The Holy Grail of products- cosmetic edition - YouLookFab Forum

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The Holy Grail of products- cosmetic edition

Susie

Veteran

I've realized that I am currently very satisfied with my skin care and make up routines. Some of these products I've been using for years and some are more recent discovered. My Holy Grail includes:

From DHC:
* body soap- great lather, non drying
* olive oil moisturizer
* face soap- olive oil or pure
* olive oil swabs- like Qtips, with olive oil. Perfect for removing small make up blunders and good for moisturizing cuticles. I always have a box of these handy.
* eyeliner- just tried this and I LOVE it. I am not good at eyeliner and have tried lots of different kinds with less than perfect results. (Wrinkly eye skin doesn't help!) This works quickly and easily for a perfect THIN line.
* velvet skin coat- a great primer
* BB Cream- the best I've tried. It's a bit spendy but a little goes a long way.

A few other products I stick with:
* Eye make up remover gel from Bliss. I have been using this for probably 10+ years. Effective and non greasy and rinses off with water.
* Under eye concealer from Bobbi Brown. Something else that I've tried lots of different ones and have finally settled on this one.
* Mineral make up from Bare Minerals.
* Powder blush from Target's Sonia Kashuk in melon. The right color and cheap.
* Cream blush from Revlon. Again, the right color and cheap.

The one thing I will probably always experiment with is mascara. I don't have 1 particular one that I've committed to. I usually have several kinds at once, both drug store brands and higher end. A current favorite is "They're Real" from Benefit.

Over to you...what are your Holy Grail cosmetic/skind care/make up products?

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28 replies

Latest reply was from texstyle

Emily

Veteran

I trust Clinique - it works for my skin. I use Liquid Facial Soap Mild/Toner 2 morning and night but not the yellow moisturizer - age defense for the spf. It's gentle but keeps my occasional acne under control. I've busted DH using the stuff, too. I also like the Naturally Glossy Mascara, Chubby Sticks and Almost Lipstick in Black Honey.

Susie

Veteran

Emily, I use that lipstick too. I read somewhere that the Black Honey is a universally flattering shade. I also really like the colored lip balms from Fresh. Lipcolor must feel good or I won't use it. Gloss is too sticky and some lipsticks are too drying.

Anonymous

I'm also a fan of Clinique skin care for my very sensitive skin. It's the one brand I can use and trust that my skin won't freak out. My favorites are the liquid facial soap and the Moisture Surge moisturizer.

For body, I love my cheap St. Ives body lotion (seriously, it works and is CHEAP) and Neutrogena body oil when I'm feelin' fancy. I like Ulta's body washes and scrubs.

For cosmetics, my favorites are:
- Stila Kitten eyeshadow
- Urban Decay foundation, primer potion for eyes, and some eyeshadows.

I seem to experiment a lot with blushes, lipgloss/lipstick, eyeliners, and mascara.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Mattify face powder and blush. I cannot wear most face powders on the market because they contain ingredients that make my skin burn, itch and develop cystic acne. I'm talking about the "natural" mineral makeups too.

Mattify products don't contain anything that bothers my sensitive skin plus they work *really* well at evening out my skin tone.

http://www.mattifycosmetics.com

catgirl

Veteran

I'm a huge fan of highlighter since starting this job - I need something to keep me looking alive. I use Benefit "Watt's Up".

Anonymous

I love my Bare Mineral make-up. I find the eye shadow works best if I wet my brush, otherwise they don't stay very well. Bonus is being powder their are no worries packing for air travel.
I also like color science Wild to Mild primer. It calms redness and causes no burning.
Can't find a holy grail for lip color. I'm very seriously thinking of getting permanent make-up on my lips. My lips are always dry, most products especially with colored ones make it worse. I also break out in fever blisters with many products.
Mascara is another product that is ho-hum for me. I'll be watching for recommendations.

bj1111

Veteran

great timing as i think i've just figured out what my skin needs in its current iteration...always subject to change re weather, age, time of the month, phases of the solar storms ;-p

non-winter: history of whoo water, serum, emulsion and mederma scar gel used as moisturizer

winter: whoo water or serum, eucerin hyaluron filler for day, mederma scar gel as moisturizer. the last two have hyaluron and allantoin, both very hydrophilic and water retaining.

all year round: ohui sunscience sunblock spf 50, skin 79 super beblish balm spf 25, ohui sunscience cleanser

make-up: t leclerc loose powder in almond, t leclerc powder blush or nars the multiple in orgasm, lancome fever lipgloss or rimmel lipstick

looking for a moisturizing red lippie.

yes...i am high maintenance but it all fits in a quart sized plastic bag and is tsa approved.

