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1. A Neutrogena moisture lipstick you can apply in the back of a moving car, no mirror, hand jittery from one too many cold brews — and application will still be easy thanks to the crayon design and creamy formula.
2. A Maybelline BB cream to hydrate, blur pores, and even out your overall complexion in a pinch (no more "did I blend evenly?" panic required) . 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.
3. A gluten- and cruelty-free Essence mascara with a clump-free, smudge-proof formula here to up your lash game like whoa. Just a few swipes of this will have everyone asking you the most coveted compliment-in-the-form-of-a-question: are those your real lashes?
4. 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. And all you'll have to do is dab it away!
5. 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 hairs and unwanted peach fuzz, all while ridding your complexion of dead skin to reveal a smoother and brighter complexion. Filling in your brows just got a whole lot easier.
6. 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.
7. A Coty translucent powder that will set your makeup for a flawless, lightweight finish that truly lasts all day long. This is great for beginners because the formula truly appears clear and won't leave behind a white cast you'd have to blend and blend for it to go away.
8. A cruelty-free Elizabeth Mott 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).
9. A Bella Jade setting spray that (thanks to an impressive green tea formula) is truly a makeup jack of all trades: It can reduce dryness (no more cake-y foundation), give makeup a dewy finish, control excess oil, and provide the perfect mid-afternoon pick-me-up. Just give your complexion a little spritz and...that's it. Finger, meet button.
10. A Milani baked bronzer to give your complexion an instant “I just got back from vacation and have not spent a ton of time in this dimly-lit cubicle glow” while also enhancing your cheekbones. Consider this product to be the younger, cooler sister of the whole contour trend with a blendable formula that doesn't require intense blending.
11. A Real Techniques sculpting brush that gets the grade of A+ when it comes to blending for a streak-free complexion. This is an absolute gem when it comes to evenly spreading highlighter, setting powder, and even allows you to dabble 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.
12. 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.
13. A vegan and cruelty-free Covergirl concealer designed with an ~extra large~ applicator that tackles pimples, redness, and dark circles with just one swipe. If you're looking to avoid the painstaking step of foundation, this formula provides a full coverage finish that is both lightweight, crease-resistant, and super easy to blend.
14. A Neutrogrena eyeshadow palette here to make smoky eye styles seems significantly less intimidating. This comes with four pigmented hues and contains a cheat sheet on the back of the palette: a helpful illustrated guide highlights where you should apply each of the below shades.
15. 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. Now without further ado, let's wave a collective goodbye to all the cake-y textures of your foundations past.
16. A waterproof Palladio eyeliner here to save the day if you have an unsteady hand! An easy-to-grip wand feels comfy in your hand while a thin felt tip provides clean lines with just one swipe. Plus, the formula is cruelty-free, smudge-proof, and long-lasting which means you've just found your dream come true.
17. A NYX liquid illuminator for a bright complexion that requires exactly zero effort (or beauty sleep)! This lightweight moisturizer is an actual superstar at adding slight shimmer all while blurring pores and imperfections — no brushes or sponges required.
18. A Rimmel shadow stick that throws worries of precision out the window thanks to a chunky tip and blendable formula. One swipe of this on your lids is basically enough, and you don't even need to worry about applying primer because reviewers swear this stuff lasts all day long.
19. A three-pack of Broadway glosses for anyone who wants a no-frills, non-sticky product when it comes to their lips. The clear gloss will add a touch of shine without requiring a steady hand and mirror for application! Plus, you'll get three formulas: coconut oil to hydrate, mint oil to cool, and rosehip oil to reduce fine lines.
20. A three-in-one tint you can use as a highlighter, lip balm, and blush for a dewy, glowing complexion. Throw this in your purse for when you're running late — it's the perfect way to give your complexion a subtle boost when you're running late.
21. 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.
22. A Maybelline concealer formulated with goji berry and Haloxyl because no one needs to know that you binged The Office yet again last night. Just a quick swipe of this (there's an attached sponge applicator so no need to worry about picking up a brush) and *poof* your dark circles are now a thing of the past.
23. 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.
24. A Revlon cream eyeshadow so easy to apply, it's basically foolproof. Just this pigmented formula combined with the dab of your finger will lead to gorgeous lids and absolutely no fallout under your eyes and onto your cheeks (basically unheard of for the powder shadows you've been using thus far).
25. A buildable, cruelty-free NYX lip cream that, although it *is* super pigmented, is also light enough that it won't have stained the delicate skin around your mouth. Have an unsteady hand? This will become your saving grace. Consider any outside-of-the-line mistakes as good as swiped away.
26. A SHANY liquid blush you'll want to add to your daily beauty routine right meow. Blush is tricky because just one swipe can result in an unnatural cheek modeled after Barbie pink, which is where this cream-to-powder product shines: it’s got a buildable formula that can be manipulated to be as subtle or as prominent as you want.
27. 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.
28. An EcoTools dual-ended brush set here to help you perfect your shadow game. Each brush is labeled with their intended use (blend, define, smudge, shade) to make it a whole lot easier when it comes replicating that look you saw on Instagram.
29. A blending sponge that'll condense all 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 with ease so that you don't have spots of cake-y, oompa loompa orange scatted across your cheekbones.
30. 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.
31. A Tweezerman curler guaranteed to get you the most coveted compliment of all time: Are you wearing falsies? This curls your lashes in a ~pinch~, is designed with an ergonomic handle that feels sturdy in your hand, and has a hypoallergenic silicone pad to prevent any tugging or pulling which makes the whole process a breeze for beginners.
32. A cruelty-free Burt's Bees tinted balm that has a buildable formula. This is perfect for when you want a flush of color, but can't commit to the agony that is tracing your cupid's bow with a pigmented lipstick.
33. And a NYX setting spray to finish everything off. 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.
You, realizing you're not bad at makeup you've just been using the wrong products:
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