Makeup Basics Stuff I’m Totally Obsessed With Right Now.
Okay, time to freak out over makeup and skin care stuff again! This is all I do in my free time.
Here’s what I’m loving now and have been using consistently:
A few months ago I asked what (if any) sort of stuff I should be using on my face in my forthcoming old age. Answers we’re all across the board, ranging from “everyone should have a regimen with products!” to “don’t put anything on your face ever, except olive oil!” After lots and lots of research (I’m talking months – it is safe to say I look at reviews on makeup alley about 45 times a day, including while I’m standing in Sephora and Ulta before I buy a product), I bought this Trish McEvoy beauty booster serum. I was torn between that and the Estee Lauder advanced night repair above, but I decided to try the beauty booster first. I.freaking.loved.it. I definitely found that it improved my skin tone and I really liked the formula. Unfortunately it was pricey (I think $125) and I totally BLEW through the bottle. I definitely used too much, but whatever… live and learn.
Since the advanced night repair was much cheaper, I decided to give it a try before buying another beauty booster bottle, and it’s what I’m currently using. I like it… I still feel like it has improved my skin tone somewhat… I don’t feel quite as “glowy” as I did with the beauty booster serum, and I don’t love the formula as much. But it’s much more economical, and I feel like I should continue using it because there are so many excellent reviews. Then I get torn and wonder… do I really just *think* that I like the beauty booster serum because it’s more expensive? Do I just assume it’s better? I’m a marketer’s dream. It’s true.
Alas… that’s where I’m at. I put these on at night, then I moisturize with coconut oil or cetaphil cream. Love.
Before I do the moisturizer though, I do throw this kiehl’s avocado eye cream on around my eyes. LOVE THIS JUNK. OMG. Just love love love. Nothing else to say.
For a daytime moisturizer, I’ve been using the beauty booster SPF cream, and again – ADORE it. I bought it with the serum but clearly didn’t blow through it as quickly. I love how this makes my skin feel, and it wasn’t too heavy to use in the summer whatsoever. Most work days I don’t wear any makeup (oh my husband is just oh-so lucky), so after my post workout face wash/shower, this is all that goes on my face. It is awesome. I don’t think I could switch… but I am weird and would like to use the same brand of serum and moisturizer. Of all the things I’m insane about…
If I am going to wear makeup… I’ve been using this MAC BB beauty balm. It’s a fairly new product for me but I adore it. I put it on immediately after the moisturizer above. I’ve mentioned before that I hatehatehate putting ANYTHING on my face. I hate using foundation (never have, hopefully never will), hate using any sort of cream foundations and really don’t even like using powders. I just hate having stuff on my face, so I usually use only concealer, or maybe tinted moisturizer… or maybe nothing. This is great though – still super light and gives a teeny tiny bit of coverage. Feels like I’m wearing nothing.
As for eye stuff, I talked about my infatuation with this smashbox photo op concealer/highlighter last year. Still going strong. This is the one product I can not live without, and that’s saying a ton given my love for mascara and lipgloss. This has replaced all concealer for me. It’s amazing. Of course… the reviews are so 50/50, but that seems to happen most with products I really love. Adore this. I also really like this YSL touche eclat, but it comes second to photo op. Always.
For a shadow base, it doesn’t get better than this urban decay primer. In my opinion there is NOTHING better than this. It lasts all day, through sweat and everything. Perfection.
And since I try every mascara on the market, I have to tell you that this MAC zoom lash is STILL my favorite. Been using it since 2008 and I always come back to it. Again, the reviews on this are very split but I flipping love it. It beats all mascara for me, including the benefit they’re real! and everything else that promises to lengthen and thicken and grow your lashes to freakish standards.
Alright. Indulge me. What are you freaking out over right now?
92 Comments on “Makeup Basics Stuff I’m Totally Obsessed With Right Now.”
Have you ever checked out Birchbox?! You would love it!
Yes! :)
I LOVE Neutrogena products. Their Healthy Lengths mascara is my absolute favourite!
And I *always* flip over nail polish. Every day of my life.
