Can’t-Live-Without Beauty Products: Our Top Ten Picks

our top ten Can’t-Live-Without Beauty Products

Jodie and I have been playing with makeup for over 35 years. We’re here to share our expertise and knowledge with you all. Here are our top 10 can’t-live-without beauty products, including what we love and why.

Jodie and I have been playing with makeup for about 35 years. We should be experts by now. Well, experts or not, we do have a lot to say on the subject, and we are very excited to share our experience and advice with you here. Therefore, we thought what better way to begin than with our favorites. Here are each of our top 5 absolutely can’t-live-without beauty products. For your convenience, we have linked each product for purchase.

Julie’s Top 5 Can’t-Live-Without Beauty Products

IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream

What it is: Color Correcting Cream with SPF 50+

What I love: It’s three products in one, so it’s time and money saving. First, it is color correcting, full coverage cream foundation. Next, this foundation contains anti-again hydrating serum. And finally, as if that weren’t enough, it has SPF 50+ that is broad spectrum physical sunscreen, chemical-filter free and paraben free. Jodie and I have been using this as our makeup foundation ever since it came out about three years ago.

The best thing you can do for your skin to prevent aging is to wear sunscreen. Do we all know this? Yes! Do we act on it? Maybe not. Sunscreen every single day, all year long, no matter your plans for the day, no matter the weather. Most sun exposure we get is through windows, in our cars and out running errands. This all adds up to aging before we need to age! Even I would admit that I might start skipping sunscreen during our rainy winter months. Thus, I would say the awesome built-in sunscreen is reason alone to stick with this product.

Lancome Artliner in Black

What it is: Liquid eyeliner

What I love: This easy-to-handle foam-tip jet black liquid liner is the best I’ve found. I like a little drama. I will admit there is a learning curve to applying any liquid eyeliner, but it is worth it. It’s precise, dramatic, and lasts much longer than any pencil I’ve used. Nothing adds drama to your look quite like liquid liner applied to the top line of your eyes.

Better still, you can totally control how much drama depending on your mood or your plans for the day. Some days I just line the top contour of my eye. Other days I extend the line to create a cat eye. It’s easy to build it and create just the right amount of drama you desire. I always make sure it is dry before I open my eyes all the way, otherwise you’ll have a little cleanup. Therefore, I give it 5 seconds or so and a little hand fanning to help.

Shu Uemura Eyelash curler  

What it is: Eyelash curler

What I love: Firstly, Shu Uemura is the best curler on the market. Now, Jodie and I disagree on this one. She never uses one. Secondly, Shu Uemura is the gold standard. Thirdly, I believe it is worth the $25 or so investment, especially since you may never need to replace it. Note of caution: Always be sure to squeeze gently. I recommend being gentle but holding up to 8 seconds for a nice hold.

Can’t-Live-Without Beauty Products: Benefit Gimme Brow

What it is: Brow-volume fiber gel

What I love: This is a new product I’m totally loving. What I love about Gimme Brow is that you can use it alone or as the final step in your brow definition. It adds color, depth and texture as well as fixative to the hairs all in one step. Its tiny, precise wand is super easy to use. Get excited.

Since our eyebrows are one of your most important features, it makes sense that my favorite eyebrow product makes this list. They are your frame to your face. Full arched brows are a sign of youth and beauty throughout history and across cultures. In addition, they are “back in style” and thus more important than ever. I have been filling mine in to enhance their thickness and shape for years with an angled brush and a pot of brow powder. This easy second step adds dimension and keeps them in place all day.

IT Cosmetics Your Lips But Better Lip Liner

What it is: Lip Liner

What I love: Last but not least on my list of top 5 can’t-live-without beauty products is this amazing lip pencil. To begin, the color is perfect. Next, the texture is perfect, and finally, it lasts all day. I love the density of a lip pencil for “lastability.” Finding a natural-looking color is always a challenge. My favorite is their “Buff Nude.” I carefully trace my natural lip line and fill in, creating an all-day color base and definition to my lips.

To be honest, I use this every day. Depending on where I’m going or my mood I will wear different top coats, usually lip gloss. Mid-day touch ups might be required for my top coat, but this perfect color base lasts all day. Most importantly, the lovely definition to my lips remains all day. In addition, you don’t have to sharpen it, you just turn to get more product. Oh my word, who has time to sharpen lip liners? And what a mess. Honestly, there are so many reasons to love this lip liner.

Jodie’s Top 5 Can’t-Live-Without Beauty Products

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick

What it is: Medium weight makeup stick

What I love: First, it functions as a cover-up for the areas that need a little extra coverage, so I’m not tempted to go too heavy on my makeup base. Next, it is so easy to use and portable that I can carry it with me during the day for quick touch-ups. And finally, of course, it’s great for travel.

Can’t-Live-Without Beauty Products: Jo Malone

What it is: Perfume made from natural floral and exotic scents.

What I love: Jo Malone is fresh, classic and yet unexpected. Made from fresh natural essences, Jo Malone never smells artificial or offensive. So you can wear it to the gym without ever worrying that it might offend someone. Besides all of the beautiful scent options, what I love is that the fragrances all layer and mix so well with each other. There are endless possible ways to explore how to wear them. Finally, create your own “signature” scent or reinvent yourself daily. It’s all up to you.

Some of my personal favorites:

First: Red Roses, alone or with Blue Agava & Cacao – This combination is very light and floral but not overly sweet.

Second: Blue Agava & Cacao & Orange Blossom – This combination is also nicely balanced, a bit sweet, and definitely intoxicatingly yummy.

Third: Dark Amber & Ginger Lily + White Jasmine & Mint + Orange Blossom – This combination transports me back to memories of Moroccan gardens. It is sweet, sultry and surprising. I like to think of this as my signature scent.

Fourth: Nectarine Blossom & Honey + Lime Basil & Mandarin – Finally, this combination is the perfect mix of sweet and citrus. It’s fresh and easy to wear every day.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder

What it is: Oil absorbing, light deflecting finishing powder.

What I love: This powder is my favorite because it “sets” make-up and adds that little extra layer that gives your make-up a matte, flawless look. Yet it never looks too white or powdery. Best of all, it helps my make-up last, even through a workout. Well, almost.

Can’t-Live-Without Beauty Products: Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

What it is: Neutral eye shadow palette.

What I love: This palette is perfect for everyday wear. In addition, it is economical because I use every single color. If you just want to lighten and brighten the eye area, or smooth out the color tone on and around the eyelid, or if you want to add more drama. The darker shades are great for adding dimension and definition to the eye. And the best part? It t never, ever cakes. Finally, the small size is perfect for day trips or travel.

Caudalie Vinexpert Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Radiance Day Cream

What it is: Anti-Aging Day cream that also functions as the perfect primer

What I love: Lastly, but certainly not least on my list of can’t-live-without beauty products is this fantastic day cream. From the moment you smooth this on your skin you can feel that you are doing something good for your skin. Next, it’s full of anti-aging properties that help nourish and protect your skin through the day. And finally, it also works as a perfect primer and base for your foundation. This is the single product that I have bought over and over again and can’t imagine starting my daily makeup routine without. In addition, it comes in a “fluid” for oily complexions.

We hope you enjoyed hearing about our favorite Can’t-Live-Without Beauty Products. We love having the opportunity to share our experience and advice with you here on our beauty pages. Of course we could go on all day about beauty and make-up tips, and talk about “What’s In Our Makeup Bag!” Hey, that’s a good title for a blog post. We have a lot more to say on the topic so I guess you’ll just have to stay tuned!

Cheers to looking and feeling beautiful!

 

* There are affiliate links in this post.