My Favorite Makeup

If you’re wondering about my makeup preferences, you’re in the right place. I’m 42, and I have dry, sensitive, eczema-prone skin, and these are the products I use regularly. Basically, if I stopped reviewing makeup, this is what would be in my makeup bag. There isn’t a product for every category because, for instance, I don’t currently have a favorite eye primer. There are also some things, like contour and eyeliner, that I just don’t use. Although I have some limited-edition and discontinued favorites, I will only list currently available products. This is purely based on the assumption that anyone wanting this information may wish to try some of the items. You can also check out my 2025 makeup favorites post for other items I’ve been loving in 2025.

I have referenced all of the items on this list throughout my website, with several having full reviews that you can check out for details. Any relevant posts will be linked below the product images for your reference.

I’m allowing comments on this page, so if you have any questions, please leave a comment. As always, if you’d rather keep it private, you can email me at editor.nikkifromhr@gmail.com.

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Last updated November 24, 2025

NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation in Tahoe

NARS Foundation – Relevant Blog Posts

• 2023 Year In Review (Best and Worst Makeup Products of 2023)
• Palette: The Beauty Bible for Women of Colour
• Morphe Cloudlight Soft Glow Veil Powder Review (with comparisons)

Update September 19, 2025: I still have not found a replacement for this foundation, and I think I’ve finally accepted that I’ll keep using it. I have used the L’oreal True Match Super Blendable Foundation often throughout the year, and while I like it, I still prefer the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation overall. The L’Oreal True Match wears better when I set it with powder, but due to how dry it feels in cold weather, I prefer not to use it. In the summer, I can set the L’Oreal with powder, and it feels lightweight, and I don’t notice a dry feeling. It is also much more transfer-resistant than the NARS Foundation, which I appreciate especially in the summer heat. A distant third option is the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation. I like the coverage and wear, and how natural and less made-up it looks compared to the NARS Natural Radiant Foundation. However, I don’t like that extra shine or light-reflecting nature that it has. I prefer to have a more satin finish than it provides.

Update January 9, 2025: 2024 did not uncover a replacement for this foundation, but I have enjoyed revisiting the Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in warmer weather and the L’oreal True Match Super Blendable Foundation once the weather got colder. However, I still prefer the NARS Foundation overall.

Update, December 27, 2023: This has been my go-to for a couple of years now, and while it is still mostly working well for me, there is some room for improvement. Although the shade is a little dark, it is one of the best foundation matches I have found. The coverage is medium but buildable to full coverage, and it doesn’t accentuate any of my eczema texture issues. It can sink into wrinkles, so I have to be careful not to apply too much product, or that issue gets worse. I’m aiming for medium coverage, so it tends to be ok, but if you want to build it up to full coverage, sinking into lines could become more of an issue. The Sephora listing for the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation mentions that too much will accentuate lines and imperfections, so even the brand knows about this issue. I’m definitely open to replacing this as my go-to foundation, so we’ll see what 2024 brings.

Side Note – This was written while living in Missouri. I now live in the Boston, MA area. Still dry, but I no longer have hard water. This has become my everyday foundation over the Estee Lauder Double Wear, not because they are similar formulas, but because NARS Natural Radiant suits my current skin concerns better. Dealing with the dry climate and hard water where I currently live, my skin is drier than ever, and my eczema flares up more often. So Estee Lauder Double Wear just became too matte for me to deal with how tight and dry my skin felt throughout the day when I wore it. I have been using this foundation fairly regularly since late 2019, but it wasn’t until recently that I realized how much better it was working for me than the Double Wear. While I would consider this foundation to be matte, as the name suggests, it is somehow more radiant than other matte foundations. I guess that could make it more of a natural finish (sometimes called satin), but it seems more matte to me than foundations that are categorized as “natural,” like Clinique Beyond Perfecting or It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better

