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With so many options out there, it’s not easy knowing exactly which beauty products you should spend your hard-earned cash on. We take the guesswork out of beauty shopping for you—here, a shortlist of your 10 absolute must-have makeup products every woman should own.
If you’re ready to step your game up but don’t want to waste space (or money) on unnecessary items, we’ve got your back. Trending makeup looks suggest a lot of skin prep, glowy and healthy-looking skin, red lips and playful, expressive eye makeup. A ton of brushes, tools, products aren’t necessary and we picked ten items with which you can easily recreate so many fresh and bold makeup looks on the go. All you need is a regular size makeup bag, small mirror, and these 10 items. Discover exactly what you need to have on hand with our selects below.
Makeup Products Every Woman Should Own:
Blush
Blush is the ultimate instant picker-upper. Be it rose, apricot, raspberry, or fuchsia, gel, cream, liquid, or powder, nothing livens up the face faster than faking a fabulous flush with a pretty pop of color swiped across the apples of your cheeks. Ultimate blush tip is that it also makes a perfect eyeshadow. Its buildable formula is super easy to apply with your fingers. Read more about blush tips and tricks.
Our Current Favorite: Glossier Cream Blush Cloud Paint
Concealer
Whether you’re hiding spots, looking for the best concealer for dark circles, or highlighting your favorite feature, concealer is one versatile product that every woman should have. Concealer might seem like an unnecessary nuisance if the foundation does the job, but it actually can be your secret weapon. It helps you look wide-awake on less than eight hours of sleep and helpfully obscuring that massive hormonal zit that takes up residence on your chin every month without fail. And if you don’t use foundation you can hide flaws, while your skin still can breathe.
Our Current Favorite: Fenty Beauty Match Stix Trio
Red Lipstick
This one is easy. There’s no other makeup product universally flattering and versatile to keep you covered from the office to the dance floor.
It is cult-classic after all, yet it seems every season like it is reinvented. Matt or glossy, deep or bright, a bolt of red lipstick can update your look instantly – and everyone has their own opinion on which is the ultimate hue. Read here on how to find the perfect shade for your complexion.
Try MAC’s Ruby Woo, one of the most “universally flattering” red lipsticks out there.
Related: Find the Perfect Red Lipstick to Flatter Your Complexion
Our Current Favorite: MAC Ruby Woo
Nude Lipstick
Since there are infinite skin tones, identifying your best complexion-complementing color requires some experimentation. Like mannequin nails, nude lips look best when the color is one shade lighter or darker than your complexion. Nude lipstick you can use every day, especially when you want to highlight your eye makeup game.
Our Current Favorite: NYX Bare With Me
Eyeliner
If you’re a cat-eye freak like us, this one is a must-have in your makeup bag. Graphic details, smokey eyes and seamless winged effects — these are all the moments you’ll fall in love with eyeliner. It gives you edge instantly. We recommend pencil eyeliner you can use on the go and you don’t need a brush for.
Our Current Favorite: L’oreal The Super Slim Liquid Eyeliner
Moisturizer&Primer
These are not makeup products, but ask any makeup artist, and s/he will tell you that these are a must in a makeup kit.
Because great makeup begins with great skincare, you need to prep your skin with a tandem slathering of moisturizer and primer. The duo will ensure a flawless base that keeps makeup in place all day. Always apply moisturizer before priming, as it makes your primer application even. Wait a few minutes after your application before priming.
Tip: If you have oily skin, your best bet is to use a mattifying moisturizer before your foundation. Since oily skin and makeup don’t always play nice.
Our Current Favorite: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat
Our Current Favorite: L’oreal Magic Lumi
Eyelash Curler
Want to make eyelashes look longer and thicker, eyes wider and brighter? This tool is a well-loved classic that gets the job done. Everyone who started using it got hooked. Eyelash curler will also last you a long time. The all-time favorite eyelash curler is the one from Shiseido.
Our Current Favorite: Shiseido Eyelash Curler
Eyebrow Pomade and Spoolie Brush
“Done” eyebrows are in for a while now, and by “done” we don’t necessarily mean filled-in with a bevy of different brow products. As long as you have trusty brow spoolie to brush up the individual hairs and make eyebrow arches look fluffy and full, you’re all set.
For eyebrows, you need to have a brush, as they are used to blend makeup and keep eyebrow hairs in place. They’re necessary to creating the exact brow look you want. A brow brush helps to evenly blend product and make the eyebrows look more natural.
Our Current Favorite: Anastasia DIPBROW Pomade
Mascara
Need we even say it? Of course, mascara is a must – for many of us, it stacks up high as a desert island choice. Even clumpy mascara lashes are making a wave now.
Our Current Favorite: Better than sex, Urban Decay
