5 Makeup Hero Products

This week, Sali Hughes wrote an article for The Guardian about her 50 greatest beauty products of all time, which is a definite must-read for any beauty obsessives, I highly recommend it. Articles like this are right up my street, I love finding out about new products from across the beauty industry and there is nothing more reassuring than a tried-and-tested personal recommendation. Here is my own mini collection of my five favourite makeup products which I couldn’t live without – the contents of my makeup bag are almost constantly changing, but here are 5 staples which always stay the same:

1  1)   Touche Éclat – Yves Saint Laurent

This really is such a handy product to have and a worthwhile investment. This is a product that lives up to the hype.  I have tried other brand’s versions, both cheaper and of a similar price and honestly nothing compares. (Apart from the By Terry products by the same creator) it’s lovely on a no makeup day to wake your skin up a bit or equally as nice on top of makeup for extra highlighting. Go have some fun with it, you won’t be disappointed.

2)      Lipsticks in ‘Cherish’ (nude) and ‘Chilli’ (red) – MAC

Cherish (left) Chilli (right)

Wearing Cherish

Wearing Chilli

Every girl needs a perfect red and an everyday staple lipstick, and MAC’s matte shades are my absolute favourite. The cocoa butter formula is nourishing and keeps lips moisturised but it’s the colour payoff which really impresses me, it’s absolutely fantastic, rich, long-lasting colour. ‘Cherish’ is a browny-neutral which is nude without being chalky and so easy to wear.  ‘Chilli’ is a deep red which looks beautiful on most skin tones – it’s my go-to red for using on photoshoots, as well as on myself. 

3)      2000 Calorie Mascara – Maxfactor

Before

After

I’ve done a blog post raving about this mascara before, read it here, so I won’t go into too much depth, but it really is the best mascara that I have ever used. It does everything you’d want; lengthening, thickening, volumising etc. Its waterproof enough for all but swimming and it never seems to dry out or go clumpy. Plus its cheap, £8 well spent!

4)      Duo Adhesive

This may seem like a weird choice, but I am a huge fan of false eyelashes and the glue that they come with is usually rubbish and/or irritating to the eyes. Although the eyelashes are always different, the glue will always be the same. I find that it is better than Eyelure or Shu Uemura’s glue. Duo dries quickly, lasts AGES (you can wear your lashes all night, I never have to touch them up) and it’s gentle. I wear contacts and I still get on great with this. You can buy this online, from MAC or Inglot for around £10. The tubes pretty big, it usually lasts me 6-9 months.

5)       24/7 Eyeliner in ‘Perversion’ – Urban Decay

Urban Decay is not a brand that know very well but I can say that their eyeliners are incredible. ‘Perversion’ is the darkest black, though they have a huge range of colours; it has a great colour payoff and will last all day and the next, if you’re feeling lazy with your cleanser. It is really soft and smudgeable but it sets after a few minutes so you can play with it and use it however suits you best. Again, I have tried many other brands of all different price ranges and nothing compares to this, in my opinion. 

I hope you enjoyed my recommendations, I’d love to know if you’ve tried any of them yourself or if you have any makeup essentials you’d like to share!