Everyday Makeup Favorites: My top 10 essentials

I will preface this post by saying that I do not consider myself a beauty expert. With that said, every girl who plays with makeup knows that trial and error is the secret to success and because of that, I'm always curious about other people's favorite products, tips, and tricks. For the most part I am also a very budget-conscious shopper, so hopefully I can turn a few more people on to my beauty favorites that also happen to be easy on the wallet.

I can say with confidence that if I were only allowed to keep 10 makeup products to use on a daily basis, these would be the final 10. If that isn't endorsement enough, please read on.

1 - Bare Minerals Ready SPF 20 Foundation - $29

I have been a Bare Minerals user for years now, but when I saw that they had come out with a solid compact version of the classic foundation, I had to try it. It's just as great as the original, which I love because it feels like I'm not wearing anything, but in a neater package that is even easier and faster to apply. Plus, it no longer makes a mess in my makeup bag.

2 - Skin79 VIP Gold Super BB Cream - $30

You may have already read about it in my post on BB Creams, but this super-moisturizing Korean BB cream has officially made it onto my favorites list. I like this as my winter alternative for foundation since I have fairly dry skin. It's better than the Bare Minerals when my skin needs moisture, but still provides good light coverage with a natural look.

3 - CoverGirl Lashblast Mascara - $8

I love this drugstore mascara and don't feel like I even want to try any others. It has great build-able volume, isn't too wet, and doesn't get that terrible crunchy feeling when it dries. Enough said.

4 - e.l.f. Mineral Eyeliner - $3

I used to be a fan of Clinique's eyeliner that is similar to this, but the e.l.f. version is just as good (IMO) at a fraction of the price. It goes on smooth as silk and comes in great basic colors. It's also made without chemical dyes or parabens, so it's great for sensitive skin and eyes.

5 - Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 40 - $32

I got the tinted version of this in a package from QVC and immediately fell in love with it. If I had unlimited funds I would most definitely own the entire Josie Maran line. This moisturizer goes on so smoothly and keeps my skin quenched all day. It's a great base for makeup and gives you all the sun protection you need.

6 - CoverGirl Lip Perfection in Spellbound - $7

I love a great bold lip color and this one is perfect for fair-skinned gals like myself. I think it would be flattering on most people, but is still a really unique slightly purple bright fuchsia color. The lipstick is highly pigmented and moisturizing as well.

7 - e.l.f. Studio Kabuki Face Brush - $6

After my original Bare Minerals kabuki brush bit the dust, I decided to take a chance on this much less expensive version by e.l.f. and I was not disappointed. I actually like this brush much better. It's incredibly soft and is dense enough to provide great coverage.

8 - Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain in Flame - $7

My go-to for an easy everyday bold lip is one of these drugstore lip stains. I am a fan of the CoverGirl version, but this one comes with lip balm on one end, which gives it a slight advantage. These are incredibly easy to apply, last for at least half the day, and wear off in a less-noticeable way than regular lipstick. This particular color is the perfect summery bright red-orange.

9 - Laura Geller Blush-n-Brighten in Honey Dipped - $31

This is a bit of splurge, but I got to try it in my Birchbox and I have to say that it is a must-try blush/bronzer for anyone with fair skin. It can be really difficult to find a bronzer that doesn't overwhelm or look silly on fair skin, but the golden tones in this one give a summer glow without looking like you are trying to be a tan person. It has multiple tones mixed together and blends incredibly well with just a slight glimmer.

10 - e.l.f. Studio Blush in Fuchsia Fusion - $3

I'm a huge fan of e.l.f. blushes, but this one comes out on top as my favorite. With fair skin, blush is definitely one of the most important items in my makeup arsenal. This one looks insanely bright, but it blends really easily and is probably the closest I've tried to a natural flushed color for fair skin tones. I often combine it with the Laura Geller bronzer for a faked glow.

If you have any makeup products that you cannot live without, I'd love to hear what they are!

xoxo

K