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20 Holy Grail Makeup Products With a Cult Following

Scouting for beauty products isn’t an easy task. As the cosmetic industry becomes more expansive, so does the search. New beauty brands are emerging and new products are launching every other day. The question is: Which makeup products are worth trying? As a beauty junkie, I’ve done extensive research on the products that consumers love most!

Despite the fact that there’s hundreds of holy grail makeup products that could’ve made this list, I’ve narrowed it down to the top 20 must-have products. These are the products that have a dedicated fanbase. Men and women will loyally defend these products in online makeup reviews. They will share their personal testimonials in hopes that you will also understand their obsession. They will even approach you IRL and zealously recommend these makeup products to you as you cluelessly wonder around your local Sephora or Ulta. That being said, why wouldn’t we want to try these products? You no longer need to feel overwhelmed about which lipstick to buy or what foundation to use. This is a list of both drugstore and high-end makeup products that will make you feel your best. These are the products that beauty insiders can’t live without. Trust me, you won’t be able to get enough of these beloved standbys. You may even find yourself buying these products in bulk—in fear they may one day be discontinued.

MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo

MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo

If you’re looking for the perfect red lipstick, look no further. MAC’s matte lipstick in the shade Ruby Woo will be your new go-to. The long-wearing formula, rich pigment, and bold color keep beauty gurus coming back for more.

If you don’t love the feel of matte lipsticks, layer it over MAC’s Prep + Prime Lip. The colorless lipstick will create a barrier between your lips and the matte formula. I also recommend pairing this lipstick with MAC’s Ruby Woo lip pencil. It will define and shape your lips, giving you the perfect pout! It will also increase your lipstick’s longevity of your bright red lips.

(Images via Mac Cosmetics [1] [2])

Tarte Double Beauty Shape Tape Contour Concealer

Tarte Double Beauty Shape Tape Contour Concealer

Tarte’s Shape Tape concealer is iconic. The blendable formula is thick, creamy, and easy to apply. And it comes in 30 shades, making it easy to find a shade that matches your skin tone. All you have to do is apply the concealer directly to your imperfections and blend out with a beauty blender sponge.

Tarte recommends purchasing the concealer in two shades darker than your skin tone if you intend to use it to contour, and two shades lighter than your skin tone if you intend to use it as highlighter. The matte finish of the product will conceal, nourish, and illuminate your skin. There’s a reason why one Shape Tape concealer is sold every 12 seconds!

(Images via Tarte Cosmetics [1] [2]) 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Pencil

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Pencil

This brow pencil is a cult favorite—and for good reason. Anastasia’s Brow Wiz pencil comes in nine diverse shades, ranging from blonde to granite. They’ve even created brow charts to ensure you choose the ideal shade for your hair color!

Not only is it easy to find a shade, but it’s also easy to create beautifully arched brows. The spooley end of the brow pencil allows you to brush your brows into an arch that follows your natural bone structure and the pencil end allows you to fill in and define your brows. Creating thin, hairlike strokes has never been simpler!

(Images via Sephora [1] [2]) 

Coty Airspun Powder

Coty Airspun Powder

Coty Airspun powder has been around since 1935. This beauty product—like the name implies—is made using air-powered micronisers. This decreases the size of the powder particles, making it soft and smooth. This is why it has such a lightweight and velvety finish.

This translucent powder can be used for contouring, to set makeup, or as foundation. It has a matte finish that conceals fine lines, wrinkles, and blemishes and keeps makeup in place. The affordability and quality of this product is unbelievable. It’s often used as a dupe for Laura Mercier’s pricier translucent setting powder.

(Images via Amazon [1] [2])

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

If you’re looking for an inexpensive (yet effective) substitute for the $20 BeautyBlender, this is it. Real Techniques’ Miracle Complexion multifunctional sponge is intended to optimize your beauty routine for under half the price.

All you have to do is wet the sponge, squeeze out the excess water, and bounce! While they’re typically used to apply foundation and concealer, they also work great with blushes, highlighters, self-tanner, and powders! The rounded side blends the forehead, cheeks, and chin and the precision tip blends around the nose and eyes.

(Images via Target [1] [2]) 

Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Polish Gloss

Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Polish Gloss

Buxom’s Full-On Plumping gloss is a must-have if you’re wanting to fake the appearance of fuller, plumper lips. The lip polish is formulated with peptides and hyaluronic acid boosters that will create a fuller lip look! Vitamins A and E will keep lips moisturized and soft.

When first applied, the plumping polish will feel tingly and refreshing. This is the peptides and hyaluronic acid boosters at work. This gloss can be layered over your go-to lipstick or worn alone. The color lasts for hours, which is exactly what you want in a gloss. Buxom offers this product in a variety of colors and finishes. They have three lovely finishes—metallic, shimmer, and high shine—and more than 40 colors to choose from!

