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1. A dual-ended eyeliner stamp because, IN SPITE OF YOUR BEST EFFORTS, achieving the perfect cat eye is hard and this easy-to-use tool makes it about 1000x easier. All you'll have to do is apply the stamp to your lashline and your wing will be done in mere seconds. You won't even have to use/waste 10 makeup wipes and several years of your life in order to achieve it.
2. A cruelty-free Vivienne Sabó waterproof mascara that proves miracles do happen once in a while. What's that miracle, you ask? No 👏 more 👏 raccoon 👏 eyes 👏. This clump-free formula stays put through oil, sweat, and tears with no bleeding or smudging.
3. A Schick dermaplaning razor sent from heaven for people who are done with the pains of plucking and the expense of waxing. This rids stray brow hairs and unwanted peach fuzz, all while ridding your complexion of dead skin to reveal a smoother and brighter complexion.
4. A NYX setting spray to lock in your makeup, because it only took about three hours of blending to get it to look this way. So humidity, sweat, tears: it's all irrelevant when you've topped your foundation with this magic stuff, which works to mattify your makeup and prevent it from turning into a greasy mess (no small feat).
5. A Maybelline BB cream to hydrate, blur pores, and even out your overall complexion in a pinch. It even contains broad-spectrum SPF 30, so you can rush out of the house knowing that your complexion is simultaneously looking fresh *and* being protected.
6. A Real Techniques sculpting brush that gets the grade of A+ when it comes to blending for a streak-free complexion. While this can be used for foundation, it's also an absolute gem in the complicated world of contouring: it spreads product evenly to give you ~chiseled cheekbones~ that don't look like they were attacked by a block of bronzer.
7. A tube of Glossier Cloud Paint available in six gorgeous shades ranging from sunny corals to brownish nudes. Blush is tricky because just one swipe can result in an unnaturally Barbie pink cheek, which is where this gel-cream formula shines: it’s got a buildable formula that allows you to manipulate the color to be as subtle or as prominent as you want.
8. Precision tip cotton swabs to replace your manicured fingernail when it comes to sharpening cat eyes, cleaning shadow fallout, or erasing lipstick feathering. Coloring inside the lines of a picture? Easy. Coloring inside the lines of your lips? Genuinely one of the hardest things to do on planet earth.
9. Oil blotters you'll want to stash in your black crossbody right this second. These charcoal sheets remove excess oil without ruining your makeup in the process and..wait...what's that? It's your greasy t-zone running away in fear. Problem solved.
10. A makeup cleaner because YES, you need to deep clean your brushes. Not only are your makeup tools a breeding ground for bacteria (and a pimple apocalypse waiting to happen), but applying foundation with a brush covered in built-up foundation? Not ideal.
11. A Maybelline lip palette here to deliver shine, shine, shine — all without any of the sticky residue you usually associate with glosses. Oh, and experimenting with eight different hues for less than $10? I'm sweating.
12. A L'Oreal gel liner for beginners at the whole ~wing~ thing. Liquid eyeliner requires exact precision...but this brush applicator prevents you from picking up too much product, allowing for buildable shading you could smudge to perfection.
13. An Aesthetica contouring kit here to take your hand and lead you into the path of chiseled cheekbones. This vegan, cruelty-free, and hypoallergenic palette includes a handy how-to guide (pictures and charts included!) that helps this makeup technique seem 10000000x less intimidating.
14. A Maybelline foundation to answer your callout for medium-to-full coverage that looks both au naturale and has a matte finish to control even the greasiest of t-zones. Makeup that looks cake-y? No longer your problem.
15. A La Roche-Posay thermal spring water ideal for sensitive complexions in need of some extra hydration. Spritz this on in combination with your moisturizer and voila! Prepare for extra dewiness, the perfect foundation canvas, and decreased redness and inflammation brought on by conditions like rosacea and eczema.
16. A Velour Lashes kit to ease your first foray into the mysterious world of falsies. This trio contains everything you need: lashes (duh), an applicator, and latex-free adhesive. What makes the lashes especially great for newbies is that their natural design requires absolutely no trimming or measuring, which basically means the worst has been avoided.
