Ride or Die Makeup Kit
I share great beauty products with you all the time, but I frequently get asked about my all-time favorites. Today I’m taking on Jaclyn Hill‘s Ride or Die makeup tag and sharing my favorite products that I will never be without. While I love all of the products in my makeup collection, these are the best of the best. They’re my ride or die makeup favorites that I have and will continue to repurchase over and over again. Technically, I’m only supposed to list one product per category, but I’ve never been good at making decisions – especially when it comes to makeup! So without further ado, here is a comprehensive list of my ride or die makeup.
RIDE OR DIE MAKEUP: FACE PRODUCTS
PRIMER
*: This primer smooths away uneven texture, enlarged pores, and fine lines and makes your foundation glide over your skin. It makes every single foundation in my collection look better.Cover FX Custom Blot Drops: This product is amazing, and it’s so much more than a primer. These drops control your oil production and leave your skin smooth and matte all day long. While they can be used as an all-over face primer, you can also mix a few drops of this product into your favorite serum, moisturizer, or foundation to create a long-lasting matte finish. You can also use this product to touch up oily areas of your face throughout the day. Simply add a drop or two to the back of your hand, and blot the product into your skin with a or your finger. The Blot Drops will mattify the area without disturbing your makeup or adding a thick layer of product to your skin.
FOUNDATION
: This foundation is one of my latest makeup purchases, but it’s already earned a place on my ride or die list. It provides high coverage without looking thick or cake-y, and it keeps your skin looking smooth and matte all day long. The pump-style packaging is extremely convenient, and there are 24 shades of this formula to match almost every skin tone. While it’s fabulous on its own, I also love mixing this foundation with my on days when I want long-lasting medium coverage.: This Milani foundation is my favorite drugstore foundation of all time. It provides great coverage and a natural satin finish that’s hard to beat. The formula comes in 8 shades and is heavily yellow-toned. The line runs dark, so be sure to order one shade lighter than you think. I also reviewed this product in my June Beauty Favorites post.
*: The It Cosmetics CC Cream is something that I will never be without. It has a moisturizing formula that doesn’t make you oily, medium to full coverage, and SPF 50+. This product is probably my most-worn foundation of all-time, and it’s the best product on the market for days in the sun. I’ve recommended and/or purchased this foundation for almost every single woman in my family, and I highly recommend purchasing a tube – even if it’s a – to try out for yourself. The products is available in 5 shades, and I’m hoping they’ll continue to add more colors to the range soon. You can read my review of the version here. Spoiler alert- it’s awesome.
CONCEALER
: This concealer is the BEST concealer in the world. Period. End of story. Go buy it. The formula is unlike anything I’ve ever tried. It’s thin but intensely concentrated, and it dries down completely without drying out your skin. I have horrible under eye circles, and this concealer covers them up better than anything on the market. And believe me, I have tried almost every concealer out there. This product is currently available in 10 shades (I already own two and am picking up a third this weekend), and I’m telling you – you NEED this product. Your skin and under eye area will never look better, and the coverage lasts all day long. It will change your life. P.S. Tarte, if you’re reading this post, PLEASE make a Shape Tape foundation!*: While I just declared my undying love and utter obsession with the Tarte concealer, I just couldn’t leave out another favorite from bareMinerals. In my opinion, they’re completely different products. This concealer is excellent for dry skin, and I use it on days when I’m going for a more natural look. The formula is thin and easily blendable, and it contains hydrating ingredients that keep your skin soft and smooth throughout the entire day. Despite it’s lightweight texture, this concealer provides great coverage. If you’re looking for a lightweight, moisturizing, and full-coverage concealer that works well with normal to dry skin, you will love this product! It’s available in 6 shades that will suit most skin tones.
POWDER
Laura Geller Double Take Baked Versatile Powder Foundation*: Earlier this year, I had the privilege of meeting Laura Geller and her team, and she graciously gifted me a few of her products, including this fabulous powder foundation. Before I review the foundation, I have to tell you that Laura Geller is such an incredible woman, and I am constantly inspired by her brand. And now that I’ve gushed about my love for Laura, let’s get on with the review. This powder foundation is kind of magical. It can be applied wet or dry, and it gives you absolutely flawless skin. If you want to exclusively use this powder as your foundation, I’d recommend using the included sponge applicator; however, it also perfects any look when a lighter coat is applied with a large fluffy brush. Despite its powder consistency, it somehow manages to not look like a powder on the skin. It instantly melts into your skin, and it looks like you’re wearing liquid foundation. It’s amazing, and I have a hard time using any other powder now. It’s currently available in 9 shades, and you can read a more in-depth review in my Laura Geller makeup favorites post.: Laura Mercier is one of those brands that always gets it right. This loose setting powder leaves your skin looking absolutely flawless, and it’s perfect for everything from light setting to full-on baking. It’s a timeless makeup staple that you shouldn’t be without.
