As a beauty editor, one of the toughest challenges I’m faced with is having to edit my expansive collection of skin, hair, and makeup essentials to make room for new additions. My work requires me to test new products nonstop, and sometimes that means that my beauty cabinet is seconds from bursting its hinges. I like to give my collection a quarterly edit; taking note of the must-haves that outperform all others (sometimes making the products I once swore upon every day practically obsolete).
In that vein, I’ve taken a look at the 20 beauty finds I’ve incorporated into my admittedly lengthy beauty routine for an extra touch of luxury and compiled them into a shoppable edit complete with glowing customer reviews. By the time you’re finished reading this, you may end up giving the contents of your vanity a second look.
Hourglass
N° 28 Lip Treatment Oil
Before I apply any makeup, I like to treat my lips to the N° 28 Lip Treatment Oil by Hourglass. It features a nourishing, rich oil blend and a 24-karat, gold-plated tip that’s antibacterial and soothing. I prefer using the clear shade with a high-shine finish, but there are also other flattering ones offered.
Customer Review: “My lips get dry and chapped very easily, and this is one of the only products I’ve found that actually keeps my lips smooth and soft. It’s pretty pricey, but for me, it’s worth it.”
Merit
The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick
There’s little I love more in the makeup world than a multipurpose product I can always depend on. This buildable, lightweight complexion stick can be used as a foundation or a concealer for natural-looking coverage. Its formula features fatty acids and sea daffodil extract to condition and brighten skin.
Customer Review: “This is my favorite makeup product at the moment, it looks like my skin but better. I use it with a full face of makeup or alone to just cover my acne. It blends really easy. It’s perfect to take in your purse.”
Westman Atelier
Lit Up Glow Highlighter Stick
Adding a touch of highlighter on the inner corner of the eyes and Cupid’s bow is one of the easiest ways to add dimension to any makeup look. One of my favorites is this easy-to-use highlighter stick. It uses light-catching undertones and moisture-boosting ingredients for a dewy, opalescent finish.
Customer Review: “This looks gorgeous on the cheekbones! Was worried it was going to look too iridescent but it doesn’t at all. I used it as a base on my eyelids and then applied a light gray eye shadow and that looked great!”
SheGlam
Freck Please Freckle Tint
If you haven’t tried adding a splash of freckles across the nose, you’re missing out. Beauty enthusiasts like me who aren’t keen on creating them with the TikTok-viral broccoli freckle trend swear by SheGlam’s Freck Please Freckle Tint which lasts all day without fading or smearing.
Customer Review: “I can’t say enough positive things about the SheGlam freckle pen. It lasts all day and doesn’t smudge. It has the perfect applicator and is the perfect freckle shade. I love this product.”
Jane Iredale
Glam & Glow Eye Shadow Stick Mini Trio
Easy-to-use eye shadow sticks like this chic limited-edition set by Jane Iredale offer the perfect opportunity to try new product shades without committing to their full size. They use a cream-to-powder formula that goes on smoothly and sets quickly to create a soft, shimmery look.
Customer Review: “I love these eye shadow sticks. This is a great way to try the colors. Good size and long-lasting. They blend very well and dry down quickly. I saw absolutely no creasing!”
Nars
Light Reflecting Makeup Setting Mist
A few spritzes of Nars’ Light Reflecting Makeup Setting Mist ensure your makeup stays in place all day while providing your skin with 24 hours of hydration. Its nourishing ingredients also help to improve your skin barrier and defend against blue light and pollution.
Customer Review: “This is a great setting mist! It has good staying power for my makeup and gives my skin a nice healthy glow. It sprays on nicely and doesn’t make me look oily. I would definitely repurchase and recommend.”
Aesop
Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm
I’m always complimented on how soft and supple my skin looks. I love using Aesop’s nourishing Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm to lock in hydration with a blend of mandarin rind, rosemary leaf, and cedar atlas. It also helps support cuticle health in between my professional manicures.
Customer Review: “This is a wonderful hand balm. It has a lovely consistency and smell. It smells fresh but luxurious. It sinks in well and makes my hands feel very moisturized. It has lovely packaging and feels luxurious to use. Would be a great gift for someone or as a treat for yourself.”
Typology
P90 Shimmering Dry Oil Vitamin C + 5 Organic Botanical Oils
This shimmering dry oil creates a luminous, satin-like finish for the body and hair and is with stabilized vitamin C and antioxidant-rich plant oils that prevent photoaging before it can start. I like to mix a few drops of this with a body lotion for a sun-kissed shimmer.
Customer Review: “I mix a few drops of this dry oil with the After-Sun Body Lotion for a shiny moisturizing effect. Very nice!”
Olay
Revitalizing & Hydrating Body Lotion
Trade out your basic, everyday body lotion for this longtime favorite of mine. Olay’s Revitalizing & Hydrating Body Lotion uses a nutrient-rich combination of vitamin C and our vitamin B3 Complex delivering moisture by penetrating the skin up to ten layers deep for increased skin turnover.
Customer Review: “Love this lotion. It soaks into the skin and is never sticky or greasy feeling. The scent is so mild, I don’t notice it after a few minutes. Leaves my skin (especially my elbows and knees) soft from shower to shower. No flaking rough skin! I hope Olay never stops making this.”
