Professional Makeup Products Worth Investing In

With countless beauty products launching each month and social media influencers promoting new "must-haves" daily, navigating the world of makeup products can be overwhelming. At MoorLightway, our professional makeup artists work with a vast array of products to determine which ones truly deliver professional results. In this guide, we'll share the products our team considers genuinely worth the investment—items that have earned a permanent place in our professional kits through consistent performance.

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored. All products mentioned have been purchased by our team members and tested extensively on clients of various skin types, ages, and tones. We include both luxury and more affordable options that deliver professional results.

Understanding Value vs. Price in Professional Makeup

Before diving into specific products, it's important to understand how professional makeup artists evaluate "worth the investment" products:

• Performance: Does the product deliver consistent, predictable results across different skin types?
• Longevity: How well does the product wear throughout the day without touch-ups?
• Versatility: Can the product be used in multiple ways or on a variety of clients?
• Amount needed: Does a small amount go a long way, making the cost-per-use reasonable?
• Formulation: Are the ingredients high-quality and beneficial for the skin?

With these criteria in mind, let's explore the professional-quality products that our team believes are worth investing in for both professional makeup artists and makeup enthusiasts.

Complexion Products

The foundation (literally) of any great makeup look starts with products that create a flawless base.

Primers

A quality primer creates the perfect canvas for the rest of your makeup. Our top recommendations:

• For smoothing texture: Tatcha The Silk Canvas (£49) - This balm-like primer fills in pores and fine lines, creating a smooth surface for foundation. A little goes a remarkably long way, making it worth the investment.
• For hydration: Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base (£46.50) - This primer/moisturizer hybrid provides rich hydration without greasiness, making it perfect for normal to dry skin types. The jar lasts approximately 6 months with daily use.
• For oily skin: Milk Makeup Pore Eclipse Mattifying Primer (£32) - Unlike many mattifying primers that pill or dry out skin, this one controls oil without compromising foundation application. It extends wear time significantly in our testing.
• Budget-friendly option: e.l.f. Power Grip Primer (£10) - This gel primer provides impressive grip and hydration at a fraction of the cost of premium alternatives. It performs comparably to primers three times its price in our wear tests.

Foundations

Finding the perfect foundation is highly personal, but these options consistently perform well across our diverse clientele:

• For buildable coverage: Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (£46) - The gold standard in professional makeup kits for its buildable coverage, natural finish, and photogenic quality. It works on almost all skin types and photographs beautifully.
• For long-wearing coverage: Estée Lauder Double Wear (£39.50) - When makeup needs to last through a 12-hour event, this is our go-to. It maintains its finish without oxidizing and works well on normal to oily skin types.
• For a natural finish: NARS Sheer Glow (£38) - Despite its name, this foundation provides medium coverage with a radiant (not shimmery) finish. It's especially flattering on mature skin and photographs beautifully.
• Budget-friendly option: L'Oréal Infallible Fresh Wear (£12.99) - This foundation rivals many high-end options with its natural finish, impressive longevity, and extensive shade range. It performs exceptionally well on most skin types.

Concealers

Professional makeup artists often rely more on strategic concealing than heavy foundation. These concealers deliver:

• For versatility: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (£26) - This concealer works for both under-eyes and blemishes, blends seamlessly, and sets without creasing. It's buildable without looking cakey.
• For under-eyes: Kosas Revealer Concealer (£29) - Containing skincare ingredients like caffeine and peptides, this concealer brightens and hydrates while providing coverage. It never looks dry or emphasizes fine lines.
• For full coverage: Too Faced Born This Way Multi-Use Sculpting Concealer (£27) - This high-coverage concealer can even double as a foundation when needed. The large size makes it excellent value for the price.
• Budget-friendly option: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser (£9.99) - This drugstore icon performs comparably to premium concealers, with excellent coverage and a brightening effect that works well for most skin tones.

Cheek Products

Products that add dimension and color to the face create life and vitality in any makeup look.

