It’s time for another favorite things post. And this month? Beauty products! Okay, I admit, I’m constantly looking for the Holy Grail of mascara and hair conditioner. It’s an unending battle. Oh, and also the perfect scent. But I’ll share a few of my favorites with you. Also, I apologize for all the wonky spacing with the pictures and stuff.
First up? Hair. I have stupid, baby fine hair that refuses grow much past my shoulders. It used to be pin straight, but once I had my second kid, I suddenly got all kinds of body and wave. Well, not in this one stubborn spot up front, but that’s what barrettes are for.
But here are my favorite hair products for fine, easily damaged hair.
The It’s a 10 Miracle Hair Mask gets used once a week. It helps restore elasticity and shine to my crabby, crabby hair. The Designline Olive Oil shampoo and conditioner are an every day or every other day thing depending on how often my hair needs to be washed. The It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Conditioner happens every time my hair gets washed. It does wonders to keep my hair from getting frizzy and breaking.
Next up, it’s my favorite skincare products.
Premiere face was and day lotion. It’s pricey. But holy crap, my face loves this stuff. It really helps with my rosacea and it doesn’t make my face weirdly greasy like a lot of lotions do.
Witch Hazel. Yep. Plain old Witch Hazel. It’s the best astringent on the planet. I use it before I go to bed and when I wake up. Sometimes I use it in the middle of the day if my face feels icky. It’s also great on skin irritations, bug bites and sunburns. And speaking of sunburns…
I avoid them at all costs, because I’m a pasty girl. I don’t tan, I just fry and then fry some more. So, I’m all about the SPF Vampire. This is what I use until they make a higher one. (Yes, I know it’s not supposed to be any more effective than 50, but whatever. I burn like a mofo, and I’ve got skin cancer on both sides of my family. I’ll take ALL the SPF, thanks!
Nail polish! I used love wearing nail polish, but a run in with a cadaver wearing the same shade I had on, put me off it for a good twenty years or so. But thanks to my niece and Jenny Trout, I love it again. I’m particularly fond of Zoya. They’re vegan-friendly and free of five of the worst toxins like formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, camphor, and dibutyl phthalate. I have no idea what most of those are, but they sound shitty, so if I can avoid breathing them in, I’m down with that. Plus they have over 300 colors! Here are a few of my favorites. Ki, Autumn, Edyta, Freja, Louise, Natty and Nimue. Oh yeah, I’m also a huge fan of there base and top coats (Anchor and Armor, respectively) and Opi’s Rapid Dry Spray.
Oh what else… Makeup! That’s what!
There are a few Holy Grail items I’m still seeking. One is an eye shadow to replace my beloved Twig that Origins discontinued. It was the most perfect shade of taupe that ever existed. For now, I’ll just wander through the wastelands of Ulta and Sephora with the last of the Twig trying to find a suitable replacement.
But anyway, here are some products I love. Now, I don’t wear make up all the time. Hell, I *maybe* wear it twice a month – unless I’m at a conference. But, I like what I have to work and work well for my skin. Here are a few things I refuse to be without.
Eyeshadow primer is huge for me otherwise I wear it right off and it gets that awful creased look halfway through the day. I really like Shadow Worx by Coastal Scents. It’s super light and not the least little bit greasy.
Like practically everyone else in the world, I don’t get enough sleep. I also have allergies. A lot of allergies. So my undereye circles are pretty spectacular. For consealer, I really like Smashbox. It’s got great coverage without looking cakey. I’m not huge on foundation, but I like the Purminerals Powder Foundation. It’s lightweight, it blends easily and it doesn’t make me feel or look like I’m wearing a mask. And for mascara, I adore Benefit’s They’re Real! It’s fantastic stuff. The lovely @LilyElement and author, @AnyaBreton Twitter timeline and the even better Nailed at Night beauty blog recommended it to me and @LilyElement sent me a sample because she’s amazing. I’m seriously in love with this mascara. If I wasn’t such a damn slacker, I would have taken a picture of how great it works. But…I am a slacker.
And lastly, scents. I love perfumes made from essential oils. I can’t wear commercial perfumes. There’s something wonky with my skin’s chemistry that just messes with the chemicals in commercial stuff making it smell positively foul. But I’m all good with essential oils.
Acorns and Alchemy creates some of my very favorites! And every year, my sister and I go to the Michigan Renaissance Festival and create our own scents. Mine usually involve some combination of honey, dark vanilla, clove, oak moss, or nutmeg. But here are a few from Acorns and Alchemy that I’m fond of.
Okay, now that you probably know more than you ever wanted to know about my favorite beauty products, go check out the other bloggers and see what they like!
:reads blog with glossed over eyes: So many…things…I’m not sure if I even understand half of what you talked about. I feel like a fourteen year old who just picked up her older sisters Sixteen magazine.
I feel like I’m suddenly the most high maintenance person in the history of ever. Like…literally EVER. 😀
Ohhh I see I need to buy a few things to try out in the near future!! 😀 So glad you loved the mascara!
Love it so much!!!
Yay ACORNS & ALCHEMY!!! And I’m like Jessica D I’m going to go over your post very carefully because it’s filled with awesome stuff. I’m obviously 12 with the little I use. *sigh* Oh, but I do love nail polish. I paint my toe nails since my finger nails are sad, sad, sad.
Zoya has amazing colors. I love their stuff. zoya.com – check them out!
SO. MUCH. STUFF. I get it now. I’m just lazy. Lazy folks. Or have other shit that takes up the time I’d spend on this. Seriously. Derm Exclusive. All the face stuff I need. And the dove body wash makes the rest of my skin soft. I hope, anyway. All done, lol. But you always look amazing. And I’m secretly just jealous.
Honey, you’re not lazy. And it’s not like I spend a ton of time on any of this – other than doing my nails when I do them – these are just products I’m fond of.
I assume that you get Ulta’s emails for the goodies on your BD…this year it is their neutral eye shadows. HUGE round container with 4 colors…highlighter in the middle and 4 around the sides….two of them are perfect neutrals. A taupe and one slightly darker and I LOVE them.
And ditch your shampoo…even if it is sulfate free…just ditch it…wash with conditioner. Works like a dream, esp on fine hair.
Hey Susan – I get their mail flyers. *scurries off to sign up for their email* *done* I totally need those eyeshadows. Really? Just conditioner? Hey…I’ll give it a go. Thank you so much for the suggestion and letting me know about the eyeshadow! 🙂
I love the way you smell. 🙂
Thank you, sweetness! <3