17. A lightweight L'Oreal face primer with a mattifying formula that both blurs pores *and* makes it known to excess shine that no, it is not welcome on this complexion. "Do you know how long it took to apply this foundation? We refuse to have you ruin it." —me, speaking to the grease on my face.
18. A cruelty-free Glossier brow gel because the eyes aren’t the window to the soul...the eyebrows are. This pomade formula will keep your brows in place while subtly filling them in, immediately giving your ensemble an air of ~I am put together can’t you see my brows look good~. The best part? It's so easy. No expert drawing skills required (unlike your regular brow pencil).
19. A NYX palette packed with six color correcting hues: green to combat redness, peach to cover up those pesky dark circles (see below), light and medium to make blemishes all but vanish, and purple and pink to brighten your overall complexion.
20. A no-frills O'Keeffe's lip balm for anyone who is ready to bid adieu to dry, chapped, crack-when-you-smile lips. Not only is this formula super moisturizing, but it also has a cooling effect here to give your sinuses a minty, awakening treat that can *only* be rivaled by a large glass of cold brew. Ironically something I'm in desperate need of right now.
21. A cruelty-free Milani lipstick infused with vitamins A and C to ensure that your pout doesn't feel drier than sandpaper whenever you wear it. Dare I say your lips will actually feel...nourished?!
22. A blending sponge to condense your many, many brushes into just one tool. This squishy BB can be used for everything from concealer to setting powder, all while providing a natural finish that is (*IMPORTANT*) not blotchy. It truly blends everything to perfection so that you don't have spots of cake-y, oompa loompa orange scatted across your cheekbones.
23. A cruelty-free theBalm eyeshadow palette with both matte and shimmery shades. The kicker? Each shade is perfectly paired with a matte or shimmery counterpart, meaning you can easily determine which shades to work with when going for that smoky eye.
24. NYX epic liner if you're tired of your liquid liner fading before your second cup of coffee (#rude). This stuff seriously will not budge and won't transfer/ruin your shadow if you have oily lids.
25. A Tweezerman folding comb designed with tiny metal teeth to glide through even the *clumpiest* of mascara. This works to separate and define each lash to get you the most coveted compliment of all time: Are those your real lashes?
26. An Elizabeth Mott eye primer capable of keeping your shadow and liner in tact all 👏 day 👏 long 👏. That's right, folks! No creasing, smudging, fallout, or crying under the watch of this cruelty-free must-have.
27. A Handmade Heroes coconut sugar scrub that acts as pout prep for even the the most drying of matte lipsticks. Not only does this smell amazing, but it exfoliates away all dry, flaky skin that would prevent you from rocking that classic red lip you're finally going to attempt tonight.
28. A Coty translucent powder to set your makeup for a flawless finish — and one that will actually last.. Like, all day long! This is the perfect dupe for high-end products that also come with a high-end price tag (AKA way too high for my budget).
29. A Nars creamy concealer capable of covering dark circles, that pulse-having zit, and redness. And the best part? This medium-to-full coverage formula is buildable and won't look caked on.
30. A Charlotte Tilbury tinted moisturizer that provides a sun-kissed glow, hydration, *and* actively blurs pores and hides redness. This even takes away the headache of finding your perfect color match: the product comes out white and adjusts to perfectly suit your skin (especially awesome for someone who just went on a beach vacation and their go-to makeup is now just a teeny bit too light).
31. A cruelty-free Elizabeth Mott bronzer that will a) give your face some color even if you've been stuck in your cubicle and haven't seen the sun in several days, and b) give SOME CONTOUR. What's that? Chiseled cheekbones worthy of a modeling contract?
32. A L'Oreal ~glotion~ for a bright complexion that requires exactly zero effort. This glycerin- and shea butter-infused formula is super lightweight and hydrating, while a subtle tint adds instant illumination to even the most drying of foundations.
33. Shadow shields to help you achieve a perfectly even smoky eye while avoiding the dreaded ~raccoon eye~ effect that comes from that grey shadow you love so much. These nifty little adhesives will collect all that fallout AKA you won't have subtle of smudges of shimmery brown sprinkled across your cheeks.
You + your makeup routine:
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