BRONZER
It Cosmetics Your Most Beautiful You Anti-Aging Face Palette*: I’ve already bragged about this palette in my June Beauty Favorites post, but I need to re-affirm my love. The bronzer in this palette is absolutely perfect. It’s the perfect shade, the perfect consistency, and the perfect formula. I swipe this bronzer around the edges of my face with a large, fluffy brush, and my pasty white skin instantly looks sun-kissed and healthy. While I’m featuring this bronzer in my ride or die products, all three products in this palette are stunning. The blush and highlighter couldn’t be more beautiful. If you’re looking for a stellar everyday makeup product, pick up this palette.BLUSH
: I have an entire drawer of fancy blushes, and I love them all; however, this blush is by far my most used product…and it only costs $2.99. Yes, you read that right. My ride or blush is under $3. The entire collection of Wet n Wild blushes is fabulous, but the Rose Champagne color holds a special place in my heart. I’ll be honest, it doesn’t look that special in the pan. It’s a dusty neutral pink shade that gives your skin the most beautiful natural flush, and it matches every single makeup look.CONTOUR
: I’ve tried a number of contouring palettes, but I always come back to this fantastic palette from Lorac. It includes a light, medium, and dark contour powders that can double as bronzers as well as two matte and one shimmery highlighting powders. The powders are smooth and blend easily, and you’ll also receive a brush that’s great for achieving a sharp contour. In addition to being a great palette for bronzing, highlighting, and contouring, I frequently use all of these shades as eye shadows. This palette is exceptionally great quality, and you’ll get use out of every single shade. I use this product every single day, and I never travel without it.HIGHLIGHTER
BECCA x Jaclyn Hill Pressed Highlighter in Champagne Pop: I resisted the hype for so long. I saw this highlighter all over YouTube, and I resisted the temptation to buy it for months…and then I swatched it in Sephora. Ladies, I’m here to tell you that this product is absolutely worth the hype. The formula is smooth, creamy, and highly pigmented, and the color is absolutely angelic. I use this highlighter on the top of my cheekbones almost every day, and it also doubles as a beautiful eye shadow. For a longer review, check out my June Beauty Favorites post.: Cover FX is quickly becoming one of my favorite makeup lines. Their products are unique and so, so good. The Custom Enhancer Drops are game-changing. I have the shade Sunlight, one of the shimmery colorss, and it is unbelievably metallic and shiny and gorgeous. These drops can be used to highlight the face or as a metallic eye shadow, and you can also mix a drop or two into your favorite moisturizer, primer, or foundation to add a subtle glow to your makeup. I’ve even dabbed a tiny bit onto the center of my lips to liven up my lipstick. This product is one of a kind, and I have a suspicion that I’ll eventually purchase the entire line, including the matte bronzing shades!
SETTING SPRAY
MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ Finishing Mist: I have a serious addiction to setting spray. They instantly take away the powdery look of makeup and make the colors of your look come to life. While I have several favorites, MAC Fix+ will always be on top. This setting spray doesn’t provide the longest staying powder of the bunch, but the fine mist always leaves my skin looking beautiful. Without fail, I always receive compliments on my skin and foundation when I use this spray.RIDE OR DIE MAKEUP: EYE PRODUCTS
EYE PRIMER
Milani Eye Shadow Primer: A good eye primer will make the colors of your eye shadows pop and dramatically increase the wear time of your eye products. While I have a few high-end products that are wonderful, I have to say that this Milani version is just as impressive for a fraction of the cost. It goes on clear and provides the perfect base for any look.EYE SHADOW PALETTES
tarte Tartelette In Bloom Clay Eye Shadow Palette: I bought the original Tartelette palette last year, and I instantly fell in love with the the selection of dreamy matte eye shadows… but then I found the Tartelette in Bloom palette. It features the same buttery formula as the original palette, but the mix of matte and shimmer shades is absolutely perfect for my style. It features every color that you need to create dozens of glamorous looks, and the formula is outstanding. Pigmented, smooth, and incredibly easy to blend. You can read more about my love for this palette in my June Beauty Favorites post.: This eye shadow palette is a long-time favorite that’s a must-have for any beauty lover. It features matte and shimmer shades in a variety of neutral tones, and the formula is ultra-buttery and smooth. It’s a fabulous eye palette for all ages and all skin tones.
