What Makeup Artist Erica Taylor Buys at the Drugstore
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Here at the Strategist, we love hearing about everyday stuff that actually works. That line of thinking extends to thedrugstorebeauty products in ourmedicine cabinets,shower caddies, andmakeup bags. In our new series “Beauty Aisle,” we’ll be talking to folks in the beauty industry — aestheticians, hairstylists, makeup artists, dermatologists, and the like — about the go-to affordable products they keep stocked. For this installment, Strategist beauty writer Krista Bennett DeMaio chatted with makeup artist Erica Taylor, author ofthe new bookThe Magic of Makeup,about the drugstore products she loves.
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We use face serum andface creams, but forget about eye serum. It really makes a difference. This one has hyaluronic acid and caffeine to take down puffiness and hydrate the eye area. I put it on in the morning, let it absorb while I’m having mycoffee, and then I’ll put eye cream over it. Don’t skip the lid — everyone forgets the lid.
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This is the one I made go viral. For me, it’s more of a makeup-prep product — a balm that’s going to prevent makeup from seeping into creases and texture. It preserves theskin barrierand gives a little lipid protection, so your concealer goes on smooth.
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Toneris one of those things that’s a “nice to have,” not a “need to have.” Originally it was meant to rebalance skin’s pH, but now cleansers do that, so it’s more of a security blanket. This one is hydrating, so it’s great if you have dry skin. Think of it as wetting your skin with a sponge so it can absorb your other products better.
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When my skin is freaking out, this is my go-to. It’s such agood barrier cream, but it’s also great forsensitive skin. If I’m feeling chapped or dry or like my skin just needs a little extra cushion and love, this is what I reach for. I’ll use it day or night — whenever my skin needs calming.
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This is such a smart product because it’s a glowy SPF andprimerin one. I love anything that’s multifunctional for the girl on the go. You’re getting protection and glow at the same time.
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This is a $5 liner, and it’s one of the best. It has more of a paintbrush tip. “Press, press is best.” You hold it sideways and press it in the lash line so there is no gap, or what I call hovercraft liner. As our lids get more textured, this keeps everything looking tight and lifted. For a wing,I show you in the book how to lift the liner up and out,like you’re adding an extension to your house. You’re basically rerouting the direction of the eye upward.
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Thispaletteis great for easy neutrals. Stick to bronzy tones; they’re universal. The mistake we made in the ’90s was wearing all those grays and taupes shadows. They’re draining and make us look tired. Bronze and rose golds have life to them. As I say in my book, you have to apply shadow uncomfortably high — over the hood — to see it and get a lift.
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I like automaticlip linersthat you don’t have to sharpen. You don’t need a drawerful of liners — just one good nude that works with everything. As we lose volume in our lips, liner replaces the structure. I’ll lightly overline the top and bottom, not the sides, and then blend it out with my finger. It creates fullness and also keeps lipstick from bleeding into the fine lines we now have.
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These give me that high-end gloss vibe. I love shades like this or Ice — that milky-pink nude that just works on everyone.
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These are great because they’re baked, so you can’t go too intense with them. They give you a glow, so you don’t even really need ahighlighter. A flat matte blush can look dusty. This just gives life to your skin.
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e.l.f. has this really pretty lilac shade that gives a lavender-pink pop on the top of the cheeks. It just gives skin that soft, dewy lift.
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This is creamy but not too creamy, and it stays put. Somebronzersare so balmy, they feel like they’re going to slip off your face. This one gives you warmth and actually lasts.
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This is like $5, and it’s great. The trick with contour that I show in my book is that you don’t go under the cheek. You have to place it more on the bone to lift the face. It’s all about rerouting the direction of the face.
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If you have dry skin, Milani makes this great hydrating setting spray that’s very similar to higher-end versions. It gives you that cushion under your makeup without feeling heavy and keeps everything looking smooth and plumped.
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First, I’ll set my brows withclear gel.Then I’ll go in with this super-skinny pencil and fill in the holes. Your brow is not a solid block — it’s individual hairs. So you want little strokes, not one heavy line, which makes you look harder and older.
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The Strategistis designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
