10. 10.Cover FX Anti-Aging Primer
    

I just got this recently, so I can’t really speak to how much it anti-ages me yet. But it did provide a long-lasting, smooth base for my makeup and force me to reconsider my theory that primer is a scam, which I never thought would happen. It’s slightly tacky—just enough to grab onto your concealer and hold it in place. And a little goes a long way; I tend to use less than a dime-sized amount.

9. 9.Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipsticks Spice Collection
   

I want every colour of lipstick in this collection, which is based on different spices. Unfortunately I’m not made of money so I only have two: Smoked Za’atar and Toasted Cardamom. You better believe I’m going to pick the rest up if they ever go on sale, though. The Amuse Bouche formula is one of the nicest on the market, so there was no way these weren’t going to be good. They’ve got a slight shine to them, are pigmented as hell, smell lightly like citrus, and don’t dry out your lips the way most formulas can. A really inspired colour story from a Canadian company that consistently exceeds my expectations.

8. 8.Huda Beauty New Nudes palette
   

As soon as I saw the promo pics from this palette I knew I had to have it. Then I talked myself out of it because the colours were all pretty similar. Then I talked myself back into it when my friend and fellow makeup junkie Jenny told me it was beautiful and I should buy it. I don’t regret it. The mattes all blend so nicely, and the pearlescent shades are so unique. Some of them seem to have a subtle green glitter shift, which sounds awful for a mauve, pink and purple palette but is unexpectedly perfect. I cannot stop staring at this palette.

7. 7.Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette Volume 4
   

I’ve never used Hourglass’s products before this, but I’m positive I’ll use more since I picked up this palette. It has two ambient lighting powders, two blushes, one bronzer and one highlighter. They’re all so subtle, which would normally be the last thing I’d want, but everything in this palette is so beautiful it changed my mind. I like that you get such different blush shades. The purple one is my favourite, but I’m sure I’ll use the coral nonstop once the weather warms up. If you’re interested in trying Hourglass powder products you really can’t go wrong with this palette.

6. 6.Fenty Beauty Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipsticks
   

The formula on these lipsticks is AMAZING. They slide on with almost no effort, are pigmented enough that you only need one swipe, and feel so lightweight I tend to forget I’m even wearing lipstick – until I catch myself in the mirror after eating snacks and realize my lipstick is still there and still stunning. There’s already a pretty great shade selection, but more are supposed to be on the way, which means I’ll be happy but my bank account will not be.

5. 5.Anastasia Beverly Hills Amreezy Highlighter
   

If you want to be able to signal to god and/or aliens (depending on your belief system) using only your cheekbones and the sun, this is the highlighter for you. It’s a stunning shade of light gold that flatters most skin tones, and it’s not glittery like some of ABH’s other highlighters. It sold out once, and it’ll probably sell out again so you should probably just buy it now.

4. 4.Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer
   

This is the best lip gloss I’ve ever used. It’s beautiful, feels moisturizing and smells incredible. Rihanna, being the goddess she is, has made sure that every shade of this gloss is flattering on all skin tones, too. Right now I only have the original, which is called Fenty Glow, but I’m probably going to buy all of them because I have a problem—and also because I can’t get enough of this product. It will not disappoint you.

3. 3.Milk Makeup Kush Brow Gel
   

I didn’t know I could love an eyebrow product this much, especially one that advertises pot’s in it in a really gimmicky way, yet here we are. It fills your eyebrows so easily and naturally. I look instantly better with just this one product. I like that this is a cooler brown instead of a warm one, too. Also it has pot in it, so, like, I guess that makes it edgier? idk.

2. 2.Melt Cosmetics Gemini Palette
   

This is basically the grungiest palette ever, consisting almost entirely of mustards, greens and olives. Every time I wear it I feel like the bad ass punk I wish I was in high school. While the two shimmers in the palette don’t perform the best, the mattes blend out so effortlessly I don’t really care. Especially since I already have enough shimmers in my collection to make up for those two. Every time I go to put on my makeup I reach for this palette, and every time I use it my makeup looks great.

1. 1.Pat McGrath Labs MTHRSHP Subliminal Dark Star Palette
   

I don’t ever want to believe that six eyeshadows are worth $70, but these ARE. The blue-violet shimmer shade is probably one of the prettiest eyeshadows I’ve ever seen. There is no other shadow like it. Everything in this palette is so easy to work with that you can do an impressive look in five minutes or less. The colour story of this palette is really interesting and cohesive, too.

I don’t know much about make-up, but I know enough about Alicia to know that she’s everything I love in a person. She’s talented, she’s outspoken, she’s driven, and she’s caring. Alicia is also a nonfiction editor here at LF | BT which always makes me feel all kinds of lucky.

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