Having been a beauty blogger for the past 8 years I feel my staple beauty favourites are something I often neglect to talk about. While in reality I know they should the thing I talk about most - they are after all the products I've been repurchasing and loving for years!
So today I thought I would sit down, gather all my favourite beauty staples around me and finally talk about them and generally sing their praises, circa 2012 style.
Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow
Back in the day, Maybelline Colour Tattoos were something many a beauty bloggers got excited about, comparing them to MAC Paint Pots and generally raving at what good eyeshadows/eyeshadow bases they made. However over the years they have sort of faded in popularity and have been overshadowed by endless new releases from Maybelline. But for me, they have remained in my makeup collection, in fact, I feel like they are some of the best single eyeshadows on the high street!
While I own an array of different finishes (both matte and shimmer) and shades my go-to shade remains '65-Pink Gold' as it's simply a lovely rose gold on the eyelids that can be worn alone or used as a base for most smokey eye looks. Once the cream base has been patted onto the eyelid and blended out with a fluffy brush or fingertips it's truly there to stay, never creasing and in fact keeping any eyeshadows cream or powder you apply on top looking fresh all day long. Another thing I really appreciate about this cream eye product is that a single pot will last you a very very long time due to the solid cream formula and the fact it doesn't seem to ever dry out or crack in the pot (ahem, unlike MAC Paint Pots!) meaning this is a product you can enjoy for years.
Other favourite shades include: And On Bronze (shimmer), Permanent Taupe (matte), Creme de Nude (matte - ideal eyeshadow base/primer), Eternal Gold (shimmer) - all available here
Clarins Mineral Loose Powder
Before getting my hands of this huge 30g Clarins powder I had tried endless powder compacts and while most did the job I'd find myself hitting pan or simply breaking the compact in my bag within months. I also simply felt I couldn't warrant more than a £10 spend on a translucent powder to set and mattify my makeup. But then I got to try out the Clarins Mineral Loose Powder and still to this day it sits on my makeup table and has been lovingly used for the past five years. Yes, I did just say FIVE years and it's still going strong! Not only am I still less than half of the way through the 30g pot but I use it as a base for eyeshadow, to mattify glossy lipsticks and of course as a general face powder.
Of course, I love this powder as it's lasted a hella long time but I also love the silky lightweight formula that feels and look ultra-fine on the skin and never cakey. This truly is one of my favourite products that I haven't raved about in a very long time that I would recommend to everyone!
L'Oreal Miss Manga Mega Volume Mascara
Bringing it back to the high street with a L'Oreal product this time that is not only budget-friendly but has been around many years so it's likely to stay that way!
Mascara is a funny one, isn't it? I feel like the high street has never addressed different mascaras for different eyelash types (poker straight, short, curled) like it has for say foundation or skincare. But it's a fact that while your bestie may love one mascara you on the other hand may hate it. For that reason I don't often talk about the mascaras I oh so love. However, while L'Oreal Miss Manga may take a few uses to get used to, due to the flexible brush, it may just be a mascara that satisfies all different lashes. My reasoning for this is that due to the flexible wand/brush (it's almost on a joint that makes application very light and guided) it works with the natural eyelashes ensuring the lashes aren't overcoated or weighed down. But having said all of that it does offers good volume that's free from clumps! I've been purchasing this mascara for years so if you are in the market for something new then this may be worth a try.
theBalm Frat Boy Blusher
Anyone remember when theBalm almost rivalled Benefit and were the talked about beauty brand by most beauty bloggers? Well while they're still popular they unfortunately don't seem to get much media or online attention these days, but that may be due to the price of their items or the fact that I've only seen liquid lipsticks launched by them in past few years.
Anyway, I digress, on to a product I've owned from theBalm for so many years, I don't like to imagine how old this product actually is (it truly is one of my most used and loved blushers)! This is simply the most flattering subtle pink blusher for fair/pale skin - fact. It's just beautiful and my go-to blusher when I'm not sure what to go for as it's fail safe and natural. A real gem of a product that I can't believe I haven't hit pan on after all of these years!
Benefit Hoola Bronzer
Lastly, a product I have certainly hit pan on and will re-purchase my entire life, or at least as long as Benefit continue to sell it. I'm talking Hoola; the bronzer to rule them all! Okay, well for a lot of skin tones anyway.
Benefit Hoola again is perfect for fair to medium skin tones and unlike a lot of bronzers doesn't have an orange tone'cast to it, making it the ideal contour and bronzer shade if you want a natural finish. The formula is also great, being fine and light on the skin and easily blended. My only criticism would be that the cardboard packaging does get beaten up easily, especially if it's thrown into a makeup bag and used daily. But other than that this is another true favourite of mine!
Side note: Hoola also makes the most perfect brown eyeshadow!
As I loved looking back and talking about my all-time beauty favourites I may just have to write up a skincare edition. Let me know if this is something you would like!
Fee xo.
