very thin so you really get to control how thick your wing is.

Mascara- This is like my holy grail mascara. This is Maybelline The Rocket Volum’. It’s great, I like that I get to the brush in myself and that it’s not in the tube in the packaging. (Although, I do realize that there is slightly more packaging involved in this situation) This mascara does it what it claims to do, it makes my lashes black, gives them volume and I would say even a decent amount of length.

Lips

So I am a lipstick hoarder, I know that. I have a lot of lipstick and lip products in general. In no way do you need to have even this amount of lipstick. But these are my favorites, and I want to recommend all of them to you.

Burt’s Bees (Chai Tea)- I love this lip balm. I put it on every time I do my makeup. I try to put it on before my foundation, so I don’t forget and so my lips don’t get too dry from the foundation that winds up on my lips. It’s smells great and it’s really moisturizing. Not gonna lie, I am put this one on my Christmas list this year.

Avon True Color– These are some Avon lipsticks that are a little older but I still really like them.

The two in the black tubes are Marvelous Mocha and Wine with Everything. They are both matte and definitely help to spawn my love of matte lips. Marvelous Mocha, is a very nice nudey-brown color. It’s kind of in the taupe, suede family, I would describe it more like the color of a latte than mocha. Wine with Everything, surprise, a wine color. It could as be described as purple-toned berry.

The one in the silver packaging is in the shade Truffle. It has also has sunscreen in it. It’s a very nice red toned brown color. I would almost call it a true brick red. This lipstick in particular transfers pretty easily, which can get annoying.

NYX Liquid Lingerie- This feels like the original liquid lipstick. I think the original shade I bought was French Maid. The red shade is called Exotic, I would say it is a cool toned red. It’s not dark by any means. The brown shade is called Confidant. It is a nice brown that is not nude, and its not super dark but is still brown. Overall I like these liquid lipsticks but they definitely not food proof.

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Hot Lacquer Lip Gloss- I this a pretty opaque lip gloss, to the point I didn’t fully realize it was lip gloss until I went looking for the name. It’s also fair to mention that I am not sure that 100% that they still make this product. I tend to not like lip gloss because it is sticky but this one only really has that problem if you put too much on. This one is in the shade Slay It. Which is a pretty opaque vampy purple. Obviously since this is gloss, it isn’t a matte but in this particular is not overly glossy. This one also does not pass food test, but does leave the lips stained with a hot pink color. Not really what I want with a look based around vampy purple looks, but to you it might be a plus. Also this lip gloss smells like Chap-Ice lip balm.

Hot Topic Randomness- These are random lip products from Hot Topic that I have collected over the years.

The brown one came in a make up theme grab bag. It came in a set with the lip pencil, and also a matching lip gloss. It’s fairly good matte liquid lipstick, that oddly smells like bananas. The whole set is by the brand Blackheart beauty. Don’t know if the still make it.

The black one is came in a set with few other lip colors. I by far have used this black one most because the label has rubbed off. It’s a little bit drying. The set is by the brand Black Craft, there’s four in the set and they come in coffin shaped box. Don’t know if they still make it.

Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink– These by far are my favorite lipsticks ever. They are matte. They hold up to the food test remarkably well. They smell a little like vanilla. They have awesome names. All and all they are just the best.

The pink one is called Dreamer. I am not a very pink person. But this one is cool toned enough that it works on my skin tone. Bright, but not too bright. Nudey but not too nudey. Just all in all my favorite pink lip color.

The grey one is call Huntress. It makes a statement. It’s this lovely cool toned purpley grey. But at the same time you don’t automatically look dead when you’re wearing. It’s a little more of a wearable, everyday gothic color, in my opinion, than say a black.

The purpley- wine on is called Composer and its my holy grail lip color. It’s probably best described as a wine or a burgundy color. It’s cool toned. It can read more red, or more purple depending on what you put it with. It also can read as edgy or classic, or professional, or just as good everyday color. It’s pretty much my go to for everything.

Tools

Coastal Scents Brush set– This was a Christmas gift a couple of years ago and I literally use it multiple times a week. It has a total of 24 brushes, and the case. I haven’t even used all of the brushes despite having it for years. These are great brushes that have held up to my usage and washing. I appreciate that they are white so I can tell how well I cleaned them.

Makeup Sponge- Does anyone still actually use official Beauty Blender? This seriously came in a pack of like 20 off Amazon. It does basically the same thing.

Maybelline Lasting Fix Setting Spray- It’s setting spray, it keeps your makeup in place. This one doesn’t smell like rubbing alcohol. I am not really the person to try and sell you on a setting spray because all of the ones I have tried have made me break out.

So these are my current makeup must haves! If you have questions about anything feel free to ask them down below! What is a must in your makeup bag?