Beauty Product Must-Haves - What's Yours?

[merilenda]

Moisturizer! Especially coming into the winter months. I usually apply MAC Studio Moisture Cream twice a day.

I'm a beauty nut, and I've tried tons of different mascaras, from Dior to CG. I've found that that's the ONE product that doesn't really vary that much depending on price level. I usually just go with a drugstore brand, especially since you have to replace it fairly frequently.

My favorite brand at Sephora is MUFE (Make-up Forever). I use MUFE HD foundation, which I highly recommend. I used to use UDPP, but I now use a MAC paint pot in Soft Ochre as my eyeshadow base every single day, which is sad because I have a ton of colored bases that I'm usually too lazy to use. It's the perfect base for my skintone.

 

[Bliss]

Ohhhh fun! OK, I have a lot but I'm a product junkie!

Shiseido eyelash curler. I like this better than the holy grail Shu Uemura one for some reason! Japonesque mini curler for the outside eyelashes that are hard to get to.

Tweezerman tweezers for plucking stray eyebrow hairs and the little Tweezerman kit for clipping any crazy cuticles.

I love BaByliss hot rollers for hair - doesn't damage hair but gives you long lasting big bouncy curls for long hair

Skin care: I use everything from La Mer and Sisley to Origins. Lately I've been finding that my Origins cream beats my higher end skin care products so I've been using it more. Specifically, I love the Perfect World White Tea cream that I got as a gift. It just melts into the skin. Makes you wonder why the other products cost so much! And no parabens!

Foundation: I mix Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation into moisturizer for a light dewy base. It's so light!

Eyeshadows: Love love NARS for smoky eyes: Night Porter and Night Flight are my faves. I recently got NARS Cyprus (light gold) and MAC Tan Pigment (sparkly peach nude) because I read Kim Kardashian uses them and I love her eye makeup. NARS duo in Pandora (standard black and white) you will use forever with NARS Cordura (good brown duo) - they last & last and if you tightline, they stay in your waterline really well. You can also use it for brow powder! My favorite kohl pencil of all time is Chanel Marine (dark navy, used on Angelina Jolie in Taking Lives - so pretty on her!) and basic Noir. These also stay really well in your inner rims and are very creamy.

Powder: T. LeClerc in Banane. I like it in pressed form - it's expensive but is really worth it. MAC blot powder is a pretty good substitute to keep the oilies away! Ben Nye Neutral Set is another good standby for translucent powder.

Lips: MAC Stripdown liner and Lancome Juicy Tube in Tickled Pink. I'm never without my nude MAC Lust lip gloss. I'm a huge lip product junkie and I always have several lipsticks and glosses in my bag. MAC's SPF lip conditioner in Petting Pink is a staple. Feels so yummy on the lips and is a very sheer pretty pink!

Lashes: individuals for special events and Dior Show mascara, L'Oreal Voluminous or MAC Fibre Rich Lash.

I use a face wash that I order from Acme.org. It gets the makeup off so well and has great "slip" - not irritating and DH uses it, too. I always hear great things about Cetaphil but it leaves my skin feeling waxy!

I like OPI nailpolish - Malaysian Mist is my fave. It's a pretty sheer pink.

NARS eye makeup remover or Lancome eye makeup remover are great!

Can I add at least 8-10 hours of sleep a night to the list? It's a beauty essential, no? LOL

Hahahaha, that's about it! Sounds like a lot but I rotate and am always trying new things, too. That was fun!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I am a Sephora junkie too!! I have about a 1000 beauty points that I have been saving,waiting for something really good!!!

Nice...I ususally use my points as they get to 100, but once hung onto them till reaching 400. The gal in Sephora gave me a look like I was really weird for having so many points sitting there lol

 

[luv2sparkle]

Heck no, MC, sometimes if you have a lot you can get something you really want to try either free or really cheap. If I buy something
at the local JC Penny that has Sephora inside, I even call the number to make sure my points get added!

 

[Indylady]

The Clarisonic, and this http://www.thebodyshop-usa.com/face-eye-treatments?&ingredientId=&selectedHowMany=20&selectedSortBy=outOfStock,marketingPriority&viewAll=true..

 

[artdecogirl]

Avon Nurtura replenishing cream and Loreal infallible foundation, must haves !

 

[reader]

My skin hates me.
Cetaphil or Dr. Bronner's Hemp castile soap, and Metrocream for my face
Avalon Organics for my hair, with any spray leave in conditioner for my hair

I get cysts in my eyes from cosmetics so I stopped wearing them.
Lip color is kinda pointless without eyes.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Reader - you can find a shade of lipstick that brings out your eye color! Like for me, I have green eyes and wear a med pink (MACs Sweetie) and it really compliments my eye color. I can get away without eye makeup when wearing it.