NARS promises a medium to full buildable coverage, transfer-resistant, sweat-resistant foundation with a 16-hour wear time. I agree with the coverage claim. Each pump is much smaller than most foundations dispense, and with two pumps of the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation, I can get medium coverage. This foundation is not transfer-resistant, and while setting powder does help improve the situation, it can be frustrating. This foundation is $54, so it’s only natural to have high expectations for its performance. As someone with allergies, I do find myself needing to touch up my nose area halfway through the day in the spring and fall when my allergies are worse. I understand that this may be nitpicking to some people because makeup isn’t a miracle worker. However, I don’t have transfer problems with Estee Lauder Double Wear, which also has a transfer-resistant claim. Even when I have to use a tissue, the amount of foundation that comes off on the tissue when I’m wearing Double Wear is very minimal. So that is the bar I judge transfer against.

If the sweat-resistant claim means that sweating doesn’t break the foundation down or make it look patchy, then I agree. I have never and would never wear foundation for 16 hours, so I can’t speak on that claim specifically. The NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation does look just as good after about 8 hours as it did when it’s freshly applied, unless it’s a particularly cold and dry day. When I have those dry days, it looks about as matte as Estee Lauder Double Wear, but it still looks better in the smile lines area than Double Wear.

For my dry skin type, I don’t need to set this foundation. It doesn’t feel tacky on my skin, and I have no trouble blending blush, bronzer, and highlight over it when I don’t set it with powder. The powders I like to use to set this with to keep the beautiful finish, and minimize transfer are the NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder and the Hourglass Veil Translucent Loose Powder. The NARS powder works better for the transfer issue, but the Hourglass powder feels more dried down and silky to the touch if you prefer that type of finish. Update April 8, 2025: I also like this paired with the Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder. It minimizes how much this foundation settles into pores and lines later in the day. You can see a comparison of Hourglass Vanish Pressed Powder vs NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder over the NARS Natural Radiant Foundation in my 2025 favorites post.

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New 2025 Concealer Favorites – Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer and Estee Lauder Futurist Soft Touch Brightening Skincealer

Update September 19, 2025: During the summer, I have actually enjoyed the newly reformulated Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer better than the Lancome All Over Concealer for a matte option. The Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer can cling to dry patches, but that doesn’t happen often for me in the hotter weather. It has high coverage, helps blur, and wears all day with minimal creasing. For a satin finish (and for wear when it isn’t hot out), I still like the Estee Lauder Futurist Soft Touch Brightening Skincealer when it is set with the bareMinerals Mineral Veil Pressed Powder.

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Old 2024 Favorite – Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Concealer in 435 Bisque W

It was a tough call to name this as my favorite concealer here and in my 2024 Favorites Post. The Estee Lauder Futurist Soft Touch Brightening Skincealer gave the Lancome a run for its money. While nothing can be perfect, I decided that I preferred the blurring of the Lancome concealer so much that I was willing to deal with the annoying packaging. The doe foot is hard to remove, and sometimes it gets on clothes and the sink because of it. This does need to be set when I wear it under my eyes, but it is not picky about which powder I use. I don’t need to set it when worn on the face as a spot concealer. It has medium coverage and is matte, but it does not dry out my skin. In my opinion, the blurred look of this concealer gives the illusion of more coverage.

This is the concealer I use most often now instead of the Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer. They are not dupes at all, but with my sensitive skin, I really prefer to use a product that isn’t as fragranced as the Dior. However, I see myself relying on the Estee Lauder Skincealer once the Lancome runs out. I think I’ve had enough of the fighting to get the doe foot out of the container without making a mess. The Estee Lauder Skincealer isn’t as blurring but very smoothing, which minimizes texture. However, it is particular about what powder keeps it in place, which is another reason it wasn’t my top favorite for 2024.

Lancome Concealer – Relevant Blog Posts

• Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Concealer 435 Bisque W (swatch comparisons and review)
• Favorite Makeup of 2024
• Best Hydrating Concealers for My Dry Skin

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NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder

While the Translucent Crystal version works for my skin tone, the newly released color Shore works better, especially if I’m going to be taking photos. The translucent Crystal doesn’t necessarily give flashback, but it just looks a little off in photos compared to Shore.