(Images via Buxom Cosmetics [1] [2])

Urban Decay Cosmetics All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray

Urban Decay Cosmetics All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray

Urban Decay’s All-Nighter setting spray is a cult classic that you’ve likely heard of. It’s become a holy grail makeup product because it performs so much better than its competitors. The lightweight formula creates a beautiful, dewy look over makeup and keeps makeup in place for up to 16 hours.

Thanks to the formula’s patented Temperature Control Technology, this setting spray keeps makeup from melting, fading, or settling. It lowers the temperature of the makeup products that you’ve applied, which keeps your makeup intact for hours. Long work days, sweaty workout sessions, and nights out don’t stand a chance against Urban Decay’s setting spray!

(Images via Urban Decay Cosmetics [1] [2])

Benefit Cosmetics Porefessional Face Primer

Benefit Cosmetics Porefessional Face Primer

Priming your skin is an important component of achieving a flawless complexion. Like the name of the product implies, Benefit Cosmetics’ Porefessional primer minimizes the size and appearance of pores. There’s a reason why this product has been the #1 best-selling Prestige Face Primer in the U.S. for four years.

Apply this product to your skin before putting on your foundation and concealer. Not only will this silky primer minimize pores and fine lines, but it will also keep your makeup in place. While it’s a pricier product, a little goes a long way! The matte finish of the primer will allow makeup to glide on with ease. If you’re searching for your new must-have primer, look no further.

(Images via Benefit Cosmetics [1] [2]) 

NARS Radiant Longwear Foundation

NARS Radiant Longwear Foundation

If you’re willing to splurge on your foundation, run to your nearest beauty supplier and purchase NARS’ Radiant Longwear foundation. They offer 34 skin-matching shades, which makes finding the perfect foundation a breeze.

It’s a full-coverage foundation that lasts up to 16 hours. And even though it’s full-coverage, it isn’t heavy. The formula is lightweight, natural, and buildable. It’s best when applied to clean, moisturized skin and is ideal for normal, dry, and combination skin types. Start with dispensing only one pump and work the formula from the center of your face out to the edges. It will leave your skin looking natural and radiant.

(Images via NARS Cosmetics [1] [2]) 

L'oreal Lash Paradise Mascara

L'oreal Lash Paradise Mascara

Finding a mascara that gives your lashes length and volume can be challenging. And while no two people are the same, L’Oreal’s Lash Paradise mascara has recently received lots of love. The thick bristle brush and maximum formula transforms dull, lifeless lashes into lashes you’ve always wanted.

A consumer test for Lash Paradise mascara proved just how beloved this beauty product really is! 91% of women agreed that their lashes were more volumized after using this mascara and 98% of women agreed that the mascara lengthened their lashes! As if this isn’t proof enough, beauty gurus call L’oreal’s Lash Paradise a dupe for Too Faced’s Better Than Sex mascara—another mascara with a cult following. The best part is that L’oreal’s product is half the price!

(Images via L'oreal Paris USA [1] [2]) 

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream

This lip product is the holy grail for many beauty junkies. Not only is the price easy to love, but the formula is too. The creamy texture is silky, smooth, and unlike any other gloss or lipstick you’ve tried before.

NYX has created a variety of statement-making shades that are inspired by cities around the world. The colors are highly-pigmented, durable, and sweetly scented. And even though this product has a matte finish, it’s anything but drying. The luxurious lip cream is perfect for any and every occasion!

(Images via Target [1] [2])

Too Faced Sweet Peach Eye Shadow Palette

Too Faced Sweet Peach Eye Shadow Palette

Too Faced’s Sweet Peach Eye Shadow palette is a best-seller. It includes 18 warm shades that are rich, pigmented, and complementary. Jerrod, the creator of this palette, wanted a fresh take on neutrals so he did just that. These pinks, purples, corals, and bronzes can be glammed up or down!

The majority of users love the versatility of this palette. It can be used to create so many different looks. And it can be used year round. The colors transition seamlessly from spring to summer to fall to winter. Both the matte and glittery shades have potential for limitless looks! And as if this product could get any better, the palette smells subtly of peaches.

(Image via Too Faced Cosmetics)

Physician's Formula Butter Bronzer

Physician's Formula Butter Bronzer

Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer is one of the best drugstore bronzers on the market. If you’re looking to add an extra glow to your makeup routine, finish your look off with this product. It’s available in six warm shades that will transform your complexion.

This product is infused with Murumuru Butter, which is what allows the bronzer to melt into your skin. I recommend applying this powder with a fluffy brush so you can make the most of its creamy and blendable formula. And in theme with the tropical packaging, the bronzer has a faint coconut scent.

