My Must-Have Beauty Finds

It’s time to write about some of my favorite beauty products. The majority of these products I started using last year and I ended up loving them enough to carry them through the new year! I’m a pretty loyal person so if I find something that works, I stick with it. Now I get to share some of those with you!

One of my all-time-time-favorites-I’ve-tried-so-many-and-this-is-still-the-best products is the Ulta Eyeshadow Base. I probably picked this up with some other Ulta shadows during one of their 2-for-1 deals and I haven’t looked back since. I’ve even tried what I’ve heard is the best of the best, Urban Decay’s Primer Potion and this STILL tops my list. Here are the things I love about this product:

1. It starts off as a cream but turns into a powder-like formula as you apply it to your eyelids so it’s smooth and the coverage is great.
2. It lasts forever. The product itself has lasted me months and, well, over a year. {I know you’re supposed to throw away things after so long but this puppy just keeps on going} I wear it every single day.
3. My eyeshadow has never stayed put so well. My eyeshadow does NOT crease and stays on all day! What more do you really need out of a primer?
4. In case you do need something more, I can tell you that this eyeshadow base could also take the place of eyeshadow. On the days where I’m running super late, I can throw a little of this on my eyelids to really give my eyes a smooth, bright look and totally do away with any silly blood vessels.

Again, it’s a personal preference, but, I have to choose Ulta’s base as the top performer!

The only bummer? I looked online today and can’t find this product on Ulta’s website :( Yikes. It took me this long to write a review and now that I finally have, they might not carry the product anymore? Next time I’m in the store, I’ll be sure to double check and report back!

Again, I’ve tried other facial cleansers but I keep coming back to my beloved Biore. For the longest time, I had been wanting to try Borba’s Age Defying 4-in-1 Cleanser and finally got my hands on it a couple months ago. Wasn’t impressed. Here are the reasons why Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser is my go-to face wash:

1. My face has never felt so clean. {I use this wash with my Clarisonic Mia, so that helps as well!} This cleanser gives your face that tingly feeling as it deep cleans your pores and removes all the dirt, oil, and make-up.
2. It lasts forever. Do we see a trend here? Again, I was able to stretch this product longer than an entire year, using it twice daily. No exaggeration. A little bit {I’d use about half a pump’s full at a time} goes a LONG way! It was a sad day when I got to the end of the first bottle.
3. The results! It fights blemishes and blackheads and keeps my skin {almost} blemish-free. I’ve never had perfect skin and probably never will, unfortunately.

I think I’ve tried pretty much every form of getting the cleanest, freshest feeling skin – ProActiv, dermatologist-prescribed topical treatments and medications, Noxzema pads {these are probably my second favorite but smell horrible}, and many various face washes. I’m sticking with this one :)

I should start off by saying that I am allergic to lipstick and chap stick. Seriously. Throughout the years and years of dance and acting that I did {and copious amounts of stage make-up that I wore}, I often paid the price for a week or two after a performance with horribly swollen and painful, raw lips. When I do get the choice as to what I wear on my lips, I stick with Carmex and lip-gloss.

Anyway, I’ve had my battles with many lip colors so when I find one that I like and that doesn’t make my lips explode, I keep it around for a long time. I’ve been a Buxom “Big & Healthy Lip Polish” fan for a few years now. I’ve always received them as gifts and just loved the variety of colors. Recently, I got one in the pretty, pinkish color of “Tonya.” I’d describe it as a vivacious bubblegum pink. I’m not a fan of pink but somehow, I like this color when I wear it. It’s fresh and fun. Now, here’s why I love Buxom:

1. It lasts forever. I had to. But seriously, this is one of the only lip glosses I’ve found that doesn’t get all goopy and won’t slide off my lips. The color sticks pretty well and I’ve found remnants of it still on my lips at the end of the night when I’m forced to wipe it off. Pretty good, if you ask me!
2. The way it feels. a) it’s supposed to give your lips a little volume so the tingly feeling is a good reminder of that and b) it’s a thicker gloss which I definitely like {which keeps it from sliding off easily}
3. I’m just crazy over this color right now and most of the colors I’ve tried thus far in the line.

I know everyone has their lip gloss preferences. I definitely prefer something a little thicker and with some color/shimmer so this is perfect for me!

I hope you enjoyed reading about some of my favorite beauty products this past year or so. I’ve received some new products already this year so, after I get more accustomed to them, I’d love to write a review on those as well!

Now, here’s where I need your help – I’m in the market for a new foundation. I’ve been using a liquid foundation for a while now so I’ll probably stick with liquid but all suggestions are welcome! If the make-up line doesn’t test on animals, that makes it even better!! :)