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?