6 Beauty Products I LOVE
So… i’m going to be honest. I don’t LOVE makeup, I’m not someone who wears a ton of makeup or has a 12 step skincare routine. I like to keep it natural and easy - products that I can easily grab that will do the job. I tend to be the mom that likes a makeup no makeup look, but there are times like date night or special occasions where I need a little more. Here are the makeup products I am ALWAYS reaching for.
1. Merit The Minimalist Foundation + Concealer Stick
If I could only use one product for the rest of my life, it’d be this. It’s technically a foundation and concealer in one, but it blends like skincare — not makeup. I use it under my eyes, around my nose, and on any spots, and it melts right in. The finish is natural, light-reflective, and so easy. No cakiness, no heavy feeling. Just skin, but better.
Why I love it: It’s one of those “five-minute face” staples. I also use a darker shade as my contour stick and absolutely love it.
2. Merit Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil
This is the lip product I always have in my bag. It’s not sticky like gloss and not matte like lipstick — it’s that perfect in-between that makes your lips look healthy and juicy. My go-to shade changes depending on the season, but honestly, they’re all wearable.
Why I love it: It gives that lived-in, effortless vibe — the kind of shine that looks so good.
3. Merit Great Skin Priming and Firming Moisturizer
This is that product that makes your skin look like it’s been drinking green juice and sleeping eight hours a night. It’s a lightweight priming moisturizer that gives instant glow without making you greasy. I use it under makeup, but it’s so hydrating it could easily replace your daily moisturizer.
It has peptides and hyaluronic acid that plump and smooth your skin, and it layers beautifully under foundation. Whether I’m doing a full face or just Merit’s Minimalist stick, this is always step one.
Why I love it: It’s skincare that doubles as makeup prep. One pump and your skin looks fresh, hydrated, and camera-ready.
4. Tower 28 Swipe Serum Concealer
This one surprised me. It’s super lightweight but has real coverage — and it never creases. I use it under my eyes when I need more brightness than the Merit stick gives me. It has a natural, radiant finish that plays well with everything else on my face.
Why I love it: It covers without hiding your skin. You can still see your freckles, your glow, your real texture — and that’s the point.
5. Dior Forever Glow Foundation
If I’m going somewhere I actually care about (date night, dinner, an event), this is what I reach for. It’s that elevated, luxury skin finish — medium coverage but still radiant. It wears beautifully all night and looks just as good in person as it does in photos.
Why I love it: It’s a confidence foundation. When you put it on, you just feel like you feel like you have the best skin ever.
6. Rhode Barrier Restore Cream (aka Barrier Butter)
If your skin has ever felt dull, tight, or stressed — this is your fix. It’s rich but not heavy, and it leaves that glazed, buttery finish that makes every makeup product layer perfectly on top.
Why I love it: It’s the ultimate skin reset. I use it at night and wake up looking like I actually drank water and slept eight hours.
My makeup philosophy has gotten simpler over time: good skin first, everything else second. These six products are the ones that make me feel put together even when I’m not trying — the ones that never overdo it.
If you like skin that still looks like skin, soft glowy finishes, and easy-to-use products that work for real life — these are for you.
