The Holy Grail

I've had a few people ask me to do a holy grail products post of my every day must haves. I've been meaning to put it together for a while, and finally took the initiative today to go take pictures of everything *yay me* 

I wash my face daily with Philosophy's Purity and my Clarisonic Mia. I've been struggling with adult acne for a couple years now, and my face has never felt as clean as it does with the Purity and my Clarisonic. I use a prescription topical gel afterwards, but the Purity and Clarisonic get all my makeup off and really leave my face feeling fresh and soft.

Bumble and Bumble Hair Thickening Spray I was not blessed in the hair department... at all. I have very fine hair that sits very flat and lacks pizazz. I started using this thickening spray and it definitely helps. I simply spray it on damp hair before I blow dry it. 

Sorry for the blurry pic! Now it's time for primer! I've been using Smashbox Photo Finish Primer w/ SPF and it works great, but I've also heard great things about Sephora Perfecting Primer so I'm going to try that out too. We'll see if it replaces my Smashbox. I see a big difference when I don't use primer first before applying makeup. If I don't use it first, my makeup disappears before lunchtime, and forget the FL heat. It'll just sweat right off. With primer, it has much better staying power, and when I get home after work I have to wash my face to get my makeup off. It's not as fresh as in the morning, but it's still there.

One of my all time fav products is Urban Decay Primer Potion. I fell in love with it when I purchased the original Naked Palette, and had to restock it once it ran out. It used to come in a tube with a wand that would dry up, now they smartened up and make it in a squeeze tube so you know when it's truly empty. This stuff is amazing! My eyeliner, shimmer, eye shadow, you name it stays put! If you're sick of your eye makeup fading away quickly, this is a must have!

Sorry for another blurry pic.. I tried taking it a few times and it just wouldn't cooperate *sigh*. This is another one of my all time favorite products. Benefit Erase Paste is the only product that even comes close to covering up those hereditary dark under-eye circles. Thanks Mom and Nana! I'm sure I'll pass this gift along to my future daughter(s).. it's the gift that keeps on giving! Anywho... I blot this on underneath my eyes and they instantly look brighter and the dark circles almost disappear. Mine are so bad that I don't think anything will completely eliminate them, but this stuff gets closer than any other product has before. The trick is to not rub it in, but to dab/blot it on with your fingertips.

Foundation: I was an exclusive MAC Studio Fix user for about 10 years, but as I did with most of my products, I switched to the Sephora brand. Not only is it cheaper, but I earn Beauty Insider points. With MAC there aren't any rewards for being a frequent shopper, just constant free shipping. So, I broke up with MAC once and for all when I tried Sephora Collection's Matifying Foundation. It works just as well and provides great coverage. 

I used to use MAC's Refined Golden bronzer, but switched to Sephora Collection Bronzer and haven't looked back. It provides the same look for cheaper, plus those Beauty Insider points! Gotta keep that VIB status! I've heard amazing things about NARS Laguna bronzer, but haven't been able to bring myself to paying that much for bronzer just yet. Some day I hope to try it out. I'll probably try the double pack with their blush as well in Orgasm to try them both out.

Blush was another product I switched from MAC to Sephora Collection and haven't looked back. Again, it's cheaper and provides the same look/coverage. 

Highlighting Powder I love using this powder on my cheeks and it gives my skin more of a glow.

When going out on the weekends, I like to add Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights.

Oy.. more blurry pics! For eyeliner, I use Sephora's Nano Eyeliner

Benefit Eye Bright I reviewed this in the past and wasn't really a fan, but then I came back saying that I gave it another try and ended up liking it. I use it in the corner of my eyes to help brighten them up when I'm tired. As I mentioned above, I need all the help I can get with my dark circles.. blah.

Mascara: Maybelline Falsies

I've used Cover Girl's Lash Blast, Smashbox, and Sephora Collection as well and none of them compare to Maybelline's Falsies! 

I love both Naked Palettes and use both of them almost daily by mixing different shades to form day time and night time looks. My fav shades are Virgin, Sin, Sidecar, Half Baked, Smog, and Toasted in the original and Bootycall, Tease, Snakebite, Suspect, Verve, and Pistol in Naked 2. 

I also like to use MAC's Shroom

For my makeup brushes I use Sephora and ELF brushes. LOVE my Sephora brushes, but with the ELF brushes at $1 a pop I've got a bunch of those too.

My fav scents are Viva La Juicy, Fancy and Fancy Love by Jessica Simpson, and Lola by Marc Jacobs.