Today’s post is one that I’ve been looking forward to putting together since about September. Today we are talking about my very favorite beauty products for the entire year! Today’s products are ones that I use consistently and LOVE. They are products that I’m super loyal to, that I stand behind, and I can’t imagine not using.
In 2020, I highlighted more beauty products and more beauty brands than I ever have in the past. And as a result, I found several new favorites to add to my arsenal. And I realized that I really love trying out new products! In the past, I tended to just stick to what I knew. But this year I pushed myself to really try a lot of new things, and it’s been a blast! What’s been the most fun is that some of these products have totally become RIDE OR DIE products for me.
So today, I’m highlighting 20 beauty products that I LOVE and ADORE. Some I just found in 2020, and some are tried and true favorites that I’ve been using for years and years. But all of them are products that I swear by.
In no particular order, I PRESENT TO YOU MY FAVORITE 20 BEAUTY PRODUCTS of 2020.
***********************
This Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is a product that I absolutely swear by. I keep it on my nightstand and use it every single night. Like, I can’t go to sleep if I don’t have it on, and I travel with it too.
I don’t suffer from dry and flaky lips, which is what this product really targets, but I do love going to bed at night with super moisturized lips and my goodness does this product deliver. For me, it just gives me extra silky and smooth lips. If you suffer from dry and flaky lips, this is going to be a game changer for you. If you apply a thick layer at night, when you wake up the next morning, the flakes are going to be sitting on top of the skin. They then recommend taking a damp wash cloth to wipe the flakes away.
It has over 10,000 5 star reviews, and I have several friends that swear by it as well.
(Please take a minute to look in the background to see the sweet fuzzy baby head up top and my super skinny and toned arms peeking out in that picture on the right. #thattonedarmdeservesrespect)
***********************
Breakouts aren’t something I thought I would still be dealing with at my age, but here we are. Now, they aren’t frequent, but they do still happen. For the past couple of years, I’ve been spot treating any little bumps that popped up with the Colleen Rothschild clay mask, and it worked pretty well, but now I feel like I have a secret weapon.
This tiny little bottle is packed full of salicylic acid that powerfully spot treats blemishes. My spots disappear faster, as does the redness that always goes along with them. And I’ve found that it dries the spot out, without over-drying my skin or causing me to peel. The second I even start to think that a blemish is about to pop up, I cover it up with just a dab of this gel. A teeny tiny little bit goes a long way. #alittledabwilldoya The bottle is TINY, but I’ve had it for over a year.
If like me you are still struggling with occasional blemishes, I highly recommend giving this product a try!
***********************
The Peter Thomas Roth Hydra Gel Eye Patches have gained some serious popularity over the last couple of years.
I was first introduced to them in April of 2018, and I’ve been using them ever since. When at a conference, one of my friends brought these out for all of us to try. One use, and I was hooked. We all were.
You use the enclosed spatula to gently lift and separate a patch from the others, and then you apply the patches under your eye to clean and dry skin.
If you apply with the pointy side up, you will target under eye puffiness and wrinkles. If you apply with the pointy side down, you can target your crow’s feet. They feel nice and cool on your skin when you put them on (I’ve heard some even keep them in the fridge), and I leave them on for 10-15 minutes. The caffeine that’s in them helps de-puff the eye area, and the 24K gold will leave your skin appearing firmer, lifted, and brighter! #YESPLEASE
They are expensive, but I really do notice a marked difference after using them. I don’t use them every day, only when I look extra tired or have extra puffy eyes.
***********************
This Supergoop Glow Screen is definitely a new favorite product that I first tried this year. It’s a primer that has a beautiful tint to it with a glowy finish (but not too glowy or sparkly)! I wore it every single day over the summer and loved the restults. It has SPF 40 and hyaluronic acid! And it won’t leave you greasy or oily!
Sometimes I used it under makeup, and other times it was all I wore. I love this product.
***********************
Almost every single time I showed a picture of myself in shorts this summer, I was asked about my “tan.” Last year I started using Fake Bake and was crazy impressed, but when the original formula sold out, I ordered the Fake Bake Darker and loved it too! It comes with a mitt that makes it so easy to apply without streaks, and you can see the formula going on which also promotes even application! Love that healthy glow!
Everybody loves a good before and after.
***********************
This NYX Pore Filler is MAGICAL.
When I read one reviewer who struggles with large pores say it was like “grout for your face“, I was SOLD. I absolutely love and am SO IMPRESSED with the results this product gives, and I truly feel like it smooths/minimizes the large pores on my nose. It IS grout for my face. And I’m here for it.
I’ve started using this primer as more of a spot treatment (all over my nose), and I continue to use the Smashbox Primer on the rest of my face.
