I was first introduced to makeup of my own when I did musical theater in elementary school. In preparation for my first show, I picked out the essentials to accentuate my features on-stage: mascara, black pencil eyeliner, and a four-piece eyeshadow palette complete with a light shimmer, darker shade for a smoky look, and a pop of color. Throughout elementary school, makeup was reserved for theater and playing dress-up, but middle school and beyond allowed for more frequent makeup use and the development of my style and core products.
In retrospect, I probably wore makeup unnecessarily at a young age, but I don’t regret my choice to experiment because I got to learn about makeup in a fairly consequence-free environment. Even now, I cycle through different products depending on my go-to look of the season. Now, my everyday makeup is relatively minimal, but there are certain products essential for completing my look.
Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil
I’ve used the Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil for the past six years. I mainly use drug-store makeup brands, so this is one of the higher-end products I use. But, the pencil lasts a long time, so I rarely have to restock. I love this eyebrow pencil because it is extremely quick and easy to use, and they have a shade that is an exact color match to my real eyebrow. My eyebrows are brown and reasonably full, so I only use the brow pencil to lightly fill in crevices and add a more defined shape. Although it honestly does not make a huge difference, I will still fill in my eyebrows with this pencil when I’m running out of the house and forgoing the rest of my makeup routine, because it feels important to me.
e.l.f Hydrating Core Lip Shine
Up until recently, I’d never been a lip-color person. I used to think lip color, whether it was lipstick, a gloss, stain, shine, etc., seemed too “makeupy” for my everyday look. But, this fall, I decided to test out a few sheer lip colors, and the e.l.f Hydrating Core Lip Shine is now a staple. I have it in the shade Ecstatic, which is a plum-purple color. Despite what the name suggests, I don’t find it very hydrating, but I combat this issue by layering it over non-tinted chapstick. The chapstick also softens the color, so my lips have a pop of purplish-pink but are not overly bold for the school and workday. For a more glam look, I also layer it over a red lip liner. I’ve found that it creates a longer-lasting, more intense plum color that I absolutely love for a fancy occasion.
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil
I started using the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil after seeing it on TikTok. It’s essentially a chunky crayon that you can use for sparkle and color on your eyes. I have a light green shade, Matcha, and a champagne-colored shade that I cannot find the name of. Green is my favorite color, so I love to add a pop of green to my makeup. The champagne color is great for a subtler sparkle and probably works well as a highlighter too. Sometimes I will cover my entire lid in the crayon, but most often I’m using it in the inner corners of my eyes to highlight the center of my face. The product is super versatile and NYX has plenty of colors to choose from.
Maybelline MasterPrecise All Day Liquid Eyeliner
This is honestly not a very good eyeliner, but I’m attached to it because I know exactly what to expect. It has a fairly precise felt tip, which I’m a fan of, but it loses ink quickly and I constantly have to shake the liner and put pressure on the felt tip to bring more ink to the surface. It also is not very long-lasting, and I find that it noticeably fades over the day compared to most actual liquid liners. However, I can work with both of these issues. When I want a bolder, longer-lasting liquid liner, I use a different product. I like this Maybelline liner because it creates a more casual look; I can make my eyes pop, but I don’t want the super dark or wet-liquid look for my everyday makeup since I’m not very glammed up otherwise.
As I encounter new makeup styles and products over time, I’m sure my routine and makeup essentials will continue evolving. Makeup can be a fun form of art and self-expression, and finding a product that works for you is a great feeling.