15 Beauty Products Worth The Hype And Money | The Odyssey Online
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15 Beauty Products Worth The Hype And Money

Sometimes it's okay to splurge on yourself a little.

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15 Beauty Products Worth The Hype And Money
Reader's Digest

Okay, I already know what you're gonna say, "We're broke af college students we can't afford all these products at Sephora and Ulta." I know, I know. In fact, I wrote an article on affordable beauty products two weeks ago which you can check out here (*shameless plug*). But you know -- sometimes you just have to splurge and drop that cash for those holy grail products that you just can't sacrifice no matter how hard it hits your pocket. Sometimes a higher price does mean higher quality, and sometimes you just have to

1. Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Face Primer/$31

Want to get rid of those pores and make your foundation last all throughout the day? This silicon-based primer is here to save the day! This translucent primer is perfect to put in the T-zone of your face if you have combination-oily skin like I do. It helps keep my oils at bay while keeping foundation application smooth and effortless. It even comes in a deluxe sample size at $12 if you want to get your hands on it to try it out. (Note: Plus - I mean - it gets huge points for the pun in the name.)

2. Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation/$43

This foundation has the perfect everyday coverage with a natural-looking finish to leave you serving flawless looks for days. Not to mention that this natural foundation comes in 40 different shades to match any and all skin tones. Plus, there's a pump dispenser for all of you out there who can't stand the germ-filled nightmares other foundations might pose.

3. Tarte Double Duty Beauty Shape Tape Contour Concealer/$24

Over $20 can seem like a lot for a concealer (because it is), but this one is so worth it. They are technically contour concealers meant to sculpt out your face with their uniquely large tapered wand applicator, but these concealers also work by themselves to do wonders underneath the eyes and highlighting high points on the face in general. They are completely full coverage without caking and creasing and a little really does go a long way.

4. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer/$30

A crowd favorite for a while now, this concealer has been raved about for years and years. Even rising competition from the Tarte concealer mentioned above can't stop this holy grail item from maintaining its reign in the beauty world. This concealer comes in a wide range of shades for any and every one, and is build-able in coverage to match your look for each day.

5. Cover FX Perfect Setting Powder/$35

This loose powder comes at a few bucks cheaper than the extremely hyped Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder, but performs at the same quality if not better. The powder is super finely milled and helps make your skin look seamless and natural. It's perfect for baking the under eyes too and doesn't give you as harsh of a white-cast in flash photography compared to the Laura Mercier powder. One issue I would say, though, it only comes in two shades.

6. Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW Pomade/$18

When used alongside a small angled brush and a spoolie, this pomade will keep your brows staying fleeky all day long. The formula is smudge-proof and water-proof to maintain the shape of your brows throughout the day and works against the elements. The pot pomade is perfect for filling in sparse spots on the brows and creating feathery, natural-looking hairs to make your brows look full and fierce.

7. Tarte Tartelette 2 In Bloom Clay Eyeshadow Palette/$46

Let me just tellyou.I swear by this palette. It is so good. (And you know with all those italics and bold lettering, I mean business.) I never heard amazing things about the Tartelette Matte Eyeshadow Palette, but this one with the same packaging is truly a game changer. If you're into super smooth neutral shadows that blend like a dream, then this palette is a must-have for you. I never really heard too much hype about this palette, at least compared to others (including the next item on this list), until I was blessed enough to receive it as a gift. Now I can't go a day without using this palette. It's definitely a great palette for beginners just dipping their feet into the beauty world because the shadows blend effortlessly and are super easy to use. One of my holy grail products - would definitely 10/10 recommend. Seriously.

8. Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette/$42

Okay, if you've been in the beauty scene for a minute or if you just know a person who wears makeup, heck -- even if you just come cross one of those tutorial videos on your Instagram explore tab, you may have seen this palette. The Modern Renaissance Palette has been, by far, the most hyped eyeshadow palette in the last year. Is it worth all the hype? Yeah, kinda. It's pretty much your everyday palette with a few pops of color and two poppin' shimmer shades. Although the shadows have a little kickback and can be a little powdery, the pigmentation is stunning and the shades are romantic and fun. Plus, the colors are mainly trendy warm-tones, but they include a few shadows that work for more cool-toned looks too. All in all a pretty stellar palette and the brush it comes with isn't too crappy. (Trust me, those in-palette brushes can be god-awful quality - this one isn't!)

9. Kat Von D Tattoo Liner/$20

Another holy grail. *sighs* This liner is so good, guys. I have super monolids and used to always avoid liner, especially liquid liner, because I would always look like a smudged up mess of a raccoon by the end of the day. But this liner really changed the game for me. It is smudge-proof, water-proof, you name it and lasts ALL DAY LONG. Seriously, I have to work to get this off at the end of the day, but it's so worth it.

10. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara/$23

This mascara is everything, people. Another holy grail that is so worth the money. (Although I usually opt for the $12 deluxe sample size -- no shame!) The bristles on this brush really work to volumize even the tiniest lashes and help to open up your eyes in any look. The formula on this mascara is different than others I've used in the past because it's not super runny like other mascaras. In fact, I keep this mascara as my holy grail because instead of smudging all around my eyes after a few hours, the drier formula will give me maybe a few specs or flakes by the end of the day. I'll definitely take that over looking like a raccoon any day.

11. Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit/$40

Ah yes, the highlight. The Anastasia Glow Kits are the epitome of blinding highlights. These kits come with four large, detachable pans of amazing highlighters to match every skin tone from fair to deep. The formulas are super smooth and offer a great, blinding glow without reflects of chunky glitter, but a sheen of just pure shine. Not that they need it, but use them wet and you'll be blinding your enemies from miles away. Plus, they work great as shimmery eyeshadows too.

12. Nars Blush/Bronzer Duo/$42

I know, these duos are a little pricey -- okay, very pricey for the product. Hear me out, if you're one of those people who can't pass up a good blush and bronzer, this might be the product you want splurge on. Nars Orgasm has been a raved-about blush for years, so it's no surprise that these duos are a hit in the beauty scene. I'm not a huge proponent of blush, but the bronzers are super buttery and easy to use. The powders all have a little shimmer to them too, if you're into that glowy look.

13. Mac Prep + Prime Fix+/$24

Mac's Fix+ is not only a setting spray to help melt and mesh your makeup together, but it can also be used for a bunch of other purposes. This spray is a universal tool for anyone using makeup. It helps intensify eye shadows and other powder makeup products. All you need to do is use a brush to pick up your product, give the brush a spritz of this and you'll enhance your product's intensity when applied to the face. Plus, the spray is filled with vitamins and minerals that help refresh your skin -- who doesn't love that?

14. Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Lipstick/$20

Huda Beauty is a brand mainly hyped on social media sites, namely Instagram, but it has been gaining a ton of traction in the last few years -- which it rightfully deserves. These matte liquid lipsticks come in a range of beautiful, wearable, on-trend shades that compliment any and all skin tones. The formulas stay put -- as all matte liquid lipsticks should -- and look amazing.

15. Smashbox Be Legendary Liquid Lip/$24

A fairly recent launch, these liquid lipsticks are for those of you who are just getting sick and tired of the all-matte lip trends. These liquid formulas are not your usual matte liquid formulas but are instead glossy shades that range from opaque to metal colors. They are super pigmented and versatile in colors and uses. You've got loud metallic shades in bright red and chrome, but you also have your everyday mauves and nudes that are opaque and neutral. There's a little something for everyone.


Whether you spend tons of cash on makeup regularly or are looking for that one item to splurge on, I hope you found something on this list worth your while. Of course, I'm not saying these products are super luxury products (that's for an entirely different article), but they are definitely more pricey than some of the more affordable drugstore options. Yes, a large majority of us are college students on a budget, but that doesn't mean we can't spend a little on ourselves to achieve our makeup-obsessed dreams every once in a blue moon. I hope this list has inspired you to treat yo' self a little because you absolutely deserve it! So go on out there and hit Sephora or Ulta or wherever and treat yourself to a little somethin' somethin'.

Please leave your favorite splurge-worthy items in the comments or holy grail products that chip away at your wallet a little more -- I'd love to open my horizons to even more makeup to blow my cash on! (I have a problem, I know.)

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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