Blushes

A quality blush adds a natural flush that pulls your whole look together:

• For cream formulas: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush (£22) - Exceptionally pigmented (use sparingly!), these blushes blend beautifully and last all day. One tube lasts nearly a year, making it excellent value.
• For powder formulas: Patrick Ta Major Dimension Precision Blush Duo (£35) - These blush duos contain complementary matte and satin shades that can be layered for dimension or used separately. The buildable formula makes them foolproof.
• For versatility: Stila Convertible Color (£22) - These cream blushes can be used on cheeks and lips, making them perfect for creating cohesive looks. The natural finish works beautifully on all skin types.
• Budget-friendly option: Milani Baked Blush (£11) - These baked blushes have a gorgeous luminous finish and impressive color payoff that rivals products three times the price.

Bronzers and Contour Products

These products create dimension and warmth when applied strategically:

• For natural bronzing: Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Sun-Kissed Glow Bronzer (£45) - This cream-to-powder formula blends effortlessly and creates a natural sun-kissed appearance without orange tones or shimmer.
• For precise contour: Fenty Beauty Match Stix Contour Skinstick (£23) - These cream contour sticks create natural-looking shadows with their cool undertones. The stick format allows for precise application.
• For versatility: Makeup by Mario Soft Sculpt Bronzer (£32) - These buildable powder bronzers work well for both overall warming and targeted contouring, with shades that flatter a wide range of skin tones.
• Budget-friendly option: Physician's Formula Butter Bronzer (£13.99) - This cult-favorite drugstore bronzer delivers a natural, buildable bronze with a subtle luminosity that never looks muddy or orange.

Eye Products

The eyes are often the focal point of a makeup look, making quality eye products a worthwhile investment.

Eyeshadow Palettes

A well-curated palette can create countless looks and last for years:

• For versatility: Natasha Denona Biba Palette (£110) - While certainly an investment, this neutral palette contains perfectly coordinated shades with exceptional pigmentation and blendability. The cost-per-use becomes quite reasonable over time.
• For everyday use: Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Instant Eye Palette (£60) - This carefully curated palette of wearable neutrals creates foolproof looks from day to evening. The quality and versatility justify the price.
• For professional kit: Viseart Neutral Mattes (£80) - This is a staple in professional kits for its reliable, consistent performance. The shadows blend effortlessly and work across all skin tones.
• Budget-friendly option: ColourPop Going Coconuts Palette (£14) - This affordable palette delivers impressive color payoff and blendability with a well-curated selection of neutral tones that work for everyday wear.

Eyeliners

Quality eyeliners provide precision and longevity:

• For liquid liner: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner (£19) - This liner's precise tip, intense pigmentation, and remarkable staying power have made it a professional favorite for years.
• For gel liner: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner (£25) - This creamy gel liner applies smoothly, sets completely, and stays put all day. One pot lasts approximately a year even with regular use.
• For waterline: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil (£19) - These creamy pencils set to a budge-proof finish, making them ideal for tightlining and waterline application.
• Budget-friendly option: NYX Epic Ink Liner (£9) - This affordable liquid liner delivers the precision and longevity of premium alternatives at a fraction of the cost.

Mascaras

Since mascaras have a shorter shelf life (3 months), we focus on performance rather than longevity:

• For volume: Pat McGrath FetishEyes Mascara (£29) - This mascara delivers dramatic volume without clumping, even with multiple coats. It maintains its performance until the end of the tube.
• For length and definition: Lancôme Définicils High Definition Mascara (£28) - This classic separates and defines lashes beautifully, making it perfect for more natural looks or layering.
• For waterproof formula: Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Waterproof (£32) - This mascara stays put through tears, rain, and humidity without compromising on volume or becoming brittle.
• Budget-friendly option: L'Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise (£11.99) - This drugstore mascara delivers volume and length comparable to luxury alternatives, with a formula that doesn't flake or smudge.

Lip Products

Quality lip products enhance your natural lip color and provide comfortable, long-lasting wear.

