My Top 5 Beauty Essentials

Ever since I was young, I have been applying a daily facial moisturizer night & day. I remember walking into my local Walgreens and deciding on an oil-free SPF option from Neutrogena, and only recently did I branch out {seriously – I exclusively used Neutrogena for over 10 years!} I love Neutrogena because its affordable and easy to obtain – you can find any of their products at Walgreens, CVS, Duane Reade etc., as well as any grocery store. Only recently, after some research, have I branched out and tried a few new favorites: Peter Thomas Roth ‘Water Drench’ moisturizer & the Charlotte Tilbury ‘Magic’ Cream are two that I rotate into my daily skincare routine now. The water drench moisturizer is so different from any other moisturizer that I have ever tried! It’s hard to explain, but the texture is almost slippery, but still very light. I almost feel like I’m putting a really thin, hydrating mask on my face every time I use it. I love how easily it glides over my face, neck and chest and a little goes a LONG way! As for Charlotte Tilbury’s magic cream, I would describe this one as luxe. It feels so silky and smooth and creamy, but still goes on light {I hate a heavy cream}. Overall, it’s heavenly, and truly feels like a treat for my face.

Serum
I bought my first serum almost a year ago when I was looking to hydrate my skin during a harsh winter. I chose the ‘Midnight Recovey Concentrate’ from Kiehl’s because I have always respected Kiehl’s products, and the price point wasn’t crazy expensive. I purchased the 1oz jar for $46 and with daily usage, I am still on the same bottle! I love this serum because it is light, but hydrating, and doesn’t make my skin feel oily. You can serum underneath your nighttime moistureizer or wear it on it’s own! Other serums I have tried in the last year with varying success are Vitner’s Daughter, La Mer, and I just ordered the SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic serum which I’ve heard is amazing {so excited to try this one!} As far as Vitner’s Daughter goes, I must admit I was slightly disappointed. It is by far the most expensive beauty product I have ever purchase and the least likable. Its super thick, and has a very powerful fragrance. I didn’t wake up with my skin feeling or looking any different after my first usage, nor after a week of usage, so overall I wouldn’t buy this product again. The La Mer serum was included in a beauty set I bought during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, and was a nice surprise! It feels very light {like putting water on your face} and isn’t oily at all. I happily apply this every few nights {I like to switch up my routine} but will most likely not re-buy – the .5 oz jar is $130, whereas the Kiehl’s is $46 for 1oz!

Wet Brush
My mom introduced me to the wet brush a few years back and I haven’t looked back since. I honestly don’t know how I went my entire life without using one! If you don’t know, the Wet Brush not only detangles your hair with such ease, but also massages your head as you do so. It’s soft, but sturdy bristles make brushing your hair so much more enjoyable! And at $9 a pop, you can buy a few {I also have a travel sized one!}

Eyebrow Pencil
This beauty item has only become a must have in the last year or so {blame it on Cara Delevingne for making thick bushy brows stylish!} but ever since I filled in my brows for the first time, I can’t go a day without! I love Tom Ford’s ‘Brow Sculptor’ pencil because it has a brush, a sharpener, and a pencil that lasts 4x longer than the average option from any other brand. Admittedly, you will pay more for this pencil, but after trying several options, I always come back to this one. It’s a bit waxy, and a bit tricky to apply {the pencil is a bit thicker than some other options}, but it’s long lasting stay power and color options make it by far the best in my book.

Mascara
Last but not least, mascara. I’ve never been someone who wears a lot of makeup, but one makeup product I have never been able to live without is mascara. I just don’t feel like I look awake without it! Even if I’m not wearing an ounce of other make up, but my lashes look long and beautiful, I feel so much more put together. From $5 drug store options, to $85 mascaras from Neimans {was totally conned into that one}, I have tried every single option under the sun. For a while my favorite was the Giorgio Armani ‘Eyes to Kill’ mascara, but after a while, I got tired of spending so much money on something that was running out every month. Instead, I started investing in RevitaLash’s eyelash serum {*see side note below!*} and now save money by buying the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara which, honestly, I love! I think it does just as good of a job as the Armani option, and it’s obviously much less expensive.

** As you now know, long lashes are something I’ve never been able to live without, and up until recently, I was suffering with short, stubby lashes. That is, until a friend recommended RevitaLash. My friend Louisa has *the most* long and beautiful lashes that I had ever seen – you know, the kind you get distracted by when talking – and it turns out she was religious about using RevitaLash. I immediately ordered this product and haven’t looked back since. My short stubby lashes are now so incredibly long, and only need 1 swipe of my L’Oreal mascara to look perfect. I now get asked about my lashes all the time, and feel like I can walk around with nothing on my face with confidence! *Pro tip: buy the .11 oz version, it will last you 5x longer than the .3 oz option – I opened my .11 oz tube back in March and am still working on using it all up! The .3 oz tube is $55, and will last you ~1 month. Also, you must use this product consistently for 3 weeks {I put one swipe on each eyelash base every night before bed} before seeing a difference in the length of your lashes.

I would love to hear about your favorite beauty must-haves! Let me know in the comments!