Thursday, January 16, 2014

Nine Beauty Basics

The last time I shared anything beauty related with you guys was over three months ago. Since then, I have come across a few new basics that I use every single day or at least a few times a week.

All nine products listed, in my opinion, are ones you should add to your make-up bag, nail polish basket and your hairbrush drawer (or wherever you keep your hair products). I will keep it short and sweet, giving you the basic idea behind each one with a price and where to find them.  FYI, I never post products that I don't personally use or 100% believe in.

FACE

MAC Paint Pot in Painterly - I swore by and wore the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Potion for years. Nothing led me to stray away from it until I got my make-up done at the MAC counter one day. After that, I was sold. This paint pot is phenomenal as a shadow primer and lasts forever. I like it better than Urban Decay's. It's not as cakey or greasy and it's perfect for wearing alone, no eyeshadow needed. They also have several other shades to choose from. Price: $20

Urban Decay Anarchy Face Case - I got this as a Christmas gift, but was secretly hoping for the Naked 3 palette. Boy, am I happy I got this one instead. It comes with three gorgeous shimmer shades and two matte finishes. Under the shadows tray is another tray with two high pigmented blushes and highlighter. A black 24-7 glide-on eye pencil and pink high gloss shade called Scandal is also included. I am wearing it in yesterday's post. This is hands down my favorite set from Urban Decay and I have been buying them for the past several years. (PLEASE NOTE: I couldn't find the Anarchy Face Case online, just the Shattered one. Not sure if this was an in-store only exclusive. Please check your local Ulta and Sephora stores.) Price: $44

Kat Von D Lock-It In Powder Foundation - I used Bare Minerals for over 10 years. Then all of a sudden my face started to get really oily during the day and my make-up looked gross. I went into Sephora and asked what full coverage powder foundation they recommended. The lady led me to Kat Von D. What? No. Yes. This has been a GAME CHANGER. I have super oily skin and some acne and sun damage scarring. I need full coverage, but not with a heavy, over done look. I don't use the sponge that it comes with. I use my kabuki brush and am in love. No more loose foundation mess and it lasts much longer. I am wearing Light 49 for the winter months. This is my #1 recommendation out of all six products listed today. Price: $34.

NAILS

Orly Bonder - A good friend recommended this one to me. You lightly brush this over your nails before adding polish. It helps polish adhere to your nails for a longer wear. It's pretty self explanatory. You can get this almost any place that sales polish. I actually do see a difference in the longevity of my polish when I use versus when I don't. Price: $5.00

Sally Hansen Super Shine - Again, pretty self explanatory. I just really like how long the shine lasts when I use this top coat. I have tried several and I feel like this one lasts longer. It also helps with nail color chipping. Price: $5.00

Orly In a Snap - This dries your polish like no other. I used to use the OPI RapiDry, but sometimes it would mess up my polish, even though it did dry my nails super fast. I started using this Orly brand and found that it dries my nails just as fast as the OPI one did, but adds one more protected top coat to my polish. Plus, it is less expensive. Your nails will be dry in less than one minute. Price: $8.00

HAIR

Not Your Mother's Dry Shampoo - The name is called Clean Freak. Very fitting, right? This is the BEST dry shampoo I have ever used and I have tried at least four. Yes, I know you can use baby powder, but it leaves so much white on my scalp and makes me look like I have gray hair. This product leaves zero white residue. It smells so good. It not only helps rid my oily roots, it also adds fabulous volume. I will never use anything else unless someone can find me something better, which I doubt will happen. Buy it! Price: $6.00

Wigo Teasing Brush - You know what they say, "The higher the hair, the closer to Jesus." This little number does the trick. You can tease until your heart's content and add as much volume to your crown as you would like. I feel it works better than a comb because of the bristles being so tight and coarse. My hair is super fine, so I need all the help I can get for a fuller look. Price: $4.00

TIGI Catwalk Root Boost - Like I said above, I have super fine and straight hair. Without product it is extremely flat and has zero body. I am sure there are some other ones out there that are just as good, but this one hasn't ever done me wrong. I have oily hair and this helps control it and adding amazing volume at the same time. I just don't spray it to my crown...it goes all over. It's ideal for when you are using ceramic iron tools. It helps the curls stay without having to add a ton of hairspray. Price: $14.00

I will let you know if and and when I come across any other must haves to add to your beauty routine and regimen. If there are any products that fall into these three categories that you can't live without, please comment below. It's girl code to share.

Shanna

38 comments:

Unknown said...

I love Clean Freak!! I found it from your IG pic and have been using it since. I used to wash my hair daily and now not so much :)

Alice
www.happinessatmidlife.com

Unknown said...

I have the same exact problem with my oily skin! I will definitely take the powder into consideration now. And thanks for the dry shampoo recommendation. I, too, have been looking for the perfect dry shampoo. Thanks for sharing this list!

analicesis.blogspot.com

Carly said...

I use Painterly too, isn't it the BEST?

Carly
www.lipglossandcrayons.com

Rachelle (http://pinksole.com/) said...

Love the MAC primer and I have super oily skin as well and I love makeup forever pro finish.

Charming Lucy said...

I am trying that root boost product! I have the most lifeless hair!! Thanks! Susan

Nina Piccini said...

Great tips!! I literally only use a BB cream primer on my face and I really want to try the urban decay products. My sister has them, they're so pigmented!

xo, Nina
afterthe40barfinish

Nadine said...

I am intrigued by your Mac eye shadow primer statement. I too have sworn by UD for so many years, I have never strayed. You got me thinking I might need to try it!

Kimberly said...

Thank you for sharing - totally going to Sephora to try out that Kat Von D foundation. I need something a little more full coverage for winter and that sounds amazing! :)
www.pennypincherfashion.com

Heidi said...