 

[Scorpioanne]

I have a huge collection of Cliniques stuff that I am really happy with but could probably easily use another brand. What I absolutely love for the control of it is the cake eyeliner they make that I buy when I go to the states as they don't sell it here in Canada. The brush is quite short which I thin gives great control wieh you are lining and you add your own water to get it to the consistency you want. I use all kinds of thier lotions and potions for moisturising and anti-aging which I think must work as I look ten years younger than my age.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I have a huge collection of Cliniques stuff that I am really happy with but could probably easily use another brand. What I absolutely love for the control of it is the cake eyeliner they make that I buy when I go to the states as they don't sell it here in Canada. The brush is quite short which I thin gives great control wieh you are lining and you add your own water to get it to the consistency you want. I use all kinds of thier lotions and potions for moisturising and anti-aging which I think must work as I look ten years younger than my age.

Scorpioanne - which Clinique eye cream(s) do you like?

 

[Bunny007]

Undereye concealer: Lancome Effacernes Undereye Concealer
Mineral foundation powder: Laura Mercier
Eyeline: Lancome Precision Point Eyeliner (liquid), Urban Decay 24/7 (pencil)
Mascara: Dior Dior Show
Eyeshadow: Dior 5-Color Shadows
Lipstick: Dior
Moisturizer: Shiseido Super Revitalizing Cream

But if I were stuck on a desert island with only one beauty product, it would most definitely be TWEEZERS. Any kind, as long as it keeps my Bert from Sesame Street-Style unibrow at bay

 

[Amber St. Clare]

I lover talking about cosmetics!

I will NEVER be without ISOMERS skincare. I've been using it for 14 years now and my skin has never looked better. I have no wrinkles, not even crows feet. Loss of tone {can't bring myself to say sagging } is my issue. I use the R pur series and the Fast Lift Eye Serum religiously. Their neck cream helps with the turkey neck saggy look---it's not a miracle worker, but it helps. Honestly ladies, I would go without food if I had to to get this line.

I love to play with make-up. If I am in a hurry I will swipe some Halo on my face. It's a wonderfully moisturizing powder that doesn't cake or settle in smile lines. I recently purchased Sisley's liquid foundation in the palest color and almost swooned with the awesomeness of the coverage--so creamy yet light.

Chanel is it for me with the blushes--I'm currently using Pink Explosion or BeBop. For times I need a peachier color I use Nars "O" {I don't think I can type the full name". I also like Smashbox's O Glow. Geurlain's Meteorites is a beautiful brightener.

Can ANY perfume be better than the ORIGINAL Chloe?

I forgot about eyeshadow--I am currently using Chanel's Mystique Quad--two browns--one a coppery and one a deep brown with a pinkish highlighter and one silvery. I don't use the silver at all. I also have the Kahki and Clair. The LeStylo Pencils are the absolute BOMB. I have oily lids and NOTHING ever stays on my lids, but these do--Cassis {a plum}, Jade Black and Marine. I bought the Mally TSV last month from OVC and have the most beautiful purple shadow. Usually purple makes my look like I was punched in the eys but this shade really accentuates the color of my eyes.

Mascara--nothing but Fiberwig.

 

[katamari]

I buy most of my beauty products out of habit and not loyalty. The clear exception is my GHD flat iron.

 

[Steel]

I love the No.7 range over here and pretty much have all of it (with one already waiting as a spare!). They also do points and vouchers (Squeel) so it is really easy to buy the 'latest' product.

As far a must have goes. It is eyelash curlers, black mascara & eye liner.

Oooh but I do love my body moisturiser too - the body shop Shea butter. I slather the stuff on and it smells soooo good.

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Mmm I just had a beauty "blunder" of sorts yesterday.

So I found my favorite Aveeno chapstick on Amazon and got 2 and got them shipped via Amazon Prime. Went shopping at a department store and stopped by the Clinique counter. Got a anti-acne toner (I never use it but I figure I should since my new bangs can irritate my forehead and I don't want to break out), and got talked into buying one of their lip glosses in Currant. Got home, remembered I had gotten a lip gloss sample from Clinique a while back, pulled it out....yep, EXACT same gloss, in Currant. Now I have two, and I barely use lip gloss! Plus I had thrown out the box and receipt by the time I realized this. Sigh.

