These are makeup products that I have been wearing the most in 2025. They may not be new, but they were relatively new to me. I also included some of my all time favorites which I always repurchase and use.  

Essence Brighten Up! Cushion Foundation - 10 Honey

I like this because it has light coverage and I really love it because the shade match is one of the best I have tried in drugstore for my light olive skin. This really has that perfect olive undertone. It gives you that natural finish with moisturized sheen, which I usually powder down anyway and you can build it up. This is the perfect everyday foundation when you want something quick to apply that will even out your skin tone and give you natural finish. I don't like the fact that there is so little product in it and you use it up quite quickly. Too quickly for my liking. Now if only Essence would make this in a traditional liquid foundation format with that same shade match.

NYX Lip I.V. - 02 Hydra-Honey and 07 Bubblegum Burst

These were probably my most worn lip products in 2025. I had shade Hydra-Honey first and it's my favorite warm brown nude which leaves brown pink stain. I later also bought Bubblegum Burst because I wanted something more pink and this one leaves more of rose pink stain. I like to combine them both and put Bubblegum Burst in the center and Hydra-Honey on the outer perimeters. I love how soothing, shiny and just comfortable this formula is. And it gets better as the day goes on. The shine starts to fade off and leaves behind nice stain that isn't drying and doesn't look crusty. 

Maybelline Lifter Glaze Oil Balm - 006 Caramel Glow

This feels like a lip balm, but has more color to it than lip balm and not as much as a proper lipstick. I liked this warm brownish shade for quick touch ups on the go. The formula is very comforting and great for dry lips. It's honestly like a nice tinted lip balm that gives you just enough color to not need lipstick.

Lifter liners have that creamy gel formula that has a lot of pigment and once you apply it it sets quickly, so there is not much time to smudge or correct. I prefer classic wooden pencil formulas, but this is one of those when you want something to really last. I don't like to go over the line more than once, because it gets darker and can look a bit uneven. However, Maybelline is known for it's very long lasting products and if you want that, then these lip liners are a great option. 

Catrice Diamond Glaze - 010 Gimme Glitter

I wore this mostly on my eyes as a nice pop of subtle glitter on the lid with just some matte bronzer paired in the crease. Simple, yet it gives your eyes that sparkle and almost wet look. I wouldn't wear this as a highlighter, because I don't like glitters on my face, but on the eyes it's very subtle and yet just impactful enough. It's that putty formula that feels creamy, but once on the eyes it sets and doesn't move.

Trend It Up Blush - 080

I love this blush. It has such a nice sheen without any glitter and this shade is the perfect pink. It's vibrant and gives you that I've-been-out-in-the-cold flush. I think this shade would suit many different skin tones. It blends like a dream because of its sheen and lasts pretty well, plus it's so affordable. 

Catrice Soft Blur Powder - 001 Translucent

Drugstore is catching up with their powders as well. This is a really descent loose powder formula that nicely sets the face, blurs a bit and keeps it shine free for a while. It's nothing to rave about for oily skin, but for normal to combination skin this is very nice. I like the mesh system for a sifter, but it does get dirty if you go in with a dirty brush or a powder puff. And you also have pink version which I tried as well, if that's more your vibe.

Essence Jelly Jewels - 02 Diamond Dust and 03 Golden Hour

Now these are amped up version of Diamond Glaze with that cooling gel type of formula that many makeup brands have come out with. The glitter is definitely glittering and because of pen format this is so easy to just glide all over the lid and be done. It gives you stunning wet glittery look that looks like you've tried, but it's one of the easiest makeup looks you could do. 03 is more champagne peachy shade and 02 is cooler silver shade, which is my favorite because it looks the most wet like. 

Essence Satin Blend Pencil - 02 Cocoa and 05 Rich Burgundy

I absolutely love the formula of these, but they are a mess in that pen format. This would be more suitable as a pot liner. Formula is very creamy, soft and pigmented so you literally need just a few dots if you want a subtle look. It's great to blend out and smudge. Because it's so soft it often breaks and it gets dirty all over the packaging. I love their shade selection. 05 is one of the best red toned browns and 02 is a classic chocolate brown. 

Essence Fix & Last Spray - Instant Matte And Keep It Perfect

I like both of these. Matte obviously gives you more of a matte finish and Keep It Perfect has hyaluronic acid so it's more hydrating. Both very nice, affordable finishing sprays for when you want to melt the makeup together and set it a bit. This won't give you any major longevity, it's more for finishing up the makeup.

Essence The Super Peptide Glossy Lip Treatment - 02 Pinkified!

Peptide lip treatments have been in every range in every makeup brand it seems and I wanted to try out the cheapest one. It didn't disappoint. This is one of those super nourishing thick formulas that feels like a balm, but also a bit like lip gloss. It has good amount of pigment, to the point you can definitely pair it with just a lip liner. I choose pink shade, because I always go for browns and it was a nice change. I think I will get transparent version as well. It's good for on the go, since I don't use regular lip balms.

Catrice Gel Affair Nail Polish - 004 Rosy Bowtastic and 039 Double Shot Diva

My most worn nail polish shade in the past year is this gorgeous pale rosy nude - 004. It's definitely my kind of shade that just goes with everything and makes my skin tone look a tad darker and my nails polished without looking like I tried too hard. I also loved 039 which is very dark brown. It looks better in the packaging, but once you apply two coats on the nails it's almost black brown. I like rounded brush from Catrice, because it makes for a fast application. I usually pair it with their top coat as well. 

Honorable mentions

Now these product are not new to me, but they have been my most used products in 2025.

The Saem Cover Perfection Tip Concealer has been my staple concealer for years now. It's that safe choice that never lets me down. Good medium to full coverage, natural matte finish and nice staying powder. Plus I like shade range as they have some nice light neutral shades, though the selection is very limited in general.

L'Oreal Infaillible Foundation was probably my most worn foundation in the past year. It's good drugstore option if you want good medium coverage with natural matte finish. My combination skin like it. The shade is a bit too warm for me so I always adjust it with some other BB creams and foundations or just use color correctors.

e.l.f. Camo Liquid Blushes are very pigmented liquid blushes that apply evenly, blend easily and give you a good base for powder blush or are great on its own for that more dewy look. I honestly like this formula more than Rare Beauty blushes, because they are more pigmented.

Catrice Melted Sun Bronzer is my favorite cream bronzer from the drugstore. This has great pigmentation and a formula that isn't too greasy or slippy. It's just creamy enough so that you can apply it and blend easily, but then it almost sets down like a powder. If you use a good brush with it, you can apply it quickly. 

Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer is definitely the best drugstore formula for powder bronzer. This blends like a dream and has the most subtle sheen that just gives your skin healthy look. I have been using it for years.

Essence Pure Nude Highlighter is one of the best drugstore highlighters and I don't think we have it here anymore. It's baked formula that gives you that really nice sheen without any visible glitters. It has a bit of base nude color to it, so if you are pale this is not the best, but light and medium skin tones will love it. I honestly don't understand why they don't make more such highlighters. They look so expensive and high end.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara has been my favorite mascara for years. It's the best at giving definition and a bit of volume but never looking clumpy. I always go back to it. 

Maybelline Build-A-Brow Brow Pen is still the best brow pen for drawing individual hair like strokes. It's pigmented, last a very long time, tip stays saturated and doesn't bleed. 

NYX Slim Lip Pencils are my favorite lip pencils. I especially love Nude Truffle which is more of a cool toned brown. It's perfect to pair with any lipsticks. These are just classic wooden pencils that perform well.