I know we shouldn’t always follow trendy or viral products just because our favorite influencer or celebrity said so. Because sometimes, they tout said products because they were paid big money to do so by a brand. When in reality, those viral products turn out to be “just fluff” or all “hype” used for content creation or marketing purposes.
On the flip side, though, there are some beauty and skincare products that absolutely deserve every bit of the hype they get! The last decade has brought so many game-changers to the beauty world — products that didn’t just launch, but became cult favorites and everyday essentials for makeup lovers everywhere, like you and me.
What You’ll Find in Today’s Post
7 Iconic Skincare + Makeup Products
So today I’m going to drown out the noise of the overhyped products, and fill you in on 7 must-try products that consistently get praise and deserve a spot in your bag or on your vanity. Especially if you’re ready to upgrade your routine right now and experience what all the fuss is about!
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These are products I personally have used for years, and feel 100% positive recommending them to you, my clients, family members, and friends! Check them out below.
1. Exfoliant
Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant,$37.
Launched in 2000, it was one of the industry’s first leave-on exfoliants and has been a best seller for over 20+ years. According to their brand, Paula’s Choice sells one BHA Liquid Exfoliant every 7 seconds and more than 1.25 million units globally each year (this was based on 2022 global sales estimates). So in this breath, numbers don’t lie in terms of their efficacy.
If you do want smoother, less textured skin, with pores that end up feeling less noticeable over time, try this. It’s not wildly expensive, so it should be a no-brainer to try at least try once! I use it with a cotton round every time, and I use this in the evenings – after face cleanser, but before my moisturizers.
2. Concealer
Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer, $36.
Celebrity makeup artists stock this concealer and praise it as the gold standard for getting rid of dark circles, covering blemishes, and diminishing age spots. This Nars concealer is engineered beautifully. It is, in fact, soft, so it blends easily, but it never dries or gets flaky. And did you know that the “matte element” is key so that there is no reflecting light off of puffy undereyes or raised blemishes? And the staying power is incredible.
I just recently picked this concealer up again because it had been a while, and I’m kicking myself for not restocking it earlier! Feel free to apply this one with your fingers, a concealer brush, or a concealer sponge – it’ll perform like no other. There are 30 great shades to choose from – I’m wearing shade Light 2.5 “creme brulee.”
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3. Foundation
Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, $69
Again, a makeup artist + celebrity staple and cult classic, this award-winning foundation delivers that “your skin perfected” glow. Its lightweight, luminous finish flatters like a dream in photos and real life, which is why pros AND everyday women keep reaching for it again and again. And it’s got a new and improved formulation that I just received – and it is gorgeous!!
So why did they mess with the best?? This was actually explained just recently in the New York Post, that, “For Armani Beauty, the objective was to expand the shade selection, improve color match, heighten radiance, and boost skincare benefits. At the same time, in line with new EU regulations, certain cyclic silicones were removed from the product.”
Yes, it’s expensive for a foundation, but a GREAT foundation is one of those products that if you can afford to spend the money for a beautiful complexion product, splurge here, and save on things like lip liner, eyeliner, and mascara. I’m wearing shade 4.5 in this post, and it’s perfect.
4. Loose Powder
Laura Mercier Ultra Blur Talc Free Loose Powder, $48.
This will be no surprise to any of you, I’m guessing! This legendary loose powder has won so many awards from New Beauty, Glamour, and Allure’s Best of Beauty; it’s no wonder it stays in my makeup lineup. Now I do prefer this Ultra Blur formula because it’s a talc-free spin on the original Laura Mercier’s cult-favorite, Translucent Loose Setting Powder. It contains amino acid, hyaluronic acid, and silica powders to control shine and make pores do a disappearing act.
You can’t overdo it with this powder either. A sheer veil of it does wonders for setting your foundation and concealer. I switch between the translucent shade and the rose shade. If you need the perfect small loose powder brush, I highly recommend this BK Beauty #113 small powder brush, $28.
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5. Mascara
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara, $13
Iconic doesn’t have to be pricey — this mascara is proof. Lash Sensation Sky High mascara is the #1 mascara in the US and UK and winner of many awards, including Glamour’s 2021 beauty award, and has become a TikTok phenomenon! I advise you to zoom in on my lashes in the pic!
Its appeal to young 20-somethings all the way up to mature women with hooded lids can be attributed to the innovative flex tower brush and formula that truly gives transformational, longer, look-at-me lashes. And it rivals the higher-end luxury mascaras! If you’re in need of a new mascara, I would definitely add this formula to your cart. And it comes in a variety of shades, including some fun fashion shades like blue mist and burgundy haze.
6. Blush
Merit Beauty Flush Balm Cream Blush, $30.
It was an Allure Best of Beauty winner back in 2024 and continues to rank high in sales among the brand’s cheek products.
Launched not too long ago, but has become a totally timeless product, gaining popularity for its foolproof cream tint that melts into the skin for a lit-from-within color that looks like a literal dewy flush. What I love is the compact packaging that has a clean, easy twist-off cap, and then you can directly apply onto the cheek and rub in – mess-free and quick!
I’m wearing the shade “Cheeky” in this post. This entire brand is also given the “Clean at Sephora” stamp of approval. I love applying their flush balm with their Brush No 1 complexion brush, $32, for the perfect airbrushed cheek look!
7. Lipstick
Clinique Almost Lipstick in “Black Honey,” $25.
This shade was originally created in 1971, in a pot edition. But in 1989 was switched to the skinny bullet version of today that was easier to use. This innovative pigment, which resembles you’ve just eaten a plum, glides on with a sheer, glossy slip of lightweight color that flatters all skin tones while looking unique on everyone. I cannot get enough of this easy-to-wear color.
And when a lipstick color sticks around for 50+ years, you know there’s something to its popularity! *I am wearing a lip liner in this post with this lipstick, and it’s NYX lip pencil in shade “mauve,” which matches perfectly.
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Jennifer’s Look Details
The rest of my look details: The Eyeshadow palette used in this post is the Master Mattes The neutrals palette by Makeup by Mario, $56 ( a stunning palette!) // My gold puffy hoop earrings from Nine West, $22 (very lightweight!) // Press on nails are Impress “glow muse,” $12 // A yellow lightweight sweater during this transition into spring time is so pretty! Here are some options from English Factory here, $111, ASTR the label here, $85, Anthropologie here, $118, and Bloomingdale’s here, $68.
Do you own any of these iconic makeup products? They have stood the test of time — and trends, so I’d definitely give the ones that speak to you a shot! And don’t forget to be inspired by last week’s post on 10 Underrated Beauty Tips from me to you, even Beth makes a cameo appearance in it!
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