And I found it for ONLY $7 on Amazon! I would pay five times as much for this product.
***********************
These next two products are a couple of my holy grail products, and I’m going to talk about them together since I use them together.
I combine the Drunk Elephant Sunshine Drops with my Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream…and I’m telling you….MAGIC happens.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream / Drunk Elephant Sunshine Drops
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream – This is one of the products I added into my routine a couple of years ago after reading about it on several blogs and in several “BEST OF” beauty articles. Lots of users compared it to the much more expensive La Mer line, but said they preferred this product! That was it, I was convinced I needed to try it. Officially, it’s a cream that floods skin with moisture for a glowing complexion in a flash. A little goes a long way with this cream, and it’s not greasy, but it is incredibly hydrating. There is a very light rose scent to this cream, and I don’t normally care for rose, but it doesn’t bother me at all.
I’ve been using it for over a year, and I’m now devoted to it.
Drunk Elephant Sunshine Drops – This product is awesome. AWESOME. You can wear it by itself, or you can mix it in with a moisturizer or serum. I obviously mix it with the magic cream. The combo gives a really pretty light coverage and “glow” immediately! It doesn’t give full coverage, but I LOVE IT. I wear it all summer long and whenever I just want some light coverage.
This product also has a lot of amazing ingredients in it that are great for your skin. It’s made of vitamins, antioxidants, platinum peptides, and barrier-supportive fatty acids that defend skin from environmental free radicals. YES, PLEASE!
Below you can see how I just add a pump to the magic cream and then blend it together before applying it all over my face and neck. I’m telling you, it just gives your face a wonderfully healthy looking GLOW.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream/ Drunk Elephant Sunshine Drops
***********************
Okay, so I always get lots of questions about the difference between the Drunk Elephant Sunshine Drops (above) and the Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops that I’m about to highlight. The Drunk Elephant Sunshine drops are makeup…the Isle of Paradise drops are a self tanner product. I use the Isle of Paradise Drops to create a tan “look” when I want to, but I almost always apply makeup over the “tan”.
Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops – This is one of those blogger products that I’d been hearing about for well over a year before purchasing. I’d been dying to try them and had tried to grab them several times, but they were always sold out.
Well, the drops finally got restocked and I jumped on them!
The verdict? Did they live up to all of the blogger hype?
The answer is HECK YES. This product blew me away.
Here’s what you do. You mix drops of it into your favorite moisturizer (I use this Charlotte Tilbury one). The more drops, the deeper the tan. You rub it all over your face, being careful not to miss any spots. And within a couple of hours, a “tan” develops. It’s magical really.
I appreciate that you can control the deepness of your tan with the number of drops you use. They call it “controlling your glow” and I’m here for it. I grabbed the medium formula, and I typically use 3 drops with moisturizer. I feel like it gives me an even bronze glow that’s not streaky or orange.
I think it’s best to apply it at night so it can develop while sleeping. When using 3 drops, the color fades in about 3 days, so I think I will probably use this product about twice a week right now. When I up the number of drops, the “tan” might stick around longer and I might go longer between uses.
I would like to direct your attention to my arm in the picture below. Do you see the horizontal stripe below my wrist and the vertical stripe down my forearm? That’s my sun-kissed glow, y’all! I tested the product on my arm before using it on my face, and I think it shows the results quite nicely!
I apply it at night, so I wake up with a glow. Make sure to wash your hands very well after applying, or it will color your palms.
Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops / Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream
***********************
This next one is probably my favorite new beauty product find of 2020.
We’re talking about the IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream.
IT’S TOTALLY LEGIT. And because I didn’t know for a lonnnnnnnnnng time, CC stands for “Color Correcting.” It makes so much sense. Ha!
IT Cosmetics has the #1 CC Cream in America with over 20,000 5 STAR REVIEWS! It will provide you with:
- Lightweight, hydrating texture that won’t crease or crack
- Hydrating anti-aging serum that improves the look of your skin
- Physical sunscreen with up to SPF 50+—perfect for even sensitive skin
CC+ Cream / Heavenly Skin Skin Smoothing Complexion Brush
If you’re a regular reader here, you know that I’ve been using a tinted moisturizer (the Drunk Elephant Sunshine Drops) for close to two years now. I LOVE it, and I’ll definitely still use it for everyday wear, especially during the spring and summer months. It’s a very sheer coverage (which I do love), and it definitely still has a place in my makeup routine.
