LAST UPDATE: MAY 2016
(Click on the product to be taken to my original review, if available.)
Hand & Nail
- Top Coat: NYC In a New York Minute Nail Polish in Grand Central Station
- Base Coat: Orly Bonder
- Hand Cream: Herbacin Kamille Paraben-Free Glycerin Hand Cream
- Nail File: ASP Zebra Angle Zebra Board
- Cuticle Balm: Badger Cuticle Care
- Cotton Pads (for removing nail polish): Selena Eture Cotton
- Nail Polish Remover: Rite Aid Renewal Maximum Strength Nail Polish Remover
- Brush for cleaning up manicures: e.l.f. Essential Concealer Brush
Makeup
- Foundation: CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation + SPF20
- Concealer: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Spot Concealer + Treatment
- Face Primer: Black Radiance Complexion Perfection Shine Control Primer
- Blush: Rimmel Stay Blushed! Liquid Cheek Tint
- Lip Balm: Blistex Moisture Melt
- Eyeshadow Primer: (Tie): Milani Eyeshadow Primer and Wet n Wild Fergie Eyeshadow Primer
- Eyeliner (pencil): taupe shade in the Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Eyeliner Trio for Hazel Eyes
- Eyeliner (liquid): Jordana InColor FabuLiner in Black
- Eyeliner (for waterline): Palladio Herbal Precision Eyeliner in Black Onyx
- Mascara: Jordana Best Lash Extreme
- Eyebrow Product: Maybelline Define-A-Brow Eyebrow Pencil in Dark Blonde
- Brush Cleaner: Dr. Bronner's 18-in-1 Hemp Pure Castile Soap (Peppermint is my current favorite)
- Eyeshadow Brush: e.l.f. Essential Eyeshadow Brush
- Eyeliner Brush: e.l.f. Studio Small Smudge Brush
- Tweezers: Tweezerman Mini Slant Tweezers
Skin and body care
- Facial Cleanser: Paula's Choice Earth Sourced Perfectly Natural Cleansing Gel
- Cleansing Oil: DHC Cleansing Oil
- Micellar Water: Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 Makeup Remover & Cleanser
- Makeup Towelettes: Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes
- Makeup Remover: CVS brand Oil-Free Makeup Remover
- Facial Scrub: St. Ives Green Tea Scrub
- Body Lotion: Suave Professionals Moroccan Infusion Body Lotion
- Shaving Product: Kiss My Face Moisture Shave
- Foot File: Swedish Clover Foot File
Haircare
- Detangling product: Kinky-Curly Knot Today Natural Leave In / Detangler
- Detangling tool: KareCo Tangle Buster Brush
- Shampoo: TRESemme 24 Hour Body Shampoo
- Conditioner: Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist
- Leave-In Conditioner: L'Oreal Everpure 8-in-1 Color Miracle Leave-In Spray
- Hairspray: TRESemme 24 HR Body Finishing Spray
- Dry Shampoo: Batiste Original Formula
- At-Home Hair Color: Wella Color Charm Liquid Permanent Hair Color
I know that some categories are missing (lipstick, gloss, eyeshadow, face powder, etc.) so just to be clear, for those products I either do not have one Holy Grail product that I always fall back on, or I love several products equally.
What are some of your Holy Grail drugstore products?
i too love the st ives green tea scrub, and i thank you for introducing me to it. i strayed away one time went back to the apricot scrub, but for some reason now it's too harsh for my skin. went back to the green tea scrub and my skin doesn't spaz out. it's definitely a keeper!
ReplyDeleteMy Holy Grail Hand Creme is Gold Bond Ultimate Softening Skin Therapy Lotion with Shea Butter. LOVE IT!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the posting. Good information to have.
Things that have been my long-term Holy Grails (I mean for *years*) include Cerave cream (in the tub, as face moisturizer), L'Oreal Voluminous mascara, Carmex lip balm (pot form(, Revlon Super Lustrous lipgloss in Nude Lustre, and Milani Luminous blush.
ReplyDeleteMy HG cleanser is Noxzema and HG lipstick is L'Oreal Colour Riche. They never fail me, and though I may stray from time to time, I always come back to them. XOXO
ReplyDeleteOne HG for me that I've never heard anyone talk about...
ReplyDeleteBody Moisturizer: Up & Up Daily Moisturizing Lotion for Dry Skin (compare to Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion)...LOVE this stuff and I really don't care for the Aveeno product it's competing with...give this one a go when you're at Target next!
I've wanted to try the green tea scrub but always leaned towards the apricot srub, i think i will give it a try next time. One of my holy grail is the Wet N wild Coloricon eye liner, i love it!
ReplyDeleteColorstay Foundation. Nothing in the world like it - either Active or Regular - and no, MakeUpForever HD doesn't even begin to come close: it cakes, transfers, and settles into lines, all for three times the price.
