Over the past, I dunno, 28 years I’ve been a total beauty product addict. It’s documented in my baby book on my third Christmas where my mom wrote in “She asked for a makeup kit??” Since then I’ve ditched the Wet-n-Wild teal eyeliner and have been lapping up recommendations from magazines left and right only to be let down quite a bit of the time when the promise of airbrushed skin/the perfect faux tan/inner “glow” fail to actually be reproduced in my bathroom mirror. I much prefer to spend my hard earned money on products that my friends and industry pros I know tout as being genius. So I thought “why not make it a blog series?” Starting this week I’ll be hittin’ you with the absolute must have items of people I trust as beauty advisors and inspirations!
I figured it would be best to kick it off with my own can’t live without it product. Ok, I cheated, I have three. But I’m the boss lady so I say it’s ok. I am not typically a creature of habit when it comes to makeup and skincare because I always want to try the newest, greatest thing. Except for these three things that I ALWAYS purchase. My skin in nothing to write home about, so I do use foundation and concealer liberally. However, I hate really thick foundation as well as super sheer “this is basically expensive lotion” tinted moisturizers. So finding a balance was tough, but man how I love my Chanel Teint Innocence Foundation. Totally perfect coverage that looks natural but attempts to hide the damage I did when lathering on tanning oil while a lifeguard as a teen. I’ve bought other fancy ones that magazine always claim are “the best” only to return them a re-purchase this one. Plus, it’s the only Chanel item I can afford and I would be lying if I said the black box with the logo doesn’t thrill me a little. Pairing that with the inimitable Cle de Peau concealer and YSL’s Touche Eclat (both worth every penny- imitators don’t come close) creates the closest thing to good lookin’ skin for me (I will NOT say flawless, because I hate it when mags claim that. No one is flawless). Seeing as I turn THIRTY FREAKING ONE in three weeks, I need all the help I can get!
I’m going to survey a wide swath of people- from other interior designers to fashionistas to makeup artists and stylists. Up next week, the must have product from my new hair guru Jeffrey Lyle!
This is great! I am addicted to products and I’m always asking people what they use, I love this!
I’m so excited about the new series. I am always so intimidated when buying beauty products. I’m always afraid that I’ll get talked into something I don’t need or want, but I’ve been craving a revamp to my make-up regime. Any chance you can suggest your favorite places in Boston to purchaes make-up?
Oh I am excited about this new series. I think it is great when women can discuss this type of stuff. Saving each other time and money. I am always curious about all the different creams out there for fine lines etc. I have had luck believe or not with the Oil of Olay new line. Even my dermatologist recommended it.
I love the YSL product as well. I will have to check out the foundation. I’ve tried numerous foundations and the best I’ve found is Armani Luminous Silk foundation. It’s $60 so I dont use it daily, but it makes my skin look as good as it probably ever will.
Love this – now we all need a rundown of the application process! That is where I think I consistently screw up! You can always post a video of your morning makeup routine :)
What a great idea for a new series. I hate when magazines state they have found “THE BEST” new foundation one month, and then are pushing a different foundation on you the next! If you found the best last month, why are you trying to sell me on something else this month?! I agree with Christina K., a tutorial would be great! It would help explain the process, for example right now I am so curious as to why you use two concealers! I am assuming you use them on different areas of your face, but which concealer do you use for under-eyes, pimples, etc.
Love Erin!! I’m a product junkie too (what girl isn’t) and had similar let downs. Tried and true is what you always return to! I’d love to hear from all of the fabulous ladies on their faves!!!
I’ve been using YSL’s Touch Eclat for over 10 years and I LOVE it – don’t go a day without it! The Chanel foundation is also good, but my hands down absolute favorite is Georgio Armani Lumious Silk Foundation – AMAZING! Must try the Cle de Peau, have heard great things.
Love the new series!
Thank you for this!! I am always buying the “newest, best” thing only to be disappointed over and over. I love hearing what works best for others! Agree on Cle de Peau concealer, it is a must have for me!
This is a great idea for a new series! I immediately related to the “this is basically expensive lotion” because that’s what I thought when I tried Lancome’s new Fresh Wear foundation. I adore their Teinte Idole line because it’s one of the few that actually matches my very pale complexion.
Can’t wait to see what other products you recommend!
Hi Erin,
After Marija’s death, who I didn’t know or even read, I thought I would let you know that you are my favorite blog! You touch on a little of everything going on and it seems very real. thank you for doing your blog! Keep it up!!
Cara
I am so with you on the Cle de Peau and Touche Eclat!!! May I offer another foundation suggestion? In 2005, I was introduced to Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation and have never used another foundation since then. It’s feels light and provides just enough coverage. I absolutely love it. It is a bit expensive though, maybe somewhere between $70-$80 a bottle, but it lasts for a long time.
I can’t live without my Cle de Peau! Seriously!
Oh this will be good. I’m not at all a product junkie for fear of disappointment, which in turn makes me a creature of beauty product habit. Looking forward to hear what real people have to share.
Clumpy foundation is a no-go. Good pick with the Teint Innocence.
