My Top 5 favorite beauty products I'd never go without.
I’ve talked a lot about my absolute love of my former hairstylist’s eco-friendly, organic and vegan haircare products called Rahua, but his shampoo, conditioner, organic hairspray and finishing treatment aren’t the only beauty products I just simply can’t live without. I wanted to share my top five favorites here and let you know why I love them so much and will never part with them.
There certainly are lots of beauty products I adore and use regularly, yet, these 5 are the ones where I freak out if I am running low, stock up if there is a sale and aren’t willing to stray from, no matter what other product on which you try to lure me.
#1- NOW Jojoba Oil…for my face
I have oily skin. While many aestheticians have told me that oily skin is a blessing when it comes to aging well, having oily skin can be a nightmare when it comes to acne and breakouts. Now, it may seem counterintuitive to say that I have combatted excessive oily skin and acne by using jojoba oil directly on my face, but using it has only thing to help minimize both these problems.
If you think about it, it stands to reason that applying oil to your face as a moisturizer would prevent your skin from producing too much oil. When skin is dehydrated and dried out by using products that strip your face of oil, your body often produces more oil in an attempt to balance it out. What you are often left with as a result is oily skin underneath a layer of flaky, dry skin. The oil gets trapped and the breakouts happen. Therefore, by using straight jojoba oil as my moisturizer, my skin has naturally slowed down the oil production process which also means less breakouts and no more dry flakiness. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, consider using jojoba oil as your facial moisturizer both morning and night and you’ll probably notice that your skin is less oily and your breakouts are minimal. Just keep in mind, a few drops go a long way. My favorite brand is NOW Jojoba oil.
#2- Bye Bye Blemish Drying Lotion
To say that my skin never breaks out as a result of using jojoba oil directly on my skin would be a lie. I still get the occasional zit, especially when my hormones are out of whack. What I have come to rely on to minimize the lifespan of a breakout is Bye Bye Blemish which is a drying lotion (with a cheesy name), antiseptic and clarifying lotion that reduce the size and severity of blemish and exfoliates pore blocking debris overnight. I am never without this product in my bathroom and I find that after one or two applications, what could have become a nightmare zit is gone in no time.
#3- TRESemmé Fresh Start Volumizing Dry Shampoo
Going back to the oily issue I have, it doesn’t just stop with my skin. I also have incredibly oily hair. I also color my hair and, to extend the life of my color, I try to washing it as seldom as I possibly can. Also, it’s not healthy for your hair to wash it daily. Similar to what happens to your skin if you strip away the oil through over-washing, the same goes for your hair. The less often you wash your hair the less oil your body will produce. Yet, with naturally oily hair, often I need extra help combatting oiliness. Prior to discovering TRESemmé Fresh Start Volumizing Dry Shampoo, I used to use baby powder between hair washings. It’s an old trick that, when dusted into hair and combed through, can help absorb extra oil. Yet, I prefer this product by TRESemmé because not only does it do the same thing, but the Mineral Clay and Citrus formula removes oil and odor that weighs hair down. I’m almost embarrassed to tell you how many days I now can go without shampooing my hair.
#4- Trish McEvoy’s Mascara
Prior to being introduced to Trish McEvoy’s mascara, I was someone who would never pay more than drugstore prices for it. Yet, I was lured in when Trish McEvoy actually made a mascara in an auburn shade. While they’ve since discontinued their auburn color (I’m still pouting and begging for them to bring it back), I was instantly hooked by how amazing this mascara is and now happily plunk down nearly $30 for it. It’s smudge-free, smear-free, water resistant and has a polymer base that tubes 360° around your lashes. I’ve been using this mascara for over six years now and have tried both their ‘High Volume’ and ‘Lash Curling’ and love them both.
#5- Colorescience Sunforgettable Mineral Powder Sunscreen SPF 30 Brush
With skin cancer running in my family, I know the importance of sunscreen. Yet, I also know just how sensitive the skin on my face can be to anything I apply to it. That’s why I love Colorescience Sunforgettable Mineral Powder Sunscreen. Similar to the mineral makeups many of us have come to know and love, this mineral sunscreen is applied in the same manner and offers non-irritating, instant UVA and UVB sun protection. If you’re someone who forgets to put on a layer of sunscreen or who hates messy lotions, this is definitely something to check out.
What are your favorite beauty products you just can’t live without? I’d love to hear them!
