Once you've selected the best turkey of them all, loaded up your grocery cart and picked out your most comfortable pair of leggings, there's only one lingering item on your Thanksgiving prep to-do list: gratitude. Sure, your family, friends, health and your job are paramount to your everyday happiness, but there are seemingly small parts of your routine that deserve a nod, too. And if you ask makeup artists, there are certain products that go above and beyond for our skin and make it easier to bare a confident face to the world. In honor of Thanksgiving, leading makeup professionals tell us the one makeup wonder they can't live without.
Beauty planner and co-founder of Elwynn + Cass Katelyn McCullough first discovered this scrub while at a natural health food store in Palm Desert. She was initially in search of a formula for her body but found this face-specific product instead. "It allows me to keep clear skin no matter how busy my season is. Any blemishes that pop up, one use of my scrub before bed and they are gone by morning," she raves. "Plus, it doesn't irritate my skin in the least and leaves it hydrated as well."
Pro Tip: A little bit goes a long way. "Use about a teaspoon and dab a bit on your forehead, both cheeks, chin and nose, then add a tiny bit of water to scrub. Scrub lightly in small circles to cleanse pores without irritating. After about 30 seconds to 1 minute, lightly rinse off with warm water and pat dry," she says.
A few years ago, makeup artist Dana Arcidy was searching for a chemical sunscreen to add to her kit. Since chemical sunscreens work by absorbing UV rays instead of reflecting them as others do, they don't cause any flashbacks during flash photography. She was having a hard time finding a stateside option, so she Googled international brands and found this Australian producer. "I tested out this moisturizer on one of my models and loved it so much that I had to get an extra one for myself," she says. "The lightweight, fast-absorbing formula is so much better than the greasy sunscreens I wore before, which always seemed to leave a white cast."
Pro Tip: Don't forget to reapply. "Like with any sunscreen, for best results, this should be applied 20 minutes before getting any sun," Arcidy adds.
Blame it on your newborn, a demanding month at the office or your newfound addiction to a Netflix newbie, but dark circles have a way of sneaking up on you. Finding the right type of product to actually conceal these pigments is tough, but thanks to the recommendation of her Swedish pal, makeup artist for Pierre Michel Salon Katherine Dorn discovered this saving grace. "It covers up any dark circles — hello long nights and no sleep — and brightens up any under eye," she raves.
Pro Tip: Put your fingers into it — literally. "Use with fingers as the heat from the hands helps it blend into the skin, also make sure to tap in into the skin for natural results," she says.
When you're applying your makeup of the day, what part do you give the most attention to? For most people, the eyes are a multi-step process and often the first part of the face that's noticed by others. That's why licensed esthetician and professional makeup artist Corey Michol Sam is thankful for her go-to mascara. "There is nothing more respectful than eye contact! I love this product because of its lengthening and separating feature. This mascara allows eyes to pop all day, with a long lasting formula, and zero clumping," she says.
