In this post, I’m sharing 10 staple beauty products that I can’t seem to live without. There just don’t seem to be suitable substitutes for these particular products in my life right now!
My under-eye area is difficult for me with dark circles and dry texture, so I need something that covers well, hydrates, and flatters. It’s kind of a tall order, so I’m pretty picky about correctors and concealers. However, I feel like no matter how many concealers I test and end up loving, Dior Forever Skin Correct will always remain in my life.
I reach for this concealer day in and day out. I use it for no-makeup looks (when I only need to conceal my dark circles) and for day-to-day looks. When I use my fingers to blend it, it fuses with my skin. If I use it without a corrector underneath, I get medium to slightly under medium-full coverage, but if I use it with a corrector underneath, it gives really nice flattering coverage that’s flattering. This concealer wears all day and doesn’t dry my undereye area out. There is just nothing that I don’t love about this. When this runs out, I will definitely keep replacing it because I don’t have another concealer quite like this one.
Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Blurring Under-Eye Setting Powder
Next up is the Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Blurring Under-Eye Setting Powder. Do I have other powders that I use to set my under eyes? Yes, but this is the one that I reach for when I want my under eye area to look its absolute best. This is a super finely milled translucent powder that sets my under eyes all day but doesn’t make them look dry and crinkly. This product is tiny and portable, so I can travel with it, too. I just feel like my under-eye area always looks its best when I use this, so I’m always going to keep repurchasing it as long as it’s made (which is hopefully forever)!
There is truly nothing that does for me exactly what the Kopari Starry Eye Balm does. I would say it’s hugely underrated, especially if you’re over 40 or you have dry textures under your eyes. This is an extremely lightweight balm, oil product. It has coconut oil, which helps nourish and hydrate. It also has coffee oil, which helps depuff because of the caffeine and helps with the natural circulation under the eye, which in turn lessens the appearance of dark circles. It also has hyaluronic acid, which helps hydrate and smoothes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Sometimes my under-eye area is drier than others. I’ll do my skincare in the morning and apply my eye cream, sit down to do my makeup and by the time I go in to do my under-eye routine, I feel like my under-eye area needs more. So I’ll dab a tiny bit of this underneath my eyes and let it soak in. I also use this over my makeup sometimes. I just dab it lightly underneath my eyes to refresh my under-eye area if I am feeling like I am looking a little haggard or extra dry. I travel with it and have even used it on my cuticles. This is such a great product. It’s $28 and it will last you forever because you only have to use the tiniest amount. I had no idea how much I was going to end up loving this product when I first got it, and it’s one of my favorites.
Natasha Denona Mini Eyeshadow Palettes
There’s a reason why Natasha Denona Mini Eyeshadow Palettes always end up in my recommendations videos. I have a lot of other compact palettes that I really enjoy. But even though I love those other palettes, these have something they don’t. They are so compact and pack such a punch. They have tremendous quality and incredible versatility. When I’m traveling, they take little to no room up in my bag. Natasha Denona’s quality is fantastic, and I get a lot of use out of these palettes. Every time a new one is launched, I always have to check it out to see if I need it in my life. The four that I reach for the most are the mini nude, mini zendo, mini retro, and mini glam. She has so many combinations to choose from. These are just easy, no-brainer palettes. If I lost any one of these, I would definitely replace it.
Smashbox Cali Contour Face Palette
My absolute, hands-down favorite, multi-tasking face palette of all time is Smashbox Cali Contour Face Palette. I was so excited when they launched this in a medium/deep version, and they do carry both at Sephora. I use this not only on my face but also to get entire eye looks. The shades and quality are absolutely perfect for that. The palette offers the perfect contour shade that has just enough of a grey undertone that creates that perfect shadow. There’s something about the texture of this entire palette and it just makes everything look natural and beautiful. Even the highlighters glide on beautifully and look super natural. I’ve often said that I wish they came out with these highlighters in single versions. I just love this palette and think it’s a fantastic buy. I’ve gifted this to people many times. I use and love other face palettes, but this is a staple one I’ll always have in my life as long as they make it.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray
I have quite a few setting sprays in my life, both drug store and high-end, that I really like. But I don’t have a single one that does everything for me the way Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray does. A lot of people use a face mist like MAC Fix+, or rose water spray, to meld their makeup together after it’s applied and to take away the powdery look. This does that…but in a setting spray that doesn’t contain alcohol, so it doesn’t dry your face out or remain sticky. Your makeup remains bulletproof all day long and everything looks so much better than right after you applied it. It’s truly some kind of magic in a bottle. I have a travel spray that I travel with, and this is my second bottle of this one. In the summer, here in New Orleans, when your makeup can melt off your face just by walking from your car to a building, a product like this is indispensable. Plus, the spray itself is like a cloud, it’s just perfect.
