I'm A Makeup Artist, And Here Are The 14 High-End Products I Think Are Actually Worth The Money

If you're looking for a new ride or die, here's where to look.

Hey there! My name's Xavier and I've been a makeup artist for the past four years. In that time, I've come across some products that have ultimately become my ride or dies when it comes to slaying my face. If you're a lover of makeup, or just starting out and want some high-end staples that are actually WORTH the money, then keep on reading.

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1. Want a medium to full coverage foundation that feels weightless on your skin? This luminous foundation by Anastasia Beverly Hills is a must-have then.

Cult Beauty / Via cultbeauty.co.uk

Okay guys. Y'all NEED to know about this. No seriously. I have gone through MANY foundations and this one wins EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Easy to blend and water-resistant, this luminous foundation can be worn with or without powder, and will always give you a gorgeous, healthy glow – WITHOUT LOOKING OR FEELING GREASY. It's also free of flashback and oxidisation so you won't end up looking like Casper the Friendly Ghost or two shades darker on a night out.

Price: £43.00.

2. This full-coverage concealer from Jeffree Star Cosmetics is a lightweight and blendable formula that'll cover ALL of your problems.

Beauty Bay / Via beautybay.com

Since buying this concealer for myself when it was released, I have managed to use it EVERY TIME I do my makeup. Available in 30 shades and full of anti-ageing properties, this concealer is honestly amazing.

Price: £21.00.

3. HI SISTERS! Want an eyeshadow palette that can give you day-to-day wearable looks BUT ALSO a world of colour to play around with? The Morphe X James Charles palette is waiting for you!

Cult Beauty / Via cultbeauty.co.uk, @makeupbyxavi / Via Instagram: @https://www.instagram.com/makeupbyxavi/?hl=en

Internet beauty guru sensation James Charles and makeup brand Morphe teamed up last year, and gave us what we WANTED. This palette comes with 39 ultra-pigmented, blendable shades alongside BLINDING shimmers. I put this palette on this list 'cause it's perfect for every situation. You want a warm-toned everyday look? You got it. You want to put an entire rainbow on your eyes and slay it on Instagram? YOU GOT THAT TOO.

Price: £39.00.

4. Like your brows to STAY in place? The Anastasia Beverly Hills dipbrow pomade is going to do just that.

Cult Beauty / Via cultbeauty.co.uk

This brow pomade can be used in SO MANY ways, and that's why it's on this list. If you want carved out Instagram brows, you can achieve that with this pomade. If you want natural, feathered brows that just need a few brow strokes, you can achieve that too! Already got full brows but just need to fill in a few sparse areas??? YOU GUESSED IT!!! You can get that as well!!

This brow product is waterproof, smudge-proof and guess what... CAN EVEN BE USED AS BROWN EYELINER.

Price: £19.00.

5. The Milk Hydro Grip primer will help your makeup stay on for as long as 12 hours. 12 HOURS.

Cult Beauty / Via cultbeauty.co.uk

When I put this primer on for the first time...WHEW. I knew it was over for any other primer in existence. When I tell you this is my ride or die...THIS IS MY RIDE OR DIE. This primer has a heavy hit of plant-derived oils, as well as moisturising, soothing and balancing aloe water, cherry blossom, hyaluronic acid, and B vitamins. Enough said.

Price: £27.00.

6. The Huda Beauty Tantour is an ultimate dream for cream contour lovers. An actual DREAM.

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For someone who likes to contour their face beyond belief, this cream-to-powder formula was honestly music to my ears. Doubling as a contour and a bronzer, this 2-in-1 product is extremely easy to use. If you're frightened of contour, believe me when I say – you WON'T be frightened of this. Sweat and water-resistant, Tantour is easy to blend and won't leave you with any streaky or muddy marks. Just between us, this might be my favourite product on this list.

Price: £26.00.

7. Since we're on the topic of contour, this contour stick from Morphe is another great product to get in ya basket.

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Although this is a fairly new product, Morphe really did the damn thing with this contour stick. Perfect for chiselling cheekbones, snatching your nose and shaping your jawline, this buildable and blendable formula is a sculpting ESSENTIAL.

Price: £14.00.

8. The Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic blush is a luminous blush that'll have you THANKING yourself for forking out the cash to buy it.

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Whoever said you don't need a blush is a LIAR. The Cheek to Chic blush comes with two shade variants to give you the most gorgeous, nuanced glow. It's even got a special 'light-flex' technology to enhance luminosity, and when I've got this bad boy on my face, you KNOW I'm radiant, baby.

Price: £30.00.

9. Whether you're hiding bags, blemishes, or last night's bad decisions, the Fenty Beauty Pro F'iltr Instant Retouch concealer has got you covered.

Harvey Nichols / Via harveynichols.com

I know I've already put a concealer on this list, but LISTEN. It would be a CRIME to not include Miss Rihanna's concealer on here. Light as air, medium-to-full coverage and sweat-resistant, this concealer is a GO-TO.

Top tip: know your Fenty foundation shade? Your concealer is the same shade. Want to brighten? Go 1-2 shades lighter.

Price: £19.00.

10. The Huda Beauty Rose Gold Remastered palette is an ESSENTIAL when it comes to warm-toned nudes and full-blown smoky eyes.

Cult Beauty / Via cultbeauty.co.uk, @makeupbyxavi / Via Instagram: @https://www.instagram.com/makeupbyxavi/?hl=en

This 18-shade palette has honestly become a necessity in my makeup collection, and it could become a necessity for you too. Soooo pigmented, blendable and those shimmers???? THOSE SHIMMERS!!!!!!! Miss Huda Beauty slapped when she made this palette. She slapped. This palette is so versatile, and that's why I love it. It can take you from simple to Instagram in a matter of seconds. I was happy when I purchased it and I'm still happy now.

Price: £56.00.

11. The BADgal BANG mascara by Benefit is not even a choice, it's a requirement.

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If you're looking for a mascara that amps up your lashes, give you volume you didn't even know existed, and the ability to stay FULL-BLAST for up to 36 hours? Then look no further. This mascara will coat every lash, gives you volume and curls, and better yet, it won't leave your eyelashes looking or feeling clumpy.

Price: £22.00.

12. If you're looking for an effortless glow that can be seen from outer space, the Jeffree Star Cosmetics Brainfreeze palette is a highlight like NO OTHER.

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This six-shade highlighter palette is a standout in my collection. Recently bought this year, I haven't been able to put it down. Perfect for every single skin tone, Jeffree Star Cosmetics have really given us the most FLAWLESS glow.

Price: £37.00.

13. Kylie Jenner knows exactly what she's doing when it comes to makeup. Her Dolce K matte lip kit is one of my personal favourites.

Kylie Cosmetics / Via kyliecosmetics.com

Each lip kit comes with a matte lip liner and matte liquid lipstick. I love this duo and I just know that you'll love it too.

Price: £22.46.

14. Sometimes a gloss is enough, and why settle for less when you can settle for the best? Pat McGrath Labs gloss in Earth Angel is the only gloss you will EVER need.

Pat Mcgrath Labs / Via patmcgrath.com

I've never loved a gloss like this before, and you know what – I'm PROUD to admit it. Made with a blend of lustrous oils, this high-shine formula gives you ALLLLL of the gloss, and NONE of the stick. Yes, bitch.

Price: £27.00.