I tried a full face of Go-To makeup, here’s my honest review

How good is the makeup by Go-To?

I have to admit, my makeup routine in high summer is fairly non-existent. After a generous slathering of sunscreen, a few strokes of clear brow gel and a dab of rosy tint on my cheeks and lips is as good as it gets on a 40-degree day in Melbourne.

It seems Go-To founder, Zoë Foster Blake, shares my philosophy. Until recently, the Australian beauty brand was known for its no-fuss approach to skincare. With its curated offering, millennial pink packaging and Foster-Blake’s sisterly copywriting, it quickly earned a top spot in our bathroom cabinets (those sheet masks will cure a hangover, don’t ask me how).

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As of November last year, Go-To is coming for our makeup bags, too. Created with Go-To’s Korean beauty formulators, the brand first launched with two primers (one matte, one glowy) before expanding to include colour cosmetics: six blushers (three matte, three dewy) and three highlighters. With prices starting from just $26 for a blush, it begs the question: are they actually any good?

I’ve been testing out the full range for the last month and my overall verdict is yes. But I have thoughts, feelings and tips for anyone looking to try the Go-To makeup line themselves. Read on for my review of the formulas, the shade offerings, and the exact product I rate for movie lips.

Skin prep: Very Glowy vs Very Mattifying Primer

I never thought I’d be a primer person but after trying the Go-To Very Glowy Primer, I might be converted. I’ve been wearing it both on its own (after SPF) and under my usual makeup (Merit’s The Uniform) and it’s sort of like switching a light on under your skin. The glow is there but it’s subtle, striking the right balance between dewy and sparkly (less of the latter).

As for the Very Mattifying Primer, if your skin gets oily or you struggle with texture and large pores, you’ll prefer this one. I tested it on my bumpy T-Zone during a Melbourne heat wave and by the end of the day, my skin looked a lot smoother, almost airbrushed in these areas. Unlike a lot of matte primers I’ve tried, this texture feels lightweight and not paste-y or silicone-y which I appreciate.

The Matte Pop Blush

Dewy skin is obviously all the rage but you know the downfall of shiny products? They slip off your face. Or, they absorb into your skin until there’s nothing left of your carefully-applied morning blush. The texture of the Matte Pop Blush kinda feels like you’re rubbing chocolate mousse on your cheeks. So soft and bouncy! Unlike powder blush, these can be applied with your fingers and they blend out like a dream.

All three colours worked well as both a cheek and lip colour for my skin tone. I’d say fairer tones would find the Berry shade too deep, while darker skin tones would suit it best. My favourite is Rosy dabbed on well-hydrated lips for the perfect natural, just-bitten colour. My theory is if you apply the same colour to your lips as your cheeks, you’ll be raking in compliments all day.

The Glowy Blush

Coming in the same three shades, these tubes of liquid gel blush are reminiscent of Glossier Cloud Paint but come in better colours, in my opinion. I was always mixing Beam and Puff to get a natural warm-pink, but the Go-To shade Rosy is exactly what I’m after. I’m also very into Peachy for something softer, especially paired with the matching highlighter (see below). They’re very pigmented so a little goes a long way.

The Ring Light Highlighter

At $28 each, these liquid highlighters are a good dupe for Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wands. The shade ‘Moonlight’ is the lightest, suitable for very fair to medium skin tones. Peachy is significantly warmer and Golden is best for medium-deep to darker skin tones. All three shades are gorgeous as an eyeshadow, too.

That said, the sponge-tip wand is not my favourite packaging – I find either too much or too little product comes out – but the formula itself is a nice thin consistency that blends easily and doesn’t settle into lines.

Full face of Go-To makeup

The glowy results! Here I am (hair still wet) wearing the Very Glowy primer, the Matte Pop Blush in Rosy on my lips and cheeks and the Ring Light Highlighter in ‘Peachy’ on my cheekbones and eyelids. I also have on my normal base by Merit, and mascara and brow gel by Mecca Max.

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