There’s a certain poetry in rituals that stand the test of time. Something so comforting about intention, slowness, and endurance. As a creature of routine, my beauty regimen has endured unchanged over the years. My modus operandi to glam has always revolved around a holy trinity of products I first discovered when I began wearing makeup, and have since remained loyal to. In an industry that thrives on constant reinvention, I’ve flirted with fleeting trends and experimented with new formulations. Yet none have succeeded in unseating this holy trinity from its pride of place on my vanity. These formulas endure. They perform impeccably. And they’re as aesthetically refined in packaging as they are effective on skin.
Like many in tropical climates, I contend with combination skin—an ever-shifting terrain that demands both oil control and hydration. Add our equatorial humidity to the mix, and we’ve got a recipe for makeup meltdowns. But these three mainstays continue to hold their ground. They offer a polished, luminous finish that lasts the day, all while feeling imperceptible on the skin.
Armani Beauty Power Fabric+ Foundation
First, the base that never buckles: the Armani Beauty Power Fabric+ foundation. This formula is everything one can ask for in a base: seamless, breathable, and luxurious. Its transformative liquid texture blends like a second skin, offering a medium to full coverage that doesn’t announce itself. Instead, this product thrives with my skin, delivering a dewy finish that resists heat, humidity, and wear.
What makes it extraordinary, however, lies within the pigments. Its patented Micro-fil Technology™ creates a blurred, airbrushed finish that never looks heavy. A little goes along way, thanks to ingredients like cyclohexasiloxane and dimethicone that offer a silky slip. An added SPF 25 provides stronger protection on top of my sun serum. This product holds its own, accompanying me on my day with calm, quiet confidence.
The Armani Beauty Power Fabric+ foundation is available at Armani Beauty boutiques, Tangs boutiques, and Tangs.com.
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
Next comes a cult classic for a reason: the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. I’ve tested quite a number of concealers, but I always return to this one like muscle memory. It blends with my foundation seamlessly, precisely concealing dark spots and dark circles. Its luminous finish creates the illusion of rest, even when there’s little of it to speak of.
But what elevates this makeup product beyond utility is its composition. Infused with a multi-active botanical blend, it cares as much as it corrects. Magnolia bark extract and grape seed work in tandem to soothe and hydrate. This is makeup that wears like skincare—imperceptible but essential.
The Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer is available at Nars boutiques, Nars.com, Sephora boutiques, and Sephora.com.
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
Finally, the anchor: Laura Mercier’s translucent loose setting powder. A whisper of a formula, there’s nothing glittering about it. Ultra-finely milled powder makes this the best makeup product to keep my base intact. It glides over the skin to blur pores, absorb excess shine, and lock makeup in place without muting natural radiance.
Formulated with amino acid powders, the powder is featherlight, breathable, and never chalky. It hardly settles into lines, doesn’t flash back in photos, and crucially, it’s barely visible. For the minimalistic, natural look, its sleek packaging mirrors an ethos of functional elegance.
Together, these three products form the holy trinity of my glam routine—built on trust, endurance, and intention. They’ve persevered through the rise and fall of beauty trends. And in a world that’s constantly chasing the next big thing, these makeup products’s staying power is their greatest luxury.
The Laura Mercier translucent loose setting powder is available at Sephora boutiques and Sephora.com.
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