As a professional makeup artist, these are the products I genuinely use, trust, and confidently recommend. Whether they’re part of my everyday routine, my professional kit, or longtime industry favorites, every product on this list has earned its pla...
Sections
6
✨primers
✨foundation & skin tint
✨concealers
✨blushes
✨bronzers & contours
✨setting powders
✨primers
The primers worth buying. From grippy formulas that help makeup last all day to smoothing options that create the perfect base, these are the standouts.
💄 MUA Take: My Everyday Favorite
This is the primer I reach for in my everyday personal kit. It creates the most beautiful hydrated, radiant base without feeling heavy, and makeup layers seamlessly on top. If you love that healthy, skin-like finish,...
HT Pearl Primer Serum | Olive Tree People
💄 MUA Take: My Professional Kit Staple
This has earned a permanent spot in my makeup kit. If your skin is looking dull or tired, Wonderglow gives the prettiest lit-from-within glow without looking glittery. It’s one of those products that just makes...
Wonderglow - Face Makeup Primer
💄 MUA Take: Best Budget Buy
Never assume expensive means better. Some of the best-performing products in the beauty industry are hiding in the drugstore aisle, and this primer is one of them. Its grippy formula helps create a smooth, long-lasting ba...
Power Grip Primer | Sticky Gel + Hyaluronic Acid
💄 MUA Take: Best for Gripping Makeup
Want your primer to do a little more? This version combines the same grippy base people love with niacinamide, making it a great option if you’re looking for makeup performance plus skincare-inspired ingredients.
Power Grip Primer + 4% Niacinamide
💄 MUA Take: Best for Smoothing Texture
If enlarged pores or texture are your biggest concern, this is the primer I’d point you toward. It’s become a cult favorite for creating a smoother-looking canvas before makeup without breaking the bank.
Poreless Putty Primer – Grip, Blur & Perfect
💄 MUA Take: Worth the Hype
If you don’t mind spending a little more, this is one of the most iconic gripping primers on the market. It’s a favorite among makeup artists and beauty lovers for helping makeup stay fresh and locked in for hours.
Hydro Grip Hydrating Face Primer
✨foundation & skin tint
From barely-there skin tints to full-coverage foundations, these are the formulas that stand out for beautiful finish, wear time, and overall performance. Whether you’re shopping luxury or drugstore, these are worth knowing about.
💄 MUA Take: My Everyday Favorite
This is my everyday skin tint and the one I reach for over and over. It evens out my complexion while still letting my skin look like skin, which is exactly what I want both personally and professionally. If you’re a...
Olive Rose | Waterless Skin Tint
💄 MUA Take: My Professional Kit Staple
This has earned a permanent spot in my professional makeup kit. It gives the most beautiful healthy-looking glow with medium, buildable coverage that photographs incredibly well. I love reaching for this on bri...
Beautiful Skin: Hydrating Foundation: 4 Neutral
💄 MUA Take: An Industry Icon
If there’s one luxury foundation that’s earned icon status, it’s this one. It creates a soft, luminous finish that looks beautiful in person and in photos, making it a favorite among makeup artists for years. If you’re l...
Luminous Silk Natural Glow Blurring Foundation - Armani Beauty
💄 MUA Take: My Fave Drugstore Skin Tint
Don’t overlook this just because it’s from the drugstore. This lightweight tinted serum gives beautiful, natural-looking coverage and blends seamlessly into the skin. If you love a fresh, dewy complexion witho...
True Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum Foundation | L'Oréal Paris
💄 MUA Take: Best Long-Wear Foundation
When someone asks me for a foundation that’s going to last through long days, events, or weddings, this is one of the first that comes to mind. It delivers exceptional wear with fuller coverage while still looki...
Double Wear Stay-in-Place Longwear Matte Foundation
💄 MUA Take: Worth the Hype
If your goal is healthy, glowing skin with medium coverage that still looks natural, this foundation is absolutely worth the hype. It blends beautifully, wears comfortably throughout the day, and creates that “your skin, b...
