During the pandemic people who were lucky enough to stay healthy spent a lot of time with themselves – whether they wanted to or not. It was during the forced alone time that many of us learned about ourselves and grew, even though it wasn’t always easy. Something I took away from probably too much me time during the pandemic was that putting on makeup is a form of self-care for me.

The simple act of prepping, applying, and touching up makeup could elevate my day. I would make the effort to apply makeup – even just a little bit – every day before working remotely. It made things feel more normal and helped me get into the mental space I needed to work my hardest.

With this discovery, I did a lot of research into products, application techniques, and tutorials. It was a fun and at times expensive rabbit hole that ultimately landed in me subscribing to IPSY for monthly sample size makeup delivered to my door (this isn’t an ad, I promise). Through this I have stumbled across more brands, products, and favorites.

As 2023 wrapped up, I took stock of the makeup I owned and identified my favorites – and some honorable mentions) of this year in each category I could think of.

Prep/Skincare

Toner: Neutrogena Alcohol Free Toner

I am a huge fan of Neutrogena’s skincare products. As someone with sensitive skin, I often have reactions to skincare that is too harsh and it can be difficult to find products that work well for me. Neutrogena is gentle enough for my skin, but effective enough to notice a difference!

Moisturizer: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Moisturizer

As a gal with dry skin I have tried a lot of moisturizers over the years. I’ve found success with many products, but this First Aid Beauty moisturizer was certainly a step above. My skin retains moisture much longer than I have seen in the past and feels very refreshed.

Honorable Mention: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel (my go-to over the past few years)

Primer: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Glow Booster Primer & Serum

Another Neutrogena product!! This primer is great for a lot of reasons, but especially because it is a combination of skincare and makeup prep. It is a primer that helps your makeup stay fresh all day and hydrating serum that keeps your skin moisturized at the same time.

Honorable Mention: e.l.f. Power Grip Primer (loooooong lasting!)

Setting Spray: KAB Beauty Hydrating Setting Mist

This discovery has become a staple since I received a sample from IPSY. It’s easy to see the difference in this mist compared to other drug store brands I have been using over the years. When I use it, my makeup stays fresh and doesn’t dry nearly as much.

Face

Tinted Moisturizer: Covergirl CG Smoothers BB Cream

This BB cream gets the tint just right. Once applied you have a nice, minimal tint to build the rest of your everyday makeup look on. This product is not cakey, over-tinted, or streaky. It blends perfectly and is a go-to for me on a low key day.

Light Coverage Foundation: L’Oreal Paris True Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum

Foundation can go wrong in a LOT of ways, but this L’Oreal foundation is very right. It’s light coverage is enough to cover blemishes, dark spots, or unwanted pigmentation, but it isn’t so much that you can’t see freckles – a huge barometer for me when it comes to foundation. Plus it has skincare built in, who can be mad about that?

Medium/Full Coverage Foundation: Il Makiage Woke Up Like This Foundation

For a fuller coverage look, I opt for this Instagram-famous Il Makiage foundation. Part of the magic is the skin tone matching quiz the company offers to help you find your perfect shade – it really works! I was definitely influenced into trying this product via social media, but it is certainly worth the hype. This is my go-to foundation in the fall/winter when I don’t have to worry about sweating off any full-coverage foundation – my sweaty peeps know my pain.

Honorable Mention: Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Foundation (more expensive, but certainly worth the extra dough).

Concealer: NYX Bare With Me Concealer Serum

This is another product I was influenced into trying and it might honestly be my MVP of makeup this year. This concealer serum is sooooooooo blendable and has a smooth finish I haven’t been able to find in any other products. I just ordered a replacement for this yesterday and plan to keep this in my regular rotation.

Powder: e.l.f. Halo Glow Setting Powder

Don’t overcomplicate it when it comes to powder. This stuff rocks and is reasonably priced, that is a win-win if you ask me.

Liquid Contour: e.l.f. Halo Glow Beauty Wand Contour

The rebrand e.l.f. has gone through recently has yielded a lot of very promising products, my favorite of which is this liquid contour wand. While they also include blush and highlighter, the contour is a stand out. It is subtle, blendable, buildable, and the shade options are perfect.

Honorable Mention: Tarte Sculpt Tape

Powder Contour: L’Oreal Paris Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Bronzer

To top off your contour for a long-lasting effect, adding a powder bronzer/contour is extremely helpful. But too much can leave you looking like Stacey from Love is Blind. You only need a little bit of this L’Oreal powder bronzer to create a defined look that will last all day.

Liquid Blush: Tarte Blush Tape

Tarte has probably been my favorite brand of 2023. I have been so impressed with their products, namely their liquid blush that is so perfectly pigmented and – yes, I am going to say it again – blendable. I typically only use one to two dabs of this and achieve the perfect blushed look.

Powder Blush: L’Oreal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Blush

I am topping off blush with yet another L’Oreal product. This blush is so smooth and offers the perfect amount of glow to top off any liquid product or stand on it’s own.