Update January 3, 2024: Since I started using the NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder in the now discontinued Sunstone shade, I have purchased this powder a few times. I’m still very impressed by what this powder does, but at times, it is more mattifying than what my dry skin needs. Without the benefit of a tint (Crystal Translucent shade), it ends up looking too dry on me, so I made the switch to one of the newer shades called Shore. If I hadn’t tried the color shore, I don’t think I would’ve realized the Crystal Translucent shade was making my dryness look worse (especially in winter). Shore is a little peach for me, but it usually still works out fine. I use this setting powder when I can’t afford to take chances and need my makeup to look good and last.

NARS Powder – Relevant Blog Posts

• Setting Powders That Work for My Dry Skin (2025 Update)
• Top 10 Posts of 2023 (And What I Think Of The Products Now)
• Sleeper Hits, Vol 3: NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder Pressed (Crystal Translucent)
• If I Could Only Keep One Tag/Shop My Stash
• Patrick Ta Major Skin Hydra-Luxe Luminous Skin Perfecting Foundation – 18 Golden Neutral
• Top 10 Posts of 2024 (And What I Think Of The Products Now)

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MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish Highlighter in Superb

The formula of my favorite highlight has changed, but one thing hasn’t. I don’t use a highlighter very much, but when I do, it’s most often a MAC Highlighter. I’ve always enjoyed this formula, and it is one of the few that I feel has an impact without accentuating texture very much. I also appreciate the baked gelee texture and the fact that there are no issues with dustiness or mess. I also like the shade, Oh Darling, for warmer looks.

MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish – Relevant Blog Posts

• 15% off Beauty At Macy’s – ends 3 April 2022 (features swatch of MAC Lighstcapade)
• The Wanderlust List #6 – Gucci Glow Powder Gel Highlighter (features swatches of MAC Global Glow and MAC Superb)
• Sephora Collection Colorful Powder Luminizers (features swatch of MAC Superb)
• NARS Light Reflecting Luminizing Powder Ophelia (features swatch of MAC Oh Darling)

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MAC Powder Blush in Desert Rose and Burnt Pepper (mattes)

Nothing new here. I mentioned this formula was in heavy rotation in my 2024 favorites post and Burnt Pepper in my 2025 favorites post. It is not quite as smooth as the Pat McGrath formula, but it is still great for minimizing texture issues and not accentuating them. It is easy to work with, and it is just a foolproof formula for me. It has great pigmentation, so I never have to fuss with building it up, and it also doesn’t get out of hand. Burnt Pepper is more pigmented and has a looser press than Desert Rose, but it still doesn’t give me any trouble. I still think the Revlon formula I mentioned among my favorite reviewed products in 2024 is great. However, when talking about all-time favorites, it has to be MAC.

MAC Blush – Relevant Blog Posts

• MAC Lipstick, Highlighter, and Blush Swatches
• 2023 Year In Review – Best and Worst Makeup Products of 2023 (features various MAC Blush swatches)
• Revlon Powder Blush Mauvelous 003 (features MAC Desert Rose comparison swatch)

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Armani Luminous Silk Creamy Bronzing Powder in 110

The MUFE Artist Bronzer comes as a close second, but I love a bronzer with some shimmer. The shimmer in this formula is noticeable if you go out in the sun, and is also more noticeable (even indoors) if you apply it with a brush that is too dense. However, I’m not usually standing out in the sun, and I use a fluffy brush to apply it, so it works out great. Plus, the shade is great for me all year, but I apply it lighter these days than I did in the summer. You can see me wearing this in my 2025 favorites post.