Anonymous

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

Dessert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash (for removing makeup)https://www.desertessence.com/.....h-original

Jane Iredale mineral makeup - Amazing Base "Warm Silk" foundation, PurePressed "Awake" blush, plus PureLash Lash Extender & Conditioner

CoverGirl "brown/black" washable waterproof mascara, Perfect Blend "smokey taupe" eye pencil (for filling in brows) and Perfect Point "Plum Velvet" eyeliner pencil

Revlon Super Lucious "Blushing Mauve" lipstick (Thank you, http://www.truth-is-beauty.com.....e-you.html)

Vanicream - lite lotion for face + skin cream for body

Dessert Essence Fragrance Free Hand & Body Lotion

*****

Rx products for Rosacea: Finacea gel and Clindamycin lotion

Hestonian

Facial cleanser, toner, and night cream from The Body Shop
Seaweed mattifying day cream and vitamin C skin boost, also from The Body Shop.
Boi ing concealer for trouble spots.
Hello Flawless brightening makeup and powder, from Benefit.
Tarte cheek stain, in "tipsy".
Random eyeliner and mascara. Still trying to find "the one".
Burt's Bees tinted lip balm.

froggiebecky

Veteran

I just recently discovered Palmers Skin Therapy Oil. I started using it instead of night cream and it has cleared up some old acne scars on my face that I thought I'd have for life! Since I've started using it, I've had 4 different (unrelated) people tell me I look younger now than I did 3 years ago (while looking at old pictures). Seeing as i'm only 32, I think it's working!

Claudia

Veteran

Tom Ford Brow Sculptor. Genius formula and applicator wand.

Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Rose.

Olive oil for dry skin.

Lucy

Veteran

I too rely on Clinique - there is always a rash risk with anything else

As I got older I found the DDM was cutting it any longer, but the other heavier moisturisers are very good. I tend to buy when there is a gift with purchase.

I use Clinique foundation and blush - and I love the Chubby Sticks. But I've also been very impressed with Revlon Just Bitten Lip Balms. They have far longer staying power than the Chubby Sticks, though they are a bit more drying. I now layer down the Just Bitten first, with Chubby Sticks on top, and I am prepped for the day.

cciele

Veteran

Fun thread! I always love trying new products. Recently though my skin has been loving Primal Life Organics for basic skin care (http://www.primallifeorganics.com/); I use the Infiniti line. I know, you might think going paleo for skincare might be a bit extreme, but the stuff is wonderful.

For foundation, I use Jane Iredale pressed mineral powder.

The best wearing eye liner I've found so far is Stila Smudge Pot/Stick. I also like Urban Decay liners.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I'm looking for new ideas so thanks I use olive soaps too, also use coconut oil to cleanse.

deb

Veteran

I used Clinique skin care products since the late 70's. At the beginning of the year I noticed that the Turnaround cream I was using was too drying. I started using Loreal Revitalift and really like it. I have found my holy grail of foundation with Clinique CC Cream. It is moisturizer, primer and foundation all in one. And it evens out my skin tone wonderfully. And I have found a blush that I hope is never discontinued. It is a cream blush from MAC and I am down to the bottom the pan. This is the first time I have ever done that. I am also a fan of Clinique mascaras and the black honey almost lipstick.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I like the color of black honey but hate the form factor, too long and skinny. Many's the time I've had to retrieve it from where it fell out of my pocket. Finally I gave up, am still looking for a tinted balm/ light lipstick that works for me.

Eucerin's redness relief night cream has become my go to in the drier months. I use the eucerin cleanser in the shower but cerave cleanser when I'm washing my face at the sink, and cerave sunscreen. I've got a Boots no 7 eye cream right now and it's ok but not thrilling.

Cosmetics wise the ELF line is amazingly great for the price, but I am slowly being won over by Stila foundations and eyeshadow. For years I was an OPI only girl for nail polish, and I still think the staying power can't be beat, but Maybelline makes these cute half-size bottles in their ColorShow line that are quite good and not as much of an investment.

Susie

Veteran

Laura, have you tried the tinted balms from Fresh? I had been using the rose for summer. It gave just a hint of color, like it would look if you happened to have a nice natural rose color to your lips! For fall, I switched to plum for a bit more color. I thought I would prefer a reddish/wine tint but the plum worked best when I tried all of them at Sephora.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I actually got some Fresh balms from Sephora last year, I think, when they had a little 'kit' of them on sale. I liked the look of them and the size, but when I kept them in my pocket they were so emollient they melted from the heat of my body and ended up ruined. :/

Beth

Veteran

I really love Cerave's cleansers: the gel for spring/summer and the hydrating version for fall/winter. They're fragrance-free and rinse off easily.

