Well, I happen to have made it my mission to find the best of the best. One too many trips to Sephora later, I'm opening up my makeup bag to my readers so you can see what I can't live without on a daily basis. Without further ado, here are my absolute favorite beauty products. All can be purchased at Sephora.
1. Nars Blush in Orgasm. The blush that looks great on everyone. Nars also makes this shade in a variety of other products, including nail polish, lip gloss, lipstick, cheek stain and illuminator.
2. Benefit Watts Up! Highlighter. I received this as a free birthday gift at Sephora, and I use it every day. It adds a radiant lift to my whole face, and it makes me look like I'm wide awake, even when I'm so tired that I'm about to fall asleep standing up. I recommend using this highlighter on the very inside corners of your eyes, on the inside lower rim of your eye, and on your brow bones for an extra lift.
3. Diorskin Nude Skin Glowing Makeup. In addition to being SPF 15, this liquid foundation will smooth out any and all imperfections, making your skin look flawless and radiant. I fell in love with Dior foundation in high school, and I doubt I will ever buy anything else.
4. St. Tropez Tanning Essentials: Self Tan Bronzing Mousse. I've tried a lot of self tanners, and this is without a doubt the best one on the market. While other self tanners I've tried were pretty good, this one is AMAZING. It's easy to apply, adds a natural (non-orange) glow, and won't come off on your clothes. St. Tropez is worth the ridiculous amount of money it costs, especially for an event or photo shoot you must look perfect for.
5. Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner. I must note here that I bought this eyeliner after trying Urban Decay's 24/7 waterproof liquid eyeliner. I loved Urban Decay's, except for one thing: It has a tendency to flake off. Stila's is great; it truly is waterproof, and I'll never go back.
6. Bare Escentuals Glimmer. I've been using these sparkly, fairy dust-like eyeshadows since I was in middle school and first started to experiment with makeup. They're not super expensive, are easy to apply, and last forever. I usually apply them dry, but they also apply very well when mixed with water, creating a creamy mixture. I recommend applying Glimmer with an eyeshadow brush.
7. Clinique All About Eyes Concealer. This is the best under-eye concealer I've found so far. When I wake up so tired that I look like I got punched in the face under each eye a few times, I turn to Clinique All About Eyes Concealer to make me look perky and somewhat normal.
8. Nars Bronzer in Casino (or Laguna). Nars bronzer is the best I've found so far. It's subtle, and when applied with a BIG brush, it goes on without a streak and leaves you with a natural-looking tan.
My makeup bag: This isn't the exact pattern I have, but I swear by these LeSportsac cosmetic pouches. They're just the right size, they're easy to clean, and they come in cute colors and patterns.
P.S. I still haven't found a really good lipstick or waterproof mascara, so if you have a suggestion, leave a comment and let me know! :)
