Well, I really didn’t plan to write a post on beauty products this week but, in the immortal words of Loretta Lynn when Ernest Tubb asked if she’d play the Grand ‘Ol Opry the next week, “I ain’t got nothin’ else to do”.
Plus several of you wanted to know Gulley’s thoughts on Clinique’s Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector. And here’s her official response, “The jury is still out”.
The guy at Sephora told her you put it on in the morning after your moisturizer. And she says she can tell her makeup goes on smoother over it, but it’s too soon to tell if it’s actually improving her dark circles. She promises to keep us posted.
But she did want me to tell y’all that the tip that has made the most significant impact on her dark circles was something the makeup consultant at a Laura Mercier counter told her a few years ago. Always apply your regular concealer under your eyes last, after all your other makeup is on. The reason is that you are getting mascara residue and other things under your eyes that you can’t even really see, but are making your dark circles more prominent. The concealer covers it.
And since we’re talking about beauty products, I thought I may as well share a few things I’m using lately that I really love. Some of these are probably repeats from when we’ve discussed it before, but I’m a creature of habit and if something works I stick with it.
That’s why P and I have been married for fifteen years and counting.
1. skinceuticals renew overnight dry
I love this moisturizer. It’s light enough that you could use it in the morning and evening, but I just use it at night. I didn’t use it as much during the summer because I tend to use self-tanner as moisturizer, but I’ve used it daily for the last few weeks and can already tell my skin looks better.
It’s a little pricey, but I’ve almost had the same jar for a year. A little goes a long way.
Retinol is the key to the youth kingdom. It’s true.
I only use this every other night because it can irritate my skin if I use it more often, but nothing is better at lightening up the sun spots on my face and smoothing out fine lines.
Do y’all remember that I debated forever about a Clarisonic brush? I couldn’t decide if it was worth the money or not. But I’m here to tell you it was worth it.
If I had to get rid of everything else, I would keep this. And by everything else, I mean makeup and cleanser type items. I wouldn’t give up my family or anything like that. Probably.
4. bobbi brown long wear cream shadow
Here’s the thing about aging. It can do weird things to your eyes. And then you put on your favorite powder eyeshadow and realize it’s kind of all wrinkly. Then you realize that the eyeshadow is just highlighting your wrinkled eyelid.
And then you drink wine.
But this cream shadow is great. It goes on smooth and lasts all day. And I can wear it as a base under a powder eyeshadow and get a smooth finish. It’s like Spanx for your eyes.
5. revlon colorburst lip butter
This is the best lip product I’ve tried in a long time. It’s smooth and so moisturizing and seems to last for a long time. I bought it in a shade called sugarplum that looks much darker in the tube. It goes on a little more sheer.
So I mentioned I just bought this on Sunday, but I think I’m already sold. It’s the brush. It’s almost like a toothbrush for your eyelashes. I’m a fan.
7. too faced primed & poreless skin smoothing face primer
You know how when you get your makeup done at a makeup counter and they try to sell you on the primer? And it kind of feels like a scam?
Well, I’m here to tell you that a good primer makes a big difference. It makes my skin look smoother, evens out my complexion and, best of all, I don’t have to use nearly as much tinted moisturizer to get good coverage. So, in a way, it pays for itself because I’m saving all that moisturizer.
There are a lot of different primers on the market, but I really like this one. And a little goes a long way so a tube can last me about six months.
It also helps that I don’t wear makeup everyday since I write for a living and often wear pajamas until noon.
8. laura mercier tinted moisturizer
This has been my favorite for a long time. It feels light and doesn’t look like you’re wearing anything. It’s just a better version of your skin.
9. covergirl natureluxe gloss balm
I bought this on a whim at Target one day and have not regretted it. It has been my summer go-to lip balm. I have a shade called Spice. It goes on really sheer, makes your lips feel moisturized, and has a little bit of a shimmer to it.
