The Best Makeup Ever – My Absolute Holy Grail Products
Hi, friends! With all the new makeup I try and all the great makeup I discover all the time, there are still certain products that I find myself gravitating to on a daily basis.
These are products that I’ve tried, loved, and now hold a very special place in my heart. <3
Today’s post is going to be different from my Monthly Favorites posts, which are normally composed of my favorite new products that I’ve tried in that month.
It will include my makeup go-to products regardless of how old they are and regardless of whether they are luxury or drugstore products.
Check out my Drugstore Makeup Holy Grails.
These are the products that I reach for when I know I want a no-nonsense makeup day and that have gained my trust. (Anyone else talk about their makeup like they’re actual people?)
I guess you could say… these are my holy grails. Ride-or-die. Tried-and-true. Sure-fire. No-fail. You get the picture, yeah?
Warning, this post is probably pretty long because ya girl wears a lot of makeup, so everyday makeup is a full damn face of makeup using almost every kind of product there is.
Without further ado, let’s get started!
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Best Makeup Products – Holy Grails
PRIMER
Bobbi Brown – Vitamin Enriched Face Base
Out of everything on this list, I have been using this product for the longest time. I think it’s been over 2 years since I’ve started using this!
And I’ve used it almost every day since then. It honestly makes my foundation go on so nicely and I love how moisturizing it is.
It’s not meant to be pore-filling or smoothing at all, so I like to put a smoothing primer on top of it.
Shop Now: Sephora | Amazon | Bobbi Brown
Related: Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base Review
Tatcha – The Silk Canvas
And this is the primer I put on top of the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base!
This is a fairly new favorite of mine, as it was first seen in my April Favorites, but I’ve been in love with it from day 1.
It’s definitely the best smoothing primer I’ve ever tried and it truly lives up to its name and makes your skin a silk canvas!
FOUNDATION
NARS – Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation
This foundation is just seriously SO GOOD. Even though I try out a lot of different foundations, I always find myself coming back to this one.
It’s totally a no-fail foundation for me and my go-to when I’m not trying out something new.
It has a beautiful radiant finish and I just love the way my skin looks with this foundation on.
Shop Now: Amazon | Sephora | Ulta
Related: NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation Review
Hourglass Cosmetics – Vanish Seamless Finish Stick Foundation
This is another foundation that I love the finish of. It’s more matte than the NARS Natural Radiant Foundation, but it makes my skin look flawless.
It even camouflages dry patches better than any other foundation I’ve tried. It isn’t the most long-wearing foundation, though, so I use this when I won’t be wearing makeup for an extended amount of time – like an event or going out to dinner.
Related: Hourglass Vanish Stick Foundation Review
Makeup Revolution – Fast Base Stick Foundation
This is a very recent favorite of mine, but I seriously can’t get enough of it.
It’s similar to the Hourglass Vanish Stick in application and how flawless it makes my skin look.
But, it has a much more natural radiant finish, which I love for when I want to look glowy. I’ve found it to be fairly long-wearing, too.
Shop Now: Ulta
CONCEALER
Tarte – Shape Tape Concealer
I absolutely love the Shape Tape Concealer because it’s so full coverage and really stays put.
If you have dark circles under your eyes (like me), this concealer will cover it right up. The hype is well warranted for this concealer.
NARS – Natural Radiant Creamy Concealer
A little less full coverage that the Tarte Shape Tape, the NARS Natural Radiant Creamy Concealer is my favorite for days I feel like I don’t need as much coverage.
I’ve been using this concealer for over 2 years and I still love it! It’s so creamy and blends out beautifully.
Shop Now: Sephora | Amazon | Ulta
Maybelline – SuperStay Better Skin Concealer
A lot of people say the Maybelline FitMe Concealer is a dupe for the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, but I actually think the Maybelline Better Skin Concealer is a closer dupe.
It’s super similar in coverage and consistency, but a fraction of the cost. I use this concealer every single day for spot concealing.
I would totally use it under my eyes if there were a light enough shade to be brightening on me. The shade range is honestly pretty disappointing – only 6 shades!
SETTING POWDER
Laura Mercier – Translucent Setting Powder
This setting powder is one of the most loved in the beauty industry and for very good reason!
It really locks base makeup into place without making it look cakey or too powdery. AND it adds a bit more coverage, which I love.
Maybelline – Fit Me! Loose Setting Powder
Totally a dupe for the Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder, but at a small fraction of the cost. It really is. I can barely tell the difference between the two.
The Maybelline Fit Me Loose Setting Powder is actually what I use on a daily basis to set my under-eye area, to set my entire face, to bake, to everything!
The only difference is that the powders are colored, so make sure you get the right shade!
I use the shade 05 Fair for under my eyes and sometimes to bake under my contour. And I use shade 10 Fair Light to set my entire face.
