Though I am not a beauty expert, I do have a few product recommendations for the everygirl. Here are a few of my favorites! If you're interested in any of these beauty essentials, just click the bolded name of the product to be led to a site where you can purchase them or something similar. I also included the price that I got them at!
a. Sally Hansen Maximum Growth Formula- Wow. This stuff is liquid gold or platinum or silver or whichever is the most expensive and coveted. I use this under whatever nail polish color I'm using and within a week my nails have grown to a beautiful length. This is especially great if a nail breaks off and you need it to catch up to the length of the rest. It also makes a perfect clear coat if you just wanted to stick to painting your nails once. ($5.99)
b. Bath & Body Works Nail File Set- I absolutely love having nail files handy because I unfortunately chip them a ton. Filing the nail down saves me from losing the whole thing. Plus, this three set of files from B&BW is adorable. The colorful speckles and gold writing are so cute! ($2.00)
c. Batiste Dry Shampoo "Light and Blonde"- I would highly recommend this dry shampoo- especially if you're a traveller or like to skip shampooing every night. This dry shampoo is light and gives your hair a little bit of lift. Since it adds volume, I like to spray some in my hair every morning even if my hair is looking fine. I've tried a few scents from Batiste, but the blonde spray is my favorite. It doesn't have a delightful fragrance like the others, but it lightens up my roots which really helps disguise greasy hair. If you'd prefer a colored dry shampoo, this same Batiste one also comes in brunette and red, and if a regular scented one works just fine, there is a wide selection to pick from. The only thing I don't like about this product is that you can't bring it on airplanes since it's an aerosol can. TSA sometimes drives me a bit crazy. ($5.99)
d. Aveda Brilliant Damage Control Spray- This is my favorite heat protectant spray that I've used. Why? a. I adore the smell of Aveda stuff and b. this saved my hair. I had been using my flat iron every day and it was taking a toll on my ends. When I went in to get my hair cut, my ends were split in half and fried, but after I started using this, they were much improved! If you're going to use any sort of heat product, make sure you use a protectant spray. ($18.00)
e. The Body Shop Loose Face Powder "01"- I bought this powder during a 3 for $10 sale at The Body Shop, mostly because I was already buying stuff and it was a shame not to buy a third item and get the deal. So, I ended up with this powder and I'm glad I did! It is light and does a great job at mattifying and setting any face makeup you've applied. The loose powder also evens out the skin and makes it feel so soft! ($3.33)
f. Clean & Clean Dual Action Moisturizer- This moisturizer is da bomb dot com. I use it at least twice a day because it moisturizes my skin and treats/prevents breakouts. It does a perfect job at keeping my skin nice and clean. Unfortunately, you wouldn't be able to tell because I have the terrible habit of picking at every little pore of my skin and in doing so, I open them up to infection and then they get all red and gross and actually turn into breakouts... I hate skin. But at least this makes my face feel nice! And the even nicer part of this moisturizer is that I got three Clean & Clear products in a set for a grand total of $6.99, which makes the price per product approximately $2.33. YAY! ($2.33)
g. Freeman Mint and Lemon Clay Mask- Another face favorite! This mask smells delicious and leaves you feeling like you have a new face (I realize how creepy that sounds... but really. Try it and you'll see what I mean). My skin always feels perfectly tingly, clean, and soft after I wipe it off because it rids your pores of a ton of dirt, grime, and leftover makeup. Plus, I love this mask because you look like a creature from the Blue Lagoon while it's on and then it stiffens and you can't talk and it's hilarious. Also, I have used waaaaaayyy too many run-on sentences in this post. But anyways, this mask is amazing and you get a big ole' tube of it for less than the price of a venti green tea latte at Starbucks! ($4.29)
h. Hair Detangler (I call it "the pod")- Okay, so I just spent the last twenty minutes of my life scouring the internet for this little palm-sized brush, but I cannot find it anywhere. All I know is that I bought it from Marshalls awhile back simply because I had no idea what it was and have been constantly amazed by its defrizzing, detangling, silk-ifying powers ever since. There must be a little magic in its egg-shaped body. ($4.99)
i. Creaseless Hair Ties- Every girl's hair life saver. Because who wants their hair to have that awkward crimp at the back of their head after taking their ponytail out? Also, I talked about these particular hair ties in my previous blog post (click here to read it!) since I was so excited that I found them in a six pack at the Dollar Tree instead of paying the standard $5 for a pack of 3-4 somewhere else. ($1.00)
j. Aero Minerale Hydrating Mineral Concealer Makeup Mist "Natural"- You guys. If I had to give one must have off of this list, it may very well be this stuff. I know I said that the Sally Hansen Miracle Growth was like liquid gold/platinum/silver, but this concealer is the sprayable gold/platinum/silver. It's that good. I found it on super clearance at Ulta and just had to try it because it was possibly the strangest cosmetic I had ever seen. You just spray the concealer onto your hand where it kind of foams a bit before you apply it to your skin with your fingers or a brush. It covers well, has a light, natural feel, and lasts a pretty long time. Minor touch-ups are super quick and easy! Also, this brand has a ton more sprayable products to pick from like foundation, bronzer, and primer. I can't wait to try those as well! The only downside to this concealer? Aerosol cans equal a TSA no-no. TSA, I'm sticking my tongue out at you right now. ($3.00)
k. Elf Liquid Eyeliner "Copper"- This is my go to makeup product if I want to look like I tried but in reality I put in zero effort. This is a clear gel based eyeliner with copper sparkles (which are really more gold) that glides on easily like liquid eyeliner. The glitter is a little sparse, so it won't be one solid sparkly line, but it gives a beautiful glimmer if you simply swipe once just above your lash line. It takes all of 10 seconds to do both eyes and then BOOM. You look ready to party. Best. Thing. Everrrrr. Especially if you're lazy or if you want to get a few compliments. ($1.00)
l. Powder Brush- I just love this brush because it covers your entire face super quickly and evenly. That's kind of all I have to say about it. I don't even know the brand since it was given to me by a friend, but anyways, this brush is fabulous. (FREEEEE)
m. Q-tips- This may seem like a weird one, but stay with me. I am a terrible makeup artist. TERRIBLE. I somehow almost always end up with eyeliner in my eye and mascara on my lids and once I somehow got chapstick on my nose. Don't ask. This is why Q-tips are little life savers. You scribble a little outside of the line when applying eyeliner? Stick one end of a Q-tip under some water, drag it over the mistakes, and use the other tip to dry the water off. VOILA. Get some mascara under your eye? Do the same thing. VOILA. Accidentally swipe chapstick on your nose? Swipe it away. VOILA. Let me repeat: Life. Savers. ($2.99 for 500)
n. Maybelline Great Lash Mascara "Blackest Black"- Every girl needs a classic mascara. Waterproof, non-waterproof, black, dark brown, super voluminous, super long, etc. Just get yourself one of these thingys. ps- Did you sing "maybe it's maybelline"? No? Just me? ($4.00)
o. eos Smooth Sphere Lip Balm "Summer Fruit"- And yes, this is the lip balm I got on my nose. Again- don't ask. I own these cool little orbs in three different flavors (or is it scents when you're talking about lip balm?) and this is my favorite for the summertime. It's a perfect blend of tropical fruit and my lips feel so silky when I use it. Two thumbs up for eos (also, do you say "e-o-s" or "eeohs"?). ($3.29)
There you have it! My way too long list of beauty essentials. Hopefully there was something on there worth adding to your makeup bag! Just remember that your beauty comes from the inside... not the outside. No amount of Batiste or Maybelline will change that!