There are very few beauty products that have stood the test of time in regards to my favorites. As someone who loves to try new things, it's rare that I continually buy the same product time after time. Sure, I've gone through mascara and foundation phases, but usually after the second or third time buying something, I'm ready for something new.

That logic does not apply to this particular product. 

When I first found out about the Clé de Peau Concealer about 10 years ago, I knew that I had to have it. My dark under eye circles have always been my biggest beauty pain point and for that reason concealer is my all time favorite product to test and try. If I'm putting one makeup item on, it's going to be concealer, so wouldn't it just be natural for me to fall head over heels for a $75 concealer that is like a magic eraser? 

No one wants to spend $75 on a concealer but when it's this good, when it lasts you years (well past the expiration date), you do it. 

the packaging has changed recently and i'm sure how i feel - the left  is my new tube

I just repurchased my fourth tube of this magic stick so I figured it was the perfect time for a review.

Ever since I was a little girl, I've dreamed of straight hair. It used to take my mom two hours to blow dry my hair when I was a kid and I used to hate doing my hair so much that I would pay my sorority sisters in alcohol to blow dry my hair for me. I never turned down a professional blow out, and I've gotten many a straightening & relaxing treatments in my day to just tame the mane that sits a top of my head. 

 Over the years I've gone through my fair share of hair tools; from blow dry brushes to a failed attempt at using the Dyson Airwrap to finally settling on my Shark FlexStyle...I still felt like something was missing.

There is nothing I love more than a foundation stick. It's the easiest, most seamless beauty product to use and makes putting makeup on a breeze. Once you find a good foundation stick, your life will be changed, I promise that.

I've tried so many foundation sticks over the years, and while I've loved a lot I don't know if I've ever had a love quite like this.

The Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick has been around for ages and is one of their better known products (in my opinion) but I had never tried it. Months ago, I was shopping in the Company Store at work -- I work for Estee Lauder who owns Bobbi Brown and we have a store in our office that has all of our brands -- and felt the need to spend some money.

I was craving a new foundation and figured I could use a new foundation stick since I was getting bored of my Hourglass one (which I still love). I swatched the Bobbi Brown one and was immediately sold. The first time I used it on my face, I was in shock. 

It's been years that I've been seeing this product all over social media, and I finally got the chance to try it out after receiving in PR. The PMD Beauty Personal Microderm Elite Pro is a personal microdermabrasion tool that mimics an in-office microdermabrasion treatment.

I've never been for a facial or any kind of skincare treatment but I've always been so interested in it, and I feel like this is a really good starting point for me. 

If you're unaware of what this device is, or what microdermabrasion is, let me explain. The PMD Beauty Elite Pro is excellent for uneven texture, large pores, anti-aging, and dark spots. If you're in need of something to liven up your skin, bring life back into it through radiance, smoothness and firmness, this is the tool you need. 

For years I've discussed on the blog and social media how my hair has been a point of contention. It's given me hell in so many ways; bad haircuts, frizz, and unruly curls. I've gotten keratin treatments to make it straighter, embraced my natural curls without adding heat, and tried so many different hair tools to get it just right. 

I loved my Drybar Double Shot Brush for years but it was starting to die on me and I wanted to get in on the Air Wrap journey that everyone was on. My sister bought a used Dyson at the end of 2022 and I was impressed by how fast it got my hair straight but it wasn't worth the price tag. I couldn't get used to the air wrap attachments and it felt too expensive to experiment with. I also wanted a larger round brush attachment which at the time, the Dyson didn't have.

The next best thing was the Shark Flexstyle and I have truly loved using this tool since April 2023. It's incredibly easy to use, dries my hair in record time, and is versatile in the styles you can achieve.

Summer Fridays has been my go-to brand ever since it popped up on the scene years ago. Their Jet Lag Mask has always been one of my favorite beauty products and with each new item release, I fall more and more in love.

When they released their Lip Butter Balm back in 2020, it immediately became one of my favorite beauty products. Even in the aluminum tube with no lip applicator, I loved it. Then, when they repackaged it and released new flavors, I became even more obsessed. 

I'm clearly not the only one who loves the lip balm as it's gone viral on TikTok a number of times over and is an essential of almost every woman I know. Every new flavor that is released becomes a new favorite and an instant sell out so it's no wonder that Summer Fridays is releasing a companion product -- their Dream Lip Oil that will be released on Sephora's website this week. I won't be purchasing until my no buy is over but I simply cannot wait to try this new lip product that will surely be a fan favorite.

For now though, I want to discuss the original and explain why it's the best lip balm I've ever used. Yes, you heard that right... while I still love my Glossier Balm Dot Com, I think the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm has officially taken the number one spot. 