BRONZER
Marc Jacobs – O! Mega Bronzer in Tan-Tastic
This bronzer is seriously the best bronzer ever. It’s the perfect shade to suit light to medium skin tones and it has the perfect pigmentation to make it easy to use.
No one likes bronzer that’s too pigmented and hard to blend out!
It’s more of a cool-toned bronzer than most bronzers on the market, but that makes it versatile as you can use it for contouring. And it smells amazing.
Shop Now: Sephora
Physicians Formula – Butter Bronzer in Bronzer
This was the first bronzer I’ve ever owned and I still find myself reaching for it. It’s just so good!
It blends out effortlessly, isn’t too orange, and makes me look just the right amount of bronze.
I can’t see this shade working on anyone much darker than I am, though. However, they now have new shades for different skin tones!
And this one smells amazing, too.
CONTOUR
Kevyn Aucoin – The Sculpting Powder in Light
c/o Kevyn Aucoin via Octoly
I feel like contour is one of the more difficult things in makeup to figure out. I could never find the right shade to use that didn’t look too orange or too dirty on me.
That is, until I discovered the Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder!
I use this powder exclusively to contour my cheeks and nose every single day. It’s very much a cool-toned powder, which makes your contour look super natural and how a shadow would actually look.
BLUSH
Wet n Wild – ColorIcon Blush in Pearlescent Pink
Milani – Baked Blush in Luminoso
These two blushes are pretty similar so I’m going to talk about them together.
Seeing them next to each other in a photo makes me realize that they are pretty much exactly the same!
I was using the Wet n Wild one for a long time (look – I hit the pan!) and I bought the Milani one recently because I thought I should try something new.
But, then I bought one that looks almost exactly the same. What can I say? I’m a creature of habit!
Both blushes are the perfect peachy pink shade that is wearable for everyday use. Both have some shimmer in them, although the Milani one may have a tad bit more.
And both blushes have great pigmentation, so a little goes a long way. Yet, they both blend out effortlessly. Between the two, I can’t recommend one over the other. Can’t go wrong with either! 🙂
Wet n Wild Blush: Wet n Wild | Target
Milani Blush: Amazon | Ulta
HIGHLIGHTER
Ofra Cosmetics – Rodeo Drive Highlighter
This was my ONLY holy grail highlighter for a really long time.
I just absolutely love the formula of Ofra highlighters – they are so smooth and the powder is so finely milled. This really helps cut down on emphasizing texture.
With Rodeo Drive in particular, it’s the perfect gold shade for light skin tones. And it’s hella bright to give you a blinding highlight.
Shop Now: Ulta
Pixi Beauty – Glow-y Glossamer Duo in Subtle Sunrise
c/o Pixi Beauty
Even though I still use Ofra Rodeo Drive, I find myself reaching for the Pixi Glow-y Glossamer Duo just as often.
This one has a little more glitter in it, so I use it when I’m feeling like I want that extra sparkle.
I only really use the left shade shade in the duo, which is actually a very similar shade to Ofra Rodeo Drive and just as bright. (I guess just like with the blush, I’m a creature of habit!)
Shop Now: Pixi Beauty | Target
EYESHADOW
Morphe x Jaclyn Hill Palette
If you’re just going to buy one palette for the rest of your life, buy this one.
It’s such a versatile palette that you can literally do any look you want with it. The quality and pigmentation is great and the shadows blend out effortlessly.
Shop Now: Ulta
Related: Jaclyn Hill Palette Review and Swatches
ColourPop – Double Entendre Palette
For a simple, neutral warm palette that can be used every day, this one is my favorite.
I can do my go-to dark brown smokey eye with this palette in a flash and the compact size of the palette makes it great for traveling.
In fact, this is the only palette I took with me on my recent 2-week long Australia trip. ColourPop shadows are of amazing quality that it’s hard to believe it’s so affordable.
Shop Now: ColourPop
Related: ColourPop Double Entendre Review and Swatches
Makeup Revolution – Reloaded Palette in Iconic Fever
Speaking of affordable, this palette is only $7! Isn’t that crazy?!
I was already shocked with the quality of ColourPop shadows for the price, but this one just blew my mind.
This is one of my go-to warm-toned palettes because it’s not super crazy with lots of bright oranges and reds. You can still keep it pretty neutral with this palette.
When I use this palette, I think of my look as a warm neutral look. The quality of this shadow is on par with many high-end palettes. It’s absolutely ridiculous for its affordable price.
Shop Now: Ulta
PENCILS & MASCARA
Ardency Inn – Modster Pencil
This may be a product that most people have never heard of, especially because Ardency Inn isn’t a super accessible brand right now.
