So I figured that since I’ve talked about how I cut down my makeup collection some time ago – I would run down the products that made the many, many cuts. These are my tried and true, ride or die products which I wear with regularity. In general, I have more color products than I have base products. I don’t really feel the need to experiment or change up my base too much. That being said, let’s get started.
Base:
Total Products: 5 (4 drugstore, 1 high end)
Foundation: Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua is my favorite foundation – there’s SPF of 15 and I really love the way it looks on my face. It generally wears well throughout the day and doesn’t cling to dry spots. I also enjoy WetnWild Photo Focus if I am going to have flash photos taken. I don’t use it often and it is higher coverage but it’s pretty good for the price point. It does oxidize like crazy for me.
Powders: Coty Airspun Loose Powder in translucent is my day to day face powder. It fights the grease but doesn’t look cakey. Rimmel Stay Matte has been a long favorite of mine. I keep it in the collection for when I’m traveling and don’t want to have a giant bulky loose powder product.
Concealer: I very rarely use concealer under my eyes – I just don’t tend to have bags that I care to cover. However, if I do want a little extra highlight I use this Maybelline Age Rewind. It wears well throughout a long day.
Blush:
Total Products: 7 (2 high end, 2 mid-range, 2 drug store) For these, I’m going to organize by color family
Plums: I keep Nars Sin and Mac Breathe of Plum for those cold weather months. Both look intense in the pan but are sheer enough for someone with a very pale complexion to enjoy. Nars Sin is shimmery and has a lovely gold shift to it whereas the Mac is matte. They are the bottom two swatches on my arm.
Neutrals: Rimmel Santa Rose is the smaller blush pan and Rimmel Lasting Finish Blush in Pink Rose (I’m not totally sure on the name – I peeled it off. I had a third neutral blush but it sadly smashed during my last trip. They are the 4th and 5th swatch on my arm and are great for every day.
Coral: Flower Beauty in Peach Primrose is an amazing matte coral that adds the most lovely sunkissed glow to the complexion.
Pinks: Nars Deep Throat and Mac Pinch o’ Peach are my go pink blushers. Again, the Nars is shimmery and the Mac is matte. Both have lovely rose gold undertones. They are the top two swatches on my arm.
Highlight and Contour:
Let me start by saying I was waaaaay ahead of the highlighter trend. It was my first makeup love and I still love highlight. I have products that I have rebought many times over and am hitting pan on once more. So here we go
Total Products: 9 (2 high end, 4 mid-range, 3 drugstore)
Cream: Mac does my favorite Cream highlights. I have the cream color bases in Hush and Pearl and rebuy them all the time. They are my highlight base – I wear one or the other every single day. If I could only have 3 makeup products, my Cream Color base in pearl (the white gold color) would be one of them. I also keep Mac Lustre Drops in Pink Rebel which I can add to foundation or use on their own. Finally, I have the Nyx Wonder Stick in Light which has a cream contour and matte highlight.
Powder: I realize I have three gold powder highlights. I’m going to own the fact that I just couldn’t choose. I have the Balm’s Mary Louminizer (grey packaging), Charlotte Tilberry’s Bronze and Glow Duo (Rose Gold packaging), and Becca’s shimmering Skin perfecter in Moonstone. All three are cult products. All three are beautiful.
I also keep one cool toned pink – WetnWild’s Megaglo highlighter in The Sweetest Bling (heart in the middle) and one warm toned pink – Maybelline’s Master Chrome in Rose Gold.
So there we have it – the total number of face products I have is 21. I’m looking to try to narrow down my highlighters but they were my first makeup love so it’s a little hard for me. Overall, the only thing I’m looking to add to my collection is a more browny blush. Other than that – I couldn’t be happier.
What are some of your absolute staples of base makeup? Let me know below!
The Minimalist Abroad 