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Liquid Highlighters

I love mixing liquid highlighters into my foundation as I find it stretches out whatever base I’m using, adds some luminosity, and is a great way to soften skin texture overall. I don’t tend to use them as a standalone highlighter much as they’re often a little too subtle or prone to wasting product (most pump-mechanisms dispense way too much product!).

— Christine

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Powder Blush

Admittedly, most of my favorites are powder blushes, but they tend to have the better longevity in terms of sitting around in a drawer being used a handful of times a year (I don’t keep most of the cream products I tested due to shelf life!). When powder blushes are too dry, they can be harder to apply and blend out, and it can be frustrating to try and fix that type of error/issue.

— Christine

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Cream Blush

I love when they have a dewiness to them and some sheerness/buildable coverage, as I find they are more forgiving of skin texture or flakiness. They can be too emollient or prone to dragging/migrating while worn, though.

— Christine

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Cream Eyeshadow

I love them in theory–like a one and done kind of shade–but I tend to reach for powder eyeshadow 99% of the time. I do enjoy using cream eyeshadows as an eyeshadow base or as eyeliner, though.

— Christine

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Loose Eyeshadow

I love that they’re often versatile–they can be used wet or dry–but they are usually messier to work with, and there’s the added inconvenience of having to twist open each shade when one uses them.

— Christine

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Pressed Eyeshadow

The only real downside is that they can sometimes be pressed too firmly or too softly, so they’re too stiff or prone to being as messy as a loose eyeshadow but without the intensity/payoff of a loose eyeshadow.

— Christine

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— Christine

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Lipstick Sets

I think they’re a great way to try more shades while spending less money, though sometimes I feel like brands release the same type of shades!

— Christine

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Cheek Palettes

I’d prefer smaller format cheek palettes, like duos or trios, and I really appreciate when brands release at least two (low bar!) versions to at least attempt to address the needs of multiple skin tones!

— Christine

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Pre-made Palettes

It’s nice to have a lot of shades in one place that often go together (some more than others), so it can take the guesswork out of a look. The downside is that it is hard to hit the right notes for every buyer, so you often end up with a few shades that are less usable (because of things like one’s skin tone) or useful (preferences).

— Christine

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