But this CC+ Cream is different. The CC+ cream gives FULL coverage, and I appreciate that I now have this as an option. I mean, heaven knows I’m not getting any younger. There are many of you out there who didn’t love my other recommendation simply because you felt it was too sheer for your needs. WELL. This CC+ Cream is going to make you SO HAPPY. I have sun spots on each side of my face, and the CC Cream does a much better job of evening them out and camouflaging them than my current tinted moisturizer. I’m VERY happy with the results.
Here’s what the brand has to say: Infused with hydrolyzed collagen, peptides, niacin, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and vitamins, this skin-loving full-coverage foundation reduces the appearance of acne scarring, wrinkles, redness on skin, dark circles under eyes and large pores—all while giving you a luminous, supple, flawless-looking complexion. It’s truly your one step for instant complexion perfection!
Well, all righty then!!! Doesn’t it sound amazing?!?
I mean, look how happy it makes me.
CC+ Cream / Heavenly Skin Skin Smoothing Complexion Brush
If you hop over to the site and scroll down, you will be directed to a chart that helps you know if you’re undertone is Cool, Neutral, or Warm…which will in turn help you choose a color. And if you scroll down right under that chart, you will also see a Before and After picture where the CC Cream is showing off. The After pic is awesome.
CC+ Cream / Heavenly Skin Skin Smoothing Complexion Brush
Here’s the deal…
I had gotten away from using full coverage foundations because I always found them to be drying and to look cakey. WELL, NOT THIS ONE!
When applying, a little product goes a long way. I dab a couple of dots on my forehead, a couple on each cheek, and one on my nose and my chin. I then get to work smoothing it out with the Heavenly Skin Skin Smoothing Complexion Brush. The brush really does the work for me. It too was developed with plastic surgeons and dermatologists and it blurs away the appearance of lines, pores and imperfections. It really does gives an airbrushed almost flawless finish. THE BRUSH DOES IT’S JOB. Plus, it’s cruelty-free and pro-hygienic for even the most sensitive skin types! (FYI, I found a brush I love even more than this brush, but it’s sold out and I can’t find it anywhere to link it for y’all. It’s the Artis oval foundation brush.)
CC+ Cream / Heavenly Skin Skin Smoothing Complexion Brush
***********************
Okay, y’all! Here’s another favorite product!
Officially, it’s called the Anti-Aging Matte Bronzer, Radiance Luminizer & Brightening Blush Palette.
AND IT’S FABULOUS.
Anti-Aging Palette / Heavenly Luxe Wand Ball Powder Brush #8
The colors are so pretty and really give you a nice soft glow. And at my age, I’m all about the glow.
Anti-Aging Palette / Heavenly Luxe Wand Ball Powder Brush #8
I truly love this palette. It’s so convenient to have the blush, highlighter, and bronzer all in 1 compact.
While the matte bronzer warms your complexion, the radiance luminizer creates a lit-from-within glow, and the brightening blush restores your natural flush of color.
Those aren’t my words, but I 1000% agree with them, and I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Anti-Aging Palette / Heavenly Luxe Wand Ball Powder Brush #8
***********************
I really can’t say enough great things about the Bobbi Brown Brow Pencil. WHY DIDN’T ANYBODY TELL ME I NEEDED TO BE FILLING IN MY BROWS? I have pretty substantial brows, so I thought I was good in the brow department, but I hadn’t realized they had started thinning. Filling them in makes such a difference! The tip on one side allows me to draw on little brush strokes that mimic hairs, and then the little brush on the other side allows me to shape my brows and soften the marks I draw.
***********************
If you like a creamy eyeshadow, this Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow Stick is for you! I wear the Dusty Mauve and absolutely love how it glides on so easily without leaving a harsh line. The color is gorgeous.
Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow Stick / Bobbi Brown Brow Pencil
***********************
SOME SKINCARE PRODUCTS
PRO TIP: You can always use the code STMT20 for 20% OFF at Colleen Rothschild. The code is always active!
First and foremost, you know the Radiant Cleansing Balm is THE product from Colleen Rothschild that I cannot live without. But I’ve been screaming and shouting about it for about 6 years now, so I feel confident y’all know about it.
I have a couple of relatively new products (I think both of them are actually new to me this year) that I swear by now as well.
These Glycolic Acid Peel Pads are FINALLY back in stock. I added them into my weekly routine at the beginning of this year, and I think they are REALLY great. They sold out so quickly when they were first launched, and then sold out again after they were restocked and then again. PEOPLE LOVE THEM.
So, what are they? Remember the Stridex pads we all used as teenagers? Well these are the new and much improved version!
These pads boast a spa-strength treatment formula that helps to help dissolve skin-clogging dirt and debris. And listen to this… you skin’s natural renewal process will be enhanced as a result of the 10 percent blend of The Glycolic and Lactic Acids in the pads. The pads target fine lines, hyperpigmentation, imperfections and will reveal a fresher, brighter, more even complexion. YES, PLEASE!
