I love reading holy grail posts for beauty, so I wanted to do my own with a little twist. I do have some non-beauty items here, like random technology or kitchen-related purchases. I go through phases where I feel the need to revamp everything and try a bunch of new items (especially as far as beauty goes), but these things have stayed pretty consistent over the years. I’m good at sticking with the stuff that really works. Here are some items I’ve used over the past handful of years that have been repurchased countless times.
Products Used for 5+ Years
John Freida Frizz-Ease Daily Nourishment Leave-in Conditioning Spray | My hair is naturally very straight and thin, so I don’t have to blow dry or straighten. It dries perfectly straight within an hour of showering. I know, I know, don’t hate me. The one problem I do have though is FRIZZ. If I don’t use this spray, my hair will turn into a frizzy mess ASAP after it dries. I spray this on the bottom 3/4 of my head and comb through. It detangles, makes it smooth, and keeps it smooth all day.
Wet Brush | This is my second go-to hair product. I’ve had a Wet Brush for years because it really works so perfectly on wet hair. It detangles nicely without pulling. I can’t imagine using anything else for brushing my hair. I have a couple of these around!
iPhones and Apple Products | I’ve been buying iPhones and other Apple products since my sophomore or junior year of college. I had a Blackberry as my first smartphone, which I actually loved for a while until it got slow, and made the switch to iPhone with some Christmas money one year. I don’t imagine myself moving on from Apple products, but who knows what will be available in another 5-10 years!
Amazon Kindle | My mom got me a Kindle for my birthday right before I moved away to college. I was pumped to have something where I could buy books on the fly, especially when visiting Maine with my family and reading multiple books over the course of a week. I kept that Kindle from 2009 to 2014, when Chris bought me a new Kindle Paperwhite. I LOVE this one with the backlight! I think I’ll be needing another new Kindle sometime within the next year because mine is slowing down. I don’t ever want the tablet kind because I have an iPad for that. I like the no-glare screen too much to part with it.
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk | My beauty habits have evolved over the last five years, but this is one of two items that has stayed put. I use this in the corners of my eyes to brighten them up a little bit. I’ve repurchased this little $2 stick so many times and I can’t see myself phasing it out. It lasts a long time too! I have another brown-ish color that I sometimes use on my eyelid, and a bright blue one if I’m feeling fancy and/or wearing Panthers colors.
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind – Dark Circles | I still use this as my quick, cheap dark circle cover-up AND spot concealer. The spongy top makes it super easy to cover up a pimple. I wear this on days where I’m not doing a full fancy face of makeup. This, my BB cream, and my CC powder will do the trick for a super quick day. I have switched to the Tarte Shape Tape concealer on full face days, but I will always buy a new one of these when I run out!
Papermate InkJoy Pens | I’ve changed the type over the years (ones with caps to the clicky ones) but I will always use these colored pens. I love how smooth the pen writes; they’re my all-time favorite for EVERYTHING. I use the plain black and blue ones for work, and have multiple full sets of the colored pens that I keep in various locations: one on my desk at home, one at work, and one in a pouch to go around with me sometimes.
Dexflex Scrunch Flats | I used to be suuuuper into shoes but have gotten lazy over the years. These flats have been repurchased so many times since I discovered them during college. I have them in black and silver too. They’re easily the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn in my entire life. They better never stop selling them at Payless!!
Products Used for 3-4 Years
Beauty Blender | I’ve alternated between the official BB and the knockoff ones (I prefer this knockoff the most if you’re looking for something cheaper!). I got my newest one for Christmas so I didn’t have to pay for it. It’s really the only way I can apply foundation without it sliding off. I have the weirdest skin texture where makeup doesn’t sink into it; if I used a foundation brush, I would end up just wiping away the makeup instead of smoothing it out. In any case, this allows the makeup to actually soak in as much as possible.
IT Cosmetics Brow Power | I LOVE THIS. I used to not care about my eyebrows but now I feel naked without it. This is my faaaavorite because it lasts so long and has a universal color. The brush side tames your eyebrows before and/or after you fill them in a little bit. This makes a huge difference.
Maybelline Lash Sensational | I love this mascara even though it does bleed a little under my eyes after a full day. I don’t know about getting a waterproof one (ugh) so I just kind of deal with it. This makes my eyelashes so big and voluminous. I used to spend way too much money on the Benefit They’re Real! mascara but found the same results with something cheaper.
NYX High Definition Blush | I didn’t really start using blush too much until right after college and it’s not something I care as much about. I used the Sephora store brand for a while and it was good, but I’ve been loving the NYX one. It really lasts a long time for a cheap price! I had two colors until one broke so now I just use my pink one. Oh well.
Marc Anthony Instantly Thick Volume Hair Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner | Not sure what I would look like without this shampoo and conditioner! Ulta doesn’t sell it in stores anymore so I actually have to order it through Walgreens.com and pick it up in the store. It’s a pain, but worth it. My thin/fine hair feels a lot thicker and voluminous when I use this. I just love it so much.
Products Used for Under 3 Years
Crockpot Liners | This is a random recommendation, but I love these. I have a HUGE Crockpot so cleaning it is absolutely miserable. These liners are a lifesaver because you don’t have to worry about it. Obviously I still clean it every so often, but it makes life a lot easier when you don’t have to go crazy. I make a LOT of food in the Crockpot so it’s very worth it for me.
Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation and Matte Perfecting Primer | My ultimate favorite for my oily skin! I love these two so much that I keep spending way too much money on them. I definitely use these only for full-face days when (a) I have a lot of plans or (b) am working in the office. I’ve never had a makeup combo work as good as these, in terms of being long-lasting, full coverage, and less oil.
Earbud Clips | I only bought these last year but they are a lifesaver. My ears are so weirdly shaped that earbuds fall out ALL THE TIME. I can only imagine how much worse it’ll be when I get cordless ones at some point. So, these clip right onto my earbuds and hold them in place no matter what I’m doing. Seriously, I can’t believe I didn’t buy these sooner.
I use the same Maybelline concealer!! I love it. And I know the pain about needing a shampoo that is not the easiest to find. I use this John Frieda Volumizing shampoo and have been having to order it on Amazon or going to random Walgreens that aren’t the ones near my house. Cool post– I love seeing stuff other people like!
I also love seeing holy grail posts. I really want to try those pens, but I don’t currently have a use for them. I need to invent a use.
Wet Brush for life!! Love that for me and my daughter. I need to check out those ear bud clips!
I love this post! I agree with so many of these– my Kindle, my Apple products, NYX blushes, and the BeautyBlender are all staples for me, too. I might try out the It brow pencil next time I run out of my current one!
This post is so much fun!!! I love seeing the random things people use! (Like I had no idea crockpot liners were a thing???) YES to the Nyx pencil, I use it to line my lower water line to brighten up my eyes. I’ve recently re-discovered my Beauty Blender this year and I 100% agree that it gives me better results than foundation brushes. Also I AM SO JEALOUS THAT YOUR HAIR DRIES STRAIGHT I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW THAT WAS A THING IN REAL LIFE. My hair is super wavy so I usually have to blow dry and flat iron it to get it straightened D:
hahaha Yes many people are jealous of that aspect of my hair but it’s so annoyingly boring and thin that I hate it for most other things. When my friend and I went out the other night, she was like “wait I didn’t see you blow dry your hair, how is it already dry??!”