Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at BU chapter.

As much as I love my affordable drugstore makeup, I equally love my high-end makeup. While there’s always great drugstore alternatives for every product, sometimes the pricier option really is ten times better. Sometimes, the higher price tag means much higher quality ingredients and formulas, and they are so much better for you skin. Here’s a list of high-end makeup items I can’t live without!

1. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop – $41.00

 

I’m a huge fan of a more natural looking highlight, and this liquid highlighter is the best at giving you a noticeable (but not blinding) dewy glow. And for days you want to go even more natural without giving up the glow, mix a little bit of the Shimmering Skin Perfector with your tinted moisturizer or BB cream for an overall lit from within look. Champagne Pop is (in my opinion) the best color because it’s a beautiful soft gold that is flattering on most skin tones.

2. Tarte Shape Tape Concealer – $27.00

This concealer really is worth all the hype. I mostly use concealer to cover spots, and this one probably has some of the best coverage out there. It’s smooth, and never cakes even if you layer it on. The wand is huge, but the size works well for when you’re trying to cover marks or brighten up your under eye. A little goes a long way, so you’re not blowing through a ton of product each time you use it.

3. Erborian BB Crème au Ginseng – $39.00

Erborian is a French Korean beauty brand that combines the essence of low-effort French beauty with the high quality of Korean skincare. This BB cream isn’t high on coverage but does an amazing job of waking up tired skin and evening out any dark patches. It has SPF 20 to protect you from the harsh UVA/UVB rays, and has Ginseng to moisturizer and smooth your skin.

4. Nars Radiant Longwear Foundation – $49.00

I’m very picky about foundation since it goes on my entire face. This foundation is amazing because not only does it match my usually difficult to match skin tone, but because it really does wear for as long as it claims (16 hours). In the winter when my skin is drier, this is especially nice because it keeps my skin looking moisturized without looking shiny.

5. Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray – $32.00

Setting spray is the ultimate miracle worker for your makeup. It pulls your makeup together once you’ve put it all on, and keeps it that way. Setting spray keeps everything in place through sweat and weather, and you can notice the difference in your overall look when you do versus don’t wear it.

Note: I have light to medium normal to dry skin with both golden and rose undertones What works for my skin type/shade/undertone may not work as well for someone with a different combo. Everyone’s skin is unique and some makeup formulas and colors that don’t really cut it for me may work wonders for you! It’s important to test things out for yourself and find ingredients and brands that suit your specific needs and desires. Makeup is meant to be fun so there’s no harm in playing around until you find what you love. Happy makeup-ing!

 

Want to keep up with HCBU? Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, check out our Pinterest board, and read our latest Tweets!

Writers of the Boston University chapter of Her Campus.