My Favorite Beauty Products – EverBeautiful by Melody Lesser

I just cleaned out my “beauty closet” (yes, as a beauty writer, I have a beauty closet full of product that I received for free or bought.) I clean it periodically or it would take over my entire bedroom. I discard old products or ones that, for whatever the reason, I don’t use and I make a list of the ones I like that need replenishing. So, while I get product for free, it’s often a one-time sitch and, if I want more, I go out and buy it.

All this cleaning and reassessing got me thinking about my favorite beauty products. I’ve written several posts on these before but thought it was time to revisit the subject. There will be some tried and true ones on this list as well as some newbies. Check out the list of my faves. When available, I’ve posted a link for you to buy the product to try for yourselves.

HAIR

Catwalk Bodifying Spray – This thickening spray enables me to style my own hair. That’s no small feat as my limp locks fight the round brush each time I try to make them look like something. With Catwalk, I get body, volume and control without stiffness. It doesn’t leave my hair looking like cardboard but it does thicken it up and make it look like more than it is.

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Paul Mitchell Thicken Up – I use this styling liquid in combination with Catwalk. I can’t imagine living without it. It helps add body – did I say my hair is fine and thin? It needs all the help I can give it! – texture and, for lack of a better word, oomph. I buy several bottles at a time so that I’ll never be without.

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Bumble and Bumble BbThickening Shampoo and Conditioner – Noticing a theme? (Seriously fine and limp hair here. It needs all the helpful products it can get.) Gone are the days when I shampoo my limp locks on the daily. I’m down to twice a week and always use Bumble and Bumble. I love these products because, before I even apply my other thickeners of choice, my waves look bouncy as my hair dries. It isn’t limp! These products are miracle workers.

ColorWow Root Coverup – I’m lucky in that while I most often get my hair professionally colored, I can also color it at home. When it needs to be cut is when I head to the salon for professional coloring but when the color just needs touching up, I do it myself. However, sometimes I don’t have the time for either and that’s when I employ ColorWow Root Coverup. This genius little compact holds a color-rich and thick powder that covers my roots and, when applied to a thinning part, gives the impression of thicker hair too! For the blondes out there, it even covers dark roots! Pretty fabulous. I have actually had friends grab this product out of my hands and apply it to their own hair when they’ve seen me use it, it’s that good. I’ve tried other root coverups but nothing covers my grays like ColorWow.

FACE

RoC Daily Resurfacing Disks – I originally received these cleansing disks, which come 28 to a jar, from RoC Skincare. I’m a RoC Brand Ambassador and, as such, receive free product in exchange for a review, which I write honestly. The receipt of product does not affect the integrity of my review. I received these cleansing disks with other product, tried them, loved them, used them up and bought them again – a few times. These are amazing. They clean my skin without drying and leave it glowing. One side of each disk is smooth; the other is slightly textured to gently smooth skin. Each pad is infused with cleansers and skin conditioning ingredients and, next to my Clarisonic, is the best product for cleansing and smoothing my skin that I have tried. #gotitfree the first time but paid for it when I wanted it again. #gotitfree the first time – but paid for it when I ran out.

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Murad Professional Eye Lift Firming Treatment – I’m not a fan of eye cream. I know it’s a huge seller and is often the very first product a woman will buy to help offset the signs of aging. But my eyes, for whatever reason, are just not suited to eye cream, generally speaking. They migrate and go into my eyes leaving my vision cloudy for several hours. They also sting. So not good. BUT this product from Murad is my answer to crepey eye skin. This firming treatment includes a very thick, rich and yummy eye cream (it doesn’t migrate) that you apply to the entire undereye area and pads that you put on over the cream. Sit with those on your eyes for 10 or so minutes, remove the pads and you’ll have smoother skin. It’s really pretty great, doesn’t irritate my eye area and overall sensitive skin and I have never had it migrate into my eyes. This is another product I received for free and that, when it ran out I ran out to the store to replenish it. I use it twice a week and I think my eye area looks smoother. I also enjoy using it because it forces me to indulge in 10 minutes of down time. Winning!

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Nars Kohliner – Don’t you hate it when you buy a new eyeliner pencil, try it for the first time and it either pulls the eye area without imparting any color at all, breaks off at the tip or is too thick to draw a neat line? I have perhaps 20 eyeliner pencils in my makeup kit but I always come back to two. One of them is Nars Kohliner. It draws a precise, thin line that lasts all day without smudging or fading and you can build on it to make your line as thin or thick as you like. It’s available in a matte black shade and the only problem is that it’s available in a matte black shade and no others. (Come on, Nars. We need brown and navy blue too!)

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Ulta Gel Eye Liner – On most days, I wear brown eyeliner and I hit up my Ulta Gel Eye Liner to get me through the day. This color-rich liner goes on smoothly, doesn’t pull my eye area and lasts all day long. It’s also gently priced and available in lots of colors. (I like to line my upper lids in brown and my lower in navy.) Stock up!

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Maybelline Volum’ Express The Colossal Mascara – I’ve written about this mascara so many times because it’s that good and is the mascara I use every day. One coat’ll do ya; two will up the drama.

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Benefit They’re Real Lengthening Mascara – This is my evening mascara because it makes me look like I’m wearing falsies without the hassle.

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Clinique Almost Lipstick Black Honey – Game time. You’re about to be dropped off on a desert island and you can take only two products. Go … This brilliant little tube of lip stain, and a mascara, are my picks.I’ve been wearing Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey since I’ve been 16. No kidding. At any given time, I have at least three of these tubes in my possession; one in my makeup kit to use every day; one in the handbag I’m carrying and one, as a backup in my makeup closet. Make that four – I keep one in my travel kit too. This shade looks good on everyone, stays on even after eating or drinking and looks great alone or as a base for another lipstick. Once you discover it, it will become a staple in your beauty wardrobe too.

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L’Oreal Visible Lift Serum Absolute Foundation – Need it. Have to have it. I’ve tried others but always come back to L’Oreal foundations which, when I wear foundation in the winter months, I’ve been using for decades. L’Oreal has changed the formula of this foundation over the course of the years I’ve been using it but it always provides great coverage without being too heavy. I apply it to the center of my face and smooth it outwards, blending with a makeup sponge. Perfect results every time!

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Almay Smart Shade – This skintone matching makeup with SPF 15 is a lighter foundation for those days when I don’t want as much coverage. It’s great for the summer.

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