I talk about liquid and cream eyeshadows quite often. I love a good one-and-done eyeshadow look! I’ve shared my love for Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks, but I wanted to mention two shades in particular that I always keep on hand: Cocoa and Tuxedo. Basically, they are black and brown. If you look at the description for Cocoa, I think it says it has a pearl in it, but it’s really not evident. I keep these on hand mainly to line with. The one-and-done shades that I use all over my lids are various brands, but there is just something about the texture, consistency, blend-ability, and the staining power of her Caviar Sticks that make these two shades great basic eyeliners. Even though I have regular eyeliners, these just work really well because of how well they smudge.
You can use it along your lash line and smudge it with a pencil if your sticks get flattened over time. What I do the most is take my eyeliner brush and dip it right into the product and wiggle it around and then I use my brush to line. I still use regular eyeliners, but these give me a bit more flexibility if I’m in a hurry or want to go a little bit smudgier. Plus they’re smudge-proof for the entire day, so I never have to worry about them whatsoever. If I lost one, I would definitely replace it.
Origins Original Skin Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay
For a long time now, the Origins Original Skin Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay has been one of my top, if not my top, face mask. It draws out impurities but also exfoliates and boosts radiance. My skin always looks better the next day after using this. It has Mediterranean rose clay, Canadian willow herb, and exfoliating jojoba beads. I use this when my skin isn’t looking its best, needs a little reviving, or if my pores need a little refining. This does the trick every time and never dries my skin out. A lot of clay masks make my skin feel dry and tight and this never does. Even though the website says it’s better for normal to oily skin, I have used this when my skin is dry and I’ve never had a problem with it. I’ve never used another mask that does everything this mask does. This clears my skin, refines my pores, and makes my skin look glowy, radiant, and super soft. I couldn’t tell you how many tubes I’ve gone through!
This is my second bottle of Moroccan Oil Mending Infusion. I adore this product and didn’t even know it existed before my stylist told me about it. I have a lot of trouble with flyaways in my hair, and this is the only product that I’ve ever found where I can liberally apply it and it tames the flyaways, but it never weighs my hair down or makes it look greasy. I have fine hair, and a lot of products that take care of split ends or smooth hair can really weigh it down or make it look greasy really fast. I can apply this multiple times a day and it never gets gunky. It’s got this kind of “lotion-y” light texture. I rub it between my hands and smooth it over my hair! It’s like you put nothing in your hair, but it does the job. I don’t understand how it works – I just know it does. It’s actually created for split ends to help them look better if you have a split end issue or if your hair looks dry down at the bottom. I use it for that too. It kind of takes care of everything. It’s perfect for my type of hair! It’s a really great product if you haven’t tried it, and a little bit goes a long way so it does last a long time too.
Another product, as of now, I will not be without is Ouai Detox Shampoo. I’ve tried so many detox shampoos. My daughter, who has a very different hair type than I do – thicker, frizzy, and more course – loves it, too. This is something you want to use weekly or every couple of weeks to get rid of build-up in your hair. It’s important to clarify/detox your hair because product build-up can cause your hair to get greasy faster or look limp and lifeless. This has apple cider vinegar in it but doesn’t have a strong scent. The reason why it’s not the same as clarifying your hair with apple cider vinegar (which you can do) is that this leaves your hair soft and shiny and healthy-feeling because it also has keratin. So it removes product build-up without stripping your hair or making it feel dry the way a lot of clarifying shampoos do and the way apple cider vinegar can. Ouai Detox also helps soften, smooth, tame frizz, and add shine. It just does a whole lot more than any other detox shampoo has ever done for me, and I love it.
To see these products in action, click here! Is there a beauty product you can’t live without? Let me know below!
I’m surprised that you are choosing the Dior concealer. I thought you had decided that Lancôme Teint Idol concealer is your Holy Grail.
Hi Peggy! I have many concealers I love. 🙂 Just because I can’t live without the Dior doesn’t mean I can’t also adore my Lancome and the others I love for various reasons. They all serve different purposes.
I cannot live without my Catrice mattifying waterproof setting powder. I love it under my eyes. Never creases it looks dry. I’m 61 !!