The IT LIST is a list of my top beauty picks. If you are wondering what to try first or 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.
IN THIS POST:
RELATED: The best beauty products in 2022.
Hair
Inner Peace Whipped Whipped Texturizing Crème
Holds and defines curls without the crunch.
Innersense I Create Hold
Something that's strong enough to keep stubborn cowlicks in place.
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Gray Hair
Bruns NΒ°24 Silverschampoo
Gentle enough to use every day while still brightening brassy strands.
NΒ°24 Silver Balsam conditioner
Gentle enough to use every day while still brightening brassy strands.
Bruns NΒ°24 Harmask
Double moisture, double toning, so good.
Kitsch Heatless Curls
An easy way to wake up with cute hair in the morning with minimal effort and ZERO heat.
Skincare
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).
Leahlani Pamplemousse Tropical Cleansing Oil
Smells amaze, lightly exfoliates, washes clean with just water.
Botanical B Enzyme Cleansing Oil + Makeup Remover
You havenβt lived until youβve tried Botanical B Cleansing Oil. So good.
Cleanser (use this after makeup has been removed as a second cleanse):
Doctor Rogers Face Wash
Foams without stripping and great fit for sensitive skin.
Balm cleansers (use these as a first or second cleanse or both):
Maya Chia The Optimist
Sits between a mist and a serum to deliver it all. Smells amazing. One of my top products of 2019 (and still is!).
BLΓH ALCHEMYβs Toning Elixir
Delivers max hydration that lasts. One spritz and you will be hooked.
Laurel Single Farm Hydrosol
ANY mist by Laurel is incredible. Keep an eye out for their limited edition releases.
True Botanicals Renew Pure Radiance Oil
Outperforms La Mer across all measures. I love this one.
Le Prunierβs Plum Beauty Oil
Plumps, moisturizes, evens skin tone, smells amazing. For all skin types. Iβm forever obsessed.
Alpyn Beauty Triple C Brightening Bounce Cream
Never felt my face feel as hydrated as it does with this.
Prima The Afterglow
One of my all time favorite face creams, but itβs often out of stock.
Doctor Rogers Restore Face Cream
Super calming and hydrating for sensitive skin with no scent.
Best of everything, less aggressive/still effective, stronger/medical grade
Mara Algae Retinol Face Oil
Easy to use nightly and I saw a difference in my skin after 30 days.
Marie Veronique Multi-Retinol Night Emulsion
Even I couldnβt use this every night, it was that effective.
Plant based
One Love Organics Botanical A Bio-Retinol Night Serum
This is the most sensitive-skin friendly / good for reactive skin
BLΓH ALCHEMYβS MULTI C
A hydrating gel serum formulated with every natural brightening agent known to man.
Maya Chia Super Lift Concentrated Vitamin C-More Serum
Packed with three types of vitamin C and you can actually feel the lift happening.
Josh Rosebrook C Complex Vitamin C Serum
The consistency is everything. Absorbs quickly, hydrating and protecting.
Osmia Spotless Blemish Oil
Gentle roll on formula that keeps blemishes at bay before they erupt.
Indie Lee Banish Solution
A dupe for the super-popular Kate Somerville overnight spot treatment. Great for hormonal or underground blemishes.
Rael Beauty Miracle Patch
An effective spot treatment for blemishes after they open up.
Mukti Age Defiance Eye Serum
Super hydrating and soaks right in – easy to layer makeup over.
LILFOX Ambrosia Immortalis Eye Mask
Delivers deep hydration and wakes up the eye area.
100% PURE Bright Eyes Masks
These work the best to depuff and correct color out of them all.
Three Ships Brighter Days Red Algae + Avocado Biodegradable Eye Masks
Depuff and correct dark circles in a jiff plus biodegradable.
Mara Algae + Moringa Sea Silk Lip Balm
Super moisturizing without being shiny. Smells amaze.
Alpyn Beauty Willow & Sweet Agave Plumping Lip Mask
For the most long lasting moisturized and soft lips.
Poppy & Pout 100% Natural Lip Balm
A great chapstick alternative with zero plastic (and cute!) packaging. Stash multiple in pockets and purses.
May Lindstromβs The Problem Solver
For deep pore cleansing, exfoliation and a raging glow. (Not for sensitive skin).
Laurel Whole Plant Organics Brighten Mask
100% whole plant organics that LEGIT evens skin tone with one use.
Leahlani Mermaid Mask
A long time fave superfood honey mask that leaves skin glowing. This has been a fave for years.
