Back-to-School Beauty Faves | Makeup

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In my 10 years of blogging I can’t remember if I’ve ever posted Back-to-School Beauty Faves! Just quickly searching my blog I’ve only found posts from 2012 & 2014 that really center around that topic. So, for today, I want to focus on an updated beauty list that will make all of your mornings quick, easy and beautiful!

Also this is probably much like a list of what I’d buy immediately if I lost my entire makeup collection tomorrow. We love a faves list!

Primer

You know that in the past I couldn’t stop singing the praises of Too Faced Primed & Peachy Cooling Matte Perfecting Primer. In the last few months my skin has changed. I can only guess it’s because of age (I’m 38) but now I need something that keeps me a little dewy vs. mattify me completely. 

Because of this I’ve fallen in love with Tatcha Silk Canvas and IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Oil-Free Makeup Primer*. For both a little goes a long way and I’ve been pleased with how well they work with multiple foundations.

Foundation

Right away two come to mind and they are Physician’s Formula The Healthy Foundation in LN4 (which is admittedly too light for me in the Summer but I make it work with bronzer) and NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation* in Santa Fe. Of the two I tend to reach for the Physician’s Formula one more because it’s light and perfect for Summer. During these colder months I’ll reach for the NARS more since the coverage is more on-point and it seems to wear better for me on a cooler day, regardless of primer.

Setting Spray

For me, there is only one and that one is Urban Decay De-Slick*. It’s the only one I’ve consistently loved and reached for over the last few years. I’ve found that recently I’ve really needed to use it every time I wear makeup that needs to last more than a couple hours.

Concealer

So many concealers, so little time. For my light days and also for some color correcting I like to use Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealers* in Brightener, Neutralizer and Light. For a more medium day I always use NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer* in Custard (mini sizes are available now!) and for a full glam day I can’t stop won’t stop using the Tarte Shape Tape in Light.

Powder

Only two powders really stand out to me and they are the IT Cosmetics Celebration Foundation* in Light and the Too Faced Peach Perfect Mattifying Setting Powder in Translucent Peach. The IT Cosmetics has been my favorite since it launched YEARS ago and nothing has replaced it. It’s got decent coverage even on it’s own so if I’m just running out I can throw it on and feel secure that my problem areas are covered.

The Too Faced powder has the perfect tint to it for helping to conceal dark circles & it keeps my makeup on all day long when I press it on over foundation. I tend to lightly bake with the Too Faced then brush it away when I apply the IT Cosmetics. (TF powder not pictured because I forgot to grab it off of my vanity).

Blush/Bronzer/Highlight

For blush these past few months I’ve been relying, surprisingly, on MILK MAKEUP Lip + Cheek* in Perk. I say surprisingly because it’s a cream blush and I use to hate cream blush… until I tried this one. So much so that I forgot to even grab a stand-alone powder blush to photograph, but I do love Physician’s Formula Murumuru Butter Blush in Rosy Pink & Benefit Blushes in Dandelion and GALifornia.

For bronzers my go-to grab is Physician’s Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer in Bronzer because it’s quick and easy. I’m also loving (for years and years) the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow in Fair-Medium as well as Wander Beauty Trip for Two Blush & Bronzer Duo* in Bellini/Costa Rei, which is a new favorite. Upon swatching the Wander Beauty I didn’t think it would do much for me but WOW do the shades pack a punch + they wear all day!

Highlight…. I could live without it. I think it’s beautiful but because my skin does get oily I really don’t need it. If I want to dust some on for a day-to-day look I use the one that is included with the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow I talked about above. Again, I do have some I love, just not any that are very necessary (don’t hate me lmao).

Brows

If you check out what I have listed in any EOTD or FOTD you’ll have seen at least one Benefit Brow product. I got PR once or twice last year but other than that I buy them every time. My faves are High Brow in Universal, Gimme Brow+ in 03 and Precisely, My Brow in 03 (which for some reason I left in the Boss Brows pouch while I was photographing).

