What are your go-to beauty products? Thought I’d share some of mine, but please share your own favorite in the comments — I’m always eager to learn about new good products! For skin, I start with a fresh slate by using Bliss’ Fabulous Foaming face wash ($24) — it smells fab. I must admit that I have only been using this for awhile — I am serious devotee of good old fashioned Proactiv, which has kept my skin blemish-free for almost 15 years (yikes, I am old) — but this stuff has been working like a charmerooski for the last few weeks.
Next: moisturize. I am in.love with the scent, the weight, the results of Shiseido’s white lucent brightening moisturizer ($59) and eye cream ($55):
I always moisturize liberally and am especially diligent about eye cream. Slather.that.shizz.on. I also use Stri-Vectin ($99) every morning and night — just a little bit on areas prone to wrinkles. I follow with Laura Mercier’s primer ($32) and tinted moisturizer ($43):
Next: YSL’s radiant touch under the eyes and on any other blemish-prone areas ($41):
This stuff is the jam. And when I really have some serious dark circles going on, I’ll double up with Laura Mercier’s incredible concealer ($22). This stuff could hide a tattoo, I swear. The makeup artist for my wedding said he swore by everything by Laura Mercier — except for the concealer, because he said it was like “stage makeup.” But hey. Sometimes you need a little extra coverage, amIright? And scene.
If I feel like I’m a little…glossy, I’ll set things with Tarte’s Amazonian Clay finishing powder ($29) — super lightweight and invisible — and a great brush ($26):
For eyes, I like to start with Benefit’s Stay Don’t Stray primer ($26) and then typically layer on two eye shadow colors — a neutral all over the lid and then something slightly darker in the crease. Nars makes this easy by having the best color duos ever ($35 per duo):
If I want to add some drama, I’ll use a dark eyeliner in navy or black — YSL’s are good and charcoal-y ($30):
But ALWAYS, ALWAYS finish with a thick coat of mascara! I’ve tried pretty much every mascara out there and continually return to DiorShow ($25), though I did like Lancome’s Hypnose Drama, $27):
Then it’s a quick coat of blush or bronzer (love all things Nars — especially Laguna bronzer, $38, and Gaiety blush, $30):
I’ve also fallen into and out of love with Tarte cheek stains ($30). They come in great colors, can double as lipstick, and smell good, too — but are kind of annoying to apply. The tube is so thick…you end up with a big glop on your cheek that you then rub in for awhile. I dunno, it just seems poorly designed.
If I’m going out on the town, I usually accent with a highlighter — Nars has a good one, but I also like Benefit’s High Beam ($26):
Lastly, lipstick. I used to never wear lip color — and I still hate lip gloss (my hair always gets stuck to my lips. Ugh. How can other ladies stand this?! It also just feels yucky and sticky.) — but I am now obsessed with the light pink color “Roman Holiday” by Nars for everyday (it just pulls everything together and makes you look a bit more finished — $26) and the hot pink color “Schiap” for nights out:
When I’m done applying, I usually dab just the tiniest bit of moisturizer and run it over my face to make things feel less “made up.” Voila. What do you wear?!
You should totally try YSL Babydoll mascara and Too Faced Better than False Lashes. Dior and YSL make the best lipsticks of all time. So moisturizing but not sticky or with any of the things I hate about glosses. Glosses actually dry my lips out more than these formulas! For a wine/berry color try Dior Black Tie–it looks black in the tube but goes on gorgeous, which is so cool!
THANKS! Want to try them all!
http://www.clinique.com/product/1605/15520/Makeup/Lipsticks/index.tmpl
This will change your life. I put a little chapstick over top so it’s not so drying. Richer Raisin is sort of the same color roughly as the black honey almost lipstick.
AH, YES! A beauty post. I’m obsessed with Bioderma makeup remover. It is literally the best. I use all Paula’s choice face products and am really careful to never use lotion that you dip your fingers in – adding bacteria into the tub. As far as make-up – I LOVE the LM tinted moisturizer for day and YSL foundation for night. My next buy is going to be that Nars lipstick. Dying for a pink as an alternative to my usual red.
Ooh — I need to check out YSL foundation. I’ve actually never used foundation before! Also, great tip on not double dipping in the lotion container!
Love these product posts!!
Thanks, Clancy!
OMG You speak to my makeup hoarder heart.
Clean and clear morning burst facewash. It strips off makeup, sunscreen, sweat. It’s awesome. Lancome genifique serum. I’ve tried both this and Visionairre and the V left a weird mask feeling I didn’t like, but I could see if being better if you had super dry skin. YSL Shocking mascara, Lancome artliner, Lancome Photogenic foundation. I used to use Lancome Hypnose but they changed the formula and now it irritates my eyes. I tried Lights Camera Lashes based on another blogger’s recommendations and it gave me a horriffic eye infection. Based on the Sephora reviews, this sounds sort of common, people really love it or hate it.
And when I get compliments on my skin it’s always when I’m wearing the Photogenic foundation. The genifique forms sort of a barrier so all the makeup never disrupts my skin.
And Fresh color sticks inany color or Clinique chubby sticks in a plum.
I think lipgloss varies greatly by manufacturer especially the sticky get your hair stuck in it and drag lipgloss across your face factor.
Now all we need to do is talk about hair and gym clothes again and I’m set for the week.
I’d never heard of Clinique chubby sticks — need to look into them carefully! Thanks for all the tips, doll!