beauty stock up essentials

Beauty Stock Up Essentials | Backup Drawer

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Do you ever hoard beauty products because you are terrified of running out or of them being discontinued? I have a backup drawer in my beauty area with products that fit in this category. These beauty stock up essentials are nearly all items that I cannot bare to be without because they are that good. Sadly, some have been discontinued. I am going to review each of these items for you, as I bet some will creep into your own backup stash.

beauty stock up essentials
beauty stock up essentials

Beauty Stock Up Essentials

wet n wild photofocus Pressed Powder

The first item found in my beauty stock up essentials is wet n wild’s photofocus Pressed Powder. This setting powder works great with the corresponding foundations from wet n wild, or any foundation of your choosing. It actually sets my foundation without leaving tacky spots, and the smooth powder adds a flawless touch to your look. No cake face here! You also get so much powder in the compact that it will last a long time. I believe it enhances the wear time of your makeup. It is being discontinued so I have three obsessive pans of this stuff.

wet n wild photofocus Pressed Powder

Sephora Matte Perfection Powder Foundation & elf Poreless Putty Primer

Second, I have a powder foundation and a primer to discuss.

  • Sephora Matte Perfection Powder Foundation: No matter how much you apply it never looks dry or cakey, and it has buildable coverage. You literally cannot mess it up! It provides a soft focus look to the face, while allowing minor imperfections to show through. This stuff is super long-wearing with a matte finish.
  • elf Poreless Putty Primer: This product is not so fabulous to me that I need to have a backup, but it kept falling into my lap, which is why I have an extra. This primer does smooth the skin out, and it fills some of the pores on my nose. I do not get a perfect fill. It dries with a mild tackiness and does control my oils all day. Overall, it holds up noticeably well over other elf Cosmetics primers.

Related Post: Best elf Primers for Combination Skin


elf Poreless Putty Primer and sephora matte perfection powder foundation

elf Lip Exfoliator in Brown Sugar

Third is the elf Cosmetics Lip Exfoliator in Brown Sugar, which is the original exfoliator. The newer ones exfoliate well, but their formula is too soft. As a result, the product almost melts away and gets used up too quickly. Therefore, with brown sugar you get the most bang for your buck because it is firm enough to last for months, yet exfoliates effectively. I have gone through so many of these. I use it nightly before bed by rubbing it onto my lips in circular motions. Subsequently, I use a tissue to remove the residue. After that I follow-up with lip balm. Dry, chapped, and peeling lips are no longer a struggle for me, which used to be a problem for my entire life.


Related Post: Most Repurchased Beauty Products


elf Lip Exfoliator in Brown Sugar

Concealer

Fourth are two drugstore concealers that you do not want to sleep on.

  • Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer: The formula is full-coverage and creamy for ultimate ease in blending. It will make you look awake, refreshed, and alert, while lasting all day.
  • wet n wild photofocus Concealer: The formula is creamy, blends out beautifully, is buildable in terms of coverage, and holds up throughout the day. I use it daily with any foundation and I trust it. You cannot beat the price point.
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer and wet n wild photofocus concealer

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer & Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

Continuing on with my beauty stock up essentials, I have a face primer and an eyeshadow primer.

  • Smashbox Photo Finish Primer: I firmly 100% believe that this primer prolongs the wear time of makeup. This primer also smooths and blurs the skin without the use of oil, which is great for fine lines and pores. For serious pores I do recommend supplementing with a pore filling primer.
  • Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion: I love that you can either squeeze the product out of the tube, or apply it with the doefoot, your choice. This product does meet my requirements for eyeshadow primer as it prevents fading, creasing, movement, and controls oils for as long as your makeup is on your face.
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer and urban decay eyeshadow primer potion original

elf Acne Fighting Spot Gel

Continuing on, this the elf Cosmetics Acne Fighting Spot Gel, which features a roller ball that dispenses the product so that you can get it right where you need it. It is a salicylic-acid acne treatment. While it is intended for you to target specific breakouts, I use it for that purpose and more. I rub it daily all over the areas of my face that are prone to breakouts, partly to treat any acne that is present, and partly as a preventative treatment. Most noteworthy, I feel like it does help keep acne at bay when paired with a good skincare routine and healthy habits. As a result, it dries out breakouts and helps them go away without the risk of scarring or drying out the skin itself.

elf Acne Fighting Spot Gel

wet n wild Coverall Cream Foundation

Would you believe that wet n wild’s Coverall Cream Foundation was the first foundation that I have ever purchased/used? Surprisingly enough, I still love it today because it is that good, even though it has been discontinued. The lightest shade, 815 Fair, is perfect for my skin tone. The finish is natural matte without being a super dry or cakey looking. It provides buildable, medium to full coverage with a non-streaky finish and lightweight feel. This foundation works fine with a sponge or brush. It does the trick for me as a daily foundation.

