I’m so excited to have Heather joining us from The Domestic Diva today! We have worked together for many years on the Walmart Moms program and she is one of my go-to girls when it comes to beauty and make-up! I hope you enjoy these fantastic recommendations from her today! xo
Hi, my name is Heather and I blog at the beauty & lifestyle blog, The Domestic Diva. I love checking out the latest affordable products at the drugstore and believe that you don’t have to spend a fortune to achieve flawless makeup results at home.
Whether I’m rocking the “no makeup” makeup look or full on glam there are a five must-have products and tools that I use in my makeup bag every time I apply my makeup:
1. Eyeshadow Palette
There are many different formulas of eye shadows from mattes to shimmers. I tend to stick to mostly matte shadows because they are the most forgiving. But when it comes to shopping for eyeshadows, the problem I have is not only do purchasing individual eye shadow colors add up quickly but it can also be a little difficult to find pigmented matte shadows at the drugstore. However, we are beginning to see more and more eyeshadow palettes at the drugstore so when looking for an eyeshadow palette try to find one that has a mix of both mattes and shimmers. An example of this would be the Maybelline The Nudes palette or the Maybelline Blushed Nudes palette at the drugstore.
I think, however, the best part of having an eyeshadow palette in your makeup bag, instead of individual eye shadows, is that it is easy to create a variety of different eyeshadow looks based on which shadows you use from the palette. If you are one that likes to experiment with your look, I would recommend a larger palette. Coastal Scents and BH Cosmetics, while only available online, both have large eye shadow palettes full of highly-pigmented shadows yet still remains budget-friendly. When choosing an eyeshadow palette choose one that is either completely matte or has a good mix of mattes and shimmering shades in colors that compliment your skin tone.
2. Eyeshadow Primer
I can not and will not apply eyeshadow to my eyes without first applying a primer. My personal favorite is the L’oreal De-crease Eye Shadow Base that can easily be found at just about any drugstore. An eyeshadow primer, also known as a base, gives your shadows something to stick and hold on to. You’ll notice when using an eyeshadow primer or base versus not using one that your eye shadows will look more vibrant and that they will last longer throughout the day.
3. Setting Spray
Living in a climate with very high humidity, one step outside and my makeup wants to just melt or sweat off of my face especially in the summer months. I’ve found that setting my finished makeup look with a setting spray helps my makeup last longer through my day. The great news is that a product that was once only sold in higher-end stores is now easily available at the drugstore. After applying your makeup, lightly mist your entire face with a setting spray, like the L’oreal Infallible Pro-Spray & Set Makeup Extender Setting Spray, allow it to dry completely before you blink your eyes or move about to set your makeup in place.
4. Powder Foundation
Every one has flaws. Whether it’s an unexpected blemish or a dark spot you want to conceal, trying to hide those imperfections can be a bit challenging. Using a cream based product to conceal can often end up looking cakey. I’ve found that I get better results when I use a powder foundation, like L’oreal True Match Mineral Foundation, to conceal. I apply my liquid foundation as normal and any imperfections that needs additional coverage, like a blemish, I will use a fluffy eyeshadow brush dipped in a powder foundation to buff over those areas before setting it with a translucent powder. The reason why this works is because powder foundations are typically formulated for medium-full coverage. The key, however, is to make sure that the powder foundation matches your skin tone so when you buff the powder foundation on the area you want to conceal, it will blend in seamlessly.
5. Makeup Brushes
Having a great set of makeup brushes can make a world of difference in the way that your makeup looks when applied to the skin. Let’s face it, the applicators that come with makeup products when purchased don’t really work all that great. I recommend two sets of brushes, one for your face and a separate set for those that like to play up their eyes. One can purchase brushes individually or as a set, which I prefer. Brushes can also be found in the drugstore, like Real Techniques or Ecotools, or online, at Coastal Scents or BH Cosmetics.
For the face you want to have at least a large powder brush, a blush brush, and perhaps a contour brush if you like to contour. For the eyes the brushes you want to look for is a large fluffy eyeshadow brush for applying shadow all over the entire lid, a blending brush for your crease, a smaller eyeshadow brush for packing shimmery shades just on the lid or for applying bolder more intense colors in a concentrated area, and a small smudge brush for smudging eyeliner or applying eyeshadow to your lower lash line.
For applying liquid foundation and liquid concealer, I recommend a dampened beauty blending sponge versus just using your fingers. The budget-friendly Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge is said to be a great alternative to the other high-end makeup blending sponge currently on the market.
These are just a few of my favorite products or tools that I keep in my makeup bag. If you would like more makeup tips or would just like to hear my thoughts on the latest, budget-friendly makeup products then please take a minute to visit my blog at thedomesticdiva.org. Also, I would like to give Amy, a wonderful blogging friend whom I’ve admired for years, a big thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk about one of my favorite topics with all of you!
*This post contains affiliate links. We only recommend what we love!
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