Donna Karan
Cashmere Mist Deodorant
Ready to level up your deodorant game? Donna Karan’s Cashmere Mist Deodorant provides a layer of defense against perspiration using an advanced formula and a scent that keeps you smelling fresh. It contains notes of Moroccan Jasmine, lily of the valley, and sandalwood.
Customer Review: “I’ve used this brand for years and really love it. It keeps me dry, does not rub off on my clothing (I wear a lot of black) and I love the scent, which is very mild. Donna Karan rocks!”
Chantecaille
Rose de Mai Body Cream with Retinol
Body creams are crucial for restoring much-needed moisture to the skin to promote a healthy skin barrier. This body cream is infused with encapsulated retinol, marine extract, and avocado extract to leave your skin incredibly soft, toned, and smooth. Plus, you’ll smell faintly like a fresh bouquet of roses!
Customer Review: “I love this body cream. I have used other high-end body creams but they didn’t contain retinol. I also love the consistency which goes far—not too thick or heavy but kind of in a slick sort of way but outperforms the others. I highly recommend.”
Nécessaire
The Body Serum
Incorporating Nécessaire’s The Body Serum into my body care routine has been one of the best things I’ve done for myself since kicking off my career as a beauty editor. It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and ceramides, and helps keep the skin hydrated, plump, and moisturized.
Customer Review: “Makes the skin feel so luxurious and beautiful when first applied. Doesn’t feel sticky and the retinol layers perfectly on top of the body serum. This product makes you feel extra pampered.”
To add shine and reduce frizz, I like running the Halo Hair Oil through my strands as the last step of my haircare routine. Its super-powered formula features pink mica for a subtle shimmer and is lightly fragranced with the brand’s signature Angel Wings fragrance (a cozy blend of amber and musk).
Customer Review: N/A
Living Proof
No Frizz Smooth Styling Spray
To help combat frizz, I also recommend using this lightweight, silicone-free styling spray. It detangles, prevents static, and blocks humidity with heat protection. The formula has a nourishing blend of fiber conditioning agents, the brand’s Proprietary Smoothing Technology, and amaranth seed extract.
Customer Review: “I received this spray complimentary from Living Proof. I have extremely frizzy hair so I was so excited to try this out! I spray it in before I brushed and styled my hair and it worked so well. I can’t wait to keep using it!”
Pattern Beauty
Shine Spray
Another way I like to deliver a luminous sheen to my hair (especially with my coils) is by using a few spritzes of Pattern Beauty’s Shine Spray. It’s formulated with castor oil and plumeria flower extract to enhance and keep the hair soft; all while being extremely lightweight and flexible.
Customer Review: “I love this product. It is my go-to when I want to give my hair some shine without adding anymore product to it. It is light and does not weigh down my hair.”
Don’t let this product’s name fool you! Balmain’s Silk Perfume smells divine thanks to a combination of rose, peach blossom, raspberry, sandalwood, and more, but also uses argan and silk protein to stimulate the moisture balance and ensure moisture retention in hair.
Customer Review: “This hair mist is a multi-tasking product! Usually, hair perfume contains alcohol, Which dries out my hair a lot. This is more like a light oil, which hydrates your hair leaving a beautiful smell. I usually spray it after drying my hair and the perfume lasts for days!”
Merit
Retrospect L’Extrait de Parfum
Since we’re on the topic of memorable fragrances, I have to mention this new launch by Merit. It’s a long-lasting, clean scent that opens with bright notes of bergamot and pear before unfolding into a blend of jasmine, rose, violet, vanilla, musk, and moss. It also lasts up to 12 hours.
Customer Review: “Absolutely stunning scent. I’m very picky with my scents and tend to stick to my one go-to. This one is so fresh and perfect for every day. Something about feels nostalgic! Love, love, love.”
Maya
Maya Base Perfume Oil
Maya’s sophisticated yet alluring roll-on scent uses a formula that’s designed to work with your body chemistry and environment to create a scent that’s unique to you. The brand recommends pairing this fragrance with additional scents and essential oils to amplify the perfume and maximize its wear time.
Customer Review: “I can’t get enough of this scent! It relaxes me with just one sniff. I especially like to rub it through my hair as the brand advises to do—what a great idea!”
Salt & Stone
Bergamot & Hinoki Body Fragrance Mist
I love body fragrances that can both relax and transport its wearer. Salt & Stone’s revitalizing body mist uses bergamot, hinoki, and orange blossom for an elevated olfactory experience with a formula infused with glycerin and red algae to soften and hydrate the skin.
Customer Review: “I am loving this body spray! I love the bergamot note as well as the citrusy notes. It is a nice sophisticated fragrance that is great for date night or even everyday wear! It lasts a long time, especially for a body spray. I love the beautiful glass packaging as well!”
Jo Malone London
Cologne Travel Spray Trio Set
This travel fragrance set features three Jo Malone London fragrances (Wood Sage & Sea Salt, English Pear & Freesia, and Peony & Blush Suede). When I’m in a time crunch, I can trust that by tucking one of these scents in my bag, I’ll be covered for whatever my day will bring.
Customer Review: “The scents are sophisticated and versatile, making it an ideal choice for first-time users or those looking to try a variety of Jo Malone’s signature fragrances.”
