The Sephora Savings Event Sale is back with first access for Rouge! Access and savings happen during these dates with code SPRINGSALE:

• Rouge Members have 20% off 4/10 – 4/20
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• Insiders get 10% off 4/14 – 4/20
• All Sephora Collection 30% off

Here are my top makeup recommendations by category.

Primers/Complexion Enhancers

I still don’t typically use primers since I prefer to use a moisturizer that multi-tasks. Here are the multi-taskers I use that you can use as a primer or complexion enhancer.

Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Stick – This is a glowy foundation stick I initially thought would be a glittery mess on the skin. It’s on the emollient side but not sticky. A few readers messaged me about this and told me they used it as an all over primer base and added concealer + powder on top for their perfect natural glow. I tried their tips and loved the look.

One/Size by Patrick Starrr Base Thinner – I tried the Bronze base thinner after receiving a press sample and fell head over heels in love with it. It’s a multi-tasking product you can use as a number of ways, but I like to mix it in with my favorite foundations to sheer them out for a more natural glowy look. I bought Pearlescent Pink to try. Bronze definitely is darker than my skin tone and gives it a bronzed look while the Pearlescent Pink is more natural looking.

Saie Glowy Super Gel – Another favorite I love for dry skin or if your foundations start to look dry or patchy. I like to mix in one pump of this with a liquid foundation to give it a bit more glow.

Refy Glow and Sculpt Face Serum Primer – One of the few primers I like because it has a lighter weight feel to it and it’s not heavy.

Best Foundations

These are my top 4 in rotation from Sephora.

Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick – This is my most-worn foundation since 2024. I do have to mix shades sometimes but right now 3N is my perfect match. Love the coverage, how it blends and convenience of application. (P.S. I tried the new Forever Skin Glow Foundation formula and it’s very drying on my skin, even though it’s supposed to be “glowy.”) In action here.

It Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow Lightweight Foundation SPF 40 – This is still the best CC+ cream with SPF because it’s not as thick as most CC+ formulas.

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation – The new formula performs the same as the original on me. Still love this for a naturally glowy finish that isn’t’ too glowy. See it in action here.

m.ph Le Skin Weightless Serum Foundation – Love this newer formula. I don’t think I would really describe it as truly “weightless” as I definitely feel it on my skin once it sets. I still love for medium natural looking coverage. I’m in between shades 150 and 170 (I have to mix). Demo here.

Best Concealers

I don’t always use a concealer these days because I find that the foundations I use have enough coverage for me. These are my top picks from Sephora.

Prada Beauty Micro-Correcting Concealer – This is a nice lightweight medium coverage blurring concealer. I really like this under the eyes! Demo and swatches here.

YSL Touche Eclat Concealer Pen – This is still my favorite under eye brightening concealer. It has a thinner formula but is glowy and emollient. It won’t cover dark circles but I really like it for brightening.

Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Concealer – This is the best multi-tasking creamy concealer. I like that it doesn’t crease or cake. It is also very long lasting which I love.

Ilia Skin Blur Serum Concealer – This is a new formula which has pretty good coverage for under the eyes. Not too thick but not sheer. It’s blurring and self setting. Love the Ilia and Hourglass concealer brushes.

Powder/Set

I’ve only been using one brand of setting powder these days which is the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder. I like both the Original and Talc-Free formulas. This is one of the few loose powder formulas that doesn’t look like it has a white cast on my skin.

Favorite Blushes

I have so many blush favorites. I love trying new shades and formulas, but if I had to pick just 5 these would be my picks.

Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Crème + Powder Duo – Love the colors they have and the fact that you can layer the cream on top of powder or just wear them separately. I bring at least one shade on trips with me. Select shades are also available in mini sizes.

Prada Touch Cream-To-Powder Soft Blur Blushes are new and I love them. These are cream blushes that dry down to a nice satin finish. I like applying with fingers. I have only tried Peach and Tulip so far but I love the tones and will review and swatch all the shades I picked up before the sale ends. (Peach on the face here, both shades applied here.)

YSL Make Me Blush (powder) is my go-to powder blush of choice these days. The shimmers and mattes are SO beautiful. They have a silky smooth texture that is just so beautiful. If I had to pick one color, 44B Nude Lavalliere is it! Review + swatches here.

Armani Luminous Silk Cheek Tint is the best long-wear formula for a liquid blush. Most other formulas just don’t last but these have a nice dry down and stay put without looking of feeling heavy.

rhode Pocket Blush – I think these are my favorite for a cream blush formula. They are so easy to pop onto the face and blend. I usually bring Freckle and Piggy with me on trips.