I’m ALL ABOUT brighter skin and these really deliver! They are large, so I sweep the pad all over my face, neck, and chest. There are 60 pads per order, and I’m only using one of these every several days, so they should last between 2-3 months.
The Micro-Mineral Resurfacing Scrub is another new favorite in my arsenal. If you’re like me and don’t do professional microdermabrasion, this is a great alternative for you! I know it is for me! Do you see those little pink particles in the product? They must be magical unicorn horn dust because my skin has never felt so soft. After 1 use, I walked into the family room and insisted Chris rub my cheek. He was seriously impressed too and was like, “WOW. That IS soft.”
The pink particles feel like really tiny bits of very fine sand, but apparently it’s rose quartz combined with additional mineral nutrients to gently exfoliate and even skin texture. I mean, MAYBE. But I’m pretty sure that unicorn dust is in there somewhere. Right after cleansing with the cleansing balm, I pat my face dry, and then apply a small amount of the scrub in circular motions on my face. I don’t press hard, but I do lots of circular motions all over, and then I rinse with water and then pat dry again. And POOF. Baby soft skin. Correction…baby soft skin with improved brightness. Ladies. It’s soooooooooooooo good. It’s right up there with the cleansing balm!!!!!
Micro-Mineral Resurfacing Scrub
****************************
HAIR ESSENTIALS
My mom and sister started using the Colleen Rothschild hair products before I did, and they convinced me I needed to try them! My mom swears that these products restored her hair to a much more healthy state. If I had to pick just one product, it would be the Smooth and Shine Hair Serum. I put it on right after I dry my hair at night, AND MY WORD it makes it so smooth and shiny! It’s incredible. The Quench and Shine Restorative Mask conditions my hair beautifully and leaves it sooooo soft, while taming fly aways and frizz. I use this product every 3-4 washes. The microfiber hair towel works like a freaking charm. After brushing my hair and ringing it out a couple of times, I wrap my hair up in this for at least 10 minutes (longer if time allows). It pulls the moisture out of my hair and really cuts down drying time with the dryer. (I’ve tried the shampoo and it was fine, but I can’t say I loved it. I REALLY LOVE the products below.)
Smooth and Shine Hair Serum / Quench and Shine Restorative Mask / microfiber hair towel
After I wash my hair, I use the Revlon One Step Dryer and Volumizer to dry my hair. I typically wash my every every other night, and then in the morning I pop these rollers into my hair. Yep, I use rollers.
I’M CRAZY ABOUT IT. Like borderline psychotic. Yes, I have the super expensive Dyson dryer, and I do still love it. But this one is over $300 less, and I love it too. Here’s what I love the most about it: it’s sooo hard to get the bumpy ridges out of the back of my hair…AND DARE I SAY, THIS UNDER $50 TOOL MAKES IT EASY. Did you hear that? I SAID EASY. I know it’s pretty unbelievable, but it’s true.
If you have it, leave a comment! The only complaint I have is that it gets realllllllllllly hot, so I most often use it on low. Other than that, I LOVE IT
The Moroccanoil Hairspray has become my favorite hair spray. It holds very well, but it’s still flexible and not stiff.
Living Proof Flex Hairspray / Moroccanoil Treatment / Moroccanoil Hairspray
***************************
LIP COLOR
I get lip color questions pretty frequently, and I addressed them in a post earlier this year. I thought I would do a little round up today too! All of these lip color examples are going to count as #20.
In the picture here, I’m using a combination of Gemz Roses Liquid Lipcolor as the base and Walk of No Shame Gloss on top for a glossy finish. See how my lips have a bronze/metallic flair? I think it’s so fun!
I saw this lip gloss stick on another blogger’s instagram. Bridget talked about how she was in a wedding and everybody in the bridal party looked good in this one color, and I was intrigued. I was even more intrigued that it was called a lip gloss stick, so I had to try. The color I have is GORGEOUS (mine is called “One Mauve Time”). It looks great with a full face of makeup, but it also looks great with a makeup free face. It’s just a realllllllllllllllly pretty and sheer color, but it also comes in several other beautiful colors.
It’s not sticky at all, and it just feels really slick and smooth on. It doesn’t last all day long, so I do have to reapply, but I love the color and look so much that I don’t mind.
