If there’s one thing the internet loves these days—besides existential dread and a good cat meme—it’s spotting recession indicators in everything from avocado prices to the length of men’s shorts. If the economy really is spiralling, it’s beauty that offers one of the safest returns: the multi-purpose stick, one clever product format that does it all.
Why juggle a blush compact, a lipstick, and an eyeshadow palette when one product can do the job of three? This isn’t just lazy beauty—it’s financially responsible. Plus, it takes up way less space in your bag.
Of course, Nars figured this out ages ago and got there first. The brand’s cult classic, The Multiple, was born in 1996, when François Nars improvised a whole look using just one lipstick for a spring editorial shoot. “He used one lipstick colour for the eyes, cheeks, and lips, creating an effortless monochromatic look that spoke to the expressive, spontaneous, and no-rules artist that he is. That moment created The Multiple, the original multipurpose stick,” says Jane Richardson, global artistry director of Nars.
Since then, the format has become shorthand for effortless chic—smear it wherever, and somehow it works. And now, nearly three decades later, The Multiple is back with a new formula that lasts up to 16 hours, resists sweat and water, and slips neatly into your bag or pocket for touch-ups. “The cream-to-powder texture means you can apply The Multiple any way you want, and that is why I love using it so much! On a shoot last week, I used my fingers to give me a subtle flush (I prefer to feel the skin and cheekbones under my fingertips) and then applied a deeper shade to add more depth and structure to the next look,” she recalls. “The fact that you can use it on cheeks, eyes, and lips is exactly what you don’t expect to work, yet it does, every time.”
For Richardson, that flexibility also reflects how people approach makeup today. “With so many ‘how to’ videos being made, I believe that people are still desiring steps and inspiration for their makeup application. However, I would like to think that products such as The Multiple will encourage people to be more intuitive and relaxed about how they achieve their looks.”
Celebrity makeup artist Tanvi Chemburkar adds that the trick is to play with placement and intensity. “I like to keep it sheer on the cheeks and eyelids, and more pigmented on the lips. It feels cohesive and not too flat or patchy. Or you could go fuller on the cheeks and dab just a little bit on the eyes and lips—it looks more effortless.”
The logic is obvious: in this economy, a stick that can double (or triple) as blush, lipstick, and eyeshadow is practically an investment strategy. But if you want to branch out from the OG, there’s plenty more wallet-wise magic happening. There’s Milk Makeup’s viral Cooling Water Jelly Tint that looks like Jell-O but stains like a popsicle; Merit’s Flush Balm in its satisfyingly domed pot; Chanel’s Les Beiges Blush Stick, arguably the chicest way to pretend you woke up like this; and Fenty Beauty (which has just relaunched in India), whose Match Stix Color-Adaptive Cheek + Lip Stick is a shade-shifting formula that adapts to your skin tone as if by sorcery.
Not sure which one to pick? Chemburkar suggests paying attention to the texture and tone. “Look for a formula that is creamy and buildable. The finish should be satin or velvet because it blends easily and is moisturising, and they avoid becoming too greasy or powdery, so that works well for all skin types. As far as shades are concerned, peachy and brick shades suit warmer skin tones, cooler skin tones [should opt for] dusty rosy or mauve, and if someone has a neutral or balanced skin tone, neutral or rosy tones work best.”
If you have to cut corners, let them be on your makeup bag, not your face. Call it self-care, call it economic policy—either way, your wallet and cheeks will thank you. Below, the only product(s) you need to consider adding to your toolkit right now:
