It’s beauty week here on Wolf & Stag! In this two-part series, I’ll be chatting all things ‘Holy Grail’ beauty — otherwise known as HG or “the products I can’t live without.” These are the beauty buys I’ve felt worth splashing my hard-earned money repeatedly — because they are just that damn good. In part one, I’ll be focusing just on makeup. In Friday’s Part Two, I’ll be delving into the apothecary-like world of good skincare.
Why am I doing these post? I’ve chatted before about how I think that many, many makeup & skincare products are actually kind of overrated. Sorry if that’s rubbing salt in the wound, my lovely beauty blogger friends. But really, so many of these lotions-and-potions just make my face average or below average. What I’m questing for, however, is something more; the products that make your heart sing and your face glow. Unrealistic and hard-to-please, you may call me. I say: a girl can dream.
Picky as I am, I have a very unsophisticated litmus test as to whether I think a beauty product fits that ‘nearly HG’ status: whether I would buy it again. Unsurprisingly then, only a handful of products I’ve actually liked enough to buy repeatedly, and these are what I consider the ultimate beauty buys.
See my makeup picks below, and let me know what you think in the comments!
My Can’t-Live-Without Beauty Products: Makeup
Clockwise from top
Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector
I first spoke about this wonder product in my Cruelty-Free Makeup Swap post. I’ve now been using it for a few months now, and I have to say, this really does make my eyes pop. My biggest ‘what’s wrong with my face’ complaint is that my eyes are naturally quite swollen, red and ‘tired’ looking. This has quickly become my saviour. Word of warning: it’s very pink based, so I would avoid if you are quite olive-toned in your skin.
NARS blush
I’ve used a few of these beauties throughout my makeup years, and they’ve never disappointed. The one above is ‘Amour,’ a matte powder in a flushed-from-the-wind kind of pinky-red. However, I tend to prefer the more shimmery colours — ‘Orgasm’ is always a good bet, although any colour you choose will look beautiful. These highly pigmented, long lasting blushers are the best powder ones I’ve used.
MAC PowerPoint Eye Pencil in ‘Engraved’
Now I have tried to use a cruelty-free eyeliner as good as MACs. So far, my search has fruitless, and time and time again I end up coming back to MAC when I’ve run out of whatever sub-par one is in my makeup bag. In my quest to be totally CF in my beauty routine, I’m still a cheat sometimes. For a pencil eyeliner, you can’t beat the precision, glide and deep colour of MAC eyeliners.
Becca Aqua Luminous Foundation
You may notice a theme on my blog towards Becca and Hourglass products. Cruelty-free and high quality, these brands know how to make great makeup. I first heard about Aqua Luminous from the wonderful Ruth Crilly of A Model Recommends, and after seeing her flawless face, I knew I had to try this foundation myself. It’s a wonderful mix of dewy yet not shiny, light yet still with coverage and it glides on smooth like butter. Close to being my HG foundation.
Bare Minerals Lipsticks
Guys, lipsticks are so hard to find. I’ve tried many, and so many are either drying, not long lasting, difficult to put on or whatever else could go wrong when you’re just trying to get ready for date night. bareMinerals versions are the best value for money that I have found; at only £13.50 a pop, they feel more akin to a £25 version with their quality and packaging. I’ve seen many other bloggers rave about these beauties, too.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder
I literally rave about this powder like a mad woman to everyone I know. It’s one of those products I never knew my face needed until I tried it on and suddenly I looked healthy. For fellow people that glow a special shade of pale, this is the powder and bronzer all-in-one combo that will just make you glow. Trust me; you will love it.
