A few days ago on TikTok, I saw a video from the creator JulesOnTheRox talking about the makeup products that killed her curiosity. The idea being that she has a selection of makeup products that are so good that she has no desire to ever try anything else. Personally, I loved the idea in theory. But I have to admit that I’m far too curious a person when it comes to makeup to not want to at least try what’s out there.
Having said that, I do have a small curation of beauty products that I will always see as my favourites. These are the products that I consider to be the backbone of my beauty routine and I would be genuinely crushed to see them reformulated or worse, discontinued. If you’re a beauty product that wants to enter this pantheon, so to speak, you really have to blow me away. And these are the beauty products that have blown me away again and again.
TOWER 28 SWIPE CONCEALER – $38.00
This was the concealer that got me to be picky about the concealers that I use and love. I’m now well and truly in my mid 30’s. So the concealers that I prefer tend to be lightweight, but good coverage. And the Swipe Concealer is that and so much more. The consistency is very thin and serumy. You wouldn’t expect it to have as much coverage as it does. But you’d swear once it was blended out that it was just your skin, it’s just that seamless. Now, I will say that this does crease a little bit on me. But I am at that age where every concealer creases on me. And the Swipe Concealer does it a lot less than other similar consistencies that I’ve tried. This is a concealer that I have consistently raved about since I discovered it. And if you’re in my age demographic especially, I cannot recommend it enough.
WESTMAN ATEILER FACE TRACE CONTOUR STICK – $83.00
It does feel a little unfair to compare any other bronzing or contour stick to Westman Atelier. Because out of all of the ones that I’ve tried since I first tried the Face Trace, I’m yet to find one that is even close to how good it is. The Face Trace has one of the most unique consistencies I’ve tried in a contour stick. It’s somewhere between a cream and a gel. It basically glides onto the skin without skipping or looking patchy. Once it’s blended into the skin though, it’s not moving. Setting down almost powder like on the skin. But not in a matte, flat way. The tone of this contour stick is basically built for me. Maybe not as cool as some contour sticks, but it’s adaptable enough for me to be able to use it as both a contour or a neutral bronzer. More shades have been added to this line over the years, and I would love to see more. But for me, this is basically perfect.
OAKCHA X PAUL REACTSS THAT GIRL VIRAL VANILLA – $87.00
NOTES: Top: Caramel, Coconut Milk. Middle: Tonka Bean, Honey. Base: Vanilla, White Musk, Marshmallow, Amber
My first place getter from last year’s Best In Fragrance awards. The gourmand vanilla fragrance to which I judge all other gourmand vanilla fragrances. I’ve tried countless vanilla gourmands in my time. But That Girl Viral Vanilla is in a class of it’s own. From the wear, the scent projection, the sillage, the sheer lasting power of Viral Vanilla is completely unmatched. I have clothing that I’ve washed that still smell like Viral Vanilla. It’s easily the most complimented fragrance in my collection. Best of all, I can wear this to work without my overly fragrance sensitive boss hating on it! I genuinely fear the vanilla fragrance that bumps this from the number 1 spot in my heart.
And that is just a sneak peek at my pantheon of beauty favourites! This is something I would love to turn into a series. So let me know if that’s something you would like to see. And as always, let me know your top shelf beauty favourites in the comments.
Cheers and love
Emily xo