Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Tuesday Talk: Products I Can't Live Without

I thought it was high time I did a FAVORITES post to share my favorite make-up and favorite products with you today.  These items have all been on repeat and I continue to rebuy them over and over again.  I collected my empty containers for a few months so you'd be able to see which items I can't live without.  I'll start by sharing my favorite make up items from Sephora / the ELF collection  and then share my favorite empty container products.

Favorites from Sephora:
I never used to shop at places like Sephora because they're more expensive and felt like more trouble than buying make up at big stores like Target & Wal-Mart.  However, that changed about this time last year when I started using Bare Minerals make up.  I'd order from the comfort of my home, earn rewards points and free items and loved the way my make up was looking.  I didn't mind spending a little more since I could see great results.

My favorite Sephora items that I use DAILY:


Bare Minerals Prime Time Foundation Primer
Bare Minerals concealer - Light 1
Bare Minerals Original Foundation - Fairly Light


Urban Decay De-Slick Oil Control Make Up Setting Spray
(I recently read about this from a popular beauty blogger, decided my make up routine could benefit from a setting spray and I really love it!)
Urban Decay Good Karma Optical Blurring Foundation Brush 
(This brush was a splurge for me because I normally use cheap brushes.  It's AMAZING and makes such a big difference in how my foundation looks.)
 
I'm going to throw in a few ELF items from Wal-Mart too.
This line of make up is so affordable and I've been really happy with most things I've tried.  I did try an oversized face brush that I didn't like.  Wal-Mart happily returned it with the receipt and me saying it just wasn't for me.

 $6 ELF Blush Palette Light
(Love the two colors on the left, use a little of the bronzer each day and avoid the bottom right because it has too much SPARKLE for my taste)
$3 ELF Eyeshadow C Brush is perfect for every eye shadow I've used it on
$3 Elf Blush Brush is wonderful paired with the blush palette

I also have a $3 ELF Jumbo lip pencil in a "your lips but better" shade of pink called Pink Umbrella that's great.  It doesn't need to be sharpened, you just twist it up.  It has lasted forever.

Do you have any ELF products to recommend to me??


EMPTIES that I use on a daily basis:


Suave Hairspray - super cheap $3 and does a great job.  A little goes a long way.

Clear Care Contact Solution - I've been using it for 4 years and have hardly had any eye issues or eye infections.  The only tricky thing is that the solution has to sit on your contacts for 6 hours before you can wear them again.  They burn like crazy if you don't give the solution time to do its thing.  Not that this night owl has ever tried to pull that off after going to bed too late.

Crayola Bathtub paint soap - Olive loves doing wall art in the tub with it.  I added some paint brushes to the tub and she painted

Sensodyne - My dentist in Mississippi recommended switching to this when I complained of tooth pain and was cavity free.  It's done wonders for my teeth.

Irish Spring Soap with Aloe - It's no surprise that these Irish fans love Irish Spring soap

Gilette razors - I always use men's razors because that's what I grew up using.  This is the best brand and be sure not to buy the swivel head ones because you'll end up getting cut.

Arrid Deodorant - It's got a fresh scent and does the job.  I've used it for years

Suave Dry Shampoo - still my favorite dry shampoo.  It's usually $4 a bottle and lasts a really long time.  Sometimes you can luck out and find them in a two pack for less.  I lightly spray at roots, let it dry and rough up my hair to ensure it's blended in.

Bare Minerals Foundation - Matte and Original foundation is what I've been using for almost a year and I love it.  I'd never used a powder foundation before and it's great!

Clinique Like Mink eye shadow duo - been my go to shadow since college so almost 10 years of loving this classic combo.  I also love Clinique green lipstick tubes that come with the free gifts. 

Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets - These are a life saver for anyone with oily skin.  You can just dab your face mid day and your make up looks fresh again while the shine disappears.

Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturizer - it's so light and refreshing after you wash your face.  I hate heavy face creams so this one is perfect.

Covergirl Professional Super Thick Lash - I always wear very black and use both the regular version and the water proof version.  I have bad allergies so I'm often dealing with watery eyes and sneezing regularly.  So I've found that doing a layer of waterproof mascara to finish off my lashes for the day really helps set things.  Then make up wipes take it off easily.  You can save money and buy the regular version in two packs at the store and there are coupons & sales for this mascara regularly so I try to stock up on it then.

Carmex - I started using this when I was having trouble with fever blisters.  It's wonderful for day to day use and great for lip break outs.  Olive swears it's ice cream.  She steals my tube every time she can, scoops it out with her little finger and says it's delicious mama!  So I have to hide it.

