Neither of us has overflowing make-up drawers and cabinets stocked with every item on the market. We do, however, stay on the lookout for new brands, products, and technologies/ingredients that will benefit us, that are clean, that are good for our skin, and that make us feel good.
Our routines incorporate a combination of tried and true items (Chrissie used Neutrogena Body Oil for over 30 years until some new, better, cleaner brands finally entered the market!) as well as newer items, such as products with hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and retinol. Yes, we may grab a new lip tint just because it makes us feel good, but generally speaking, we like to research and spend our cosmetics dollars with intention!
Here are our everyday ‘go-to’ items. The ten products that we’d take to a desert island. We tried to make it a Fab5, but couldn’t narrow it down, so it’s a Fab5 x 2…ie, Fab10!
Chrissie’s Fab5 x 2 Everyday Beauty Items, in order of post-shower use!
Body Oils – I’ve written about this before, but I’m a complete convert to body oils instead of lotion after the shower. My favorites are Osea, Everyday Oil, and Reed + Gwen.
Vitamin C Serum – I use a product from my dermatologist, but the retail holy grail ($$$) for Vitamin C Serum is by Skinceuticals, with a budget option if you’re just starting out being The Ordinary. The Ordinary also makes a budget-priced set that has Vitamin C cream, Hyaluronic Acid Serum (sounds scary but is for hydration), and Niacinamide Serum.
Yina Hydracloud Cream/Yina Face Serum – I love this brand and use the Hydracloud Cream morning and night (a TINY amount gives really great moisture to your face), followed by the serum (again a TINY bit goes a long way so one bottle lasts a really long time). Or you can mix them together.
SuperGoop CC Cream – It’s like a light/sheer tinted moisturizer/concealer with sunscreen. Great one step items to smooth things out and give SPF. Lots of colors to match different skin tones. It’s my #1 desert island pick.
All the Jones Road Products: Joanne and I are duplicating on this, but I love all of these Bobby Brown created products that are ‘natural beauty’ focused. I have used the Miracle Balm every day for a few years now, and also love the Lip and Cheek Stick and the Face Pencil (all of which come in a variety of colors).
Ilia Mascara – This stuff rocks. The key is to use the brush side to apply it and then the little comb side afterwards and your lashes sort of grow before your eyes (literally!)
Benefit Gimme Brow Volumizer – This is like mascara for your eyebrows that ‘volumizes, tames and tints’. Love it.
Hair volume spray – I have very fine hair and apply this before I dry my hair. It makes a difference.
Nail Polish That LASTS – Obviously not an everyday thing, but this brand’s colors are great and I’m not kidding that this stuff rarely chips and just lasts soooo long – like weeks! Top it off with their topcoat.
Joanne’s Fab5 x 2 Beauty Items
Wet Brush. The moment you use this, you won’t go back to another brush. It is the original detangler and gently reduces knots on your wet hair. It also prevents split ends and breakage. It’s a great gift and comes in a convenient travel size.
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré, Face Cream & Makeup Primer. This is my go-to skin cream/moisturizer. It isn’t too thick, it isn’t too greasy, and it feels really good on my skin.
Belief True Cream Moisturizing Bomb. My friend Catharine gave me this face moisturizer and I love it. It is thin and long-lasting and I don’t even feel like it’s there.
EltaMD UV Clear Tinted Face Sunscreen. My dermatologist recommended this sunscreen and it is the one thing I wear every day. This version is tinted and helps to even out my skin tone so I don’t have to wear foundation (well, I probably should but I’m lazy).
Ahava Dead Sea Mineral Bath Gel. This is my favorite shower gel/soap. It hydrates and leaves my skin feeling refreshed and relaxed with its aromatic signature scent. I follow it up with the Avaha Body Lotion below.
Ahava Body Lotion. This quick-absorbing mineral body lotion is perfection. It isn’t too thick and it smells incredible.
Jones Road products. I was a loyal Bobbie Brown user for years and LOVE her new company, Jones Road. I had a make-over in NYC last week at their Greenwich Avenue store and bought into a whole new natural-looking routine of What the Foundation, Miracle Balm, The Face Pencil, and Just a Sec eyeshadow.
Supergoop! (Re)setting Powder. Chrissie turned me on to Supergoop! products and I love this SPF powder. It is easy to keep in my purse and just reapply UV protection even over makeup in one swoop. Easy peasy.
Bioderma make-up remover. It’s a make-up remover and cleanser in one and feels so refreshing on my skin! Simply apply with a cotton pad – no rinse-off necessary!
Revlon One-Step. This is a hot air brush and I use it at the end of blow-drying my hair to give it a professional blow-dry look! It doesn’t work outside the US (120V). Don’t try it, even with a converter, because mine blew up and almost started a hotel fire in Paris! I tracked down the 220V version in Casablanca and I save that for international travel!
