Beauty Picks

In my mid-twenties, my skin and hair changed, and I started digging deep into sensitive skincare and curly haircare on a budget. The items linked below are things I've loved and used in the years since!

Disclaimer: The links here are NOT affiliate links, and I'll make no money if you purchase items using these links. If that changes I'll be sure to let you know!

Skincare for Sensitive Skin

Aloe

True friends don't gatekeep, and my true friend sent me the Nature's Republic Aloe Vera Gel in the mail, and I've never looked back. I use this on my face during the daytime as a light moisturizer. 

Vanicream

When my face started getting particularly dry in the winter, I started looking for a deeper moisturizer to sub for my aloe gel. Vanicream is gentle, moisturizing, and also works as an eye cream! I use this at night during the spring and summer, and night and day during the fall and winter.

Aquaphor

I tried slugging, I don't like slugging, but I do like using Aquaphor Healing Ointment on my lips. Chapped lips don't stand a chance against a tub of Aquaphor!

Coconut Oil

I first tried coconut oil when looking for moisturizers for sensitive skin. It made me break out on my forehead, which was when my friend sent me the aloe gel, but in testing it as a moisturizer I realized it makes a fantastic conditioner for lashes and brows. 

I use my fingers to apply coconut oil to my lashes and brows every third day during my nighttime skincare routine. My lashes have never been longer!

I also recently started brushing coconut oil into my hair on top of my deep conditioner and then washing both out at the same time. It keeps my curls together and slightly less frizzy without product.

2C/3A Curly Girl Friendly Haircare

Shampoo

I think I'm on my millionth bottle of Cantu Sulfate-Free Cleansing Cream Shampoo. If you've done any research into the Curly Girl Method, you know the dollar signs start racking up quickly. This Cantu shampoo is budget-friendly and effective.

Deep Conditioner

The Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Hair Masque is the priciest thing in my beauty routine, but absolutely worth it. My hair without a regular deep conditioner is rough, tangled, and frizzy. I use this conditioner every third day along with the coconut oil, and my curls are a little less unkempt-appearing because of it!

Gel

I rarely wear a curl-holding product like gel or mousse. I stopped putting gel in my hair when my first daughter was born because she'd reach up and grab my hair and come away with sticky little hands. When I want to make sure my curls are going to look nice, like for a date night or an event, I use the LA Looks Extreme Sport Hair Gel.

Bobby Pins

Long, curly hair sometimes needs to be tamed a bit. Braids can take forever, hair ties aren't strong enough, and some hairstyles can cause headaches. I reach for the Frenchies Flocked Bobby Pins almost daily. Half up, low bun, high bun, french twist, you name it and these velvet-lined, flexible bobby pins are up to the task.

A Redhead's Beauty Favorites

Nail Polish

I feel like the most put-together version of myself with painted nails. My favorite nail polish line is the Sally Hansen Color Therapy with Argan Oil range. I've gone through multiple bottles of Savasan-ahhh (a very pale pink), Mauve Mantra (a medium pink), and Well, Well, Well (a pearly white).

From the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel line, I've also owned many bottles of Smartease (a pale candy pink). This line also holds some of my colorful picks, Orchid-ing Aside (a bright lavender) and Pink Tank (a warm-toned hot pink).

Topcoat

My favorite top coat, also purchased a million times, is the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Clearly Quick polish. It actually does dry quick!

Mascara

The Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara gives me the longest, prettiest lashes. It was the mascara du jour for a hot minute, and now the beauty community has moved on. I don't care where everyone else moves, I'm camped out right here with Lash Princess.

Blush

I have a very fair, warm-toned skin tone and the classic Milani Luminoso Blush is my go-to. It leaves a pretty sheen, soft color, and is quick to apply. I already have my backup on deck.

Eyebrow Mascara

For a while, I used the Anastasia Beverly Hills brow products in the Auburn shade. All of them were fantastic, but not necessarily budget-friendly. I did a bit of research and the NYX Tinted Eyebrow Mascara in Chocolate is an almost perfect shade match for ABH Auburn.

One tube of the NYX Eyebrow Mascara lasts forever and is foolproof if you have brow hairs that just need a little extra love. The pencil eyebrow product is also great if you have less hair and need to pencil in some of the sparse areas!

(Also, the last time I purchased one of these, I think I saw that NYX had come out with an Auburn shade in their brow products? Maybe I should try that next...)

Lip Color

I am of the strong opinion that a new lip color fixes many problems. Combined with a Coke and a cookie, you're unstoppable. Lip color can be an inexpensive update to your look, and it brings a little life to the face! My current favorites:

Maybelline Lifter Gloss in Sand

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Spice for Me

Revlon Super Lustrous Glass Shine Lipstick in Glaring Red

Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Rhubarb and Cherry

Concealer

I started wearing concealer after my oldest daughter was born. Those dark undereye circles distracted from all the nice outfits and pretty lip colors I was putting effort into! (Okay, my undereye circles were probably something only I noticed, but I was distracted and that's what matters here.)

A touch of Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Corrector under the eyes, topped with a little translucent powder, and I look like I slept all night long.

That's all for now, ladies! Let me know your must-have skincare, haircare, and beauty products in the comments below!

All the love,

Emily

Please feel free to contact me at admin@tulipsandbasil.com!