Back to Basics: Beauty Must-Haves
Continuing on with our Back to Basics series, I thought I would tackle one of the most asked questions that pops up all over the internet on a regular basis: What must I have in my beauty bag? The answer really varies from person to person, but I’m a definite believer in starting from the bottom and working your way up, so here are my three must-haves!
I have extra dry skin, so I reach for the moisturiser every day to keep my skin looking healthy. It doesn’t matter if you have the most expensive foundation if the skin underneath is dry and cracked. It’s similar to putting a fresh coat of paint on a rusty car. The paint will just flake off, and it will look worse than before. The type of moisturiser you use is a personal thing, and it can take a little trial and error to find the one that’s good for you. There’s some for oily skin, dry skin, combination skin, and just about everything in between! My favourite is the Caudalie Vinosource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum (I know, not a traditional moisturiser, but it works wonders!) It’s a little pricier, but definitely worth every penny. If you are on a bit of a budget, the Clean & Clear Morning Glow Moisturiser is a good bet too. It has a bit of a shine to it which boosts complexion majorly! It also has SPF 15, which brings us to my next must have…
At the very least, you have to have some SPF of your skin. This is a must have for everyone, no matter what age. There is so much evidence now that advocates for wearing sunscreen that I’m surprised that more people don’t do it. The consensus these days seems to be that SPF 30 gives you the best bang for your buck. If I’m not wearing an SPF moisturiser, I have a facial sunscreen that I use (Coola Cucumber SPF 30 Matte Finish Facial Sunscreen. I got it in a sample size and loved it enough to buy!). At the very least, I make sure that before I leave the house, I’ve done my face, neck, chest, and hands. The hands seem to be forgotten so often, but they experience a lot of wear as well. My grandmother said to me that you can always tell a woman’s age by looking at her hands, so I’ve been very careful to keep mine protected. If you can manage to find a double use product that has SPF, that’s great, if not, layer it on.
We all have those days where we don’t have the time, or the effort, to pull off a full face of makeup. Even if you have to leave the house in a hurry, a couple of swipes of the mascara wand and you are instantly more put together. It’s an ideal look for a quick sprint out the door, whether to a last minute meeting or heading to the grocery. If you pick up a flexible water-proof formula, you’re ready for any kind of weather or occasion.
Those are my three must haves! Let me know what yours are!