I just ordered from Sephora a Frederic Fekkai shampoo (love FF and Phyto, but I like FF more) for colored/damaged/dry hair (yay...winter). Also ordered a couple Sephora OPI nail polishes (I love bright colors on toes), and a cuticle cream which I've realized lately that I REALLY need! Plus I have the Make Up Forever HD powder coming in the next couple days, with a Sephora brush (shout out to Autumnnovember for pointing me in the right direction on that one!).

And my mom wants a Clarisonic now

 

[reader]

Reader - you can find a shade of lipstick that brings out your eye color! Like for me, I have green eyes and wear a med pink (MACs Sweetie) and it really compliments my eye color. I can get away without eye makeup when wearing it.

Oh? I had not considered it. My eyes are kinda chameleon, a sort of greenish slate when I get enough rest, grey when I don't, and blue when I'm angry. (Or so my boyfriend says LOL)

 

[iLander]

Okay, I find it odd that there is so little mention of PRIMER . . .

Primer makes your makeup stay on so much longer. I live in a hot area and my makeup would just melt off without it! My eyeshadow no longer creases, the color stays bright, my undereye concealer stays color true, too. I use it on my whole face and it's great stuff. Tips: your face needs to be clean when putting it on, then put your makeup on when the primer is just barely dry. Makeup Sticks like magic, all day long!

Smashbox Photofinish has various versions for different skin types, but at $40, it's a bit pricey. If you have the budget, it's excellent, your face looks airbrushed when you're done. I've never used the tinted, but the plain original version was very good.

In an effort to save some $$, I went to the Revlon Beyond Natural and it's about 80% as good as the Photofinish. But for $9, it's so much cheaper, it's worth it. It doesn't hold colors quite as true as the Smashbox, but it is a little more moisturizing for my skin.

My DD swears by Urban Decay eye shadow primer, and her eye makeup looks perfect all day long, even when she does fancy cat's eyes and stuff.

So, Ladies, Consider Trying a Primer.

 

[iLander]

SPECIAL NOTE FOR OLDER LADIES THAT DON'T WANT TO LOOK OL (old lady):

Pink!

I've read this in various books and articles, and it is so true! Pink makes you look younger. There are orangey-pinks and blue-pinks, one or the other of the 2 tones will work for you, I bet!

I use a Dior blue-pink lipstick and a stila light pink eyeshadow, then a sephora medium pink blush. Go to the nearest Sephore, try various pinks (not too pale, though) and see if it works for you. If it's working, you'll suddenly notice your face brighten up. If it's too dark, the effect will be too "baby-doll" and your overall skin tone will look the same.

Pink eyeshadow is also FAB for BLUE EYES, they look so much bluer!

Also, for those crow's feet, try ROC Deep Wrinkle Night Repair. I've used it for about a year now, and it is really good. I don't have crow's feet anymore! It took about a month, I rub it in the corners of my eyes (careful! NOT in your eyes) every night, and they are GONE.

So, when I tell people that I'm 38 (I'm not ) they are wondering if maybe I am . . .

 

[Scorpioanne]

I have a huge collection of Cliniques stuff that I am really happy with but could probably easily use another brand. What I absolutely love for the control of it is the cake eyeliner they make that I buy when I go to the states as they don't sell it here in Canada. The brush is quite short which I thin gives great control wieh you are lining and you add your own water to get it to the consistency you want. I use all kinds of thier lotions and potions for moisturising and anti-aging which I think must work as I look ten years younger than my age.

Scorpioanne - which Clinique eye cream(s) do you like?

I like "All About Eyes Rich" and "Repairwear Intensive Eye Cream". I use either and love them both. I use them 2x a day.

 

[packrat]

I ordered samples of some mineral makeup yesterday, Meow Cosmetics and Alima Pure. Got samples of the mineral primer and finishing powder as well. Fingers crossed the pales are pale enough and not pink/orange.

 

[Scorpioanne]

I have a huge collection of Cliniques stuff that I am really happy with but could probably easily use another brand. What I absolutely love for the control of it is the cake eyeliner they make that I buy when I go to the states as they don't sell it here in Canada. The brush is quite short which I thin gives great control wieh you are lining and you add your own water to get it to the consistency you want. I use all kinds of thier lotions and potions for moisturising and anti-aging which I think must work as I look ten years younger than my age.

Scorpioanne - which Clinique eye cream(s) do you like?

I like "All About Eyes Rich" and "Repairwear Intensive Eye Cream". I use either and love them both. I use them 2x a day.

