Whenever I see, hear or read about makeup primer, I think about beauty editor Allie Flinn. See how great her makeup looks here? Would it surprise you if I said Allie looks that great every day? Because I will, and she does -- she looks like a literal angel, because angels have perfect eyeliner and cheekbone highlighter.
Allie is a makeup wizard. She's also a big believer in primer. In spite of the fact that Allie gave me at least one impassioned speech on the absolute necessity of primer, and in spite of the fact that her face looks airbrushed by God, she could never convince me to wear it. I hated the way primers pilled on my skin -- definitely not worth the extra step.
All that changed when I tried Hourglass Ambient Light Correcting Primer, $44, in Luminous Light. This is the product I've been waiting for throughout years and years of trying every tinted moisturizer, luminizer and primer. It's sort of a hybrid of all three -- a skin-illuminating, barely tinted primer that makes my skin look healthy and alive, makes dark spots disappear, and makes my makeup last and last and last. And it never pills or clumps. When I don't wear it, I feel naked and wrong. When I do wear it, I look almost as angelic as Allie does. --Katie McCarthy
All that changed when I tried Hourglass Ambient Light Correcting Primer, $44, in Luminous Light. This is the product I've been waiting for throughout years and years of trying every tinted moisturizer, luminizer and primer. It's sort of a hybrid of all three -- a skin-illuminating, barely tinted primer that makes my skin look healthy and alive, makes dark spots disappear, and makes my makeup last and last and last. And it never pills or clumps. When I don't wear it, I feel naked and wrong. When I do wear it, I look almost as angelic as Allie does. --Katie McCarthy
Even though it's April, it still feels like winter in NYC (hopefully by the time you read this, that's no longer true). However, I'm dressing for spring -- cold weather be damned -- and my over-exposed skin is suffering. My hands, in particular, look even worse than they did in February -- that is, until I started applying Lano Rose Hand Cream Intense, $15, regularly.
First of all, I love everything about this lanolin-centric brand. It was started by an amazing woman in Australia whose grandparents owned a sheep farm, and the wool-derived lanolin is cruelty free, ultra pure and medical grade. When I was first introduced to the hand cream, I figured it would be wildly moisturizing but also kind of greasy -- like lanolin. However, she somehow managed to remove the greasy feel but keep all the hydration. It has a pretty powdery finish that makes getting right back to typing or scrolling through Instagram a breeze. It's also infused with rose oil, which makes it smell fantastic, and I find the pink tube to be quietly chic (and not too "millennial pink").
My hands (and nails!) are much improved, even if the thermostat is not. --Dawn Davis
For more of my favorite beauty products, follow me on Instagram @dawnspinnerdavis.
First of all, I love everything about this lanolin-centric brand. It was started by an amazing woman in Australia whose grandparents owned a sheep farm, and the wool-derived lanolin is cruelty free, ultra pure and medical grade. When I was first introduced to the hand cream, I figured it would be wildly moisturizing but also kind of greasy -- like lanolin. However, she somehow managed to remove the greasy feel but keep all the hydration. It has a pretty powdery finish that makes getting right back to typing or scrolling through Instagram a breeze. It's also infused with rose oil, which makes it smell fantastic, and I find the pink tube to be quietly chic (and not too "millennial pink").
My hands (and nails!) are much improved, even if the thermostat is not. --Dawn Davis
For more of my favorite beauty products, follow me on Instagram @dawnspinnerdavis.
I totally have a type. In men, it's tall, dark and witty. In perfume's it's effervescent, bright and feminine. And lately, the perfume that's caught my eye -- or nose? -- has been Miu Miu L'Eau Bleue, $90.
