Best in Beauty: Volume 2

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.