 As someone who has worked in the beauty industry for 9 years I am always so excited to see the new arrivals from all of our favorite brands. I love seeing what items brands cook up in their heads, what's going to be trending and what new technology is being touted.

Innovation is important in every industry, but especially beauty. Of course new shades, new formulas, and new products are always fun but when a brand releases something in a 'first of its kind' category, it's a special occasion. Innovation keeps the industry moving forward.

Years ago, I wrote an article for The EveryGirl about the most innovative beauty products of 2020, so I figured I'd bring it back this year on the blog.

It was a very innovative year for beauty in my opinion; there were a ton of new types of products that hit the market, some which capitalized on existing trends and others that were so new, my jaw was on the floor & I felt like we were living in the future.

Let's get into it! 

Over the years mascara has become one of the most important beauty products in my routine. I think it has overtaken concealer as the product I never leave the house without. I don't really feel like myself if I don't have mascara on which never used to be the case.

Mascara is also something that I don't experiment too much with anymore. I've tried what feels like hundreds of mascaras and I usually can find something I like in all of them, but lately, I've been more picky with what's going on my lashes. 

Too Faced's iconic Better Than Sex mascara has always been in rotation for me. I don't know if I've ever loved a mascara the way I love Better Than Sex. 

 I'm coming up on one year of working at Estee Lauder. It's been the best work year I've ever had and I love my job so much. I love working at a company that has such a rich history, a brand that I've admired since childhood and have such fond memories of; watching my mom and aunt use this skincare and makeup is ingrained in my brain.

One of the first purchases I made when I started working at the brand was our hero product: Advanced Night Repair Serum. It's a serum that does everything and anything you need it to; we like to say it's like 7 serums in 1 because it has that much power packed into a bottle.

 I have too many lipsticks for someone who only wears a handful. My go-to brands for the past year have been Charlotte Tilbury and Pat McGrath, specifically the Bridgeton Collection. It's rare that I reach for anything else in my collection, until now. 

The Too Faced Cocoa Bold Cream Lipsticks were listed as 'coming soon' on all retailers for weeks and when they finally were available, I ordered two shades. I had no idea how they were going to look, feel or apply but I had extremely high hopes. 

I was correct.

Before this order, I hadn't been experimenting much with Too Faced because I hadn't seen anything that caught my eye. I love the chocolate line so having these lipsticks be in that category, I was hopeful I'd love them.

I have so many beauty products that I use daily, and I realize I have never even uttered one word about it on the blog or on social media. I am changing that right now by vowing to do more beauty in review posts, even if they are short because I realize I tend to get long-winded about many things.

Over the past year or so I've started to receive a lot more beauty PR and I am so grateful for that because it allows me to try things I never would've picked up on my own.

One of those items that have come across my desk recently is the Ilia Lip Wrap Reviving Balm. I am a sucker for a good lip balm and I am always looking for a new one to try. I have never tried anything from Ilia before, despite knowing that it's supposed to be an amazing brand according to every review I've ever seen. 

The Lip Wrap being my introduction to the brand made a good first impression; I've been using it for months and it is without a doubt, one of the best balms that have ever graced my lips. 

 Lavender has always been a scent I was drawn to, maybe because it is centered around the idea of being calm and I am always chasing that feeling. I feel as if I surround myself with calming entities then I in turn will be calm as well.

The scent of lavender is very calming to me, though. It centers and grounds me, even when I'm not feeling particularly nervy. I always have a vial of lavender oil stashed on me, whether I'm traveling or just laying in bed... it might be a placebo effect but it truly does so much for calming me down when I'm having a bad moment.

Lavender does more than just calm you down; when used in skincare and other beauty products it helps reduce inflammation, soothe irritated skin and prevent and treat acne. It makes sense, doesn't it? That lavender would calm your skin down the way it calms your nerves.

For the past year or so I have been very into perfume. I don't know if it's because I've gone through a makeup, haircare, and skincare phase already and it's time to move on to another sector of the beauty industry or just the beauty that is a bottle of delicious fragrance.

Because of this, I've been experimenting with a lot of different brands and scents, and I've definitely found my favorites. I've also learned a lot about fragrances, the different notes, and intensities. I've tried expensive perfumes, drugstore brands, middle-of-the-range lines, and popular and unknown fragrances. I'm a little obsessed. 

PerfumeTok aka the perfume side of TikTok has become one of my favorite ways to entertain myself and it's so interesting to learn from people who have created a career out of their passion for fragrance.

What I have learned over the past year is that one of the most expensive and popular perfumes is Baccarat Rouge 540. It has the most distinct smell that lasts for days on the skin, even after having showered. It is a scent that can be smelled on the streets of Manhattan and Paris, and it is one that costs a minimum of $325. 