I know its not on my face but I’m digging Jamberry for my nails. It really does last a long time.
I am currently OBSESSED with the Bumble & Bumble Invisible Hairdresser’s Oil. I could write a love song to it (seriously). Buy it now, thank me later :)
I use this coffee bean eye cream by 100% Pure and love it. Fabulous for dark circles, especially if you keep it in the fridge. (Weird, I know.) And its totally natural, which makes me happy.
I’ll tell you what I am obsessed with – Rodan + Fields anti-age and reverse regimens. They are absolutely the best! Talk about glowing skin, free of sun damage and skin as smooth as silk.
The Urban Decay primer is definitely a must have! Its awesomeness never ceases to amaze me!
Nars Matte Lip Pencils..OMG the colors are amaze. And if you’re not feeling the matte look, just swipe some gloss (midnight cowboy, perhaps??) over it and it’s all shiny and sparkly.
Also, they’re not drying, which I looooove.
Mac Naked Lunch eyeshadow. Great for all over from lid to brow when I don’t feel like doing crazy eyeshadow layering.
And I always love Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner pencils. There are no other for me.
Those are my favorite eyeliners too! The only ones I’ve used for at least 5 years. My cousin has used naked lunch for ages and raves about it… it just doesn’t look right on my skin tone. wah wah!
hmmm… I LOVE the smashbox photo finish primer… all of them (I use the bronze tinted AND the highlighty one together), but I may have to try the urban decay? better than smashbox?
oh duh, looking at it now. eyeshadow primer. hmm… going to look for an UD face primer…
Well I’m a HUGE fan of the Naked eye shadow palette even though I definitely don’t know what I’m doing with all those colors. I recently tried Benefit’s They’re Real! and I didn’t understand what the hubbub was about either. Sure, it’s a bit thicker but not as amazing as some reviews made it seem. I’m still on the lookout for my go-to mascara so it looks like I’ll be giving MAC a try!
Tarte Amazonian Clay Illuminating Serum.
http://tartecosmetics.com/tarte-item-Amazonian-clay-illuminating-serum
I hate using things on my face too, and never wear liquid foundation or anything liquid really except moisturizer…until this. I am a sucker for any cosmetic sets at Ulta or Sephora that come in makeup bags, and I had bought a Tarte kit mainly for the bag and to try their mascara. There was a small trial size of this illuminating serum, so I tried it and loved it! I smooth it over my face and it gives me such a glow. As long as my skin’s not in one of it’s-breaking-out-like-I’m-13-instead-of-31 phases, I can sometimes get away with just this stuff on and no concealer, bronzer, or blush over it!
I am obsessed with make up as well, big time.
Right now I am loving:
MAC Pigment in Rose (so pretty for blue eyes, and a great pink for fall)
Too Faced Eyeshadow Insurance, talk about holding onto eyeshadow all night. I wore loose craft, as in NOT EVEN MAKE UP, glitter on my lids for New Years and it was still there in the morning after I woke up.
Have you tried MAC’s Haute Mascara? Its awesome if you like thick lashes. Even Maybelline’s Falsies mascara is great, the waterproof really keeps the curl.
Admittedly, I need to get more into skin care. I am all about the color!
Make Up Forever Liquid Makeup. It’s so light that i figured it wouldn’t do anything for me, but the coverage is amazing.
You, Miss Jessica, you have gotten me on Say Yes to Tomatoes Facial Scrub! Tis wonderful! I have really sensitive skin and it doesn’t dry it out or immflame it. Loves. Thanks for the recc.
Bought my first NARS lipstick this weekend- Dolce Vita. The reviews from MUA convinced me and it’s the perfect daytime shade-a tiny bit darker than my lip color and goes on soo light and smooth.
I swear by the UD eyeshadow primer. I stock up on it every time it goes on sale
Wow, I thought I was the only person on the planet that uses Kiehl’s avocado eye cream! Been using it for over 8 years, love it! Also a great lip stain that stays on all day is Stila Lip Stain. If you hate looking bare on the lips like i do, and I’m a lip glass freak, you’ll love this to set the stage. Thanks for all the suggestions, love love talking make-up!
