Since makeup is a passion of mine as I blog and post about it a lot online, I obviously have a collection of products. Though admittedly, despite having a lot of a few things there are some products I don't have multiples of and other products that I keep going back to because I know how they work and look on me.
So not too long ago, Jaclyn Hill created the The Ride of Die Makeup Tag to allow beauty lovers and content creators to highlight and talk about the products that they genuinely love, constantly use or repurchase, and are loyal to. If you've been reading my posts for a while, some of these won't come as a surprise to you. I mean, if you love a product enough, of course it deserves multiple mentions. But enough blather, let's get to it!
Foundation - Too Faced Peach Perfect Comfort Matte Foundation
I adore this foundation. It has a matte finish without making you look old and has a decent amount of coverage, making it great for my combination to oily skin. It does sort of smell like peaches, but it's nothing strong and disappears once you put it on your face.
This foundation also looks great for everyday wear and events because it just makes you look flawless and polished without that overly done look. You don't need to set it with powder because dries down to a soft matte finish, though setting it does help with its longevity for sure.
It stays on my face throughout the day, no matter what the climate is and is pretty transfer-proof too so you can hug taller people. It is also by far the only foundation I've found that doesn't sink into my smile lines at the end of the day.
Concealer - Revolution Beauty Conceal & Define Concealer
I believe the hype around this concealer is well-deserved. While I don't consider it a Tarte Shape Tape dupe, it's a really good concealer by itself. It's thick without being hard to blend and really opaque.
It works really well with my foundation without making it oxidize and works really well when worn alone too. Also, if you're more into baking or just setting your under eye concealer with powder, it works well either way. I've tried a lot of concealers and I do think that there are a lot of great concealers out there. Despite that, I still keep going back to this one.
Primers
E.L.F. Oil Control Lotion
While this is the newest product in this lineup, this product has quickly become my most favorite primer from the ones I've used thus far. It's lightweight, really extends the wear of my base makeup, and doesn't burn or irritate my skin.
Not to mention, it's super affordable for the amount that you get for it. It's gonna be hard to find a backup for this though.
Milani Eyeshadow Primer
If you think I've run out of good things to stay about this primer, you are quite mistaken.
For the longest time, I had been using this eye primer as a base and setting it because it makes blending shadows more seamless and quicker. However, since I've started using colorful palettes with pressed pigments more, I find that setting the primer is optional for maximum color payoff. And my, does this primer deliver on those results.
I don't use concealer as a base and rarely do just because my oily lids will break down any type of concealer. But I don't need to use it because this eye primer does the exact same thing with the lasting power. For that additional reason, I will keep using this eyeshadow primer.
Setting Powder -Essence All About Matt! Fixing Powder (Regular and Waterproof)
Don't let the white base discourage you too much. This doesn't really change the color of my foundation (like making me paler than I already am) and does a really good job of keeping my foundation in place and my oiliness at bay. I find that I only get oily after the end of the day whenever I use this powder.
It's also one of the only powders I've found that doesn't make my foundation oxidize either. The best part really, is that this powder is really affordable so I never worry about saving up for it when I run out because I go through these quite fast as I use them every day.
I use both the regular one and the waterproof one depending on the weather because I find that the waterproof one definitely works better during the hotter months in the Philippines. It keeps my foundation on even if I sweat a lot.
Highlighter
I will be splitting this category and a number of other ones into two products because I have a ride-or-die product for different needs, and I don't necessarily just go for one or the other. Besides, I feel like this way, I can give more versatile and diverse recommendations based on this. So here goes:
Fun - BH Cosmetics Blacklight Highlighting Palette
If I have to wear highlighter, I would rather wear something colorful instead of something a bit more natural-looking because I don't want to look greasy. This is especially because I have oily skin and do generally look like I'm wearing a lot of highlighter already when my face starts to get oily. I like my mermaid and unicorn glows.
But out of all the colorful highlighters in the market, why this palette? It's simple really. This palette never fails to give me a blinding highlighter in a fun color for whatever makeup look I have. I love the quality of the highlighters and love how reflective they look on my skin. It's just awesome.
Given the richness of some of these powders, you don't need to be super pale to rock them either. I also find that these highlighters don't emphasize the texture on my skin and just look like an otherworldly glow after you mist them with setting spray. While it's not a limited edition product, I fear using up these colors.
Natural - Revolution Makeup Skin Kiss Highlighter in Peach Kiss
I honestly don't own a lot of individual highlighters because I think palettes are a better deal. If I must own a highlighter by itself, it has to be really special. I know Revolution Makeup makes great highlighters, and I wanted to see what all the hype was about when I bought this particular one.
I believe this was originally meant to be a dupe of the popular JS highlighters that also come in large round compacts. However, the price point is steep for one highlighter, and this is definitely a more appealing alternative for a plethora of reasons. Here is a swatch of it:
I love how this highlighter just gives me a really nice glow - definitely not subtle but not so prominent that it shows texture on my skin. I also really like the tone because it compliments pale and tan skin tones so I can recommend it to a multitude of people. While colorful highlighters continue to become part of my collection, this is the only single natural-looking highlighter that I own and love.