Highlighter: Purlisse Halo Glow BB Cream Highlighter

Highlighter is without a doubt my favorite makeup product. The way – if applied correctly and in the right shade – it can add a dewy, natural glow to the skin can perfect any look. The trouble is that it’s not hard to get this little, but impactful part of your makeup routine wrong with a mismatched shade or bad application. Thankfully, IPSY came through and introduced me to this insanely effective liquid highlighter from Purlisse. I have bounced back and forth between liquid and powder highlighter over the years, but this one has won me over. It’s not too harsh, adds just the right amount of shine, and applies beautifully. Cannot recommend enough!

Eyes

Eyebrow Filler: Thrive Instant Brow Fix Semi-Permanent Gel

Want a natural eyebrow look that adds just a bit of thickness? This Thrive gel has been a staple for me and for good reason. I already have thick brows, but they are a little patchy from waxing and plucking for so many years – I have been au natural for about three years now and I love it! This gel adds just the right about of filler to the brows, while it’s applicator brushes them to create a natural appearance.

Eyebrow Glue: NYX The Brow Glue

On lower key days – aka days I use my tinted moisturizer instead of foundation – I like to add a little bit of a laminated look to my brows. Forget going to get this done professionally, you can do it yourself with the NYX Brow Glue. Use this on it’s own or on top of a pencil filler and you will achieve a very in vogue look.

Eye Shadow: Julep Beauty Eyeshadow 101 Creme-to-Powder

I would not call myself particularly seasoned in eyeshadow. It is an area of makeup I am just starting to dip my toes in. Considering that, I like to make it easy and no fuss; enter the Julep Eyeshadow sticks. These are so easy to apply, blend, and build on. Not to mention they come in a zillion colors both shimmery and matte.

Honorable Mention: Thrive Brilliant Eye Brightener

Pencil Eyeliner: L’Oreal Paris Infallible Never Fail 16hr Eyeliner Pencil

Simple, effective, and gets the job done. There isn’t much more to say about this one. It is my ride or die and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

Liquid Eyeliner: Il Makiage Inkliner Liquid Eyeliner

As a cat eye queen, I love me some liquid eyeliner. Trouble is, a lot of the time when you pop into the bathroom on a night out and catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror, you can find yourself with smudged or streaky eyeliner. While I have been there many more times than I am proud to admit, I have not encountered this disappointing phenomenon since I started using this Il Makiage liner. I have been so impressed with how long-lasting and stable this has been.

Mascara: Tarte Maneater

Truthfully, I am very blessed when it comes to eyelashes. I could use pretty much any product and achieve desired length or volume. Occasionally though, a mascara comes around that fans out my lashes so nicely that even I am impressed. Just last week someone asked me if I was wearing fake lashes when I was wearing my newest obsession: the Tarte Maneater mascara. This stuff gives you great length with just enough volume to prevent your lashes from looking spindly.

Honorable Mention: Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Sculpt

Lips

Chapstick: Vaseline Advanced Healing Lip Therapy

I wanted to challenge myself to not put Burt’s Bees here, even though I still use that nearly every day. Instead, I will shed light on my new favorite lip balm/chapstick that I discovered this year. I keep my Vaseline Advanced Healing Lip Therapy in my purse, at my desk, and next to my bed so that I can reach for it whenever I need it – yes, I know I have a problem. This stuff quenches and hydrates my lips perfectly, especially during the driest New England winter.

Lip Primer: Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Primer

This year I have come to understand just why RuPaul rewards America’s Next Drag Superstar with Anastasia Beverly Hills makeup every year. My surprise discovery of theirs this year was the lip primer. Unlike chapstick or lip balm, this primer smooths and prepares lips for the perfect product application. I didn’t know I needed this in my life, but now I don’t know what I would do without it.

Lip Gloss: Revlon The Gloss

I have been using this lip gloss since college. It is my go-to and no matter how many other products I try, this remains my favorite. The perfect gloss and pigmentation for a daily look, glossy finish, or bold lip. I LOVE IT, do yourself a favor and go buy some right now if you don’t have any.

Matte Lip Gloss: Maybelline Superstay Vinyl Ink

As far as matte lip products go, nothing really comes close to the Maybelline Vinyl Ink – in my opinion anyway. This product goes on like butter, stays perfectly, and lasts all night long. I have this lip gloss in an embarrassing number of shades and plan on growing my collection.

Lipstick: L’Oreal Paris Colour Riche Original Creamy, Hydrating Satin Lipstick

I tend to opt for Liquid Matte or Lip Gloss, but when I go for lipstick I have been most impressed with this L’Oreal lipstick. Maybe I have a soft spot for it because it’s the kind of lipstick I used to sneak in and try on in my mom’s bathroom growing up, but I love it nonetheless.

Honorable Mention: Anastasia Beverly Hills Matte Lipstick

Lip Plumper: Il Makiage Uncensored Lip Plumping Gloss

Lip plumpers are all the rage right now. And though a lot of products claim to plump your lips once applied, this Il Makiage gloss actually does. It tingles and burns a bit, but honey it is so worth it. Top off a matte lip or wear as is and you will not regret it.