13 Beauty Makeup Essentials We Couldn’t Live Without This Year

Last Updated on May 16, 2024 by Ryan

2023 has been a hard year, to say the least, but it has also been a year of A LOT of online shopping. Through countless hours of online shopping, we have found the ultimate makeup essentials. These products are our top makeup products of 2023, and we don’t think we will stop using them in the new year.

These makeup essentials are products we basically can’t live without, and we admit we are sometimes afraid to leave the house without them. However, products like mascara and concealer come in many different shades, formulas, and brands. That’s why we compiled a list of the best makeup essentials with products that are perfect from the packaging to the formula.

Makeup Essentials: Concealer

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

We can honestly say it is very hard leaving the house without a full-coverage concealer to hide blemishes and dark under the eyes. Concealer is one of our beauty essentials, and the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer is tough enough for the job. This concealer is formulated to last all day while leaving your skin radiant. It corrects, highlights, contours, and perfects any blemish or dark spot. The long and skinny packaging is perfect to fit in your purse and on the go.

Another great thing about this concealer is the shade range. You won’t have to worry about buying this product online because the description of the shade and the range of shades allow you to find the perfect match for your skin tone easily.

Makeup Essentials: Beauty Sponge

ORIGINAL BEAUTYBLENDER

Now we aren’t going to lie to you: there are so many beauty sponges on the market for less money than the Original Beautyblender. However, the Original Beauty blender is the best makeup sponge on the market.  This product falls into the makeup essentials category because it is super soft and blends your liquid and cream makeup products to perfection. If you ever have a patchy foundation or cream contour that doesn’t blend out correctly, the Original Beautyblender makeup sponge is your best friend. 

Makeup Essentials: Lip Gloss

Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Polish

We have tried many lip plumpers, glosses, and stains, but none of them achieve the pouting effect just like the Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Polish. The perfect essential for some glossy lips. The formula is not sticky but instead glides on top of lip liner or lipstick while adding pout with a single swipe. You can use this alone for a quick and glossy plump lip. Not to mention, the smell of this product is sweet and delicious.

Makeup Essentials: Mascara

Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara

Before preparing yourself for the best affordable mascara of the year, it is only $5. The Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara elongates and bolds your lashes to the extreme. We always see makeup artists add false lashes, and it immediately elevates their makeup look. False lashes aren’t always for everyday use. Sometimes we want a bold lash without the trouble of putting on fake lashes. This mascara provides volume and length, and it looks like you could be wearing false lashes. It’s also a dupe for many high-end mascaras that achieve a similar effect.

Makeup Essentials: Foundation

ColourPop Pretty Fresh Foundation

Hyaluronic acid has been all over social media this year as the active ingredient to incorporate into your skincare routine. Brands have hopped on this train too, as they are promoting their products with hyaluronic acid. The ColourPop Pretty Fresh Foundation has hyaluronic acid to ensure your face is hydrated while making your complexion look plump and glowy. A makeup essential like this one is a medium coverage that is buildable and creates a skin-like finish.

Makeup Essentials: Lip Stick

HUDA BEAUTY Power Bullet Matte Lipstick

Glowy lipstick with shine may not be for you, so this HUDA BEAUTY Power Bullet Matte Lipstick will be your go-to lipstick. The creamy formula leaves a matte finish that is not drying and lasts all day. The colors are stunning with pinks, reds, blues, greens, and purples. 

Makeup Essentials: Eyeshadow Palette

Tarte Tartelette in Bloom Clay Eyeshadow Palette

Many eyeshadows palettes have neutrals similar to the shadows in the Tartelette in Bloom Clay Eyeshadow Palette, but this palette carries every essential neutral shadow. You can create an abundance of different classic eyeshadow looks with this palette. The palette has 12 mattes and shimmers for easy layering and blending. Whether you like shimmers or mattes, these shadows are perfect for creating a soft makeup look.

Makeup Essentials: Blush

Milani Baked Blush

Milani Baked Blush is a beautiful bronzer and blush combination product. Although the colors are mainly pinks and peaches like a standard blush, a warm bronzer undertone adds a sunbaked finish. We consider blush to be a makeup essential because it highlights and brings life to the face. The Milani Baked Blush is also inexpensive and comes in great shades.

Makeup Essentials: Setting Spray

MAC Prep & Prime Fix + Primer and Setting Spray

Priming spray and setting spray is often neglected in a makeup routine, but they ensure makeup has a stronghold and lasts all day. Often setting sprays and priming sprays are two separate products, but the MAC Prep & Prime Fix + Primer and Setting Spray do both. It primes so your foundation glides on smoothly and blends beautifully PLUS it sets your makeup look to stand up against sweat, heat, and melting.

Makeup Essentials: Bronzer

Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Matte Bronzer

Although the Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Matte Bronzer is advertised as a bronzer, it can also be used as a contour. In fact, because of the cool undertones in this powder, we recommend using this as a powder contour instead of a regular bronzer. The cool undertones create shadows on your face, so apply this wherever you want to be extra snatched. 

Makeup Essentials: Eyeliner

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eyeliner Pencil

Out of all eyeliner (pencil, liquid, and gel), gel eyeliner is our favorite. The Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eyeliner Pencil is an incredibly versatile makeup essential. When using gel eyeliner, you can create a harsh line or use an angled eye brush to smoke it out. This gel eyeliner does an excellent job of creating a more smoke effect, and it is super smooth.

Makeup Essentials: Brow Powder

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo

We hate when our eyebrows are not filled in enough or filled in too much. The Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo is the best brow makeup essential for creating an even and effortless brow look. Use an angled brush to flick small lines into your brows to fill them. The best part about this product is the arrangement of shades. From blonde to black hair, you can find the perfect shade for your brows.

Makeup Essentials: Makeup Remover

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

You may consider this product in your skincare routine, but it has everything to do with makeup just like the previous products. Removing your makeup is technically still a beauty essential, and after the glam look, you need to properly take off your makeup. The DHC Deep Cleansing Oil is an oil cleanser that acts as a makeup remover. Use a pump or two on dry skin, and it magically melts even stubborn eye makeup. After using this, your face is clear of any makeup residue, and it doesn’t have a film. We recommend using a water based cleanser after the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil.

We hope to have provided you with the best makeup we found this year, including some killer formulas and flawless finishes. You can buy these products and wear them without having to worry if your makeup will melt throughout the day. These vital makeup products will provide you with exactly what you are looking for in a makeup product and more!

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