Bronzer

Dior Forever Skin Bronze Bronzing Balm Stick – If you buy one cream bronzer, buy the one from Dior. Swatches of three shades here, but this is the best satin finish cream bronzer I’ve tried and I really like the colors. They’re not too orange, not too cool toned, they’re just perfect! Swatches here.

Makeup By Mario SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer – This is a natural cream bronzer, very similar in concept to the Merit stick one. I love this because it looks SO natural on the skin.

Merit Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer – Also been reaching for this even though I initially felt it was way too sheer for my taste. I’ve been trying to go lighter on the bronzer and I think it’s more flattering on my skin tone to go sheerer.

Best Highlighters

Sarah Creal Today’s Highlights Peptide Balm – This is the best glowy dewy highlight I’ve tried because it’s not sticky or tacky in feel. It’s a balm but it’s a smooth one. Finish is sheer and natural looking and makes the skin just GLOW.

Hourglass Unreal Radiant Glow Liquid Highlighter – Just swatched these here, but a more detailed review to come very soon! This is a new formula from Hourglass along with a new Highlighter Brush. For a liquid highlight it’s 10/10. Finish is smooth and easy to control. Not too frosty or glittery on the skin and it has a nice dry down. Swatches here.

Dior Forever Glow Maximizer Liquid – This will forever be a favorite. If I had to pick one it would be either Peachy or Nude.

Prada Light Glowing Highlighter Powder – Love this for a powder highlight – the glow is so beautiful! Swatches here.

Eyeshadow Loves

Natasha Denona anything is incredible, I really still love I Need a Warm and I Need a Nude (swatches here and here).

Prada Dimensions Multi-Effect Refillable Eyeshadow in 8 Pansy is my favorite palette of the year so far (swatches here).

Merit Solo Shadow – Love these for a one and done kind of shadow. Top 3 picks are Vachetta, Glace and Surrealism.

For an all-matte palette the Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Original is tied with the Patrick Ta Matte Palettes (I like all the shades but Medium is my go-to).

Eyeliner/Mascara/Brow

Anastasia Brow Definer – This is a classic but I just ordered the ArchiBrow Microblade Detailing Pencil and I love it, the packaging is really innovative and the application is super detailed/fine.

Glossier Boy Brow Arch Pencil – Another favorite for the formula but there isn’t enough product in the pencil! This gets used up SO fast I stopped repurchasing.

Tarte Tartelette Tubing XL – Still the best non-smudging mascara I’ve tried.

Diorshow Overvolume Extreme Volume Waterproof – Love this new formula even more than other Dior mascara formulas.

Lipgloss

As a lip gloss lover it is hard for me to narrow down my favorites, but I keep going back to these five.

Dior Addict Lip Maximizer – Dior lip gloss lover for LIFE!!!!!

REFY Lip Gloss – They have THE best neutral tones.

Lawless Forget the Filler Gloss – Some of the shades are too pale for me, but I swear by Cherry Vanilla for that glossy pout.

Sarah Creal – I really love this formula and the colors. They’re fresh and give just the right amount of color. These are the ones I brought with me on all my trips last year.

Tinted Lip Balms/Oils

I will spare no expense to try the latest and greatest in balms or oils.

Patrick Ta Major Moisture Tinted Lip Balm – This has been a pleasant surprise for me! I like that there is a good amount of pigment in these for a balm. Pink Salted Caramel on the lips here.

Summer Fridays Lip Butter – A classic I always have in my purse. Love the limited-edition duo they launched recently.

YSL anything – This is the time to save! I love these but they’re expensive. I actually can’t get over how expensive lip products are these days. I still remember when Tom Ford launched a $50 lipstick and everyone was OUTRAGED. Now it seems like nearly everything is near this price point.

Dior Lip Glow Oil – Love the new formula for that cushiony glassy finish. Swatches in this post here.

My Go-To Lipsticks

YSL Candy Glaze, but really YSL anything! I feel like they consistently release top tier formulas and colors. Especially love the Candy Glaze in Shade 13.

Prada Monochrome Soft Matte Blur Lipstick – Still the best matte lipstick formula I’ve tried.

Dior Rouge Dior On Stage Lipstick – Iconic Rose is the best nude pink.

Gucci Glow and Care Shine Lipstick – A classic I can’t live without especially Sally Soft Honey or Julie Blush.

NARS Afterglow Sensual Shine Lipstick – Love this for a glossy finish.

Lip Liner

I am testing several new lip liner formulas right now so I don’t know I can say which is THE best right now. I still really love Tom Ford Beauty and Dior. Will keep you posted on the new ones I test soon!

This wraps up my makeup recommendations! I know it’s a lengthy roundup but I wanted to cover all the categories!