I don’t have any current obsessions at the moment except for African Black Soap. I’ve been ordering it through http://www.savvyboheme.com but then got a sample in one of my (3) sample boxes last night that you can buy at Whole Foods. Slightly drying, but it helps my skin stay pretty clear so it’s worth just a little more moisturizer.
But your post just reminded me of a conversation I had 10 years ago with some co-workers. I had just purchased Chanel’s Total Eye Lift about six months before my wedding. When i confessed my purchase to my coworkers, which was about 8 months after the purchase, my coworker said, “Yeah, but Mo, you don’t need to use eyecream.” To which I responded, “But would you be saying that if I wasn’t already using it?”
I’ve always wondered that.
And PS– I still firmly believe that that eye cream was the best I’ve ever used, $100 or not.
I suck as a female, because I am a big drug store makeup kind of gal. BUT, I’m actually pretty sold on Clinique mascara.
Nothing wrong with that! Trust me, I wish I could stay the heck out of Sephora and Ulta.
Hurraw! Balm! It is seriously the best balm I have ever tried. I can’t use anything else now. I’ve also recently discovered Tarte products. I love natural, cruelty free aspect of the companies too. :)
If you ever used bronzer, Benefit Hoola is the best, It’s the only bronzer I’ve tried that isn’t either too orangey or shimmery…I sweat by it.
Bobbi Brown “Stone” is a fantastic neutral eyeshadow for the evening. I would call it Naked Dinner- ha!
Yeah, I should probably proof things before I submit them.
Smashbox photo op is one of my favorite products. I seriously go through it at the speed of light! Also, I’m really loving Benefit’s “They’re Real” mascara lately–it’s awesome!
-Alyssa
The Glossy Life
I need to start investing in some good skin care products! I don’t have an established routine, I just use the basics from the drugstore. The Kiehl’s cream looks good though, I’ve heard so many positives from their company. I’m currently loving my bareMinerals bronzer because it doesn’t over power my pale face and it makes me look like I actually spent time outside this summer (I didn’t…), AND Urban decay primer is always a must. I’m a fan of the occasional beauty related posts!
Nothing better than UD Primer Potion… it literally changed my life. Love it.
As for the serum… have you tried the Estee Lauder Idealist? I used to use it all the time (back when I worked in the cosmetics department at Macy’s and got free samples of it all the time) and loved it. I miss it… I use like 50 different products on my face every day, but that’s one that I still miss. I’m an esthetician and a total makeup/skin care snob, and I loved Idealist. <3
:o)
Love love LOVE UD primer potion, it even stays put on my oil slick eyelids in the summer.
I’ve never tried the MAC BB cream, is it moisturizing? I use the Boscia BB cream but want to switch things up.
If you like Kiehl’s avocado eye cream, you’ll like their Ultra Facial Cream as well, it’s creamy and creamy without being too heavy. As far as serums go, the Midnight Recovery Concentrate and the Abyssine Serum + are amazing.
It’s not *not* moisturizing, but I wouldn’t say it is moisturizing. Does that make sense? I wouldn’t use it without moisturizer, but it doesn’t dry out my skin either.
Yeah that totally makes sense. I find the Boscia to be drying around the nose area even after slathering on moisturizer. Hopefully MAC does a better job!
Thank yooou :)
As a girly girl I love me some beauty products, but as a recently informed consumer (over the last few years), I’m having trouble using the products I used to because of all the toxic ingredients! Did you know that companies re-formulate their products to sell in Europe where they have banned over 1300 ingredients but the US has only banned 9. If they can re-formulate for Europe, why not for us? The theory that “it’s just a little bit” of a bad ingredient doesn’t hold up with me since we women use a LOT of different products every single day so if they all have a little bit of bad stuff and we’re using them every day then that’s going to add up over the long run. They have done studies that discovered newborn babies already have like 300 toxic chemicals in their systems! (I’m going from memory so my numbers may be off, if you want more info I’ll track stuff down for you)
I’d rather err on the safe side so I’m hunting for more natural products these days which is harder than you would think! If you want more info you can check out http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ (search by brands to see what they score, low score = good, the database has its faults and is not the final authority, just one of the things I use when looking into a product), http://www.enviroblog.org/2010/04/spring-cleaning-for-cosmetics.html, and http://safecosmetics.org/.
