The cosmetics market has long been oversaturated: every season brings dozens of new products, and social media generates new “must-have” items daily, without which, it seems, you can’t even leave the house. It’s easy to get lost in this stream and spend a significant part of your budget on products that will end up gathering dust on a shelf. One of the most reliable ways to find your footing is to turn to the experience of professionals who work with cosmetics every day and know what actually works and what is just marketing noise. This is exactly the approach offered by makeup artist Kateryna Halunko, who has been in the profession for eight years, in a blitz interview with the lifestyle project Wave (RBC-Ukraine).
A Professional’s Must-Haves: What Truly Meets the Needs
Starting the conversation about a basic kit, Halunko emphasizes that SPF is not decorative cosmetics, but without proper skincare it is impossible to achieve quality makeup. Among the decorative products, her daily must-haves are concealer, bronzer, and mascara: “That’s what instantly makes the face.” Bronzers and blushes hold a special place in her arsenal; according to the makeup artist, they instantly give the face structure and freshness — it is precisely these two elements, she believes, that create that “great look.”
Against Foundation: Comfort First and Foremost
One of the most surprising confessions for many readers is her refusal to use foundation and primers. “I don’t use foundation or primers at all; without them, makeup is much more comfortable for me,” explains Halunko. This approach underscores her overall principle: cosmetics should work for naturalness and a sense of lightness, rather than creating a heavy “mask-like” layer. At the same time, she does not deny the benefits of foundation products in principle, merely pointing out that in her professional practice they are not a necessity.
Her Favorite Concealer and the “Skincare as a Must-Have” Principle
When it comes to specific products, the makeup artist singles out the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye concealer, which she calls her “concealer forever.” In her words, there is no equivalent to this product: it has a natural, slightly luminous finish and yet effectively covers imperfections. At the same time, Halunko makes an important caveat: there are no universal must-haves in cosmetics. “When we talk about a must-have, it’s something that meets our needs or solves certain problems, and those are unique to each of us. So I don’t think cosmetic must-haves exist. But one exact must-have is skincare,” she sums up.
Trends: The Ephemeral Nature of Social Media and Personalization
A separate section of the interview is devoted to fashion trends. Halunko notes that to this day all beauty trends are extremely short-lived: “I observe something new on social media almost every day, which is very quickly replaced by the next thing.” Among the current trends, she highlights “Nina Park lips” — a lip-coloring technique popularized by the Hollywood makeup artist. In her assessment, this trend is distinguished by its softness, adapts easily to individual features, and is truly wearable in everyday life, not just in photos or videos.
The Main Trend — Conscious Individuality
Wrapping up the conversation about trends, the makeup artist formulates her key position: “My favorite trend is the trend toward individuality and self-expression through makeup exactly the way you want it.” She urges every woman first to understand her own needs and the needs of her skin, to learn to create her own ideal makeup, and only then to play with cosmetics, adapting and personalizing global trends. In her view, this approach is an expression of mindfulness and self-understanding — and perhaps it is precisely here that the main answer to the question of how not to get lost in the endless stream of beauty novelties lies.
