I did a bit of a 'holy grail' makeup product post a good year or so back but so many of my absolute favourites have changed that I thought I'd do an updated post. I made a conscious decision not to think too deeply about which products to pick and just go with the ones that I use and love the most as opposed to trying to force myself to pick something in every single category. This week is high-end products, however you can come back in 7 days for my drugstore/affordable edition! Obviously I've had to draw the line somewhere so for this series I'll be considering brands like MAC, Clinique and Stila to be high-end and your KIKOs and Zoevas as affordable.
Too Faced Hangover Primer | £27 | This is my favourite primer for when my skin is dry and dehydrated and the one I alway reach for during the winter months. It has a lovely, light cream texture and comes in a really handy pump packaging. It hydrates my skin and provides a smooth base for my foundation, making sure it doesn't cling to any dry patches or apply unevenly.
Nars Sheer Glow Foundation | £31 | It was an easy choice because this is the foundation I always go back to and wonder why I ever left it! It's the perfect medium coverage with a satin finish. It gives me the 'matte glow' I'm always after, where my skin looks radiant without any shine. It's natural enough for every day and can be built up for an evening look. It just never seems to look caky or too much on my skin either. It has good wear time and generally lasts me the day without a powder touch-up. The shade Stromboli is spot on for me for most of the year too!
Bobbi Brown Corrector | £19 | A corrector is an essential step in my routine and this is one I really love. At the moment I'm using Dark Peach, however I think I'll switch to Peach next time because I think I'll have used this up by the end of summer. It isn't too greasy and sits really nicely under my concealer, masking the blueish tone of my dark circles without having to keep layering up the product.
Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer | £17.50 | I tend to flit between this and the Nars concealer, however I've been choosing this one over the Nars every day for like the past 4 months so I think it's my favourite! I actually have this in Medium Neutral and Medium Dark because it's amazing both on blemishes and underneath the eyes. It just has the most lovely, light, fluffy texture that blends like a dream yet gives incredible coverage. It's not at all caky and hydrating enough however doesn't go greasy or wear off blemishes.
YSL Touche Éclat | £25 | This is such an everyday staple for me that I almost forgot to mention it! I always finish off the concealer under my eyes with this, because it really brightens up my dark under-eye area in the way a completely matte formula doesn't. It doesn't have much coverage so I wouldn't use it on its own however it's perfect as that finishing touch and you can even use it to highlight the face. The shade 4.5 Luminous Sand is perfect for me.
Cheeks
Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop | £32
This highlighter needs no introduction, really! However I have to say that for me, this is so worth all the positive things people say about it. The Becca powder highlighter formula really is in a league of its own; it has the creamiest, softest texture that blends out so smoothly on the skin. There's no chunks of glitter or flakiness, just this incredibly pigmented, dewy glow. The shade itself is a golden-champagne colour with peachy undertones. It isn't for the faint-hearted but I often apply it with a fan brush for the daytime when I don't quite want to wear it at its full intensity. The packaging is beautiful but for me then main negative is that it doesn't seem to fully protect the product. I've been lucky so far but so many people's seem to have smashed that I don't travel with this at all.
Too Faced Love Flush Blush in Baby Love | £25
This formula does have a very slight sheen to it, however it's my favourite high-end matte blusher because to all intents and purposes, that is how it appears once applied. It's this kind of peachy-mauvey-nude shade that just seems to go with any makeup look, so I quite often pack this when I'm travelling. The packaging is reminiscent of a Polly Pocket for me, and the product itself has really pretty bunny rabbit embossing on it, though I've pretty much worn that away completely on mine because I use it so much! It has that 'crumbly in a good way' texture that makes it apply really naturally and evenly with zero effort. I also love how well this wears on my skin during the day.
This highlighter needs no introduction, really! However I have to say that for me, this is so worth all the positive things people say about it. The Becca powder highlighter formula really is in a league of its own; it has the creamiest, softest texture that blends out so smoothly on the skin. There's no chunks of glitter or flakiness, just this incredibly pigmented, dewy glow. The shade itself is a golden-champagne colour with peachy undertones. It isn't for the faint-hearted but I often apply it with a fan brush for the daytime when I don't quite want to wear it at its full intensity. The packaging is beautiful but for me then main negative is that it doesn't seem to fully protect the product. I've been lucky so far but so many people's seem to have smashed that I don't travel with this at all.
