My Makeup Must-Haves!

A list of products that will guarantee a flawless face by Kelli Williams Hello beauties! In my last blog, we talked about the importance of going through your

makeup bag  every few months to ensure we eliminate expired products. I felt it was only right to share some of my favorite products in case you find yourself needing some new goodies to replace the old ones. Below, I’ve listed some items that are essential to a makeup bag. If you have these items, you have all you need to create any makeup look from daytime or date night! Facial Cleanser The key to great makeup is proper skincare. We all know how important it is to take care of our skin. An older client once told me she wished she’d started investing in good skincare in her 20s to prevent wrinkles and aging and that stuck with me forever! Even if you don’t wear makeup, it’s important to use a cleanser that is gentle on the skin but tough on clogged pores. My #1 recommendation is Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser (Sephora, $13.) Moisturizer Sadly, the lotion you use on your body won’t cut it. Why? While I love Jergens on my body, skincare products are specially crafted for the purpose of targeting unique skin issues. My fave is Purity Renewed Hope In a Jar SPF 30 (Sephora, $39.) Even when I wear makeup, I know my skin is being protected from the sun because of the SPF, which is important for all skin types (yes, us brown girls too!) during every season, even on not-so-sunny days. Foundation With a plethora of options, choosing your perfect foundation is a task! If you love a full-coverage, matte finish you have to try one of these. Maybelline Super Stay Full Coverage Foundation Makeup (Target, $9.39) or  NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation (Sephora, $40.) As you can see, Maybelline is on the low end cost-wise but I’ve found it to be long-wearing and it delivers a flawless finish. However, NARS, while delivering close to the same result, feels more light-weight  and the texture is slightly creamier. Setting Powder Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder (Ulta, $39) is phenomenal.  Guaranteed to set foundation in place it keeps you oil-free all day long. Best of all, it doesn’t cause unflattering flashback in photos. Blush With 3 palettes to choose from, E.L.F. Cosmetics offers the perfect blush colors for every skintone. Don’t sleep on blush - it  really ups the ante on any makeup look! You can find E.L.F.  Powder Blush Palette at any drugstore priced at $8. Mascara If you want the most amazing lashes ever you need Benefit Cosmetics BADgal Bang! Mascara (Ulta, $25.) This formula will have your lashes look fuller and longer with almost no effort. The wand is perfect for the bottom lashes, too. False Lashes Ardell Faux Mink Wispies is the perfect lash. Natural but sultry. Even when worn with no eye makeup, they can pass for your natural lashes. They can be found at most drugstores around $6. Brows: Benefit Cosmetics Precisely, My Brow Pencil Waterproof Eyebrow Definer (Ulta, $25.) It’s easy to go overboard when filling in your brows, but this pencil’s precise tip allows each stroke to mimic real brow hair. The pencil comes in a variety of colors so you can pick the one that complements you most. Makeup Remover Up&Up Makeup Remover Wipes found at Target are easily one of my most purchased items! I use them during skin prep on clients and they love how they smell. They don’t tug on the skin like other wipes I’ve used.Gentle and hydrating,they help eliminate most of your makeup before you cleanse. Artist Tip: I keep a pack on the bed stand in case I get extremely tired and also in the car to wipe my face off on the  way home after a night out - don’t judge me. I know myself well enough to know I’m going to be too tired to do it when I get home! I hope you try some of the products listed. If you do, please let me know! Also, take advantage of Sephora’s Beauty Insider and the Ulta Rewards programs where you can earn points for your purchase and use the points later for freebies or a discount on future purchases. Until next time! Xo, Kelli

Kelli Williams is a freelance makeup artist in the Cleveland, Ohio area specializing in bridal and editorial makeup. For more makeup advice and tips, connect with a Kelli on Instagram @kissnmakeupxo.