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What's your secret weapon beauty product?


What’s your secret weapon beauty product? The one that no one really knows you’re wearing but you know adds that something extra? Like finishing powders, primers, concealers, highlighters, etc.

Guerlain Mythic (or Wulong) Meteorites Pressed Powder 🙂

Thanks to Jan for today’s question! Do you have a question idea? Submit yours here.

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Rachel Avatar

Illamasqua cream blush in Zygomatic– it’s so, so subtle and natural looking but lifts my super pale skin enough that I don’t look dead.

Gemma W Avatar

Guerlain Meteorites Voyage Pressed Powder -mythic
& Guerlain Precious Light Rejuvenating Illuminator
this is better than ysl’s…for quick touch up,highlight or sheer conceal.
Also it has Gold pigments inside!!(but only contains 1.5ml)

Quinctia Avatar

I’ve gotten some nice complements when I’ve worn bronzer. And when I wear jewel tones around my eyes, though now that I have glasses frames in those colors, it’s a bit of an everyday thing for me now.

My sister gets compliments anytime she wears UD Woodstock eyeshadow.

Tigerlily Avatar

There are two: the first one is using a brow pencil and a subtle off-white matte highlighter on the brow bone (even if I’m not wearing eyeshadow) to create a contrast that makes me look more ‘awake’. The second one is highlighting the cupid’s bow.

Jan Avatar

A combination of Laura Geller’s Shimmer Down Mattifying Powder with MAC’s Fix Plus.
One mattifies to reduce unwanted shine and absorb oil along the T zone. The other mysteriously makes my make-up look natural, including some dewiness that hides the unevenness of my skin. It’s hard to describe but these two together make my make-up look better and better as the day goes on.

Marieke Avatar

Matte perfect primer from MUA (Makeup Academy, a British brand I believe)
It makes my makeup stay forever and it has a oil-controlling formula which really works! And it’s only four pounds, so that’s seven dollar or so..?

Mariella Avatar

Probably TheBalm’s Mary Lou Manizer. Whenever I wear it, someone seems to comment that I seem to be glowing! My sister in law, who is the sweetest woman in the world, was the first one to mention this a few years ago when I first got the Balmbini palette. Happily, I was able to purchase one for her too – she was SO thrilled and I was happy to share my “secret weapon” with her.

Nina Avatar

A yellow finishing powder (like Benefit Bluff Dust), really buffed in; a pink-toned concealer/highlighter (like Estee Lauder Brush-On Illuminator or Benefit Eye Bright) around mouth, eyes; pearlescent liquid highlighter (like Benefit High Beam) applied to cheeks before blush,

AngieN Avatar

It’s actually a “Terrific Trio” from Benefit, that helps disguise the whole middle-aged droop and dark circles thing: Ooh La Lift for under eyes, EyeBright for inner/outer corners, and High Brow for under the brow arch. Those three REALLY do the trick! I also always get asked if I “got some sun,” or get told that I have “such a nice glow,” or just get overall compliments on my skin/complexion when I use TooFaced’s Pink Leopard bronzer – I think it’s just the right blend of bronze and shimmer, with a touch of pink, for me.

Jen Avatar

Illamasqua Gleams in “Aurora” and “Supernatural.”

These highlighters are my secret weapon to glowy skin without looking discoball-esque.

Bobbi Brown BB cream

This BB cream also gives my skin an extra boost of radiance and dewiness. I always get asked,
“Your skin is so nice! What skin care line are you using” when I wear this.

Nikki Avatar

Monistat Anti-chafing Powder Gel. I use this product as a face primer. It does an excellent job at providing a smooth canvas for my makeup, as well as helping it stay in place all day. Without it, all my makeup disappears within a couple of hours.

patsyann Avatar

Two things actually which work hand in hand. Eve Pearl’s concealer in light applied with a little talon concealer brush and a very very light dusting of Southern Magnolia Minerals’
Well Rested Shadow over top with a little soft fluffy brush. Banishes, absolutely banishes my awful dark circles which turn purple when I am tired and also are sunken in. Gads!
This duo takes years off my face (and believe me, I have years to take off) and never cakes or settles in lines…yup, I have those too. Stays put until I remove it.

Aida Avatar

Well if I told everyone, it wouldn’t be a secret anymore 😀
Just kidding… For me it’s a perfume, Body by Burberry.

erin Avatar

I mix UD naked skin with laura mercier tinted moisturizer.and also making sure my entire self is moisturized. I love the bath products i get from moon’s harvest.

CeeBee Avatar

Kevyn Aucion Sensual Skin Enhancer – I mix a fingertip dab in with sheer foundations or BB creams to boost coverage and longevity, plus it can be used as a concealer (or a full coverage foundation if needed) and even though the pot is tiny, it lasts forever!

Also, Edward Bess All Over Seduction in Afterglow – it melts into skin for an incredible yet subtle glow.

Mimi Avatar

YSL Teint Parfait in the lavender or cream color. It conceals red broken veins and overall redness but is sheer and I can either wear it alone over moisturizer or under foundation. It really helps my skin look calm and smooth.