YINA Divine Cellulose Sheet Mask
Two words: juicy, plumpy skin.Β
Manuka Honey
Itβs different than any other honey and it can legit treat every skin problem.
Mukti 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!
Maya Chia The Refresh Mint
A STRONG enzymatic + acid exfoliator that resurfaces + hydrates without the grit.
One Love Organics Brand New Day Microderma Scrub & Masque
A mask / cleanser duo that micro-manually and enzymatically exfoliates. Obsessed.
RELATED: My current skincare routine
Body Care
Mukti Botanique Deodorant
Goes on clear and keeps odor at bay. It won't stain clothes or leave white streaks. One of our top products of 2022.
Schmidt's Aluminum Free Natural Deodorant
An accessible deo that works plus Ecocert Certified.
Prim Botanicals Deodorant
Baking soda free and almost doubles as a perfume.
Toothpaste, travel toothpaste, mouthwash
Risewell Mineral Toothpaste
Comes in fun flavors, great for the whole fam.
Huppy Toothpaste Tablets
A great option for travel. Also doubles as an on the go mouthwash (kinda).
Risewell Balancing Mouthwash
The minty fresh feeling is the closest youβll get to old school Listerine, and it wonβt f up your oral microbiome.
Whitening Strips
Lumineux Teeth Whitening Strips
They work. Not as good as Crest but they do.
Body oil
BLUH Alchemy Active Relief Body Oil
The scent is insane but the moisture is even better. Not greasy at all.
One Love Organics Gardenia + Tea Antioxidant Body Serum
A super light spray body oil that leaves skin soft and moisturized.
Deeper, light and budget
Josh Rosebrook Body Acid Serum
This light lotion exfoliates and smooths skin like skincare but for your body.
Cocokind Sake Body Lotion
Fragrance free, microbiome supporting and not greasy.
Heretic Parfum
A super clean option made with essential oils only that smells good (not crunchy!).
Henry Rose
Actually smells like real fragrance (SO GOOD), has beautiful packaging and itβs EWG Verified.
Osmia
ALL THE WAY! Hand-poured, cured 8 weeks, extra organic. Coffee Mint anyone?
Everyday face SPF, tinted face SPF, beach face SPF
Le Prunier Plumscreen
The best everyday SPF on the market. Plum oil provides so much natural UV protection that they only had to add 4% zinc to get it to 31 SPF!
Daily Dew SPF 35
Rubs in clear, doesnβt make me sweat and stays put.
Eleven Game. Set. Match. Body Lotion SPF 50
Is it lotion? Is it SPF? We don't know, it's that good. Plus 50 SPF to boot!
All Good SPF 30
They have a family size option and some USDA certified organic options too.
Babo Botanicals Clear Zinc Sport Stick Sunscreen SPF 30
Goes on sheerer than regular non-nano zincβand we see a difference. Also, MADE SAFE certified.
Go! Mineral Defense SPORT Superfruit + Aloe Sunscreen Mist, SPF 30
This makes the application process a lot easier plus we love the addition of skin supporting ingredients.
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Makeup
Pressed eyeshadow, cream eyeshadow
W3LL People Power Palette
The most univeral palette we've found, it works for everyone and has staying power.
ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara
Delivers super pretty length and definition via a patented wand.Β
ILIA Fullest Volumizing Mascara
A smudge-free, flake-free lightweight formula delivers major volume.
Liquid eyeliner, pencil eyeliner
Josephine Cosmetics Eye Define
A breeze to use and doesn't clump up.
Antonym Eye Pencil in Noir
A creamy pencil that delivers major color payoff. Also comes with a builtin sharpener.
Sappho Brow Pomade in Taupe Gray
A great fit for people with gray or blonde hair. You need a brow brush to apply.
Honest Tinted Lip Balm
Budget friendly option for a sheer, moisturizing wash of color.
Erin's Faces Fruit Smoothie Lip Gloss
Goes on sheer, but can be layered for more opaque color. Love the organic ingredients and minty flavor.
Liquid foundation, cream foundation, BB cream
Westman Atelier Vital Skin
Medium to full coverage that leaves skin looking flawless.
Buildable coverage, medium coverage, color corrector
Westman Atelier Lit Up
Adds highlight and a spot of color without the shimmer. Super creamy.
Fitglow Multi-Use Ceramide Cream Lip + Cheek Palette
Mix and match to create your custom color.
RELATED: A Clean Beauty Guide to Makeup and our Top 5 Clean Beauty Foundations (2023 Photo Lookbook)
Nails
Best performing polish, cleanest formula, gel polish swap
Olive + June Nail Polish Remover Pot
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