It’s all about being an informed consumer and then deciding what level or risk you think there is and how much risk you’re willing to take. It totally sucks we even have to be concerned about this!! Only telling you because I luv ya, even though I’ve never met ya :)
http://www.arbonne.com
i knew nothing about toxins until i discovered this. holy. geez. i’m still a sucker for some things that have lots of toxins (no good, i knoooow). but every time i read a comment like yours i get all paranoid about what i’m putting on my skin.
I’ve been loving FAB’s Ultra Repair Cream for dry or itchy skin when it crops up (on face or limbs, etc) and Vichy’s skin tone corrector for sun damage and spots :) For colored cosmetics, totally in love with Armani lipsticks!
smashbox photo finish primer is a godsend!
MAKE-UP STUFF!!!!!!
Ok now that I’ve calmed down, I’m really loving:
Miracle worker am & pm retinol pads from philosophy (start early!)
Purity face cleanser from philosophy
Olek Hendrickson truth serum
Clinique moisture surge cream/gel is my soul mate….don’t tell my fiancé!
Estée Lauder idealist eye illuminator, for my dark circles
Clinique city block SPF 25
Bliss oxygen mask cleanser
Stila mango crush lip and cheek stain
Josie Maran argan oil
UD pigment eyeshadow in fishnet stockings
And finally ….. ahava
I’m a total mascara junkie, and am currently over the moon with Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash. Perfect brush? Check. I can put on 4 coats with no clumpy spider leg lashes? Check. Doesn’t smudge? CHECK.
Also, can we just nominate coconut oil as the best thing to ever happen to my skin?!?
I’m a lover of all things Urban Decay. Love. The. Stuff. And I need to try that Kiehl’s stuff; it looks awesome. Right now I’m freaking out over Origins A Perfect World SPF moisturizer. Like you, I never wear foundation and never have and I love this lightweight moisturizer. It’s awesome! Nothing beats a lightweight moisturizer or straight up sheer SPF for me.
Zoom lash was never my thing. Splurge is Lancome Definicils but really, Maybeliine classic pink & green tube is my scene. At least that’s ONE thing in my life that’s cheap. lol
The Kiehl’s hair avocado deeply reparitive tub of conditioner in the same line is.amazing. Been using it on and off for 5 yrs and every time I think I dont need to spend the money, 6 mos goes by and i dont use it and then pick some up again and it’s like yes, it’s magic all over.
I hate putting stuff on my face too. Bare is best but good to know about the Mac BB and that you can deal with it. I want to try it!
have you ever tried Tarte mascara? i swear that’s the only one that works for my pin-straight lashes! They make my lashes really full and long :)
Oh, and I’m running to Kiehl’s tomorrow to get that avocado eye cream. I have dryness around my eyes & I think that’ll help immensely!
I use the Tarte tinted moisturizer every day and I’m freaking in love. I’m not much of a makeup gal (just the Tarte and some mascara everyday) but this stuff is seriously addicting! It’s the perfect amount of coverage without looking like I have anything on, plus it has SPF. It’s $40 a tube (not really a tube but for lack of a better word) and it’s lasted me 8 months so far.
I looooooooove China Glaze nail polish in I’m Not Lion because it’s gold. And sparkly. And makes my nails look like 10 gold disco balls…who can say no to that? (China Glaze was buy 2 get one free at my Ulta last weekend…which is totally an excuse for you to go check it out!)
I’m also in love with Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains. They are, like, really amazing.
Have you ever used eyelash primer? I’m blonde and don’t have real long eyelashes and it makes such a difference! I put it on before my regular mascara and bam! my eyelashes look amazing. I like the one by Tarte.
I am a total makeup junkie, but the only thing I absolutely CANNOT live without is Laura Mercier Patchouli stick gloss. It looks like a lipstick but goes on glossy and shiny (but in no way ‘goopy’ at all-it’s sooo soft and smooth) and it’s the perfect nude-ish color. I should own stock in that stuff!
