I’m have Part 2 of my beauty recommendations for the second weekend of the Sephora Holiday Bonus Beauty Insider Event! This weekend continues with savings for Rouge Tier Members. This roundup focuses on my top makeup favorites for bases, cheeks, eyes and lips. You can find Part 1 Skin, Body and Hair recommendations here. Dates, codes and details:
- Rouge get 20% Off 11/2-11/5 with code: ROUGEBONUS
- VIB get 20% off 11/9-11/12 with code: VIBBONUS
- Insiders/ Non-BI members get 15% off 11/16-11/19 with code: BIBONUS
Terms, conditions and exclusions listed here. I tried to narrow my absolute top picks and favorites limiting myself to under 10 per category. There are so many good products available right now, especially with holiday beauty launches. Most of these are products I consider tried and true staples but there are a few newer items I’ve tried recently I think are really worth the splurge. Products that are press samples have a * next to them.
Foundations + Base:
- Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra Long-Wear Foundation in Buff * is my favorite full coverage foundation, I think I’m on my third bottle already.
- Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 6.5 and 7 are my matches for a natural medium coverage finish.
- La Mer Luminous Lifting Cushion Foundation is new, I was thrilled to find a match in Warm Bisque, review coming soon but it is amazing and it comes with a refill. I will say I do think there are color gaps, definitely try before you buy. I suspect when I lose my summer tan this color I’ve bought will definitely be too dark. It’s also very dewy in finish but will set well if you finish with a powder. I’ve since re-sampled the Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation at the counter and really want to buy it, I’m in between Beige and Suede though.
- Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation and Concealer was my previous favorite full coverage foundation, it’s still very natural looking and lasts all day, I still love this one but the LM wins for now.
- Erborian BB Creme or CC Creme are my favorites for natural finish, although I feel they are better suited for normal to dry skin or normal, if you’re oily these might be too rich for you.
- If you want a glowy finish or tinted moisturizer I think the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer is still the best, followed by the YSL Touche Eclat All In One Glow.
Concealer:
- Tom Ford Foundation Stick or the Make Up For Ever Foundation Stick are products I layer for extra coverage, kinda like a concealer, to wear them all over the face is a bit heavy for me, but I think they’re both great.
- NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger is probably holy grail material for me.
- Cover FX Power Play Concealer * is new, full review soon, this really impressed me for a full coverage concealer, it glides onto the skin without caking – if you found the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Away too thick but still wanted something full coverage, I’d recommend you check out the Cover FX option.
- First Aid Beauty Hello FAB Bendy Avocado Concealer * is also a great natural looking radiant option, it blends easily and does not look cakey or dry.
- Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra Longwear Concealer * is another favorite for a more natural finish product, it is similar to the formula of the NARS but not as radiant in finish, swatches of all shades here.
Powders + Setting:
- Hourglass Veil Translucent Loose Powder * is one of the new launches this year, I love this for it’s truly translucent finish (no white cast) and sheer natural matte finish.
- Laura Mercier Translucent Loose * is my most-worn loose powder, I like it with either the puff or a regular powder brush.
- Armani Neo-Nude Fusion Powder is the best all over setting pressed glow powder, doesn’t make me too shiny, just adds the perfect amount of even coverage and glow, if you’re oily you should probably opt for an all matte option though. Review here.
- La Mer Sheer Pressed Powder is one I have gone through several of Light and Medium, it’s the best sheer natural pressed matte powder I’ve tried, although I will say I think MAC Next to Nothing Pressed is a very close dupe that’s cheaper (but they don’t carry MAC at Sephora).
- Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Pressed Powder in Medium is my holy grail blurring powder, it covers and smooths imperfections, I wish it came in more shades but am happy Medium has worked for me.
- Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray is my go-to setting spray to set makeup and help make it last longer. It’s available in a number of size options including a mini if you want to try one before splurging on the full size.
Eye Makeup:
- Charlotte Tilbury Stars in Your Eyes Eyeshadow Palette is the prettiest large eyeshadow palette I think I’ve tried of the season, it rivals NARS Singapore (which is sold out everywhere as it was limited-edition), versatile for a wide range of looks – reviewed here. Swatches of the palette in this post here.
