The makeup world has hundreds of products, and for some, it can be very overwhelming. Questioning what certain products are meant for and if they'll work for your skin type. Or questioning why is makeup expensive ...
You get what you pay for, ultimately. It's similar to clothes, shoes, accessories and so on. Better quality usually brings a higher price. There are dupes out there for higher-end products and there's a video down below of a beauty YouTuber going over all the dupes.
These are a few of my personal favorites.
1. Makeup Forever HD Foundation
Medium to full coverage foundation. This is perfect for flash photography, so you won't get the white face in pictures. It's light weight and it looks like your skin once applied. (Beauty blender works great to apply.)
2. Benefit's POREfessional Face Primer
If you have pores, look no further than this! It erases the appearance of them instantly and applies really smoothly. Smells good and does not have oil, so it won't create shine.
3. Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer
This concealer is from heaven ... it's not heavy like some concealers are and it's not super light causing it to not even work. It's full coverage and it does not crease as easy as other concealers. Highly recommended.
4. Benefit's Roller Lash & Lifting Mascara
Product is jet-black and dries pretty fast. It creates your lashes to appear more full and longer. It doesn't simply make them straight, it curls them as if you used an eye lash curler.
5. Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit
If you are starting out contouring and have no idea what to get, this is it! It's great for basics and it gives you two warm shades and one cool shade. The top three are for setting your undereye or carving your contour, and a highligher.
6. Urban Decay Beached Bronzer
A non-shimmer bronzer that gives you a healthy sun glow to your skin. It applies super easy and the product is powder, but creamy. It's the definition of a healthy summer glow.
7. Becca Highlighter x Jaclyn Hill
One of the most universal highlighters in the market. Jaclyn Hill collaborated with Becca cosmetics to create this, and her goal was to make a highlighter for every skin tone. She most definitely achieved that. Perfect for summer, but I wear it every day ...
8. Bite Cosmetics—Matte Creme Lip Crayon
All natural products are used to create these lip crayons and all of the Bite products. It applies easily and it's a creamier lipstick. These are great for spring and summer as they aren't super heavy.
9. Mac Cosmetics Lipsticks
Mac lipsticks are highly pigmented and creamy. They are easy to apply and you don't need to use a lip pencil before, but you can, the same as Bite lip crayons. These are great for special events and a simple look.
10. Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray—Long-lasting
This is gorilla glue for your makeup. The spray does not make you greasy or shiny due to it being oil-free. This gives you a matte face all day. Highly recommended for big events if it's an all-day event!
11. Morphe Brushes—Pro Eye Shadow Palette 35O
A warm tone lover's dream ... this palette has been restocked and sold out since the moment it was put up online. And you can see why! These eye shadows are highly pigmented and creamy. They apply very easily and this range of warm tones are perfect.
12. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz
The Brow Wiz, of all the Anastasia products, gives the most natural looking eye brow in the game. Very easy to apply and very pigmented. You do not need a sharper, all you do is turn the top and it comes up like a lipstick.
This is KatheleenLights, she does a lot of drugstore and higher end makeup tutorials and reviews. This are the drugstore dupes for high-end makeup.
I recommend educating yourself on beauty products as it makes it easier to shop and understand what you need! Also, figure out your skin type!
Watching tutorials isn't a lot of fun for most people, but you learn!