When you are in a rush or simply trying to condense your purse/bag, it’s hard to decide which beauty products make the cut. Do you really need to carry around a makeup bag? Do you need all 10 of those lipsticks in your purse? (The answer is forever yes.) Whether you are hitting the gym before work or crashing at your boo’s crib, you should always have the essentials on deck. Makeup artist Celina Rodriguez gives us her professional recommendations on the 5 Essential MAKEUP Products you should have, a few brand recommendations, and the different ways you can use these products!
- Mascara – For lashes and some brows (If your hair is dark enough)
- Concealer – Spot/dab around the whole face for a quick, even skin tone
- Lip Balm – Tinted lip balm is always a plus
- Lip Stick – Your go-to nude (BONUS: If you’re an overachiever, you’ll keep a red stashed away too.)
- Brown Matte Eyeliner – (doubles for a brow pencil if you’re a brunette) and if it’s not too dark, you can also apply a soft amount on to contour and blend in with fingers or a brush if possible (if it’s a creamy pencil/eyeliner paint pot.)
*Mascara – My two favorites are DIOR DIORSHOW EXTASE and MAYBELLINE VOLUM’ EXPRESS FALSIES (purple tube). If your eyebrow hair is of a darker tone, feel free to work the wand into your brows and brush the remaining color into your brow hair hair for a more feathered look.
*Concealer – My two go-to’s are NARS RADIANT CREAMY CONCEALER and MAKEUP FOREVER FULL COVER. The Nars concealer comes in a tube/stick applicator, doesn’t crease, and provides a decent amount of coverage. MUFE HD concealers waterproof, has HD benefits, and blends nicely – a little goes a long way. Always apply under the eyes and in the “T-Zone”. If you don’t have problematic skin you can spot-apply around the face and create an even skin tone without the use of foundation.
*Lip Balm – SMITH’s ROSEBUD SALVE (preferably in tube) and DIOR CREME’ DE ROSE LIP BALM. Clearly, I love rose in anything, and you should too. Rose oils, extracts, and ingredients are extremely hydrating and I feel one of the biggest essential ingredients to have in a product. If you have sensitivity to scented products than this won’t be your fav, but overall I’ve found that most people do not have a reaction to it.
*Lipstick – You should always carry your staple go-to nude. My two favorites are CHANEL ROGUE COCO MADEMOISELLE and KAT VON D EVERLASTING LIQUID LIPSTICK LOLITA. Chanel lipsticks are typically more creamy and have a nice shine to them, so I suggest this to anyone that tends to have chapped lips. KVD liquid lipstick has a matte finish and is honestly my favorite lip line currently. It’s high in pigment, vegan/cruelty free, and Lolita is one of the most popular/sold out lip colors across the board. If you find it, grab it!
*Brown Matte Eyeliner – I suggested Brown eyeliner because it helps create a softer look, yet it’s dark enough to still create depth in the lash line/under eye. You’re able to build with Brown, or simply add it to finish off your look. MAC EYE PENCIL in COFFEE and SMASHBOX LIMITLESS LINER in JAVA are my two favorites, and I believe that everyone should have a brown liner in their personal makeup bag. Always go for a matte Brown (less waxy), so that you can use it in multiple ways. If your skin tone and eyeliner are complimentary, you can also use your liner to help contour your face. If your pencil isn’t soft enough (choose a pencil that is a bit slick) blend into the skin with your fingers. The natural warmth from your hands will help melt the pencil into the skin and blend in naturally.
By: Celina Rodriguez