ReplyDeleteAnd the only lipstick I use, ever, is Cover Girl Outlast. I don't know why anyone would use a "normal" lipstick when you can just put it on once in the morning and forget it until you go to bed. Fabulous stuff.
Color stay is amazing. It's all I buy.
DeleteColorStay foundation for sure. I also love the Maybelline Color Sensational lipsticks, Palladio rice powder, NYX single eyeshadows and Milani blush in Luminous.
ReplyDeleteOh, and Wet'n'Wild trios, singles and Comfort Zone palette. How on earth did I forget those!
ReplyDeleteI want to know what your favorite candy is. ;P
ReplyDeleteThanks for your list. I know, too well, that we don't always stay with a Holy Grail, and if we try something new and/or improved and love it, the king of the hill doesn't always stay there.
My HG's for years have been: Olay Active Hydrating Beauty Fluid - Original (I always try other face lotions but always end up going back to this one) & Carmex chapstick!! I cannot live without carmex!! Love you &this blog.
ReplyDeleteA few of mine:
ReplyDeleteNeutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser
Eucerin Everyday Protection (I forget the spf)
Nyx runway palettes (awesome for $10)
WnW Black Creme Polish - the best "underwear" for many glitter and flaky polishes
Hard Candy Glamouflage concealer
Sally Hansen fast dry topcoat in the red bottle
Revlon Superlustrious in Mauvy Night
Salt and pepper NC20, green eyes and glasses, oily/combo skin (used to be extremely oily when younger)
Still dying to try that PF foundation. We finally got Ulta in our town!
I actually thought, hmm, I don't have many HGs! But once I thought about it, I realized I actually kind of do! Among them: Max Factor Pan Stick, the classic Neutrogena moisturizer (forget what it's called), Seche Vite, Orly Extra Strength np remover, and the most important one of all, Sally Hansen Cuticle Massage Cream.
ReplyDeleteI love the L'Oreal 360 Clean cleanser for blemish-prone skin... I stray from it and regret it a lot. For some reason I guess I keep forgetting how well it works for my skin. Definitely an underrated facial cleanser line in my opinion.
ReplyDeletea few of mine :)
ReplyDelete(with a note that many of the drugstore products everyone raves about are not available in my country). but what i found and dearly loved are:
- Milani Luminous Blush
- NYX Round Lipsticks
- Carmex lipbalm (the classic flavour one, in a tube!)
- eyeshadow: NYX The Runway Collection Palettes
- summer foundation: Bourjois Comme Apres 10 Heures de Sommeil
Mine are:
ReplyDeleteMaybelline dream satin foundation mixed with Revlon Age Defying Spa Illuminator, Cornsilk powder, Nars Laguna bronzer Orgasm blush and Albatross highlighter trio, Mac paint pot Rubenesque and Revlon Super Lustrous glosses. I am still looking for a good drugstore mascara!
Jordana Best Last Extreme Volumizing Mascsra is great! It only comes in black & it stays black all day. It curls my lashes, I don't use a lash curler I just apply one coat of Mascara to my top lashes then to the back of my lashes by curling the wand from the root of the back of my lashes upwards & towards my eye lid & then I do a 2nd normal coat on the top lashes & I can't believe the volume, curl, length, rich black color, & hairspray like hold. I even prefer it over my former HG L'Oreal Voluminous for being longer lasting, more curl & less flaking when it starts to dry out. Also, it cost 40-50% less. It was $2.99 at Walgreens 6 months ago but has gone up to $3.49. The cheapest I could get L'Oreal for was $5 at Walmart then use a $1 off coupon but really I always ended up paying $7.50 at Walgreens because it was closer/more convenient. It's also G's current HG mascara. One more thing. Her HG makeup wipes by Epielle takes the Jordana mascara off way easier than any makeup remover or cleanser I've tried.
Deletetry maybelline full and soft, loreal voluminous carbon black - both are good lash separaters and will not clump lashes
DeleteMost of my makeup is high end, but I have a couple drugstore HGs.
ReplyDelete*Wet n Wild Greed eyeshadow palette - I love it so much I have one in at home in my vanity and one for my makeup bag.
*Wet n Wild brow kit. So perfect.