For evening, I alternate several Paula's Choice moisturizers (a retinol one night, an AHA exfoliator the next). They do what they say and I'm a real fan.

My favorite day moisturizer is Clinique City Block Sheer SPF25. It's light and works as a perfect tinted base with a dusting of Laura Mercier foundation powder on top.

My holy grail mascara is Lancome Definicils, although I refuse to spend nearly $30 a tube on it any more. Cover Girl LashBlast works as a stand-in.

As for other cosmetics, I'm using Bobbi Brown eyeshades these days but am not completely satisfied with the level of pigment. I use a variety of very dark eyeshadows as liners (with a dampened eyeliner brush). Count me in as a Clinique Black Honey user, although my daily standby is MAC's Sophisto.

patsymaloo

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish - the only thing to sort out my teenage skin. Shame I didn't find it until I was way, way out of my teens!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I am big on inexpensive drug store brands. Need to save my money for pricey pilly Vince sweaters LOL.

Moisturizer with Sunscreen -- Olay for sensitive skin SPF 15. It's completely hypoallergenic and the SPF is a physical (zinc oxide) rather than purely chemical blocker. I get these in a double pack from Costco and share a bottle with my boyfriend. I probably go through 3 bottles a year.

More Sunscreen -- Clarins SPF 40. This is my "splurge" but it lasts! Completely zinc oxide or the like so I do look pretty white when wearing it. Costs around $40 and I buy it max twice a year.

Mascara -- they discontinued my holy grail Maybelline XXL formulas. They had a primer on one end and mascara on the other. Although I noticed you can get them on eBay.

Adelfa

Veteran

I have used L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black mascara (in waterproof) since it came out, love it. For eyeshadow I have the Naked I and II palettes by Urban Decay, and have no desire to try anything else. For eyeliner, it's Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof pencil in espresso--I've used it for years.

I am not loyal with foundation, concealer, blush, or lippies. Always trying something different and hopefully better. I have a good cheap bronzer though--Wet & Wild Color Icon Bronzer in Ticket to Brazil. There was another shade of W&W bronzer that I used for years until it was discontinued.

I'm a faithful user of the Dan Kern line for my acne.

Runcarla

Veteran

The stalwarts of my beauty arsenal are No Ad sunscreen in SPF 30 or 45, Coppertone Sport for face SPF 65! and Johnston's Baby Lotion (in the pink container).

I've been very happy with a CeraVe face regimen that I started in July (thanks to reading about it here). Since I don't use any kind of foundation or even tinted moisturizer (rosacea/flaky skin issues) I use Smashbox photo finish primer with nice results.

Hostess of the Humble Bungalow did a recent post about a nice red lippy that I thought I would give a try. Red Velvet, Revlon Colourburst Lip Butter. I'm quite liking it.

I've been getting my lashes dyed since I was 14 yrs but switched to brown vs black/blue-black about 5 yrs due to fading hair colour.

Gaylene

Veteran

I've had a love-hate relationship with mascaras for long time. I like wearing the stuff but hate clumping, flaking, and under-eye smudges. I also am pretty adamant about opening a new tube every few months after understanding the potential for nasty infections (a close friend is a retinal surgeon) which makes me reluctant to waste $$ on a product I know I'll toss after 6-8 weeks. My current fav is Cover Girl LashBlast Length. It pretty much fulfills all my requirements and washes off quite readily at night.

Otherwise my skincare is a Paula's Choice regime supplemented with CeraVe cleansers and Eucerin Hyaluron Filler moisturizer. My makeup is pretty minimal, usually from Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier, or MAC. I've recently been converted to using an brow pencil because my eyebrows seem to be getting sparser as I age. Maybelline Define-A-Brow seems to work as well as the more expensive MAC one that was my first buy, plus it has a little comb on the end so I don't have to go searching for my brow brush.

Echo

Veteran

There are very few products that I rave about. I have very, VERY oily skin, and there just simply are very few products that do what they say they will as far as mattifying or keeping shine at bay.

For actual makeup, Boots #7 from Target, believe it or not, suits me far better than most high end costmetics, and I've tried them all! It is buildable, so it goes on very sheer to complete coverage depending on what I want. It keeps shine under control as well as anything I've ever tried.

