Beauty Product Must-Haves - What's Yours?

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Glitz, I hate my eyelashes! Mine are super stick straight and look weird curled But I also have Asian eyes and I want to curl my lashes to make my eyes look bigger, but it's such a pain. Maybe I'm not doing it right? But I avoid curlers and mascara for this reason!

Everyone, take advantage of the Friends and Family while it lasts - I'm considering doing one more Sephora run even though I REALLY shouldn't just to use it!

 

[oranges]

Glitz, I hate my eyelashes! Mine are super stick straight and look weird curled But I also have Asian eyes and I want to curl my lashes to make my eyes look bigger, but it's such a pain. Maybe I'm not doing it right? But I avoid curlers and mascara for this reason!

Everyone, take advantage of the Friends and Family while it lasts - I'm considering doing one more Sephora run even though I REALLY shouldn't just to use it!

I just wanted to thank you, B.E.G, for the FF discount!!! I ordered a new B.E foundation and the delicate clarisonic brush head-- I'm giving my clarisonic another shot after it broke me out and the other brush head is just too harsh!

 

[hot.soup]

I have super faint brows and massive under eye circles so I can't live without a good brow darkener and concealer. I am only partially joking when I say that I'd leave the house without pants before I leave the house without concealer and brows.

I really like the Anastacia line of brow powders. They come in very natural shades, stay on all day, and are really easy to use - a few swipes with a small angled brush, and POW! I have facial expressions!

For concealer, I use Bare Escentuals foundation with a concealer brush everyday, and for the post-late night out under eye circles, I use the MAC potted concealer that several other PSers have mentioned.

 

[lizzyann]

Ok so I had to go to Sephora and take advantage of the friends and family discount!!! I ordered the Makeup Forever HD powder that a lot of people recommended (El and AN you have never steered me wrong!), a new eyelash curler, and Too Faced Shadow Insurance (thanks kittybean!) For anyone that uses the HD powder, do you just sweep it on after you are done with your foundation? Does it look white/chalky at all? I'm hoping it will help absorb some of the oilies!

Oh and two products I LOVE are Benefits Erase Paste! Great for under eye circles and anywhere that needs some brightening and Bobbi Brown's gel eyeliner!

 

[merilenda]

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.

Hi, Glitz! Nice to see a fellow MAC addict over here! I have a gift card that's been burning a hole in my wallet for a while. I might use it on some holiday sets, but haven't decided yet.

 

[oranges]

Ok so I had to go to Sephora and take advantage of the friends and family discount!!! I ordered the Makeup Forever HD powder that a lot of people recommended (El and AN you have never steered me wrong!), a new eyelash curler, and Too Faced Shadow Insurance (thanks kittybean!) For anyone that uses the HD powder, do you just sweep it on after you are done with your foundation? Does it look white/chalky at all? I'm hoping it will help absorb some of the oilies!

Oh and two products I LOVE are Benefits Erase Paste! Great for under eye circles and anywhere that needs some brightening and Bobbi Brown's gel eyeliner!

For the HD powder I use a big fluffly brush after I am done with most of my face make up (foundation, concealer, bronzer). I like to put a bit of blush on top afterwards since I don't want any little glitter particles to migrate when I put on the HD powder. You are going to LOVE it--- you will look supernaturally airbrushed

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Hey another question about the HD powder - can I just wear it alone? I don't wear foundation or anything other than a bit of pressed powder, but I was hoping this could replace the pressed powder. What do you guys think?

 

[Imdanny]

Shampoo, deodorant, and tooth paste. Kakui nut oil for dry skin in Hawaii. Yes, I use shampoo as soap. Pretty simple.

 

[that_someone_special]

MAC Haute & Naughty mascara... O M G

 

[oranges]

Hey another question about the HD powder - can I just wear it alone? I don't wear foundation or anything other than a bit of pressed powder, but I was hoping this could replace the pressed powder. What do you guys think?

Yes, absolutely. It looks great without foundation underneath if you have nice skin. I used to wear it with just bronzer when my skin wasn't a mess from the clarisonic for the past month.

