Faves from the #AlmayClassof2018 Gifting Box

Recently I shared over on my Instagram Stories that Almay was kind enough to send me a heaping box of their new items about a month ago. I’ve given them all a shot and, although it was hard to decide, I chose my top three products — ones that are currently in my daily rotation!

These are the items I’m not only using for shoots and events, but also in my everyday light makeup look.

+ Almay Shadow Squad Eyeshadow in Pure Gold, Baby — These shades are perfect for the summer and accentuate my tan while complementing the gold hues in my hair color. Each quad has four finishes: matte, satin, metallic, and glitter. I’m also highly in love with the Unapologetic squad, which is the rosey-hued eyeshadow you see in the picture.

+ Almay Instant Glow Highlighting Duo in Pop It On — This product was a major game changer for me because it’s actually allowed me to wear highlighter comfortably! I have naturally oily skin and little bumps that look awful when most highlighting powders get brushed on. I use the cream stick to apply this one and it seems to rest over the top, giving me a glow without making me look greasy or blemish-ridden. (My photo reflects the Talk Pinky To Me shade which is best for light to medium skin tones, whereas the color I lean towards is for medium to dark.)

+ Almay Pen Eyeliner — I’ll admit that I didn’t have high hopes for this product because the ballpoint tip scared the heck out of me, but I had been milking an old, struggling liquid liner for weeks so I gave it a shot. You guys, I can’t explain why this creates the perfect wing but it really does. It’s the perfect balance of firm and flexible to allow for an effortless swoop motion and the ball helps to put the cherry on top (or the glass-cutting point to the wing).

If you’d like to see all three products in action, I’m wearing everything in this set of photos. The gorgeous gold tones of the eyeshadow squad is definitely my favorite.

Keep in mind that these were taken after ~6 hours on an outdoor patio in 90 degree heat.

Not bad for staying power!

Have you tried any of these products yet? What are your favorites?