Blush - Jouer Blush Duo in Coquette
Since I'm so pale, I find that a cool berry-toned blush just looks better on my complexion and makes my face look brighter.
So when Jouer released this blush duo and I heard about the good reviews it was getting, I went ahead and bought Coquette.
These two pink blushes are just perfect for my skin tone and are really easy to build up to the tone you prefer. They give me a flushed and alive sort of look without making my skin tone look dull or sickly, and I like the satin finish of the blushes too.
Tease Me is the perfect subtle pink blush that I can just dig my brush into and sweep across my cheeks without thinking about putting on too much. On the other hand, Seduce Me is a beautiful color that I like wearing when I want a more pronounced blush.
Eyeshadow
I need two palettes for this because I like color and variety. I chose these palettes because I haven't really found any other palettes that have color stories that that are as well thought out and as versatile as these two palettes are. If I use either one, I will not use my other palettes for a while, and I think that's a big deal.
Colorful - Bperfect Cosmetics x Stacey Maria MUA Carnival Palette
If you just love color and want a palette that will just let you play with it without having too many browns or neutrals, this is the colorful palette I'd recommend. It's full of bright and neon colors and has two neutral highlighters.
It is expensive because it's an indie brand that's not too popular but I really like the quality of the shadows in this palette.
The mattes are easy to work with and pack a punch when it comes to pigment. I like the approach toward the few metallic colors because they compliment the mattes so well. I think the highlighters are pretty nice too, especially Saint because it looks similar to Peach Kiss.
Fun and Versatile - Revolution Makeup x EmilyNoel83 The Wants Palette
I wouldn't call this a neutral palette because it's too colorful really be called that. But I suppose it's a versatile and colorful palette that isn't too intimidating, so beginners and creative beauty lovers alike can get use out of this palette.
While I do have issues with some of the metallic shades in this palette, there are more matte colors and I love the matte shades in this palette. For a more detailed review of this palette, check out this post.
Mascara - Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara
Until another brand releases a mascara that's as lengthening, volumizing, and as cry-proof as this mascara, I will continue to purchase it every 3 months. It delivers on everything that people love the original BTS mascara without flaking off throughout the day or running when the waterworks come on - and trust me, I cry enough times to know that.
I have been using this mascara for around 3 years now, and even if it's pretty expensive for something I have to replace quite often, I just love what this mascara does for my lashes. It adds volume, can hold a curl, and it stays on through the most intense sob sessions. I know a lot of people don't like this product, but this is my ride or die mascara.
Liquid Lipsticks
I wear nude- and bold-colored liquid lipsticks so I have two products for this category as well. Plus, they're both from brands that are Filipino-owned. But if we're talking about lipstick type, I always love liquid lipsticks over traditional bullet lipsticks because they're more hygienic and the formula lasts longer.
Nude: Vice Cosmetics Matte Liquid Lipstick in Cheverlooo
If there's a versatile nude lipstick out there for me, this is it. Btw, Cheverlooo is local gay slang for basically anything extra that's girly and fun. Anyway, it's described as a "rosy my lips but better" shade that's perfect for any look and I definitely agree with that.
When I wear a bold and colorful look and prefer a lighter lipstick to tone it down, this is definitely one of the lip colors I immediately reach for. It's a no-fail color with a lightweight formula that lasts all day too. And it's really affordable too.
Bold: Detail Makeover Matte Detail Liquid Lipstick in Shadow
While I have a number of black lipsticks, I always reach for this one because it has a nice wand. Minus the stickyness, I do still think the formula is really long-lasting, opaque, and comfortable.
It's also transfer-proof, which I think is very important for a black lipstick because it would just be a disaster if it did get everywhere. I just wish it wasn't so small because I tend to drop or lose it quite easily.
Setting Spray - Skindinavia Finishing Spray in Oil Control
In terms of effectiveness and bang for your buck, nothing beats out this setting spray for me. One bottle can last up to a year for me.
I douse my face in this stuff by the way, and sometimes I use it every day of the week. It helps lock my makeup in, get rid of the flat powdery look, intensify my shimmery makeup, and keep it looking nice throughout the day. While I have tried and loved many different setting sprays in the past, nothing compares in size and value for your money to this one.
My Final Thoughts
So that's it for the round up of products that I regularly come back to and enjoy using. I don't necessarily think your ride-or-die products need to cost a lot, if it works. Moreover, you don't need to feel bad even if you haven't found your holy grail product yet. There are categories here that I didn't include for that reason (eyeliner, bronzer, etc.). The goal is to find what works for you, and to do that, you will need to invest and keep testing put products until you find it. Eventually, you'll find your old reliable products too.
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