The best in beauty products that have truly stood the test of time. Tried and true, these still rock.

MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator ($19.00) was a product that was nearly HG (holy grail) status. Of course, it was limited edition. Of course, I did not think to stock up at the time. Actually, if my memory is at all reliable, I intended to stock up only to discover they were sold out everywhere. Re-reading my original review actually says as much! Love, love, LOVE this stuff. I am desperately hoping the rumors are true, and we will see the return of my beloved VAE this fall/winter. C’mon MAC!

NARS Hydrating Moisture Cream ($72.00 for 3.4 oz.) is still a go-to moisturizer for me. I tend to use at night, because it is quite hydrating and often is a bit more moisture than I need in the AM. (Plus, it doesn’t have SPF, so I tend to opt for a moisturizer with built-in SPF — this is not really a make-or-break point for me, though.) I often alternate this with NARS Aqua-Gel Hydrator (which I love equally as much as this one — so all the things I said about the Moisture Cream, I say about the Aqua-Gel!). If you didn’t know, Shiseido owns NARS, and Shiseido is known for their skincare. In order to build up a reputation and grab market share in Asia, your brand must excel at skincare — that’s just where the focus is. I feel like NARS’ skincare products are often overlooked, but they are excellent and definitely worth trying. Available at Nordstrom and Sephora.com.

See three more fabulous products!

Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencils ($16.00) still rock my world. Since I’ve gotten them, I’ve been hooked. It’s become a rare occasion when I don’t use one of these in a look! There’s no color I have not liked, no shade that has fallen below what I have come to expect from the 24/7 line. They also seem to last me eons! Available at Sephora.com.

Kate Somerville Oil Free Moisturizer ($65.00 for 1.7 oz.) is a moisturizer I liked so much that I stuck with it until the very last pump of product. I was actually quite the sad sack when it ran out. (It sort of snuck up on me, because of the airless pump technology, you can’t physically see how much is left.) I have not yet repurchased since I ran out (several months ago), because I’ve been testing other moisturizers. I’ll probably pick it up, though, at Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale in a few weeks. This just made such an excellent AM moisturizer. Still recommend it whole heartedly! Available at Nordstrom and Sephora.com.

Chanel Beiges de Chanel Quad ($56.00) may no longer be available to purchase, but those of you who snatched it up when it was released last holiday season know why it was such a good decision. Sure, it kind of looks boring, since it is just a bunch of neutrals in a quad, but the way they look on skin and come together is amazing. I’m not usually too impressed by Chanel’s quads, but I really adored this one. It is extremely flattering on all skin tones, colors are rich and silky, and it is perfect for traveling.

Kate Somerville Oil Free Moisturizer ($65.00) recently became part of the Kate Somerville product line after customer demand for a moisturizer that worked well on combination and oily skin. This particular moisturizer is aimed towards those with sensitive, combination-to-oily skin; something that doesn’t aggravate existing acne, too.

Benefits

• Moisturizer (duhhh!)
• Enhances skin smoothness and reduces fine surface lines
• Improves skin firmness and elasticity
• Increases cell turnover
• Helps control and absorb sebum to give you oil-free skin

How-to: Use as part of the AM and/or PM routine by applying a thin layer over clean skin (face/neck).  If using a serum, layer on top of the serum.

Key Ingredients: Pepha-Tight (skin tightener, anti-wrinkle, firming, toning, moisturizing properties); Red Marine Algae (APT) (cell turnover, firmness, elasticity, smoothness, reduces fine lines); Sepilift (firmness, stimulation of collagen)

Those are some fancy schmancy ingredients! Find out what I liked (or what I didn’t!) about this moisturizer…

I’ve always heard great things about Kate Somerville products from those who have had the luxury of visiting her clinic in Los Angeles. Of course, constant raves always raise my curiosity level in a brand/product, so when I heard this was coming out, I had to try it. My skin is pretty much “normal,” with a little bit of oiliness towards the very end of the day on my forehead, but it’s not enough that I’d probably even say I’m combination skin. However, in the warmer months, I do feel oilier than usual, so using a moisturizer that’s designed to control it? Not a bad idea!

When I’ve used Oil Free Moisturizer in the AM, I don’t notice that oiliness at the end of the day. It’s just not there. My skin doesn’t feel parched or dry, either, it just feels… well, normal! That’s a huge plus for me. One of the reasons I often can’t wait to remove my makeup for the day is that slight feeling of oiliness (which makes me feel grimey/dirty), and now you won’t see me rushing to the sink to wipe the day away.

For those who are interested in the packaging, it comes in an airless jar, which means there is a pump mechanism that pushes out a pea-sized amount of product (just enough to moisturize the face). I find I do two pumps, so I can cover my face and neck. Also, the product is scentless as far as I can tell. There’s definitely no perfume-y scent – it just smells like lotion? at the most. But my hunch is it’s fragrance-free.

Ultimately, it’s a lightweight moisturizer that’s perfect for year-round usage, especially for those with combination or oily skin. I’m happy I tried it!

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!

• Product: 29/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

Recommendation:  Exceptionally good at keeping skin hydrated without feeling heavy or greasy — just wish it was a little more affordable and had SPF.