I wanted to list my favorite products and give a quick overview of my normal routine - it will streamline the LOTD ("look of the day") process and also give a nice and easy reference for anyone who wants to know what I reach for most often. And so, without further ado...
MY HG ("Holy Grail") OR EVERYDAY BEAUTY PRODUCTS!
MY DAILY ROUTINE: Most mornings will find me doing the following (exceptions to the pattern due to random whims or product testing will be noted on LOTDs)
- FACE:
- Cleansing - my HG cleanser is La Mer The Cleansing Foam.
- Moisturizer - as of now, this changes, though my current HG is Creme de La Mer.
- Eye treatment - Patricia Wexler Intensive 3-in-1 Eye Cream
- HAIR:
- MAKEUP - not much is standard, but there are a few things! All are unless otherwise noted on a LOTD:
- Face makeup primer - MAC Prep + Prime Skin or FaceTimNew Page | Post | Fifty-cent Head | Your Weblogs | TypePade Velvet Veil
- Eye makeup primer - unless otherwise noted, I always use MAC's Paint Pot in Painterly
- Always, always, always Bobbi Brown Corrector is under my eyes!
- Brows are either MAC's Brow Shader or MAC's Brown Pencils in a shade that matches the haircolor du jour.
- Mascara is always Clinique's Lash Power
- Contouring: MAC's Emote blush (LE)
- Highlighting: MAC's Lightscapade Mineralize Skinfinish (LE)
- Makeup is always set with (and refreshed with throughout the day): MAC's Fix+!
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- Probably the best product in the industry, Bobbi Brown's Corrector will cancel out under eye circles - I wish I got commission on this stuff for all of the people I send to the Bobbi counter! :)
- Skin stuff I'm quite picky about, and here are the best of the best...
- As I mentioned, Creme de La Mer is my HG moisturizer but sadly is not very "doable" for me due to the price point. Still, it's amazing!
- I may be able to occasionally rationalize this one: La Mer The Cleansing Foam, especially because it's the only thing outside of a facial that gets rid of my skin woes (even a facial doesn't quite do it on its own!).
- My HGs for lips are...
- Prep -
- MAC Prep + Prime Lip - fills, greatly improves wear, feels great! Make sure to let it set 'til it feels fairly dry before putting your lip products on top.
- For moisturizing and prepping - FACE atelier's Lip Putty - so soothing, much more so than the MAC product, but it has more slip and so isn't as good for lippie longevity in my opinion. I haven't found a better product for lip hydration than this!
- Pencils -
- Lipsticks -
- MAC Gleam - most excellent nudey-mauve
- MAC Sophisto - best mid-tone but sheerish
- MAC O - best mid-tone frosty
- MAC Diva - best red
- Lipglosses -
- NARS Sweet Charity- AMAZING - I've been searching for the perfect mauvey nude lip for years and this is it!
- MAC Lusterwhite Lustreglass - best shimmery topper
- MAC VivaGlam VI Lipglass - best overall lipgloss; best feel-good charity donation
- Prep -
- My HG eye products are...
- MAC's Paint Pot in Painterly - great for fair, cool skins; crease-proof and long-lasting.
- MAC's Melon Pigment, Violet Pigment - simply the best colors ever invented.
- MAC's Paradisco, Soba, Mylar, Jest, Tempting, Club and Trax
- My HG Foundations are...
- Armani Designer Shaping Foundation
- Lumiere's Fairly Light Cool Luminesse Mineral Makeup Foundation
- And for on-set as a makeup artist: FACE atelier Ultra Foundation
- FRAGRANCE - what I wear changes on a daily basis, but here are my HG fragrances:
I am still searching for my HG of the following products: - Blush
- Budge-proof Black Liner
- Brow color for redheads
MY HOLY GRAIL PRODUCTS: After searching high and low, these are the best products I've found for me, though naturally your HG items are probably different...
Coming soon!