They used to be sold at Sephora, but not anymore. However, it’s totally worth ordering directly from their website because this pencil will be the best waterline pencil you have ever tried.
It’s so pigmented, smooth to apply, and it lasts all day long without smudging or gathering in the corners of your eyes.
Shop Now: Ardency Inn
Pixi Beauty – Eye Define Waterline Pencil
c/o Pixi Beauty
This pencil is a great affordable option for an amazing waterline pencil. This is actually the pencil I use more often (it’s cheaper LOL) because its performance is pretty close to the Ardency Inn pencil.
I can wear it for a full day of work without being concerned at all about it smearing or coming off.
Shop Now: Pixi Beauty | Target
Anastasia Beverly Hills – Brow Definer
Until a couple of months ago, I used to use the Anastasia Perfect Brow Pencil exclusively. But, that was before I tried the Brow Definer.
After getting used to the thick angled tip, this pencil honestly makes doing my brows so much easier and faster.
It’s very creamy and less waxy than the Perfect Brow Pencil, which I like because it doesn’t make my eyebrow hairs look matted down.
Shop Now: Amazon | Sephora | Ulta
L’Oreal – Lash Paradise Voluminous Mascara
Since the release of this mascara last year, it has been the only one I’ve been using.
It’s highly regarded as a dupe for the Too Faced Better than Sex Mascara (even the packaging and brush shape is super similar), but I think it’s actually better.
It does an amazing job of voluminizing the lashes without making it clumpy. It is also really long-wearing and I hardly ever experience it flaking off.
SETTING SPRAY
Urban Decay – All Nighter Long Lasting Setting Spray
I think many makeup wearers will agree with me when I say that this setting spray is one of the best setting sprays out there, hands down.
It definitely ensures your makeup will last for an extended amount of time. Trust me, I’ve tested going without it and it was a huge difference.
Shop Now: Amazon | Sephora | Ulta
Flower Beauty – Hydrating Setting Spray
This is a new favorite of mine that I have been using a lot recently. Like the Urban Decay All Nighter Spray, the Flower Beauty Hydrating Spray definitely helps ensure your makeup will last as long as it can.
BUT, this spray is also hydrating!
I use a lot of powders, so sometimes my face can end up looking pretty dry. This spray helps replenish some of the moisture into my skin, leaving me with a much more natural finish.
Shop Now: Ulta
And that’s it for my list of most-loved holy grail beauty products!
Regardless if it’s a luxury product or a drugstore product, all of the products I’ve mentioned above have never let me down and have earned a spot at the top of my most-loved makeup list!
Are any of these products on your best makeup list? Be sure to let me know down in the comments. I’d love to know!
Also, don’t forget to sign up for Ebates (now called Rakuten) if you decide to buy any of these products!
SIGN UP HERE FOR FREE AND GET A $10 BONUS after you make your first qualifying purchase using Ebates!
Thanks for reading and until next time! <3
P.S. If you like what I do here on lianadesu, it would mean so much to me if you bought me a coffee (support my blog)!
More Beauty Posts:
- Luxury Makeup Worth Your Money
- Drugstore Makeup Holy Grails
- Ultimate List of Drugstore Dupes
- Easy 5-Step Korean Skincare Routine
- Best Luxury Makeup of 2018
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Harlow says
June 12, 2019 at 12:04 amHey there! I recently found your blog and i love reading it. I don’t have many friends who are into makeup like we are so this is a treat. I also use the nars and hourglass foundation you do and they are my grails also. You must try sometime the it cosmetics black gel eyeliner pencil. It is the best doe the waterline. I promise once you try it you will wonder how you lived without it. Also the nars liquid blush in orgasm. Hope you give them a try i cant wait to try yoursh
Liana says
June 13, 2019 at 7:08 amHi Harlow!
Thank you so much for stopping by and for your recommendations! I will definitely try the it cosmetics pencil and the nars liquid blush in orgasm! I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying my blog! You made my day! 🙂
Melody at LA Vida Color says
May 2, 2019 at 10:41 pmI just bought the Tatcha primer after finishing my Hourglass primer. I am so excited to try it! Do you find it helps with oil control (if you get oily)? Tatcha products are so luxurious!
Liana Otake says
May 2, 2019 at 11:17 pmHi Melody! You are going to love the Tatcha primer! It really is so luxurious and it just makes your skin feel so good! I have fairly dry skin on most areas of my face, but my T-zone does get shiny throughout the day.
With using the Tatcha primer, I do notice that it definitely extends the amount of time before I start seeing any shine! And when you first put it on, you’ll notice that it does reduce shine and blurs everything. I would say this isn’t the best primer at controlling oil, but it does help reduce shine a bit! And if the hourglass primer worked for you, then this one will totally work well for you!
And thank you so much for the coffee! <3 I appreciate you so much!