When it comes to beauty products, I’m pretty picky about where I’ll take recommendations (I am a beauty editor, after all). There’s one hard and fast rule I follow, though: if a product is good enough for former First Lady Michelle Obama, it’s certainly good enough for me. Sorry, it’s just the rule!

It’s a happy coincidence that at a recent appearance for The Light We Carry Book Tour, Obama turned to a beauty editor favorite for her makeup look. The product in question was from Beauty Pie, a high-performance, great-value makeup brand that sources ingredients and products from some of the world’s leading labs. Editors love reaching for Beauty Pie products since it’s pretty well-known that the brand’s offerings are just as good (if not better) than many more expensive options on the market. 

For her book tour appearance, Obama’s makeup artist Carl Ray used Beauty Pie’s Deluxe Precision Liquid Eyeliner in Black Cat and their Wondercolour Longwear Cream Shadow Stick in Copperini to create a graphic cat eye that I simply can’t stop thinking about. We’re used to seeing Obama in more neutral looks, so seeing her get to play around a bit (with a phenomenal topknot and leather suiting to match) is a welcome change. 

This Swiss-formulated cream will quickly replace your other skincare products. It’s packed with plumping and firming ingredients like hyaluronic acid, plant actives, antioxidants, and more. 

Yes, that’s right—this nourishing mascara truly does not budge, no matter what you throw at it. 

This lightweight cleansing balm does double duty on removing makeup, dirt, and oil. 

For fluffy, ultra-defined brows, this brow gel is equipped with a micro-precision brush that helps you get every hair. 

You may think you’ve seen every trick a translucent powder has to offer, but this super finely milled powder works magic by blurring, hiding imperfections, and looking nearly invisible on skin. 

Next, The Proof Is in the Data: Waterless Beauty Was One of 2022’s Biggest Trends