When I was a dancer, the “more is more” makeup mantra was pretty standard. Faux lashes, wild shadows, and bold lipstick...I have the (very pageant queen) photos to prove it. So, when Colourpop and its ultra-bright products started blowing up the YouTube beauty blogger scene, they caught my eye. The new-ish LA-based line has gained a devoted following among makeup lovers for their high-quality, low-price products available in every shade of the rainbow (eye shadows are $5, blushes are $8). The colors are great, but they really sell you when you unscrew the tops. Press your finger into one of the shadows, and it's not powder—it's sponge! It applies like a cream but dries like a regular dry shadow, so there's no need to mess with brushes. A finger to blend and smudge is just fine.

I like Taco (a vibrant blue), Pop Rocks (a tie-dye pink purple and green that I found IRL but is currently unavailable online) and an hot pink called Slave2Pink (because a good Britney reference will get me every time). For those feeling a little less than rave, there are plenty of beautiful neutrals and metallics to mess with. But perhaps you don’t see your dream shade? In that case, you can send the ladies at Colourpop a nice little email and, apparently, they will consider formulating a new hue just for you. But with 96-plus eye shadows already available on the site (and more coming soon), I doubt you’ll find the selection lacking.

—Victoria Lewis

Photographed by Tom Newton.