 

[lizzyann]

Ok so I had to go to Sephora and take advantage of the friends and family discount!!! I ordered the Makeup Forever HD powder that a lot of people recommended (El and AN you have never steered me wrong!), a new eyelash curler, and Too Faced Shadow Insurance (thanks kittybean!) For anyone that uses the HD powder, do you just sweep it on after you are done with your foundation? Does it look white/chalky at all? I'm hoping it will help absorb some of the oilies!

Oh and two products I LOVE are Benefits Erase Paste! Great for under eye circles and anywhere that needs some brightening and Bobbi Brown's gel eyeliner!

For the HD powder I use a big fluffly brush after I am done with most of my face make up (foundation, concealer, bronzer). I like to put a bit of blush on top afterwards since I don't want any little glitter particles to migrate when I put on the HD powder. You are going to LOVE it--- you will look supernaturally airbrushed

Yay! Thanks oranges! I am super excited to get it!

 

[lizzyann]

Oranges, AUtumnnovember, and elrohwen, quick question on the HD Makeup forever....I have a brush that I love that I use for powder foundation, bronzer, or blush. Do you recommend me to get a new brush just to use with the HD? I know it is a whitish color so I didn't know if my other brush would alter it because there may be some pigment left on it after I apply foundation etc. Or do you think it is no biggie, and just use the same brush for all uses - HD, foundation, blush/bronzer? Thanks!!

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Hey another question about the HD powder - can I just wear it alone? I don't wear foundation or anything other than a bit of pressed powder, but I was hoping this could replace the pressed powder. What do you guys think?

Yes, absolutely. It looks great without foundation underneath if you have nice skin. I used to wear it with just bronzer when my skin wasn't a mess from the clarisonic for the past month.

Awesome! Mine is arriving tomorrow - so excited! What happened with the Clarisonic? I got the Mia about a week or two ago. It hasn't done any damage to my face (although good heavens it takes FOREVER to fully charge!) but I don't really see an improvement in my pores or anything either. Maybe my skin looks a bit brighter - hard to tell. It looks brighter when I use my Clinique facial mask/scrub.

 

[oranges]

Oranges, AUtumnnovember, and elrohwen, quick question on the HD Makeup forever....I have a brush that I love that I use for powder foundation, bronzer, or blush. Do you recommend me to get a new brush just to use with the HD? I know it is a whitish color so I didn't know if my other brush would alter it because there may be some pigment left on it after I apply foundation etc. Or do you think it is no biggie, and just use the same brush for all uses - HD, foundation, blush/bronzer? Thanks!!

I use the huge, fluffy MAC 134 brush and really like it. Make up forever also sells their own brush at sephora which I have heard excellent things about-- and it's cheaper than the MAC. I have separate brushes for everything since I like my colors to stay exactly where I put them as opposed to using a brush for bronzer and then blush and then having those pigments mixed in with the HD powder when you apply it last. Hope this helps!

 

[oranges]

Hey another question about the HD powder - can I just wear it alone? I don't wear foundation or anything other than a bit of pressed powder, but I was hoping this could replace the pressed powder. What do you guys think?

Yes, absolutely. It looks great without foundation underneath if you have nice skin. I used to wear it with just bronzer when my skin wasn't a mess from the clarisonic for the past month.

Awesome! Mine is arriving tomorrow - so excited! What happened with the Clarisonic? I got the Mia about a week or two ago. It hasn't done any damage to my face (although good heavens it takes FOREVER to fully charge!) but I don't really see an improvement in my pores or anything either. Maybe my skin looks a bit brighter - hard to tell. It looks brighter when I use my Clinique facial mask/scrub.

B.E.G, I can't wait to hear what you think about the powder-- I hope that you love it as much as I do ! I don't really know what my deal with the clarisonic is... but i was using the normal brush head and think that it was too rough on my skin so I just bought the delicate one and the difference in how it feels on my face is huge. The normal brush head felt scratchy and made my face red and the delicate one feels very gentle- almost like nothing at all. Hopefully it'll clear up -- if it doesn't I'm just going to be done with the clarisonic!