So technically this isn’t makeup. It’s nail polish. But I think this will be my preferred shade this fall and winter.
Right now I’m wearing a very subtle shade of SWEET MERCY IT’S FUSCHIA on my toes. That’s not the official name, but it should be. That’s what I get for just telling the lady at the pedicure place to paint my toes the same color as Caroline’s.
Okay, now you’ve got to return the favor. What are your must have beauty products right now?
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I am terrible in the beauty aisle. I never go to a counter and seek the help I need, so thanks for helping me out here.
Dollar store Facial scrub and mascara …….that’s it……as you can see I’m just not that interested in the time it takes for all of the other application
My best is NYC waterproof eye liner in Teal and the oldie but a goodie, Maybelline Great Lash mascara in black! I use NYC lip gloss, too. NYC is basically one step above Wet ‘n Wild make up, the eyeliner is less than $2.50! But,I love both of the items I have!
Thanks for the recommendations! My favorite make-up “thing” is Laura Mercier’s eye primer. I love that it has some color and shine to it. I can wear it alone as eye color, but it does a great job of keeping my eye shadow on too!
Trish McEvoy mascara is my favorite product ever. It coats your lashes with what seems like rubber tubes. To take it off you just wet your lashes wait a minute and then rinse it off with water. It doesn’t smear or run it stands up to tears without running…takes no rubbing or product to get it off (which I think reduces wear and tear on your eye area). When it comes off it is just little tubes of silicone ….it is amazing stuff. It’s 38 bucks…but lasts a long time and totally worth it. It comes with a fluffy brush or a skinny one.
I recently was introduced to the beauty that is Arbonne and I love, love, love them. Vegan-certified and never tested on animals. I have used their skincare line (samples) and fell in love with it, of course all of the products together are over $300 to purchase, so I didn’t buy them, but am picking and choosing some of the items I must have. Love them. I’m even having a party so I can free products and I never host parties like this. LOL!
Eye SPANX! Love it!!!
Oh, and I just bought an adorable fitted chambray/denim shirt this past weekend… not only because you sang the praises of such a shirt, but because I’ve seen it splashed all over Pinterest. And let me tell you – it really IS darling! Thanks for the heads up.
I can vouch for the Clarisonic. I bought one last winter and it has truly changed my skin. I was struggling with breakouts and then scarring. I was desperate for a solution so I bought the Mia and I’m a convert for life.
I’ve been thinking about the Clarisonic for a while now. What cleanser do you use on that thing? I like the Revlon Lipbutter also, my only complaint is I can barely get the darn tube open!
As a “woman of age”, (ha, ha), I find that my once great eyelashes are lightening, thinning, etc. A friend recommended Estée Lauder Lash Primer Plus Full Treatment Formula and it works like a charm. Let it dry a minute, then use mascara over it for a ” ah, that’s more like it” look.
I love posts like this!! I am a nail polish and mascara junkie. Currently I’m using Lash Luv mascara by Mary Kay and I really like it. Oil of Olay (the pink stuff) is my favorite moisturizer and on top of that I use Olay Total Effects tinted moisturizer. (double layer of moisterizer)
I got a Clarisonic last year and agree it is worth every dollar. I use Cetaphil with mine and like that a lot. I am now going to try the retinol as need something more. I also use a primer on eyes and skin and Murad matify lotion in the summer for shine. I am not sure what to use as a moisturizer and the Estee Lauder was trying to sell me some of their creams. Any opinions anyone on them? Does the smell of the Dioir mascara bother you? I read the reviews and that is mentioned. I do get sick of the perfumes in makeup and moisturizers! I have a friend who swears by coconut oil for everything!
Anastasia Eyebrow Pencil Brow Wiz!!
It is a tiny pencil so you can be exact (no more Tammy Faye brows), it doesn’t rub off until you use soap (even in TX heat) and it has a tiny little bottle brush on the end to get your wild hairs lined up.
http://www.sephora.com/brow-wiz-P202633
You had me at the title of the post =) Love it!
