I never imagined my life would look like this—running a beauty platform, painting the faces of some of the most iconic women in pop culture, and talking makeup with tens of thousands of people who genuinely care about this art. But here I am, a few years after quitting a tech sales job, standing in a Manhattan apartment that doubles as my beauty lab, my studio, and sometimes, my sanctuary. This journey has been anything but conventional. What’s kept me grounded? Honestly? Good skin and good products.
This is my no-BS breakdown of what’s inside my makeup bag, on my skincare shelf, and what’s constantly getting reordered. I’ve tested hundreds (if not thousands) of products both on myself and my clients. Here’s what made the cut.
Cleansers I Keep Coming Back To
I’ve used five bottles of the Rhode Pineapple Refresh Cleanser and that’s not an exaggeration. If you wear makeup often or live in a polluted city, this will dissolve the day off your face without stripping your skin. The texture is silky, with just enough slip, and it leaves the skin bouncy—not tight. It’s \$28, worth every penny, and available on rhodeskin.com.
Another go-to lately is Dieux’s Instant Angel Cleanser. I love that it’s fragrance-free and gentle enough to use twice a day, even during hormonal breakout weeks. You can grab it from Dieux’s official site or retailers like Revolve.
Exfoliants That Actually Work
If you deal with hormonal acne like me, you’ll understand why I’m obsessed with Sofie Pavitt’s Mandelic Clearing Serum. It’s one of the few things that consistently keeps my skin clear without over-drying. You can get it at sofiepavitt.com or Credo Beauty.
And if you want something that instantly makes your skin look polished, even before foundation, the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads are magic. They’re soaked in lactic and glycolic acid, and they never sting. You can find them at Sephora or Ulta.
Hydration Heroes
My skin drinks up Rhode Glazing Milk like it’s the last drop of water in the desert. It’s light enough to layer under makeup but hydrating enough to be a standalone moisturizer for oily to combo skin types. It has this milky, cushiony feel that preps your skin beautifully. Buy it direct from Rhode or on Amazon, but make sure it’s an authorized seller.
When I need richer hydration—think post-flight or in freezing New York winters—MBR’s Cream Extraordinary is next level. Yes, it’s \$450. Yes, I scraped the jar clean. It feels like a whipped balm that seals in everything, and it does not budge overnight. You can find it at high-end retailers like Violet Grey or Rescue Spa.
A more affordable (but still amazing) option is InnBeauty Project’s Extreme Cream. It’s \$48, organic, and incredibly rich. It’s often compared to Augustinus Bader’s Rich Cream—and I have to say, it holds its own. Available at innbeautyproject.com or Credo.
Facial Oils + Eye Creams I Swear By
When my skin feels tight, I’ll layer Furtuna Skin’s Biphase Moisturizing Oil or U Beauty’s The Super Hydrator Oil over my moisturizer. These oils melt into the skin and leave it looking lit from within. They’re pricey, yes, but you use two drops max. They last forever. Get them at U Beauty or Furtuna Skin.
And let’s talk eyes. U Beauty’s The Return Eye Concentrate is lightweight, cooling, and instantly de-puffs. I apply it with my ring finger in a gentle tap-tap motion—it wakes up the whole face.
The Sunscreen Struggle Is Real
I’m not perfect here. I always forget SPF. But when I remember, it’s the Summer Fridays ShadeDrops Mineral Milk SPF. It doesn’t pill, it doesn’t stink, and it sits beautifully under makeup. \$36 at Sephora or Summer Fridays.
And if I want a little glow with my protection, I’ll mix Kosas DreamBeam SPF 40 (Sunlit) with foundation. It adds radiance without turning greasy.
Base Makeup That Never Lets Me Down
I do my own makeup in 15 minutes or less, so I rely on products that deliver—fast.
- L’Oréal Lumi Glotion: Glowy skin in a bottle. I use it under or mixed with foundation.
- Armani Luminous Silk Foundation: The OG luxury foundation. Blurs, builds, never cakes.
- Haus Labs Triclone Foundation: Longwearing but still fresh. Great for events.
- Chanel Les Beiges: When I want barely-there elegance.
I’ll often skip concealer, but when I do use it? Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Concealer. It self-sets, full coverage, and requires the tiniest amount. One of the most underrated formulas at Sephora.
