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You’re not alone in heading back to your workplace’s office after setting up shop at home for the past two years because of COVID-19 protocols. Many people opened the email with the subject line, “The office is reopening!” since pandemic-related restrictions have been lifted. If that describes your situation, you may find yourself wanting to refresh your makeup routine now that the eyeliner or lipstick you haven’t touched in years have expired. Not sure where to start? The following items will put some pep in your step and help you feel more confident heading back to work.

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First thing’s first: You need the right tools for applying your makeup. After testing the best makeup brushes at Reviewed, we recommend the Real Techniques Everyday Essentials kit that includes a makeup sponge as well as four versatile brushes for applying foundation, setting powder, bronzer, blush, highlighter and eyeshadow. Our tester enjoyed the ultra-soft bristles and the durable build these brushes have—and they are on the affordable side.

Get the Real Techniques Makeup Brush Set from Amazon for $20

Preparing your skin for makeup is key to having a smooth, lasting base. One way to ready your skin is with a makeup primer. The Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Hydrating Makeup Primer claims to “lock in makeup” for up to 12 hours with blue agave extract, hydrate and smooth skin with hyaluronic acid and hemp-derived cannabis seed extract and add a dewy glow with niacinamide and aloe water. Apply one to two pumps of the gel formula after skincare and before makeup for best results.

Get the Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Hydrating Makeup Primer from Sephora for $36

Start your routine with a comfortable, smoothing makeup base, like the Rare Beauty’s Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer. As Reviewed’s beauty editor, I tested the skin tint and adored the lightweight formula that’s easy to blend and looks natural on the skin with a semi-dewy finish. It stays in put well, only fading minimally after several hours of wear. You’ll find the foundation in 24 “flexible” shades ranging from light to deep, and each shade claims to work for multiple skin tones because of the sheerer coverage.

If you prefer the concealing effects of a full-coverage foundation, turn instead to the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Plave Foundation. The bestseller claims to be transfer-, sweat- and humidity-resistant, which rang true when I tested foundations that won’t stain your face mask. It’s available in 56 shades, from light to deep with cool, neutral and warm undertones.

Depending on your office policy, you may be required to wear a mask while at your desk or in common areas. If this is the case for you, you can still have fun with makeup by playing up your eyes. The Tartelette In Bloom Clay Eyeshadow Palette is an excellent place to start, as it contains 12 neutral shades in both matte and shimmer shades. Colors span from a light cream to peachy nude to bronze, allowing you to define your eyes or add a light wash of color over the lid.

Get the Tarte Tartelette In Bloom Clay Eyeshadow Palette from Sephora $42

Using bronzer defines and warms up your complexion in an instant. Apply the Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer to the hollows of your cheeks, around the perimeter of your face and anywhere else the sun would naturally touch your face. The powder bronzer comes in nine matte shades for very light to deep skin tones.

Get the Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer from Sephora for $34

Even if you forgo bronzer, blush can add dimension to your face and help liven up any look. Popular on TikTok right now are the Sephora Collection Colorful Face Powders that come in matte and shimmery finishes. Choose from baby pink, dusty rose, light peach, coral, lilac and more. Sweep your hue of choice from the apples of your cheeks up your cheekbone for a flush of color.

Get the Sephora Collection Colorful Face Powders from Sephora for $14

Whether you deal with oily skin or just don’t enjoy a glowy complexion, grab a setting powder that’ll tamp down a sheen. The Kosas Cloud Set Powder claims to have a “natural” finish that’ll get rid of shine without making you look too matte. The powder claims to absorb oil with bamboo stem extract, reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles with passion fruit leaf extract and minimize pores with Chinese peony. It’s available in 10 sheer shades from very light to deep to suit most skin tones.

Get the Kosas Cloud Set Setting Powder from Sephora for $34

If you’re planning to go maskless to your office, you can embrace wearing lipstick. Whether you want a subtle pink or a bold red, the BareMinerals Mineralist Hydra-Smoothing Lipstick has you covered. It claims to be moisturizing and smoothing for the lips with cold-pressed sea buckthorn fruit oil, olive oil extract and pomegranate and jojoba seed oils.

Get the BareMinerals Mineralist Hydra-Smoothing Lipstick from Sephora for $20

Whether you want an eyebrow pencil for filling in sparse areas, an eyeliner to define your eyes or a lip liner for creating a plumper pout, there’s one product you need: Make Up For Ever’s Artist Color Pencil. It’s available in 39 shades that, depending on the color you choose, you may prefer for the eyes, lips or both. The pencil claims to be precise enough for creating clean lines but easy to blend if you want to create a smoky effect with liner. 

Get the Make Up For Ever Artist Lip Pencil from Sephora for $20

Once you finish your office-debut makeup, you’ll want to lock it all into place. Reviewers swear by the Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Setting Spray helping makeup last all day long. The formula claims to make your makeup smudge-proof and transfer-resistant for up to 16 hours while imparting a natural finish. Urban Decay recommends you hold the bottle 8 to10 inches away from your face and spritz two to four sprays for an even application.

Get the Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray from Sephora for $33

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