I used to be a hardcore beauty junkie. It all started with clear mascara, since my mother wouldn’t allow me to wear “real” make-up until Middle School and even then I got a lot of raised eyebrows. Perhaps it was that reason that for the next 10 years I attempted every beauty trend under the sun. I did the dark mauve lipstick of the mid-90’s and then immediately jumped on the glitter bandwagon of the late 90’s to early 2000’s. It wasn’t about trying to beautify myself but more of a creative outlet to experiment. Gold liquid eyeliner, check, purple eyeshadow well really any color eyeshadow, check, and of course I owned copious amounts of nail polish. While I probably still have a bulging cosmetic bag, I really only end up wearing the same neutral stuff everyday and especially when it comes to skincare, I’ve got my routine down pat. So whether you’re looking for something new to try, or a specific skin fixer, I’ve got years of trial and error to share my favorite products that have stayed in the rotation.
Concealer
It’s a fact, most of us don’t get enough sleep, myself very much included, but that doesn’t mean our late nights have to show up on our face. Under circles are a troublesome problem for everyone young and old, and the easiest way to give your appearance an instant pick-me up is under eye concealer. Being fair skinned, dark areas show up that much more on my skin but now I have a secret weapon. Amazing Concealer to Go from Sephora. It packs quite a punch even using very small amounts. It comes in every skin tone and covers up dark circles flawlessly without looking caked on. You can build the type of coverage you want and it also works for blemishes. If they every discontinue this product, I will picket outside of Sephora.
Face Wash
You’re probably thinking to yourself 50 bucks for a cleanser, has she drank the Kool-aid and fallen off the deep end? And I understand it sounds ridiculous. I’ve been using drugstore face wash for years and it dries out my skin every time. With the exception of Cetaphil. But I digress. The only way your skin will survive this winter is exfoliation. If you’ve got sensitive skin like myself those microbeads or apricot seeds or whatever they call them tends to be a little harsh. That’s why this rice-based microfoliant from Dermalogica works so well. A got a bottle of this stuff in a gift bag and have been hooked every since. It really does last a long time, you only need a thumb size worth of this powder and it turns into some magical cleansing paste that instantly brightens your complexion. I would honestly testify in court on the effectiveness of this stuff. If you want to try it out first, it also comes in travel size. Even my Mom uses it, and you know what they say, Mother knows best.
Foundation
I first discovered Kevyn Aucoin products when I saw his amazing celebrity transformations in a magazine from his book Making Faces. He transformed celebrities into old Hollywood icons and even made over his family and friends. He seemed to have a real grasp on what worked for everyday women. So naturally when his cosmetics line came out I wanted to give it go. And I was not disappointed. His soy-based foundation feels like a second skin. It has great coverage and has that “dewy” finish you always ready about in lady mags. A close runner-up is Stila’s Illuminating Liquid Foundation. It’s also great for winter because it has a moisturizer and highlighter built in. Plus it never gets greasy and makes your skin look like it’s been Photo-Shopped in person.
Moisturizer
At one of my old beauty writing gigs I was given a free jar of some pretty pricey moisturizer. It was actually made by a vineyard, cost over $100 and came in a fancy ceramic jar. It looked quite out of place next to the rest of bargain basement beauty buys. I stretched out this lotion for a year, it was like caviar in a jar and I swore I would never find anything like it again. Until now, with Yes to Carrots Moisturizing Day Cream. It was an impulse buy at the drugstore and now I keep it stocked at all times. I always knew carrots were good for your eyesight and if you ate too many of them, your skin looks like it’s been hitting the electric beach too many times, but man it works wonders for your skin too. Its rich formula keeps skin hydrated all day and never gets oily or starts to flake. It’s that perfect combination that keeps me coming back every time.