All year round my skin is drier than a desert. It doesn't matter how much water I drink, or what products I use on my face or in my house, my skin is always thirsty for more. I suffer from eczema and have very sensitive skin so I'm wary of a lot of the items I put on my face, especially if it's going near my eye area because that is the most sensitive.

I've tried a lot of different products over the years and found that thick, fragrance-free moisturizers that are marketed toward sensitive skin and repairing the skin's natural barrier work really well for me. This stands all year round, not just in the winter months when the air is dry and my skin needs some extra TLC. 

That's why, when I saw Glossier was going to put out a new moisturizer called "After Baume" and it was marketed toward people like me, I was instantly sold. There was not a doubt in my mind that I was going to fall in love with this moisturizer and I was right.

Glossier has had its fair share of scandals over the years but I am still a loyal customer because there are a few products that I cannot be without and now After Baume is one of them.

 I have been talking about Skyn Iceland and their eye masks for years... probably since I started the blog. The first time I spoke about them was in a post from 2015, all about their skin hangover kit. I did a brand buzz post about them in 2016 and then mentioned the eye gels again in 2018.

I figured it was time to do a truly dedicated post about the best eye gels in the world... and I've tried a lot of eye gels. 

For me, my eyes are extremely sensitive. I am constantly having allergic reactions to different products, I have eczema flare-ups once a week and I just need to be really careful with what I put around my eyes. 

 It's been a minute since I've done a Beauty in Review post and I have so many great products lined up to review. It took me a while to get on board with this particular product but better late than never! And it's interesting because even though I was late on the trend, this product still became my favorite beauty item of the year. 

I'm talking about the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush.

When it was announced that Selena Gomez was launching her own beauty brand, I don't think anyone expected it to be as good as it is. It's up there with Fenty as a standalone celebrity beauty brand -- like it's not some throwaway product, it's well respected in the beauty industry and I love that for Selena.

I've only tried one other Rare Beauty product aside from the Soft Pinch Blush and that is the Stay Vulernable Melting Cream Blush. The reviews are mixed on that and maybe I'll do an additional review post on those but for now, we're focusing on Soft Pinch.

This past holiday season, I picked up a trio of blushes from Sephora. The set is still available on Rare Beauty's website but it came with three mini sizes of the Soft Pinch blushes: Bliss, Hope, and Peace. At the time, Bliss was the only shade available in full size but Rare has now added Hope to the lineup as well.

Since getting this set, these are the only blushes I have used. It's been about two months and while I don't apply makeup every day, when I do, I reach for Soft Pinch.

I have been so into beauty lately and it feels amazing! For the past few years I haven't really been inspired by anything on the market and was sticking to my old favorites, but something happened recently and I've been loving trying new things. 

Beauty is so fluid, the market and industry is always changing, trends come and go and as someone who has a career in beauty, both professionally & as a side hustle, I'm really interested in how those trends ebb and flow. It's so interesting to watch brands follow suit to what is popular, what editors and influencers are talking about and what new innovation is on the market. That's why I'm a sucker for everything and anything new! 

Right now, I'm all about skincare and so is the industry. Between the change in seasons and maskne, people are more concerned about taking care of their skin, probably because we all are having massive breakouts. That being said, I've been trying a lot of different skincare to help keep my complexion looking healthy, glowing and spot free. Therefore, it shouldn't be a surprise that there's a lot of skincare products in this post, however a post about a full routine is coming soon.

I've also been super obsessed with Charlotte Tilbury, though that isn't new, but I can't stop using her products. They're the best! 

Let's dive into it, shall we?

Maelove Serums

Fresh Soy Cleanser

This is an oldie but goodie that I restocked during the Sephora VIB Sale. If you haven't tried the Fresh Soy Cleanser you are missing out. It is the most gentle yet effective face cleanser I've ever used. It deeply cleanses without being too harsh or stripping your skin... my face never feels tight or overly clean afterwards. I usually use this at night when I'm not exfoliating my skin with a scrub or I love to use it with my Foreo Luna Mini. It adds a nice gentleness to the exfoliation process that the Foreo gives you. Whenever I use this I'm reminded at how much my dry skin loves it and I really need to stick with this face cleanser because there's nothing better! 

Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Lip Balm

I purchased this Glowgasm lip balm a few months back and have been loving it ever since. It's very reminiscent of the Dior Lip Glow balm as it leaves your lips with the slightest pink tint that matches your pH balance. I don't think this is as creamy and soft as the Dior and I do feel as if leaves behind more color. The packaging is to die for, as usual and I love how the actual lip balm is glittery but doesn't leave behind any glittery residue. It's perfect for throwing on during the day to add a touch of color to your lips without it being overly opaque and sticky. I'm very interested in picking up the red shade too! 

