The Ultimate Beauty Product Guide

It has been so long since I’ve sat down and talked about beauty products with you. So long as in I can’t even remember the last time I did. In all honesty, over the last year or so I’ve really strayed away from fun makeup and constantly testing new beauty products. I’ve discovered a beauty routine that’s simple and yet works for me. It suits my needs and my day-to-day.

Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely times I still play with new goodies. It has dawned on me that there are so many new faces around here and while these products may seem redundant to me, there’s a good chance they are new to you!

Today I’ve compiled a master list of all the beauty products in my life. I’m talking everything from makeup to skincare, haircare to self-tanners. Let’s hop right in!

Everyday Makeup

I’ve got tons of makeup covering my countertops but these are products I use daily when wearing makeup!

★Elf Poreless Face Primer: I’ve tried so many primers over the years and honestly have just never stuck with one. I’ve been using this for almost a year and it seems to get the job done. Keeps my makeup in place all day and leaves me matte!
★Wet N Wild Photo Focus Foundation: I constantly am switching up my foundation. I either use the Loreal Infallible Pro, Maybelline Fit Me, or Wet N Wild Photo Focus Foundation. It honestly just depends on what’s on sale/what shade I am at the time of my purchase, lol. I’ve been using the Photo Focus recently and love the coverage of it.
★Rimmel Stay Matte Powder: I’ve been using this face powder since eighth grade! I swear it is the only powder I have tried that keeps me matte all day long. As long as they make this, I will be continuing to buy it; I cannot imagine ever switching to something different.
★Maybelline Fit Me Concealer: This is another product I have used and loved for years. This concealer covers blemishes so well without being super cakey. It also works well under the eyes to conceal under-eye circles and brighten the area up. It will crease though if you forget to set it with powder afterward.
★Anastasia Contour Kit: This is another product I’ve been using for ages. I’m on my second contour kit and use this product daily. I love the banana powder to set my under eyes and the bronzer to give myself a soft contour each morning. There are three shades of bronzer, a highlight, a powder, and a banana powder. Honestly, I only ever use three of the six pans but I love them so much that I will continue to buy this palette just for those three. They always have these for half the retail price at my local TJ Maxx.
★Real Her Be Fearless, Be Limitless Blush Kit: There are three shades in this blush palette—I hate two of them and couldn’t live without the third one. It is the most gorgeous mauve with just a light shimmer to it that leaves you with the most beautiful, natural glow. I love that this blush is a bit darker because it warms your complexion up at the same time.
★Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter: This Becca highlighter has been raved about for years but it wasn’t until recently that I gave it a try for myself. It’s my new favorite for sure. This has got a peachy gold sheen to it that will leave you with that “natural dewy” finish that is so effortlessly gorgeous.
★Essence Eyebrow Designer: Honestly, I’ve been using this every day for the last few months because I’m too lazy to go and buy my usual brow stuff. I prefer a pomade to fill and shape my brows but lately, I’ve just been penciling them in. This one gets the job done and leaves my brows looking super natural for the summer.
★Ardel Whispies #105: It’s very rare I shoot photos for the blog without falsies on. They give me such a confidence boost and really widen the eyes which is a must when being on camera. The style #105 is by far my favorite. They are the perfect mix of natural and glam.
★Maybelline Great Lash Mascara: I’ve tried dozens of mascaras over the years but always come back to the Maybelline Great Lash. This mascara is such a classic, darkening, and lengthening my lashes the perfect amount. It’s even better with a mascara primer underneath.
★Too Faced Lip Injection: I just started using this last week after finding it in my sister’s makeup drawer and I am hooked. I have super tiny lips and these give them a little extra plump and the perfect amount of gloss.
★Essence Soft Contouring Lip Liner #08: Even if I’m not using the Too Faced Lip Injection, I almost always line my lips with this. It’s the perfect natural color, hence it’s name “Natural”—it’s like my lips but better. I like to give them a little shape and this works well even with just a little lip balm.
★Boscia White Charcol Mattifying Makeup Setting Spray: I’ve had this setting spray for about six months and it’s my new favorite. I used to love the Urban Decay All Nighter but I think this one does a better job at keeping me matte throughout the day. Plus, I’ve been using it almost daily and am only a third of the way through with the bottle.

Other Makeup Favorites

While the products above are what I’ve been using daily to do my makeup this summer, I have far more beauty products in my collection and oftentimes will switch a few products out depending on the time of year. I’m linking a handful of other favorites in my makeup collection for you to check out. The Buxom lip glosses are my holy grail!