What I didn't say that I should, especially as it puts things in perspective, is that I live in Saskatchewan Canada and our climate is harsh, very harsh - we can get abot +30 celcius in the summer and below -30 Celcius with lots of wind in the winter. I think the Clinique must work wonders as I truly do look 40 years old at 51.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I have a huge collection of Cliniques stuff that I am really happy with but could probably easily use another brand. What I absolutely love for the control of it is the cake eyeliner they make that I buy when I go to the states as they don't sell it here in Canada. The brush is quite short which I thin gives great control wieh you are lining and you add your own water to get it to the consistency you want. I use all kinds of thier lotions and potions for moisturising and anti-aging which I think must work as I look ten years younger than my age.

Scorpioanne - which Clinique eye cream(s) do you like?

I like "All About Eyes Rich" and "Repairwear Intensive Eye Cream". I use either and love them both. I use them 2x a day.

What I didn't say that I should, especially as it puts things in perspective, is that I live in Saskatchewan Canada and our climate is harsh, very harsh - we can get abot +30 celcius in the summer and below -30 Celcius with lots of wind in the winter. I think the Clinique must work wonders as I truly do look 40 years old at 51.

Those are the two I use, except All About Eyes in the regular formula. My concealer glides on nicely with that cream. At night I use Repairwear. I was using the face repairwear but about a year ago switched to Peter Thomas Roth.

 

[Amber St. Clare]

Okay, I find it odd that there is so little mention of PRIMER . . .

Primer makes your makeup stay on so much longer. I live in a hot area and my makeup would just melt off without it! My eyeshadow no longer creases, the color stays bright, my undereye concealer stays color true, too. I use it on my whole face and it's great stuff. Tips: your face needs to be clean when putting it on, then put your makeup on when the primer is just barely dry. Makeup Sticks like magic, all day long!

Smashbox Photofinish has various versions for different skin types, but at $40, it's a bit pricey. If you have the budget, it's excellent, your face looks airbrushed when you're done. I've never used the tinted, but the plain original version was very good.

In an effort to save some $$, I went to the Revlon Beyond Natural and it's about 80% as good as the Photofinish. But for $9, it's so much cheaper, it's worth it. It doesn't hold colors quite as true as the Smashbox, but it is a little more moisturizing for my skin.

My DD swears by Urban Decay eye shadow primer, and her eye makeup looks perfect all day long, even when she does fancy cat's eyes and stuff.

So, Ladies, Consider Trying a Primer.

OK--I use Smashbox primer when I do use one, but is money is a consideration I know plenty of women who use this: Monistate chafing gel Yep, Monistate Chafing Gel that you use on your lady bits. They swear by it. I just CAN'T bring myself to try it, but I thought I'd pass it along for you more adventurous ladies.

 

[dragonfly411]

I generally use my foundation as my primer for upper lid, it brightens my eyes up a bit and it really keeps my eye shadow on. Lower I just use a tiny teensy bit of concealer (I have bad circles anyways).

 

[kittybean]

Primer on my face usually makes me break out (especially Smashbox Photofinish, sadly), so instead, I use a self-tanning face lotion as my layer under my foundation.

On the other hand, I love eye makeup primer! I discovered it about two years ago, and it is amazing. I use TooFaced Shadow Insurance. For some reason, the formula for the Urban Decay Primer Potion stings my eyelids a little. It's crazy how the primer makes my eye shadow stay exactly how I applied it originally until I'm ready to take it off. It makes the shadow appear more pigmented, too.

 

[soocool]

Okay, I find it odd that there is so little mention of PRIMER . . .

Primer makes your makeup stay on so much longer. I live in a hot area and my makeup would just melt off without it! My eyeshadow no longer creases, the color stays bright, my undereye concealer stays color true, too. I use it on my whole face and it's great stuff. Tips: your face needs to be clean when putting it on, then put your makeup on when the primer is just barely dry. Makeup Sticks like magic, all day long!

Smashbox Photofinish has various versions for different skin types, but at $40, it's a bit pricey. If you have the budget, it's excellent, your face looks airbrushed when you're done. I've never used the tinted, but the plain original version was very good.

In an effort to save some $$, I went to the Revlon Beyond Natural and it's about 80% as good as the Photofinish. But for $9, it's so much cheaper, it's worth it. It doesn't hold colors quite as true as the Smashbox, but it is a little more moisturizing for my skin.

My DD swears by Urban Decay eye shadow primer, and her eye makeup looks perfect all day long, even when she does fancy cat's eyes and stuff.