Gua Sha 

I like to use it under my eyes and in the hollows of my cheeks... it feels so good (especially when the Gua Sha is cold from my skincare fridge). I haven't noticed any effects of my face being more silm (I should probably take before & after photos) but I love how it makes my skin feel, and how it has become part of my self-care/skincare routine.

What are your current favorite beauty products?

xoxo
B

 I've been wanting to write this post for a solid year or so but I felt like I hadn't tried enough eyeliners... if you could imagine that! Eyeliner is not my favorite product in the world and I really only wear it on special occasions at this point. I used to religiously wear eyeliner back in the 8th grade, very heavy in the waterline and that lasted for a while but somewhere over the past 6 years, I've learned that eyeliner isn't always necessary.

However, I do still enjoy a good liner, especially when I wing it out properly and everything is right in the world.

For years, I didn't purchase an eyeliner because I worked for a beauty brand that had some of the best eyeliners I've ever tried. Laura Geller eyeliners, to this day, remain my favorite and I took enough on my last day in 2019 to last a lifetime.

Over the past two years, I have purchased a handful of eyeliners because I'm a sucker for good marketing, and there are also a few eyeliners from my past that are just superb. They're all in this post so let's get started!

Laura Geller INKcredible Eyeliners

These are my favorite every day eyeliners. It's as if you took a potted gel eyeliner and put it in a retractable pencil. They glide on very easily yet stay in place all day long. I don't find they transfer if you have watery eyes yet they are very pigmented. It's everything you could want in an eyeliner! You can find them on QVC or Laura Geller's website.. my favorite colors are Blackbird, Brown Sugar, and Beige to Beige!

Laura Geller Baked Kajal Eyeliner

I remember when we were formulating these Kajal eyeliners and all the ladies in the office were fighting over lab samples. At first they were limited edition but they sold really well, and we all loved them so they became a permanent fixture in Laura's line. These are kajal pencils so they are fatter and have a wider tip...however, they are baked. Laura Geller is known for baked makeup so the eyeliner pigments are baked and then formed into the eyeliner shape. They are extremely creamy, glide onto the lid easily and can be smudged out for a more shadowy look. There are so many colors and they're so good, you need to try at least one! 

Charlotte Tilbury Rock 'N' Kohl Eyeliner

Do you think I was going to have a top 5 list and not include Charlotte Tilbury? It's my favorite beauty brand and everything I try I fall in love with. The eyeliners are no different. They are a bit drier than the Laura Geller's but sometimes that is good. I have the shade "Pillowtalk" and it's the only color I've tried. Pillowtalk is a smokey, berry brown shade and I love using it on more casual days. Pillowtalk is a more matte finish, glides on beautifully, and stays in place, yet smudges easily for a smokey look. The eyeliner is waterproof, for 14 hours, which is perfect. I would like to try some of her other shades but Pillowtalk is so good!

INKcredible Too Faced Killer Eyeko Charlotte Tilbury Kajal

Eyeko Eye Do Liquid Easy Stroke

Eyeko was the first liquid eyeliner pen I have ever used and I've been chasing that high ever since. I've tried a lot of different liquid eyeliner pens but this is my favorite and I always come back to it. It's easy to use to create a wing eyeliner and is the only eyeliner I've ever successfully used to do so. The eyeliner is long lasting and dries pretty quickly; it's super duper black and looks beautiful on the eye. I'm obsessed! 

Too Faced Killer Eyeliner

This is a newer eyeliner to me but I really love the shade I have, Killer Gingerbread. This is in the same category as the Charlotte Tilbury as I have only one shade and I love it for everyday wear. It's very long lasting (supposed to last 36 hours though I have not tested it for that long) and it just glides on very easily. The color is beautiful and I find that I love wearing just a little bit of it to add something extra to any and all eye looks. If you haven't tried these yet, I think you need to! 

These are all kind of similar and I love them all for the same reason(s) but you can never have too many eyeliners!

What are your favorite eyeliners?
xoxo
B

I've been dealing with a fussy scalp since I was a teenager. For years, I struggled with dandruff, itchy scalp, and just an all over uncomfortable feeling. I've tried tons of products, both medicated and over the counter... and nothing really helps. 

There are a few products that I use to keep my scalp healthy, that are tried and true, so I'll do a post dedicated to that hair routine but this post is all about one miracle product that relieves the itchiness between washes.

That was a major issue for me -- no matter how clean my hair was or how healthy my scalp was, the itchiness was there. I would scratch my head until it bled... I couldn't get it under control.

Enter Mizani.