Every day, someone asks me for a beauty product recommendation, so I put together this big list of my favorites to share the wealth. When I was Editor in Chief of Allure, I tested thousands of skin care, makeup and hair care products, beauty tech devices, fragrances, nail colors and treatments (and I’ve only shared a fraction of my thoughts on all of those!). So when a product becomes a personal favorite, it truly means something. As time goes on, I’ll also add deep-dive reviews for some of my absolute holy grail favorites. Enjoy and let me know your thoughts and questions!
The Big Running List of the Best Beauty Products I’ve Ever Tried
Skin Care
Choosing the all-time best daily sunscreen, cleanser, moisturizer, and other treatments is a tough task. But here are my 8 favorites.
Made with transparent zinc oxide, this is my go-to daily sunscreen. It feels light and never greasy, absorbs nicely, and leaves no annoying white cast. Plus, it doesn’t pill under makeup, a major pet peeve of mine.
Oh how I love this citrus-scented, makeup-removing orange cleansing balm. Yes, there are others out there for your nightly double cleanse but this one sits at the top of the heap.
If you’re not using microcurrent, you should be. It’s one of the only at-home beauty tech facial devices that I truly believe in. Slather on the activator gel, use for 5-10 minutes and you get a nice lift.
Peace Out Acne Healing Dots Pimple Patches
I admit that I was a skeptic when I first tried hydrocolloid pimple patches years ago. But they really do work. Pop a sticker on a juicy blemish, let it sit and it magically sucks the oils to the surface and heals faster.
These chemical exfoliating peel pads are an OG favorite for a reason. The pre-soaked towelettes are individually wrapped and easily portable. And they leave skin brighter and more even.
Again, I was a skeptic but this red-light LED mask made me a believer. In just one 10-minute treatment, the redness from my rosacea had improved. I try to use it every day now.
I wasn’t planning on investing in a beauty brand but I met founder Paul Baek and loved his products, so I did it! His gorgeous Vitamin C serum wears beautifully and really works.
Listen, I love a luxury skin care cream but I’m also frugal at heart. This Olay moisturizer has been one of my favorites for years, proving you can find great stuff at the drugstore.
My dry skin loves a hydrating serum but so many of them end up pilling under makeup. Not cute. This extremely popular Korean serum absorbs nicely and never pills. I slather it on right before moisturizer.
For those of you who prefer mineral sunscreens, this is the nicest daily formula I’ve tried. It doesn’t smell, doesn’t leave the dreaded white cast, and gives a good SPF 50+ level of protection.
A longtime favorite. This is a great first product to try from ReVive if you haven’t tried already. I love all of their rich moisturizers which smell and feel so fresh. A true holy grail.
Yes, this is called a Sleeping Mask but I use it as a lip balm for day, too. It’s a pretty big container, as far as lip balms go, so it lasts a long time and keeps dry chapped lips at bay.
Makeup
I love experimenting with new colors and products but these are the eye, lip, and face products I find myself reaching for the most.
I have extremely dry lips so I struggle with matte lipstick although I love having a little lip color. The slippery texture of this lip oil feels hydrating and the warm, coral-nude shade makes for a pretty everyday look.
I’ve tried nearly every type of foundation. I’m obsessed with Clé de Peau’s and it’s a major splurge but it’s so worth it. It’s a creamy skin care makeup hybrid formula that blends and wears beautifully.
I’ve probably tried 80% of the liquid eyeliners out there. This smudge-proof one deposits a lot of product onto its felt tip, so I can cover a lot of ground. I pair it with Tarte’s Maneater eyeliner for the wing.
With a name like Cheek Gelée, how could it not be fabulous? A pretty, sheer gel-cream that gives a nice glow along with the pigment, it’s a bit pricey but a little goes a long way.
I always say mascara is so personal. What works for me may not work for you. But if you have straight, short lashes and want a mascara to hold a curl, look natural and not clump, you’ll love this one.
My friend Daniel Martin and I are both obsessed with this golden liquid of the gods. One dab on the high points of your face adds a beautiful glow without any chunks of glitter.
This is the only brow pencil I’ve tried that lets me draw realistic baby-fine hairs. I use the shade Soft Black. My only complaint is that the pencil doesn’t last long. I need a refillable pencil, Huda!
Like the Merit lip oil above, this lip gloss-balm click pen ticks a lot of boxes for me: hydrating, a little glossy, and in a better-than-nude shade that’s easy to wear and reapply for any occasion.
Hair Care and Styling
I have dry, coarse hair so you’ll notice a lot of my favorites revolve around hydration and lots of hair masks. Remember: be kind to your hair!
I do a lot of deep conditioning hair masks and the Amika one is a favorite. I use it at least once a week: apply from mid-length to ends, leave on for about 5-10 minutes, rinse and hair feels (and looks) great after.
I don’t heat style much these days but when I do, this large-barrel curling iron has been a game-changer. Don’t skimp when it comes to your hot tools or you could end up frying your hair.
First of all, I love the smell of this clear hair serum. Second, it works like a dream. Smooth a little onto damp hair before blow drying and heat styling and it leaves hair sleek and glossy.
I told you I love a deep conditioning mask. Compared to the thicker Amika mask, this one has a slightly lighter texture. And it really does live up to its name—hair looks like a million bucks after using it.
There’s a reason why this compact, high-tech hairdryer went viral when it launched. It really blows (in a good way!). It’s more gentle on hair…and on tired arms, since it’s super lightweight.
I test a lot of different shampoos and conditioners but find myself coming back to this plant-based Japanese brand. It smells fresh and does its job nicely when I’m not doing a hair mask.
I was once an everyday hair washer but switched to every other day or so a few years ago. If my roots get greasy, a few spritzes of this slightly tinted dry shampoo help blot out the oiliness. No white powder!
I’ve been a big fan of these intense hair treatment “shots” for years. They’re super affordable and are easy to pop in a bag for travel (I never know what the conditioner situation is going to be like when I travel!).
Fragrance, Body, Nails and Tools
This catch-all category is filling up fast so I think I’ll probably break nails out into its own!
As many of you know, I don’t typically do “plain” nails. When I need a nude base before adding other nail art, I love this shade, which feels a bit cooler than a natural nude and offers more coverage.
I love all of the Paintbox duos but this nail color pairing takes the cake. Check out their Instagram for minimalist nail design inspiration. There are so many cool looks you can create with some practice.
I have naturally strong, long nails so I don’t need press-ons for the length. But I do love the ease of a glued-on look. If I can’t make it to a nail artist or don’t have time to do my own, these are an easy, stylish alternative.
Top coat makes everything look better. It makes everything look glossy and gorgeous. This Essie formula dries to a super shiny finish. I typically reapply 3-4 days later to help a mani last even longer.
I know a lot of people love the Shu Uemura lash curler but my tiny straight Asian eyelashes get a deeper, closer-to-the-lashline curl with this Shiseido one, which has a more shallow curve.
Clé de Peau
The Foundation
I didn’t realize it the first time I visited the Edition Hotel but to create their signature fragrance, they partnered with Le Labo. I should have known. The warm, luxurious scent of this candle transports me places.
It’s annoying when you paint your nails then one gets smudged because the polish hasn’t fully dried. Enter: Zoya’s quick-dry drops. One drop on each nail takes the danger out of drying time.
Sorry other tweezer makers, there’s simply no competition here. Tweezerman is the best. I prefer the classic slant tweezer over the point tweezers but to each his or her own.