My holy grail beauty products - Episode 101
From my days as a magazine editor to testing thousands of formulas as a full-time creator, it’s pretty clear to me when something is a standout product after a decade in the industry.
Something that makes me remember it even if it’s been months since I last used it and something that makes me grown as soon as I realize I’ve used up the last drop.
This week, I’m opening my metaphorical medicine cabinet and vanity drawers to reveal my holy grail beauty products, the ones that made an impression but more importantly made a difference that I will always happily welcome back into my weekly product rotation.
I’m also going to talk a bit about how I test products as a beauty creator and why I may not currently own all of my holy grails.
I can’t wait to share these ride-or-die formulas with you.
Create and consume:
What Austen is creating: Hoboken earth month collaboration on Instagram spotlighting eco-friendly businesses in the area
What Austen is consuming: finished a novella from 831 Stories called Grape Juice, where our main character Alice goes to the French countryside for a work assignment at a vineyard and ends up falling for Henri, the nephew of the vineyard owner
In this episode:
Holy grail makeup products
Face:
Primers: Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer, Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base
Foundation: Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech foundation, Glossier Stretch foundation (RIP Make Up Forever Reboot foundation)
Skin Tint: Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Skin Tint, Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Skin Tint
Concealer: Tarte Shape Tape and It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eyes for heavier coverage, Tower28 Serum Concealer and Glossier Stretch Concealer for everyday
Contour: Makeup by Mario SoftSculpt stick and Milk Makeup Matte Cream Bronzer Stick
Cream bronzer: Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Bronzer and Milani Cheek Kiss
Powder bronzer: Maybelline City Light bronzer
Cream blush: Covergirl TruBlend Skin Enhancer Blush
Powder blush: Tower28 Get Set blush, Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Luminous Powder blush
Cream highlighter: Wander Beauty On the Glow stick (RIP Glossier Haloscope)
Powder highlighter: Wet n Wild Mega Glow Highlighting Powder and Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder
Loose powder: Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder
Setting spray: Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Setting Spray, L’oreal Infalliable Setting Spray
Pressed powder: Kosas Cloud Set Setting Powder
Eyes
Eyeshadow primer: Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Eye Primer, Smashbox Photo Finish 24 Hour
Eyeshadow stick: Covergirl Clean Eye Color, Julep Beauty Cream to Powder Eyeshadow Stick
Eyeshadow palette: Naked Mini 3 Eyeshadow Palette
Cream eyeshadow: Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize Pillowtalk
Liquid Eyeliner: Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Liquid Eyeliner
Mascara: Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara, Milk Makeup Kush mascara, Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara
Brow pencil: NYX Blade and Shade and Lawless Shape Up Brow Pencil
Brow gel: Glossier Boy Brow, Milk Makeup Kush Laminating Brow Gel
Lips
Cream lipstick: Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk and Lancome L’Absolu Rouge Intimatte
Liquid lipstick: Pixi Beauty MatteLast Liquid Lipstick
Lip liner: Charlotte Tilbury Pillowtalk
Lip gloss: Covergirl Yummy Gloss
Holy grail skincare products
Treatments
Sheet mask: Loops Hydro Gel and Neutrogena Hydro Boost
Clay mask: Rael Clay Miracle Pore Mask and Kiehl’s Rare Earth Clay Mask
Skin treatment: Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads
Pimple patches: Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch
Face mist: Peach & Lily Glass Skin Mist, Fresh Vitamin Nectar Antioxidant Face Mist
Everyday
Eye masks: Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench, Florence by Mills Swimming Under the Eyes
Eye cream: Sunday Riley 5 Stars Eye Serum, Paula’s Choice Pro Collagen Peptide Cream
Cleanser: Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser, fresh Soy Cleanser
Makeup remover wipes: Neutrogena Compostable Makeup Wipes
Makeup remover: Glossier Milk Oil, Garnier Hydrating Micellar Water
Cleansing balm: Then I Met You Cleansing Balm, Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm
Lip mask: Laniege Lip Mask in Berry
Face sunscreen: innisfree Daily UV Defense, Elta MD UV Daily Face Sunscreen
Serum: SkinCeuticals Niacinamide Hydrating B5 Gel, Glow Recipe Plum Hyaluronic Acid Serum, Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum
Moisturizer: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream, First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream, Laneige Water Bank Moisturizer
Facial Oil: Pixi Beauty Jasmine Oil Blend
Body
Body sunscreen: Paula’s Choice Sunscreen Extra Care Non-Greasy
Body wash: Dove Refresh Body Wash and Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash
Body lotion: Curel Ultra Healing Lotion
Holy grail hair products
Hair care
Shampoo and conditioner: amika mirrorball shampoo and conditioner, Tresemmé Rich Moisture shampoo and conditioner
Hair mask: amika Flash Instant Shine Mask
Hair styling
Hairspray: Tresemmé Extra Hold Hairspray and davines This is a medium hairspray
Shine spray: davines This is a shimmering mist and ColorWow Extra Mist-ical Shine Spray
Dry shampoo: amika Perk Up Plus Dry Shampoo
Hair tools
Slick back: Tigi Bedhead Wax Stick and dae Hair Wand Original
Hair ties: Goody Ouchless Hair Elastics
Hair oil: Verb Ghost Hair Oil and amika Starfruit Hair Oil
Curling iron: Conair 1” Infiniti Barrel Curling Iron
Hair dryer: L’ange Hair Dryer Brush
Holy grail fragrances
Perfume: Maison Marigela On a Date (all their scents honestly, By the Fireplace, Autumn Vibes)
Body mist: Miami Muse & Other Stories
Summary:
If you’re looking to try out some new products, I hope these 96 tried and true favorites are a good source for inspiration.
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