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I'm a makeup artist who spent $400 on beauty products this month — here's what was and wasn't worth it for me

The writer holds a red Morphe beauty sponge; The writer holds Fenty Beauty's gloss bomb in Hot Chocolit Heat
Some of the beauty products and tools I purchased in January were hits for me and others were misses.Morewa Osawaru
  • As a Toronto-based makeup artist, I bought a lot of beauty products and tools throughout January.

  • I use Nars' Natural Radiant Longwear foundation and Charlotte Tilbury's brow pencils on clients.

  • I tried a Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb and Haus Labs' Triclone Skin Tech foundation for the first time.

I picked up Beauty Blender's Turn the Blend Around makeup-sponge and cleanser set for my kit.

The writer holds two Beauty Blenders
I was disappointed by the sponges I got from Beauty Blender.Morewa Osawaru

I thought Beauty Blender's Turn the Blend Around makeup-sponge and cleanser set was a steal with three original Beauty Blenders included in the kit for $65.

However, I wish I'd read the reviews more closely before purchasing. In my opinion, the sponges weren't as soft as the original Beauty Blenders.

I replenished another shade of Nars' Natural Radiant Longwear foundation for my kit.

The writer holds a Nars foundation
I picked up Nars' Natural Radiant Longwear foundation in Macao.Morewa Osawaru

I'm pretty sure I buy one shade of Nars' Natural Radiant Longwear foundation every month.

The foundation in the shade Macao is a staple in my kit because it serves as a good mixer for many of my brown-skinned clients.

Another bottle of this Nars foundation cost $66.

After taking a makeup class, I added Sephora Collection's Colorful eye shadow to my kit.

The writer hards a dark-gray sparkly glitter eye shadow
Sephora Collection's Colorful eye shadow in Truffle - black creates a great base for my other pigments.Morewa Osawaru

This month, I took a class with one of my favorite makeup artists and she recommended using a dark eye shadow as a base for colorful pigments.

Her advice inspired me to purchase Sephora Collection's Colorful eye shadow in Truffle - black and it's been an absolute hit in my kit.

I picked up the Sephora Collection pigment for $12.

Sephora Collection's Colorful lip gloss balm was another kit purchase.

The writer holds a Sephora Collection lip gloss
I don't think I'd try Sephora Collection's Colorful lip gloss balms again.Morewa Osawaru

I loved the color of Sephora Collection's lip gloss balm in Nude Attitude but I wish it was a bit more pigmented.

For only $12, it was worth trying but I'm going to stick with my MAC Lipglasses for now.

I purchased Haus Labs' Triclone Skin Tech foundation for myself.

The writer holds a Haus Labs foundation
Haus Labs' foundation pleasantly surprised me.Morewa Osawaru

TikTok convinced me to try Haus Labs' Triclone Skin Tech foundation after seeing it in every other video on my for you page.

At first, I was skeptical about yet another celebrity makeup brand (Haus Labs was founded with Lady Gaga) but the foundation lived up to the hype and has since become a go-to for me.

I picked up a bottle for $59.

I was influenced to buy Huda Beauty's Faux Filter Crease-Proof concealer for myself.

The writer holds Huda Beauty concealer
I thought Huda Beauty's Faux Filter Crease-Proof concealer was OK.Morewa Osawaru

I'm not ashamed to say the Huda Beauty FauxFilter Crease-Proof concealer was another TikTok-influenced purchase.

This concealer was good but it wasn't the best I've ever used. For $38, I probably won't be repurchasing.

When it comes to my own makeup, Jouer Cosmetics' concealer has my heart.

I restocked on Morphe's Highlight and Contour beauty sponge for myself and my kit.

The writer holds a Morphe beauty sponge
I love using Morphe's Highlight and Contour beauty sponge on myself and my clients.Morewa Osawaru

The Morphe Highlight and Contour beauty sponge is an affordable substitute to some pricier alternatives. I've probably bought at least 15 of Morphe's sponges.

In my experience, my sponges tend to rip after a few uses — they're here for a good time, not a long time. But when I have them, they blend like a dream and cost only $13.

The Laneige Glowy balm is a personal staple.

The writer holds a pink Laneige lip glowy balm
I always need a Laneige lip balm.Morewa Osawaru

I don't know what I was doing before I found Laneige's Glowy balms. I'm not sure which I love more, the packaging or the product, but either way I don't leave my house without it.

I think it's the perfect salve for my chapped winter lips and it gives them a gorgeous rosy tint that attracts lots of compliments.

I picked up a Laneige balm for $20.

I tried Fenty Beauty's Gloss Bomb in Hot Chocolit Heat for myself.

The writer holds a deep-brown Fenty gloss bomp
I didn't love the shade Hot Chocolit Heat on me.Morewa Osawaru

I really wanted to love Fenty Beauty's Gloss Bomb in Hot Cholocolit Heat after seeing it all over TikTok.

I've only used it twice and I already know I won't be repurchasing this particular shade because I just didn't think the color was for me. I'm more of a pink- or clear-gloss girl.

Fenty Beauty's gloss bomb cost me $31.

Morphe's Continuous setting mist always has a place in my kit.

The writer holds Morphe's continuous setting spray
I have yet to find a better setting mist than Morphe's version.Morewa Osawaru

Morphe's Continuous setting mist might just be my most-repurchased product.

My kit feels incomplete without it so I'll be loyal until death do us part — or I find a setting mist I like better.

I picked up Morphe's setting spray for $24.

I got a refill of Charlotte Tilbury's brow cheat pencil for my kit.

The writer holds a Charlotte Tilbury eyebrow pencil
I bought a refill in black.Morewa Osawaru

I've been obsessed with Charlotte Tilbury's Brow Cheat pencil since I discovered it in 2021.

It's my favorite natural-black eyebrow pencil and the great thing about it is you can buy refills to shave off a couple of dollars.

I bought a refill for $19.

I purchase Cinema Secrets' brush cleaner for my kit almost every month.

The writer holds a 1/4 full bottle of the Cinema Secrets brush cleaner
Cinema Secrets' brush cleaner is a staple.Morewa Osawaru

I like to call Cinema Secrets' brush cleaner an efficient queen. I've already used most of it and probably buy one of these a month just because of how often I have to clean my makeup brushes.

The cleaner removes product build-up like foundation and other cream products and makes the actual washing so much easier.

I purchased a bottle for $41.

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