Favorite Makeup Products

POST UPDATED NOVEMBER, 2019

This post is a roundup of some of my favorite makeup products.  As an over-fifty woman, I certainly have purchased and tried many makeup brands and products over the years. I like to keep my makeup routine fairly simple and natural so these are the products and shades that I have been using over the past year and really love.

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Foundation

1. IT Cosmetics CC Cream (shade Medium) – I have tried many foundations at many price points and it is always a struggle to find the right shade. Most of the time the shades are too pink or too yellow.  When I ask for help, sometimes I am told I am olive, sometimes warm, and sometimes neutral. The fact that I have a medium skin tone is the only thing that is consistent! Confusing right? Well, this is why I am so happy I found IT Cosmetics. The medium shade is the best match I have found. I also love that it can be applied by hand or with a brush and it blends so well. The CC Cream also contains SPF 50 for those of us that never apply sunscreen!
2. IT Cosmetics Full Coverage Moisturizer (shade Neutral Medium) – this product is advertised as a full coverage moisturizer and it absolutely is. I tend to use this when I just want to even out my skin tone and imperfections, such as when I go to the gym.

Concealer

I have fairly noticeable dark circles under my eyes that I like to cover. Here are my two favorite concealers:

1. Tarte Shape Tape (shade Medium): I used this concealer last year and loved it. It gives super coverage and is very blendable. A little goes a long way but I do find the wand can get a little messy so I like to clean around the tube after I put the applicator back in place.
2. BareMinerals Correcting Concealer (shade Medium 1): I happily used this for years until I discovered Tarte Shape Tape. It’s very creamy and even has SPF 20! This year, I went back to using this concealer exclusively as I find it easier to blend and I prefer its lighter overall feel.

Lips

1. Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner (shade Pillow Talk) – this product was my first experience with Charlotte Tilbury. I was searching for a universal nude lip liner that I could wear with pretty much any lip shade. I kept reading articles about how so many makeup pros use this liner so I took the plunge. It is, by far, my favorite liner to date. You can even use it to reshape or resize your lips without any obvious lines.
2. Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G. (shade Stoned Rose) – this warm, pink coral is perfect for every day and the K.I.S.S.I.N.G. line leaves you with soft, moisturized lips.
3. Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution (shade Pillow Talk) – this is the perfect nude pink lip color. Also, I do not like matte lipsticks as I find them very drying but this one is not drying at all. Love it!
4. Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil (shades Raspberry and Honey) – I use this as a lip balm to soften my lips or sometimes wear it alone, but I usually apply it on top of my lip color for added shine. Most of the shades are nice but these two are my favorite.

Eyes

As I am getting older, I find that cream formulas just feel and blend better on my skin. I often do not wear any eyeshadow during the day but, if I do, I wear a beigey, cream shadow. Sometimes I apply excess concealer onto my eyelid just to even out the color and call it a day! For evenings, I use these same products but just apply additional eyeshadow and coats of mascara.

1. Anastasia Brow Wiz (shade Soft Brown) – I am very picky about eyebrow pencils. I prefer a very fine pencil so that I can fill in my sparse areas with hair-like strokes. While I do wish my brows were a bit thicker, I am not a fan of the super dramatic brow look.  I have tried more than a few eyebrow pencils and this is my favorite. It also comes in many shades so that you can choose the perfect one for you.
2. BareMinerals 5-In-1 Cream Eyeshadow (shade Rich Camel) – velvety smooth, super easy to apply, and great alone or as a base for color. Unfortunately, this product has been discontinued! I am still looking for a good replacement product!
3. L’Oreal Colour Riche Dual Effects (shade Perpetual Nude) – a set of four sophisticated nudes with just enough shimmer that all go together well.
4. Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes (shade Glossy Black) – This mascara lengthens, separates, and boosts volume. Non-clumping and non-drying. It only comes in one shade and I am surprised I like it as I always look for Brown-Black shades but this one is great.

Bronzer

These are my two favorite makeup products for warming up the complexion:

1. Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess (shade Medium) – this powder bronzer is perfect as it is very natural looking with no shimmer. I just wish the compact came in a smaller size.
2. Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick (shade Ibiza) – I cannot say enough about this beach stick. You can literally use nothing else for makeup but this! The creamy formula can be applied on your lips, your cheeks, your eyelids, anywhere you want a beachy glow. It can also be used to contour. It has just enough sheen to make you feel like you came home from vacation.

Blush

1. NARS Powder Blush (shade Orgasm) – this one is a classic for a reason. A beautiful, shimmery, blendable color that is not too peach and not too pink. Perfect for many skin tones!
2. Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick (shades Ibiza and Formentera) – I raved about Ibiza as a bronzer but I also love it as a blush. Formentera is a great berry color for medium skin tones.

Nails

When it comes to my hands, I almost always wear neutral, go-with-anything shades. For my feet, I either like to go with classic, darker colors or use seasonal shades. But these are the nail colors that are always on rotation. They are definitely my favorite makeup products for nails.

Mani

1. OPI Funny Bunny – a soft white that is not too sheer and not too thick like white polish often can be
2. Essie Ballet Slippers – a classic, sheer, pale pink

Pedi

1. OPI Lincoln Park After Dark – a gorgeous purplish, almost black shade
2. OPI March In Uniform – this is a beautiful, dark, rich shade of navy from OPI’s “The Nutcracker And The Four Realms 2018 Collection”

Nail Care

I have the driest cuticles so I love to apply cuticle oil around my nails and use hand cream as much as possible.

1. Sally Hansen Vitamin E Cuticle Oil – very moisturizing and nourishing
2. Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream – super concentrated and non-greasy; this is the best hand cream out there, in my opinion

I hope you are able to try some of my favorite picks. Please let me know if you liked them! What are some of your favorite makeup products?