Picture this: your birthday was just a few days ago, and you finally make it to the post-birthday shopping spree at the mall, splurging on everything from clothes to candy with an abundance of $15-$20 gift cards in your wallet. Finally, at the end of a long day of shopping, you have your favorite familiar black and white striped card in your hand, strutting towards your final destination. You do not have much time — those 10-year-olds are swiftly closing in on every brand in the “top 10 dupes” TikTok you saw this morning — so you know you have to act with cunning and speed to get the products you want.
Gift card in hand, you decide it is time to treat yourself and splurge on those “Get Ready With Me” products that would otherwise sit in the dark depths of your “makeup inspo” Pinterest board. There is just one problem: which products do you really want? With so many influencers advertising every product under the bright LEDs of Sephora, deciding which products are truly splurge-worthy and which are overrated can be an impossible task without much guidance. So, after many trials, errors and IPSY deliveries, I am more than ready to help out. Here are my top five absolutely un-dupeable makeup products:
Starting this list like I start off my makeup, the Kosas DreamBeam sunscreen is the perfect base or skin tint to put on by itself. As someone who does not wear foundation, the tint provides just enough coverage while also giving your skin a nice glow. It works as a great moisturizer and sunscreen with an SPF of 40, protecting skin from sunburns. This is especially impressive considering it was the only sunscreen I put on my face during my three-week-long Teen Tour to the Keys, where I was outside every day doing service work on the beach. I only put it on once or twice a day, and I never got sunburnt.
As someone who prefers a soft, shiny highlighter over a harsher, sparkly one, Saie’s Glowy Super Gel is the perfect tinted highlight. Rather than giving a more attention-grabbing glittery look, the gel gives the effect of the sun constantly hitting your face at the perfect angle with a subtle, yet eye-catching shine. My personal favorite shade is Warmglow, which has a pinkish-gold tint, but I would also recommend Starglow, which has a lighter, more metallic effect and is available on the Saie website now.
For people like me who do not typically wear heavy makeup or harsh lipstick, the NARS Afterglow Lip Balm is perfect for everything from every day to going-out looks. Having one reliable lip product I can use in the morning before school and also with a lip liner before a date has been an absolute game-changer. I have the shade “Dolce Vita,” which is perfect for someone who prefers a more nude, low-key lip. It stays on for hours, and is also super hydrating, with a mix of antioxidants that help heal chapped lips.
I have used the Glossier Cloud Paint in the shade “Eve” since middle school, and it has remained a staple in my makeup routine for one reason: I know I will never find a better blush. It has a super strong pigment so only a few dots are required, making the small tube last for what seems like forever. The consistency is perfect, the color is gorgeous, and it lasts all day, staying vibrant yet subtle (depending on how much you put on). The only reason you will need to buy new blush ever again is if you run out in 20 years, or want another gorgeous color. I highly recommend the shades “Eve” or “Storm” for people with tanner skin, while the colors “Puff” and “Beam” stand out on fairer skin.
Finally, saving the best for last, my personal holy grail: Saie’s Mascara 101. I seriously doubt I have received compliments on anything more in my entire life than on my lashes when I use this mascara. Maybe that is a stretch — but you get the point: this product is a miracle worker. From the moment I put it on at 6 a.m. to when I get in the shower before bed, my lashes stay perfectly lifted and dark. It is super versatile, so depending on how much you use, a simple and clean or pronounced and dramatic look can be achieved. I have the color “Black Noir,” but Saie recently launched a brown shade on their website that I, for one, am dying to get my hands on.
Bonus Essential! iNNBEAUTY PROJECT SLUSHY Serum Moisturizer
This moisturizer is technically skincare, not makeup, but it felt morally wrong to write a recommendation list and not include this magical serum. Infused with Hyaluronic Acid for hydrating, Bakuchiol for smoothing and Yuzu for brightening, the SLUSHY moisturizer is a complete must-have for night and morning skincare routines. Since regularly using it, I have noticed a huge difference in my skin in every positive way possible. Being a serum-moisturizer hybrid, the waste of time and money on mixing different products on your skin is removed completely, packaging an entire skincare routine into one bottle.
