Tried and True: These Products Have Lasted in My Beauty Routine for Years

This is one of the best highlighters on the market, and it clocks in at just under $6 (before any coupons or discounts, which you can often find!). *you’re excused to take a sec to process just how inexpensive that is* I’ll take any chance I have to talk up this product. I’ve hit pan on two different shades of this highlighter — and we all know how hard it is to use up a product we lightly dust on your cheekbones! I’ve found myself reluctant to try other highlighters before because I know my Wet ‘N Wild performs exactly how I need it to.

I saved up my TJ Maxx paychecks for weeks to buy this eyeshadow palette when I was in high school, and it’s still one of my favorites in my 25+ collection. It has a great selection of cool and warm-toned pinks and taupe hues. For a daily look, I’ll wear “Nooner” in the crease with “Dust” on the lid. Then, I’ll add “Factory” to the outer corner and “Mugshot” as a smudged liner on the top and bottom lid for date night.

I’ve used up countless tubes of this mascara because it’s the only waterproof mascara that is seriously waterproof. I brought this to every summer camp and pool party in high school because I could dunk my head in the water a dozen times and never have mascara running down my eyes. Now, I keep it in my arsenal for those no-makeup makeup days. It’s one of the only truly brown mascaras in the drugstore; it adds just the right amount of volume and length without looking like you have anything on your lashes.

Hyaluronic acid is a miracle worker for my dry skin. Aside from the dry, winter air, RetinA and seasonal allergies really put the nail in the coffin, giving me flaky, dehydrated skin that’s irritated and patchy. After an intense allergic reaction a few years ago, I was intrigued to try anything that promised to hydrate my skin that even the likes of Skin Food and Dr. Jart’s Ceramidin couldn’t hydrate. Hyaluronic acid works from the inside out as a humectant, meaning it holds onto the skin’s moisture instead of just sitting on top. Applying this serum on lightly damp skin at night transformed my skin in a few days. Although I don’t apply it every single day, I keep a bottle of this serum on my shelf at all times.

A makeup setting spray is key for nights out or big events where you’ll likely be sweating but need your makeup to stay put. For most of us, this was the first setting spray we tried, and it’s pretty much the only one I need in my life. While I love other setting sprays for giving a dewy look, this one actually keeps my makeup in place all night. I notice a huge difference in the wear-time of my makeup when I use this (AKA it’s doing its job!).

Although a tool might be considered cheating, I believe in this product possibly even more than those above. I refuse to put other brushes on my hair, especially when it’s wet. Last week, I literally told my hairdresser to switch brushes because she started using something that wasn’t a wet brush on my hair. I’ve noticed a huge difference in the moisture and strength of my hair since I converted to this brush a few years ago. It pulls out much less hair than others, and it feels gentle and smooth on my fine hair.

Finding a good cleanser is no easy feat. It needs to remove makeup, dirt, oil, and any other gunk hiding on your face, but it can’t dry you out or leave your face tight and dull. This cleanser has been doing it right for me for years, and the low price point makes it impossible to even think about trying something else! It keeps the pH of my skin right where it needs to be.

I’ve tried dozens of lipstick formulas at this point, and I still haven’t found anything I love as much as my MAC lipsticks. “Velvet Teddy” has been my perfect nude shade since high school (thanks to Kylie Jenner!). If I’m looking for a particular or trendy shade, I almost always check MAC first before looking into any other formulas.

Sometimes, I worry that I’m talking about the same products too much. Like, everyone gets it, I love Charlotte Tilbury. But when I really love something, I have to shout it from the rooftops (AKA type it in all caps on The Everygirl). THIS IS THE BEST CREAM BLUSH!! Practically every beauty lover (basically all of us) on our team is obsessed with this lightweight, natural-but-striking cream blush formula. “Dusk” is my favorite shade for a natural look, but I also love “Beam” and “Storm” for a pop of color on the cheeks.