My top makeup & beauty go-to's

These are the makeup and beauty products I always reach for and consider my holy-grail products. Some of the products I have mentioned in my favourites posts before but there are also a lot of new products and some which I have changed up from old go-to's.

Maybelline SuperStay Foundation

I only just recently started using this foundation and I have become obsessed with it already! I ended up trying it out because I had ran out of my Max Factor foundation, which I have always used and loved - it was either sold out or not available when I was looking for it. I am so happy I tried this foundation out and it has become my new favourite.. This is the most amazing foundation with regards to coverage, a little definitely goes a long way and it covers everything up perfectly (I use one pump on my entire face, with my old foundation I would use two or more pumps just to feel like it was covering enough). This foundation also wears incredibly well and stays put all day, it does not crack in the areas where I move my face the most (which all of my previous foundations have always done throughout the day), and it also does not fade or oxidize either. It is such a good foundation for the price as well, it is R199.95 (my old foundation was R220) from Clicks, mine is in the shade 34 Soft Bronze which is such a good shade, and I love that it does not have an orange undertone to it like most foundations do.

Makeup Revolution Concealer

A couple of months ago I purchased this concealer to see what it was like, a lot of people were raving about it, and I can definitely see why. I am so happy I came across this concealer! Before I was using the LA Girl concealer, which I was happy with, but this concealer from Makeup Revolution has become my all time favourite. It has the most creamy consistency, which makes it so easy to blend. I use concealer for under my eyes, blemishes and spots - it honestly has the best coverage and also does not crease too much. I purchase my Makeup Revolution concealer from Clicks (only in selected stores) for R112 in the shade C7. This concealer is a lot more expensive than my old concealer but I prefer this one way more as it is less orange in colour and it has way better coverage.

Yardley Translucent powder

I never used to use translucent powder to set my makeup before but since the beginning of this year when I started wearing makeup more I realized it was a must-have. This translucent powder sets my makeup nicely in place so that it does not budge but also does not make my makeup look dry or cakey at all. If I am wearing makeup for the entire day I do touch it up with more powder just to keep it looking fresh and not shiny (especially if it is a hot day). It is also such a great powder for setting concealer under the eyes and it works amazingly with my Makeup Revolution concealer (I don't get any creasing or patchiness from this powder when setting my concealer, which I would experience with my old concealer). I purchased this translucent powder from Clicks for R161.95.

Bobbi Brown mascara

This mascara has been a long time favourite of mine for over a year now and I have mentioned it in a previous post before. It is the only mascara I have used that lifts my lashes properly and gives them so much volume without me having to put numerous coats on. I ended up getting this mascara when I had my matric dance makeup done at Bobbi Brown and it was R390, it is called the Extreme Party mascara. I know it is quite pricey but I am willing to buy this mascara again when it runs out because I love it that much! It is honestly the best quality mascara I have ever used and it would be hard to go back to anything else after using this for so long.

Carmex lip balm

This lip balm has always been a favourite of mine and I will never stop using it (because it is that amazing!). It is not the cheapest lip balm but it is the only one I have used that moisturizes my lips properly and lasts me a super long time. I love the smell (it has a vanilla scent) and it also makes my lips tingle as well has providing the moisture I need. I also love the way it looks on the lips, it looks like a lipgloss and it goes perfectly over a matte lipstick as well. I always buy my Carmex from Clicks for R55 and it lasts me about 4 months.

Garnier Micellar Water

I decided to give micellar water as a makeup remover a try because so many people had recommended it to me, and I am so glad I started using it. Before I was using almond oil to remove my makeup - which would take very long, left my skin with an oily residue I could not get off, and it was also way more messy. I just use cotton pads with the micellar water to remove my makeup and it effortlessly melts all of my makeup away without irritating my skin, it actually makes my skin feel so clean and hydrated after using it which I love. I usually purchase the 400ml bottle which gets me through a month (depending on how often I wear makeup) and it costs R90 from Clicks or Dischem.

Lo’real smooth sugars glow scrub

I only started using this facial scrub recently and I have become so obsessed with it! It is my new holy grail product for exfoliating. I have dry/sensitve skin and I only choose to exfoliate once a week (whereas most people exfoliate 2-3 times a week) because I don't want to strip my skin too much and dry it out. I had been wanting to try this scrub out since I had seen it had been released and I am really so glad I got my hands on it! It is the most gentle yet effective exfoliater for my skin and it has genuinely made a difference in the texture of my skin, leaves my skin with a glow, and has helped fade some of my very dark marks and gotten rid of my light marks. I have been using this facial scrub for over a month now, before I was using a facial brush to exfoliate my face, which more abrasive and it would leave my skin looking a bit dull and slightly dry (it also was not helping as much with my texture as much as this facial scrub has in the past month). You can find these facial masks in Clicks or Dischem for around R130, and there are three scrubs in the range: a clearing scrub, the glow scrub, and a nourishing scrub. These are perfect for using on your face as an exfoliant because they are not rough or harsh on your skin, the sugar in the scrub is very fine. The main concern I had when first using this scrub was that it might be too rough or strip my skin, but I was pleasantly surprised by how gentle it was. I definitely recommend this face scrub and I am already so in love with it!