Too Faced Love Flush Blush in Baby Love | £25
This formula does have a very slight sheen to it, however it's my favourite high-end matte blusher because to all intents and purposes, that is how it appears once applied. It's this kind of peachy-mauvey-nude shade that just seems to go with any makeup look, so I quite often pack this when I'm travelling. The packaging is reminiscent of a Polly Pocket for me, and the product itself has really pretty bunny rabbit embossing on it, though I've pretty much worn that away completely on mine because I use it so much! It has that 'crumbly in a good way' texture that makes it apply really naturally and evenly with zero effort. I also love how well this wears on my skin during the day.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure | £32 | If you've been reading this blog for a while, you're probably sick to death of this blusher because it's my absolute favourite! The formula is essentially the pink-toned Mood Lighting shade from their powder range blended with this gorgeous plummy-mauve colour. I love the packaging and the gorgeous marbled effect on the product itself too. The formula gives this gorgeous 'glow from within' without a speck of glitter and applies so beautifully. It can be blended out with minimal effort and wears all day on my skin. It's the one I always reach for when I don't know what to wear or if I want something that isn't going to overpower a bold lip.
Urban Decay Beached Bronzer in Bronzed | £20 | I was a little hesitant to include this because it's a very new purchase but it's become one of my all-time favourite powder bronzers already! It has a gorgeous texture; it doesn't go on patchy or wear away and it's so easy to work with. Although it's pigmented, it's not anything too intense. The colour itself is perfect for adding a bit of subtle warmth on my skin tone too.
Eyes
Urban Decay Original Eye Primer Potion | £16 | I honestly take this product for granted too often because I use it ever single day. I actually forgot to put it on for some reason a few weeks back but I was in a rush so just carried on with my eyeshadow and there was SUCH a difference in how they looked and wore on my lids. This really makes any eyeshadows wore on top of it 'pop' and ensures they stay in place all day long.
Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Taupe | £21 | This is another product I use almost every day because it serves as the perfect cream eyeshadow base. It's creamy and easy to blend out but once it sets in place it doesn't crease or move around at all. Taupe is relatively close to my natural skin tone and isn't too warm or too cool in tone and has a matte finish. It does a great job of evening out any discolouration on my eyelids and giving powder shadows something to adhere to.
Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Taupe | £21 | This is another product I use almost every day because it serves as the perfect cream eyeshadow base. It's creamy and easy to blend out but once it sets in place it doesn't crease or move around at all. Taupe is relatively close to my natural skin tone and isn't too warm or too cool in tone and has a matte finish. It does a great job of evening out any discolouration on my eyelids and giving powder shadows something to adhere to.
MAC Pro Refill Eyeshadow Pan in All That Glitters | £10 | You can probably see how much I love this from the massive dent in it despite it only being about a year old! I know that since discovering Makeup Geek, I've not exactly been singing the praises of MAC eyeshadows, however even if MUG had been available before I built my MAC palette, this is one of 5 or so shades that I'd still have bought. I love the formula of this (it's my favourite from MAC: Veluxe Pearl) because it's pigmented and long-wearing. The MAC shadows aren't very soft or creamy but I know I can depend on this to last without creasing or fading. It's just the perfect light nude-copper shade that goes with any neutral look or works as a single wash across the lid.
Lorac Unzipped Eyeshadow Palette | $42 | shipping details | This is probably my holy grail eyeshadow palette these days because the quality and shades are both in a league of their own! The packaging isn't great for the price tag, however it's quite slimline and travel-friendly. The shades are just stunning; the palette contains an array of gold, copper and bronze shades that are so 'me' and I honestly use every single one of them. The mattes are so creamy and easy to blend as well as having amazing colour payoff and the shimmers have this incredible, almost foiled-effect dewy metallic shimmer. They have incredible impact on the lids and I love how easy they are to apply and how well they last on my oily eyelids. Make sure to check out the full post I've linked for the quick, easy and (most importantly!) cheap way I shipped this to the UK and for a more in-depth look at this palette.
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils in Stag, Smog and Underground | £15.50 each | These are by fan my favourite pencil eyeliners because they're so pigmented and creamy in texture but once they set down they have amazing longevity. They also come in such an amazing range of shades! My favourites are Stag (a semi-matte charcoal black-brown-grey), Smog (a warm bronze shimmer) and Underground (a cool taupe-bronze shimmer).
Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner Pen in Black | £13 | This has become my all-time favourite eyeliner pen, and that's coming from a winged liner addict! I love the thin, precise nib and how easy it is to control and how it isn't at all scratchy. It's so pigmented and intensely black and stays inky for months, even when I'm using it daily. However the best thing is the fact that it doesn't smudge or transfer at all and definitely lives up to its name!
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Pencil | £15.50 | I do feel like my Soap & Glory Archery Brow Pencil is more or less the same, however we're talking high-end and this has to be my favourite. I personally prefer it to the pomade because it's a less intense, more natural everyday look. The pencil is the perfect consistency (not too waxy or too soft) and I love how it twists up so you don't have to worry about sharpening it to get a precise application. I really like the spooly on the other end too because it just ensures this looks soft and natural in my brows. Plus, I don't find it smudges or smears or just looks a bit rubbish after a long day either. If you struggle to get a shade match to your brows then try this because you'd be hard-pressed not to find something within the extensive colour range this product is offered in.
Benefit Gimme Brow Volumising Gel* | £18.50 | I'm seriously repenting for having never tried this product before by using it every single day! The tiny wand makes it so easy to apply and it just adds that bit of tint and volume to my brows without being over the top or making it feel clumped up with too much product. It sets them in place without being too stiff as well.
Lips
MAC Matte Lipstick in Mehr | £15.50 | This has powered into first place as my favourite MAC lipstick. Although it's a matte formula it has a nicely creamy texture that doesn't skip on my lips at all. It's long-wearing and isn't too drying at all and gives really great pigmentation. I love the deep, dusky pink colour of this. It's one of my perfect day-to-night shades that I go for when I want something bolder than a nude but I'm not quite feeling like wearing a bright.
Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Petal | £19 | When I don't know what to wear, Petal usually does the trick! It's a gorgeous, hydrating lip balm with a rosy tint that's actually more pigmented than it looks. It also contains SPF so is an amazing all-in-one, especially during the summer months.
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Bond Girl | £23 | How could you use a lipstick in this shade, with this packaging and called 'Bond Girl' and not feel like a qween?! It's a really unusual formula in that it's a true matte, however glides on the lips with ease and has impressive longevity. As opposed to a creamy texture, it almost has a stain-like appearance. Bond Girl is this gorgeous plummy-mauve-rose which I love to wear for a sophisticated evening out.
MAC Lip Pencils in Spice & Soar | £13 each | Between these two I think I have all the pinky-mauve and brown-toned nude lip bases covered! These pencils are creamy enough to even wear on their own and to ensure they don't 'skip' on the lips, however are still waxy enough to make my lipstick last a little longer and to define my lips. Spice is a warm brown nude shade whereas Soar is a deep dusky pink.
What are your most-loved high-end makeup products?
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*DISCLOSURE - PRODUCTS MARKED WITH AN ASTERISK ARE PR SAMPLES/GIFTS OR PURCHASED WITH GIFTED VOUCHERS.
ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.
PLEASE VISIT MY DISCLOSURE PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
I absolutely love the Urban Decay Glide on Pencils, I don't use other eye pencils anymore! Fab post xx
ReplyDeleteallegrasarah.blogspot.com
I'm also a big fan of the Urban Decay pencils, Champagne Pop and Mehr is definitely my favourite MAC lipstick too! I really need to try out NARS Sheer Glow, it's been on my wishlist for so long! Fab post as always x
ReplyDeleteemily x ❤ | emilyloula
I'm always really tentative about the high end beauty that I buy so this post is incredibly helpful to me as I trust your opinion a lot! I'm definitely with you on Mehr and Nars Sheer Glow, two of my absolute favourites!
ReplyDeleteMusings & More
Yeah I guess you just always have to do your research as much as possible and not impulse-buy to avoid disappointment with high-end products! xx
DeleteI need all of these things!! I've been looking at Nars sheer glow for so long now! I just need to purchase it! I'm so scared I will get the wrong shade though! <3 Lovely post
ReplyDeleteAmelia | Amelia Grace
OMG, I am so excited when I read your post because we have so many of the same holy grail high end products! Great post xoxo
ReplyDeletewww.xueqiii.com
What a great products! Totally love those shades! Perfect for summer! :)
ReplyDeleteSimimaus
I've been loving Fresh Sugar Lips for a while, they're as good as you made them to be :) My high-end favorite so far has been Burberry (figures), especially their lip velvet, they're so comfortable to wear.
