*Image via Brian Love.
Sephora’s spring savings event launches today! This is a tiered promotion where VIB Rouge members get 20% off starting today; VIB members get 15% off starting April 5th; and insiders get 10% off starting April 7th. Always a favorite time to stock up and try some new beauty.
My Current Favorite Beauty Products.
Below, my favorite beauty products at the moment — these are the items I use in my daily (certain products closer to weekly) makeup routine at the moment.
SUPERGOOP GLOWSCREEN — This is marketed as an SPF product but I wear it as a stand-in for tinted moisturizer and just let my natural skin shine through. It affords a tiny, tiny bit of coverage/evening-out, but mainly just adds glow (and SPF). It wears so beautifully.
LAURA MERCIER EYE BASICS — I love this eye primer and use it most often as a stand-in for eye shadow. It just evens out the lid and makes for a nice neutral, even-toned skin tone across the face. I think of it sort of like concealer for the lids.
ILIA MULTI-USE PIGMENT — I am obsessed with the “Temptation” color and have been using daily on my cheeks and lips. Just the prettiest peach color for spring.
LAURA MERCIER CANVAS PRIMER — I use this if I’m going to apply Westman Atelier foundation stick. If not, I just use SuperGoop and concealer. But the primer I find acts like an additional layer of hydration and illumination as well as an adhesive that just makes Westman Atelier all the more impressive in its results. My mom describes this as “spackle” — ha! It really helps smooth on and adhere foundation and concealer.
GUERLAIN BRONZER — This is hands down the best bronzer on the planet. Super natural looking, blends beautifully, and it smells like heaven. A palette also lasts a long, long time.
HOURGLASS AMBIENT LIGHTING POWDER — A truly beautiful, luminating powder I sometimes dust over my face after applying concealer/foundation.
WESTMAN ATELIER FOUNDATION STICK — I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve mentioned this wunderproduct. Simply the best in its class. Glides on, blends in, looks like skin. BIG caveat: you must moisturize your skin very thoroughly if you want to maximize results. I love this gorgeous day cream from Clarins as a first step.
WESTMAN ATELIER HIGHLIGHTER STICK — Still my favorite highlighter. Glides on and affords colorless sheen. I like to put this under my brows, on cheeks, on the tip of my nose, and clara’s bow.
HOURGLASS EYEBROW GEL — I’ve turned several friends evangelical about this product. It is so easy to use – swipe on and it fills, evens out, and shapes brows beautifully. I went back and forth for years over whether eyebrow gel was necessary. It felt like an extra step. I think gelled eyebrows complete a look and frame the face wonderfully.
In case you’re wondering about some major omissions, I am currently using and loving Thrive mascara, concealer from Cle de Peau and/or Kevyn Aucoin (depending on severity of breakout / undereye situation), and eyeliner from Nyx (absolutely indistinguishable from Stila, and just so easy to use), none of which are carried by Sephora.
My Current Favorite Skincare + Haircare Products.
TATA HARPER REGENERATING CLEANSER — Been using this for years and will simply never quit it. I love the way it exfoliates my skin and keeps breakouts at bay. It just scrubs the day right off, and it smells lovely to boot.
SUMMER FRIDAYS JET LAG MASK — I’m late to the game on this one but absolutely adore this product. I often sleep in it when I feel like my skin is dry/tight/in need of TLC, and I sometimes apply it as a spot hydrator if I have a patch of dry skin (post-breakout, etc). I battled a nasty cold last week and I could barely get out of bed for two days. I had two products on my bedside table: this, which I kept slathering all over my face — I just felt so dehydrated! — and Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream, which I slathered on lips and nose (burned from all the tissues!). I almost find Summer Fridays comforting, like pulling on warm socks in bed. I’m obsessed.
CLARINS EXTRA-FIRMING MOISTURIZER — A slow burn favorite. I received this as a gift from Clarins and started using it and then could not stop. It has a lovely, mid-weight texture — glides on like gel but really hydrates without leaving skin greasy. I love the way it illuminates my skin. That’s my goal with every layer of skincare: how much glow can I afford myself with each layer? Personally, I think the combo of a vitamin C product, Clarins serum, and this moisturizer is the ELITE trio for achieving a great base glow.
