Welcome to The Great Beauty Try-On, where we seized the opportunity to test-drive the best-selling makeup products from some of your favorite beauty brands (plus some newcomers!) and documented the process along the way.
Everyone has that one friend they can always count on: the one who always keeps things easy; who’s there for you at your best, worst, most adventurous, and shiest moments; who knows exactly what to do in any situation. You know what I mean? To bring the metaphor full-circle here, I spend a lot of time around a lot of beauty products, and there aren’t many brands that I can depend on full-time, but Nars is one that always comes through.
Every Nars product has holy-grail potential—the brand just gets it. Whether you’re looking for an earthy tone or something more saturated, the colors are always on point. The buildable formulas are some of the best in the game, and the creamy, comfortable lipsticks pack a serious punch. I’ve been a loyalist for more than 17 years (so loyal, in fact, that I won’t even let my friends borrow my Nars products), and the versatility is what keeps me coming back for more. Keep scrolling to see the 14 Nars products I can’t live without and how I use them to create two of my go-to makeup looks.
This is my pretending-to-be-too-lazy-to-care makeup look. It’s a low-effort, high-reward look and exactly what I gravitate toward on weekends.
I’m a tinted-moisturizer stan, and this formula never disappoints. It’s lightweight, hydrating, and really enhances my skin, giving it a subtle wash of coverage. I like to add some to my moisturizer and apply it with my fingers. Your fingers are the most underrated makeup tool in your kit, in my opinion!
I won’t lie: I’m usually put off by concealers that come in little pots like this because the formulas always feel extra drying to me—but not this one, my friends. It doesn’t settle into my lines at all, and the formula is infused with good-for-skin ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamins A, C, and E, so over time, your skin will look plumper and more hydrated. Here, I added a bit under my eyes to brighten things up and above my brows to help soften some persistent redness.
I’ve tried thousands of lip products (and own hundreds), but I kid you not, no other product will give you that “your lips, but better” look like this little tube of magic. The formula feels so buttery smooth on my lips, and it adds the prettiest wash of sheer coverage. I find myself reaching for this multiple times a day. I can’t get enough of it.
This is pretty close to my everyday makeup vibe. I love my skin to look (and feel) fresh, my eyes to look awake, and my lips to be the life of the party.
There are few foundations that I use regularly, but this is one of them. It’s a makeup-skincare hybrid, so the finish feels incredibly natural but still provides the extra coverage I’m sometimes after. I swear the moment the formula touches my skin, it instantly takes the redness out. (Thanks, biomimetic oat!) My skin always looks refreshed when I use this.
This is one of my top three concealers of all time. It’s a cult favorite, and if you haven’t tried it, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to a tube. It’s so incredibly creamy, and the formula never settles into lines. It lasts all day and is really the secret to looking like you got a full night’s rest (even if you didn’t).
There are a couple ways to use this bronzing cream: on it’s own or over your foundation. It always gives the prettiest, warm glow to my skin. I like to swirl a blending brush into the compact and apply it in a circular motion, blending until it becomes one with my skin. When your winter blues hit, use this. Trust me.
This is the top-selling blush in the U.S. Need I say more? She’s perfect.
This is the most aptly named bronzer, if you ask me. It’ll give you a glow as the name suggests—like you’ve just spent the day lounging in Laguna Beach.
I’m a setting-spray gal, but as far as setting powders go, this one is elite. It actually has a radiant finish, which I appreciate. Once my makeup is done, I use a brush to press and roll some over my makeup to lock it all in place. The best part is it’s made with a light-reflecting complex that makes your skin look flawless in photos and IRL.
This mascara is not faking it. The full-bodied brush helps lift and build dreamy lashes. However, if you’re into thick, voluminous lashes, this might not be the formula for you. It adds some fullness, but its best quality is its lengthening abilities. Also, since the formula is fairly lightweight, you can really layer it on.
Do you ever want your lips to be so shiny you can see a reflection in them? If yes, you’ve come to the right place. Not only is this lip-gloss formula infused with antioxidant-rich ingredients that nourish and protect lips, but the applicator combines a flocked tip with a paddle shape to hug your lips for a seamless, high-shine application. It looks perfect on its own or layered over a lipstick like I’ve done here with the Powermatte Long-Lasting Lipstick in Sweet Disposition ($34).
Full transparency: I didn’t use this in either of these looks, but it’s a true makeup-bag staple. If you want to lock makeup in place all day, look no further. This will keep your face looking fresh all day long.
My issue with matte lipstick is the application. More often than not, it makes my lips look flaky. This formula is made with rich emollients, so when it’s applied to lips, it just glides on. I’m also low-key obsessed with this mauve-brown color.
This is hands down one of the best liquid lipsticks out there. I don’t even like matte finishes, and I’m obsessed with this. It packs a serious punch and will not budge once it’s on. (Consider yourself warned.) In general, if you want more color payoff, apply this directly to bare lips in one clean sweep. But if you’re like me and don’t want it as saturated, use the applicator to blot the color onto your lips to create more of a stain effect.
Next: Our Friends Always Hit Us Up For Product Recs—12 No-BS Beauty Brands to Try RN