ReplyDeleteSelene Addicted
I'm glad you love them too and I'll have to check out the Burberry lip velvet! xx
DeleteI just got my first Urban Decay glide on pencil and I am totally in love they are so soft but don't budge all day. I also need to get the Too Faced Hangover primer in my life.
ReplyDeleteEmma Inks
Aaaah, I literally want everything haha All the packagings look so beautiful too! x
ReplyDeleteAriadna || RAWR BOWS
I swear we have so many products in love in common, it just makes me think how much i need the bits I don't have, cause I would probably love them too! But I do want that Lorac palette, everytime you post it I WANT it, if it wasn't such an effort to get a hold of it would have been mine already lol
ReplyDeleteErin || MakeErinOver
It was honestly no effort at all! Unless you dislike online shopping for beauty full stop xx
DeleteI love this post you have some gorgeous products!
ReplyDeleteLauren Ashleigh xx
NARS Sheer Glow and Becca Champagne Pop are total high end favourites of mine too! I love the Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Lashes as well :)
ReplyDeleteAmbar | Her Little Loves
So glad to see you include Lorac Unzipped!, been craving that palette for AGES.
ReplyDeleteDo it! Haha xx
DeleteI can't wait for the drugstore version of this as well as I feel that one will help quite a lot of us picking out new make-up as sometimes we can't afford some of these ones! Regardless I loved adding the majority of these to my wishlist haha, especially the Bobbi Brown stick in taupe!
ReplyDeleteCharlotte // www.charlottespicks.com
Mehr is a favourite of mine too! Becca really do have the best highlighter formula. Bond girl looks like my kind of shade, definitely checking that out xx
ReplyDeleteLPage Beauty
The Lorac swatches look amazing, I always thought I'd prefer the Pro palette but if I ever get to America I will definitely be looking at that one too! Totally agree with NARS Sheer Glow the Hourglass blushers too!
ReplyDeleteDanielle's Beauty Blog
I definitely think the Unzipped is underrated in comparison to the Pro! xx
DeleteThe Lorac Palette is just stunning. x
ReplyDeleteI always forget about the Lorac unzipped palette! I need to pull mine out again. I really want to try the too faced Rx primer! You had me at "doesn't cling to dry patches"!
ReplyDeleteJennyLovesBeauty♥
I have my eyes on Mood Exposure but when I see pictures of it, I thought it would be way too light on my skin tone but now that I've seen your swatch, I think it'll be perfect for me. Definitely something that I need to swatch on myself first before purchasing.
ReplyDeleteShireen | Reflection of Sanity
Mood Exposure is my favorite blush of all time too! I never ordered the Lorac Unzipped Palette but I am thinking that I should add it to my collection.
ReplyDeleteKate
katelovesmakeup.com
They're stunning together! xx
Deletelove love love champagne pop! All-time favourite highlight
ReplyDeletewww.indigoandmouse.blogspot.com
Oh my, I now want to get every single one of the products you mentioned! The Unzipped palette is simply gorgeous, the shades are perfect and would work for so many different makeup looks, definitely a palette to invest in! I have the Soar lip pencil and it is a great product, the shade is super popular at the moment and it can totally be worn on its own it's true, no need for a lipstick as it's so creamy and pigmented! :D
ReplyDeleteJulia x
Last post: Bloggers vs. Perfection | http://juliaspeaksbeauty.blogspot.fr/2016/07/perfection-is-just-concept.html
You have such an amazing makeup collection, Jasmine! Baby Love and Mood Exposure are some of my favourite blushes too! And yes, I think I will have to get that Lorac palette, which I say every time I see it on your blog, haha1 x
ReplyDeleteMummy’s Beauty Corner
Their formula is next-level! xx
DeleteI am saving this post so I can add some of these products to my next shoplist! Especially the concealers. Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteWith love,
http://dilarabosak.com
I wish hangover primer didn't broke me out like crazy. Cause it seriously made my makeup last all day long and made it go on so beautifully. So bumped about it. But I love UD naked concealer it the best concealer ever. Also soar is one of my favorite liner along with dervish from mac.
ReplyDeleteSam || Beautydetour
Huge fan of the too faced and hourglass blushers! Pretty amazing collection you have cause most of them are on my wishlist!
