It’s never a wrong time for a beauty refresh, but we find the start of the school year and the beginning of fall to be the perfect time to settle into a new routine—that includes your fall beauty essentials routine! Around here, we’re always finding and trying new products. Sometimes, they make the cut and get a spot in our beauty routine; sometimes, they don’t. In this post, you’ll find some of our newest beauty essential discoveries and some of our tried and true favorites!
What is the most dangerous part of putting together this blog for Lani? She always wants to buy all of Kyle’s favorite products, too!
Happy Shopping!
See Lani above at almost 48. No filters and virtually no makeup; only her new favorite moisturizer and eye serum c/o CellCosmet, a smidge of her favorite concealer from Elf cosmetics, and cream blush from Ami Cole.
Lani’s Fall Beauty Discoveries
Speaking of dangerous… Did I mention that my taste in beauty products seems to get pricier as I grow older? Maybe I’ve just realized that there are no shortcuts. When something works, it works.
As long-time blog readers know, RLS does not accept payment for product reviews or placement. Believe it or not, we receive almost daily inquiries for paid placements or complimentary products in exchange for a review. Yet how often do you even see a disclaimer from us that we were gifted a product? Rarely. And only for products we believe in so much that we also spend our money on them and recommend them to friends and family.
Augustinus Bader has been a top beauty brand in cost, efficacy, and reputation for years. I chose one product and told them I would remain silent if it didn’t deliver. Not to worry. Holy cow, does this stuff work! The Augustinus Bader The Eyebrow and Lash Enhancing Serum solved my patchy eyebrow problems within a month. And the applicator is an absolute dream to use!
Augustinus Bader The Eyebrow and Lash Enhancing Serum, $155
Speaking of random “getting older” issues like patchy eyebrows, am I the only one who now needs lipliner at all times? I literally can not wear lipstick anymore without it. It’s so embarrassing. Although I love the staying power and feel of the new, exciting Glossier lipliner, there is one thing about it that I can not handle. Am I the only person who can’t sharpen the thing? No, seriously. I have totally abandoned it and am so happy with my self-sharpening FLOWER Beauty Perfect Pout Sculpting Lip Liner from CVS, I bought two of them!
FLOWER Beauty Perfect Pout Sculpting Lip Liner, $11.50
And this is where things get dangerous, where you realize why I was reminding you about our ethics, etc. But when I tell you that this Cellcosmet Ultra Vital Moisturizer instantly makes me look five years younger, I am not exaggerating. As a person who typically hates to wash my face, day or night, I now do it just to put on this cream to see my face looking five years younger.
I was gifted multiple products from the Cellcosmet line. Although I enjoy all of the Cellcosmet products (and I highly suggest anyone in DC runs to our local Saks Fifth Avenue for a facial with Kelly from Cellcosmet!), what’s important is what I will be purchasing myself. As a lifelong eye cream/serum skeptic, I may have also started a second, costly new habit in the Cellcosmet CellUltra Eye Serum XT, $230.
Cellcosmet Ultra Vital Moisturizer, $420
Lani’s Fall Beauty Essentials For Travel – All under $20!
Just when you are ready to give up on me and my $420 moisturizer, I’m here with some major fall beauty bargains for travel. Ha! At home, we live by a ginormous bottle of Downy Wrinkle Releaser and Fabric Refresher Spray to avoid ironing at all costs or save us when someone forgets to put their practice uniform in the laundry. It finally dawned on me one day: Downy Wrinkle Releaser travel size!!!
Also, now in my ready-to-go travel kit is the Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micellar Water. Yes, it really is as good as they say, and it is especially awesome for taking off any and all makeup and grime when one is tired from travel. I don’t necessarily agree that Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen is a dupe for something more expensive, but the size and functionality are perfect for travel.
I recently stayed at a hotel in New York that provided the most fabulous bath salts to put into the most fantastic bathtub. Of course, one can’t buy the fabulous bath salts, so I’ll have to settle for trying to find a dupe!