EYEBROWS
Benefit Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel: I’ve been using this product religiously since it was released several years ago, and I’m currently using the last bit of my third tube. Gimme Brow is a tinted eyebrow gel featuring tiny fibers that mimic your natural eyebrow hair. This products fills in small gaps in my eyebrows and keeps them in place (without looking crunchy) all day long. It’s the perfect brow product! Read my full review in my June Beauty Favorites post.L’Oreal Brow Stylist Definer: While I naturally have fairly full brows, I do have a few bald spots that need to be filled in. This eyebrow pencil features a tiny tip that allows you to create precise strokes, and the formula is just pigmented enough to fill in areas without looking over-the-top. This pencil also features a fantastic spoolie brush to comb your brows into place.
MASCARA
It Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara*: I am a mascara snob. I want my mascara to work miracles, and this one truly does. The Superhero mascara manages to volumize, lengthen, and lift my lashes. After applying two coats, I look like a completely different person! Read more about my obsession with this product in my June Beauty Favorites post.CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara: This mascara never leaves my makeup bag. On its own, this mascara gives you naturally lengthened and fluttering lashes, but it’s real strength lies in its layering capabilities. As the name states, this mascara destroys clumps. I always, always, always use the brush of this mascara to comb through my lashes – no matter what mascara I’m wearing underneath. It’s my mascara secret weapon!
Benefit Roller Lash Curling & Lifting Mascara: This mascara is another all-time favorite. The wand magically curls and lengthens your eyelashes without adding clumps, but you’ll still get a nice amount of volume. The first time I applied this mascara, I was actually shocked at how long my lashes looked. It’s an amazing product!
EYELINER
L’Oreal Voluminous Liner Noir Liquid Eyeliner*: The eyeliner is one of the latest additions to my makeup collection, and it’s quickly earned a spot as one of my all-time favorites. The felt tip applicator makes creating the perfect cat eye a piece of cake. You can easily use this liquid eyeliner to create a thin, thick, or winged look in seconds, and the matte formula doesn’t smudge or smear throughout the day.: I have a ridiculous amount of pencil eyeliners. I mean, it’s really embarrassing. Despite my vast collection, the Slide On collection from NYX remains my go-to pencil eyeliner. It comes in a variety of beautiful shades, and the creamy formula glides onto your eye and stays in place for hours on end.
RIDE OR DIE MAKEUP: LIP PRODUCTS
LIP BALM
*: This lip balm is still my favorite. It’s moisturizing and soothing on your lips, and the Rosy Lips version has a slight pink tip and the most delicious berry-rose scent. I definitely recommending try this lip balm if you haven’t already. You’ll get hooked! See a full review on the entire line here and here.LIPSTICK
Clinique Pop Lip Color & Primer: My lipstick preferences change on a daily basis, but the Clinique Pop Lip formula never disappoints. This lipstick formula is creamy, full opaque, and long-lasting. Plus, it comes in the most beautiful shade range. I swear that every single color is wearable and flattering! I currently own five shades (Bare Pop, Cherry Pop, Wow Pop, Passion Pop, and Melon Pop), and I’m so tempted to pick up the other shades in the line. If you’re a lipstick lover, you need to try this formula.Honest Beauty Truly Kissable Lip Crayon*: I received this lipstick pencil formula in the shade Strawberry Kiss in a gift bag, and I honestly wasn’t expecting much. I thought it would be a sheer wash of color, and boy, was I dead wrong. This lip crayon is packed with pigment, and Strawberry Kiss is the perfect shade of red. This lipstick features a gorgeous satin finish, and the color is long-lasting (but not kiss-proof) without drying out your lips. I am SO impressed by this lipstick, and I can’t wait to try more colors from the line.
LIP GLOSS
It Cosmetics Vitality Lip Blush Hydrating Gloss Stain in Je Ne Sais Quoi: I am never disappointed by It Cosmetics products, but this lip gloss is in a class of its own. In the tube, it looks like a normal clear lip gloss, but when applied to the lips, it turns into the most beautiful, wearable, and long-lasting pink lip gloss on the planet. As if the initial effect wasn’t enough, the color stains your lips and lasts for hours even after the shine wears down. Plus, it’s incredibly hydrating and ultra-comfortable on your lips without being sticky. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever tried other than the lip balm version of this product that was featured in my June Beauty Favorites post. While the shade Je Ne Sais Quoi is my all-time favorite, all of the lip glosses from It Cosmetics are absolutely amazing.NYX Butter Gloss: Another lip gloss obsession is the Butter Gloss range from NYX. This affordable drugstore lip gloss is smooth, creamy, and makes your lips feel soft and moisturized. This gloss provides a medium to high level of pigment depending on the shade, and it’s available in 34 beautiful colors. My personal favorites are Merengue, Creme Brulee, Tiramisu, and Angel Foodcake. I always have a tube of this lip gloss in my purse, and I think it’s something that every woman should own. Trust me, you’ll love this stuff.