Welcome to 2025! We last saw a beauty post in June, and I finished out the year as expected, collecting all my empties along the way. We’ll do something a bit different this time in visiting my features first, then moving into all the miscellaneous products.

And yet. Again, I am flabbergasted by how much makeup you actually use even when you’re wearing it everyday. I just didn’t know! I assumed all these ads were because you really needed that much, but now I have the cold hard data to understand the math behind the scenes (as a good scientist must). The revelation’s certainly prompted me to be more choosey of the things I allow through the door. While some of the things I recommend here are pricey, I recommend them because I love using them everyday and even when I do, they last such a substantial amount of time, they still seem like a steal.

Holy Grail Products

Much is made in beauty circles about the “holy grail” products. The perfect, most wonderful irreproachable X. While I still consider myself a novice in these markets, I’ve tried enough over the past two years to make me confident in my selections, although the true mark of a holy grail is only if it works for you. These choices represent the best intersection of quality and cost.

Saint Jane Pore Smoothing Sunscreen

It doesn’t call itself a primer, but that’s essentially how I use this product. As I have learned, many foundations don’t come with SPF, expecting you’ll layer your sunscreen underneath. However, as a sunscreen savant, most of my favorites don’t play with makeup. Not wearing sunscreen is unacceptable when you’ve got this complexion, and in walks the holy grail of Saint Jane. A mineral sunscreen that slides on perfectly, you’ll never notice it’s there, allowing you to easily layer your other beauty products on top. While it does have a higher price point than most sunscreens, one tube did last me half a year, including my trip to Italy where I wore it in the sweltering sun without fail. Completely splurge worthy.

Dr. Hauschka Soothing Cleansing Milk

So many cleansers tried through my beauty box subscriptions, and still nothing compares to the cleanser I started using at 22, Dr. Hauschka’s Soothing Cleansing Milk. At the time, as a tried and true millennial, I was using some terrible apricot scrub but I worked at Whole Foods in the beauty section, and one of our reps gave me some to try. Gawking at the price, I didn’t believe it’d become part of my rotation, however, as promised, the formula worked wonders for my skin of similar heritage. I waited until our famed 30% off sale to snag a bottle, and it’s been in my rotation ever since. Perfectly pH balanced, just a small smear will help you feel fresh without feeling dry, truly a remarkable feat for cleansers and this skin.

Merit Beauty Complexion Stick

I admit it! I’m a sucker for a 5 minute face! So when I saw ads for Merit, I eventually caved. One influencer I watched discussed how little product there was to be had, but I’ve been using this stick since the summer of 2023. It’s not my daily driver, but I use it most weekends or anytime I want more coverage than my normal tinted moisturizer. While I had originally tried trestique for similar ease of use, Merit’s shades better matched mine, and I think the product appears less drying, especially when I layer with Saint Jane’s. (I do prefer many of trestique’s other products to my Merit selection). While the base layer is great, the entire suite of bronzer, blush and highlight makes makeup a breeze.

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Mascara

Received as a free gift, this mascara is now my go to. As someone who lived most of their life without makeup, I still scratch and rub my eyes with all the typical human reactions. While not technically waterproof, this mascara weathers all things including a 120* turbine building at a nuclear plant in the heat of July. I’m always impressed when it’s still on at the end of the day.

e.l.f Instant Lift Brow Pencil

Possibly the most defining piece of makeup in my catalog, did you know if you don’t have eyebrows, you can draw them on? I didn’t for a very long time! I have tried several different brow pencils and gels, and baby, you can get a two pack of these at Target for $5. Perhaps there are better options, but these work just fine for me.

Ulta Beauty As If Gloss Stick

I’ve already informed you of my great “tinted lip balm” contest which Bobbi Brown got a respectable mention in. Sticking with the budget friendly picks here, I strive to say this one isn’t better. A mere $10 at Ulta, this gloss stick goes on smooth and creamy without blurring or smudging. The colors work well for my neutral themed palette, and at the price point, this one is a winner I’ll keep in my work bag.

The Best, and Then the Rest

The rest isn’t entirely fair. Most of these were great products I enjoyed getting to try our or daily drivers I’ve already extolled (like Biossance or Estee Lauder). The one I will point as a favorite to be added to my rotation one day -Vilhelm Parfumerie’s Darling Nikki. Ermehgerd.

I was introduced to the brand when my beauty box contained a sampler of ‘Poets of Berlin’ I enjoyed, so I decided to try some more samplers. Darling Nikki perfectly hearkens to the heady tune of the Prince classic. Catch a sniff and you’re sure to be transported, feeling hazy waking up in a strange sex dungeon. Unfortunately I’ve blown my perfume budget for a while and it’s perpetually sold out, but just you wait.

That’s a wrap on 2024 empties! Expect me to change the format to a monthly style blurb in 2025, but I’ll make sure to give you a good writeup where it’s merited.

(For a gorgeous handcrafted silk scarf as seen in the perfume pic, visit Nade Studio as a hometown favorite).