What are your beauty staples and why?

I love make-up, skincare and body products so much that I experience bouts of dizziness in Sephora, Ulta and the like.  And though I have dipped my lips, toes, fingers and cheeks into about every beauty brand imaginable, I have my favorites that I just can't do without.  Here they are:

Make-Up:

• MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC42 - I actually don't love the Studio Finish as a concealer, but as an eyeshadow base it works wonderfully.  I also use it on days when I don't feel like wearing any other eye make-up - dot some under your brows and on your lids and blend ... it leaves you looking "finished" without the extra steps.
• Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit in Golden - My life changed the day I bought this.  I swear.  When I wake up in the morning looking as if I've gone three rounds with Tyson, this concealer and powder zap those black circles right away.
• bareEscentuals Foundation in Warm Tan - I never knew what all the BE fanatics were going on about until I found my perfect shade.  This is it.  And for an every day foundation, it is utterly fabulous.
• bareEscentuals Tinted Mineral Veil - Even before I found my best BE shade, I understood the appeal of the Mineral Veil.  This is, hands-down, the best loose powder I've ever used.  If I put it on before I leave the house at 7 AM, my face is still shine-free at 5 PM.  I don't have another powder that can match that.
• MAC Studio Stick in NC45 - I prefer this to Studio Tech.  It has a creamy consistency that blends down to a matte finish and is quite convenient for traveling.  I use this as my performance foundation.
• MAC Blot Powder in Dark - As Mineral Veil is the best loose powder, MAC Blot Powder is the best pressed powder.  Cuts oil in a second without depositing any added color.
• MAX Factor 2000 Calories mascara in Rich Black - I only need black mascara.  This mascara separates and darkens significantly and I can layer on three coats without clumping.
• L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black - Works just as well as the above.
• MAC Kohl Power in Raven - If I could use only one eyeliner for the rest of my life, this would be it.  It is the perfect shade for my brown skin and eyes - beautiful flecks of bronzy-red to set off the black. 
• CARGO BeachBlush in Coral Beach - The perfect mix of blush and bronzer.  A great timesaver.  Everyone should have a BeachBlush if you want that healthy glow without using two or three separate products.
• Bobbi Brown blush in Coral and Clementine - Bobbi's blushes are so smooth and silky and these two shades are perfect for my skin tone - yummy peachy colors.  Coral is lighter and adds a bit of shimmer, while Clementine is deeper and can be used as a contour or on the apples of my cheeks.
• Smith's Rosebud Salve - This is a lusciously effective lip balm and, in a pinch, you can skip gloss or lipstick, because this will give the faintest rosy flush to your lips.
• MAC Lustreglass in Love Nectar - This gives a great nude lip, especially when layered over a nude lipstick.  I like Lustreglasses better than Lipglasses because they don't have any stickiness whatsoever and their colors are much more sheer.
• MAC Lipstick in O and Brew - O is the perfect shade of bronzy-red on me - it looks polished and classic, but can also look vampy and sexy if paired with a smoky eye.  Brew is the perfect nude lippie, without making my lips look like chalk.

Skincare:

• Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin - Removes dirt, oil and make-up without drying my skin.  I had to get used to the fragrance, but I've loved it ever since.  It comes in huge sizes for a small sum of money and it is unfailiingly gentle on the skin.  Fabulous product.
• Philosophy Purity Made Simple - Cuts through make-up and leaves my face feeling fresh and clean and doesn't cause breakouts.  Wonderful.
• Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner - Alcohol-free!  Alcohol is awful for your skin, so finding a toner without it is a must.  This is great stuff that doesn't leave your skin feeling dry and tight.
• Avon Anew Advanced Nighttime Cream - I know this isn't the whole name (I'll make sure I make a note of it tonight), but this stuff is amazing!  My skin looks so much smoother and creamier since I've been using it!  I don't know what Avon's been doing lately, but they have been on point with their products!
• Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture SPF15 - Gives my skin moisture without making my face look like an oil slick.  And sunscreen of at least SPF 15 is essential.
• Aquaphor - The only thing that'll get rid of the scaly patch on the side of my nose.  And does it without making the rest of my face greasy.

Body:

• Ivory soap - I want a clean as real as Ivory.  It's gotta be 99.44.  I want a clean as real as Ivory ... nothing less, nothing more.  I want a clean as real as Ivory ... it's gotta be pure, that's for sure.  I want a clean as real as Ivory.
• Dove deodorant - I don't know why, but this works so much better than Secret for me.  Love it.
• Carol's Daughter body butters, particularly Jamaican Punch and Almond Cookie - Sweet, but not overpowering scents and the body butter smoothes my skin so beautifully.

Okay, so now you know all the products I don't want to live without.  What are yours?  Post in the comments - tell me what your faves are and why!

Comments

[phlegmfatale]

Transformer by Paula Dorf is one of my all-time favorite beauty essentials. I put a couple drops of this into a small container, wet a fine angle brush, and then use it to pick up wet color from any of my powder eyeshadow products, and this turns the color into a solid, non-flaky eyeliner that won't smudge or smear until I remove it later. It also removes easily when I clean my face, so I don't feel bogged down with cruddy products.

The other thing essential to a great finish on my makeup is good brushes - I don't know how companies that make crap brushes stay in business - this is one area where the investment lasts for many, many years. With proper care, brushes can last a very long time.

[Julia]

For face, I use Smashbox Adjust Photo Finish Primer, Fresh High Noon bronzer, and I'm completely non-comitting when it comes down to foundation. Sometimes it's BE, sometimes it's L'oreal.
For mascara, I use Revlon Extra Super Lash, and for eyeliner, I looove Urban Decay 24/7 Glitter Pencil. Eyeshadows, I go with Fresh's eyeshadow compacts.
As for lipstick, Fresh Lipstick in Cranberry Lemonade and Magnolia Mist are my very faves, while Aveda lip tints are close behind. And for lip gloss, I love Mac Lipglass, DKNY Be Delicious gloss, and everything from Kiehl's. Oh, and DuWop.

Haha, I'm sure I'm forgetting stuff...but oh well. :)

[Bionic Beauty]

I tried the Avon Anew and it broke me out from all the glycerin in it; so it's a bad one for me.

My must-haves:
1. Noxema cleanser. I love this stuff!
2. Witch Hazel for toner, because like you said, alcohol is drying and horrible for your skin!
3. Sonia Kashuk Tinted Moisturizer in Light/Med, with SPF 15. Easy, go-to for everyday wear. I look finished without being cakey.
4. Everyday Minerals- I love all their stuff!
5. Burts Bees lip balm. yum, 'nuff said.
6. Physician's Formula Mineral Wear mascara in Black. I only need one coat and end up with dark, curvy, thick and loooooong lashes.
Whew! That's quite a list!

[kia]

i love my cork and #266 brush. essential!

[Tarshel]

For concealer, Prescriptives custom blend. But for those days when I haven't had enough sleep.....Bobbi Brown Chestnut.

For powder, Sue Devitt Seaweed powder in Kimberly Plateau.

Tinted Moisturizer: Bobbi Brown.

Lipgloss: Can't committ to one...I love lipgloss. But my all time favorite color is MAC Lipglass in Lychee Luxe and Lipstick in Verushuka.

Mascara: YSL IS THE BEST!

Best Exfoliator: Aveda
Best Facial Mositurizer: Pure vitamin E oil and best acne treatment: Pure Tea Tree oil.

Best Face treatment: Caudeline Vinoperfect.