I keep seeing that dry shampoo pop up on must-have lists so clearly it has a cult following. I'm going to have to track it down, I just hope it is sulfate free.

http://jax-and-jewels.blogspot.com

Lauren {By Lauren M} said...

Orly Bonder is my absolute favorite. It works so well! And I've never tried Clean Freak before. I'm pretty die hard Oscar Blandi, but I might have to give it a try at that price! :)

Becky M said...

I wanna try that dry shampoo! I just posted about a different brand today!

agirlandhersparkles.blogspot.com

SMD @ lifeaccordingtosteph said...

Orly bonder is the best nail product EVER.

I should've grabbed that dry shampoo yesterday, they were out of my go to (Suave) and I ended up with Marc Anthony? I will try Not Your Mother's Next time.

I have liquid foundation that I barely wear. I think I might be more apt to wear powder. Next time!

Loved this post!

Alyssa said...

I'm going to have to try out that dry shampoo–I've been on the hunt for a new one!

rebeccalately said...

The Kat Von-D foundation is on my list of things to try. I don't think I've read a bad review of it. My skin sounds similar to yours. Acne and sun damage and lots of oil. Boo!

Iris said...

Sally Hansen is the only thing I use on my nails. I love it!

I'm so bad at face makeup though... I'll have to try a few of these out.

~ Country Girl's Daybook
recently posted: Giving away this lovely little trinket on the blog today. Enter to win! http://bit.ly/1kC6Jgh

Meg O. said...

I swear by Painterly and Orly Bonder! I am currently using the NYM dry shampoo and I'm not sure that it's my favorite ever but I do like it.

TheTinyHeart said...

Oh I have got to get that Orly In a Snap! Sometimes it feels like polish takes forever to dry so this sounds awesome!

-Sharon
The Tiny Heart

Sandy a la Mode said...

dry shampoo is one of my BFFs!!

xo,
Sandy
Sandy a la Mode

Alissa said...

One of my friends swears by that shine topcoat! I need to check it out!

Always Maylee said...

This post has made me realize that I really need to get into beauty products more! Thanks for sharing love. :)

xo, Yi-chia
Always Maylee

Rachel said...

I love all those "not your mothers" products!

Helene in Between said...

that teasing brush is amazing! could not agree more. and do i really need eyeshadow primer? I don't wear it too often but really not sure it's worth it! I guess it really helps keep it in place

shelley said...

I went to MAC the other day and had my make-up done (and spent way too much money) but she used that painterly on my eyes and I LOVED it! It had to wait because I had to have foundation and moisturizer but it WILL be my next purchase! Also, she used an eyebrow pencil on me, I had no idea I needed that but could not believe the difference it made! So, I had to buy that too. That was Monday and I've already gotten several compliments.

Amber said...

I've gotta get that teasing brush. My hair is super fine, too so I need something to give it a lil oomph!

Because of Jackie said...

I need that teasing brush, my comb is just not cutting it. Love this list, great products and I like hearing personal reasons why you love them!

Sarah said...

I just started using not your mothers hairspray and I am obsessed with it. I used it yesterday am and went to bed (after allll day) and woke up with still curly hair. Miracle.

Jessi said...

I love clean freak! Actually I love pretty much the whole line of not your mother's stuff. And I NEED to try this foundation! I have kat von d's concealer and it's the best I've ever used. I have acne and some scarring too. Totally trying that next time my foundation runs out!
Jessi
http://haircutandgeneralattitude.blogspot.com

Ashley said...

I love the Mac Paint pot Painterly!!! Loved this post girlie!

xo,
Sincerely Miss Ash

Darcy said...

Great post!! I wrote down the Orly in a Snap polish... will definitely have to remember that! And I always hear so many great things about the Kat Von D foundation. I may have to ask the Sephora girl about it when my current one gets low!
www.amemoryofus.blogspot.com

Ashleigh said...

I love Not your mama's brand! The scent is awesome.
-Ash
www.thestylizedwannabe.com

Samantha @ Busy Sweet Life said...

I have been wanting to try MAC's paint pots for a looog time! I just need to bite the bullet and get it! Try Batiste dry shampoo! It is by far my FAVORITE dry shampoo and it works so well! It also comes in different shades so it doesn't leave a white cast on your hair! I buy the dark blonde/light brown and it works so perfectly on my hair!

Unknown said...

Love mac I use them for more coverage

xo,
Cha Cha
ChaChaTheFashionGenius.com

Natalia | Look-A-Porter said...

Thank you for such a great round-up! x

M said...

It's so funny to me how one product can work so well for someone and be terrible for another. I tried the Not Your Mother's Dry Shampoo and it was awful for me, but I'm glad that you love it. I love most of their other products as well. My favorite dry shampoo is the Suave Dry Shampoo. People either seem to love or hate that one.
-Miranda
Miranda Writes

Janice @ a dash of LEOPARD said...

I am a fellow longtime user of the UD potion so this is good to know about the Mac variety! I took your recommendation about the dry shampoo a few months ago and have been obsessed!! I even got several other friends on board. Thanks for the tips!

Jraabulous.wordpress.com

Niki {Glossy Blonde} said...

I was just looking at the Anarchy Face Case at Sephora yesterday! It's gorgeous! And honestly, I don't love the Naked 3 Palette - the Anarchy one is SO much better! I love the Painterly Paint Pot too! It's SO good!

Janna Renee said...

I just pinned this, and I want to take it shopping right away! I think I need all of this!

Ashli in Little Rock said...

Wanted you to know that my (new!) local ULTA store made a sale last night because of this blog post. I went there specifically to buy Clean Freak and did. Can't wait to try it. Thanks for being our "taste tester!" Ashli in Little Rock

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