- Urban Decay Naked2, Naked3 or Naked Cherry are great options if you’re new to shadow and don’t know where to start. Naked2 has the neutral taupes and browns, Naked3 runs more pink but still neutral, Naked Cherry * is trendy but still wearable. I reviewed Naked Cherry in this post here. There is also this pretty awesome Naked Cherry Vault in a limited-edition set available now too.
- Tom Ford Eye Color Quad in Honeymoon is probably my favorite warm neutral, it goes with anything and everything and brightens the face with any cheek color. Nude Dip comes in close second for neutrals.
- Pat McGrath anything wins unless you’re not a glitter fan in which case I still think her MTHRSHP Subliminal Platinum Bronze Palette is amazing (review here). I’ll have a review of her Opulence collection posted tomorrow so stay tuned!
- Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Sticks are my most worn shadow sticks, I don’t have oily lids so they last all day for me and don’t crease. Rosegold is my holy grail go-to shade I wear the most, followed by Copper.
- Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Shadows are also ones I like to wear a lot, I use them alone on lazy makeup days or layered with powder on top to make them last longer.
- Natasha Denona makes amazing eyeshadows, the pigment, intensity and complexity of her palettes are really truly beautiful. It’s hard for me to pick one but I think her Camel or 5-Pan in Color Option #2 are great ones.
Brows and Lashes:
- Anastasia Brow Wiz * in Medium Brown has been a go-to until I discovered Dior and Hourglass, since getting highlights I’ve felt the need to change my brow color to match a bit more, Taupe and Caramel have been working great for me.
- Diorshow Brow Styler in Univeral Brown is still my holy grail, it still works even with highlights!
- Hourglass Arch Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel * is among my favorite tinted brow gels (in either Soft Brunette or Warm Brunette), although the Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel is also very good.
- Surratt Lash Curler is spendy and you can find good alternatives for less, but I think it’s worth the splurge.
- Mascara – my current favorites aren’t carried at Sephora but I’ve linked a few I’ve enjoyed in the shop the post carousel below.
Cheeks:
- Hourglass Ambient Lighting Unlocked (reviewed here) or Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Volume 4 (swatches here) – either of these are really pretty for a soft glow and since they’re super expensive, the sale is the best time to buy them to save a little!
- Becca Sunlit Bronzers * are among of the most natural bronzers I’ve tried. Review + swatches here.
- Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powders * are also very natural looking and come in several shades. Review and swatches in this post here.
- NARS Liquid Blush in Orgasm * is probably one of the best liquid blushes I’ve tried, swatched here.
Lips:
- Pat McGrath Matte Trance lipsticks are LIFE to me. I think any of the shades are a win, her newer fall shades * swatched here.
- NARS Velvet Lip Glides in Roseland and Swing are usually in rotation at least once a week, swatched on lips here.
- Dior Addict Lip Glow is a cult classic with good reason, swatches of most shades here. (I just bought the new one.)
- Tom Ford Lip Colors are amazing in coverage and color selection. I love shades like Sugar Glider, Bad Lieutenant, Indian Rose, Pink Dusk (swatched here) or any of the Boys and Girls for minis (current year’s swatched here).
- Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk is my universal lipliner for days I feel like adding it. Most of the time I skip it, but this color seems to go with all the neutrals I own.
That wraps up my top makeup picks and recommendations for things you can find during the Sephora Beauty Insider Event! Hope this helps if you’re looking for ideas. It’s always nice to have these events each year to help save on new things or to stock up on favorites. I’ll have a haul post soon and will also have another giveaway when I post the haul.
Dates, codes and details, online and in store at Sephora:
- Rouge get 20% Off 11/2-11/5 with code: ROUGEBONUS
- VIB get 20% off 11/9-11/12 with code: VIBBONUS
- Insiders/ Non-BI members get 15% off 11/16-11/19 with code: BIBONUS
Let me know if you hauled anything yet! Or any fun beauty items recently if you’re not shopping the Sephora Beauty Insider Event. Always love hearing about what you end up buying!
Press samples indicated with a * next to the product listings.
