If you’re wondering about my makeup preferences, you’re in the right place. I’m 40 and I have dry, sensitive, eczema-prone skin and these are the products that 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 or mascara. There are also some things like contour and eyeliner that I just don’t use. Although I do have some limited edition and discontinued favorites, I will only list products that are currently available. This is purely based on the assumption that anyone who wants this information may actually want to try some of the items.
With a few exceptions, most items on this list I have referenced throughout my blog posts 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.
Last updated December 9, 2022
NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation
NARS Foundation – Relevant Blog Post
This has become my everyday foundation over the Estee Lauder Double Wear not because they are similar formulas, but because it 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 natural and 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 $49, 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 ends up looking about as matte as Estee Lauder Double Wear, but it still looks nice.
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 that I do like to set this with to keep the beautiful finish but help minimize transfer are the NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder and the Hourglass Veil Translucent Loose Powder. The NARS powder does work better for the transfer issue, but the Hourglass powder does feel more dried down and silky to the touch if you prefer that type of finish.
Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer
When I initially started using this concealer I was mixing 4WO and 4.5N to get my best match. My Sephora didn’t have the shade 4W on display so I didn’t realize it existed at first, but now I just use that shade.
Dior Concealer – Relevant Blog Posts
- Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer Review
- Concealer Round-Up (Pat McGrath, Armani, Dior, Too Faced)
NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder
While the Translucent Crystal version does work 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 off in photos compared to Shore.
NARS Powder – Relevant Blog Posts
- Sleeper Hits, Vol 3: NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder Pressed (Crystal Translucent)
- If I Could Only Keep One Tag/Shop My Stash
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Highlighter in Global Glow (right swatch)
I don’t use highlighter very much but when I do it’s a MAC Highlight. I’ve always enjoyed this formula, but I thought this particular shade would be too cool-toned for me based on the color description being neutral tan with a silver sheen. However, after a trip to Ulta, I discovered that this actually works for me. It is neutral to cool depending on what it is paired with, but I’ve also been able to make it work with warmer blushes. It really shines however when paired with neutral and cooler-toned blushes. You do have to be careful because a lot of powder picks up on the brush, but it’s smooth and doesn’t accentuate my textures so it feels worth it to me.
MAC Extra Dimension Blush in Faux Sure (bottom row middle swatch)
The blushes from MAC’s extra dimension line are higher sheen than I typically go for, but they are really beautiful. In my experience, Faux Sure and Hushed Tone are more “subtle” than the other shades pictured. There are no large particles but I feel like, for me, the other shades are getting close to a more metallic finish. I don’t find them to be unflattering or accentuate texture too badly, but given the shine, they will accentuate more than a matte or satin finish.
NARS Powder Blush in Savage
NARS Blush – Relevant Blog Posts
- If I Could Only Keep One Tag/Shop My Stash
- Makeup So Good That I Want To Buy More
- The Fall Makeup Edit (2020)
- NARS Dominate and Savage Blush (swatches)
NARS Bronzing Powder in Punta Cana
NARS Bronzer – Relevant Blog Posts
- Forgotten Best Sellers: NARS
- If I Could Only Keep One Tag/Shop My Stash
- The Summer of the Bronzer
- NARS Matte Bronzing Powder Swatch (Samoa)
- Sleeper Hits: MAC Next to Nothing Bronzer and MAC x Selena La Layenda Highlight
MAC Classic Eyeshadows (Particularly Cranberry, Amber Lights, and the Mattes)
While I can admit that the MAC formula is feeling outdated compared to other eye shadows on the market, I still enjoy the formula and its performance. They do take building, but they are easy to use, don’t accentuate texture (not even when my eczema flares up), and last throughout the day.
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
DIOR 5 Couleurs 689 Mitzah
Dior Mitzah – Relevant Blog Posts
Chanel Rouge Coco Hydrating Lipstick in Antoinette
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.
- Brands A-Z: Check out this index if you want to know what products I have posted about in the past.
- MAC Cosmetics: I likely have some swatches you’ve been searching for if you love Mac as much as I do.
- The Wanderlust List: Join me as I search for alternatives to new releases.
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Nikki From HR 