I love the Dior mascara. My friend treated me to a makeover at Sephora for Christmas. They got me hooked on Dior foundation too. Pricey, but when you use a foundation brush to put it on, it lasts forever! I had never used a brush to put on foundation before but now I love the way it looks. Now, if only I had a Clarisonic…. it may have to be my next splurge.
I like a hand cream by Philosophy called Hands of Hope. It’s a bit thick so I use it at night, has a nice fragrance that isn’t too strong and works great in our Colorado high altitude dryness.
I am also a big fan of Diorshow, it’s the best. I love the Bobbi Brown tinted moisturizer, as well as her concealers. Urban Decay’s NAKED eye palette is wonderful, as are their eyeliners.
I was just like the other commenter who said she uses Maybelline great lash and not much else– then I turned 45. ha. Thanks for the recommendations. I highly recommend Arbonne eye cream, it seems to make a real difference, and it’s sort of mid-priced, not cheap, but not nearly as outrageous as some others. Since I still have oily skin, products that make me shimmer and glow are not very high on my list– I’m still an oil slick, I’ve got plenty of shine. I alternate days of using Aveeno Ultra-Calming Moisturizer (which I love because it is light and doesn’t have much shimmer, but doesn’t have any anti-aging stuff) and Olay Regenerist (which has the anti-aging but a little more shine than I like). I’ll check back in when we have the conversation about what the heck you do with chin hairs. HATE THEM, and they didn’t show up until about age 46 or 47. *sigh*
Random tidbit: My 16 year old daughter just named her new tiny yorkie Essie!
She loves the nail polish too!
My skin thinks we’re still 17 so I use ProActive! BUT my face is SOOO oily! I don’t remember it always being this oily…Maybe it’s the ProActive or maybe the Texas heat! I don’t know….but, do you know of anything that help controls the oil without having to break out the pressed powder all day?
So glad you posted this again! I was trying to remember your list the other day, so you definitely saved me the time of hunting through your site. I’ll take saved time right to Sephora to hunt for new products!
Hey Big Mama, I am totally “with” you on the whole Retinol thing. You might want to try Paula’s Choice products. Dr. Oz has recommended her products. They are awesome and very well priced.
I LOVE this post!! My favorite, favorite is Olay Regenerist serum for pre-moisturizing; and Olay Regenerist Night Cream. LOVE IT! Also, I’ve tried all manner of expensive mascaras, and still come back to Cover Girl LashBlast. And finally. My one true makeup love, the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette. It’s all the eye shadow I need. Perfect for traveling. I’m a fan.
I adore the Naturluxe lip gloss!! Spice and Clove are my go-to’s. Big fan. Huge.
I have 2 products for you—Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher (its like Spanx for your whole face!) and Neosporin Lip Health Daily Hydration Therapy. It isn’t tinted but, oh, my word, it makes for some soft smooth lips, even in the bitter cold of winter.
I love the Clinique eye gel for puffiness and all of the other Clinique products for moisturizing and dark spots.
I really love Urban Decay eye primer and Stila shadows. I use Aveda concealer, love it.
I like Benefit mascara and Tarte has a nice one too. I have so many products but those are my favorites. I really like the Revlon lip butters. Try the Revlon Just Bitten crayons with the butter over them for moisture.
This isn’t actually makeup, but I had permanent eyeliner done two years ago and it is my favorite beauty tip. When I get up in the morning, I already have “eyes” even before I put on mascara or shadow. Most days in the summer I wear no makeup except lip gloss. Love it.
I am obsessed with a birchbox. Its samples. Of fun products that are mailed each month. They are good size and allow you to try everything for ten dollarss a month
Ok, this post is timely. I’ve used Bare Escentuals for years, but I’m getting to the age where powder and more powder just makes me look… well, powdery. I was thinking about giving something else a try and now I have a whole list to work through. Yay! (And thanks!)