Other faves include Urban Decay Brow Blade* in Taupe Trap, MILK Makeup Kush Clear Brow Gel* and IT Cosmetics Brow Power Micro* in Universal Taupe (which is finally the closest they’ve come to an old fave of mine the YBBB pencil!).

Eyeshadow

Let’s first talk about eyeshadow primer. I’m a fan of a good many of them but one that I’ve been loving that not only keeps my shadows looking fabulous all day but also gives a nice base color is the new Anastasia Beverly Hills Eye Primer. The only thing I hate about it is the tube. You need VERY little product for each use but the formula is on the runny side so it can come out quickly and also when you don’t want it to.

Another fave which can be used as a primer or even just the all over lid color is the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Sand Dune. Every time I wear this with an eye look I always seem to love the look more. The product doesn’t budge either!

Eyeshadow palettes and I have a great love affair… especially those that center around creating a neutral-but-smoky eye look. The first two I thought of for this are the Colourpop Double Entendre Eyeshadow Palette and the Urban Decay Naked Reloaded Eyeshadow Palette*.

I’m also REALLY obsessed with Makeup Geek In the Nude. Ugh… I forgot to photograph so much! Do you see this problem I have?! lmao

Eyeliner

Ready to be shocked? I’m only calling out ONE BRAND. The Maybelline Tattoo Studio Gel Pencil Liners* stay on ALL.FREAKING.DAY…. even on the waterline. Read my review here…. I love them ALL. I’m also a fan of the Chanel Stylo Yeux as well as the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils* (though the UD don’t last in my waterline as long as the others).

Mascara

No surprise here…. IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara*. My review shows a before/after that is really all you need to know. I also enjoy Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Lashes Volume 2.

Drugstore faves are L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise* and Colourpop BFF Voluminizing Mascara* in Brownie Points (for bottom lashes).

Lips

Ahhhhhh…. this is a tangled web of please gimme allllll the nudes. Nude tones are perfect for everyday wear as well as evening. Awhile ago I posted some fave nude lip combos so in this section I’ll just be adding in a few more. 😉

Lip liners usually stay the same. Nothing beats the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheats in Iconic Nude and Pillow Talk. If for some reason those ever got discontinued (or you need a drugstore recommendation) I also love Colourpop Lippie Pencils, especially in the shade BFF.

For lipsticks I love the formula of NARS Audacious* but one that I’ve recently not been able to get enough of is Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips 2 Lipstick in Dancefloor Princess. Paired with Iconic Nude Lip Cheat it can’t be topped.

Day-to-day what I reach for the most are a lip balm/tint. NARS Lip Pencils* are generally a ride-or-die but recently Colourpop released their Just a Tint Lippie Tints* and I fell into a major love… they carry less pigment than most of the NARS but they still are more pigmented than you’d think, they apply evenly, smell great, feel great… I love them all. PLUS they’re so affordable! If you’re more into an oil-infused lip tint you definitely need to check out the new one from NARS called Primal Instinct (limited edition but currently available as of the blog post live date).

Speaking of Colourpop I recently got the chance to try out the Ultra Blotted Lip Formula*. While dry they truly DO NOT BUDGE. If you need an affordable lip color that is transfer-proof and lasts all day, this is what you buy. My fave shade is Scenic Route. 😉

As for lip gloss I could sit here all flipping day and name 300 of them. I LOVE GLOSS. My all time favorite right now as of this moment today is Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Pillow Plump in Nude in Town. Beautiful alone or with a liner & gives the appearance of a fuller, plumper lip.  

Yes, I realize I completely skipped liquid lips but I really haven’t been wearing them lately. When I do it’s usually these ones from PIXI Beauty*.

Do I have more makeup products I love than this? Absolutely! It’d be impossible for me to mention them all. To craft this post I picked products that were directly part of my current vanity assortment or that I’d packed for my recent weekend away.

I’d love to know what some of your favorite products are for an everyday, back-to-school or work type of look. Let me know in the comments below!

*Items marked with this (*) are press samples. All other products were purchased by me. Some links are affiliate links. For more info please see my disclosure policy.

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