 

[charbie]

I can't believe I haven't posted here!
Ok, I love Aveda phomolient. It is a foam I put on my hair that makes it have a bit more body and thickness. Which brings me to my next item...a good, high quality blowdryer.
Neutrogena Oil Free Acne wash. It is the orange stuff...classic face wash. Keeps me clear, most of the time.
Incoco french manicure tips. Someone here suggested them....I love them!

 

[Bunny007]

Kittybean- Thanks for the code! I guess I should have paid more attention to B.E.G's originally post...

Now I'm all stocked up on moisturizer for the Winter I lived in Alaska for awhile and, since I kind of abandoned "fashion" while I was there, I invested all my time and money into skin creams. The weather there was so so cold, harsh, and DRY. Unfortunately for my wallet/fortunately for my face, I brought the obsession back with me.

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Kittybean- Thanks for the code! I guess I should have paid more attention to B.E.G's originally post...

Now I'm all stocked up on moisturizer for the Winter I lived in Alaska for awhile and, since I kind of abandoned "fashion" while I was there, I invested all my time and money into skin creams. The weather there was so so cold, harsh, and DRY. Unfortunately for my wallet/fortunately for my face, I brought the obsession back with me.

Bunny, what moisturizers do you use? I live in the COLD northwest - it's dry, freezing, awful here. Currently I use Clinique Superdefense in the winter, and Moisture Surge in the summer. But I'm always on the lookout for a better moisturizer!

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Btw, if you have acne problems, using a salicylic acid toner really helps!

 

[Autumnovember]

Oranges, AUtumnnovember, and elrohwen, quick question on the HD Makeup forever....I have a brush that I love that I use for powder foundation, bronzer, or blush. Do you recommend me to get a new brush just to use with the HD? I know it is a whitish color so I didn't know if my other brush would alter it because there may be some pigment left on it after I apply foundation etc. Or do you think it is no biggie, and just use the same brush for all uses - HD, foundation, blush/bronzer? Thanks!!

A brush with a large surface area works best for me. I also use the same one for my bronzer which is a brick compact, but thats just me! By the way, how did your make up turn out for the wedding?!

 

[lizzyann]

Oranges, AUtumnnovember, and elrohwen, quick question on the HD Makeup forever....I have a brush that I love that I use for powder foundation, bronzer, or blush. Do you recommend me to get a new brush just to use with the HD? I know it is a whitish color so I didn't know if my other brush would alter it because there may be some pigment left on it after I apply foundation etc. Or do you think it is no biggie, and just use the same brush for all uses - HD, foundation, blush/bronzer? Thanks!!

A brush with a large surface area works best for me. I also use the same one for my bronzer which is a brick compact, but thats just me! By the way, how did your make up turn out for the wedding?!

Autumn, it turned out awesome! I actually sent your picture to the makeup artist and had a printout of it with me the day of the wedding!! I had a nice smoky eye with a hint of purple and a very soft pink/nude lip. Looked beautiful with the dark purple dress! For my nails, I did OPI Lincoln Park after Dark! It was a great day! Thanks for your help and for letting me use your pic!!

Thanks for the advice on the brush! I think I am going to wait till I receive the powder and use my current brush, then decide if I want to buy another one or not. On sephora, I noticed that Makeup Forever has their own buki brush in a travel bag. I think it is like $39 which is pricey but I like the size of it for travel. So I may get that down the road!

 

[Autumnovember]

Oranges, AUtumnnovember, and elrohwen, quick question on the HD Makeup forever....I have a brush that I love that I use for powder foundation, bronzer, or blush. Do you recommend me to get a new brush just to use with the HD? I know it is a whitish color so I didn't know if my other brush would alter it because there may be some pigment left on it after I apply foundation etc. Or do you think it is no biggie, and just use the same brush for all uses - HD, foundation, blush/bronzer? Thanks!!

A brush with a large surface area works best for me. I also use the same one for my bronzer which is a brick compact, but thats just me! By the way, how did your make up turn out for the wedding?!