*Milani liquif'eye liner (black)
*Maybelline one by one volume express mascara
Here are some of my holy grail products from the drugstore:
ReplyDelete- Queen Helene Mint Julep Scrub (best face and body scrub)
- Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion (best body lotion)
- Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash (best body wash)
- Ponds Original All Day Clean Towelettes (best makeup removal)
- Cover Girl Lash Blast Fusion (best mascara)
- Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Cherries in the Snow (best red lippie)
- Revlon Matte Lipstick in Strawberry Suede (best matte red lippie)
- Wet 'n Wild Black Creme nail polish (best black polish)
- Wet 'n Wild Silent Treatment trio (best nude eye)
- Visine
- Chapstick (plain/original black tube)
And...that's all I can think of off the top of my head! :)
Hmmm...let's see
ReplyDeleteAveeno Skin Relief Fragrance-Free Body Wash
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion
Neutrogena Oil-free Eye Makeup Remover
Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
Kiss My Face Lip Balm spf 15
Maybelline Lash Discovery Waterproof Mascara
Gilette Venus Embrace
Sonia Kashuk Makeup Brushes
CeraVe AM Lotion spf 30
GUM Expanding Floss
Covergirl Lashblast Length Waterproof Mascara
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick
Maybelline Clear Lipliner
I am glad you mentioned Jordana. Their eyepencils are good.. I think I would never spend 18 dollars or more on an Urban Decay Pencil
ReplyDeleteThanks G ! Can you please tell us what your favorite drugstore dry shampoo is?
ReplyDeleteThanks for ur wonderful info. Mine consist of colorstay, rimel matte powder, color tattoos, milani baked blushes, jordana best lashes mascara, revlon colorstay eyeliner, maybelline define a brow, nyc sunny bronzer, wnw eyeshadows, and those matte lipsticks from wnw...but as for nails: seche vite! I wld be lost without it! O_O then there is my clairsonic, what did i ever do to clean my skin before it?
ReplyDeleteG. I must ask, i have been on the look out for eye wrinkle serum or lotion or whatever i can find because im 26 and i notice these small crows feet starting to show. I really trust u and u have NOT let me down once and i SEE ur skin and i wld be beyond happy to have ur beautiful skin. What do u recommend? I really hope u answer, it wld mean so much to me and i cld use ur help/expertese in this matter. Thanks for all u do! =)
Would anyone care to list their fav eye makeup remover? I'm trying different ones out right. Seems like every mascara that comes out lately is helmet head for my lashes! Right now I'm using Neutrogena oil free. I tried the wet n wild in the deceptively mild looking purple bottle and it stung my eyes and made me tear up!
ReplyDeleteI use CVS Oil-Free Eye Make-Up Remover, same one mentioned in G's post above.
DeleteI used something else before that stung my eyes, but CVS's didn't!
I loveeeee it. It takes off all my makeup very well.
I hold one soaked (not too much) pad to each of my eyes for a few seconds before rubbing lightly to take off all the makeup. ^^
I love the target up and up dupe for neutrogena. It has a purple cap.
DeleteCoconut Oil
DeleteBrush Cleaner: johnson's baby shampoo
ReplyDeleteShampoo & Conditioner: john frieda blonde shampoo and conditioner
Makeup Towelettes: Simple- cleansing facial wipes
Makeup Remover: CVS brand Oil-Free Makeup Remover
Nail Polish Remover: pure acetone
Facial Scrub: Neutrogena
Foundation: maybelline mousse foundation
Concealer:still haven't found the right drugstore version. my high-end is Boi-ing by Benefit for under $20
Face Primer: NYX HD face primer
Blush: Milani Baked Blush in bellisismo
Bronzer: Milani baked bronzer in soleil
highlight: NYX tango in a bronze powder in 'tan enthusiasm' (i'm medium dark-nc44) this bronzer is so light on me that i had to use it as a highlight
Lip Balm: maybelline babylips
At-Home Hair Color: l'oreal excellence hair color
Eyeliner (pencil): loreal HIP studio
Eyeliner (liquid): Physicians Formula eye booster (fat version)
Mascara: Rimmel sexy curves- it does wonders for my lower lashes
Base Coat and Top Coat: Revlon basecoat n topcoat
Eyebrow Product: sorry had to go high-end Sephora retractable brow pencil in midnite brown for $12
Eyebrow hair gel: Maybelline clear mascara
Eye primer : NYX HD eyeprimer and maybelline color tattoo
eyeshadow colors: milani, maybelline, loreal infallable, wetnwild
kryolan dermacolour concealer is amazing, it covers EVERYTHING!!! its only $5.00 online https://us.kryolan.com/product-lines/dermacolor/palettes
DeleteI never gave this much thought before but there are lots of products I tend to reach for over and over again and things I would be sad if they discontinued it and gladly repurchase. Here's my little list of favorites:
ReplyDeleteHand cream: Sally Hansen Manicure Firming Hand Cream
Cuticle Cream: Hoof Hands Hard as Hoof Nail Cream
Nail File: Tropical Shine 4 way buffer
Makeup remover: Noxema cleansing cream
Eye makeup remover: Wet n wild eye makeup remover
Facial Scrub: Family Dollar apricot scrub
Primer: Rimmel London Primer
Eye primer: ELF eye primer, NYX eyeshadow base in white
Foundation: Maybelline BB Cream in light/medium
Powder: ELF Complexion perfection color correcting powder
Setting powder: Coty Airspun loose powder
Bronzer: NYX Matte bronzer in light
Blush: Hard Candy Fox in a Box in Truth or Dare
Eyeshadow palettes: Hard Candy top ten eyeshadow in Feelin' Blue?, Wet n Wild color icon pallettes in I've Got Good Jeans, I'm Feeling Retro and Sweet as Candy
Pencil eyeliner: Jordana easyliner for eyes in coffee bean, Wet n Wild color icon pencils in blue, green, and purple
Liquid eyeliner: Essence Liquid eyeliner in black
Mascara: L'Oreal Million Lashes in black-brown
Eyebrows: Ardell brow defining palette brow kit
Lipstick: Wet n Wild blushing bali, NYC city duet 2 in 1 duel color in the vintage pinks
Lip gloss: ELF super glossy lip shine in Honey Do, Rimmel London Vinyl Shine
Brushes: Soho eye liner, Soho eyeshadow, Soho blending brush, ELF defining brush, ELF blush brush, ELF smudge brush
Base coat: Sally Hansen Miracle Cure
Top coat: Seche Vite, Sally Hansen Fast Dry Diamond shine
Hair product: John Freida Frizz Ease, Garnier Fructis leave in conditioner, Garnier Fructis Style shine brilliantine shine glossing spray
I'm going to print this out! I already use some of them, though.
ReplyDeleteHi G I tired the Black Radiance Primer and because of the Titanium Dioxide i had a white cast in my photos. Do you not have that problem?
ReplyDeleteI have tried the Jordana InColor Fabuliner,St. Ives Green Tea Scrub, and Dr. Bronner's soaps following your recommendations/reviews on these products and I am in love!! These three are my HG staples too! Thanks G!
ReplyDeleteClean & Clear Cream Cleanser
ReplyDeleteL'Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black mascara
any kind of Physician's Formula powder
L'Oreal True Match concealer
Marcelle Hydra-C SPF 15 Moisturizing Cream
Poshe Treatment basecoat
G, what's your favorite bronzer? I didn't see one in your list :)
ReplyDeleteHey G, I would love to know if you know of good drugstore polishes in pale blue and in yellow being sold right now. It seems like a lot of brands have tremendous trouble with those color formulas, so it would be great if you might just list some HGs or recommendations for those colors.
ReplyDeleteSally Hansen xtreme wear in breezy blue is a great light blue nail polish!
Deletelolll i tought i was the only one using the elf smudge brush for liner :O got the idea from an elf haul from emilynoel83
ReplyDeleteIsn't that Suave Pro Moroccan Body Lotion not just the BEST?!?! I die each time I put it on in the morning! I bought some Pacifica body butters when you posted the discount on BeautyBrands, and I have been reaching for the Suave recently over those! It just melts into the skin beautifully, and it smells divine!!! Great picks, G!
ReplyDeleteI can't thank you enough for recommending the Wet Brush!! My youngest daughter has the worst thick, tangled hair ever. Seriously, she wakes up looking like Captain Caveman. This has eliminated the tears and trauma of brushing her hair!
ReplyDeleteI love the eture cotton pads, too, but the international shipping is usually insane, so I went on a search for something similar. A nice alternative that I found are DHC cotton pads, made in a very similar way with a rayon/silk lint free covering. You can get them for $5.50 per box on dermstore, which can also be a great way to hit the free shipping mark on that website.
ReplyDeletee.l.f. eyelid primer, it's on par with Urban Decay Primer Potion. Amazing stuff and its only a dollar!
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree on the NYC top coat! I discovered this a few years back when I bought it on a whim...no more $10+ top coats for me! Absolutely love it!!!
ReplyDeleteSally Hansen xtreme wear in breezy blue is great!
ReplyDeleteHoly grail drugstore has to include loreal true match foundation. I've never had such exact color matching with an amazing finish and coverage. Jordana 12 hour made to last liquid eyeliner pencil is SO comparable to the Urban Decay 24/7 liners!! and revlon's highlighting palette in bronze glow with their photoready skinlights in pink light are my ESSENTIAL highlighting tools
ReplyDeleteMy holy grail products;
ReplyDelete1. Ivory aloe bar soap (this stuff works wonders for acne!)
2. Queen Helene cocoa butter stick(it's my night moisturizer and it stops scars)
3. LA colors moisture lipstick
4. Queen Helene cocoa butter lotion
5. VO5 strawberries and cream shampoo and conditioner
G, I'd love to see if any products changed. Please update when you get the chance:)
ReplyDeleteG- What are your favorite moisturizers? Day, night, eye?
ReplyDelete