Murad Rapid Age Spot serum is amazing. Again, I've tried almost EVERYTHING to lighten sun spots I have from before I knew better. Clinique did nothing; Philosophy did nothing; Perricone did nothing. But the Murad actually works (probably due to the hydroquinone). I also use Murad's Essential C sunscreen each day. It smells nice and isn't too heavy. Neutrogena is often hailed as great non-greasy sunscreen, but it has always made my skin even worse as far as oiliness goes.

And while I despise Mary K reps in general (they tend to be pushy), nothing works better for me than their Ultimate Mascara. It lengthens and thickens without clumps, and it is better than most waterproof formulas when it gets wet. I use Chanel for special occasions, but I generally have to run that under hot water and comb it out after use, so it is heavy on the tinkering and not easy to apply daily.

As for cleanser, Clean and Clear Morning Brightening cleanser works better than anything else for me. It cleans well without over drying.

rae

(website)

Veteran

High five, Denise! Cheap-o cosmetics for me, too.

Korean stuff (I used almost zero makeup before trying Korean brands... other stuff would not match my skin and would also aggravate my cystic acne tendencies):
Tonymoly Cat's Wink lipstick and gloss - reasonable staying power without drying (I'm very sensitive to drying and get chapped easily). The semi-opacity works well for my unevenly-colored lips without looking too mask-like. Under $5

Tonymoly Cat's Wink curling mascara - waterproof and the ONLY mascara that does not irritate my eyes, no matter how long I leave it on. around $8

Baviphat Magic Girls Moisturizing BB cream (spf 30) *or* Tonymoly Cat's Wink Shiny Skin Foundation No. 3 (spf 20). about $15 or $5. Again, the only stuff I've found to both match my skin and NOT make me break out. NARS had a nice match in St. Moritz, but I still broke out.

Eyes Lips Face stuff:
Bronzer $1
Mist & Set $3 - before I found this, my makeup would disappear in 1-2 hours. Love this because I don't have to add primer to the mix and risk more skin irritation.
White eyeliner pencil $1 - helps me look awake and interested when used on inner corners of eyes.

Drug Store Stuff:
Castor Oil and Tea Tree Oil - Oil Cleansing Method all the way! Something like $8 each and lasts the whole year.

Neutrogena Nourishing Eyeliners - even Clinique irritates my eyes, but these don't!

Eliza

Veteran

Thanks for the thread as it's always good to learn from others.

I have a few favorites these days:

Clean my face with a mild Aveeno wash at night. Then apply prescription Renova (retinol product) for wrinkle reduction. I used to use the Roc retinol products with good results, but this works better now.

Apply water and moisturizer to my face in the morning. Then add Elizabeth Arden's Good Morning Serum before applying Vichy's tinted B and B cream (somewhat pricy, but lasts for a very long time) and a little NARS stick blush blended with a drop of daytime Lumene cream to add light (NARS also can be applied to lips). Just started finishing it with a bit of NARS light reflecting powder (no tint) and think I like that product also. Overall look is a very subtle, almost no make up appearance (ironic that it takes a few steps to get there at my age). Lip moisturizer is a never ending quest: my latest favorite I purchased in Italy from the Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy. Will need to find alternatives when I finish with these two tubes.

Mascara is my nemesis- want a bit of thickening and length, with no clumps and need to remove excess from the wand. Has anyone found this?

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I use glycerin soaps not sure of the brand - grocery store item for me.

I've been using Kiehl's crème de corps for heavy moisturizing just where needed on the face and it's a body moisturizer too and I really like it but it is a bit heavy if you're prone to breakouts. I use a vitamin-C serum sometimes or a salicylic acid for any sun damaged, raised spots. But I do use caution with salicylic acid - I'm used to it and don't mind that it burns a little and then peels some skin the next day or so, because it works so well for me. I only use it on specific spots (dabbed on with a q-tip).

I use pure orange-oil dabbed on with a q-tip for any small blemish (they seem to disappear within a day using this).

Makeup is usually Origins for me or Bare Minerals powder blush - I use the "Clear Radiance" as blush as it adds the slightest amount of color and a hint of shine.

Eliza -- Origins mascara works really well for me. I use the Fringe Benefits in the Dark Brown color and don't have a clumping issue. A tissue dab works for removing excess from the wand.

I use Almay soft pencil eyeliners in various colors.

I don't use sunscreens much as I don't trust the chemicals. In summer I will wear a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen just on my face and chest area if I will be out a lot - but I often opt for a hat and shirt instead. Or sometimes use the sunscreen mineral powder. I'm over 50 and of course living in the south all these years, I have a little sun damage, but I do get compliments on my skin so I'm okay with it. I think vitamin-D is incredibly important for good health and though I don't try to lay out and purposely "tan" I do enjoy being outdoors a lot.