Everyone has a few things they call their ‘favorites’, but what about the best of the best? The tried and true? For me, I’m incredibly picky when it comes to so-called Holy Grail products, but these three passed the test with flying colors!

I figured this type of post would be perfect as an introductory entry to my blog, as well as a bit of a look into some of the qualities I search for when purchasing beauty products. Keep in mind that everyone has different skin types and preferences for skincare and makeup, so any and all advice that appears on this blog is strictly my own opinion and should be taken with a grain of salt!

 

All right, without further a-do, let’s talk about foundation. This foundation in particular by Neutrogena is called the SkinClearing Oil-Free Makeup, and I have it in the color Natural Ivory 20. The Neutrogena website boasts that this is the “first and only liquid foundation formulated with MicroClear® technology to not only treat blemishes, but to also help prevent emerging breakouts.” The site goes on to explain how the foundation can help stave off breakouts: “MicroClear® technology boosts the power of salicylic acid by breaking through oil and unclogging pores for fast acne relief.”

In my experience, foundation is always one of the biggest culprits when it comes to clogged pores, so when Neutrogena promises a foundation that will do the opposite, of course I’m going to be a little skeptical. While the foundation doesn’t exactly unclog pores, it does apply smoothly and evenly to the skin, and it certainly doesn’t feel thick or oily throughout the day.

For the past few months, I’ve been having really bad breakouts on my chin and I noticed that it started all began after I switched from Neutrogena’s SkinClearing oil-free foundation to Revlon’s Nearly Naked liquid foundation with SPF 20. Once I realized my recent change-up in foundations was making me breakout, I immediately switched back to Neutrogena and, guess what? My breakouts were cut in half! Honestly, I was kind of upset that I had let myself continue to breakout from the Nearly Naked foundation for almost three whole months, which is exactly why I have deemed Neutrogena’s SkinClearing oil-free makeup my Holy Grail foundation.

Neutrogena lists the foundation at $9.99 and comes in 12 shades.

 

Up next we have a product that has been mentioned quite frequently in the beauty videos on my channel, and it is Soap and Glory’s Night in Shining Armour Gravity-Battling Night Cream. Soap and Glory’s UK website says this night cream has “proven wrinkle-reducing SUPERPEPTIDE COMPLEX™, oxygen boosters and EPA antioxidants to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles,” and while I may not understand half of that, I do know that this night cream makes my face feel amazing.

I bought this while I was in the UK back in December of 2012, mostly because the packaging was super cute and feminine, and also I wanted to treat myself to a real night cream. Before buying this product, I just slathered my face with random moisturizers before heading off to bed, but they never really hydrated the dry patches on my face. The Night in Shining Armour Cream, however, sinks into the skin so beautifully. I love having a nice, long bath and then massaging in a thick layer of this night cream before heading off to bed. In the morning, my face is radiant and soft and I just feel like a million bucks!

The scent was a little odd at first, mostly because I was expecting it to smell like Soap and Glory’s Original Pink scent. Instead, this night cream smells faintly of grapefruit with a little bit of a plasticy smell that took me a bit to get used to, but now I absolutely am in love with it. I swear, this smell just reminds me of pampering myself.

This product is available in the UK at Boots for £13, and in the US at Sephora for $30 (that’s a pretty steep price, but it’s worth it if you feel like treating yourself!)

 

 

And last but not least, here’s a little something for all you nail-philes out there (badum-tiss)! OPI’s Tickle My France-y was my first ever OPI nail varnish and I kind of just bought it on a whim, really. I was in Target one afternoon and I saw this color and I thought the name was quite cute, so I said “what the heck” and bought it.

This color was a part of OPI’s 2008 French Collection and is rosey nude color that applies so beautifully that I never use a topcoat or a basecoat! It’s just the perfect natural shade that adds a little bit of ‘oomph’ to your nails without being too bright or bold. I always seem to get a ton of compliments on my nails when I wear this color, and I’m pretty sure most of my successes have happened while I’m wearing this color, so maybe it has magical powers?

Either way, this color has incredible staying-power and it’s one of the very few nail varnishes I can swipe on and not worry about for at least three days in a row before I get my first few chips.

Drugstore.com lists Tickle My France-y at $8, which is a little cheaper than it is at Sephora, Ulta, and Target!

 

 

 

I’m sure I’ll come across other all-time faves in the future, but for right now I think these three set the bar fairly high. Thanks for reading! Until next time…

-Sienna-