The IT LIST is a list of my top beauty picks. If you are wondering what to try first of where to start, you can’t go wrong with these tried and trues. Consider this the best of the best and my all-time faves. I update this list quarterly to make sure it’s current and up-to-date.
By: Lisa Fennessy
Okay, here it is, my top picks in every beauty category! Be sure to check my coupon code page for ways to save.
RELATED: The best beauty products in 2022.
HAIR
Hairspray: Josh Rosebrook Hair Spray – A clean hair spray that actually works π± – My review!
Shampoo and Conditioner: EVOLVh Moisturizing Shampoo + Conditioner – My review!
Curling Creme: Inner Peace Whipped Whipped Texturizing CrΓ¨me – Holds and defines curls without the crunch. My review!
Styling Gel (for the boys and hubs): I Create Hold – Something that’s strong enough to keep stubborn cowlicks in place. My review!
Leave-in Conditioner: Sweet Spirit Leave In Conditioner – Say goodbye to comb out tears. My review!
Heat Treatment: SuperFinish Polishing Balm – I can’t live without this produce that does everything and feels like nothing. My review!
SKINCARE
Cleansers
Oil cleansers (use these as a first wash to remove makeup):
Pai Light Work – A hardy grip that really gets it all done (a great option for sensitive skin too).
Cleanser (use this after makeup has been removed as a second cleanse):
OSEA’s Ocean Cleanser Love this milky cleanser that smells like lime Skittles to finish the job. My review!
Balm cleansers (use these as a first or second cleanse or both):
Moss’s Beurre Celeste Honey Infused Rinsable Cleansing Balm – Maybe one of the best cleansers I’ve ever tried.
Free + True’s Moonlight Milk – A pillowy balm that removes even the toughest makeup + rinses clean with water.
Mahalo’s The UNVEIL – Melts on contact, smells amazing, lightly exfoliates, milks up and rinses clean with water.
Toners/Mists
Maya Chia’s The Optimist – Sits between a mist and a serum to deliver it all. Smells amazing.
BLΓH ALCHEMY’s Toning Elixir – Retains all the moisture for maximum hydration.
Top 3 Face Oils (moisturizers)
True Botanicals Renew Pure Radiance Oil – Clinically proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and increase hydration levels (outperforming La Mer across all measures). Bring on the skin glow!
Le Prunier’s Plum Beauty Oil – Plumps, moisturizes, evens skin tone, smells amazing, single source, single ingredient, organic 2X over and the list goes on and on. For all skin types. Read my review!
Laurel’s Sun Serum – An organic plant-powered oil to repair + prevent sun damage. Read my review!
Moisturizing Face Creams
KHUS + KHUS’s The Fix – A heavy hitter that leaves skin feeling happy and moisturized.
MΕͺN’s Protect + Revive – A light to medium weight cream that protects, supports, brightens, moisturizes.
True Botanicals Moisture Lock Overnight Mask – A light cream veil that’s proven to improve skin hydration by 25% in just 24 hours. My review!
Retinol
Maya Chia’s The Straight A – A game-changing retinol to brighten and even complexion. Get ready to see results in days. Wear this as your moisturizer or under your moisturizer. Read my review!
Resurrection Cell Recovery Serum – A gel serum that does it all. Hydrates, plumps and improves skin tone. Wear this under your moisturizer. More here.
Vitamin C
Free + True’s Bright Side – A hydrating gel serum formulated with two powerhouse forms of stable, non-irritating Vitamin C + niacinamide to quell breakouts.
BLΓH ALCHEMY’S MULTI C – A hydrating gel serum formulated with every natural brightening agent known to man.
Spot Treatment
Laurel Skin’s Blemish Treatment – Oil-based, botanical, 100% organic.
Folain’s Clarifying Spot Gel – An oil-reducing, gel-based formula powered by willow bark.
Eye Cream
Kypris Ad Astra Eye Cream – A fast-absorbing, rich, cream night treatment that works to reduce fine lines.
Kahina Eye Serum – A gel-based treatment that works to reduce fine lines, dark circles and soaks right in.
Lips Balms
Osmia’s Lip Doctor – A moisture-retaining Chapstick replacement.
Maya Chia Waterless Wonderbalm – A swap for all the Vaseline lovers. My review!
Masks
Leahlani’s Honey Love to hydrate, exfoliate, brighten and cleanse.
The Bean by Mahalo is chocolaty, antioxidant-packed and detoxifying.
Laurel Whole Plant Organics Brighten Mask which will LEGIT lighten hyperpigmentation with one use. You can feel AND SEE this one working!
May Lindstrom’s The Problem Solver for deep pore cleansing and a raging glow. (Not for sensitive skin).
I also LOVE using straight Manuka honey. More here!
Exfoliators
Mukit 2-in-1 Resurfacing Exfoliant – A bright green, gritty cleanser/exfoliator that tantalizes all the senses, foams up a bit, and leaves skin feeling so smooth!
Josh Rosebrook’s Active Enzyme Exfoliator exfoliates in two ways; both mechanically and enzymatically.
Maya Chia’s The Refresh Mint – An enzymatic + acid exfoliator that resurfaces + hydrates without the grit.
BODY CARE
Deodorants
Agent Nateur’s NoΒ°4 deodorant holi(rose) – Smells so good + this line also has a sensitive skin option.