ReplyDeletewww.blushingkay.com
I really need more shades in the Too Faced formula...xx
DeleteAhh everything looks amazing, great post!
ReplyDeleteBeth x
www.ohthatsbethany.blogspot.co.uk
Amazing pieces!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.missygowns.at
So many products here that are my favourites too - especially Champagne Pop, the Stila liner and Touch Eclat. I really, really want Lorac Unzipped! xx
ReplyDeleteBeautylymin| Abercrombie & Fitch First Instinct Giveaway
It's so stunning! xx
DeleteLove this post! I've never tried any products from Lorac or Bobbi Brown before (terrible I know!). MAC lipsticks are always up there on my high end love list and also anything from benefit and ABH! X
ReplyDeleteJenny / www.borntoblend.co.uk
Oh wow those eyeshadow swatches though, I WANT THEM ALL. The Becca highlighter too ugh <3 great choices!
ReplyDeletewww.britishmermaid.com
Nars Sheer Glow is my favourite foundation ever - I've been using it for years now! I really want to try the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush because I've heard loads of good reviews on it x
ReplyDeletehttp://emmaboughtwhat.blogspot.co.uk/
I swear I'm on about my 5th bottle of Sheer Glow! xx
DeleteI need mac soar in my life! I also really want to purchase Jacyln Hill Champagne pop, however, I've read on other blogs it's very delicately packaged. Apparently it falls out if you aren't careful with it... was this just a faulty batch? Or have you had problems too?
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Sophie | It's Cultured X
I can't say I've ever heard anyone say that. I know a lot of people broke these by dropping them because the formula is very soft but you just have to be careful (and it's not just Becca products, the same thing happened with my the Balm Mary Lou Maniser) xx
DeleteWow this WHOLE post is amazing! I see so many of my favorites and for great reason. I'm back to using my Stila liner as my recent KVD one dried out in a mere 1-2 months, while the Stila one lasted a good many months. The BECCA highlights are other worldly and I don't even remember life before them haha. The Fresh sugar treatments are some of the best out there and I absolutely love Honey and Plum. I also adore CT Bond Girl - I'm excited for Fall as I know I'll be pulling this one out a lot. Excited to see what other products you discover during the later half of the year!
ReplyDeleteCindy | www.cindyhyue.com
Looks like a great selection, the Touche Eclat range is one of my favourites too.
ReplyDeleteThe lorac palette is so pretty,
ReplyDeleteKie x
Thanks so much for your comments :) xx
ReplyDeleteSo jealous you have champagne pop :O!
ReplyDeleteCoco | <a href="http://thebeautymilk.com/>The Beauty Milk</a>
That Lorac palette looks amazing, will have to order on payday!
ReplyDeleteOh my I really need that Lorac Unzipped palette RIGHT NOW! I've been eyeing on it for ages now! Beautiful products in this post!
ReplyDeleteLove, Charline | Charline Has a Blog
I love the Lorac palette, I way prefer the packaging to the Naked 3 and it's so pretty! I just worry about accidentally buying a fake though in England! I may put it on my courier order soon, it's so gorgeous! xo
ReplyDeleteNatasha Kendall
Definitely don't order it from a UK seller - there are loads of fakes out there. The post I linked is how to get it legitimately xx
DeleteYess to Fresh! I was recently introduced to Fresh and now I am in love!!!
ReplyDeleteAngie | Chocolate & Lipstick | Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle Blog
That Stila liner looks INCREDIBLE!! Jasmine you have totally convinced me to pick it up next, I am currently using the balms one and although I like it...its not love (i'm such a fuss pot though!)
ReplyDeleteYAAS totally agree with the NARS Sheer Glow, my tried and true foundation too and its so awesome to have a base you just know will not fail ^_^
Iqra | The Blushing Giraffe x
Could you explain to me why you pick the UD concealer over the NARS one? I am trying to decide which one to get and was wondering why you chose this one.
ReplyDeleteWith love,
http://dilarabosak.com
I actually have a full post comparing the two if you use the search bar you'll be able to find it xx
DeleteI love the NARS Sheer Glow as well, I still haven't repurchased it so I need to do that now! Estee Lauder Double Wear has become a staple for me these days and the Anastasia Brow Wiz is something I don't think I could never not have in my collection!
ReplyDeleteLauren | Dose of Wardrobe