Fashion

7 Products That Professional Makeup Artists Love

by Gina Jones 2

Choosing new makeup is a lengthy process involving screaming that your favorite item has been discontinued, crying because you spent money on something you don't like and finally, thorough research to try to find your ideal product. For this, choosing the favorite products of professional makeup artists seems like a no brainer. By following not just the work of professional makeup artists but also their interviews and Instagram accounts, I trust their opinions more than anyone else's. They've spent time, energy, and money on makeup and gained notoriety for their craft, so surely they'd know which products are the best — and which are the worst. Their opinions have been formed for a reason, and I trust that.

Often choosing makeup and beauty products falls down completely to personal preference. It makes loads of sense — nobody knows your face like you know it. Nobody else is behind the scenes with you as you have to deal with your skincare preferences and individual makeup style. But makeup recommendation videos are so popular for a reason; it's how you discover your favorite foundation or the perfect blending brush you never knew you needed. Take a bit of advice from a professional, check out their favorites, and they might just become yours too.

1. Charlotte Tilbury — MAC Fluidline in Black Track

Charlotte Tilbury is famous for doing the makeup of big name celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Kate Moss, as well as her own well received makeup line, named after herself: Charlotte Tilbury cosmetics. Feline flicked eyeliner is a trademark of Tilbury's and in an interview with Cosmopolitan, she declared MAC's gel liner fluidline as the perfect tool to achieve the best winged eyeliner.

MAC Fluidline in Black Track, $16.50, maccosmetics.com

2. Bobbi Brown — Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Moisturising Balm

Bobbi Brown is arguably one of the biggest names in makeup, from her own work to her infamous makeup line. There's something about Bobbi Brown that just screams luxury (probably the price tag). Her all-time, number one product, when asked on the site Makeup And Beauty Blog, is Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Moisturising Balm. "It's my biggest beauty secret, my moisturiser," Brown said.

Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Moisturising Balm, $96, bobbibrowncosmetics.com

3. Dick Page — Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Color

I'm personally a huge fan of these cream eye shadows by Shiseido, mainly due to their versatility. Obviously, you can use them on your eyes but I'll often dab some of the lighter shades along my cheekbones in lieu of glitter for a party. MUA Dick Page recommended using them as "liners, shadows, brow color and skin highlights" in an interview with Refinery 29.

Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Color, $25, shiseido.com

4. Lisa Eldridge — Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage

Lisa Eldridge lists of many of her all time favourite products in this video on her website, but one item that seems to get her particularly excited is Laura Mercier's secret camouflage — a two-shade palette that means each woman can perfectly blend her own shade for coverage.

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, $34, sephora.com

5. Laura Mercier — Carita Fluide de Beaute 14

Laura Mercier is famous enough that her brand is favorited amongst other acclaimed makeup artists (see above). She said in an interview with Birchbox that Carita Fluide de Beaute 14 has been one of her all time favs since the '80s.

Carita Fluide De Beaute 14, $72, carita.co.uk

5. Jay Manuel — Manual Override Concealer

Of America's Next Top Model fame, Jay Manuel says the work behind developing his brand Manual Override's concealer took almost a year, maybe even longer, and is one of his most successful products. He wanted to make a concealer that isn't chalky and doesn't roll into fine lines.

Manual Override Conceal, $14, amazon.com

6. Alexis Vogel — Alexis Vogel Halo Highlights

Alexis Vogel is one of the hottest Hollywood makeup artists — previously the makeup director for American Idol as well as working with well-known stars like Pamela Anderson, Gwen Stefani and Jennifer Lopez. Not the first or the last MUA to recommend her own brand, Vogel named her brand's highlighters as her fave item, spotlighting highlighting is one of 2015's biggest makeup trends.

Halo Highlights; $26, alexisvogel.com

7. Tatiana Ward — MAC Studio Tech Foundation

I love Tatiana Ward not just for her work, but for her story. Her Instagram account and online tutorials bagged her a job as Nicki Minaj's makeup artist. In this interview (before Minaj hired her), Ward said she loves cream foundations, especially the MAC Studio Tech foundation. She also uses their cream concealer.

MAC Studio Tech Foundation, $33, maccosmetics.com

What I've learned? Makeup artists love promoting their own products, but that's probably because they've put the time and effort into making their products to their exacting standards. Because of these strict standards, I can only imagine that other products they recommend are also of high quality. Who knows? Their favorite might just become yours too.

Images: Courtesy Brands