Since we are halfway(!) through the year, I thought now would be a good time to reflect on some of the makeup products and tools that I have been getting some good, hard use out of in the past month. I think it’s only proper to give a shout out to the things that have been helping me be the most fierce lately.

Inglot YSM Foundation: I know I just picked this up on my recent trip to Ireland but I can already tell you it’s going to be my favorite foundation. I can’t lie, I don’t think I had a favorite foundation before this…but I do now and I see myself repurchasing it for quite some time. Love the finish, love the lasting power, love the coverage. Love it!

NYX Push-Up Bra for Eyebrows: Silly Name. Awesome Product. I find most brow pencils to be either too hard or too soft. But I’m telling you Goldilocks would use this pencil because it’s Just Right. It also doesn’t have too much red in it, which is another problem with brown brow pencils. The highlighter end, like I said before, is a dupe for Benefit High Beam which is a product I’ve used and loved for a long time.

Cream Products for Face: There are so many cream products that I’ve been using for my face that it was hard for me to pick a specific one. I love using cream blushes/bronzers/highlighters during the Summer for that fresh Summer Glow! They are especially awesome when you have a bit of a tan. Some specific ones to mention are Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Creme Bronzer in Warm Tan and the ELF All Over Color Sticks.

Makeup Setting Sprays: I live in Texas. It’s hot. I sweat. A lot. Not a good combination of factors for lasting makeup. Setting Sprays to the rescue. A mist from one of these bad boys give my makeup at least a fighting chance in the Texas Heat. I’ve been using ELF Makeup Mist & Set, Urban Decay All-Nighter, and NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray

Dishonorable Mention: ELF Triple Tip Waterproof Eyeliner Pen. I Love ELF. 9 times out of 10 their products are ah-mazing and perform as good if not better than their high end counter-part. And for a mere fraction of the price. This let me down. It looked like a dupe for the Too Faced 3 Way Eyeliner Pen, which I have and love. The Too Faced is $22 while the ELF Pen is $2. I’m sold! I should have known we were in trouble when the tip of the pen was hard….like scratch my eye hard. How can a felt tip pen be so hard?, I asked. But for only $2, I perservered. It applied ok, other than the hardness, but after I finished my whole face, I noticed that the inner corner of my upper lash line was creeping. Creeping up. Creeping to where eyeliner need not be. My eyes were not watery either. So I did an experiement where I put a swatch on my hand and let it sit. Then I wet my finger and rubbed across it. NOT. WATERPROOF. Sadly, that was the end for ELF’s poor little Waterproof Eyeliner Pen and he will now live out his days in the trash bin.