Beauty Products That ACTUALLY Work
These are all products I’ve loved & repurchased over the years. In fact, you can probably even tell in the picture, but there’s a couple empties and soon-to-be empties in that pile!
First & Foremost, let’s get straight to why these products have been faves of mine for years. I’ve always been someone who’s loved to try new beauty tools & items. One thing I always ask myself when trying a product is “do I even notice a difference when I use this product?” if I don’t (after a fair amount of use of course) then I move onto something else. These items have all done something for me, which brings me back to them every time.
Ouai Hair Oil– The be-all-end-all of hair oils I’ve used thus far! And trust me, I’ve tried a lot (Just for the record, I have thick and wavy hair). This hair oil manages to keep down flyaways and frizz, doesn’t weigh down the hair, gives shine, and to top it off, the floral scent is one of my faves! I can always count on my hair smelling good when I put this in my hair. The noticeable difference in how my hair looks after using this vs. other hair oil’s I’ve used is what has me repurchasing my third bottle of this. It’s pricey, however, a little goes a long way! I use 1/2 – 1 full pump for the ends of my hair and with what’s left on my hands I use for flyaways for hair closer to the crown.
Josie Maran Cleansing Oil– Best cleanser I’ve used hands. down. I can’t praise this stuff enough! My struggle with skincare has been an ongoing battle from dealing with teenage to hormonal adult acne. Over the years I’ve gone from having oily skin, to combination skin and it was always irritated. Once I used this product, I noticed a dramatic difference in how my skin felt and looked. The oils on my face had minimized, and my skin was becoming more balanced without feeling stripped post use. I’ve tried other cleansers before and after this one, and so far nothing has compared!
Garnier Skinactive Moisture Bomb- This product is such a bargain for what it does. This product works. The gel consistency makes it great for under makeup as it’s light, and your skin just soaks in all the product without leaving behind any residue that heavy creams can do. I love love love this moisturizer, and I’ve already re-purchased 4 now. I’ve even got my Mom hooked! It helps to rehydrate the skin, without being too heavy. I have sensitive skin, and this has not caused any redness, bumps, or irritation on my skin. This moisturizer is targeted for those with dry skin, however, I have combo skin, and this works fabulously! A little goes a long way with this product and can be purchased at your local drugstore.
La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo – This is an acne spot treatment, that helps to remove blemishes faster. When I first started using this years ago, I didn’t give it a fair chance as my blemishes got “worse” when I used it. In actuality, this gel helps to bring forth blemishes to the surface, so that they can leave quicker. With ingredients such as Benzoyl Peroxide & Lypo Hydroxy Acid (LHA) They target and remove breakouts quickly. It’s the number one selling acne treatment in Europe- and for good reason! I use this anytime I feel a spot coming on, and during ‘that time of the month’ when I get hormonal acne around my chin.
The Ordinary Serums– The only two I currently have are the Lactic Acid & Hyaluronic Acid, however, I am needing to venture out and see what else this brand offers!
When my skin is looking flaky, uneven, or in need of a good chemical exfoliation the Lactic Acid serum is what I use at night. I make sure to pat in all of my serums; not smear across the face, so that it absorbs nicely into the skin. I’ve used a sample of the Sunday Riley Lactic Acid serum (that costs around $120 CAD!) and I got the exact same results from The Ordinary’s lactic acid serum. The next day after using it your skin looks smooth, pore-less + brighter! There’s a definite difference in the skin when this product is used. The Hyaluronic Acid I use to bring back extra moisture to the skin. Hyaluronic Acid is great for rehydrating, hence why it’s becoming popular in a lot of moisturizers and face masks. When my skin is needing some extra TLC & moisture brought back, this always does the trick!
Wet Brush- Ultimately the best detangling brush. I can’t go back to another hairbrush after using this, as it’s so gentle yet effective! I was always that child that would squirm while my mom would brush my hair back into a ponytail, because it would hurt my head too much. This brush doesn’t hurt to brush through tangled hair, and you can use it with wet hair! Regular brushes cause breakage and damage when brushing through wet hair, however, these bristles are formulated thinner and more flexible causing less breakage when brushing through wet hair.
Rimmel London Kate Moss #107 Lipstick (as pictured above)- I don’t wear red lipstick often however, this is always the shade of red I go for when I do. During the fall season, its the perfect red lipstick colour (a deep wine shade)- but you can wear it anytime and it still looks great! This lipstick formula is matte, so it is drying (which isn’t my fave) but the shade colour is worth it! It is a lipstick that doesn’t last through meals, so if you’re going out & about you would need to pack this in your purse to reapply.
It’s always fun trying out new things, and it’s always worth it when a product actually makes a difference! Let me know what your holy grail items are that you can’t live without… and that actually work! I’d love to know! Xo
