Top 10 must-have beauty products

The past decade has certainly brought us a plethora of beauty products and lots of new brands, but that is not where it ends. Almost every new month, we see the launch, or upgrade, or collaboration of some new beauty product that takes Instagram by storm, and all of this can be overwhelming. The result is usually a large pile of unused makeup and tools that hardly see the light of day.

To make things easier, we at Star Lifestyle have put together a list of the top 10 beauty products that are cult favourites and will always make their way to your top shelf for years to come.

Maybelline New York — The Falsies Lash Lift Mascara

Getting a false lash like effect without the weight and fuss of one is the dream, and this mascara from Maybelline gives us just that, thanks to its hourglass-shaped brush. The formula is also fibre-rich, which helps to thicken the lashes while the unique shape of the brush provides volume for a fine wispy look. Maybelline is known to make killer mascaras, all of which are on the affordable end, but this definitely takes the cake.

Dior Diorskin Forever 24H Wear High Perfection Skin-Caring Matte Foundation

The right foundation is one that does not oxidise into a darker colour after application; one that dries down matte but natural, and not in a mask-like way. Most importantly, one that makes skin look like skin, but better. This foundation from Dior definitely checks all the boxes with a unique formula that is matte, yet hydrating on the skin, and even comes with SPF 35.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop

This is a collaboration between Becca and Jaclyn Hill, an American entrepreneur, Internet personality and YouTuber, to create one of the most popular highlighters to exist today. The shade Champagne Pop is known to be a universally flattering shade with its peachy undertone, yet gold-like finish that will glide onto any skin tone for a glowy outcome. Unlike most highlighters, the shimmers in this are very fine and not gritty, which would texturise the skin instead, and lasts for long hours without reapplication.

Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer

The perfect bronzer is one that leaves a cream-like finish even when in powder form, blends like a dream and does not have shimmers, or shine. This one packs all three properties and is one of the most loved bronzers around the globe. With a huge pan, because Physicians Formula knows how much one needs of this product, this glides on the skin effortlessly for a natural bronze.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

Concealers are one of the most important steps in a beauty routine, for they allow us to seamlessly tuck in the tiny spots and marks we wish to hide. This one by NARS comes in a creamy formula that blends right into the skin under the warmth of our finger or with the use of a concealer brush, it does not set into under-eye lines, nor does it crease, and stays in place for 16 hours for a clean finish all day long.

Maybelline New York Cheek Heat

Another favourite form Maybelline, Cheek Heat is a cream blush that helps to give a natural flush to the cheeks without looking cakey, powdery, or unnatural in any manner. The gel formula allows for build-up, so one can choose the colour intensity. You can directly use your fingers to tap it on the apples of the cheeks for a natural glowy blush, or use a synthetic brush if you want to go for a deeper colour pay off.

HUDA Beauty Desert dusk Eyeshadow Palette

Creamy, long lasting, and blendable — these are just some basics an eyeshadow should have, and while this palette from Huda Beauty has them, what makes this special is the range of colours. With a mixture of warm and cool tones, mattes and shimmers, creamy and duo-chrome toppers, this one palette can help you create a full-on glam look to an everyday matte look as well.

Although it looks overwhelming at first sight, a closer look will help you see the vast range of colours this palette provides once you can take your eyes off of the beautiful duo chrome toppers.

Wet n' Wild Mega Jelly Eyeshadow

Jelly Eyeshadow is one of the new Eyeshadow trends, and Wet n' Wild has come up with its own version with a wide range of fun colours. Mostly used as eyeshadow toppers, these are best applied with the finger, or with a synthetic brush. If you are ever looking for that extra metallic pop on your eyelid without powdery products, this is the way to go. Simply pat this on for a wet shine that will not budge.

Bobbi Brown Luxe Lip Color

The Bobbi Brown Luxe Lip Color claims to provide a one-stroke colour coverage with a hydrating, smoothing formula, and nourishing shine. And yes, it does live up to every single claim because the intense pigment drowns your lips in full colour with one swipe, and the hydrating formula leaves a healthy natural shine that is not too glossy, nor desert matte. Plus, you do not need as much reapplication as one normally would with hydrating lipsticks for its intense staying power. 

Glossier Boy Brow

By now, we all understand the importance of a nice structured pair of eyebrows and how it helps to frame the face. Unfortunately, spending 15 minutes on brows are not practical for most of us with busy mornings, and that is where products like this come in. It comes with a pomade like formula, so the brows look natural and not too stiff. This can be applied to the brow with the brow wand, where the small shape of the wand allows it to cover each and every brow hair without clumping or creating a mess. As it comes with a tint, the brows look fuller, darker and more structured, and all in one good step.

Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed

Model: Niki, Efa, Naaz

Makeup: Farzana Shakil's Makeover Salon

Styling: Sonia Yeasmin Isha