My Favorite Beauty Buys
It really wasn’t until my twenties that I started to get into makeup, and it was even more so recently that I was trying different techniques and looks beyond the very basics. In college, I’d do a red lip and call it a day. TikTok has been great for me to learn different techniques and what I’ve been doing wrong. I’ve also learned that two beauty routines aren’t the same - and some rules don’t work for everyone.
I also really like buying beauty products and trying them to see the results; it’s kind of like me buying books as well. But I can spend a lot of time in an Ulta or Sephora.
With Prime Days and other retailers offering top sales, I thought I’d share some of my favorite beauty products. I’m always looking for recommendations, so please share some of yours!
Note: I may receive a commission at no additional price to you if you make a purchase through any of the included links.
Soap & Glory Original Pink The Righteous Butter Moisturizing Body Lotion: Although this isn’t my all-time favorite moisturizer, I had to share this one. This is my post-workout shower lotion when I go to the gym during the workday. It works perfectly fine. But I have gotten so many compliments on the smell and have been asked what the product is! What’s interesting is that people are surprised it’s a lotion and not a perfume. Finding a perfume I really like has been a challenge for me, and if this were a perfume, I’d wear it all the time. It does have a strong smell, but it isn’t overwhelming. Soap & Glory describes the scent as “Our signature floral blend with contemporary rose and refreshing, citrus bergamot.
Sephora Best Skin Ever Liquid Foundation: I just bought this about a week ago, and I am 1000% obsessed with it. I asked an employee at Sephora to help me match my skin, and she did so perfectly. Currently, I’m not seeing the shade I bought (11.5p) on Sephora’s website, but you can find that shade on Amazon here. I paid attention to how the Sephora associate applied the foundation, and with the help of TikTok, I think I’m finally applying liquid foundation correctly. But this goes on so nicely. It smoothes out my complexion, and I don’t look like I’m wearing makeup. I love the natural look.
Dual Voltage Travel Mini Air Dryer Hot Brush: Oh my God, I love this! I was super disappointed when my gym got rid of their hair dryers. With my pixie, the majority of my hair can dry without needing to be really styled. However, that definitely can’t be said of my bangs. When the gym had the hair dryers, I just had to use this ½ inch mini hair curler that specifically advertises for short hair to manage my bangs mainly and finish styling (it’s really great too. Highly recommend). But faced without the hair dryers, I decided I wanted to find a travel air dryer brush. I’ve used the larger Revlon version for years, but that doesn’t work as well with my pixie, nor does it fit well in my gym bag. This has a two-inch barrel with three temperature settings. It dries my hair quickly and leaves it shiny and soft. I do keep the mini curler in my bag still, in case I need to touch anything up. The dryer also comes with a handy travel case, and, if you find yourself outside of the US, it can convert to local voltages. But for me this is perfect for my post-gym shower before I head back to work (and whenever else I feel like it. It leaves my hair really soft.)!
Head & Shoulders Classic Clean Dandruff Conditioner: Somehow, I have hair that is both oily and dandruffy. And when I have dandruff, you can’t go wrong with the classic Head & Shoulders dandruff shampoo. Can’t beat it. This is a staple of my routine. I have yet to find a dandruff conditioner that works better.
Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Shampoo & Conditioner: And when it comes to my hair being oily, Paul Mitchell’s Tea Tree shampoo and conditioner is my go-to. Sometimes I’ll get the lavender mint, but the tea tree special is just as good too, scent-wise. Overall, the tea tree is my everyday shampoo and provides a refreshing clean.
Olive & June Gel Manicure System: When my nail girl left the salon I was going to, I took it as a sign to jump on the recession nails wagon…by doing my own nails. At first I was going to do my nails in a nude color until I got better at doing them, but my friend mentioned she was better at giving herself a gel manicure opposed to a regular manicure, and as I googled manicure tips, multiple people said it was easier to do gel manicures. I happened to find a starter kit at Wal-Mart and bought a gel polish as well. I’ve already purchased more polishes and really like the gel lamp - my only complaint is the cord could be longer. I also really like the polish colors - there are a lot of really vibrant colors that pop and are perfect for summer! Olive & June also offers a variety of accessories with its gel system, some of which I’ve purchased already but I’m glad I was able to find a kit with the basics.
eos Skin Care: This is a bandwagon I’m glad to be on. I’m obsessed with this brand. It started with the TikTok viral eos Shea Butter Vanilla Cashmere Moisturizer. It leaves my skin so nice and smooth. It’s calming. Then I tried the Shea Butter Women’s Shave Cream - Vanilla Bliss, which is Amazon’s #1 bestseller on Amazon for women’s shaving cream. There’s also the Shea Butter hand cream, of which the Coconut is my favorite. And now I’ve found the Vanilla Cashmere Body Wash. I’ve heard a lot of good things about the Pink Champagne choices as well, but I really love the Vanilla Bliss.
LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask: This was something I was constantly seeing on the “must buy” lists, and I finally did buy the LANEIGE S’mores duo - a chocolate frosting lip sleep mask and a vanilla lip glowy balm. I am amazed at how well this overnight mask works. I wear overnight Invisalign retainers and often end up with dry mouth and chapped lips. But with this lip mask, I’m waking up with soft lips instead of gross chapped ones. It also has a pleasant taste and smell, and you don’t need to put on a lot so it should last a long time. The sleep mask also comes in a variety of styles. The sleep mask is definitely worth the hype! The balm is great as well.
Mighty Patch from Hero Cosmetics: I have more acne now as a 30-something than I ever did as a teenager. These Hero pimple patches are pure magic. I’ll put one on a whitehead before bed, and the next morning it’ll be gone. So simple but so effective!
Garnier Micellar Water: Keep your makeup remover creams - this is all I need. I love using this to remove my makeup or just if my face feels a little grody, like I’ve been sweating and need a quick refresh. You also don’t need to rinse anything off. It removes waterproof mascara and lipstick without needing to scrub your face. It is gentle on your skin and cleanses your face easily.
Ouai Detox Shampoo: I have a lot of hair, and I sweat easily. After my workouts, I’ll use Ouai Detox Shampoo to get all the gross sweat out of my hair, and it’s practically magical. Since after my mid-workday workouts I’m a little short on time, I don’t use conditioner. Ouai is more than enough to give my hair and scalp a good clean. I don’t have to worry about oiliness after using that, and honestly, I wish I had this when I was firefighting. My hair always looks good after using this, and it keeps it soft. I can’t recommend it enough.
Differin Facial Exfoliator: I have been searching for a good facial exfoliator for a long time. Differin Acne Foaming cleanser with 10% Benzoyl Peroxide has been part of my face wash rotation for a few years, and I’ve been happy with how it works. So I decided to give this a try, and I’m really happy with it. I have combination oily and dry skin and have a couple problems areas of buildup that I just haven’t ever been able to get rid of. Well, I can by using this. It is very gentle for an exfoliator, and you don’t need a lot of product to get results. I noticed improvement after one use.
Avilana Silicone Body Scrubber: This is such a great alternative to a loofah. It lathers really well, the brushes are soft, and it dries between uses so you don’t have to worry about build-up. The longer, thin brushes are super gentle, and the “bumpy” side is good for exfoliating. Using it is relaxing and soothing.
Seraphic Skincare (Original) Premium Exfoliating Mitt for Body: Despite the grittiness, I greatly appreciate my exfoliating mitt for how smooth it leaves my skin. I have small hands, so the mitt is kind of big for me but not too big. So it’s probably perfect for average-sized hands. It is also made of Vegan materials if that is a consideration for you. It kind of helps provide a reset for your skin by removing dead skin, smoothing skin, and preventing bumps and ingrown hairs. I try to use it a couple times a week.
CHI Tourmaline Ceramic Series Heated Round Brush: I’ve used CHI flatirons for years and have always been happy, and that’s true this as well. My only complaint is I feel like it takes forever to heat up, but I have had it since 2023. After I cut my hair into a pixie earlier this year, I started using this a lot more. One thing I noticed when my hair was longer is that this is a good tool for quick redos, like after waking up or if you need to tame your hair before pulling it up (what, just me?). Now it gives me a quick, heated brush that keeps my hair neat and does the little bit of straightening it might need.
Kosas Lip Oil: I have no idea how I ended up buying a Kosas Lip Oil, but I love it for when I want more than a tinted lip balm but not lipstick. I have the Unbuttoned shade. It’s great for a toned-down, natural look. This sent me down both a lip oil and Kosas rabbit role.
NYX Fat Oil Lip Drip: For a more affordable option, NYX is a great choice. It is heavier than the Kosas lip oil, but I still really like it. I have the Supermodel shade, and it is a vibrant color. Typically I do prefer lipstick to lip gloss, but the Lip Drip gets points for the moisturizing factor. I do think it can be difficult to ascertain the shade color from what you see in the packaging.
Morphe 35XO Eyeshadow Palette: This is the only eyeshadow palette I’ve been using for almost a year. It offers a mix of neutrals and vibrant colors that blend really well together. I love how much the shimmers glow, and the neutrals always provide a solid base. The colors blend well together, making some pretty combinations. It also lasts throughout the day. I have brown eyes and feel like these shades can make my eyes pop or add dimension to the rest of my look.
Bona Fide Beauty Czech Glass Nail File: When I was looking into how to give myself a good manicure, one suggestion was to get a glass nail file. I did, and I have definitely noticed an improvement in filing my nails if only that it’s gentler above anything else. Gel can be rough on the nails so the glass file can be nice when I’m filing my natural nails. Don’t use a glass file for removing gel polish, though!
Morphe Definer Dual-Ended Brow Pencil & Spool: Doing my eyebrows is one of those things I’ve only started to do in the last few years, and when I do it right, I love how it looks. This brow pencil helps immensely. You can use it to shape, shade, fill, and outline your brows. It goes on very easily and looks natural. Another plus is that it lasts all day through damn near anything it feels like.
Thanks for reading! Let me know some of your favorite buys or if you use/buy anything from this list!
