20 Makeup Essentials That Have Changed Our Lives

Mented Liquid Lipstick in Blood Orange

“If you are looking for a long-lasting, pigmented lipstick in a unique color that’s perfect for melanated skin, look no further. This one can withstand me putting on and taking off my mask multiple times a day before the need to reapply. Mented’s liquid lipsticks have a velvety matte finish and doesn’t suck the hydration out of your lips. This blood orange color looks so beautiful on. Every time I wear it, I get compliments.” — Danielle James, Beauty Director, ELLE.com

Danessa Myricks Beauty Lightwork Vol. IV: Transcendence Palette – Illuminating Eye & Face Pigments

“I’m rarely ever moved by an eyeshadow palette—blame the surplus of neutral mattes we’ve been inundated with this year alone. But one swipe from this Danessa Myricks’ palette made me a believer all over again. The looks are endless with this 14-pot palette; the shimmery top and bottom rows are a creamy, blendable delight that deposits an insane amount of pigment. With this palette, everyone is a pro!” — Nerisha Penrose, Beauty Commerce Editor

Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Sun-Kissed Glow Bronze

“As someone who can never say no to a vacation, Charlotte Tilbury’s cream bronzer remains a constant in my rotation for those days when I want to mimic a post-OOO glow. Where many cream bronzers give a muddy finish, one swipe of this is all you need to chisel those cheekbones and add dimension back to your face.” — NP

Ami Cole On Point Precision Brow Pencil

“Ami Cole’s products take the mundanity out of doing your makeup. Aside from its gorgeous orange packaging—hard to miss in any makeup bag—the brand’s newly-released brow pencil already has my other brow products shaking. The dual-sided feature helps me to mimic Zendaya-esque fluffy brows in just a few light strokes.” — NP

Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Talc-Free Vegan Powder

“I lean more dewy than matte, but a light dusting of powder is a must-have for my T-zone. I hate the chalky finish most powders have, but this one is super smooth, barely-there but erases any oily spots while still leaving my skin hydrated.” — Tatjana Freund, ELLE.com Commerce Writer

Sania’s Brow Bar Angled Mechanical Brow Pencil

“When I first showed up to Sania’s Brow Bar, my left eyebrow was noticeably smaller than my right one. Fortunately, founder Sania Vucetaj, aka NYC’s resident brow wizard, took pity on me and introduced me to this genius brow pencil. Equipped with an angled applicator and unique formulation, this handy tool not only evened out my brows—it made them actually look natural. All hail.” — Claire Stern, ELLE.com Deputy Editor

Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip Gel

Look, it’s just that good. This “lip gel” has a nice glossy finish without feeling sticky and has the perfect amount of pink tint to enhance the natural color of my lip without giving me that ashy pink look. You know the ashy pink look I’m talking about.” — NP

Bobbi Brown Under Eye Corrector

“Small but mighty! I’ve tried a lot of different concealers in my life and most of them never fully covered up my dark circles. The key, it turns out, was to first apply a peach under-eye corrector, and then, boom! Gone. The Bobbi Brown eye corrector is slightly tacky but, surprisingly layers well with other products. It’s been my go-to for years now.” — Leah Romero, ELLE.com Senior Digital Designer

Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation

“This is, by far, the best foundation I’ve found for my combination skin. The formula blends effortlessly, goes on smooth but dewy, and stays in place all day, even if I (yikes) rub at my face. You can wear it multiple days in a row without the cream causing breakouts, plus the moisturizing hyaluronic acid in the formula means even dry patches will be happy.” — Lauren Puckett-Pope, ELLE.com Associate Editor

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Soft Pinch Liquid Blush

“I’ve never been an orange blush girl until this one from Rare Beauty stole my heart. One dot is all I need to create a soft flush on my cheeks, so that should tell you how pigmented this blush is. Selena Gomez, A+ in my book!!” — NP

Glossier Cloud Paint

“I’ve written the phrase ‘I don’t know how to use makeup’ more times on this website than I care to count, but this blush doesn’t care! It’s nearly foolproof. It lasts forever. You can use your fingers. And it looks so damn pretty.” — MF

Tower 28 Beauty BeachPlease Lip + Cheek Cream Blush

“If you’ve yet to convert to liquid blush and want to try a decent stop-gap, this fantastic cream blush from Tower 28 comes in a range of sumptuous pinks, reds, and purples. You needn’t worry about doling out too much product either; simply dip your blender or brush onto the cream to pick up as much (or as little) as you need.” — LP

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

“On the days I don’t feel like wearing makeup, this miracle mascara always makes my lashes pop. While the lipstick colors and eye palettes change, it’s a steady standby in my beauty arsenal.” — Alyssa Bailey, ELLE.com Senior News and Strategy Editor

Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow Primer

“Though this is technically a primer, I use it as a light-coverage foundation, and it gives the most candle-lit, non-cakey glow you can possibly imagine.” — Jessica Roy, ELLE.com Site Director

Maybelline New York Superstay 14 Hour Lipstick in Endless Raisin

“I believe a bright, bold red lip is appropriate no matter the occasion: work, home, dinner, parties, gym (yes, the gym!). This Maybelline lipstick in Endless Raisin is my go-to color. It slides on easy and doesn’t smudge.” — Rose Minutaglio, ELLE.com Staff Writer

Joey Healy Brow Structure Clear Set

“I have long, lazy eyebrow hairs. This is the only gel that keeps them held in place without making them crunch or look spackled onto my face. It’s also the perfect baby hair or frizz tamer for days when your hair just won’t behave.” — MA

Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Face Primer

“I love this smoothing primer. It totally minimizes the appearance of all my pores, and doesn’t feel heavy on my face. Plus, a little goes a longggg way. One tiny tube lasted me for almost an entire year.” — RM

L’Oréal Paris Infallible THe Super Slim Liquid Eyeliner

“Of all the drugstore and high-end eyeliners I’ve glided across my eyes, none comes close to the love I have for L’Oréal’s Infallible Super Slim liner. The rich pigment, ultra-fine tip, the easy application, and matte black finish—I have no choice but to stan!” — NP

ELLE

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10 Of The Duchess Of Sussex’s Favourite Beauty Products

Ever wondered what the Duchess of Sussex uses in her beauty routine? Whether it was during her days of playing Rachel Zane in Suits, or while she was a working member of the British royal family following her marriage to Prince Harry in 2018, Meghan has always been a woman with immense style in the beauty department. Rarely erring from a fresh face, nude lip and smoky eye combo, the Duchess also serves excellent hair inspiration – and she’s revealed some old favourites in the past. Here British Vogue takes a look at her go-to beauty products, from the ultra-cheap body lotion she loves, to a number of cult favourites you might just have in your make-up bag already. 

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Very Victoria

A matte suede-taupe nude lipstick which is made with a blend of oils to help nourish lips, it is thought Meghan wore this lipstick in her engagement photos with Prince Harry.

£25, available at Charlottetilbury.com.

Nivea Skin Q10 + Vitamin C Firming Hydration Body Lotion

The Duchess has previously said she uses this body lotion “religiously”, and praised it for its affordability and the fact it makes her skin look and feel amazing. With antioxidants Q10 and vitamin C, it sinks in quickly and helps firm the skin. 

£4.99, available at Boots.com.

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray

“For my flyaways, I spray this hairspray on a small boar bristle toothbrush (a regular toothbrush also works great) to lightly brush them down or smooth the hairline – this is especially good for a sleek bun when I’m off camera,” Meghan previously shared. 

£45, available at Cultbeauty.co.uk. 

Kate Somerville Quench Hydrating Face Serum

One of Meghan’s favourite facialists is Kate Somerville, who is based in Los Angeles, and the Duchess also uses her skincare line to “maintain that glow”. This serum is excellent for deeply hydrating the skin, and contains an array of antioxidants to fend off external aggressors, too.

£68, available at Lookfantastic.com.

Nars Blush in Orgasm

“I love Nars blush in Orgasm,” Meghan previously told Allure. “I use it on and off camera because it gives you a nice glow from within.” Universally flattering, this blush is a favourite of beauty editors, make-up artists and celebrities alike.

£26, available at Cultbeauty.co.uk.

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Highlighter

A cult classic, the Duchess included YSL’s concealing and brightening pen as part of her “five minute face”. From lifting under-eye circles to adding a highlight here and there, it’s a multi-tasking wonder. 

£27, available at Lookfantastic.com.

Undone by George Northwood Curl It Tongs

Having worked closely with hairstylist George Northwood over the years, including on her wedding day, it is likely that the Duchess will be using his new line of hair products. The latest are these tongs, which make achieving his signature beachy waves a breeze.

£65, available at Boots.com.

MAC Eye Kohl Pencil Liner in Teddy

Meghan’s signature burnished smoky eye comes courtesy of this soft, smudgy brown eye pencil, which she discovered through her old make-up artist, Kayleen McAdams. 

£15, available at Lookfantastic.com.

Eucerin Aquaphor

To get that dewy finish on cheekbones a la Meghan, her wedding day make-up artist Daniel Martin previously said it was all about layering textures; Aquaphor, he said, helped highlight the skin and impart the right texture “especially in a photo [when applied] on the high points of the face”.

£6.03, available at Lookfantastic.com.

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer

In her Suits days, Meghan used to swear by Laura Mercier’s discontinued Illuminating Primer – she wore it on her days off instead of foundation. While it’s no longer available, the brand now offers this formula, which helps bring a similarly dewy finish to skin. 

£34, available at Cultbeauty.co.uk.

VOGUE article