Here Are The 8 Makeup Products I Can’t Live Without

One of the things they don’t tell you about getting older is how much your skin changes! When I was in my 40s, I used drugstore makeup almost exclusively and never had to worry too much about finding that “just right” product.

But once I hit my 50s, my skin started getting thinner and more sensitive. I’ve had to put more time and effort into finding makeup products that will work with my skin type, which has meant replacing a lot of my trusty drugstore fallbacks.

Today I’ll be sharing a few of the products I always keep in my makeup bag. These are some of my go-to favorites that work for my thin, sensitive skin, and I would love to hear about some of your go-to makeup products too!

8 Of My Favorite Makeup Products, By Category

1. Primer

My Picks: Colorescience Mattifying Primer & Almay Smart Shade CC Primer

I love this mattifying primer from Colorescience because it has SPF 20, but it’s definitely not cheap. One way I’ve found to make it last longer is by combining it with another primer.

This CC primer from Almay combines well with the Colorescience primer, gives me great coverage, and it helps me get the most out of my more expensive primer!

2. Blush

My Pick: NARS Blush Orgasm

My go-to blush is the “Orgasm” shade from NARS, hands down! You may have already heard of this blush based on the sheer number of people who swear by it.

It’s almost universally flattering and gives you a warm and healthy glow. It’s a bit expensive, but I consider it a worthy investment because it lasts a long time!

3. Lipstick

My Pick: MAC Matte Lipstick – Candy Yum-Yum

Most of my favorite lipsticks are from MAC Cosmetics. My favorite shades are All Fired Up, Chatterbox, Candy Yum-Yum, but I like others too. I’ve also liked other lipsticks from other brands like L’Oreal, but MAC just seems to have the best color options.

4. Eyeliner

My Pick: MAC Eye Kohl

Finding the perfect eyeliner can be tricky for those of us with “mature” skin. Some eyeliners are too soft and end up looking smudgy, while other eyeliners are too hard and pull too much. But this eyeliner from MAC falls right in the middle; not too soft or too hard.

5. Mascara

My Pick: L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara

I’ve tried a lot of mascaras, from high-end department store brands to drugstore mainstays, and I come back to this one from L’Oreal every time. It’s inexpensive and makes my lashes look so full without clumping.

6. Contour

My Pick: MAC Hyper Real Glow Palette

I’m not much of a highlight-and-contour kind of gal, but I’ll do a little bit on special occasions. This palette from MAC has everything I need to create the perfect contour, and because I don’t use it very often, I know it will last a long, long time.

7. Finishing Powder

My Pick: Revlon PhotoReady Powder

I like to finish off my makeup routine with a finishing powder. It helps set my makeup and keeps me from looking too shiny. I’ve used this PhotoReady Powder from Revlon for a few years now and I love it! It’s a great inexpensive option for a finishing powder or light foundation.

8. Brushes

My Picks: MAC 190 Foundation Brush

As with their other makeup offerings, MAC’s brushes are excellent quality that come at a premium. Brushes last a long time though if you care for them correctly, so these can be a worthy investment.