This post is great. Just in time too as I’ve been searching for some new good products. Just purchased Clinique’s 7 day scrub that I got as a sample last year – I ran out fast and I just couldn’t do without it. LOVE it.
Khiel’s avacado cream and lip balm are both on my lists to get!
Other than that, I’ve honestly been using Oil of Olay spf 15 moisterizer since I was 12 – great for daily use, but I’m looking for something thicker for nighttime and our harsh MN winters.
Just got NARS illuminator in Orgasm which I love, but it doesn’t stay on too long and MAC’s paint pots as eyeshadow bases are wonderful!
Have you tried Tarte? I’m all about natural products and I absolutely love this one. I use the primer and the mascara.
http://www.sephora.com/product/productDetail.jsp?skuId=862417
I love love love Arbonne makeup primer and their foundation and all of their skin care products… my skin has never looked better. It’s a direct sales company so if you’ve never heard of it, I wouldn’t be surprised but seriously… amazing.
also… I’m so in love with Benefit’s benetint lip stain in rose. i bought it like a month ago and I’ve worn it eeeeveryday since. it stays on forever and it gives my lips this gorgeous just barely pink color. PLUS it barely looks like I’ve even touched the bottle.
This is such a great post. Do you know how many times I stand in Ulta and don’t know what to buy or buy stuff that I totally don’t like.
I love the review and suggestions.. thanks
I JUST started using Benefit hello flawless–oxygen wow brightening make-up…I L-O-V-E it! I’m a foundation girl, and this one feels like nothing to me. I also love Benefit PORE-fessional primer, It’s silken goodness. I’m also addicted to Dior Show mascara, have been for days. AND, then, there’s the Clarisonic MiA, which makes my skin feel so fresh.
I’m gonna check out that eye cream for sure…I’ve been on the hunt for one.
Smashbox BB cream! Love it. And under I use a good Vitamin B moisturizer (it controls oil, as I was blessed with oily AND dry skin). And… If you have trouble skin, you should totally splurge on a chemical peel monthly… I have eliminated about half of the products I used to have to use.
My big splurge is always on mascara and I’ve tried tons. I always go back to my old stand-by of L’Oreal Voluminous. It’s the perfect combo of thickening, lengthening, and lash separater. I love it!
Everything MAC, but especially Prep+Prime primer for mascara, it’s a amaze-balls. On a side note, don’t make me laugh, with, “I don’t like anything on my face, crap”. Wait til you youngins are in your 40’s, you will be posting questions about what is the heaviest most coverage make-up out there? Just don’t forget Bodyography Veil Foundation Primer, it is silicone based, fills in the lines like tar on concrete:). Makes foundation feel light as air. Poo-pooh me now, but cash in this stock lata,.
Ps. Please be my neighbor.
Thanks for this! I’ve been looking for a good day time moisturizer.
Love love kiehls avocado eye cream…new favorite is ExfoliKate – seriously some of the best skin care but start with the exfoliator!! OMG..Amazing
http://www.sephora.com/kate-somerville?om_mmc=esv104035-GG&om_kwpur=110265482&ppc_crid=13902126257&site=us_search
You should try Mally mascara. Great rich color and builds up skimpy lashes without looking clumpy. Think it might only be available through QVC—-totally addicted to it!
you should be using Peter Thomas Roth. HIs stuff is AMAZING. The un-wrinkle serum actually ELIMINATED my forehead and eye wrinkles after a month of use. They have a turbo charged serum that i’m dying to try. http://peterthomasroth.com/p-256-new-un-wrinkle-kit.aspx
I did a post on the regular serum: http://www.surlykitchen.com/2011/09/my-fountain-of-youth.html
I am OBSESSED with Lancome mascara and mascara primer. I got it in a bonus from Nordstrom (Love Those!!) I’ve tried so many mascaras and this combo makes my lashes look so full and long! Another huge plus is that it doesn’t flake or smear like a lot of others I’ve tried. I’m also in love with the Nars Illuminator sticks:)