I'm No Makeup Artist, But These Simple Products Are All I'm Using in 2021

Anyone who knows me will tell you that my makeup skills are lacking. I only managed to do my first-ever successful winged liner last year, and I have absolutely no idea where half the products I own are actually supposed to be applied. However, while I might not be able to execute the perfect eye shadow look or know how to contour my nose, I do consider myself somewhat of an expert in simple, easy-to-use products, particularly creamy ones that I can apply with my fingers without too much thought.
You see, my lack of makeup skills means that I’m particularly rubbish at using products that require any sort of artistic ability. Last year, as I found myself cooped up at home with some more time on my hands, I made it my mission to at least try some of the more taxing products in my collection. I spent hours experimenting with eye palettes, stocked up on color-correcting creams, and even dabbled in a bit of glitter. After several months of meticulously picking apart video tutorials and saving Instagram looks to copy, I can definitely say that I have learned a lot about my creative flair. Simply put, I don’t have any.
I can’t fight it anymore—I’m a cream-makeup girl through and through. While powders can be messy, time-consuming, and downright dulling, cream products are quick and foolproof and leave skin looking, well, like real skin should. In fact, every makeup artist that I have turned to for help over the years has all told me the same thing: If you want a quick, glowing face, cream makeup products are the way forward.
This year, I’m putting my fiddly powders and pigmented liquids into storage and embracing a quicker, more natural makeup look. So if you’re anything like me and want to keep things simple and glowy this year, keep scrolling for the best cream makeup products around.
Blush
Eyes
Bronzer
Highlight
This was one of the first-ever cream highlighters I tried, and I have been in love ever since. Subtle, understated, and simple, a few dabs is all I need to look alive.This post originally appeared on Who What Wear UK.
Next up, 21 New Makeup Products That Immediately Pep Up Your Zoom Face

Shannon Lawlor is the beauty director at Who What Wear UK. With over a decade of experience working for some of the beauty industry’s most esteemed titles, including Marie Claire, Glamour UK, Stylist and Refinery29, Shannon’s aim is to make the conversation around beauty as open, relatable and honest as possible. As a self-confessed lazy girl, Shannon has an affinity for hard-working perfumes, fool-proof makeup products and does-it-all skincare.
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