So excited for this series – I am a total product junkie! I could spend hours in ANY beauty department (Walgreens, Neimans, Target, Nordstrom…) and have such high hopes for products, only to have them disappoint. Love YSL and Teint Innocence – I’ll have to try Cle de Peau!
Just curious – do you use the touche eclat for dark undereye circles? I’m always on the look-up for the best undereye concealer and have been wondering about that one. Thanks!
I swear by the YSL Touche Eclat too…LOVE IT! I’ll have to try out the Chanel Teint Innocence Foundation – I recently started using Bare Escentuals matte foundation and really like it in the summertime!
My favourite product is also super affordable- Covergirls’s lashblast mascara: the orange tube, Its amazzing! Will make your eyes pop open. Tip: curl your eyelashes beforehand for supersonic effect! Have to try the Touche Eclat- have heard a lot about it from different sources.
Hi Erin, First I would like to tell you I LOVE YOUR BLOG. Your writing style and ideas are so great and I think you are very talented! Anyway, I love some Chanel products and have been using them for forever (ok since the 60′s). Foundation, nothing says a Chanel finish like their foundation. Eyeliner pencils and powder shadows, again, nothing like them and they last a year. However, I am not a fan of Chanel powder blush. Some other of my favorites, Bobbi Brown lipstick, very creamy. Prescriptives tube concealer. Drugstore mascara is good too!
Love the YSL concealer! Worth every penny! I also love Bare Excentuals Flawless Radiance highlighting powder. It gives you that celeb photo shoot glow!
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I love this blog idea! I am also a product junkie and was just shopping the Josie Maran sale when I found this — will try the Chanel instead. Question — do you use both the YSL and Cle de Peau concealer under your eyes — or one for eyes and one for covering spots?
just bought the ysl concealer and it is truly fabulous. try turning 42–i really do need all the help i can get. love hearing about what others rely on but also need to know their skin type to make a true determination. will go sample the Chanel foundation as i am always on the lookout but am currently testing the G. Armani foundation that everyone on this blog seems to be raving about. my skin is super oily and still breaks out so need to be careful of what i am putting on my face. would love to hear about cleansers, eye creams, etc…
This is such a great idea! It’s always been hard for me to find the *right* product – I can’t count how many times I’ve fallen for the “this is basically expensive lotion” tinted moisturizers.
Love the recommendations, Erin. The CdP concealer ROCKS. You’re right – it’s expensive, but worth every penny, and the tube last a long time. Touch de Eclat is on my “to try” list too. And I think all the comments on the GA Luminous Silk foundation have officially pushed me over the edge – that is definitely going to be my next foundation purchase. (But the Chanel one is in the running too).
I wholeheartedly echo everyone’s comments here, love the new series idea!
Thirty freaking one!! Try sixty freaking 0!! Quit whining and buy you some of that Armani foundation!!! It’ll take you all the way to 60 and beyond!!!
yessss love this series! and don’t go without the ysl concealer :)
Admitted PJ here also. Posted my Top 3 about a month ago; and YSL’s TE is a must for me! Great idea, Erin!
I love this series…I am a clinical junkie as well, but have it narrowed down to a very specific tailored routine. I adore Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation paired with Chanel’s version of the YSL under eye concealer, it’s called Eclat Lumiere. I use those two products and swear, my face looks airbrushed. I also get a really, really big thrill from buying Chanel beauty products, mainly because of the bag it comes in. I just got the new Fall eye shadow quad and am obsessed with it. I’m planning on doing a tutorial with it soon.
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Here is a great product. It gives you the look of fake lashes without the bother of them.
L’OREAL PARIS Double Extend. Try it, you’ll love it.
Love the new series! I too am sick of magazines claiming “flawless” and “glowing” results. . . easy for them to say when they get an endless supply of free goods! It would also be fantastic if you could dig up some products that go light on the unpronounceable ingredients and straight-up-bad-stuff (parabens, pthalates, tolulene, etc.) I’ve been slowly switching to cleaner, greener, products over the last few years and it is H-A-R-D to find stuff that works well and is actually clean, not just green-washed.
LOVE LOVE LOVE Cle de Peau. Barneys.com just started selling it as well, so you can get it at home :)
http://www.barneys.com/Concealer/00470303000647,default,pd.html
You got me to switch! I have been using Chanel foundations forever. I have used Pro Lumiere since the day it was launched. I thought I wanted all that coverage. I decided to replenish with your choice of liquid and I love it! Feels more like a second skin than wearing a mask. Thanks for the review:)
Sooo ready for this to get started!!
LOVE CDP!!!
Here’s what else I can’t live without: Smashbox Primer, MakeUp For Ever HD Foundation, La Mer Powder and Lancome Hypnose Mascara. Although now, I am considering trying both the Armani and Chanel foundation!
http://www.makeupalley.com is a great resource for reviews on all sorts of beauty products. I don’t buy anything without reading the reviews on this site first!!
I’m glad to see this series. I have my own “beauty” series called War Paint Wednesday. I have not heard of Cle de Peau – most likely because Nashville lacks retailers. I look forward to what is next!