So, Ladies, Consider Trying a Primer.

OK--I use Smashbox primer when I do use one, but is money is a consideration I know plenty of women who use this: Monistate chafing gel Yep, Monistate Chafing Gel that you use on your lady bits. They swear by it. I just CAN'T bring myself to try it, but I thought I'd pass it along for you more adventurous ladies.

I bought 2 of them when Ulta had them at 20% off a couple of months ago! Otherwise, I use the Flawless Finish Primer from Prescriptives. For me a little goes a long way!

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Why oh why didn't I see this before I placed a huge order on sephora?!?!?! I found the discount online and it worked , but I could have saved like 30 minutes of googling!

I am normally a super minimalist person, don't wear much make-up, and just wash my face with water--my three non-negotiable products (I would probably go without food to make sure I had these!) are Eucerin (the heavy cream in a tub--generics are not the same!!!), burts bees peppermint lip balm, and olay regenerist day moisturizer (or the generic CVS-brand perfecting cream). My other two must haves are 8+ hours of sleep at night and a good eyebrow waxing every 2-3 months.

When I do wear make-up, my go-to products are:

1. Mac foundation (the sheerest face and body moisturizer, I don't remember what it is called)
2. Maybelline Great Lash mascara (Covergirl Lashblast for night time or when I am on-stage)
3. Clinique black honey almost lipstick, or cover girl lip stain (I just ordered a neutralTarte lipstain and the Urban Decay lipstain in greedy, can't wait to try them!)
4. Tarte cheek stain in blushing bride

This weekend, I bought some cheap drug store make-up AND placed a Sephora order AND ordered some more of my perfume (Vera Wang-the original scent). Ov vey! I am grounded from beauty purchases for the next 6-12 months! (but I am going to try to up my game and wear mascara, blush, and lipgloss every day. Yep, sad but true, that's upping my game

For my hair I am a wash and go girl, but I just cut 13 inches off this weekend into a long layered bob with side swept bangs. So, I now swipe some Rusk Wired product through damp hair in the morning. Part of my beauty buying spree was some hair products (a paste and a wax) to create more edgy texture, but I do LOVE the Wired!

Eeek-I feel like a 13 year old girl trying to figure out this beauty stuff

P.S. BLISS-I want you to give me a make-over!!! you know everything You are like my make-up hero

 

[Bunny007]

Ok, all you Sephora loving PSers- Did I miss the 10% off sale??? Is it happening right now? I'll be so disappointed if I miss it. I like to stop up on my favorites and it gives me a great excuse to buy a lot of make-up. It only happens like, twice a year, and it seems like half the time, I don't get the email alert.

 

[kittybean]

Ok, all you Sephora loving PSers- Did I miss the 10% off sale??? Is it happening right now? I'll be so disappointed if I miss it. I like to stop up on my favorites and it gives me a great excuse to buy a lot of make-up. It only happens like, twice a year, and it seems like half the time, I don't get the email alert.

It's going on right now, and it's 20% off anything and everything! I think it runs until tomorrow (11/2) or Wednesday (11/3). Some stores are honoring the discount, but unless you're a friend or family member of a Sephora employee, it's supposed to only be available online. Shipping is free if you spend $50.

ETA: Code is FF2010.

 

[Glitz]

I am a serious MAC addict! I have over 50 eyeshadows, countless quads and brush sets it's out of control, but I can't stop buying more! A lot of my make-up is just for fun too, like just going out in the evenings or weekends. My everyday make-up is very natural looking, I use shroom & mulch eyeshadows, mocha blush, and C-thru lipglass just to give any other mac addict an idea of my everyday look. It's hard to determine what I call "essentials", everyday I use creamy clay soap by "The Soap Works", marcelle moisturizer, mac concealer (the potent one in the eyeshadow like pot), mac bronzer, mac blush, eyebrows extended (but natural looking, the stop growing halfway), and of course my eyelashes have to be curled and coated with mascara.

I guess the essentials for me would be an eyelash curler (shu uemura by sephora is amazing!) and amazing mascara, the best one I have ever used and will only use now is "Tarte; lights camera lashes"!!! It's soooo amazing, it almost looks like my lashes could be fake when I wear it. A good lip gloss is also essential!

ETA: I think every woman should use an eyelash curler, it creates an instant hollywood look, I have about 10 curlers. I keep them everywhere, my car, (each) purse, bedroom, bathroom, office ... they're everywhere! And no you won't hurt your eye or loose your lashes, I've been curling them everyday for the last 12 years and my lashes are still long and intact.