de ROXANA TANASE
Top 10 favorite beauty products brought to you by Rexona, Romania.
There are certain items on my vanity and in my make-up kit that I have been using for years. These are the products that never fail to deliver, the ones that I always go to, the fail safe for maintenance and make-up. Maybe not all of them are fit for everybody’s skin type, lifestyle, beauty regimen, etc. but they do miracles (totally subjective here) for me and they might work for at least some of you.
I tend to shop allover the map: from drugstore to Sephora, department stores, and boutiques, on-line or in the actual stores. I am always looking for the best product, the best value per dollar. I spend when it’s worth it, and I have to admit sometimes because of a specific review I watched on YouTube or read somewhere fashion magazine. I am somewhat of a follower when it comes to good marketing. I think it is a good idea to share some of my best consumerist(ic) experiences and my findings.
The list below is fit for anyone’s beauty budget, at least as consideration if you are in the market for a particular type of product. I buy cosmetics and related products every time I visit home (Bucharest, Romania), and I also shop here in California. Most of the products below are available on-line where you can also read other reviews, compare prices, etc.
Tweezerman tweezers
Been using the pink Mini Slant Tweezers for quite a while now. The precision is amazing. I groom my eyebrows everyday, so this little tool has kept up with my style during thick and thin (no pun intended)
Plus White – 5 Minute Speed Whitening Gel
I have a certain technique when using this: first I brush my teeth with baking soda (I know, it’s not for everybody) and afterwards I apply the gel with a Q-tip. Allow to develop for 5 minutes and afterwards I brush the way I would regularly. I use it twice a week.
Bioderma – Sensibio H2O – make-up remover
The gentlest and most effective make-up remover I have ever used. It’s is oil free. God given gift for correcting mishaps while applying make-up.
Gerovital – Nourishing Face Cream
It has been impossible to find anything similar to this on the U.S. market. The closest to it is Eucerin Intensive Repair, a body lotion and I refrain from using it on my face. It hasn’t given me any bad reactions, I am just a stickler to designations. Gerovital, is perfect for the dry areas of the face, such as underneath and around the eyes, and in my case, lips, which for some reason always get chapped. Just make sure to not use it as a base for your concealer, or don’t apply right before applying your make-up. It is very unctuous and it doesn’t make for a good undercoat.
Clinique – Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
This is the moisturizer I buy just to have when I run out of my usual moisturizer, which lately has been a plethora of brands. I have very sensitive skin, and I have been getting allergic reactions to pretty much anything, except the Dramatically Different Lotion. The gel option is for oily skin and combination oily. The lotion is created for dry, very dry and combination dry. Now I look forward to trying out Dramatically Different Lotion +, newly released oto the U.S. market.
Chanel – Sheer Illuminating Base
I bought this for the first time in a Duty Free Shop in an airport, because I ran out of primer. It was a fluke. I was reluctant, first because years ago (when I didn’t understand make-up and its chemistry) I had a bad experience with a Chanel foundation and also because its texture seemed too runny, liquid-y. But this product is like magic. It makes any foundation work 10X better than without it. It’s a great investment.
Laura Mercier – Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer in Natural Radiance
This is my favorite highlighter. I get it in a few shades lighter than my skin tone. It has a dewy effect and being that it is a moisturizer it gets into the skin, and has major staying power.
MAC – Eye Brow Pencil in Lingering
I found out about this from my absolute favorite make-up artist Lisa Eldridge (find her of YouTube – she makes applying make-up and everything related a fascinating experience) and also my second absolute favorite make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury (same, find her on YouTube – I love how she actually uses her fingers mostly to apply make-up and she produces with works of art). Both of them are the crème de le crème of the industry next to Pat McGrath and a very few others. So, this brow pencil is wonderful for filling in and for giving the illusion of full healthy eyebrows. Don’t be put off by the light color. It works, without giving that strong made-up look, as if you tried too hard.
Too Faced eye shadow in Socialite
I am lazy. Though I love make-up, I really dislike combining different shades and colors and blending. Socialite is great because it looks amazing on its own. It is a copper-ish pink, shimmer, almost metallic saturated color. On brown eyes, next to black eyeliner brings out gold sparkles of the iris, making them seem lighter in color. It makes for ultra easy day and night make-up depending on the accompanying products.
Rexona 48h Women in Clear Aqua (Romania) or Degree Women in Shower Clean (U.S.)
Last but not least, my absolute favorite deodorant. I love this product because I don’t have to reapply between showers and it smells wonderful for hours on end.
It can be purchased almost anywhere: most drug stores, grocery stores, etc.