Multipurpose makeup products are perfect for streamlining your beauty routine. We already love the minimalist approach to skinimalism (that’s skincare + minimalism), and multitasking makeup can similarly reduce the bulk of your makeup bag, which is great for travel or everyday wear. From lip and cheek color duos to highlighters that create pretty eyeshadow, multi-purpose makeup can help save time and space in your routine.
Including products meant for multiple jobs and those we’ve discovered have multipurpose tricks, check out our editors’ favorite multipurpose makeup products below.
One of my first beauty goals in the pandemic was to finally figure out the contour. I have super fair skin and had never used bronzer to sculpt my face so I was pretty blind. This stick was a complete game changer and I have bought it over and over again over the last two years. I got the lightest shade, and the contour is perfect for my skin tone and it has the right kind of applicator so you feel like you’re basically using a big crayon on your face. The highlighter on the other end is a beautiful pink shimmer that I use on a daily basis only. Whether you’re serious about contouring or just starting out, I can’t recommend this product highly enough. — Rachel Lubitz, Senior Lifestyle Editor
Anastasia Beverly Hills Blush Trio in Peachy Love is one of my favorite blush products of all time. The colors also work well as an eyeshadow and are long lasting. I like to use it as a two-in-one product when I don’t want to pack a lot of makeup. — Lindsey Smith, associate editor
I fell in love with this palette of bronzers, highlights, and blushes last year to enhance my summer tan, and then started using the Brilliant shade (a shimmery peachy bronze) as an eyeshadow as well. It has a wonderful silky smooth texture that blends beautifully and doesn’t crease. I love how cohesive my makeup looks with a touch of Brilliant on my cheekbones and eyelids and sometimes a touch of Dazzling shimmer champagne as well. Even the matte Radiant shade is a good bronzed base color for other eyeshadows. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor
I’ve talked about Nudestix Nudies Bloom All Over Dewy Color before, and I just started using it on my lips and I’m obsessed. The convenient packaging makes it ideal to throw in your touch-up bag. No matter how you wear it, it has rich color payoff while looking natural. — Lindsey Smith, associate editor
I have been a huge fan of liquid blush ever since I tried Saie’s Dew Blush. Not only does it give me the perfect amount of natural, fresh-from-the-sun color (no sun damage) on my cheeks, but it always works extremely well as an eyeshadow or lip tint. I hate wearing a lot of makeup in the summer so this multi-purpose product is a must!
Jones Road Miracle Balm (Bobbi Brown’s new brand) is nothing short of, well, a miracle. A super combination of moisturizer and sheer makeup that reflects light, it comes in nine different sheer colors and adds a light wash of pigment to your face. Whether you want a subtle shimmer for everyday, a bronze polish for summer, or a refreshing blush on your cheeks, you can apply it to your face, lids, lips, or cheeks. Plus, it also acts as a magic eraser and doesn’t settle into fine lines like other tinted balms or moisturizers. I use Bronze and Flushed for a sun-kissed look in the summer, and Dusty Rose for an all-over glow whenever I need an updo (or video call). But don’t think I’m not looking at some of the other shades, like Golden Hour and Disco. — Tobey Grumet, Contributing Editor
The perfect berry lip balm doesn’t exist, oh wait, it does. If you want the look of a woman who has just feasted on ripe berries all morning, Merit’s Flush Balm is for you. Specifically in the shade Mood, which is a deep burgundy that is buildable so you can find the exact berry shade. Although I use it primarily as a lip balm, it’s actually marketed as a blush, which also looks fantastic, and I can even swipe it over my lids as eyeshadow. — Rachel Lubitz, Senior Lifestyle Editor
My makeup obsessed sister raved about this cheek tint for months until I finally tried it and once I did, I understood the hype. The packaging is not only great, but it’s extremely easy to apply. When I tell you that it sinks right into the skin and blends perfectly, I really mean it. It is buildable and looks good not only on the cheeks, but also on the lids and lips. It has been my favorite no-makeup makeup product this summer. — Stephanie Griffin, Senior Digital Content Strategist
An oldie but a goodie, Benefit’s iconic rosy lip and cheek stain has been in my makeup bag for years. It always looks very natural, and since it’s incredibly long-lasting, I love using it especially in the summer when I know other products would melt off my face. — Chelsea Stone, Senior Editor
I was impressed with the coverage this 3-in-1 foundation, concealer, and powder provides. As someone who rarely wears a full foundation, I usually look for products that look super natural and can easily blend with my natural skin tone, and this powder complies. I use a light hand, applying it to blur the pores on my nose and reduce shine on my T-zone. If I have a blemish, I’ll use a small, fluffy makeup brush to layer powder over a cream concealer to set. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor
Do you want your makeup to stick and shine everywhere? Let me introduce you this product from Saie. An amazing moisturizing foundation as well as a highlighter, I use it under makeup and then also as a highlighter on its own, sometimes along my cheekbones when I want a more focused shimmery look. I love it so much that I bought a full size and a travel size so I can take it on all my trips. A little goes a long way with this product, and glitter never makes you look too shiny or sweaty. — Rachel Lubitz, Senior Lifestyle Editor
I love using the Kaja Mochi Glow Bouncy Highlighter as an eyeshadow. Whether it’s in the inner corner, alone, or to give a little shimmer to matte shadow, it works great for a variety of uses. — Lindsey Smith, associate editor
Multisticks are the backbone of my makeup bag. I always have at least two in rotation: Ilia’s Multi-Stick in Bronze Pearl is another favorite that I prefer for highlighter and eye color, and currently, I’ve been reaching for HAN in Rose Berry for my cheeks and lips. The formula isn’t as waxy as Ilia’s, so it feels lighter and more comfortable like a lip balm, and is blendable and wearable like a blush. I tap the stick directly onto my cheeks and lips and then blend both areas as needed with my fingers. It gives such a nice pop of color and it’s so easy to increase the saturation or reapply later in the day. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor
This is my all-time favorite CC cream and sunscreen duo. With many CC creams, which I tend to use in the summer because they are so much lighter than foundation, I end up looking quite patchy as many like to sink into my dry skin. But this one has never failed me. With SPF 35 included, I know that I will not only look bright and even, but my skin will also stay protected. — Rachel Lubitz, Senior Lifestyle Editor
I was recently introduced to this refreshing spray and it quickly became a part of my beauty routine, whether I’m wearing makeup or not. Aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, and green tea hydrate and soothe skin, so it works similar to a toner. I will spray it on and pat it on as the first step after cleansing in my morning skincare regimen. If I am wearing makeup, I will also use it as a setting spray. It gives a dewy finish while ensuring my makeup lasts through hot, humid summer days. It’s a win-win. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor
Source: www.cnn.com