Triclone™ Skin Tech Foundation
💄 MUA Take: My Pick for Radiant Skin
This is one of my favorite recommendations for anyone who wants radiant skin without looking overly dewy. It gives a polished, naturally luminous finish and works beautifully for everyday wear or special occasion...
Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation
✨concealers
💄 MUA Take: My Everyday Favorite
This is hands-down my favorite concealer and one I use every single day. It gives incredible coverage without looking heavy, and a little truly goes a long way. What impresses me most is that it doesn’t settle into f...
HT Serum Concealer | Olive Tree People
💄 MUA Take: My Professional Kit Staple
This has earned a permanent spot in my professional makeup kit for years. The coverage and staying power are unmatched, making it one of my go-to concealers for weddings, photos, and long days. What I love most...
Pro Longwear Concealer – Full Coverage
💄 MUA Take: An Industry Favorite
This has been a makeup artist favorite for years, and for good reason. It gives beautiful medium-to-full coverage, blends effortlessly, and works well for everything from brightening under the eyes to covering blemis...
Radiant Creamy Concealer
💄 MUA Take: Best for Dry Under-Eyes
If your under-eyes tend to look dry or creasy, this is one I’d absolutely recommend. It has a lightweight, hydrating formula that brightens without feeling heavy and leaves the skin looking fresh instead of overdo...
Swipe All-Over Hydrating Serum Concealer with 18-HR Wear
💄 MUA Take: My Favorite Drugstore Concealer
This has been one of my favorite drugstore concealers for years. It brightens beautifully, blends effortlessly, and is incredibly easy to use, making it a great option whether you’re newer to makeup or hav...
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circles
💄 MUA Take: Best for Full Glam
Shape Tape became a cult favorite for its incredible coverage, and I still think it has its place. If you have younger skin and love a full-glam, airbrushed look, this is a great option. For mature skin or under-eyes w...
shape tape™ full-coverage concealer
✨blushes
Whether you love cream, liquid, or powder blush, these are the blushes I genuinely use and confidently recommend for creating a healthy, natural-looking flush that complements the skin instead of overpowering it.
💄 MUA Take: My Everyday Favorite
This is the blush I reach for most because it checks every box. The pigment payoff is incredible, the shade range is beautiful, and it’s so easy to build from a soft wash of color to something a little more vibrant. ...
HT Blush Glow | Olive Tree People
💄 MUA Take: My Professional Kit Staple
I’m obsessed with these. When I want a polished, going-out look or I’m doing makeup on a client, this is one of my first grabs. The formula blends beautifully, wears incredibly well, and having both blush and b...
Desert Island Duo® Blush & Bronzer Stick
💄 MUA Take: Worth the Hype
Patrick Ta absolutely nailed this formula. Having both a cream and powder blush in one compact makes it incredibly versatile, and together they create beautiful color with impressive staying power. The pigment is gorgeous,...
Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo
💄 MUA Take: Most Like Olive Rose
If you love the fresh, skin-like finish of Olive Rose but want another option, Rhode reminds me of it in the best way. It melts into the skin beautifully, looks incredibly natural, and gives that effortless healthy g...
pocket blush - piggy
💄 MUA Take: An Industry Icon
There’s a reason Orgasm has remained one of the most iconic blushes in beauty. The peachy-pink tone with subtle luminosity is flattering on so many skin tones and instantly brings life back to the complexion. It’s one of...
Powder Blush - Orgasm
💄 MUA Take: My Luxury Pick
If you’re looking for a beautiful luxury powder blush, this is one I’d happily recommend. The formula is smooth, blends effortlessly, and gives the skin a soft, refined flush that looks elegant rather than overpowering. It...
Yves Saint Laurent Make Me Blush 24H Buildable Powder Blush
✨bronzers & contours
Whether you’re adding warmth, soft definition, or sculpting the face, these are the bronzers and contours I genuinely use and confidently recommend for natural-looking dimension.
💄 MUA Take: My Everyday Favorite
This is the contour I reach for every single day because it’s incredibly easy to use and gives the most natural-looking definition. It blends seamlessly, never looks muddy, and enhances your features without looking ...