Autumn, it turned out awesome! I actually sent your picture to the makeup artist and had a printout of it with me the day of the wedding!! I had a nice smoky eye with a hint of purple and a very soft pink/nude lip. Looked beautiful with the dark purple dress! For my nails, I did OPI Lincoln Park after Dark! It was a great day! Thanks for your help and for letting me use your pic!!

Thanks for the advice on the brush! I think I am going to wait till I receive the powder and use my current brush, then decide if I want to buy another one or not. On sephora, I noticed that Makeup Forever has their own buki brush in a travel bag. I think it is like $39 which is pricey but I like the size of it for travel. So I may get that down the road!

Awww that sounds perfect!!! I'm so glad you got the results you wanted and my pictured helped you out! Now you just have to return the favor and post a picture of your make-up

Good call on waiting till you get the powder and then seeing if you need another brush because they definitely can be a bit pricey!!

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

I the Make-Up Forever HD powder! FINALLY got it and tried it today - it's so light and I love the finish it gives (though embarrassingly it took me forever to get the powder where I could dip the brush in it - I've never used loose power before!). I am officially retiring my pressed powder compact.

Autumn, thanks for the brush rec - I got the Sephora one you recommended with the fat black barrel and it's so soft! Love it!

I also got my favorite Frederic Fekkai shampoo and conditioner, cuticle cream (such a huge must-have right now with the weather getting colder and drier) and some nail polishes. Love beauty products

 

[Liane]

My one and only true beauty must-have, without which I twitch and groan inconsolably, is... a good pair of tweezers.

Yup, that's it. Everything else is nice but not essential. Life without tweezers is not worth living.

 

[lizzyann]

Oranges, AUtumnnovember, and elrohwen, quick question on the HD Makeup forever....I have a brush that I love that I use for powder foundation, bronzer, or blush. Do you recommend me to get a new brush just to use with the HD? I know it is a whitish color so I didn't know if my other brush would alter it because there may be some pigment left on it after I apply foundation etc. Or do you think it is no biggie, and just use the same brush for all uses - HD, foundation, blush/bronzer? Thanks!!

A brush with a large surface area works best for me. I also use the same one for my bronzer which is a brick compact, but thats just me! By the way, how did your make up turn out for the wedding?!

Autumn, it turned out awesome! I actually sent your picture to the makeup artist and had a printout of it with me the day of the wedding!! I had a nice smoky eye with a hint of purple and a very soft pink/nude lip. Looked beautiful with the dark purple dress! For my nails, I did OPI Lincoln Park after Dark! It was a great day! Thanks for your help and for letting me use your pic!!

Thanks for the advice on the brush! I think I am going to wait till I receive the powder and use my current brush, then decide if I want to buy another one or not. On sephora, I noticed that Makeup Forever has their own buki brush in a travel bag. I think it is like $39 which is pricey but I like the size of it for travel. So I may get that down the road!

Awww that sounds perfect!!! I'm so glad you got the results you wanted and my pictured helped you out! Now you just have to return the favor and post a picture of your make-up

Good call on waiting till you get the powder and then seeing if you need another brush because they definitely can be a bit pricey!!

Autumn, I would love to post a pic, but I think my hubby would kill me due to privacy!!! And it's not like I can really modify the pic so that it doesn't show my face you know? Considering it's the makeup you want to see!!!

Thanks so much for all your help though!! Oh and I wanted to tell you that I am down 7 pounds so far! I am really trying to eat better and am actually on my way to Zumba now!!!

 

[lizzyann]

I the Make-Up Forever HD powder! FINALLY got it and tried it today - it's so light and I love the finish it gives (though embarrassingly it took me forever to get the powder where I could dip the brush in it - I've never used loose power before!). I am officially retiring my pressed powder compact.

Autumn, thanks for the brush rec - I got the Sephora one you recommended with the fat black barrel and it's so soft! Love it!

I also got my favorite Frederic Fekkai shampoo and conditioner, cuticle cream (such a huge must-have right now with the weather getting colder and drier) and some nail polishes. Love beauty products

BEG, so glad you loved the HD powder! Can't wait to get mine! Which brush did you get??!!