Make Up Wipes - I have used several brands and really like most of them.  I tend to buy the store brand option at Wal-Mart or Target.  I usually tear them in half or even in thirds because I found that I didn't really need a whole wipe to get my make up off.  A package of 60 is around $4 and lasts at least two months for me.

Do you have any products you couldn't live without??
Do tell :)

It's time to link up with my favorite ladies this week.
We had 168 people link up last week.
Join us with your favorite post - we'd love to read it!!
 Becky at BYBMG | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram
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Polka-Dotty Place

17 comments:

  1. I too love the Suave dry shampoo. It has been my favorite for awhile. We also use the same toothpaste and Jack loves the crayola bath paint. I love Loreal toner. I have to use the Simple face wipes. They are the only ones I've found that really get all my make-up off (especially my eye makeup). Another product I love and use daily is my fingernail file and buffer. It is multicolored and has 7 different sides.

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  2. This was a fun post to read! I started using men's razors out of necessity when I ran out of mine and haven't looked back! They work just as well, if not better than anything I've used before. Of course I love that Suave dry shampoo, and Paul's favorite soap is Irish Spring. My favorite product this winter has been VASELINE, believe it or not! My lips were incredibly chapped around Christmas and it did wonders for them. I've been using that at night instead of a lip butter!

    Whitney @ Come Home For Comfort

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  3. I'm really curious about Bare Minerals, but have never tried it. I tend to have redness under my very fair skin, so do you think this is something that would work for me?

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  4. The suave dry shampoo is great! Also, I love the "C" Brush by elf it's one of my favorites!

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  5. Love this! I use the Bare Minerals foundation, concealer and primer too! Love them. And now I'm going to have to check out the Elf blushes and brushes! Good to know!

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  6. Such a great list. I always love seeing what people use. I use the ELF eyebrow kit and I really like the powder part for filling in my brows. I just snagged that bath paint from the dollar spot and stuck them in the boys' stockings. We haven't used them yet, but I need to!

    Becky
    bybmg

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  7. What a great idea to share what you use! I might try that sometime myself. LOVE Sephora. Also invested in a good makeup brush from there last year - never going back (can you say, "brush hair-face"?)! Also - Urban Decay, love their eye shadows. Never tried the foundation setter though, might have to look into it! This is a great post - Happy Tuesday!

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  8. I haven't tried Sephora yet. I love most of the Mary Kay makeup I have though! I'll have to try out some of the hair products you mentioned. I feel like mine isn't cutting it! Although I need to figure out just how you're supposed to use dry shampoo. I've been wanting to try it for awhile, but I always have a little fear of trying new things. And I totally agree with you on the contact solution...night owls unite! haha -Jessica, Sweet Little Ones

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  9. I have the ELF eyebrow kit that I really like and I use a few brushes by them as well! We're die hard Sensodyne fans too, and I used clean and clear moisturizer for years before switching over to Aveeno which I adore! (and sometimes purchase the walmart generic of, it's still fab). Fructis dry shampoo (and their texture tease spray) and also on my favorites list!

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  10. I could not live without my urban decay setting spray! I seriously love that stuff!! I also love me some elf brushes! They're just so affordable and really good brushes! It's a win win!

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  11. I only use men rasors to shave with. They provide such a close shave that once I tried my brothers (don't tell), I was hooked.

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  12. I LOVE Bare Minerals foundation, too! It's my daily go-to, plus I appreciate how much faster it is to apply powder foundation vs. liquid! And isn't it crazy how much of a difference brushes can make?! While I hate to spend the money on them, it's always worth it!

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  13. Love the clean and clear moisturizer - I like rotating between that and clinique - cannot live without!!

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  14. Stopping by from the link up! I use that optical illusion brush it is truly amazing!!! The Naked Skin foundation is also quite amazing.

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  15. It is always interesting to see what other people use. I bought a pot of Elf eyshadow it isn't liquid but it isn't dry either, make sense? probably not lol. Anyways I love that stuff (if applied carefully....I just went to see what it was and I couldn't find it anywhere. Goodness gracious, hope it turns up soon!

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  16. I love Bare Minerals! When I wore foundation that is what I wore. Now I just go for a tinted moisturizer and a bronzer and skip out the door! I love that you have finger paint in there too! We have that too and the tub crayons - every night!

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  17. These posts are so much fun. Glad to know you like the setting spray. I bought a cheapie one and haven't been all that impressed. I'll give that one a try. I discovered IT CC cream from Ulta in 2015 and it has been my new fave foundation (I have a lot of imperfections). Your skin always looks glowing!

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