From left to right:
Downy Wrinkle Releaser- Travel Size, $1.99
Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micellar Water, $12.99
Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen, $18.50
Village Naturals Therapy Mineral Bath Soak, $18.09 (Similar to above)
Kyle’s Beauty Routine
When Lani asked if there was anything I’d be interested in trying from Augustinus Bader, I checked out the site and landed on The AB Essentials Set, as it has all of their best-selling products to create a complete night-time routine. The set comes with 4 travel-size products: cleanser, toner, eye cream, and, my favorite, their moisturizer. The Rich Cream is their cult-favorite product, as it is supposedly developed by Dr. Bader using his 30-year background in stem cell research (read more about his background and research here). It’s definitely the thickest moisturizer I’ve tried, and my skin feels more hydrated and less dry. (This kit was provided to me by Augustinus Bader in exchange for my honest review.)
Augustinus Bader The AB Essentials Set, $285
Was the set life-changing though? I would say the issues I’m always looking to alleviate are dryness, hormonal breakouts, and closed comedones. While the Rich Cream was thicker and very moisturizing, I still think my skin’s current favorite moisturizer is the Tower28 SOS Recovery Cream for its ability to layer over serums and under sunscreens. It sinks into the skin with no pilling or filmy feeling and feels like a really simple, soothing formula.
Tower28 SOS Recovery Cream, $24
Speaking of layering with sunscreen, I picked up the Summer Fridays Mineral Milk Sunscreen at the beginning of the summer for daily sun protection (the most important part!). It’s a physical sunscreen with a thin, watery formula that feels lightweight and hydrating. It will definitely give you a dewy look, which I personally love, but not everyone is on board with.
Summer Fridays Shadedrops™ Mineral Milk Sunscreen, $36
On days when I wear make-up, I follow-up my moisturizer and sunscreen with the Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint Foundation and the Natasha Denona Hy-glam Concealer. These two products work great together. I start with just a few dots of the concealer around the eyes, on the sides of my nose, and on blemishes, and I’m able to achieve a crease-proof look with EXTREMELY high coverage. A little goes a long way! On the rest of my face, I use a small amount of the skin-tint which blends seamlessly with the concealer. I love how these products feel weightless but still do a lot of heavy lifting.
Hourglass Veil™ Hydrating Skin Tint Foundation, $49
Natasha Denona Hy-glam Concealer, $30
If you buy one thing from my recommendations, I would argue that it should be the Nyx Lift and Snatch Eyebrow Pen. For $12 at Target, I really feel like this made a huge difference in my makeup routine. The product is basically like a liquid eyeliner pen but for your eyebrows, allowing you to make very realistic looking hair-like strokes. When I want to have a no-makeup-makeup day, I feel like this product manages to look more natural than a powder or pencil. I use the shade Brunette!
NYX Professional Makeup Lift N Snatch! Brow Tint Pen, $11.99
Do you have a new favorite beauty essential? Let us know what you’re using in the comments!
Real Life Style is a style consulting firm that teaches busy women to wear their power so they can live their lives fully and confidently. Lani Inlander, Kyle Dunphy and Sloane True are based in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and serve clients nationwide. We offer personal styling services, and an on-demand e-course.
Once in a while, you can find Lani Inlander and Real Life Style on Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram. Mostly, they are happily busy serving their fabulous clients, not hanging out online!
We have the travel-size downy wrinkle release sprays in every bedroom and bathroom of our house (and always travel with one!)! I didn’t even know they made a full-size option. Lol… I guess that’s why the kids call it “Grandma’s iron”!
Yes, they do. But I like your idea because the big bottle is quite unsightly and hard for the kids to use. Which means I end up doing the “work” of using it!
Love these tips and appreciate the more budget-conscious recommendations as well. I love the Black Girl Sunscreen Kids SPF 50 for everyday wear. I’ve tried one other of their products but the kids one is best: light, non-greasy and has a nice, subtle scent. And my newest, most fave makeup finds are 19/99 for eye and lip liners and Madame Gabriela for lipstick – ooh la la. Both are non-toxic and animal-friendly which is important to me.
Thank you for the extra recs! Yes, we love Black Girl Sunscreen and have recommended the grown-up version on the blog before. It is still my go-to for an every day base layer. However, I love the shape and size of the Trader Joe’s one for travel. And it does work really well. I agree with you though, the texture and efficacy of the Black Girl Sunscreen line can’t be beat! I also love Coola spray for reapplication throughout the day. I will look up your other recommendations.