Reliable Drugstore Beauty Basics

Sephora might be the utmost destination for all things beauty-related, but it's a mistake to overlook the usefulness of a well-stocked drugstore. There are loads of quality products tucked away in those seemingly endless aisles of merchandise -- you just need to know what to look for. Here are my main staples from the pharmacy :)

  

Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash -- Safe to say, I'm in an extremely committed relationship with this product. It has such a clean, subtle smell, and it's rich, creamy texture feels pretty damn luxurious for something from the drugstore.

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water -- If forced to choose, I think this stuff is my favorite skincare product of all time. It can be used as a cleanser, toner, or eye makeup remover, and is generally fabulous at getting rid of face grime lol. Plus, the brand comes from France, so you know it's faaancy ;)

PIXI Glow Tonic (5% Glycolic Acid) -- Welcome to the world of chemical exfoliants! Glow Tonic serves as an excellent bridge between cleanser and moisturizer -- basically stepping in to replace your toner. The gentle formula gives me such soft skin and helps even out my complexion. (Full disclosure: I like to alternate between this product and the slightly more potent version from The Ordinary.)

  

L'Oréal Original Voluminous Mascara -- L'Oréal's super no-frills mascara works as well as any upscale product I've ever tried. In fact, this is the best dupe I've found for my once-cherished Lancôme Hypnôse Drama (at a sliver of the price). The brush bristles are chunky and the formula is perfectly tacky -- combine both these qualities, you have a mascara that really grips and coats every freakin' lash.

Nivea 24h Soothing Care Lip Balm (with SPF 15) -- Smooth, hydrating, long-lasting, with sun protection, and super affordable. It smells nice, too. I dare you to find me a better basic chapstick under three dollars.

Batiste Original Clean & Classic Dry Shampoo -- There's a reason this product is so well-known. I searched for a basic dry shampoo forever. Some made my hair fall out. Others reeked of synthetic florals or baby powder. The rest plain ol' didn't work. At my hairdresser's suggestion, I eventually tried Batiste... and never looked back. Okay, the scent could be more subtle, but I forgive that misstep because the product really zaps away oil without leaving any weird texture on the hair and scalp. 

 

Simple Kind to Skin Cleansing Wipes -- Look, these are a better-than-nothing solution for when you really, really, REALLY can't be bothered to wash your face before bed. Good to have them stashed away for those exact moments. I just wouldn't rely on them for a super thorough cleanse (or even everyday use).

La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL -- I've raved about this sunscreen before. My feelings have yet to waver :)

Image credit (top): Vogue
Image credit (products): Google

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Solving Shiny Summer Face

Call it dewy if you want, but we all know a shiny summer face when we see one. Mine is particularly aggressive -- even my eyelids get balmy. Needless to say, I was thrilled to discover a product that can fight back against Montreal's vicious summertime humidity.

Allow me to introduce the Mineral Veil Finishing Powder by Bare Minerals.

Technically, this stuff is a setting powder, designed to be the last step in your makeup routine. I, instead, use it completely on its own. After my skin has time to absorb an assortment of serums and moisturizers, I then apply Mineral Veil with a powder brush, being extra generous on areas that are more susceptible to looking slick. I like the Matte Finish because it lets me really double-down on the no-makeup makeup thing. (The brand also makes tinted options if those are more your jam.)

Honestly, this stuff does an AWESOME job reeling back oil (gross sorry) and shine. It smoothes out my complexion and even blurs away some pores. I love how truly transparent it looks -- meaning it will still match your face after the summer tan is gone. The formula is super light, though, so you definitely want to reapply throughout the day.

I snooped around online and, judging from user reviews on different websites, Mineral Veil works on a broad range of skin tones. Heck yes to inclusivity!

All that's left to do is swipe on some lipgloss and brush your eyebrows lol. Your shine-free summer look is complete :)

When it comes to makeup, what are your secret weapons?

Image credit (top): InStyle

Image credit (product): Sephora

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Glossier Top Five

Glossier is so damn appealing.

Genius brand identity (everyone wants to be in their fresh faced faux naturale club!), reasonable price points, inclusive marketing campaigns, pretty packaging, kick ass ambassadors like Katie Jane Hughes... The list of reasons to love Glossier is a long one.

But the company isn't perfect. They've received a ton of criticism (rightly so) for positioning themselves as a clean beauty brand when they're not, and also for their general wastefulness and other non-eco-friendly practices.

Regardless, there is a small handful of Glossier products I genuinely love and have grown totally reliant on. 

Full disclosure: I normally plan my purchases around (a) replacing a damaged pink pouch, or (b) Black Friday, the only time their merch is on promotion. If you need retail therapy this weekend, however, I am happy to share my go-to items :)

    

1. Balm Dotcom in Coconut

Smells like a Caribbean vacation. The formula is oddly pasty, but in a way that feels super nourishing. Apply some before bed and it will usually last until morning.

2. Moisturizing Moon Mask

Gives me plump, baby-soft skin. My favorite mask for when my face is irritated and freaking out.

3. Lip Gloss in Holographic

Sooo glassy and glittery. Thick but not so sticky your hair gets stuck to your lips. Gives me serious early 2000s vibes.

4. Generation G in Cake

The formula is just okay, maybe a little dry. What I love about this lipstick is how the color is super buildable. It's basically sheer to start, then takes four or five swipes for the color to really come through -- making it pretty safe to apply without a mirror.

I especially like Cake for its peachy hue :)

5. Milky Oil

Very gentle and excellent for removing mascara.

Clearly, my tastes lean toward easy skin care products that are foolproof to use.

This next note isn't really in the spirit of Box Cake, but I'd be remiss to skip the call-out. Brace yourself. I am NOT a fan of Futuredew. Like most people, I'm not sure I even understand what it does. It's not a serum, or highlighter, or moisturizer. What I know for sure is that it makes my forehead brutally break out. Pass.

*

Eventually, I'd like to try the Super Bounce serum. Maybe even give Boy Brow a whirl. Do you have a favorite Glossier product?

Image credit (top): Elle UK

Image credit (products): Glossier

Image credit (bottom): Lily Like

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