Full-Coverage Friday: The Mood-Boosting Makeup That Makes Beauty Editors Feel Their Best
Plus, the glitter beauty products I brought on my Vegas bachelorette party
Earlier this week, I had a work event that I really didn’t feel like going to. I was coming off a few back-to-back days of severe anxiety, which made the thought of doing anything—let alone socializing with strangers—feel impossibly overwhelming.
But as soon as I sat down to do my makeup, something shifted. The simple act of sweeping on foundation and blending out my bronzer felt grounding, like I was piecing myself back together. And when I pressed a shimmering shadow onto my lids and doused myself in glitter, I could feel the anxiety start to loosen its grip. By the time I walked out the door, I wasn’t just tolerating the idea of going—I actually felt ready to have fun.
No matter how shitty a day I’m having, I can always count on my makeup routine to make me feel better—and that’s thanks to its mood-boosting powers. Certain colors and textures have the ability to shift your mindset just as much as they transform your look—like the instant confidence boost of a bold red lip or the calming effect of a soft, dewy complexion that makes you look as refreshed as you want to feel.
There’s no “right way” to use mood-boosting makeup—and I’ve got a few different techniques within my own routine. Sometimes, a five-minute face is all I need—the ritual of connecting with myself gives me a moment to take a deep breath—but when things feel particularly heavy, I reach for the glitter. There’s something about the way it catches the light and reflects a version of myself that feels vibrant—even when I’m not quite there yet emotionally.
And I’m not alone in this. Beauty editors and experts I admire have their own secret weapons that never fail to lift their spirits and enhance their glow. Here are the mood-boosting makeup products they swear by:
Pia Velasco
Beauty editor and expert
“Blush is the one item that always makes me feel happier. I love the way it livens up my face, as if I’d just been out running or walked outside in brisk weather. For my olive complexion, I feel it adds color and dimension to my face. Overall, I feel like I just look more pleasant, more youthful, and happier. I swipe across my cheeks, bridge of my nose, and will dust or dab the leftover on my eyelids.”
Shop Pia’s picks: Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Divine Blush, $39; Tower 28 Beach Please Cream Blush, $20; Glossier Cloud Paint, $22; Jones Road The Best Blush, $38
Sara Spruch-Feiner
Senior Reporter, Glossy Pop
“Nowadays, ‘glowy priming products’—AKA products that you can layer under or over makeup to make skin look lit from within—are a category unto themselves. My current favorite, though, is the Vieve Super Skin Nova from Scottish mega-influencer Jamie Genevieve's brand. Not only does it make my (pale) skin look healthy and luminous, but it also feels like a rich, winter-ready moisturizer and is packed with nourishing actives including seven forms of hyaluronic acid, three ceramides, and panthenol.”
Shop Sara’s pick: Vieve Beauty Super Skin Nova, $49
Kayla Greaves
"This blush does it for me every time. It gives my face a little lift and dimension that helps me look my best on my worst days. Plus, you quite literally have to smile while applying blush to ensure it's hitting the right spot—so it really sets the tone for a positive day ahead."
Shop Kayla’s pick: about-face Blush Rush Liquid Blush in Pit Stop, $18
Erica Metzger
Beauty expert and founder of The Beauty Loop newsletter and Virtual Beauty Closet
“I’ve been obsessed with this product since my mid-30s—basically as soon as I became a mom and had to step up my skincare game—but I appreciate it even more in my 40s as texture, dryness, and thinner skin become the norm. It’s an eye cream packed with peptides, a mineral sunscreen with SPF 35, and a concealer all in one smart package. The metal applicator tip helps depuff, and unlike most tinted or brightening eye creams, it actually provides solid makeup coverage. I love how it instantly refreshes my eyes and is actually doing something proactive for skin that probably needs it most.”
Shop Erica’s pick: Colorescience Total Eye, $79
Faith Xue
Executive Beauty Director, Bustle
“Glow Recipe's new flush serum is the epitome of dopamine makeup. First, it's not really makeup—it's a serum chock full of brightening and smoothing ingredients that happens to give your cheeks (and lips!) a subtle flush of color. I've been on my fitness journey, which means I'm bare-faced more often now because I'm either going to the gym or leaving the gym. But that doesn't mean I'm giving into my skin's penchant for turning Nosferatu-pale during the winter months. I love adding a dab of this tint in the Berry Flush shade to my cheeks and lips post-workout—it adds the prettiest flush of a cool-toned berry color, and I don't have to worry about it clogging my sweaty pores, since it's skin care. Plus, it ensures I look delightfully flushed and glowy if I happen to run into anyone I know on the street, which, in NYC, happens more than you'd think. And what's more joy-boosting than that?”