wet n wild Coverall Cream Foundation

Brows

  • Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara: While this is a perfectly good brow mascara to tint and hold your brows in place all day, it is not so shocking that I need to have a backup tube. It probably came in a set, which is how it made its way into my backup drawer.
  • elf Instant Lift Brow Pencil: This is a favorite of mine because of how quickly and easily it fills my brows. The diameter of the pencil is perfect because it is not too thin that it will break or fill too slowly, and not too thick that it is hard to get precision. I get the precision and pigment that I want literally instantly with this product. The shade match is good for me, and the spoolie is the icing on the cake, as combing it through looks great. For on-the-go, everyday, or in a time crunch, this brow pencil can handle it.
Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara and elf instant lift brow pencil

Foundation

  • elf Acne Fighting Foundation: While it does not come in many shades, this formula is fantastic! It always looks so smooth and natural on my face, and never cakey or heavy. Each time I wear it, I know I am going to have a flawless, great foundation day. It lasts all day, no matter what primer/powder/setting spray options you use. Also, the formula is so light on the skin. I can build it up to my desired level of coverage easily with a blending sponge.
  • wet n wild photofocus Foundation (matte): The formula is creamy, matte, long-wearing, and full coverage. However, it can look heavy and cakey if you apply too much. Start out easy and build it up to the coverage that you need for flawless results. Also, be sure to work in sections as it dries quickly. The no flashback claims are true and you will look good in photos. This foundation will last all day and is perfect for special occasions, as well as everyday.
elf Acne Fighting Foundation and wet n wild photofocus matte foundation


wet n wild photofocus Eyeshadow Primer

Here is the wet n wild photofocus Eyeshadow Primer. This is 100% a dupe for Urban Decay’s Primer Potion, hands down. I have been using it since the day that it was released many years ago and I will always go back to it. It also meets my requirements for eyeshadow primer as it prevents fading, creasing, movement, and controls oils.


Related Post: Long Lasting Eyeshadow Primer


wet n wild photofocus Eyeshadow Primer

Assorted

  • wet n wild photofocus Matte Finish Setting Spray: This setting spray keeps your makeup matte. I am not sure how much lasting power it provides. However, it at least melts my makeup together and makes my highlight stand out. This is perfect for everyday makeup, both in function and price.
  • elf Makeup Remover Pen: A staple in my collection for countless years, it instantly fixes makeup mistakes. I primarily use it to correct eyeliner. The remover is potent and will remove layers of your makeup, but I simply pat my finger over the area or tap it with a brush and you will never know that I used the pen. After use you are to wipe the tip on a clean cloth. [This product is discontinued]
  • elf Lock On Liner & Brow Gel: This creamy pomade-like product reminds me of brownie batter (in a good way) and it has not yet dried out in the pot. I typically use it for special occasions and apply it with a small, slanted brow brush. This brow cream perfectly and easily fills my eyebrows with precision and pigment, while actually holding them in place. My brows are never crunchy, shiny, or stiff with this brow gel.
  • NYC Liquid Eyeliner in Extreme Black: While NYC is discontinued, I still remember walking into Walmart and buying this eyeliner from the NYC counter. This was my everyday liquid eyeliner for a long time, and I still reach for it on special occasions. It provides a matte black line that lasts all day and the brush is easy to use. Some brush tip liners make it impossible to build the line up because the product basically wipes itself away, but you will not have that problem with this. This liner always looks good and you just cannot beat it.
wet n wild photofocus Matte Finish Setting Spray, elf lock on liner and brow gel, elf makeup remover pen, nyc liquid eyeliner

wet n wild perfectpout Gel Lip Liner in Think Flamingos and Never Petal Down

The last products in my beauty stock up essentials are wet n wild’s perfectpout Gel Lip Liners (in the shades Think Flamingos and Never Petal Down). These shades the the most commonly used for me. First, the shade range offered pairs well with almost any lip color that you will apply over top. Second, the gel formula glides on silky smooth without any tugging and makes precision application easy. Third, these are fully pigmented and can be worn alone as lip color. Fourth, these liners prevent my lip color from bleeding. At the price point you will be replacing all of your lip liners with these.


Related Post: Holy Grail Products – Hair, Skin, and Beauty


wet n wild perfectpout Gel Lip Liner in Think Flamingos and Never Petal Down

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Conclusion

We are at the end of the beauty stock up essentials from my backup drawer. All of these items are products that I fully stand behind because they are awesome. You are only seeing small items that fit in an actual drawer, as I have larger items in a different location not mentioned here! As time goes on, I question the need to stow away so many backups. The makeup world moves very quickly, and we can all find replacements to our must-haves if we put the effort in. Until next time, continue to let your true beauty shine.

What products do you have multiples of stashed away?

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Amanda
Amanda
Hi, I am Amanda Vitale, the owner of The Aesthetic Edge. I am a beauty and style expert who has been writing reviews and advice for 10 years. I have had the pleasure of testing hundreds of products, and I have published countless lookbooks. You can see my expertise quoted in top authoritative publications such as Bustle and Real Simple. I have also worked with your favorite brands, such as CurrentBody and AXIS-Y.
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5 Responses

  1. You have so many elf picks, I keep meaning to try them (I did years ago but it was hard to get here) now that they are available in Italy! I honestly don’t even know where to start hahahha,

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