Gift Guide: Our Favorite Beauty & Lifestyle Products of 2019
There were so many great beauty and lifestyle products we discovered in 2019, but some really stood out from the rest. Here are the products the Mixed Makeup team can’t live without. Hint: they make great gifts for your loved ones!
FAVORITE SKINCARE PRODUCTS
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream ($74)
“I never understood why people put retinol on a pedestal until I tried this stuff. Gah, it’s good. It’s strong, so if you’re new to retinol there probably will be an adjustment period. The $74 price point can be hard to swallow, but when you compare it to other high-quality retinols on the market, it’s actually in the lower price range.” - Carly Rivlin (@carlyrivlin)
Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm ($34)
“I was in the middle of trying a bunch of cleansing oils and balms for a double cleanse tutorial video and I kept coming back to this particular cleansing balm. It does a great job melting away my makeup and the silky texture makes it a luxurious experience.” - Susan Yara (@susanyara)
REN Glow Daily Vitamin C Gel Cream ($48)
“For oily skin, this Vitamin C is the perfect addition to my quick morning routine. It combines a moisturizer and an active ingredient in one step. I like the lightweight feel and it looks great under makeup.” - Olivia Hubschman (@livhubs)
Kate Somerville Liquid ExfoliKate Triple Acid Resurfacing Treatment ($58)
“I tried this chemical exfoliator at the suggestion of my esthetician and, wow, it’s made a big difference in my skin. Since I started using it, I don’t have as many blackheads and my skin is smoother and brighter. It’s a must-have in my skincare routine!” - Anna Fryxell (@annafryxell)
FAVORITE HAIR PRODUCTS
Living Proof Dry Volume Blast ($29)
“It’s like a dry shampoo and volumizer in one! I love how this can take my days-old hair and pump it up while holding my style in place. It helps me create the perfect ‘undone’ look.” - Olivia Hubschman (@livhubs)
“I have one of these in all my bags, in all my drawers…EVERYWHERE. Sometimes you just need to put your hair up and I love these because they don’t break my hair or leave an annoying crease. Plus, since they’re satin, not silk, they’re super affordable. I went with a neutral black color, but there are a ton of different colors and patterns on Amazon. I’ll never go back to typical hair ties.” - Carly Rivlin (@carlyrivlin)
Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray ($26)
“As a busy mom, I want to look like I’m put together as much as possible. I just spray this into my next-day-hair to give it some volume, make it smell nice, and refresh the waves I put into my hair the day before.” - Susan Yara (@susanyara)
Revlon One-Step Volumizer Hair Dryer ($60)
“If I had to pick just one product as my favorite for the entire year (maybe even the entire decade), then this is it. It’s made blowdrying my curly hair so much easier and it’s super affordable – only $60 for this life-changing product. It’s also become my go-to gift for all the beauty lovers in my life.” - Anna Fryxell (@annafryxell)
FAVORITE MAKEUP PRODUCTS
Shiseido Waso Day Moistuizer SPF 30 ($38)
“This has been such a busy year for me – being pregnant, hitting a million YouTube subscribers, and now been a mom to two little ones. It blends perfectly to match my skin tone and has a non-greasy, matte finish. It’s become the one product I can’t live without.” - Susan Yara (@susanyara)
NARS Liquid Blush ($30)
“I never thought I’d become a liquid blush girl until our makeup artist Nikki La Rose showed me this magical product. The shade “Luster” is the perfect peachy color that blends beautifully into my skin. I even use it on my eyelids for a wash of color.” - Anna Fryxell (@annafryxell)
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer ($27)
“This concealer stays in place all. day. long. I love the matte finish and how just a couple dabs of this stuff gives me amazing coverage over any discoloration or blemish.” - Olivia Hubschman (@livhubs)
Juno & Co Microfiber Lemon Drop Sponge ($6)
“You know a sponge is special when it took me away from my BeautyBlender. The classic velvet sponge is great, but the real MVP is the Lemon Drop Sponge. It’s so soft on the skin and doesn’t feel solid or dense like some sponges can feel. Sometimes, dense sponges feel like you’re using a rock to apply your foundation. It blends my makeup so nicely and doesn’t absorb all the product. Oh, and it’s only $6.” - Carly Rivlin (@carlyrivlin)
FAVORITE TRAVEL PRODUCTS
Brandless Carry On Luggage ($180)
“This carry on is perfect to pack everything my newborn and two-year-old need for a weekend trip. I love to use the pockets to pack the smaller items like socks and bibs. Their travel collection is made with recycled materials, but it super light, sleek, and durable – perfect for traveling.” - Susan Yara (@susanyara)
Trtl Travel Pillow ($29)
“I cannot sleep on airplanes, so red-eyes are completely miserable experiences for me. I did a bunch of research on products that could help me out and came across this product. I used it on an overnight flight to Peru and I actually slept. Would I say it was the best sleep ever? No, but it’s heck of a lot better than no sleep.” - Anna Fryxell (@annafryxell)
Mophie Powerstation Universal Battery ($60)
“This thing has saved my life more times than I can count. I never leave my house without it, but it’s especially necessary when I travel. On a recent trip to Seattle, I thought I would be able to charge at the airport, but I was wrong. Then I thought I would be able to charge on the plane. Wrong about that, too. Luckily I had my Mophie battery in my backpack, so I got through travel and the day in Seattle without my phone dying!” - Carly Rivlin (@carlyrivlin)
Beats Studio3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones ($280)
“These headphones do the trick if you’re looking to cancel out plane noise and conversation. You can watch movies and listen to music wirelessly without worrying about your earbuds falling out. And if you’re like me, it drops a subtle hint to the stranger sitting next to you that you’re not into small talk.” - Olivia Hubschman (@livhubs)
What was your favorite product of 2019? Tell us in the comments!
