In part 1, we reviewed patches, serums, moisturizer, hand cream, and body wash, all of which are prep work for the essentials we’ll run through as we continue exploring the standard product types in a robust beauty and skincare routine.
Part 1 focused mostly on the face and body, but hair oil and treatments are also vital to beauty and scalp health. In addition to shampoo and conditioner to protect and nourish hair, oils help treat dry scalp, thinning roots, and frizzled ends. For a dandruff-free scalp, there’s Head & Shoulders’ Royal Oils Scalp Elixir to apply after washing directly into the scalp and massage in. For thickening, there’s Color Wow’s Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer that works on wet, damp, and dry hair. Just spray it on and give it a quick blow-through for thicker tresses. To nourish hair and combat frizz, there’s Olaplex’s No. 9 Hair Serum, which you can apply on clean, damp hair from the ends to the roots to smooth and soften.
Going back to the body for the moment, sunscreen is a must-have, especially in a summer skincare routine. A standard spray SPF like Neutrogena’s Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen Mist works for legs, arms, and shoulders and should be reapplied every few hours. For face, my kids use Blue Lizard’s Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Stick for a quick and easy swipe on. I protect my face with a mineral sunscreen setting powder, like Dermavenue’s Supergood (Re)setting 100% Mineral Powder with SPF 35. The applicators for both the stick and the powder are convenient to take on the go and reapply as needed. For extra protection on days at the pool, we spray on Sun Bum’s Scalp & Hair Mist before and after we swim.
Let’s turn to toothpaste. If you’re looking to up your oral care game, in addition to the standards of brushing and flossing, there are now some novelty, out-of-the-box products to help you take better care of your teeth. Whitening powder is nothing new; most powders can be used on their own or layered with typical toothpaste, like Boka’s Bright Boost Whitening Powder. Or consider switching to whitening tablets instead of toothpaste. Bite’s Toothpaste Bits with Fluoride come in a 4 oz jar with 248 “bits” that you are meant to chew until they turn into powder,d then brush with a damp toothbrush and spit. Similarly, there’s ZeroWasteStore’s Unpaste Tooth Tabs, which come in a packet of 125 tablets to chew and then brush clean. If you’re not ready to chew your toothpaste but still want to brighten your smile, there are charcoal pastes that have a bit more oomph than drugstore brands, like Native’s Charcoal & Mint.
Next up on our essential list is primer. As the name indicates, this primes the skin before makeup application. A good primer will create a super smooth base for cream and liquid makeup products to grip on, leading to fewer touchups throughout the day. e.l.f cosmetics offers a very affordable Power Grip Primer that is supposed to melt into your skin and promote an even application of foundation. If you’re looking for a product with a bit of bogo-action, there’s Thive Causemetics’ Filtered Effects Protecting Primer with SPF 37. This acts as a serum, a primer, and a sunscreen all in one. For a primer-makeup hybrid, there’s Glossier’s Futuredew, which is an oil serum primer that also works to give you a dewy, sun-kissed glow.
After all of this prep, apply foundation and let that set. Now you’re ready for eyes and eyebrows. When I am in a rush with little to no time to do makeup, I still don’t skip filling in my eyebrows and swiping on some mascara. Brow pencils like Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Brow Wiz come in over 10 shades to match or complement your hair and eye color, creating a realistic arch. BareMinerals offers a similar dual-headed pencil with a sharpening brush on one end and a micro-tip on the other.
After brow is mascara. If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then eyelashes are the curtains, and you want them to be wide open. A volumizing mascara like Stila’s Huge Extreme Mascara will deepen color with its inky black tint and can be built up over the day without getting clunky. If you’re in the market for a waterproof mascara, there’s Clinique’s High Impact mascara in black or brown. Its twisted wire brush is meant to comb and define lashes while tinting them with a waterproof formula.
Lastly, lip gloss. Again, if you’re in a rush, a quick gloss will get you out the door looking good. Being a thin-lipped lady, I prefer a plumping element to my gloss, like NYX’s Duck Plump High Pigment lip gloss. The name is silly, but the results hit, and you can get a variety of shades like true red and dusty rose, or go for the clear option for a plumped, shiny neutral lip. If you’re looking to combat dry lips with a gloss, check out Ilia’s Overglaze Hydrating Lip Gloss that comes in up to a dozen different shades for a refined and hydrated lip.
Even with two parts to this list, this is still by no means an entire review of products in a vigorous skincare and beauty regimen. Which, yes, seems a bit extreme and kind of nuts, but if you enjoy beauty products and consider taking care of your skin, hair, and hands as self-care, then having an extensive product lineup is to be expected.
