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MAC Makeup Wipes, probably — I’ve been using those for years for swatches. I sometimes use reusable cloths, but I find between that + actual water, my arm dries out very quickly to the point where it turns red, uneven, and then can get scaly (which takes almost a week to bring back), so I’ve stayed with wipes there (I avoid them when it comes to taking off my makeup, though).
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Estee Lauder Double Wear Zero Smudge Mascara.
For the longest time I was repurchasing the neutrogena face wipes and the benefit roller lash pretty consistently. Now I remove my makeup with a makeup eraser and, if it’s stubborn, some coconut oil (that was for cooking but is past expiration date yet not smelling funky yet😅). I’ve switched to the essence lash princess in the purple tube.
Also, question: when you try eyeshadows, I assume you try more than one via an eyelook. Do you find shadows in certain areas wear differently and if so, is that accommodated for in the review scores? Actually, a blog post (if there isn’t one already that I have missed) about the review methods you use would be fascinating! I’ve been using your website for years, especially the swatches, to set my expectations when deciding to purchase more expensive makeup. A behind the scenes look would be cool
MAC Craving lipstick and Clarins Super Restorative Eye Cream (which is now discontinued/replaced/reformulated…I actually suspect it’s the same product with a slightly new name and slightly altered packaging). Also Embryolisse Creme Concentree and Australian Gold tinted facial sunscreen. These 4 items are ones I repurchase regularly and have extras of in my “holding drawer”.
Shiseido facial cottons and Tatcha camellia lip balm.
My most repurchased items are: MAC: skin refine zone and extended play in gigablack mascara
Benefit: 24h brow gel
Suqqu: eyebrow pen
No matter what other products I use for my look I always use these products
Extended play gigablack has been my lower lash go to for years.
Christine, I’ve always been curious about your swatches’ routine, especially of face products. Do you have to clean and redo half your face every time you swatch a blush/highlighter? Do you shoot the pics and then take the makeup right off and onto the next swatch, or do you keep it on to test it? I find this extremely fascinating! I admire your work so much.
I’ll usually use a less-matte foundation and/or not set my cheek area, as I apply foundation everywhere but the cheek area, then apply the product over bare skin and blend where foundation/product match. Then I’ll remove the cheek color and touch up the edges of the foundation areas as needed (so keeping it less matte makes it more malleable!). Sometimes I have to remove more, depending on the formula or color.
Generally speaking, what you see in photos is just for swatches because reality is I very often have two different eyes on, cheeks that don’t match, lip color that doesn’t coordinate, etc. so I photograph several products in one sitting, and then they go into the testing pile. Often, whatever I’m last wearing in that photographing session is what I end up testing that day to some degree but I’ll often remove eye makeup and cheek color from one side and redo it so that I’m testing different things on each side of my face.
Thank you so much for sharing and thanks a million for your serious approach and hard work! Always appreciated!
Paula Resist S-LDWD. And I wish the name were shorter. Yesterday I found out my other frequent repurchase is d/c’d. The FAB triple eye duty tinted ‘cream.’ That one has too long and stupid a name, as well. But, then and again, I can’t get it through the common channels anymore, anyway. Skin store might have it, but it comes in lt to med and darker, and it never failed that the wrong one was sent to me. Wound up having to get it in person. But if that’s a problem, it’s pretty first world and low priority. Things you love are always d/c’d. Perspective.
I have definetily purchased that SPF at least 3-4 times… but I now think that the Clinical 1% Retinol would be another top list item for me. But it might be also somewhat cheating, because I mostly purchased the mini. I had twice the full size, lasted me for a year or more, and I prefer to have treatments in smaller quantities to use them up faster.
ABH dipbrow is a product I’m very loyal to! I also adore DHC deep cleansing oil. I’ve tried cleansing oil from many brands, but the DHC one works extremely well and has an affordable price point.
If I don’t include face wipes, then it’s definitely mascara. My newest mascara of choice is L’Oreal Lash Paradise WP formula in Blackest Black.
If we’re including wipes, then Simple Facial Wipes for Sensitive Skin.
Can’t actually count tallies exactly, but the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm is definitely somewhere on the top of the list. Cleansing balms/oils are my favorite make-up removing products, but no matter how many I try I get back to this one. When I am using other products, like lotions, micellar waters, and so on, I usually had the Shiseido cotton pads (another product that I prefer to splurge on because others might be good, just not as good). For both I lost count how many times I purchased them. In the last year or so I stopped purchasing the cotton pads as much (but I still have one packet around), as I use more re-usable pads.