HT Shaping Contour | Olive Tree People
💄 MUA Take: My Professional Kit Staple
I’m obsessed with this product. It has earned a permanent place in my professional makeup kit because it makes sculpting and adding color so quick and effortless. The formulas blend beautifully, wear incredibly...
Desert Island Duo® Blush & Bronzer Stick
💄 MUA Take: A Bridal Favorite
This is one of my favorite liquid contours for creating soft, seamless definition. It blends like a dream and photographs beautifully, which is why it’s earned a place in my professional kit. If you’re after sculpted ch...
Hollywood Contour Wand
💄 MUA Take: My Professional Kit Staple
I’ve had this powder in my professional makeup kit for years, and it continues to be one of the most versatile products I own. Whether you’re using it to perfect the complexion or choosing a deeper shade like G...
Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Face Powder
💄 MUA Take: Worth the Hype
Mario absolutely nailed this formula. It adds warmth and dimension without looking orange or overdone, making it one of the easiest bronzing products to work with. Whether you’re newer to makeup or more experienced, it’s i...
MAKEUP BY MARIO SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer
💄 MUA Take: My Pick for a Natural Glow
If you love that fresh, effortless makeup look, this is a bronzer worth trying. It melts into the skin, blends beautifully, and gives warmth without looking heavy. It’s one of those products that makes your com...
Saie Sun Melt | Cream-Balm Bronzer | Clean Beauty
💄 MUA Take: My Pick for Effortless Makeup
Rhode has such a beautiful way of making makeup feel fresh and uncomplicated. This bronzer blends effortlessly into the skin and gives natural warmth that never looks heavy or overdone. It’s perfect if your ...
pocket bronze
💄 MUA Take: My Favorite Budget Contour
This is one of the best affordable contour products I’ve tried. It blends easily, gives soft definition, and is a great introduction to cream contour without spending a lot of money.
Halo Glow Liquid Contour Wand
💄 MUA Take: My Favorite Drugstore Powder Bronzer
This has been a drugstore favorite for years, and it’s easy to see why. The formula blends effortlessly, gives a beautiful sun-kissed warmth, and is one of the easiest powder bronzers to work with.
Murumuru Butter Bronzer | Bronzer
✨setting powders
Whether you prefer a soft, natural finish or maximum longevity, these are the setting powders I genuinely use and confidently recommend for locking makeup in place while keeping skin looking like skin.
💄 MUA Take: My Professional Kit Staple
If I need makeup to last all day, photograph beautifully, and stay flawless through long events, this is one of my go-to powders. It sets makeup without feeling heavy and gives such a beautiful blurred finish.
Easy Bake - Huda Beauty
💄 MUA Take: My Everyday Favorite
This is one of my favorite pressed powders for touching up throughout the day. It smooths, blurs, and takes down shine without making the skin look dry or powdery. It’s a staple in both my personal makeup bag and pro...
Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder
💄 MUA Take: My Pick for a Natural Finish
If you love makeup that still looks like real skin, this powder is beautiful. It’s lightweight, never feels cakey, and gives just enough setting power while maintaining a fresh, natural finish.
Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Talc-Free Vegan Powder
💄 MUA Take: A Luxury Favorite
This powder has earned its reputation for a reason. It gives the skin a beautifully soft-focus finish and leaves makeup looking polished without feeling heavy. It’s definitely a luxury purchase, but it’s one I’ve really...
Prisme Libre Loose Powder - Givenchy
💄 MUA Take: Best for Extra Blurring
If your goal is a smooth, blurred complexion with impressive staying power, this is a fantastic option. It’s great for longer wear and gives makeup a perfected finish without looking overly matte.
ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder
💄 MUA Take: My Budget Pick
It consistently receives excellent reviews from both makeup artists and everyday users as an affordable setting powder that gives a soft, luminous finish. If you’re looking for a lower-priced option, this is one worth cons...
Halo Glow Loose Setting Powder
💄 MUA Take: A Drugstore Favorite
It’s been a longtime favorite in the beauty community. Makeup artists and everyday makeup lovers alike praise it for its smooth finish, dependable performance, and approachable price point.