Beauty Must-Haves

In this blog post, Olivia + Laura share the beauty products they cannot live without. Read on to discover some potential new favourites!

The one thing that comes close to our love for fashion is our love for beauty and skin-care products. So, since we are always sharing our favourite trends and styles, we figured we'd share with you the beauty favourites that are an essential part of our routines. Read on!

Olivia's Must-Haves

IT Cosmetics Universal Brow Power Pencil

If I'm honest, most of the time, my hair is not styled. Yet, my brows are almost always perfectly feathered and filled-in. All it takes is 30 seconds, and it makes my jogger set look so put together. I am not a makeup connoisseur but, the one I love right now is the IT Cosmetics Universal Eyebrow Pencil. This is a universal shade of brown and has taken me through my brunette and blonde hair phase. Like most brow pencils, one side is a pencil, and the other is a spoolie, which makes getting ready so easy.

Vasaline

This one is so random but, I am obsessed with Vasaline. I apply it to my lips and, my face and I have never looked better. I heard that Martha Stewart adds a dime-size amount of petroleum-jelly to her night-time routine so, I had to try it too! My skin has been so dry this winter and, I swear this has been my holy grail.

Please note, I am not a dermatologist and, I don't suggest doing this if you have acne-prone skin because it can clog your pores. HOWEVER, Vasaline is so inexpensive and, I swear you will look like a glowing goddess with it on.

Purple Shampoo

If you're a blonde, you need purple shampoo. There is nothing worse than paying an exaggerated amount for your luscious blonde locks, only for them to turn yellow! Girls and guys, if you are blonde, you need to commit to it and, the purple shampoo will ensure that. So, here are the two products I suggest.

As for a drugstore shampoo, try the John Freida Violet Crush. It is affordable and works well to neutralize yellow tones. Use this once a week, and your hair will remain the colour it is supposed to be.

On the days I am not using this shampoo, I use the L'Oreal Professional Blondifier Gloss Shampoo. Unfortunately, the shampoo itself is not purple but rehydrate your hair and maintain the integrity of your colour- trust me.

Gel Nails

I love getting my nails done because it is a moment to pamper myself. But I am also a walking disaster so, if I'm wearing regular nail polish, I will chip the polish all the time; that is why I love a gel manicure! I love trying out all the latest trends and mixing and matching with colours. Overall, having my nails done makes me feel so pretty and, my latest discovery is this Korean brand called Jello Jello. The bottles are so aesthetic, and they have all the cutest colours. Also, the quality of the product is so good! After three weeks, my nails did not chip, peel or fade—isn't that so impressive? Not all nail salons carry this brand, but one of my favourite places, Runway Beauty Bar, has a variety of colours to choose from.

P.S. if you need nail inspo check out our recent post!

Laura's Must-Haves

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has MULTIPLE benefits that we could list for days but here are some reasons we use it for! I have extremely small and thin eyelashes, hence the reason for lash extensions. I am always very wary of using products around my eyes in case of irritation so instead of buying an eyelash serum for growth, I decided to try using virgin coconut oil! I usually apply it with a disposable mascara wand (throwback to when we could steal them from Sephora LOL) before bed or before I apply mascara.

The best hack I ever learnt from Tik Tok was applying a layer of coconut oil before applying mascara. The mascara goes on so much smoother and doesn’t clump!

Another great use for coconut oil is as a hair mask, Olivia has tried this a few times and it has left her hair feeling so hydrated!

Mascara

My go-to mascara at the moment is the Maybelline Total Temptation mascara. Seeing as I don’t have the fullest lashes, this mascara builds volume and lengthens to give the illusion of fuller lashes. On my bottom lashes, I use a mascara with a smaller wand, such as the Maybelline Best Lash mascara. Perfect to just add colour to my very blonde bottom lashes. Mascara, as well as curling your lashes, makes you look more awake and will open your eyes.

Vitamin C Serum

I had never used a Vitamin C serum until I tried Nu Beauty. It is incredibly hydrating and brightening. If you’re looking for a product to help fade pigmentation, this is it. As someone with very mild rosacea, this serum minimizes redness in the skin to create a more even complexion. I primarily apply it in the morning before moisturizer. I use the Nu Beauty Vitamin C Serum and it is seriously a game changer! Definitely recommend trying it out if you haven't yet. It is important to wear sunscreen with Vitamin C, which is why my next must-have is sunscreen!

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is so so so so so important and you should be wearing it every single day! It is especially important to use it if you are applying any skincare products that might require a little extra protection, just like a Vitamin C serum. Start now if you haven’t yet — it reduces signs of aging, limits the appearance of sunspots, protects the skin from sunburn and so much more! Make it part of your daily routine by applying it under your everyday makeup look. A higher SPF is recommended for the face, I typically use SPF 50 or higher. It is important to note that it should be worn every day, rain or shine!

Thank you for reading this week's Olivia + Laura post! We hope you enjoyed reading it as much as we enjoyed writing it! Make sure to follow us on Instagram @oliviaandlaurablog and let us know what some of your must-have beauty products!

See you next week!

Xoxo,