There are many things we can probably live without… that is, until we meet a product that changes our lives for the better. It’s finding those products that proves to be the hard part; we can’t exactly stock up on every high-end product ever and test them all out. That’s where we leave it to the pros—and according to makeup artists and beauty gurus, there are some splurge-worthy products out there that we all need to have. But be careful: once you buy these products, you might never go back to what you were using before.
1. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ($62)
Makeup artist Liz Fuller likes to splurge on two things: cult favorites and multi-functional palettes. One of her favorites is the lightweight foundation listed above!
2. BeautyBlender ($19.95)
Makeup artist Wayne Goss gushes about this product: “It is an absolutely great sponge… I got an absolutely seamless and beautiful finish with this [product.]” One tip: make sure to wet the sponge before application.
3. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette ($58)
“It’s literally like having your own personal lighting assistant. I like to think of these like Instagram for the face—these powders are so cutting edge that they are like little filters that give you a different look,” says Lianne Farbes, publisher and Editor in Chief of TheMakeupGirl.
4. Kate Somerville Deep Tissue Repair Cream with Peptide K8 ($150)
Yes, we know, this is a major splurge, but this product hydrates your face without making it feel or look greasy. It also improves elasticity and helps brighten your complexion. Makeup artist Jake Bailey recommends this product to help prep your skin for makeup.
5. Tatcha Kyoto Red Silk Lipstick ($55)
Enclosed in a sleek case is a red that is signature to the Japanese geishas. Xiao, publisher of Messy Wands, says that “it’s smooth and creamy and moisturizing and incredibly lightweight and scentless and just gorgeous… This one makes me, someone who has more reds than any other lip color I own, want to buy back-ups for my back-up.” Perks: this color lasts all day, is matte, and hydrates your lips. Another perk: it looks good with every skin tone.
6. Make Up For Ever Artisan Brush Collection
The author of Beauty411 loves these brushes because they are high in performance and quality. Her favorites include #132 Powder Flat Kabuki ($48), #148 Blending Brush ($37), and the #244 Precision Shader Brush ($31).
7. Rodin Olio Lusso Luxury Face Oil ($170)
“Luxury face oil.” And luxury it is. This face oil is a tool in a lot of make up artist’s belts, such as Tom Pecheux‘s. Paired with a face massage, he uses this oil to refresh his models’ looks when they start looking dull during sets. This oil helps soften lines and give your face a much-deserved radiance.
Would you splurge on any of these luxe beauty buys, collegiettes?