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

I the Make-Up Forever HD powder! FINALLY got it and tried it today - it's so light and I love the finish it gives (though embarrassingly it took me forever to get the powder where I could dip the brush in it - I've never used loose power before!). I am officially retiring my pressed powder compact.

Autumn, thanks for the brush rec - I got the Sephora one you recommended with the fat black barrel and it's so soft! Love it!

I also got my favorite Frederic Fekkai shampoo and conditioner, cuticle cream (such a huge must-have right now with the weather getting colder and drier) and some nail polishes. Love beauty products

BEG, so glad you loved the HD powder! Can't wait to get mine! Which brush did you get??!!

It was this one!

 

[oranges]

I the Make-Up Forever HD powder! FINALLY got it and tried it today - it's so light and I love the finish it gives (though embarrassingly it took me forever to get the powder where I could dip the brush in it - I've never used loose power before!). I am officially retiring my pressed powder compact.

Autumn, thanks for the brush rec - I got the Sephora one you recommended with the fat black barrel and it's so soft! Love it!

I also got my favorite Frederic Fekkai shampoo and conditioner, cuticle cream (such a huge must-have right now with the weather getting colder and drier) and some nail polishes. Love beauty products

YAY!!!! I'm so happy that you love it!!!! It really is, imho, the best powder out there!

 

[Autumnovember]

Oranges, AUtumnnovember, and elrohwen, quick question on the HD Makeup forever....I have a brush that I love that I use for powder foundation, bronzer, or blush. Do you recommend me to get a new brush just to use with the HD? I know it is a whitish color so I didn't know if my other brush would alter it because there may be some pigment left on it after I apply foundation etc. Or do you think it is no biggie, and just use the same brush for all uses - HD, foundation, blush/bronzer? Thanks!!

A brush with a large surface area works best for me. I also use the same one for my bronzer which is a brick compact, but thats just me! By the way, how did your make up turn out for the wedding?!

Autumn, it turned out awesome! I actually sent your picture to the makeup artist and had a printout of it with me the day of the wedding!! I had a nice smoky eye with a hint of purple and a very soft pink/nude lip. Looked beautiful with the dark purple dress! For my nails, I did OPI Lincoln Park after Dark! It was a great day! Thanks for your help and for letting me use your pic!!

Thanks for the advice on the brush! I think I am going to wait till I receive the powder and use my current brush, then decide if I want to buy another one or not. On sephora, I noticed that Makeup Forever has their own buki brush in a travel bag. I think it is like $39 which is pricey but I like the size of it for travel. So I may get that down the road!

Awww that sounds perfect!!! I'm so glad you got the results you wanted and my pictured helped you out! Now you just have to return the favor and post a picture of your make-up

Good call on waiting till you get the powder and then seeing if you need another brush because they definitely can be a bit pricey!!

Autumn, I would love to post a pic, but I think my hubby would kill me due to privacy!!! And it's not like I can really modify the pic so that it doesn't show my face you know? Considering it's the makeup you want to see!!!

Thanks so much for all your help though!! Oh and I wanted to tell you that I am down 7 pounds so far! I am really trying to eat better and am actually on my way to Zumba now!!!

No worries, completely understandable!! I'm still so glad you loved your make up. Lincoln park after dark is one of my favorite nail polishes too!!

Congratulations on the weight loss!!! Thats something to be so proud of! Glad you're enjoying Zumba =]

 

[Autumnovember]

I the Make-Up Forever HD powder! FINALLY got it and tried it today - it's so light and I love the finish it gives (though embarrassingly it took me forever to get the powder where I could dip the brush in it - I've never used loose power before!). I am officially retiring my pressed powder compact.

Autumn, thanks for the brush rec - I got the Sephora one you recommended with the fat black barrel and it's so soft! Love it!

I also got my favorite Frederic Fekkai shampoo and conditioner, cuticle cream (such a huge must-have right now with the weather getting colder and drier) and some nail polishes. Love beauty products

How AWESOME is that powder?! Honestly, I'm trying to get SO to just -try- it lol...I told him nobody has to know!

The brush is gonna last forever---worth the 30$ right?! Great brush, glad you loved it too!!!