Best Makeup Products

Making The Short List

When it comes to the best makeup products Short List, understanding the criteria used to make selections has to be of importance to you. Especially if you are making judgement calls on your choices based on that information.

So, in this case, if you are interested in cutting through the advertisement hype and pretty packaging, and discovering the "real deal" makeup, you've come to the right place.   The makeup on this list is of good quality, long wearing, performs beautifully, makes you think "it's worth every penny", and/or "what a fabulous deal".

How did I put together this list of best makeup products?

Scouring the best beauty magazines, listening to the feedback of top beauty experts, beauty editors, top professional makeup artists, and paying attention to what products are really being used by the pros. What products they use says a lot because their income is dependent on how their beauty product choices perform.

In addition, with a good number of these best makeup products, I or someone who's judgement I trust, have tested the listed makeup product and will honestly vouch for it.

best makeup products

The Best Makeup Products Have These Qualities...

The best makeup products have these qualities

  • quality ingredients
  • go on smoothly
  • skin friendly (hypo allergenic and geared to a variety of skin types)
  • long wearing
  • contain highly saturated pigment color
  • have a beautiful color palette range
  • accommodate a wide range of skin shades
to name a few.

Within each category of best makeup products, there are at least three options in which you can fine tune your choice to suit your skin type, makeup style, and cost comfort zone.

best makeup products suggestionSome items (usually my very favorite), are linked to a merchant resource where you can get more detailed information about the product; photo, ingredient list, application suggestions, price, customer reviews (sometimes) etc. with the option to purchase if you wish.

Best Makeup Products

BASE MAKEUP

foundation
primer illuminizers

( Best Makeup Products continued...)

concealer
powder

  • pressed translucent:

    Laura Mercier Pressed Powder Translucent

  • pressed powder:

    Smashbox Photo Matte Anti-Shine Pressed Powder
    Stila Sheer Pressed Powder Fair
    Sue Devitt Triple C-Weed Pressed Powder

  • loose translucent:

    T LeClerc Loose Powder
    Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder Translucent
    Paula Dorf Loose Powder
    *Shu Uemura Loose Translucent Powder

  • loose powder:

    Bare Escentuals RareMinerals™ Skin Revival Treatment
    Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder
    *Bobbi Brown Loose Powder
    Sue Devitt Loose Powder

FACE COLOR

Best Makeup Products

blush

  • cream:

    Stila Convertible Color
    Becca Creme Blush
    LORAC It Kits - Lip & Cheek
    MAC Cream Blush

  • powder:

    Nars Blush (best universal shade 'orgasm')
    Bare Escentuals Blush Lovely
    Nars Blush/Bronzer Duo Orgasm/Laguna
    Sonia Kashuk

  • gel/stain:

    Tarte Cheek Stain Delux Beauty Crush Lip & Cheek Stain
    Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge For Lips And Cheeks

bronzer highlighter/shimmer

  • highlighter:

    Benefit Dandelion
    Laura Mercier Secret Brightener #1
    Benefit Ooh La Lift

  • shimmer:

    Stila All Over Shimmer Powder
    Tarte Rock Royalty Palette
    Guerlain Meteorites Winter Radiance Voyage Compact
    Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick

EYES

Best Makeup Products
primer

  • Elizabeth Arden Eye-Fix Primer
    Benefit Lemon-Aid
    Benefit F.Y. Eye BeneFit F.Y. Eye
    Paula Dorf Eye Primer

shadow

  • powder:

    Laura Mercier Eye Color
    Nars Single and Duo Eye Shadows
    Dior 5 Shadow Palettes
    CARGO Eye Shadow
    *M.A.C. Eye Shadows
    Lorac Starry-Eyed Baked Eye Shadow Trio in Superstar

  • cream/ liquid:

    Laura Mercier Creme Eye Color
    Stila Smudge Pots
    Shiseido Hydropowder Cream to Powder Eye Shadow

liner

  • pencil:

