When it comes to makeup and wardrobe, I am a creature of habit to an unforgiveable degree. Many of the products that I use and items that I wear daily have been in my roster since my twenties — and any decent beauty or fashion blogger has certainly told you fifty or a thousand times that you need to switch up your choices as you age, lest you appear, say, stuck in the 90s.
The 90s were fantastic. Color me stuck.
You know what I have done, though? In recent years, I’ve discovered that I care very, very little about brand names and perceptions of fanciness. Like, I used to enjoy whipping some Cle de Peau concealer ($77) or Guerlain lipstick ($87) out of my purse, because it made me feel like a with-it, adult-ish version of myself. Now, though? Do not care (and also do not go in public unless pressed, making this mostly a non-issue).
So while the basics of my beauty routine have stayed steady, I’ve grown pickier about what is worth the money (foundation), and what is really, really not (mascara).
Let’s take a look!
Top Row:
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation: This is the best foundation. I have confirmed this with multiple makeup artists and Sephora employees: Whenever I say “Is there a cheaper version that’s just as good?” the answer is “No.” It’s absolutely weightless and disappears into your skin while making it look flawless, and even as a very-dry person I don’t find it drying in the least.
Essence Lash Princess Mascara: When I abandoned eyelash extensions a few years ago, I went through a few different brands in search of the most dramatic (but non-clumpy) formula I could find. I may not want to lay on my back for two hours once a month while a questionably accredited woman pokes sharp objects around my eyeballs, but I do want big lashes. This costs, like, four bucks, and it gives volume and length. It also doesn’t smudge in the heat.
Oh, my Lipstick Queen. This is Saint in Pinky Nude, and it is the absolute perfect creamy neutral. I discovered it when I was a baby blogger and have hoarded my tubes ever since…but now I am down to my last one, and I am sad. I don’t know what else to tell you about this.
Ace Beaute Liquid Eyeshadow. I spotted this eyeshadow on the woman who managed my boyfriend’s shared workspace, and I almost tackled her trying to find out what it was. It’s a sheer, gorgeous, slightly pink shadow that’s more “sparkle” than “shimmer,” so while I happily wear it during the day I do understand that for some people it’d be more of a nighttime vibe.
Glitterpuck. I bought this because it’s called a Glitterpuck, obviously. It’s technically an eyeshadow, but I use it during the summer months to add shimmer to my cheekbones and shoulders; it’s such a gorgeous, beachy color.
Gisou Lip Oil in Peach Bee-lini. I have been on a 40-year quest for the perfect lip gloss — one that’s shiny without being sticky, and only the tiniest bit pigmented — and it was my 11-year-old who turned me on to Gisou. All the shades are lovely, but this one is my favorite. One quibble is the packaging: This will leak in your purse, so do with that information as you wish.
Bottom Row:
MAC Eyeshadow Palette in Embedded in Burgundy. I’ve stuck to MAC and NARS eyeshadows since I was a teen, and for the past couple of years have been wedded to this particular palette. For everyday and lining my eyes, I use the lighter brown shades, but the deep purples and mahoganies look fantastic for evening, especially on blue eyes.
e.l.f. Liquid Eyeliner: For years and years, I exclusively used Sephora’s store-brand liquid eyeliner, because I’m very picky about the flexibility and weight of the brush. e.l.f.’s is, to my mind, exactly the same, and costs three dollars (!).
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Liner in Pillow Talk. If you don’t already own this, do yourself a favor and try one out. Along with the Giorgio Armani foundation, this is my desert-island must-have; if you do a little over-lining and add the Gisou lip oil, the effect is very Kylie-coded (in a good way).
Also pictured: Mary’s Medicinals Energy THC Tincture, which is off-topic for this post but which I also recommend enthusiastically.
Note: While looking for a dupe for my beloved and no-longer-available (except for on eBay for $129, which, no) Lipstick Queen lipstick, I came across this.
I changed my mind. I would very much enjoy owning this for the sole purpose of pulling it out of my purse. Evolution!
x
J
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