What’s on My Beauty Shelf

Gone are the days when I can test drive dozens of beauty products in a year and provide real-time assessments. But when I find something I like, I still want to tell the world about it. So let’s talk about a few of the products that are new, old, and beloved.

The Soap. If you’re not using Gleanser, what are you waiting for? All of the fancy soaps on the market make so many promises, and I’ve never found one that delivers. For $18, you can buy enough soap for 2-3 months. They also have other versions with salicylic acid or glycolic acid.

The Retinoid. 30 years ago (boy, it burned to type that phrase), I used Differin gel to treat my acne. Recently, a dermatologist suggested it might be a good option for my aging, but sensitive skin. It boosts cell turnover, reduces redness, and smooths texture. Very happy with this product, especially the $19 price.

The Serum. If you have dark spots or tone issues, the Molecular Hero Serum is what you need.

The Other Serum. I blame Sarah for this. She raved about the AGE Interrupter Serum from Skinceuticals despite its $185 price because she promised it would lift my skin. I fully expected to buy it, see it did nothing, and write off the purchase as a lesson learned. But it works. Not at miraculous, Fairy Godmother levels, but after a week, I noticed my cheeks felt firmer to the touch. After two weeks, I felt like my jaw was more sculpted.

Then, I ran out, didn’t replace immediately and watched the effect melt from my face like a Dali painting from my face. I have no restocked, and on day 10, am pretty sure I cannot live without this product.

The Moisturizer. I used Prequel’s AM/PM moisturizer all summer and loved it. However, winter is coming, and it may not be enough to keep my combination skin from becoming unspeakably dry. I really didn’t want to spend more than $60 on moisturizer, because that money is better spent on active ingredients, so I purchased this Medik8 moisturizer, and have been really happy with the results.

The Body Makeup. Signs of aging abound. Like my Mom before me, and my Nana before her, the veins in my legs are becoming an unsightly problem. Last month, I had to wear a stupidly short skirt to an event (the bride picked it) and my legs needed help. I am now the target demographic for Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs.

The Makeup Side. My makeup routine this summer has been unbelievably minimal this summer. I wear the Dior Star Glow primer under my No Makeup Foundation. I add an under eye corrector, a brow filling pencil, and some bronzer stick. Then, I pop on cheek color and mascara. Okay, I guess for me this is minimal.

When I need a bit more, I add the Armani eye tint in bronze and smoke. I also like (okay, love) the Jones Road purple eye lining gel. I also like a little more highlighter on the cheeks and an oldie, but goodie lip color.

If you’ve seen some of these products on prior lists, just know that when I find something that works, I stick with it. I don’t need to spend frivolously to hunt for Holy Grails and the health of this blog is not dependent on the latest, greatest thing. Repeats are good thing, a mark of quality and confidence.

If you have a favorite beauty product right now, drop it in the comments — new or old, we love suggestions.

{this post contains affiliate links that may generate commission for the author; capitol hill style is a prequel partner, meaning the brand gifts me product and sometimes pays additional fees for inclusion in my content, but I was repping Gleanser before they even had affiliate links, and would ride for that brand for free}