Lipsticks and Lip Colors

• For longevity: Lisa Eldridge True Velvet Lipstick (£27) - These lipsticks deliver impressive color payoff and a comfortable, long-wearing formula. The luxurious, velvety matte finish doesn't dry lips.
• For versatility: Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution (£26) - These lipsticks strike the perfect balance between pigmentation and wearability, with a comfortable formula that can be applied precisely or blotted down for a stained effect.
• For hydration: YSL Rouge Volupté Shine (£35) - For those who prioritize comfort, these lipsticks deliver gorgeous color with a balm-like feel that actually improves lip hydration over time.
• Budget-friendly option: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick (£8.99) - These creamy, pigmented lipsticks perform comparably to luxury brands with comfortable wear and a wide shade range.

Lip Liners

A good lip liner extends wear time and prevents feathering:

• For precision: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat (£19) - These creamy yet long-wearing lip liners prevent bleeding and feathering while defining lips beautifully. They don't drag or tug during application.
• For longevity: MAC Lip Pencils (£17.50) - The original professional favorite, these liners create a perfect base that extends lipstick wear time significantly.
• For comfort: Pillow Talk Lip Liner by Charlotte Tilbury (£19) - This universally flattering shade enhances natural lip color while providing definition without dryness.
• Budget-friendly option: NYX Slim Lip Pencil (£4) - These affordable liners deliver smooth application and impressive longevity at a fraction of the cost of premium brands.

Tools and Setting Products

The right tools and setting products can dramatically improve the application and longevity of your makeup.

Brushes

Quality brushes are truly worth the investment as they can last for years with proper care:

• For face brushes: Zoeva Complete Face Set (£65) - This set includes essential face brushes that blend products beautifully. The quality rivals much more expensive brands, making it excellent value.
• For eye brushes: Sigma Essential Eye Brush Set (£69) - These precisely shaped brushes allow for detailed eye makeup application. With proper cleaning, they maintain their performance for years.
• For luxury option: Wayne Goss The Face Set (£165) - These handcrafted Japanese brushes provide exceptional application with their ultra-soft, precisely shaped heads. They're an investment that lasts for many years.
• Budget-friendly option: Real Techniques Everyday Essentials (£19.99) - This affordable set delivers impressive quality for the price, with brushes that blend products effectively and maintain their shape with proper care.

Setting Products

These products lock your makeup in place for all-day wear:

• For setting powder: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder (£34) - This finely milled powder sets makeup without looking cakey or emphasizing texture. It controls shine without leaving a flat, matte appearance.
• For pressed powder: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish (£38) - This micro-fine powder blurs imperfections while setting makeup. It never looks heavy or dry, even on mature skin.
• For setting spray: Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray (£28) - This spray significantly extends makeup wear time without changing the finish of your makeup. It works across all skin types.
• Budget-friendly option: NYX HD Finishing Powder (£8) - This finely milled setting powder performs remarkably well for its price point, setting makeup without flashback or cakiness.

Where to Save vs. Splurge

Based on our professional experience, here's our general guidance on which products are worth the splurge and where you can save without compromising results:

Worth the Splurge:

• Foundation: The base of your makeup look that affects everything layered on top
• Eyeshadow palettes: Better pigmentation, blendability, and longevity
• Brushes: A one-time investment that improves application of all products
• Concealer: Particularly for under-eye area where quality makes a significant difference

Where You Can Save:

• Mascara: Many drugstore options perform comparably to high-end ones
• Lip gloss: Formula differences are minimal between price points
• Powder blush: Many affordable options deliver excellent color payoff and longevity
• Highlighter: Drugstore formulas have improved dramatically in recent years

Final Thoughts

Investing in quality makeup products doesn't necessarily mean buying the most expensive option. It means choosing items that deliver consistent, professional results that enhance your natural beauty and provide value through their performance and longevity.

At MoorLightway, we believe in a curated approach to your makeup collection. Rather than accumulating dozens of similar products, invest in versatile, high-quality items that serve multiple purposes and truly deliver results. Quality over quantity leads to a more efficient, effective makeup routine.

For personalized product recommendations tailored to your specific skin type, concerns, and preferences, consider booking our Personal Shopping Service. Our professional makeup artists can help you identify which products are truly worth your investment based on your unique needs.

Note: Prices listed are approximate and may vary by retailer. All products mentioned are based on our professional team's experience and were not influenced by brand partnerships.