This springtime-in-a-bottle of a scent makes me smile every time I spritz it. It's everything I look for in an everyday perfume. It's wearable, yet not bland. It's subtle, but still garners compliments. It's youthful without feeling girlish. Slight woody base notes ground the lily of the valley and wild rose, giving it just enough heft to make it stand out among other fresh floral scents. Plus, the sparkling blue bottle looks adorable on my dresser. In short, I'm pretty sure I've met my perfect perfume match. --Mary Squillace
See all of Mary's favorites on Instagram @msquillace
This springtime-in-a-bottle of a scent makes me smile every time I spritz it. It's everything I look for in an everyday perfume. It's wearable, yet not bland. It's subtle, but still garners compliments. It's youthful without feeling girlish. Slight woody base notes ground the lily of the valley and wild rose, giving it just enough heft to make it stand out among other fresh floral scents. Plus, the sparkling blue bottle looks adorable on my dresser. In short, I'm pretty sure I've met my perfect perfume match. --Mary Squillace
See all of Mary's favorites on Instagram @msquillace
Truth be told, most face mists confound me. They feel good going on, but evaporate moments later, leaving my skin just as parched as before or, worse, coated with a stiff and tacky residue. One standout exception to this rule: Pixi By Petra Glow Mist.
Infused with 13 nourishing face oils like argan, avocado and primrose, this bi-phase mist makes my dry skin look -- and feel -- fresh and dewy. It's also loaded with soothing skin care ingredients like niacinamide, propolis and aloe, which hydrate and help relieve inflammation.
Each morning, I give it a good shake and spray it over my makeup to set it in place, then mist once again in the afternoon for a quick complexion refresh. The subtle, all-over illuminating effect makes my skin look younger than it is -- like the best Snapchat filter. --Jill Provost
For more of my can't-live-without products, follow me on Instagram @jilleprovost
Infused with 13 nourishing face oils like argan, avocado and primrose, this bi-phase mist makes my dry skin look -- and feel -- fresh and dewy. It's also loaded with soothing skin care ingredients like niacinamide, propolis and aloe, which hydrate and help relieve inflammation.
Each morning, I give it a good shake and spray it over my makeup to set it in place, then mist once again in the afternoon for a quick complexion refresh. The subtle, all-over illuminating effect makes my skin look younger than it is -- like the best Snapchat filter. --Jill Provost
For more of my can't-live-without products, follow me on Instagram @jilleprovost
I've been a fan of winged liner for as long as I can remember. It's a staple in my beauty routine basically every day. I've acquired quite the collection in my search for the perfect eye liner, only to be disappointed time and time again. Some liners are too stiff; others, too runny. Some create drag along the eyelid, irritate my eyes or smudge before midday. Ardency Inn Punker Rock On Waterproof Liquid Liner, $22, is none of those things -- and I haven't wanted to use anything else since discovering it.
Ardency Inn's streamlined felt-tipped pen has the perfect amount of firmness and flexibility to hug the lash line and give a non-stop application of product with absolutely no drag. It fits perfectly into my hand, giving me the freedom to draw the daintiest lines to the boldest cat-eyes. While most waterproof makeup wreaks havoc on my eyes, this formula is gentle and doesn't irritate at all. And best of all, my winged liner lasts all day -- from the moment I apply it to the time I wash it off (and it comes off easily with my facial cleanser.)
To see more of my favorite things, follow me on Instagram @hannah_savin
Ardency Inn's streamlined felt-tipped pen has the perfect amount of firmness and flexibility to hug the lash line and give a non-stop application of product with absolutely no drag. It fits perfectly into my hand, giving me the freedom to draw the daintiest lines to the boldest cat-eyes. While most waterproof makeup wreaks havoc on my eyes, this formula is gentle and doesn't irritate at all. And best of all, my winged liner lasts all day -- from the moment I apply it to the time I wash it off (and it comes off easily with my facial cleanser.)
To see more of my favorite things, follow me on Instagram @hannah_savin
Ever had a beauty product you love so much that you shook, hacked, scraped or squeezed its container until you were absolutely positive you had expended all of its precious contents? Rare indeed is the product that elicits that deliciously desperate feeling, especially in beauty editors. So when our team of beauty mavens encounters a rave-worthy product, you know it's the real deal. Herewith, our editors rattle off their "beauty empties," aka the best beauty products that they can't help but use until the last drop. Read on for their best nail polishes, hair products, skin care products and makeup now.