We’re always quick to chat about the latest and greatest products in the beauty world, and yet we seem to overlook the real workhorses, the real constants in our beauty routine. Today I wanted to shine the spotlight on the beauty products I love, and come back to time and time again.
Starting with the one skincare product that fits this category, my Grown Alchemist Hydra Repair Day Cream, which is looking pretty well loved at this point. I flit between cleansers, I swap out toners and masks on the regular, I swap my serums all the time but I always use this moisturiser. It’s light and not at all sticky, it sinks in quickly, and it’s got a dreamy natural ingredients list. My skin just loves this stuff, and I reach for it every day without fail.
I’ve got quite the perfume collection these days, but more often than not I’m wearing Giorgio Armani Si, a scent I’ve had and loved for three or four years now. It’s sweet, and a good balance of fruity and floral, and I feel most like me when I’m wearing this scent. I’m on my third bottle, and whilst it’s pricey, it’s something I know I’ll continue to repurchase again and again.
I always stock up on the It’s a 10 Miracle Leave In Product when I’m in the States, it’s a lifesaver for colour treated – especially bleached – hair. Your hair is at it’s most fragile when wet, and my hair is pretty brittle as it is, so spritzing this through the lengths of my locks post shower really helps. It’s packed with Keratin which is a godsend for repairing the structure of your hair, and when I don’t use this I notice a massive difference in how healthy my hair looks and feels.
Moving on to makeup, I’m not particularly loyal to many blushes, but the Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Exposed lives on top of my dressing table these days, I reach for it so much. It’s a natural dusky pink shade that looks pretty plain and simple in the pan, but creates a really gorgeous natural flush on the cheeks. The formula of these blushes is really longwearing, so I can apply it in the morning knowing it’ll still be there at the end of the day.
Also in the cheek department, a pricey purchase I’ve used a lot of, the Marc Jacobs Insta Marc Light Filtering Contour Powder. This is a gorgeous highlight and contour duo that’s buttery soft, intensely pigmented and blends like a dream. Both shades are matte and I’ll admit, I use the highlight shade as a setting powder as for me it’s not quite light enough, but the contour shade is where it’s at. I’ve never been much of one for contour but this makes it so easy to add a little definition to the face, I can’t resist it. I take a tiny touch of this on a fluffy brush straight into the hollows of my cheeks, and buff it out, taking any excess round my temples and under my chin. It’s a pricey one, but I never reach for any other bronzers or contour powders.
I don’t wear winged liner as much as I used to these days, but when I do, you can guarantee it’s the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper. I haven’t bought another liquid liner since discovering this three years ago – it’s easy to apply, jet black and doesn’t fade or transfer throughout the day. A+!
Lipsticks are something I’m not particularly loyal to, but when I don’t know what to wear I always reach for the Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Ex-Girlfriend, my perfect nude shade. It’s creamy and soft on the lips, not too opaque so it looks really natural, and I just love it. I’m probably going to have to repurchase this soon, there’s not much left!
Another Urban Decay love, my Naked Basics 2 Palette is looking well worn these days, I’ve even hit pan on the lightest shade! I firmly believe everyone should have this palette in their stash, it’s simply gorgeous. The soft taupey shades are super pigmented, but soft and easy to blend out on the lid. You’ve got all the colours you need to create a simple daytime look or something dark and smokey for the evenings. It’s the palette I travel with most, because I know it does it all!
And lastly, a shout out to the Rimmel Super Gel Nail Polish in Sun Fun Days – the only nail polish I ever wear on my toes! I love this punchy pink shade, and the formula never chips on me – what more could you want?
What are your beauty routine constants?
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