Cleo + Coco for a mess-free application + an added dose of magnesium. (Also has a sensitive skin option).
Oral Care
Toothpaste: Uncle Harry’s in Peppermint – strongest natural toothpaste on the planet!
Mouthwash: Oral Essentials – it’s the strongest and best I’ve found. It’s even have one formulated to whiten too!
Whitening Strips: Oral Essentials. They work. Not as good as Crest but they work.
Body Oil
OSMIA’s Night Oil – But really any scent she makes is AMAZING! These soak right and retain moisture in better than any other body I’ve tried.
Body Lotion
Free + True’s Body Prophet – A cross between a gel and a cream, this lotion retains moisture like a champ.
Hand Cream
HENNΓ’S Luxury Hand Cream is 82% organic, hydrating, fast absorbing and not greasy at all! Comes in two scents.
Fragrance/Parfum
PHLUR Hanami Eau de Parfum – I wont ever recommend something I don’t love. This is my current top pick for a more natural fragrance. It’s musky, powdery, sexy, long-lasting and beautiful. It is formulated with essential oils, natural-derived fragrance and “safe synthetics”. Try their $18 sample set!
Body Scrubs
True Botanicals’ Pure Radiance Sugar Exfoliating Body Scrub – A gentle body scrub that leaves skin feeling fresh, hydrated, and smooth.
OSMIA’s Himalayan Body Buff – A gritty salt scrub that’s infused with OSMIA’S luxurious body oils. Comes with a cute scoop + leaves skin feeling super soft.
Bar Soap
OSMIA – ALL THE WAY. Hand-poured, cured 8 weeks, extra organic. Coffee Mint anyone?
Sunscreen
Everyday sunscreen for the face: MALU Protecting Day Cream + SPF 30 – moisturizing, not white, beautiful – can’t say enough!
Beach sunscreen for the face: Raw Elements Lifestyle 30+ Pump – THACK and works.
Sunscreen body: Love Sun Body SPF 30 – Goes on even and rubs into clear.
For kids: All Good SPF 30 – Goes on even, rubs in to clear. They even have a family size option.
Spray: Babo Spray SPF 30 – By far the best safer spray out there.
Lips: Solara Suncare Pout Protector SPF 15 – Hydrate, plump, protect.
MAKEUP
Eyes
Pressed eyeshadow: Δether Beauty Rose Quarts Crystal Gemstone Palette – 12 shades with a range of finishes. Also fully recyclable.
Cream eyeshadow: Kjaer Weis Cream Eye Shadow – A wash of color that actually stays. Alluring is STUNNING.
Mascara: ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara – Delivers volume, length and definition with a patented wand that delivers mad separation.
Liquid Eyeliner: ZuZu Luxe in Raven but so many cute colors to choose from!
Pencil Eyeliner: Antonym Eye Pencil in Noir. A soft pencil that that transfers like a dream delivering major color payoff. Also comes with a builtin sharpener.
Brows: Sappho Brow Pomade in Taupe Gray – Perfect for us gray haired ladies AND blonds because it has not red undertones or warmth. You need a brow brush to apply.
Lips
Tinted Lip balms: HENNΓ Luxury Lip Tints – Moisturizing, easy to apply, crazy organic. Read my review + see shades applied here!
Lip Gloss: Fitglow Lip Colour Serums – Hydrating, plumping, super pretty and not sticky. I love Beach Glow and Nudie! See almost all shades applied here.
Lipstick: Kosas Weightless Lipstick – Moisturizing, buildable, chic packaging.
Lip Liners: Fitglow Beauty Vegan Liner Trio – Love these as full lip colors too.
Face
Foundation
Foundation: Vapour Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation – no longer available.
BB Cream: Inika Organic BB Cream – A light coverage BB cream that blurs imperfections yet wears super natural. Read my review.
Concealer
Buildable coverage: RMS “Un” Cover-Up – Apply with a (dry) Beauty Blender, foundation brush or fingers, and blend. Works as a foundation too!
Medium coverage: Fitglow Beauty Concealer – A medium coverage concealer that looks natural and works. No caking. It totally conceals my darker sunspots. And their…
Color corrector: Correct+ in Peach – a lifesaver for correcting dark under-eye circles.
Highlighters
Maya Chia Highlighter of the Day in Golden Hour (straight up or mixed with foundation) This oil adds a brilliant highlight and smells amaze.
RMS’s Living Luminizer – So beautiful and understated. Works well at any age.
OLIO E OSSO NO 1 Balm – Glide this balm over cheeks for the most amazing, mica-free glow.
Blush
OLIO E OSSO BALMS – A flush of color and a whole-lotta life. Also doubles as a lip balm. Comes in 15 shades.
Kjaer Weis Cream Blush – A cream blush with the perfect natural flush.
Nails
Best performing polish: Londontown
Cleanest formula: Kure Bazzar
Gel polish swap: Dazzle Dry – My last Dazzle Dry mani lasted 14 days!
Remover: KURE BAZZAR – Comes in glass, very mild ingredients, doesn’t dry out hands, large enough to last, works.
Best tool: Olive + June’s Clean Up Brush – No mess, precise and only $8!
Best file: The Water Room’s glass file that doesn’t fracture nails.