My Top Beauty Product Picks
Happy Sunday, Lovelies!
I hope you are enjoying downtime with your family. Here in PA we are enduring yet another snowstorm, so my family is curled up watching a movie after a fairly productive weekend!
I constantly am receiving questions on Instagram about what make-up products I use, so I thought I would use the snowy weather as an excuse to stay inside and blog a bit today.
Start with Healthy Skin
I’ll be honest, ever since having Lilly, I have struggled with acne. I’ve done everything from using prescribed topicals to taking antibiotics for it. It wasn’t until I started taking a probiotic and enzymes daily (and giving up the antibiotic) that I noticed a change in my acne. I also have a strict regimen of topical solutions that I use to keep my skin clear that I will detail below.
My Morning Skincare Routine:
- I start with Cetaphil cleanser and gently wash my face with lukewarm water
- I then take a cotton ball an drop a few drops of The Ordinary glycolic acid 7% toning solution and dab it all over my face. I love the brand The Ordinary because it is SO AFFORDABLE. The products are the best I’ve ever used and you often can get them for under $10. I have noticed a significant change in my skin from using this line of skincare products.
- I then mix a drop of the Admire My Skin brightening serum and the Paula’s Choice 2% BHA liquid exfoliant into the palm of my hands and spread all over my face. I get a lot of dark spots on my face and I have found that these two products help to counteract them AND really help to improve the overall texture of my face.
- My eyes often are puffy in the mornings, and one of my most used products (of all time, ever) is the Dr. Brandt Needles No More, No More Baggage eye de-puffing gel. The difference is noticeable and I love how cool it feels on my eyes.
- I finish my morning routine with the Cetaphil PRO oily skin moisturizer. My dermatologist recommended it to me, and it’s truly something I can’t live without. Also if your skin is dry when beginning your make-up routine, your make-up will look cakey and uneven.
My Evening Skincare Routine
- I once again start with the Cetaphil face wash
- I then use the Mario Badescu Aloe Vera Toner (the same way I use my morning toner)
- I then mix the Epiduo Forte (prescription) and The Ordinary Advanced Retinoid 2% suspension in the palm of my hands and rub all over my face.
- I finish with the Cetaphil moisturizer again
- If I am having an acne flare up, I take a cue tip and dip it in the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion and dab it on my pimples. It works like a charm and the pimples are often gone overnight!
My Favorite Make-up Primers:
After you start with a moisturized face, you want to prime your face for the make-up you will be wearing. Primers are almost like the glue that holds your make-up in place. Here are my favorite primers:
My Top CC Creams & Foundations:
- Supergoop! CC Cream ( I LOVE this one. It’s great in the summer because it’s sweat proof and has sunscreen in it)
- IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream
- Stila Stay All Day 10 in 1 Beauty Balm
I love the IT Cosmetics CC Cream for every day use. It is light but has a great coverage. I mix a dab of all three of these products when I want to do my full make-up routine. I love the Stila Beauty Balm because it adds a subtle glow.
My Favorite Concealers:
- IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye this is the best under eye concealer ever! It stays in place nicely and doesn’t look creased by the end of the day.
- NYX HD Concealer
- Almay Clear Complexion Concealer I use this when I have acne flare ups and it’s great coverage and has sacylic acid in it to help reduce the imflammation
My Favorite Powders
- Almay Clear Complexion Powder adds great coverage while helping with acne
- NYX Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Finishing Powder
- NYX HD Finishing Powder is what I use to set my make-up at the end. I also carry the travel size in my purse for touch-ups!
Contour/Highlighters/Blush
- NYX Contour & Highlight Palette I love the highlighters on this. I put it under my eyes, on my nose, chin & forehead to contour.
- tarte Tarteiset Pro Glow to Go Highlight & Contour adds a touch of shimmer and I love the dark contour for chiseling!
- NYX Blush I have been using this blush for years now. It’s under $5 and the pigmentation is amazing!
My Favorite Eye Make-up
- Too Faced Thank Me Later Eye Primer (always start with a primer it will keep your shadow from falling throughout the day)
- Urban Decay Primer Potion
- NYX Dream Catcher Eye Shadow Palette this is my case for NYX to bring back their trios that I LOVED that they have discontinued. However, this palette has the shadows I loved. I use the lighter shade, a bronze shade, and a dark brown shade for my eyes!
- Stila Liquid Eyeliner I use this along my top lash line
- NYX Pencil Liner I use this
along my bottom lash line - Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara I use this on my top lashes
- Urban Decay Lash Perversion I use this on my bottom lashes
My Favorite Eyebrow Products:
- NYX Fine Eyebrow Pencil I love how fine the pencil is it’s easy to create the eyebrow shape you want with it
- NYX Tinted Eyebrow Gel
My Favorite Lip Products:
I start with a liner, then a tinted lip balm or lipstick and finish with a gloss
- NYX Matte Lipliner Pencil
- Clinique Pep-Start Lip Perfecting Balm I have this in every shade I’m so obsessed
- Butter London Lipstick
- NYX Butter Gloss like the Clinique lip balms, I have these in almost every shade. They are under $5 right now. My favorite is the Creme Brulee!
- Buxom Full-on Plumping Lip Polish it feels good when you put it
on, and adds a little bit of volume to your lips!
Finishing Spray:
I set my makeup with a make-up finishing/setting spray. My favorite is the NYX matte setting spray!
If you have any questions about how I do my make-up feel free to message me on Instagram or Facebook. My goal is to do a video tutorial showing these products at some point this month!
Have a great week!
xoxo,
Kalyn
