Trust Me, Buy This: Makeup Edition
Trust Me—Buy This is a monthly series where our market editor, Nicole Eshaghpour, makes her favorite real-life fashion finds shoppable for Who What Wear readers.
I know I said this about haircare, but I mean it even more when I say that I’m no makeup expert. Sure, I wear it and try to do so in an effective manner, but when you combine my aversion to change and my inherently classic style, you get a girl who doesn't really like to switch things up unless absolutely necessary. And that’s probably for the best, seeing as I already spend too much of my personal time shopping for clothing. Adding a beauty addiction into the mix is the last thing I need.
However, what I do confidently know about makeup is what I like. Whether they’ve been personal recommendations from beauty editors, things I’ve stolen from my beauty-obsessed sister, or something my makeup artist used on me at my wedding, there are a handful of products I swear by and am regularly recommending to all my friends. While I don’t have endless items (or brands) in my makeup bag, I am pretty obsessed with the ones that have made the cut. So to see, read about, and shop my absolute favorite makeup finds, just keep scrolling.
Brows
Fun fact: I grew up in Beverly Hills, so the first time I ever got my eyebrows done in high school was at the original Anastasia studio. Looking back, I’m not surprised by the brow guru’s rise to fame. After all, before it became a Kardashian-endorsed hot spot, it was a low-key celeb favorite. Anyway, while I don’t get my eyebrows done often anymore, I still love to use Anastasia Beverly Hills products. The brow definer is perfect for easily and subtly filling in your brows.
Skin
I’m obsessed with these Bar of Gold highlighters. Besides how pretty they are to look at, they give an amazing glow to your face. I use a fan brush to apply it to my cheekbones and sometimes a smaller brush to put in my creases and along my brow bone.
Eyes
My go-to eyeliner is actually a similar color from Nars, but since it seems to be sold out, I asked our editor Erin Jahns to suggest a similar shade. She swears by this one from Marc Jacobs Beauty, so I trust it’s a good find. I like brown eyeliner for day-to-day because it’s much subtler than black.
Lips
Call me basic, but I’m obsessed with my Glossier Gen G. I’ve been using it pretty much since it came out. I’m not a lipstick or lip gloss girl, so this is really my lip color for everything. It can be sheer if you only apply one swipe, but you can also layer it for more color. Crush is the only shade I wear.
Lip liner is still a relatively new thing to me, but this is the first one I’ve used and really liked. I have a color that’s very close to my Gen G, and I use it when I want more of a defined lip. It’s good because the brush lets you soften the lines so it’s not overly dramatic.
Nails
Most of the time when I have my nails done (both hands and feet), the color I pick is OPI’s Malaga Wine. It’s such a flattering color, and I’ve found that it’s dark enough for winter but still light enough for summer. The other good thing about getting the same color every time is that I have a bottle of the polish at home, so I can always fix it if it chips.
I recently started using this topcoat from Essie’s long-lasting line with every manicure and have really seen a difference in how long I can go without my nails chipping. I recently bought one and bring it with me to the nail salon in case they don’t have it.
I’m terrible at doing my own nails, but every once in a while, if I don’t have time to get them done and really need a fix, I use this color from Sally Hansen at home. It’s tinted pink but very sheer, so it’s pretty much impossible to mess up. I apply two layers and it instantly looks like I got a manicure.
Up next? Shop my favorite fashion finds as of late.
Since starting as an intern back in 2013, Nicole Akhtarzad Eshaghpour has held several roles here at Who What Wear, and she is currently Editor-at-Large. Upon joining, she was a senior about to graduate from business school at USC. Fast-forward to 2025, and she's moved to NYC from her hometown of Beverly Hills and spends her workdays a little differently from when she was just starting out. Currently, she focuses on a weekly mélange of shopping content and her Trust Me—Buy This newsletter. As far as her personal style goes, she's largely drawn to neutral, classic pieces but will always make an exception for something colorful or bejeweled as long as it's deemed worthy enough. After all, the only thing she loves more than a party is dressing up for one. On her downtime, she can usually be found at home eating something delicious and trying to force her husband to watch Summer House.
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