Sculpting Like a Pro
My contour secret is layering.
- Makeup by Mario SoftSculpt Skin Enhancer for warmth.
- Westman Atelier Face Trace (Biscuit) for actual contour.
The Mario one is creamy, super blendable, and beginner-friendly. Westman’s adds that precise depth. I apply both with a dense stippling brush and blend like my rent depends on it.
Blush Favorites (I Own…Too Many)
Patrick Ta’s Major Headlines Blush Duo (She’s Wanted) is peak color theory. It mimics the kind of flush you get when you’re embarrassed or cold. Deep berry, no white base—so it flatters every skin tone.
Makeup by Mario’s Perfect Pink is my “weekend brunch” color. It’s soft, flirty, and neutral enough to pair with any lip.
And for that angelic bridal glow, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Sublime Flush. It has a whisper of shimmer and photographs beautifully. Every bride I’ve worked with gets a touch of this.
Highlighting Without the Glitter
I don’t do chunky highlighters. They age the skin.
Instead, I use:
- KJH.brand Cream Highlighters (Lite Pink): Creamy but not wet. Great for oilier skin types.
- Chanel Baume Essentiel in Sculpting: No pigment, just dew. Like your skin just drank a liter of coconut water.
Tap it on with your fingers. Never swipe.
Setting the Scene
Setting sprays can be make-or-break.
- Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray: Sets everything without mattifying the life out of your glow.
- One/Size On ‘Til Dawn Setting Spray: Lockdown for oily zones. I also use their powder.
Brows + Lashes on a Budget
NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Ash Brown has been in my bag for six years. \$11. Works better than some \$30 options.
Maybelline Sky High Mascara (especially in brown) gives fluttery length with zero clumps. I’ve repurchased at least 10 tubes.
Liner Love
Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencils are MVPs. I use Endless Cacao to contour, line lips, fake freckles—you name it. Dimensional Dark Brown is the best lash line definer.
Eyeshadow Essentials
The Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Palette has no competition. Every shade mimics real skin tones, so they blend like a dream and look seamless.
Lips I’d Recommend to a Stranger in a Coffee Shop
- Sephora Collection Lip Liners: Insanely long-lasting. I mourned when Dressed to the 90s got discontinued.
- Makeup by Mario Lip Pencil (Almond): Balanced tone, not too warm or cool.
- Rhode Lip Pencil (Twist): Controversial online, but I love it. Just don’t expect it to be waterproof—it’s not meant to be.
- Sacheu Peel Off Lip Liner (Hey-zel): Once it sets, it’s on for the next 8 hours.
- MAC Lipglass (Clear) + Patrick Ta Major Volume Gloss (Say Less): Layered over any combo, these give the illusion of a fuller pout.
Hair: Low Maintenance, High Impact
I color with Olivia Casanova at IGK and cut with Mitchell Ramazon. I wash my hair maybe every 6 days, so I rely heavily on:
- Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo: Smells incredible.
- Color Wow Raise the Root: If your hair is fine like mine, this will change your life.
- Bumble and Bumble Invisible Oil: Ten-year love affair. Detangles and heat protects.
- T3 SinglePass Curling Iron (1.25″): My holy grail for soft, voluminous curls.
- Mane 1.77″ Heated Brush: A \$40 lifesaver on busy days.
Scent Is a Personality
I rotate:
- Tom Ford Ombre Leather: Sexy, unisex, bold.
- Jo Malone Myrrh & Tonka: Cozy for winter.
- Memo Sherwood: Sophisticated and mysterious.
- Commodity Milk: Smells like vanilla marshmallow and compliments follow me all day.
- Nativa Spa Quinoa Lotion: Found it on Amazon. Obsessed.
Bonus: I never leave the house without Byredo Bal d’Afrique Hair Perfume. It lingers just enough to make hugs memorable.
I built my beauty kit like I built my career—one tested decision at a time. These products earn their place. I use them on myself, my brides, my clients, and on-camera. They’ve survived 12-hour shoot days, humid summer weddings, and heartbreaking breakouts.
You can find many of these products at Sephora, Ulta, Credo Beauty, and brand-specific websites like Makeup By Mario, Rhode, and Westman Atelier.
If something caught your eye, try it. Not because I said so, but because good beauty should feel like taking back a bit of power and pleasure, just for you.
