I’m Kayla. I have combo skin, a shiny T-zone, and one little dry patch near my nose that loves to act up. I wear makeup for school drop-off, Zoom calls, and weddings where my cousin cries on my shoulder. So yeah—I put this stuff through real life.
Here’s what actually worked on my face, and what didn’t. I’ll keep it real and simple. For the full blow-by-blow of my multi-week experiment, you can peek at the complete diary of swatches and wear tests I logged when I tried a bunch of makeup so you don’t have to.
For a nerdy peek into how the ingredients in our favorite products are actually made, this concise lab-side breakdown walks through the science behind pigments, binders, and all those texture-changing actives.
The Base Crew: Primers and Foundations
Let me explain. Your base sets the vibe. If the base goes weird, everything else looks weird.
- e.l.f. Putty Primer: This smooths pores around my nose. It feels like soft clay. If I use a thick cream first, it pills. So I use a light gel under it.
- Milk Hydro Grip: Sticky in a good way. My makeup holds on, even on hot bus stop mornings. It can ball up if I layer it over silicone stuff. I learned that the hard way.
Now, foundation types I actually wore:
- Skin tint: ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint feels dewy. Light coverage. It looks like skin. On hot days it slides off by 2 pm, so I keep blot papers.
- Liquid: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless is my trusty drugstore pick. Shade 220 matches me in summer. It keeps oil down, but it can cling to that dry patch. I press in a tiny bit of face oil first.
- Stick: Hourglass Vanish Stick is fast. Swipe, swipe, blend. Full coverage in 30 seconds. If I build it up, it gets heavy by noon. I use less than I think I need.
- Powder: L’Oréal Infallible Fresh Wear Powder Foundation saves me in July. Quick, matte, and strong. It can look flat, so I add a cream blush to bring life back.
Small tip: thin layers beat one thick coat. I use a damp sponge when I need soft edges, and a brush when I want more coverage.
Quick note for my fellow combo-skin crew: Byrdie’s concise roundup of the best foundations for combination skin lines up eerily well with my own hits and misses, while Real Simple’s in-depth guide to their picks for the best foundation for combination skin gave me a few new bottles to swatch next.
If your skin freaks out at the mere hint of certain ingredients, my notes on acne-safe makeup I actually wear (and what gave me zits) might save you some whiteheads.
Concealer Corner (AKA My Sleep Helper)
- NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer: Creamy, blends easy. If I pile it on, it creases. One dot per inner corner, then tap with ring finger. Done.
- Maybelline Instant Age Rewind: The sponge tip looks odd but it’s fast. I twist once and do three small dots. It does smell a bit makeup-y.
- Kosas Revealer: Bright and hydrating. It has a light sweet scent. Under eyes look fresh, but on a pimple it can look shiny. I set it with a tiny bit of powder.
Brows, But Make It Chill
I have soft, sparse brows. Nothing wild.
- Anastasia Brow Wiz: Super fine tip. I draw hair-like strokes. Don’t press hard. I snapped a couple leads before I learned.
- Glossier Boy Brow: Fluffy, soft hold. Perfect for errands. By late afternoon, it relaxes. Not crunchy.
- e.l.f. Brow Lift: Clear and strong. It gives that “laminated” look. If I use too much, it flakes a little. I scoop a rice-grain size. That’s enough.
During my month-long experiment channeling Ruby Rose’s signature vibe, I learned that fluffy but sharp brows are half the battle—full recap is over in the Ruby Rose makeup challenge if you’re curious.
Eyes: Liner, Lids, and Lashes
Here’s the thing: my eyes water when the wind hits. So smudge-proof matters.
- Liner: NYX Epic Ink is easy to flick. It can bleed if my lids are oily, so I dust a little powder first. For long days, Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner lasts, but the pot dries if I leave it open. Cap it fast.
I put a stack of red-carpet eyeliner hacks to the test in my roundup of celebrity makeup tips on a real face—spoiler: only two actually held up to school-run humidity.
- Shadow: Urban Decay Naked3 gives soft rosy looks. Pretty for brunch. Some shades have fallout, so I tap the brush. e.l.f. Bite-Size quads are cheap and handy. Some shades hit hard, some are meh—kind of a fun surprise. Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Copper is my lazy day hero. Swipe, smudge, done. It sets fast, so work one eye at a time.
- Mascara: L’Oréal Lash Paradise gives big volume. By 4 pm it smudges on me if I don’t set my under-eyes. Thrive Liquid Lash Extensions (a tubing mascara) never smudges; it comes off in “tubes” in warm water. It looks clean, not chunky. Maybelline Sky High adds length without weighing my lashes down.
Side note: curling my lashes first changes the whole mood. Ten seconds makes me look awake, even when I’m not.
Cheeks: Color That Looks Like You
- Blush: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush is wild. One tiny dot is plenty. It lasts through heat and hugs. If I put it over heavy powder, it goes patchy. So I do cream on cream. Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso gives a warm glow. It’s a peachy pick-me-up.
- Bronzer: Benefit Hoola is classic. On me, it can read a bit muddy if I use too much. Light hand, big brush. Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer blends like a dream and smells like coconut. The pan cracks if I toss it around, so I baby it.
- Highlighter: Wet n Wild Megaglo in Precious Petals is bright. Like, “hello, cheekbones.” It can show texture, so I keep it on the tops only. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder is soft and fancy. Pricey, yes. But it blurs a bit and never looks harsh.
Lips: Matte, Gloss, Or Just Comfy
- Matte lipstick: MAC Ruby Woo is that bold red. It stays, but it’s dry. I add balm before. Maybelline SuperStay Ink Crayon lasts through coffee, but by hour six I feel the dryness.
- Gloss: Fenty Gloss Bomb feels smooth, not sticky. It smells a little sweet. On windy days my hair still finds it—gloss gonna gloss. NYX Butter Gloss is a classic cheap win. A little sticky, but the colors are cute.
- Balm and tint: Laneige Lip Glowy Balm is soft and shiny. I keep it in my purse. Burt’s Bees Tinted Balm looks natural. It feels a bit waxy at first, then warms up.
When my liner’s sharp and my lip color’s locked in, I’m always itching for a place to actually show off the look. If you’re feeling the same spark, check out SPDate—the streamlined dating platform connects you with nearby singles so you’ve got an instant excuse to flaunt that flawless face on a real-life outing.
Already planning a glam night north of Chicago? Slip over the state line and browse Tryst Kenosha—the curated listings spotlight the most buzz-worthy late-night meetups and dating opportunities in Kenosha, giving you a ready-made stage to let that fresh beat shine until last call.
A quick helper: NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Nude Truffle lines clean and sharp. It needs sharpening, which I forget until it’s tiny and dull. Then I mutter and go find the sharpener.
Set It And Don’t Sweat It
- Powder: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder smooths everything. Under my eyes it can look dry, so I use the tiniest dusting. Coty Airspun sets like cement but the scent is strong. My grandma loved it. Kinda sweet memory, but also… whew.
- Spray: Urban Decay All Nighter locks things in place. It smells a bit like a hair salon puff, but it works. e.l.f. Stay All Night has a fine mist and a softer hold. Good for daily wear