I wrote about skincare a few weeks ago and today I’m back with makeup. This list isn’t made up of trending or viral products exclusively, but more ‘in the know’ formulas that industry insiders really use. And not just makeup artists but editors, skin experts, aestheticians, buyers, marketers and founders as well. When you’re in beauty, you come to realise almost everyone is using a select few foundations, powders, mascaras and so on. There’s always outliers, but I maintain that the below 24 products are reliable classics and pretty much guaranteed to deliver on their promises.

A quick story to illustrate the sentiment: While I was at Uni, I was simultaneously working part time at David Jones on the Lancôme counter, and part-time as the editorial coordinator at a website launched by a former Vogue editor. As part of the latter job, I was slowly granted access to beauty’s inner sanctum and the people behind the scenes. At this point in time, everyone was obsessed with Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk (tbh, they still are). One week when I got paid, I used my David Jones staff discount to buy a bottle. My manager on the Lancôme counter asked why I paid for Armani when I could have grabbed a Lancôme Teint Idole for free as part of my allowance. I tried to politely explain that Luminous Silk was the one. It was the foundation in everyone’s bathroom, in every MUA kit — all my heroes and idols were using it.

Me in my luminous silk^

Think of the below list as an extension of this train of thought. And if I’ve missed anything (because my experience is obviously limited) please share it in the comments. I’m very easily influenced and will probably go out and buy it myself…

The foundation that inspired this very list. My entire career, almost every makeup artist has maintained it as their favourite. The coverage is the ultimate middle ground and the finish is natural, not matte nor dewy. Perfect, really…

A Mecca team favourite. Also, my very first editor who was the former beauty director at Vogue told me this was the best foundation of all time, hands down. Period. I also think it’s insane and makes your skin look airbrushed but in a believable way (not a makeup way).

Everyone loves Westman Atelier. Zara Wong who I’ve previously interviewed here (ex head of content at Mecca) loves the Foundation and Concealer Stick. It’s also my personal favourite.

This is such an OG and if you’ve ever worked at Mecca or as a mag editor pre 2020, you’ll likely own it. It was THE cool girl base product during my five years at Byrdie. I didn’t use it for years because it’s formulated with coconut and castor oils, and I was scared it would break me out, but now that I’m more dry, I’m back on it… You can use it as a concealer, or all over. It’s dewy, buildable and super fresh.

Such a great everyday no makeup makeup base you can apply with your fingers in under a minute. Worth the $$$.

I remember Victoria Baron telling me this was her favourite CHANEL foundation for medium to full level coverage without any heaviness or settling…

On that note, Vic also told me that THIS is her favourite for fresh, dewy, perfect post-facial skin. It is one of my FAVOURITE base products of all time.

Who doesn’t love this exorbitantly priced Japanese concealer? I got caught up in the hysteria and bought it once at the airport in Doha and wow, it’s so dense, so creamy, it covers a multitude of sins but still looks like real skin.

Such a staple for fresh, dewy coverage but a true foundation finish. Looks like makeup but in the best possible way.

This was the IT concealer when I started working in media and I think it still is. I met Francois Nars once (almost fainted) and I asked him what made this concealer so much better than everything else on the market. He said it was in the perfect balance of pigment density, longevity, weightlessness and light reflection, not to mention the way it works equally well for artists and normal people at home. It’s foolproof. I can’t deny it’s the best concealer I have ever used.

This is another cult formula but much more dense than the above. I have a bad broken capillary on my nose, so one night asked my friend Sean Brady (an incredible makeup artist) what I could use to cover it. We were at a house party and he said ‘come with me’. We went into the bathroom and he pulled out this concealer, tapped it on my nose and the redness was instantly gone. It stayed concealed all night long. I literally went out and bought it the next morning.

Before everyone was baking, we were using blotting papers. Tatcha’s work to instantly absorb oil and subtly ‘dry’ the complexion.

A classic for mattifying the skin without flatness.

A cult classic and true innovation (Givenchy has made some magic as far as makeup goes). Choose a colour to suit your complexion — it will literally erase your pores and give your face a velvety finish.

Another OG and probably one of the first clear highlighters that delivered glassy, glazed skin before it was a thing.

I think this is the best highlighter ever. I like the transparent shade as it’s completely clear and glassy. It looks more like moisture than it does shimmer or pearl. Use it on your lips, cheekbones or to fluff your brows. The possibilities are endless.

Diorshow is the best. Everyone knows. I love the spoon-shaped brush, it hugs the lashes and pushes them up. But excess product is scraped away when the wand leaves the tube, so it’s never clumpy or thick. Perfect Bambi lashes every time.

I came to learn about this when I was working on the Lancôme counter, but this mascara is a thing. I find it unique in that it serves up a fluffy thick lash, but it feels really lightweight on.

This or Shiseido, nothing else. Sadly the Shu Uemura is really hard to find in Australia these days.

Fara Homdidi says this is the best eyeliner on the market, and who am I to argue.

I have so many colleagues who love the matte Armani liquid shadow tints. They’re a great foolproof base, or an easy one and done eye look that lasts.

Once I interviewed Dianna Cohen of Crown Affair and she mentioned this eyebrow gel. I Googled it, and its also in Fara Homidi’s ITG top shelf…

At the time of its launch, this was an innovative product. The tones are warm but not orange or muddy. I love the multi-tone compact for more of a glowy, subtle wash of colour.

A product that took on a life of its own. I have this and still use it a lot. It’s very peachy and has an almost tangerine tinted shimmer that illuminates the skin. It’s more of a manufactured blush but it’s beautiful.

Another makeup moment in time. I really feel as if this product put bronzing on the map (for non-makeup artists, anyway). The original ‘Laguna” obviously won’t work for all skin tones but it comes in various undertones for depth and dimension.

I love this product. For years it intimidated me. I wasn’t really sure how to use it… Makeup artist Filomena Natoli told me to drop a milky serum or oil into it, swirl my brush around and sweep it over the spots you’d normally ‘tan’, like the cheeks top of the nose and forehead. I find it super sheer, but incredibly versatile. I also feel like I’ll die before I finish the pot.

My wedding makeup artist got me onto this. We used ‘Petal’ on the big day but all of the shades are beautiful. It’s buttery and super youthful when buffed in. Also great on the lips.

Viral yes but the best lip liner in the game in terms of shade. Personally, I find Kosas has better longevity, but much prefer the super discreet tone of the original Pillow Talk shade.

A blue based red no one will argue with.

Crown Affair The Texturizing Air Dry Mousse

I bought this at Mecca a few weeks ago because I am mad for Crown Affair and finally got around to using it. I’m unique in that I love mousse, it just works for my hair. My favourites are Oribe Tres Set Structure Spray and Davines, but this is a new top contender. GREAT for your air drying lifestyle. Hair pic (wearing the mousse) from the weekend for reference:

Have a great week.

EM x

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