Make-up wise, I must have purchased MAC Prolongwear Concealer and Benefit Gimme Brow at least 5-6 times. And I plan on continuing to repurchase the concealer.
Body and hair care wise I have the most repeats. For the last years I have been practically constantly re-purchasing Paula’s Choice body wash, hair conditioner and body SPF. With skincare I might vary things around, I have multiple repeat offenders, but no standouts.
Not purchased, but often received for free are the Paula’s Choice 2% BHA liquid (I receive one for free at least every two orders), and minis of MAC In Extreme Dimension and Two Faced Better Than Sex Mascara (often as free sample, perk gifts, etc).
Purito Centella Green Level Unscented Sunscreen.
Trend It Up fibre brow gel filler from a nearby drugstore. I used to hate my brows, now I use it every morning even if the only other thing on my face is a sunscreen. A true holy grail.
Most is for Hair and Body: Oiudad Tres Effects Gel and Anti Heat and Humidity Gel, Neutrogena Sesame Seed Oil and their Rainbath body wash, and for hubby Sol de Janeiro Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel and Kiehl’s Ultimate Man Body Scrub Soap. Also, almond oil from Amazon.
For Face: I have loved and repurchased Pat McGrath’s first mascara but I believe it may be about to get dc’d. I used to repurchase Bobbi Brown moisturizer but it no longer works for my skin. Crossing my fingers my new order of a Shiseido skincare line works. I think I will be repurchasing Herbivore’s Orchid Oil as well next year…that stuff lasts forever and I love it. For my hubby, he goes through tubes of Dr Brandt’s No More Baggage that he tried when I got it in a box. He looks 10 years younger than his brother who is actually 10 years younger than him. And the uber popular Shiseido cotton sheets.
And lips: Carmex is a must in the winter. I have tubes all over my house. Sephora Lip Liner in Rosewood and Buxom lip gloss in Sarina.
Lancome BiFacil make-up remover is a constant presence, as is Trish McEvoy’s Instant Eye-Lift, ABH Brow Wiz. I used to love YSL’s Faux Cils Shocking, which was reformulated to “The Shock” that I didn’t like as much and now that’s moved on too. . .
Jack Black mint and shea lip balms and CeraVe hydrating and foaming cleansers are the standbys that I don’t really experiment with!
For a specific item, probably e.l.f. Original Mist & Set. In general, I probably buy face primer just as often or more often, but the specific kind varies depending on what my skin is doing.
Hurraw lip balms, usually unscented. Nothing else I’ve tried seems quite so well suited to my lips.
My most repurchased item(s) would be:
Skincare
Cleansers – I usually rotate these between CeraVe Hydrating cleanser, Swisse Sweet Almond cleanser, Nutregena Hydro Boost Gel cleanser and whatever else is on sale and is a cream formula.
Body Moisturiser: Dermal’s Very Dry skin lotion is what I am using at the moment, but I also like Aveeno’s Moisturising Body cream, Cetaphil’s moisture tub.
Cosmetics
Mascara – currently using a Rimmel one – as long as it doesn’t lengthen or clump my lashes it’s fine.
Foundation: L’Oreal’s True Match foundation in Porcelain Rose
Stridex in the red box. And Cosrx pimple patches for those once-monthly zits.
For me, several Paula’s Choice things- the Resist Advanced Replenishing Toner (had to check I got that name right!) and the 0.3% Retinol & 2% Bakuchiol Treatment, plus a few of the moisturizers and lighter retinol products when I’m drier or more sensitive.
For body products, lately I’ve been going through Soap and Glory shower gels and lotions like crazy. Good thing I got a bunch on sale! These have been my favorites for a long time.
My most repurchased product is probably The Ordinary’s Ascorbic Acid 8% & Alpha Arbutin. The very best thing I’ve found for dark spots for my arms and back.
It’s either Cerave foaming cleanser or Paula’s Choice 2% BHA exfoliator. Both are pretty much stalwarts in my skincare pantry that I’ve used for years. They both still work well for me so I keep repurchasing!
If you mean makeup wise then probably Maybelline Colossal Lash mascara. I haven’t I’ve bought this in a while, but I really like it for a long time (still do, but wanted to try new things too.)
I’ve been repurchasing Lancôme’s Effacernes undereye concealer for 25 years now – it doesn’t tally up to that many items, though, because they last so long!