Makeup is definitely an investment, especially if you shop at Sephora. Sometimes it is hard to know exactly what to get, and you end up getting a random assortment of products that you never end up touching. I have compiled a list of the top ten items that every college girl needs in her makeup bag. Here they are!
1. A Hydrating Moisturizer
Aveeno ultra-calming daily moisturizer is my go to moisturizer. It is perfect for combination skin and for sensitive skin. It has SPF in it so the occasional sunny days won’t leave you burnt. Another option for oily or combination skin is the Josie Maran Pure Argan Milk Intensive Hydrating Treatment. This moisturizer only takes a few drops and will leave your skin hydrated and glowing.
2. A Full Coverage Under Eye Concealer
Urban Decay Naked Skin is my tried-and-true under eye concealer. It gives full under eye coverage. It can make it look like you got a full eight hours of sleep (let’s be honest- with studying, classes, and extra activities, you probably didn’t). This concealer comes in eleven shades and can match practically anyone. It is a good idea to go with a lighter concealer for under eyes to brighten up the area—however, don’t go more than one or two shades lighter!
3. Beauty Blender
Beauty blenders can do it all. Foundation, concealer, blush and blending. The teardrop shape helps you get around your eye and blend out concealer, and using a sponge helps eliminate streaks from brushes. Filling your beauty blender with water before you begin allows any makeup to not be absorbed into the sponge, but sit on top of it. This means no stubborn brushes that take away half of the product!
4.Bold Brow Product
I’m not trying to bandwagon, but Anastasia Beverly Hills definitely has the best brow products I have ever used. My personal favorite is the Dipbrow Pomade. This is a waterproof, matte pomade that comes in 11 shades. It is multipurpose, as you can use it to outline and shade in your brows. Another product from Anastasia that is a wonderful product if you don’t have the time for the pomade is the Brow Wiz. This is perfect for outlining and getting a fuller brow in less time. There is a fine tip to make them defined and on the other end is a brush to comb through and get a perfect look.
5. The Perfect Mascara
Again- not trying to bandwagon for mascaras, but Benefit seems to hit the nail on the head with each and every mascara they come out with. Roller lash definitely helps curl the lashes and lifts them, while They’re Real helps to give a volumized, full look with long lashes.
6. Contour Palette
Contouring and highlighting seems to be all the rage as of late. My go to contour palette is the Kat Von D Shade and Light palette. All of these shades are matte and can go with any skin tone. The formula is super blendable, and she even sells a brush that was formulated to use just with this palette. Not to mention that Kat Von D has cruelty-free products, which is always a plus.
7. An Essential Nude Eyeshadow Palette
A palette I catch myself reaching for everyday is the Tartelette Amazonian Clay Matte Palette. There are twelve gorgeous shadows. The shadows are placed in three rows, with different color groups in each row. The top row contains warm browns, the middle has purples, and the bottom row consists of cool browns. These colors are all matte but don’t leave your shadow looking chalky. Another palette, one for chocolate lovers, is The Chocolate Bar palette by Too Faced. This palette has a mix of mattes and shimmer colors, for a total of sixteen colors. There are gorgeous and essential nudes, but also some fun colors like purple and plum. The best part of all? The palette is made with cocoa powder and actually smells like chocolate.
8. A Go-To Eyeliner
If you are looking for a no smudge, easy to apply and long lasting liner, Kat Von D has the perfect eyeliner for you. The color Trooper is a bold and satin black that is a perfect color for a subtle or dramatic look. Stila also has a Smudge Stick eyeliner that comes in 21 different colors. Everything from jet black to light turquoise, there are gorgeous shades with awesome color payoff.
9. A Flawless Foundation
For a fuller coverage foundation, the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Full Coverage Foundation is a perfect option. There are 25 shades and it works perfectly for oily skin because it is an oil free formula. A lighter coverage option is the Dual Finish Foundation from Lancôme. There are 34 shades, and it is a lightweight powder with a silky and matte finish.
10. The Perfect Setting Spray
Hands down, across the board, the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray is the best one out there. A few sprays after you do your makeup, and you are good to go for the whole day. There is no cracking, melting, or fading of your makeup. This spray will literally lock your makeup into place.
