In my eyes, that has to be something more universal and not with a totally outlandish price point… maybe something like Smashbox 24HR Primer. It’s SO good and has been a go-to for years now. Alternatively, a hyaluronic acid serum – there are lots that aren’t expensive now!
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Elizabeth Arden Lip Fix. It is such a great product and it’s been around for decades with good reason but because it has been around so long and because EA isn’t exactly a madly popular brand, I’m always worried this fantastic lipstick primer will be discontinued!
I wish products with so many years behind would get more recognition. Everyone hunts the next new best thing, influencers and reviewers don’t even bother for products 1-2 years old most times… I’m also afraid that many gems will end up discontinued due to “old age”, not quality, just to make room for a products with a “new” label.
Hmm, in the winter I swear by Josie Maran’s whipped argan oil body butter so that would probably be my choice. For makeup? I don’t know. Too individual.
Sara Happ Lip Slip is by far the only lip balm that actually keeps my lips from cracking…I live in the desert and need a good lip balm year round. HG ! Also I have large pores on my nose and Benefit’s The Porefessional is one of the only primers that actually covers my texture and pores….lots of good face primers out there but few actually completely cover pores….
Makeup wise, I would also recommend something universal, but my eye primer selection would be the ABH one. And I would highly recommend glass wearers to apply it on the bridge of the nose.
But makeup somewhat generic, I would recommend everyone to try one of the Estee Lauder Double Wear foundations; off course, I love the original, but otherwise it’s an awesome line and it has options for every skin type and coverage preference. It’s more expensive, but it’s a product that lasts and complexion is one of the areas worth investing.
Skincare wise I would recommend everyone to try to incorporate retinol. And if budget allows, apply retinol also on the body.
Haircare wise I would recommend people to try the Verb brand. So many great products, especially the Ghost Oil. For me Verb it’s way better than Briogeo and Olaplex (which for me didn’t worked).
I also like Verb’s Ghost Oil though it always seems to be sold out when I go to Sephora to buy it. But I also have good success with the Olaplex oil as well.
Gucci soleil bronzing powder.
My personal recommendation would be for almost ANYTHING that The Ordinary sells! I have yet to have a reaction to any of their skincare products, and I have super sensitive skin and eye area. Also, they are still very budget friendly, which is a huge factor these days with everything else going up in price exponentially. I particularly love: The “Buffet”, Marula Oil, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate and Rose Hip Oil.
Well, because of your love for this eyeshadow primer, I did buy it! And now I love it, too! Because even if my eyes tear up, only my eyeshadow needs touching up because this primer doesn’t just slide off like all the others I’ve tried over the many years. Smashbox knows how to make some excellent, gamechanging products. Cannot even count how many Always On Fishnet Liner pencils I’ve gone through over the past several years!
Same!!
The Ordinary is so inexpensive and perfect for someone who has a general grasp on their skin and what it needs. I’ve been using Buffet for years and after straying last year I’m back on it and my skin is super happy about that. I use a ton of their skincare every single day and B oil is my favorite oil moisturizer.
OH!! And the hemi-squalane is PERFECTION for a hair oil. It’s lightweight as hell and never makes my hair greasy or heavy, just a little smoother for brushing.
I love The Ordinary too Nancy!
An essence after cleansing and before following with the rest of skincare. Essences are cheap as hell, or can be, and they just add this juicy watery step that my eternally parched skin LIVES for.
Also, I know it doesn’t work for everyone, but last year I fucked my moisture barrier (combo pandemic, mask usage, stress, hormones, and just plain’ ol age I suppose) in to oblivion and it took about two months before *hyaluronic acid* stopped stinging my poor skin; anyway, snail mucin was the ONLY thing that didn’t make my face sting. I used Cosrx because it’s easy to get ahold of and Ulta sometimes marks it half off occasionally.
I’ve looked in to snail mucin (and I’ve kept invertebrates before, I’m familiar with how much brain they actually have. spoiler alert – very little!!…I say that to say it’s *very* easy to treat an invertebrate well. Feed it, provide a good temp/environment, and voila, you got yourself a happy little guy that wants for nothing.) and I’m ok with it being an ingredient collected from animals in the same way I am with sheep’s wool. In the case of snails, though, they produce when they’re happy. You want happy snails. So there’s a built-in incentive to get corporations to treat living creatures well.
An essence after cleansing and before following with the rest of skincare. Essences are cheap as hell, or can be, and they just add this juicy watery step that my eternally parched skin LIVES for.
Also, I know it doesn’t work for everyone, but last year I fucked my moisture barrier (combo pandemic, mask usage, stress, hormones, and just plain’ ol age I suppose) in to oblivion and it took about two months before *hyaluronic acid* stopped stinging my poor skin; anyway, snail mucin was the ONLY thing that didn’t make my face sting. I used Cosrx because it’s easy to get ahold of and Ulta sometimes marks it half off occasionally.
I’ve looked in to snail mucin (and I’ve kept invertebrates before, I’m familiar with how much brain they actually have. spoiler alert – very little!!…I say that to say it’s *very* easy to treat an invertebrate well. Feed it, provide a good temp/environment, and voila, you got yourself a happy little guy that wants for nothing.) and I’m ok with it being an ingredient collected from animals in the same way I am with sheep’s wool. In the case of snails, though, they produce when they’re happy. You want happy snails. So there’s a built-in incentive to get corporations to treat living creatures well……unlike their human employees! *zing*
The Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant.This liquid exfoliant clears breakouts and brightens skin by shedding dead layers of skin cells. There is even a spray bottle product of the same stuff for backs and bums that sprays upside down.
I know everyone loves that exfoliant.. but I just can’t understand the hype. It’s too watery… I don’t feel it does anything almost. I personally feel that the gel and lotion version of the Skin Perfecting 2% BHA are way more efficient than the liquid.
But that’s the beauty of Paula’s Choice, they have the AHA and BHA exfoliants in so many different textures and concentration, one can easily find the perfect match for them.
Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick. To me it’s perfection and at $4.85 I can indulge in several colors in crème or pearl. No scent. No taste. Christina here @Temptalia has swatches of all the colors and they are spot on swatches. There’s some comfort in a good quality but inexpensive lipstick in these rising prices times.
Hmmm – the one product that I think everyone should/could try is The Ordinary’s Moroccan Argon oil for their skin (of a night time). Not only is it a soothing moisturiser that packs a ton of moisture in, it is easily accessible and inexpensive.
A second product would be The Inkey List’s HA Serum – even in Australia (notorious for high prices on everything), this is relatively inexpensive, but very potent and calming on the skin.
Wayne Goss mascara….it is fantastic. Waterproof, lengthens, separates, doesn’t flake or smudge. Mel Thompson talked about it, and I saw his video. And finally tried it a couple months ago. Wish I had tried sooner it and not wasted my money on so many others.
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Night-Recovery Complex, has come to my rescue a few times. When I have a bad reaction to something I soothe this on after an essence and in no time at all my skin barrier is repaired. I always make sure I have a bottle on hand nothing else has ever made so much of a difference for me.
ONE…a light weight foundation. Even if you need coverage, I think most people look better with a sheerer foundation that we tend to use (or that has been in vogue the past decade). Something like Estée Lauder’s Double Wear Water Fresh or PMG’s Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection