Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Soft-Focus Skin: Skincare & Makeup for 30-Somethings
21
items I’m all about products that enhance my natural glow without looking like makeup. Think soft-focus, blurring vibes. I believe in investing in fewer, high-quality products that layer beautifully. (Sort of like a capsule wardrobe for your face.) If you’...
Sections
2
Makeup
Skincare
Makeup
These essentials enhance your natural features and create a polished, filter-like finish. If foundation and dramatic makeup don't work for you, reach for these!
I've been using this in place of foundation for YEARS. Think of it as a tinted moisturizer + corrective treatment vs. a moisturizer. (I.e., apply like makeup!) Great for sensitive, Rosacea-prone skin. Mix with Hollywood Flawless Filter or similar boo...
Cicapair™ Soothing Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30 ...
Adds instant glow – have yet to find a perfect dupe for this. (It's just that good, ugh.) Mix with Dr. Jart Color Correcting Treatment (listed) for glowy, filtered look.
Hollywood Flawless Filter: Glow Booster
I am not a huge lip liner gal because I can never seem to overline without looking like a clown (?!) This is the only lip liner I can use. If you have that same issue, this is the perfect consistency for smudging/blurring beyond your lip line. I love...
Long-Lasting Lip Liner (That Won't Look Ridiculous When Over-lining)
I'm a fan of the NARS concealer. It's lightweight, not drying, and layers well on top of moisturizers and other makeup.
Creamy Under Eye Concealer
Perfect for the person who has no idea what they're doing with eyeshadow. (Me.) This stick is soft, shimmery, and easy to apply and blend. Adds a nice subtle color or can be layered for a more drastic/shaped look. I'm in the last pic wearing the colo...
A Smooth, Smudge-able Eyeshadow Stick For Makeup Novices
I got this in a subscription box once and it's been the only mascara I've used since. If you want a no-frills mascara that does the damn job WITHOUT smudging or crumbling below your eye, this is the stuff. It stays put all day and washes off in secon...
Mascara that DOESN'T CRUMBLE
Easy-to-use, glide-able brow pencil with a built-in sharpener and brush. This stuff always seems to sell out. I have dark hair with naturally lighter brows and use Medium Brown. (I'm also lazy and often use this as an eyeliner!)
Eyebrow Pencil - Great for Traveling
I love, love this highlighter balm. It's so creamy and smooth and adds a beautiful iridescent sheen without the blotchy look that powder highlighters tend to leave. I like to use this on my cheekbones, the tip of my nose, and in the corner of my inne...
MERIT Day Glow Highlighting Balm
I constantly see this product recommended by pro makeup artists, and for a reason. It really lives up to its name in delivering a poreless, filter-like finish. It's super light and goes a long way if used sparingly. I use it on my T-Zone and smile li...
Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder
Skincare
These are high-quality, multitasking products I use to smooth, hydrate, and blur. Think capsule wardrobe for your face: fewer, better products that layer well together.
THIS IS THE MOISTURIZER OF ALL MOISTURIZERS! Layers so beautifully under makeup, hydrates, and can even be used to remove makeup. This is great for sensitive skin, is reasonably priced, and is packaged sustainably. Tip: Spritz your face with water be...
Lait-Crème Concentré - #1 Moisturizer | Embryolisse USA
This is the only beauty product I'm truly splurging on right now. It uses Alastin’s proprietary peptide technology to support skin’s natural production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. When I poked around on Reddit and other beauty forums b...
After consistent use, my complexion looks plumper, more even, and more resilient. Peptides are the hot new skincare item, and this product is clinically-backed, integrates well with other actives, and feels light under makeup. This brand offers plent...
After consistent use, my complexion looks plumper, more even, and more resilient. Peptides are the hot new skincare item, and this product is clinically-backed, integrates well with other actives, and feels light under makeup. This brand offers plent...
Restorative Skin Complex with TriHex+™
I got a sample of this in a bachelorette party care package and unfortunately, I love it. It instantly smooths and brightens my complexion. I get compliments on my skin whenever I use this stuff. It's a bit pricey, but I've managed to make my sample ...
Facial Treatment Essence: A Must-Have
I was a die-hard Skinceuticals Vitamin C user, but this dupe works just as well for me and apparently uses a nearly identical formula. Whenever I find a new, more expensive skincare staple (i.e., the Alastin Restorative Complex), I try to cut back sp...
20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum
I have been using this for years, so it was bittersweet to see it go viral and sell out constantly. Soothing, healing, brightening, and thick – this is best worn at night to seal in your other skincare. Great for calming your skin if using a retinoid...
Cicaplast Balm B5+ Soothing Therapeutic Multi-Purpose Cream
This stuff really melts my makeup off. It's fragrance-free and doesn't strip or irritate my sensitive, dry skin. I have this in jumbo and travel size – it's the only product I'll use to wash my face.
Take The Day Off™ Makeup Remover Cleansing Balm
This is the only physical exfoliant I can use that doesn't irritate my sensitive skin. You can see the dead skin cells come off as you scrub. Very satisfying. I like to use this 1-2x a week to help exfoliate skin, esp. when using a retinoid.
Yo Glow AHA & BHA Facial Enzyme Scrub - Huda Beauty USA
A great, affordable OTC retinoid for those just starting or for those who can't handle the strong stuff (e.g., Tretinoin). Originally a prescription medication used for acne, Differin offers similar anti-aging benefits as prescription retinols/retino...
I am able to use this 3-4 times a week without destroying my skin barrier and still get that amazing, newborn baby retinol glow. (Don't forget to use on your neck and hands, too!)
I am able to use this 3-4 times a week without destroying my skin barrier and still get that amazing, newborn baby retinol glow. (Don't forget to use on your neck and hands, too!)
Tret Substitute: Differin Adapalene Gel .1%
I originally bought this to soothe my face when I was having a bad rosacea flare-up, but it really ended up saving me when I quit birth control and had a hormonal acne breakout across my back. I was shocked because nothing else had helped.
Now I spritz this on my face whenever it's feeling irritated, and the relief is immediate. Hypochlorous acid started getting a lot of buzz a few years ago with popular brands like Tower 28 selling it. This brand is cheaper and you can buy refills by ...
(Hot tip: It's also great for healing piercings and tattoos!)
Now I spritz this on my face whenever it's feeling irritated, and the relief is immediate. Hypochlorous acid started getting a lot of buzz a few years ago with popular brands like Tower 28 selling it. This brand is cheaper and you can buy refills by ...
(Hot tip: It's also great for healing piercings and tattoos!)
Briotech: Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl) Skin Spray
Single-use masks are out! These cuties are not only sustainable but do a lovely job sealing in product and staying put. They're easy to clean, long-lasting, and come with a cute case. Use under eyes or on nasolabial folds with a serum of your choosin...
Forever Eye Mask | The Original Reusable Silicone Gel Eye Pads
If you've ever tried Asian sunscreen, you're aware that the formula is hands-down better than anything you'll get in the US. I love this one in particular because it's an affordable, lightweight, and high-SPF chemical sunscreen that dries quickly and...
Nivea Japan | UV Super Water Essence EX SPF 50+ PA++++
The best for removing any residual makeup or product. This formula is great for sensitive skin. Because I use this with a cotton pad to wipe my face clean, I consider it a mild exfoliant and use only a few nights a week. Always wash off micellar wate...
Sensibio H2O Micellar Water | Cleansing, make-up remover for sensitive skin