Shop Faith’s pick: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush - Brightening Serum Blush, $25
Gabby Shacknai
Beauty editor, author of the Gab Guide newsletter, and co-founder of Beautyfor
“I am very much a child of the sun. Not only am I significantly happier when in sunshine, but I'm completely convinced I'm actually prettier too. But thanks to New York winter and my seasonally translucent skin, real sunshine (with the highest SPF known to man, don't worry!) isn't always a possibility—which is exactly why I love Kosas's Glow I.V. The ‘skin enhancer’ offers a much-needed dose of natural-looking glow that has basically replicates a weeklong tropical vacation, without the expensive hotel or airfare. I simply put a tiny dab of it at the top of each cheekbone and along my cupid's bow, and I'm ready to take on the world (and brave the cold!).”
Shop Gabby’s pick: Kosas Glow I.V., $38
Celia Shatzman
Senior Beauty & Style Contributor, Forbes
"Nothing perks up my mood—and my face—like a swipe of lipstick. It instantly makes you look and feel pulled together, even when you feel like anything but on the inside. I will always love a classic red, but lately I've been drawn to other statement lip colors, like hot pink and even berry. My new favorite is Sisley Paris Phyto Rouge Velvet in Rouge Royal. It's a bold, beautiful red with a perfect matte finish. The zebra print lipstick case is quite the statement maker and also makes me happy every time I whip it out.”
Shop Celia’s pick: Sisley Paris Phyto Rouge Velvet in Rouge Roya, $75
Weekly Reads
The Feel-Good Face: How Makeup Can Boost Your Mood (According to Science): Today’s post only scratches the surface of just how powerful makeup can be. In Monday’s paid feature, we took a deeper dive into the science behind it—exploring how certain colors, textures, and rituals can turn your beauty routine into a true mood-boosting moment. If you missed it, it’s worth the read.
I Took 54 Pounds of Mood-Boosting Makeup To My Vegas Bachelorette Party, and I Have No Regrets: There’s something about Vegas that invites a little extra sparkle, and on my recent bachelorette party, I fully embraced it (and forced my friends to get on board). What started as a fun beauty experiment turned into something much bigger—a reminder of just how transformative a little glitter can be both inside and out. If you’ve ever doubted the power of shimmer, this one’s for you.'
Ilana Glazer’s Take on Beauty Is the Mood Boost We All Need: While this week’s focus has been on how makeup can lift your spirits, Ilana Glazer reminds us that sometimes, the most powerful beauty ritual is taking it all off. Her approach isn’t about effort—it’s about ease. In this interview, she opens up about self-acceptance, the illusion of effortless beauty, and why washing her face at the end of the day is the ultimate act of self-care. If you’ve ever struggled to embrace your natural features (hi, fellow curly-haired, thick-browed millennials), this one’s a must-read.
Final thoughts
There are pretty of feel good product recs this week, so in lieu of my usual roundup, I’ll leave you with some final thoughts about mood-boosting makeup—which, FWIW, happens to be another one of my favorite beauty x mental health topics to talk about.
At the end of the day, makeup is so much more than just pigment and powders—it’s a tool for self-expression, self-care, and, sometimes, self-discovery. Whether it’s a swipe of blush that wakes up your face (and your mood), a serum-infused tint that makes you look as radiant as you want to feel, or a shimmering eyeshadow that brings a little extra joy to your reflection, the beauty of beauty is that it meets you wherever you are.
And maybe that’s why it’s so powerful. Some days, it’s about playing with colors and textures that make you feel bold and bright. Other days, it’s about the ritual—taking a few minutes to connect with yourself, breathe, and remind yourself that you’re worth the time and attention.
Whatever your version of mood-boosting makeup looks like—whether it’s a full face, a dab of highlighter, or simply the confidence to skip it altogether—it’s yours. And that, in itself, is beautiful.
Next week, we’ll be going all in on beauty sleep (keep an eye on your inbox!), but for now, I’m dying to know: What makeup makes you feel like the best version of yourself? Drop me a line and LMK to be featured in an upcoming newsletter!
Have a great (and maybe even glittery?) weekend! XOX
Happy to see so many familiar faces (👋 @ Pia & Erica!!) Loved this post Zoe!!!