(Images via Target [1] [2])

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation

Maybelline’s Fit Me foundation comes in two finishes—Matte + Poreless and Dewy + Smooth. Both have stellar reviews. The Matte + Poreless is ideal for normal to oily skin and the Dewy + Smooth is ideal for dry skin. Each formula is lightweight, buildable, and blurring.

When first applying this product, you’ll notice how velvety and creamy it feels. As you blend this product into your skin, you’ll see how well it refines and conceals. It’s medium to full coverage and can be paired with Maybelline’s Fit Me pressed powder. Many beauty gurus even compare it to high-end foundations. It’s a steal at under eight dollars!

(Images via Walmart [1] [2]) 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eye Shadow Palette

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eye Shadow Palette

While there are a plethora of eye shadow palettes on the market, this is one that has a loyal cult following. Anastasia Beverly Hills introduced their first product line in 2000. In the last two decades, they’ve become one of the most influential cosmetic brands in the U.S. The Modern Renaissance palette is just one of their many must-have products.

This essential eye shadow palette consists of 14 shades. Each hue is warm, earthy, and inspired by the versatile colors of Renaissance art. They’re extremely pigmented, which is exactly what you want in shadows. This palette even comes with a dual-ended brush that has both a flat and fluffy end. The flat end deposits color and the fluffy end defuses and blends the shadow!

(Image via Anastasia Beverly Hills)

Aquaphor Healing Ointment

Aquaphor Healing Ointment

Although Aquaphor isn’t typically considered a beauty product, the healing ointment has many purposes. It’s formulated to restore skin, lips, hands, and feet. But instead of just using it on chapped lips, cracked hands and feet, or other skin irritations, it should be part of your beauty routine!

The semi-occlusive formula can be layered over your skincare products before you go to bed. This will keep skin healthy and hydrated. In turn, your makeup will go on smoother than ever! And just an FYI, Beyonce also does this. In an interview with Elle, she shared that she slathers Aquaphor on her face every night. This is reason enough to follow suit!

(Images via Target [1] [2]) 

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation

MAC’s Studio Fix Powder Plus foundation is a versatile beauty product. Once applied, it lasts for up to 12 hours. And because it’s a powder, it’s able to control oil and shine! It’s a product that can be used on all skin types, but especially on oily skin.

This foundation can be used over moisturizer or primer for a more natural look, or over a liquid foundation if you prefer medium-to-full coverage. Although it’s a splurge at $31, it’s worth the money. It comes in more than 50 shades so you can find your exact match. Many customers love this product so much that they’ve been using it for 10+ years!

(Images via MAC Cosmetics [1] [2])

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Concealer

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Concealer

Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost collection features both skincare and beauty products that are infused with purified hyaluronic acid. This ingredient keeps skin looking healthy and hydrated. The Hydro Boost Hydrating Concealer is just one of their many fan favorites!

This concealer is lightweight, oil-free, and moisturizing. Unlike many concealers, it doesn’t settle into the fine lines underneath your eyes. Instead, it instantly quenches skin. It’s available in five shades, all of which are blendable and buildable. This product will conceal all dark circles and imperfections so you can look and feel your best.

(Images via Neutrogena [1] [2])

NARS Blush in Orgasm

NARS Blush in Orgasm

NARS has 28 irresistible hues of blush. While they’re all iconic shades, NARS Blush in Orgasm is a bestseller. It’s a peachy pink color that has a subtle golden shimmer. It’s flattering on all skin tones, which is why it’s garnered a cult following.

Because their blushes are so pigmented, even a light application will make your cheeks flush. The tiny gold flecks embedded in this blush create so much shine that you can completely skip highlighter if you want to! It comes in a powder formula if you only want to use it as blush, and it also comes in a multi-purpose beauty stick if you’d like to use it on your eyes, cheeks, lips, and more! There’s a reason why this shade has inspired so many dupes.

(Images via NARS Cosmetics [1] [2])

Nivea Men Post Shave Balm

Nivea Men Post Shave Balm

In 2015, a product that was intended for men to use post-shave became a beauty sensation among women. A beauty blogger was at her boyfriend’s house when she realized she forgot her favorite primer. So, she dug around through his cabinets and snagged his Nivea Men Post Shave Balm!

This product is water-based, which has a different feel than most silicone primers. It keeps makeup looking smooth, hydrated, and fresh. And the best part is that it can be found at your local drugstore for under $10. It continues to get rave reviews from women, despite its original purpose. If you’re looking to try something new, swap your primer for Nivea’s Post Shave Balm!

(Images via Target [1] [2])