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Things I Can't Live Without: Beauty Essentials

Thursday, August 25, 2011



I don't write much about beauty -- truthfully, I can change my shoes three times per day, but I've changed my beauty routine about three times total. (When it works, it works!) That said, I swear by these six products. But tell me: What beauty buy do you swear by? (Because you never know. I might be ready for a change.)

Clockwise from top left:
1. Bare Escentuals BareMinerals powder foundation: I can't deal with heavy, sticky foundation, but I'm old enough to need decent coverage for splotches and blemishes. This powder foundation is as good as they say: Plus, top it off with a layer of their MineralVeil top powder for that dewy, flawless finish.

2. Nars Orgasm Blush. Another standby, but there's a reason for that: Nothing else gives me that freshly flushed look.

3. Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner in Black Plum Ink. Eyeliner is one of my more recent beauty discoveries -- I never realized before how a careful top smudge could really make eyes pop. I love the black plum ink color — somewhere between brown and black, and very pretty. Plus: No raccoon eyes!

4. Benefit Erase Paste. Boy, have I tried a lot -- a lot, a lot -- of concealers. Nothing works quite so well as this one for undereye circles.

5. Kai Fragrance Oil. I'm not a heavy perfume wearer, so a dab of this clean, pretty fragrance oil is just enough.

6. Soap & Glory eye cream. Just a touch of this creamy, slightly shimmery cream helps tired undereye skin suddenly glow. I'm tempted to smear it all over.

Now it's your turn...

10 comments :

Elle said...

Products I swear by: CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume mascara and Loreal Lineur Intense liquid eyeliner. And argan oil also!

Hyperchondriac said...

i swear by the Sugar lip balm with spf, and the FaceShop Flebeaute Collagenic Collagen 70 Cream.

DWJ said...

Swear by Bare Escentuals Buxom lash mascara, Cover Girl Lip Perfection in Divine and NYX cream blush - best $5 for blush you will EVER spend. I change my beauty routine daily!

Erin said...

I used to be a die-hard for that bobbi brown eyeliner. One morning, I had a news segment at 6:40 a.m. and sleepily dabbed it on my lids. They immediately started tearing and turning red. I thought it was a retinal apocalypse until I realized I'd applied a sample of Chantecaille's clarifying clay mask instead. So now I use a pencil.

Cadence said...

Hey! Inspired by your post (and really meaning to have done one of these AGES ago), I blogged about my beauty essentials! Would you please check it out? http://fashionistaspy.blogspot.com/2011/08/beauty-essentials.html

Alison Santighian said...

I'm a recent Bobbi gel eyeliner convert myself. And my other new secret: a lavender and tea tree oil glycerin soap (gasp! yes I said "soap") I picked up in Cambridge. now idea what I'll do when it runs out.

Also have newly loved these "tube" eyeliners. No smudges or raccoon eyes there, either. Bobbi or the blinc one that came in the August birchbox (you do get birchbox, don't you?)

Elizabeth said...

I used to be a die hard Bare Minerals fan, but When they changed the lids, they cut the amount of product which didn't sit well with me. I started looking around and discovered a lot of new mineral makeup lines had developed and settled on Jane Iredale. I find it to be a better product all around.

Ms. Spinach said...

@Birdie -- I *also* hate the new lids! Maybe I need to check out Jane Iredale. Thanks for the tip!

Stickyheels said...

I swear by Amazing Cosmetics concealer. It is highly pigmented so you only need a TEENSY dab plus it blends really well.

The Laura Mercier eyelid base is great as well.

I recently started using the Hello Kitty brand stick blush and love it. I know, Hello Kitty. But whatever it's a great shade for me (Peachy) and it blends and stays and doesn't get dry or cakey.

I recently got the Blinc brand tube mascara (like Birdie mentioned) in my Birchbox and that stuff is GREAT. Loooooong, thin lashes. Just like I like 'em! :)

Rachel said...

I am so excited to try the Erase Paste!