My Holy Grail beauty products

I was recently watching Laura Lee over on YouTube and she posted a video about her Holy Grail makeup products. She went on to say that these products were never featured in her monthly favourites, because, well…they’re all time, all year every season favourites, but she thought it high time they got a look in. It got me to thinking that I don’t really post my holy grail products either and to be honest, it’d never really crossed my mind before! So today, I want to share with you my absolute ride or die products that I just cannot be without. Ever!

First up is Carmex, my favourite ever lip balm that I’ve used for absolute years. I discovered Carmex so long ago when I was waiting in the line at Topshop to pay for a few new clothes and noticed it on the queue line aisle of temptation…it sucked me in right away and boy, am I glad about it! I remember first pulling it out to use in a Pyhsics GCSE revision class and sharing it with my friend. We both instantly loved it and the slight tingle it gives was an instant relief for dry, chapped lips. Every since then, Carmex has been well and truly stocked around my house. One in my bag, one in my desk drawer, one in the studio and one in my bedroom. My GCSE’s were a fair few years ago now – 2004 to be exact. So this little pot of goodness has been my holy grail lip balm for 12 years.

Next up is something that I’ve owned for less than a year, but something I’ll purchase again and again. MAC’s Velvet Teddy matte lipstick. I’d always heard amazing reviews about Velvet Teddy and finally got hold of it last year after taking my six empties back to the MAC counter and swapping them for it. When I first tried it, I didn’t really like it at all. On most other girls, it seemed to be the perfect nude lip, but on my fair skin, it looked quite dark. Over time, I kept persevering with it and learned to use less or mix it with a pinky gloss and et voila! I’d fallen in love! It’s now my ‘go to’ lipstick that I use almost daily, and if I don’t choose it in the morning, I always take it with my in my bag just in case I fancy a change.

My absolute favourite perfume and my signature scent is up next. My Givenchy Hot Couture Eau de Parfum has been a firm favourite since I first used it back in 2005. I wore it throughout college, university and every job I’ve ever had. It’s seen me through dates, photo shoots, nights out and even my driving test and just getting the scent of it floods my head with so many amazing memories! It’s a gorgeously firty scent that almost reminds me a little of strawberries. The top note is raspberry nectar which explains the sweet after-scent that lingers with magnolia, jasmine and bergamot at the heart. The base is vetiver, amber and white musk which gives it that sexy, sultry edge. I’m always complimented on this perfume each time I wear it either from family, friends or strangers in the street and what I love most is that this isn’t a scent you tend to smell in the air very often. I like that it feels more unique.

Another firm favourite of mine is MAC’s Studio Fix Fluid foundation. No matter what foundation I try out, I always end up coming back to this gorgeous base! It tends to last well on my oilier skin, smooth out imperfections and give me an amazing coverage. I do wish it was a little longer lasting on me like Estee Lauder Double Wear is, but, it doesn’t break me out like Double Wear does so I’ll deal with it! I’ve used this foundation since leaving school, so again, another firm favourite from around 2005. This is also the foundation that I tend to use on my clients as it lasts so well and photographs beautifully.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer is my last Holy Grail beauty product. I stumbled across this little beauty when I was scouring my local Boots for a ‘back to school makeup for under £20’ post. I’d used the Lasting Perfection Foundation in the past and didn’t mind it, so thought I’d give the concealer a go and it was a game changer. I use it to highlight and conceal, as a base for eye makeup, and as a corrector for sharpening my brows after applying my brow products. I loved it that much that I even added it to my professional makeup kit and tend to reach for it more than I do my MAC or my Maqpro Petite Fard Creme Palette.

So, there you have it! My Holy Grail beauty products that you will never find me without.

© This post is copyright of Rachael Divers 2016.