CLARINS DOUBLE SERUM — Will never stop singing its praises. This is one of those products I cannot go a day without. If I am ever short on time, I will trim vitamin C and moisturizer, but I will not go without this serum. It is hydrating, smoothing, plumping, invigorating, glossing, youth-affording. I don’t know, it just makes your skin look 100% better.
BIOSSANCE VITAMIN C OIL — I’ve tried a lot of vitamin C products and personally believe Vitamin C is THE mover and shaker in the category of skin-brightening skincare. Biossance’s is my favorite Vitamin C formula. It is a dry oil and very easy to apply — I apply with the dropper directly onto my face so as not to waste a drop (a little dot on my forehead and each of my cheeks, then blend with palms).
FRESH HESPERIDES BODY LOTION — I think I’ve been using this body lotion for going on ten years now? It smells like heaven and hydrates skin wonderfully. It’s sort of a part of my signature scent at this point!
FRESH SOAP — I love to buy these to keep in the guest shower/bathroom, and to give as little gifts! They come in the prettiest paper and smell gorgeous.
DPHUE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR LEAVE-IN THERAPY — I ended up so-so on the actual apple cider vinegar rinse (could be user error but I felt it made my hair feel really weird and oily much more quickly than usual) but THIS THERAPY IS THE BEST. I spritz it on post-shower when I am letting my hair air-dry and it detangles my hair like a dream and then primes/protects from heat tools and somehow it yields the softest, most shiny hair I’ve ever enjoyed in my life at the end. I swear my hair looks like Vermeer painted it afterward! Truly an outrageously good product. I have had a few readers ask about the scent — it DOES smell a bit vinegar-y when spritzed, but the scent quickly evaporates. I do not smell it once I’ve styled my hair at all. Still, if you are sensitive to vinegar scents, this might not be for you.
CAUDALIE BEAUTY ELIXIR MIST — I rediscovered this facial mist after a hiatus and love it. Is it essential? No. I would rank it the lowest on this entire list of beauty and skincare products. But does it feel great? And does it set makeup beautifully? And does it serve as a stand-in for the demarcation between my work day and evening? Yes, yes, and yes.
ORIBE SHAMPOO — My favorite splurge shampoo. IMO, the only prestige shampoo worth the price. (Otherwise, I stick with Pantene Pro V.)
OUAI TEXTURIZING HAIRSPRAY — Every now and then, I do style my hair in loose waves, and this is the golden ticket for cool girl, lived-in hair. I curl large sections with a 1/2″ Hot Tools curler, alternating the direction of the curl with each section, and never touching the ends. Then I spray all over with this, flip my head upside down, and run my fingers lightly through my hair to break things up. 10/10 would recommend.
What’s In My Shopping Cart.
A few new-to-me items I want to try —
WESTMAN ATELIER CREAM HIGHLIGHTER — I’M CRAZY ABOUT ALL OF THIS BRAND’S PRODUCTS SO WHY NOT ROUND IT OUT WITH A NEW HIGHLIGHTER?!
LAURA MERCIER TRANSLUCENT LIGHTING POWDER — TINX DESCRIBED THIS AS THE G.O.A.T…AND SINCE I’M RUNNING LOW ON MY HOURGLASS PALETTE, I THINK I’LL GIVE THIS A WHIRL NEXT
TOWER LIP AND CHEEK BALM — I LOVE LIP/CHEEK COLORS THAT CAN BE APPLIED WITH FINGERS (SEE ILIA PIGMENT REFERENCED ABOVE!)…THIS ONE EARNED ALLURE’S BEST OF BEAUTY AWARD SO I’M OFFICIALLY INTRIGUED SINCE I TEND TO LIKE MOST OF THEIR PICKS
P.S. What beauty tips have stuck with you?
P.P.S. What items do you splurge versus save on?
P.P.P.S. Household must-haves.