    Lancome LE CRAYON KHOL
    Sue Devitt Eye Intensifier Pencil
    Stila Convertible Eye Color
    MAC Kohl Liner

  • cream/ liquid:

    Smashbox Cream Eye Liner
    Dior Style Liner Noir Black 094
    CARGO Smoky Eye Eyeliner Duo

  • gel:

    MAC Fluid Liner
    Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner

( Best Makeup Products continued...)

mascara

  • lengthening:

    Lancome DEFINICILS Black
    Shu Uemura Fiber Xtension Mascara Xtra Black 01
    L'Oreal Lash Out Lengthening and Separating Mascara, Black
    Clinique High Lengths

  • volume:

    Dior DiorShow
    Maybelline Great Lash Mascara
    L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Volume Building

  • waterproof:

    Lancome Definicils High Definition Mascara
    Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara

eye lash curler

LIPS

Best Makeup Products

care

  • lip care:

    Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15
    Rosebud Perfume Co. Rosebud Salve Lip Balm
    PeterThomasRoth Un-Wrinkel Lip Balm SPF 15
    La Mer Baume De La Mer -Lip Balm
    Dr. Hauschka's Lip Care Stick

primer

  • lip primer:

    Urban Decay Lip Primer Potion
    La Mer Baume De La Mer -Lip Balm

liner

  • lip liner:

    MAC Lip Liner Pencil; shades Subculture (fair),
    Spice (med.), Stripdown (med.- dark), Chesnut (dark)

lipstick lip gloss other lip makeup

  • other lips makeup:

    MAC Pro Longwear Lipcolor
    Tarte LipSurgence Natural Lip Stain

BRUSHES & TOOLS

Best Makeup Products

face brushes

  • large powderbrush:

    Bobbi Brown Powder Brush
    Shu Uemura Natural Brush #20
    Sephora Professionnel Platinum Natural Rounded Brush #40
    Jane Iredale Chisel Powder Brush

  • blush brush:

    Laura Mercier Blush Brush
    Sephora Brand Professionel Angled #49
    MAC 128 Split Fibre Cheek Brush

  • bronzer:

    • NARS Bronzing Brush
    Sephora Brand Professionnel Bronzer Brush #44

  • foundation brush:

    Bobbi Brown Foundation Brush
    MAC Foundation Brush #190
    Sephora Collection Pro Foundation Brush #47
    Stila One Step Complexion Brush #33

  • concealer:

    Smashbox Precision Concealer Brush #5
    Bobbi Brown Concealer Brush
    Sephora Collection Pro Concealer Brush #45

  • contour:

    Stila #21 Blush Brush

  • Fan Brush:

    Trish McEvoy #62 Fan Brush
    Shu Uemura Fan Brush

  • Kabuki:

    Bare Escentuals Full Coverage Kabuki Brush
    Make Up For Ever Professional HD Kabuki Brush
    Tarte Glam On The Go Kabuki Brush and case

Best Makeup Products

eye makeup brushes

  • eye shadow:

    NARS Eye Shader Brush 03
    MAC 242 Shader Brush
    MAC 252 Large Shader Brush
    Bobbi Brown Eye Sweep Brush
    Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow Brush

  • liner:

    NARS Angular Eye Shader Brush 04
    Bobbi Brown Ultra Fine Liner
    MAC 266 Small Angle Brush
    Smashbox Arced Eye Liner Brush #21 (fine point)

    • smudge:

    NARS Smudge Brush
    Trish McEvoy "Va Va Voom' #54 Smudge Brush
    Stila #28 Smudge Pot Brush double-ended fine and smudge
    Sephora Collection Classic smudge Brush 314

  • eye blender:

    MAC 235 Split Fibre Allover Eye Brush
    Bobbi Brown Eye Shader

lips tools

  • eyelash curler:

    Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
    Tweezerman Precision Classic Lash Curler, silver (metal)

  • brows:

    Anastasia Beverly Hills Large Duo Brush
    Laura Mercier Double Ended Eye Brow Brush

Best Makeup Products

brush sets

END OF Best Makeup Products

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