Armani Bronzing Powder – Relevant Blog Posts

• Armani Luminous Silk Creamy Bronzing Powder 110 (Swatch and Review)
• Favorite Makeup of 2024
• Makeup By Mario Softsculpt Blurring Bronzer (Armani Bronzer Used for Comparison Swatches)

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MAC Eyeshadow Singles (Particularly Couture Copper, Amber Lights, and the Mattes)

I know everyone loves the more modern, creamy eyeshadows these days, but I still prefer a drier formula. MAC shadows take building, but they are easy to use, don’t accentuate texture (not even when my eczema flares up), and last throughout the day. A possible weird thing that I always appreciate about MAC shadows is how easy they are to remove. They also come off completely, and I don’t find random mica still on my face the next day.

Update October 2, 2025: I have reviewed the newer MAC eyeshadow formula featured in their Connect in Colour Eyeshadow Palettes (you can find that by clicking here). However, I don’t like that formula as much as I like the single eyeshadows. The newer palettes don’t list talc as an ingredient, so that could be the problem. Also, today (October 2, 2025), MAC released a new Dazzle Collection, which rebranded the Dazzleshadow Extreme formula. The new ones are labeled “Eye Shadow [Metallic]” and some of the old Dazzleshadow shades are there, but the formula is different. The new formula doesn’t have talc in the ingredient list.

MAC Eyeshadow – Relevant Blog Posts

• The Wanderlust List #1 (Natasha Denona Bronze Palette)
• MAC Eyeshadow Swatches (brown transition shades)
• When Dupes Aren’t Dupes For You
• If I Could Only Keep One Tag/Shop My Stash
• MAC’s Most Inconsistent Eyeshadow Formula – Dazzleshadow Extreme

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Estee Lauder Pure Color Creme Lipstick (488 Level Up)

I like the formula of the Estee Lauder Pure Color Creme Lipsticks just fine, but it’s really the color that I love so much. I can wear it without lip liner, and it pairs well with all the looks I’ve tried. So it has just become a go-to. The shade Level Up is described as “an apricot with a neutral to warm undertone.” However, on my olive undertone skin and purple undertone lips, it appears as a pink, mid-toned nude when paired with cooler looks (1st picture directly below this) and a brown, mid-toned nude when paired with warmer looks (2nd picture below this). In my full review, I feature the shade Covetable, if you want to see more from this line.

Estee Lauder Lipstick – Relevant Blog Posts

• Estee Lauder Pure Color Creme Lipstick Swatches (Covetable 818, 561 Intense Nude, and Level Up 488)
• Revisiting Some Old Makeup Favorites – shades Intense Nude and Covetable Swatched
• Favorite Makeup of 2025 (Year in Review) – Wearing Level Up

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Old 2024 Favorite – Chanel Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating Lipstick in 406 Antoinette

Update April 10, 2025: Chanel has reformulated this line of lipsticks. I’m unsure when the new formula will start showing up in stores and online. However, it doesn’t look like the shade 406 Antoinette is returning in the new formula.

This lipstick formula is thinner than others that I’d rank highly (e.g., Maybelline Color Sensational, Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G), but there is something special about this shade on me. It just seems to work with most other makeup shades I wear. I do think it is comfortable, lasts well, and wears down gracefully. It does have a little mica running through it, but I can not feel it, and when I wipe it off, I don’t have any leftover mica particles stuck to my lips.

Chanel Hydrating Lipstick – Relevant Blog Posts

• Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick (406 Antoinette and 436 Maggy Swatches)
• If I Could Only Keep One Tag/Shop My Stash
• The Fall Makeup Edit (2020)

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If you’d like to check out more of my content, here are some places to start. 

• Blush Index
• Brands A-Z
• Bronzer & Highlighter Index
• Brush Index
• Concealer Ranking
• Eyeshadow Index
• Foundation Round-Up
• Lipstick Index
• Makeup Storage and Organization Ideas
• My Favorite Makeup
• Powder Round-Up

Disclaimer:  I purchased all products featured with my own money.  This site receives a minimal commission from participating in the WordAds program and using affiliate links (marked with **).  For my full disclosure policy, click here.