Essential Makeup Products to Keep Up With Every Trend

The speed at which makeup trends cycle has personally caused my head to spin. The TikTok algorithm rapidly pushed the abandonment of the “Clean Girl” for the “Mob Wife.” As soon as publications such as Harper’s Bazaar, The New York Times, and Cosmopolitan began to report on the news craze of dressing like a mob wife, I knew that this trend had reached all corners of the world. I looked into my closet and thought “I have NOTHING that will fit in the aesthetic: no fur coat, no leopard print, and no Italian designer bag.” As a college student who already spends too much money, I was NOT going to keep up with the influencers. However, when I looked into my makeup bag, I realized that the products I already have could be reworked to fit this new aesthetic. So, think of this article as your guidelines for filling a makeup bag with products that will help you survive the never-ending cycle of trends.

Courtesy of Charlotte Tilbury

Buildability

The most important aspect of developing a makeup collection that will last forever is investing in buildable products. By this, I mean that the product can be applied lightly and that the addition of more product will result in a more pigmented look. This applies to all types of products, too. Take, for example, your contour wand (I am partial to the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Contour Wand). The applicator allows you to release various amounts of the liquid contour onto the sponge. Therefore, you have full control over how much product is applied to your skin, allowing you to follow trends from the natural, clean girl to the heavy contour, 2016, KKW beauty look. I would consider buildability important for products such as foundation, concealer, contour, blush, eyeshadow, eyebrow pencils, and lipstick. Right now, the mob wife makeup look relies on a bold red lip. If you have a buildable lipstick, for example, the same tube can also be applied for a soft blush color.

Neutral Eyeshadow Palette

From the time I started wearing makeup to now, I have not been failed by my Naked3 eyeshadow palette from UrbanDecay. I have used it for everything, from everyday makeup in college to thick stage makeup for figure skating. Now, everyone’s skin tone is going to match best with a different neutral palette. However, I am a firm believer that a palette like this is all that you will need. First, a variety of eyeshadow looks can be achieved, especially if the palette leans towards blush/pink shades. Second, eyeshadow makes the best eyeliner. By using eyeshadow as eyeliner, you have full control over the shade and size of the wing. The wing can be sharp and thick, a la Mob Wife, or blurred up into your crease for a softer look. Eyeshadow is BUILDABLE and easily transfers between light and heavy makeup looks. While some trends may rely on more vibrant shades, daily makeup tends to remain in the neutral zone, regardless of style. If something like electric blue eyeliner really speaks to you, it's still easy to find an affordable and small product to fill this gap. Having one good neutral palette allows you to tailor your daily eyeshadow and eyeliner to whatever is popular at the moment.

Diverse Brush Set

A diverse brush set is essential when it comes to creating an all-encompassing cosmetics collection. Speaking to eyeshadow specifically, a thin, angled brush is necessary to create a sharp wing, whereas a thicker smudge brush is necessary for a smokey look. The type of applicator also affects the appearance of products like foundation, concealer, and contour. For liquid contour, I prefer a thick and stiff brush, whereas concealer requires a smaller, flat brush. In general, a smaller brush will increase the accuracy of your product placement, as well as the stiffness of the brush hairs. The type of brush used will dictate how the product lays on your face. If the look you are going for is softer and blended, a large brush can be used to create consistency. Think glowy, no-makeup makeup. On the other hand, dramatic and contrasting makeup looks require smaller brushes for more accuracy. Think intense contour or sharp eyeliner wings. Overall, having a diverse range of brushes will allow you to adapt the products you already have to fit the aesthetic of the newest trend.

In general, most of the products you need to follow along with the makeup trends are probably already in your bathroom. However, I hope this article will help you fill in any gaps without dropping the big bucks. As is true with everything, wear whatever makes you feel the best and feels the most like you!

Featured Image Courtesy of Allure