I Try On Makeup for a Living—Here’s Everything I’m Buying Right Now

One of the many perks of being a beauty editor is that there’s
always an endless stream of products showing up on my desk. I get
to see every new celebrity
makeup brand, every
serum, and every hair
tool before they even hit the market. Not gonna lie—it’s pretty
dope.

That said, it can be tough, even for editors, to weed through
the copious amounts of product to identify the absolute best of the
best. That’s a skill that comes with time and lots of trial and
error. But as a true beauty lover, I’m totally up to the
challenge.

After all the swatching, testing, and reviewing I’ve done in my
career (and in my life!), there are certain makeup products that
stick out in my mind as true gems worth spending my hard-earned
money on. Ahead, find the edit of 18 makeup buys from Sephora,
Ulta, and Amazon that rise above the rest.

I’ve
yet to try this new formula of Fenty foundation, but I’m excited to
add it to my routine to help combat dryness that always arrises in
the fall.

My
passion for lip gloss was recently re-ignited, so I’m reaching for
this bubblegum pink option, also by Fenty.

I’ve
been a Naked Palette stan since college, so I always pick up the
new iteration when it drops.

Just
because this glimmering shadow has the word summer in it doesn’t
mean I won’t add it to my fall makeup wardrobe.

Yet
another product I’ve had an affinity for since my college years,
but a hormone roller coaster made my skin too oily to use it once I
hit my mid-20s. Now that things have (mostly) settled back down,
I’m excited to try this new formula.

Every
beauty editor I know loves this liner. I’m snagging this brown one
to help neutralize nude lipsticks that appear are ashy or chalky
against my brown skin.

I’m
hoping this palette will cut down on the amount of makeup I have to
travel with.

This
brand is a consistent winner for me, so I’m re-upping on this
lovely BB cream a makeup artist friend turned me on to a few years
ago.

This
is my holy-grail concealer, so I’m picking up an extra one before
my current supply runs out.

I’ve
had some of the makeup brushes in my collection since high school
(gross), so I’m well overdue for a refresh. These face brushes by
Sigma will definitely inspire a complete overhaul.

Makeup
artist Kelsey Deenihan gave me a sneak peek at this cream last
month, and I’m totally sold. It’s super soft and super
pigmented—such a win.

I
keep lip balms strewn about my entire life, so this one my Weleda
will fit right into the rotation.

The
gloss obsession rages on with this deep magenta beauty by Uoma.

Apparently
I’m not being very gentle with my makeup because I’ve dropped about
six bronzers and watched them break into a million pieces this
year. I’m hoping I’ll have better luck with this affordable
option.

This
creme contour kit has hundreds of rave reviews on Amazon, so I’m
going to give it a try to see if it’s a viable dupe for the more
expensive ones I typically keep on hand.

I
need to know how and why this thing has over 6000 reviews on
Amazon. There are even a bunch of photo testimonials from people
who absolutely swear by it. I’m going to give it a whirl and see
what all the fuss is about. At just $10, it’s a pretty low-stakes
gamble.

I’m
on the market for a new blush, and I think the shimmery cast of
this one might just fill the hole in my current blush
collection.

Epic
is the perfect word to describe this liquid eyeliner. I usually buy
two or even three at a time, so I can have one on hand for
touch-ups at home, at work, and on the go. Up next, the 16 most
expensive smelling fragrances, broken down by cost per wear.