Briana Avatar

My foundation. I’m always getting compliements on what a nice complexition I have, which to be fair I have pretty good skin because I rarely breakout, my skin is more normal to dry, and I try to take really good care of it. But I still like have “perfect skin” so I tend to wear a foundation most of the time, but everyone seems to think my natural skin is just “perfect” all on it’s own, which I guess means I do a great job blending and not putting too much on. I try out a new foundation pretty much every time I finish a bottle but right now I’m using Nars sheer glow, a covergirl one, and I have a L’Oreal mousse foundation in a paler shade. Oh I espically remember getting compliements when I wore my Mary Kay and Chanel Aqua Lemier one.

Pixie Avatar

Boots No 7 Instant Radiance Beauty Balm to brighten my complexion and reduce the signs of stress and lack of sleep. It’s got tiny light reflecting sparkles in it, but I never look like a full-on Twilight vampire in the sun. I discovered it years ago during study abroad (because geez. every college has its own pub *and* I had to study) and adore it. It’s been though several packaging and formula changes over the years, but I still love it. I order it online through Drugstore.com’s international store. But it may be in some people’s local Targets – just not in any of mine. Also, my skin is light to medium. I don’t know that it would be great for richer skin tones. I’m in grad school, so I’m always waking up with skin stressed from too much or too little of something – too much alcohol, caffeine, stress, too little good nutrition, sleep, sunscreen. I’ve got a bunch of different “illuminators,” like NARS, BareMinerals, Benefit, Josie Maran and Paula Dorf. Boots is my fav.

Jennifer Avatar

Paint my face on with a real techniques foundation brush and MUFE matt velvet foundation
Buffer it in a stipping motion with the Sephoria 55 brush
Powder it with guerlain meteorites face powder
Set with mac fix plus spray
Dewey perfect skin every time…

Karen Avatar

I feel naked without perfume, I am never without a lip product, if I lost all my make up I would purchase an eyeliner but my secret weapon is Bath & Bodyworks Sweetpea Shampoo.

xamyx Avatar

Sunscreen. I’ve been wearing it regularly since I was about 12, and in 3 weeks, I will be 40, yet I still look no older than 25. I have no laughlines or crowsfeet, and my skin is still taut. I also avoid the sun whenever possible, wear a hat & sunglasses, and am as diligent about moisturizers. Genetics may also play a role, but I’m not taking any chances.

As far as actual makeup goes, a line of red liquid liner just on my lashline, paired with a “nude” eye always makes people ask me what I’ve done “differently”. It’s not an obvious line, but it makes my eyes seriously pop.

Essence All About Matte, buffed over L’oreal Miracle blur, and just about any liquid foundation/TM, makes my pores practically disappear. I have drier skin, but I picked up the mattifier by mistake, and not wanting to go out of my way to return such an inexpensive product, I took a chance on trying it. I’m sooo glad I did, as it’s become HG for me.

Revlon Photoready liquid foundation is just awful for me on its own, but layered under ColorStay, it is amazing. The layer of PR keeps the CS from looking really flat & heavy, because I need to use less CS, which is also easier to blend.

Emy Shin Avatar

Your comment about sunscreen gives me hope. I’m 24, and have only started wearing sunscreen 2 years ago. Although I will always regret not wearing it when I was younger, I’m glad I am now incredibly diligent about applying sunscreen everyday. I already have some fine lines under my eyes, but I’m hoping wearing sunscreen will slow down the aging process. 🙂

Kat Avatar

To be honest…Its my Loreal makeup remover. I would not walk out the door without using it for something! I use it on a q-tip to perfect my lipstick, to sharpen the wing of my eyeliner, to clean up mascara under my eye, and to define and correct my eyebrows after filling them in. Also, when I don’t wear foundation, I swipe a little under my blush if it didn’t go quite where I wanted it to go. So, although it’s probably not the answer most are going to give, makeup remover is definitely my beauty secret weapon. 🙂

Terese Leigh Avatar

PIXI’s Sheer Cheek Gel in Flushed…applied with with the Real Techniques by Samatha Chapman Stippling Brush. #Awesomeness -Terese Leigh

Sarah Avatar

Kevyn Aucoin sculpting powder and Chanel Stylo Yeux in Beryl. They are subtle enough to wear even with no other make up but the difference they make is noticeable – I suddenly have cheekbones and look wide awake!

Nortme Avatar

I like to use Laura Mercier Radiance Tinted Moisturizer in a “C” shape as highlighter before I apply my foundation. It provides natural glow….no sparkle.

Jen Sibal Avatar

L’Occitane Sublime Essence is a serum that feels cool on the skin but it also gives me a matte-ish finish. I say matte-ish because it also gives radiance to my skin! Works so well with tinted moisturizer or foundation that my skin appears flawless like I was airbrushed!

Lark Avatar

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft n Gentle. Won’t go Camry like powder, and is pale enough for blue white skin. Warms me up and makes me glow!

Guerlain lipstick. The Best.

MAC Violetta lipstick. And everything from the Venomous Villians collection.

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