Neutrogena Hydro Boost gel cream

I have been using this face cream for over a year now (I have mentioned it in a favourites post before) and I highly recommend it to anyone who has dry skin and is looking for a cream that will genuinely work to rescue their dry or sensitive skin. I went through many trials and errors to get to trying this face cream and I had kind of lost hope when I had decided to try it out. Every single face cream I had been trying before for my dry skin was just not working to moisturize my skin at all and none of them were improving the look of my skin either which started to frustrate me. I had seen the hydro-boost range launch in Clicks and decided I would give the cream a try and I am so so happy I did! It was the first face cream that did not irritate my skin, clog my pores and I also did not have to keep applying layers for it to actually make my skin feel or look moisturized. After using it for about two months I watched my skin transform and I could see the massive difference it had made in my skin, my skin barrier had started to build up and I no longer had any flaky or dry skin. Now that I have been using this cream for over a year, I swear by it and it is the only face cream I will continue to use. It is perfect for me because it is fragrance and dye free, plus it has hyaluronic acid in it (which is what provides all of the moisture and helped build my skin barrier back up). I usually get my cream from Dischem for R130 (I am usually lucky and need a new one when it is on special for R110) and a 50ml tub lasts me an entire month (I use this cream in the morning and at night).

Sorbet Salon Skin face cream/sunscreen

I ended up getting this after trying it out from a friend and I was genuinely impressed with this cream. I use this as a sunscreen for my face because regular sunscreen that I use on my body does not agree with my sensitive skin (I either get a slight rash on my face or it clogs my pores and gives me a breakout) and I feel that it is important to use a sunscreen specifically designed for your face, on your face. I also love that it has the highest SPF as well has Vitamins and nutrients so that I know it will protect my skin, and a little goes a long way. This is going to be used daily in summer! You can find the Sorbet skincare ranges at Clicks stores, and I got this face cream for around R140.

The Body Shop body butter

I have always loved The Body Shop's products, but mostly their body butters. I used to use their body butters a few years ago and I really wish I had continued to use them (they are just quite expensive but they are really so worth it!). It is the only cream I have used that soothes and moisturizes my skin properly without me having to keep reapplying it throughout the day, and they have so many scents to choose from. You can find The Body Shop products in larger Clicks stores. The travel size/50ml body butters go for R75, the bigger 200ml tubs go for around R195, and the massive 400ml tub goes for R390.

Girlz Only dry shampoo for blondes

I tried this Girlz Only for blondes dry shampoo out when my Batiste dry shampoo had run out and my mother had gotten this one on sale. I was actually impressed with this dry shampoo. I either use Batiste dry shampoo or this one because they are the best. This dry shampoo gives my hair more volume, makes my roots look clean without any residue, and I noticed when using this blonde dry shampoo that it made my hair look even more blonde and bright than usual (which I love!). You can find Batiste dry shampoos at Clicks or Dischem and the Girlz Only dry shampoo was purchased from Clicks. I know most dry shampoos, especially Batiste, are usually R95, and the Girlz Only was on sale for R40. I really don't know how I survived before without using dry shampoo on my hair. I use it mainly to create volume and it also helps with keeping my hair looking clean as my roots tend to become oily very quickly. It is also perfect for styling your hair if you want to create more grip on hair that has just been washed.

Schwarzkopf Gliss hair repair mask

I have spoken about this mask before when I did my review on this Schwarzkopf Gliss range, and I am still obsessed with it. My hair mask has lasted me such a long time and it really helps so much with keeping my hair looking healthy. Since I do heat style my hair a lot and started dying it blonde, this mask has been the best thing for my hair. It definitely helps with repairing any damage because a lot of people have asked me how my hair looks so healthy yet I have dyed it blonde and still continue to heat style it and I always tell them about this hair mask. The smell of this product is so amazing as well and I love the way my hair looks and feels after using it. My tub has lasted me nearly a year now (a little definitely goes a long way) and I use it once a week. You can find these hair masks in Clicks or Dischem and they usually cost around R90.

Kiss brush on nail glue

This nail glue has been my savior for my nails when it gets close to having to redo my acrylic nails (they sometimes break close to the end). They either lift or come off completely if they have been battered around a bit and I keep my nails on for a month or a bit longer before having a refill done. I always make sure to file any glue off of my own nail and I paint the glue onto the acrylic nail in a thin layer. I got mine from Clicks for R70.