This lipstick is the only one I wore for about 5 years, and I still reach for it all the time. The color of it in the tube looks MUCH DARKER than it appears once it is actually applied.
lip combo: Fashion Icon lipstick / One Mauve Time lip gloss stick
Sometime last year I realized I needed to up my lipstick game a bit, so I set out to find a couple of new colors. I knew that I wanted a great nude, and Pillow Talk is the nude I settled on after reading several articles on “the best nude”. It has really pretty soft pink undertones. It’s a matte lipstick, which I normally don’t like, but it’s not drying. And I always wear a gloss on top, so even thought it’s matte, the gloss I layer on top gives me the shiny lip that I prefer.
When I want a true nude/ reallllllllly soft pink look, this is the combo I go for!
lip combo: Pillow Talk lipstick / Honey Glam lip comfort oil
I added this lipstick to my makeup bag last year, and now I reach for it all the time. I’ve found that the Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks have great staying power, but aren’t drying. This one is “Love Liberty”.
This lip gloss is fantastic. It goes on so smoothly, and I love the subtle shimmer. I got “Fenty Glow”, which is accurately described as a shimmering rose nude. And it smells like peaches and vanilla. It’s not overwhelming at all though, it’s just delightful.
lip combo: CT Love Liberty lipstick / Fenty Glow Lip Luminizer
I also love the Maracuja Juicy Lip in Strawberry from tarte. The color is so soft and pretty, the formula is very hydrating, AND it smells like coconut! My entire face is done with tarte products in this picture, and you can head to my instagram story highlights and click on the one that says “tarte” for direct swipe ups to all products used in this picture.
**************************
And just because we’ve now talked about over 20 beauty products, I thought it might not be a bad idea to highlight one of my favorite beauty organizers again!
I’ve been SO HAPPY with the purchase of this 360 degree beauty organizer. You can adjust the shelf height for your personal needs, it spins all the way around, the products are super accessible, and it holds ALL THE THINGS! I highly recommend this baby.
I’ve also been totally pleased with this organizer. I bought them both so I could have pretty pictures for a previous beauty post, and now I can’t imagine my life without them.
**********************
Whew! That’s all for today, y’all!
20 beauty products that I LOVE, ADORE, and HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
So now I’m curious. Are any of these products ride or die products for you as well? Are there certain beauty products that you bought as a result of this blog that you love and adore? Sound off in the comments!
Betsy Argintar says
I have the hair tool and it’s amazing! I more often wear my hair curly but when I want to straighten it, this tool is incredible. Never have I been able to use just one device and dry in under twenty min. I get asked if I’ve had it professionally done when I use it (Um, no-during a pandemic??? I’m not getting professional blow outs!)
Erika Slaughter says
Love seeing all those beauty favorites in one post! So many of these are my faves too!
Shay Shull says
Sheaffer, what an amazing round up of beauty finds! You know how much my heart loves those tanning drops!!
Teri says
I tried the Charlotte Rothchild cleansing balm at your suggestion, and am in love! It is so nourishing. I don’t always use moisturizer after using it because I don’t need it! I love serum too! I have not tried the hair products yet, but plan to soon.
Thanks so much for turning me onto my new favorite skin care line! I have my BF and my daughter using it as well!
Anna says
Love your comments and I was totally sold on the spackle for faces when you first demo’d the NYX Pore Filler. I loved it for a while, but oddly, I’m finding that it seems to flake/roll off, almost like peeling skin after a sunburn. So weird. I’m wearing it over my Clinique Moisture Surge moisturizer, so maybe they don’t work well together. If I put foundation over it, it looks good, but weird alone.
I wonder if anyone else is having this problem?
Sheaffer says
Hi, Anna! Hmmmm….I haven’t had that experience. Maybe it is the combo with your particular moisturizer? Any other feedback from readers welcome!
Sara says
I really wanted to love the Glow Screen, but it burns/irritates my eyes so badly. Oddly enough, the Unseen doesn’t have the same result. Any one else deal with that?
Sheaffer says
Oh, no! So sorry, Sara! I don’t recall hearing this from anybody else. Can anybody else comment? xoxo
Susy says
So. . . . desert island, and I only get two make-up items:
1. Eyeliner
2. Mascara
Help!
I would sneak in blush.
Sheaffer says
Hi, Susy! So I love Stila eyeliner (I use “alloy” or “graphite” which is like a grey color). I don’t think I’ve ever found a mascara that I’ve loved long term, so I can’t help you there. So sorry! xoxo
Susy says
Thanks ever so much for recommendations Sheaffer! Great post!
Kiley Sharp says
Love all the tips!! Curious on the cc+cream. I use the rodan+fields radiant defense. Have you tried it and if so does it compare similarly? Thanks!
Sheaffer says
Hi, Kiley! I’ve never tried the RF Radiant Defense. So sorry I’m not more help. Maybe somebody else can comment?