Skincare Favorites

★Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream: I have used this product for ages and it is my absolute favorite. It comes in a tub rather than a pump and is much thicker than a lotion since it’s a “moisturizing cream”. This isn’t meant for your face but I do use it on my face if I’m super dry or if I spent the day out in the sun. There’s no scent to this and it’s non-greasy which are two more reasons I love this stuff so much.
★Garnier Micellar Water: I absolutely hate makeup wipes. Micellar water is the way to go and it’s far more cost-effective! Just put a little of this on a cotton round and it removes all your makeup just like that. I prefer the blue cap rather than the pink or green as it’s best for getting off waterproof mascara and stubborn eyelash glue.
★The Creme Clear Skin Acne Scar Patches: I don’t break out too often but when I do, my skin almost always scars leaving the worst discoloration. I put one of these stars over each of my dark spots before going to bed and wear them overnight. They are infused with witch hazel which lightens the spots so fast. Most times I can get a scar to go away in just one use but some take a few nights in a row with these patches.
★Laneige Water Sleeping Mask: The difference in the water and air at school made my skin so terribly dry all winter long. The only thing that would keep my face hydrated was this water sleeping mask. It’s definitely an investment but my gosh does it work. Your skin will feel like a baby’s bottom in the morning.
★Neutrogena Hydro Boost Cleanser: My skin is super sensitive and works best with as few face products as possible. It gets far too overwhelmed when I start putting too many products on it. I tend to stick with just cleanser and moisturizer and nothing else. The Neutrogena Hydro Boost is the perfect exfoliator to clean my face and remove any remaining makeup leftover. But, it has hyaluronic acid which is super hydrating.
★Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel: This is one of my favorite face moisturizers. It’s a bit pricier for a drugstore product but it’s amazing! Super lightweight, smells great and is incredibly moisturizing. This is a great dupe for the Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench.
★Gel Nail Polish Kit: I figured I would mention a few nail products while I’m at it. This gel kit I received for my birthday and it’s my new favorite way to paint my nails. I know gel isn’t great for your nails but not having to repaint them every three days because my regular polish has already chipped off has been so great. This is the one I grabbed and it’s so worth it! I can’t seem to get my polish to last longer than 10 days but my sister’s lasted 30 days so I need to get a lesson from her, lol.
★OPI Nail Polish: Before I grabbed my gel polish machine, this was the nail polish I was using weekly. This is the perfect everyday color for me and I love this formula as it dries super fast.

Hair Care Favorites

★Got2B Glued Freeze Blast Hairspray: I’ve been using this hairspray since the beginning of my cheerleading days. It’s super strong but man does it get the job done!
★GSQ Texturizing Volume Spray: I have been using this texturizing spray recently it is so good. It’s a bit tackier than the other texturizing sprays I’ve used but it’s still lighter than a hairspray. I find it gives my hair so much body and keeps my curls relatively in place. This is fantastic if you need a little extra love on second-day hair!
★Suave + Keratin Shampoo and Conditioner: I have super dry, thin hair and this shampoo + conditioner combo do just the trick for me. It’s super inexpensive and yet it’s better than any of the high-end stuff I’ve ever used. It smells great, doesn’t weigh down my hair, and works on color-treated hair.
★Healthy Sexy Hair Tri-Wheat Leave-In Conditioner: I don’t use this product all the time but if my hair is a little knotty when I get out of the shower or if I’ve spent a little extra time out in the sun I’ll spray some of this leave-in conditioner into my hair after showering. It smells great and is a cheaper alternative to the It’s A 10 one.
★Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer: I just received this last month for my birthday and have been trying to give myself the perfect blowout. I will admit, I am not 100% sold on this thing yet. So many people have raved about it but I find that my hair just looks frizzy. I do however like it so much better than a typical blow drier so for that reason I’m including it in this post. I need some more practice and than I’ll get back to you on this one.
★Batiste Dry Shampoo: My hair can easily go three-four days without being washed if I use this dry shampoo. Nothing works better for me than this stuff. The most important trick to dry shampoo is to let it sit for at least thirty minutes before brushing it out. It needs to seep into the roots and really absorb those oils!

Self Tanning Favorites

*I only self-tan in the wintertime, my summer tan is completely natural as I have very good tanning genes and like to spend as much time outside as possible.

★Melissa Weinberg Perfect Glow Self Tan Mousse: I just recently got this and it’s so good. It’s the most expensive self-tanner I’ve used but man does it leave you looking good. I use a mitt to apply this one after I’ve showered and let it develop overnight. In the morning your water will run brown but you will be left with a super deep tan that will look as if you just got a spray tan. This one is great for special occasions!
★Mystic Tan Mocha Kiss Bronzer: Mystic Tan is the brand of spray tans I get at my local salon so I went ahead and tried their Bronzer too! One side of this is self-tan and the other is a clear lotion that you put on over top. This gives you a really bronzed finish but can easily make you look orange if you have the wrong undertones. Luckily for me, I have olive skin so this works just fine.
★Tanologist Face Drops: My face is far paler than the rest of me so I self tan my face quite often. These are a great dupe for the Isle of Paradise drops that everyone raves about. Mix a few of these into your moisturizer and you’re good to go!
★Tanologist Self Tan Mousse: This is probably my favorite self-tanner! This one applies clear, doesn’t transfer onto your sheets, and your shower does not run brown the following morning. This has very minimal smell and is no fuss. I don’t use a mitt to apply this and two coats of the shade “Medium” gives me the perfect glow. This is super easy to build up color with and lasts about a week.
★Jergens Wet Glow Moisturizer: If you’re looking for a very natural, gradual self-tan use the Wet Glow Moisturizer. You apply this as if it’s regular lotion after getting out of the shower for a few days in a row. It’s very no fuss with no streaks whatsoever!

Watch Me Get Ready

Today on YouTube I’m talking through my everyday makeup routine. This is a super laid back get ready with me where I apply several of the products I mentioned earlier! I’m no beauty guru by any means, but you all asked to see it so here it is.

Well, that’s a wrap for my master list of beauty products. Most of these products I use on a daily basis, if not at least once a week. I hope you enjoyed reading this and that it gave you a few new beauty recommendations for your next trip to the drugstore. I’ll be sure to do an updated one of these if I switch things up anytime soon.

With love, McKenz

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