Top 16 Beauty Products That Always Get Me Compliments

I’m rounding up the top makeup and beauty products I use that get me the most compliments. This doubles as an FAQ post because these products coincide with the “what are you wearing?” questions I get the most from reader and friends. These are the things I wear that YOU think look the most flattering – both in person and from what you see from the blog, Instagram and stories!

Your lips look so full and lush! What lip color are you wearing on your lips?

I have naturally full lips. I used to hate them because they would get so much attention and the tiniest bit of gloss made them look huge! So for that reason I don’t use lip plumpers. The lip color I get the most compliments on is the Pat McGrath LUST Gloss. Flesh Astral is the one that I get asked about all the time (swatches here, new shades swatched here). I also am often wearing NARS Velvet Lip Glide in Swing – this is another one that gets tons of questions because it’s such a universally flattering neutral (on the lips here). The Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in Fenty Glow (worn here) is another popular one I get asked about whenever I’m wearing it. It makes my lips look luscious with a super smooth glass like shine.

Your hair looks so shiny and healthy! Can you share your ENTIRE routine?

Since moving to Florida I’ve had a really hard time with hair products. The water here (even when filtered) is impossible! Hardly anything lathers in the water here like it does in other states. Also since coloring my hair I’ve experimented with a wide number of shampoos but I haven’t found my true love yet. All this being said anytime someone tells me my hair looks amazing and so shiny/healthy it’s after I have used the Christophe Robin Shade Variation Care Nutritive Mask with Temporary Coloring in Warm Chestnut (as shown here). My wallet is literally so sad because I’ve already gone through two of these and I’m going to need this the rest of my life. The Sisley Hair Rituel Hair Oil (review and on the hair here) and classic Moroccanoil Treatment are in my regular routine and both get compliments on scent and shine. They won’t weigh down my hair, even in hot humid Florida weather.

Your skin looks so smooth, like you had an amazing peel and your base looks so flawless!

Anytime someone says my skin looks smooth it’s after I’ve used either the Drunk Elephant Sukari Babyfacial or Sunday Riley Good Genes. I consider myself to have sensitive skin so I don’t use them as frequently as I should but they make the most visible difference in texture. Both are excellent and I am often asked which one I prefer. My answer is that they’re really different. The Drunk Elephant is more of a once in a while treatment for me while the Sunday Riley is something you can leave on the skin overnight. For me the Sunday Riley treatment is effective faster, but the Drunk Elephant makes the skin feel noticeably softer after regular use.

For my base, my go-to anytime someone tells me my skin looks flawless is a combination of the Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Foundation in Buff (it’s matte, but note flat and holds up REALLY well to the heat and humidity) plus the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter (it really lives up to the description and hype and I didn’t think it would be THAT amazing but it is, swatches of all shades here).

You’re glowing!

I’ve been asked by several people over the past few months if I’m pregnant because they say I’m glowing and look so healthy and happy. I’m not pregnant, but both Andrew and I are very happy and working diligently on our health and wellness. I actually attribute the glow 100% to the Armani Neo Nude Powder (swatches here) and Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes, in particular Incandescent Electra (on the face here). Out of all the highlighters out there I still think the Tom Ford Moodlight Duo is one of the best. I still wear this a lot and it always gets questions when I’m out and about wearing this.

You smell amazing!

The most complimented perfume I wear is Byredo La Tulipe (but my favorite these days is actually the Jo Malone Neroli and Basil perfume).

Your nails look so healthy – do you get regular manicures or have recommendations for strong nails?

I haven’t gotten a manicure or pedicure in maybe a year now! Everything has been DIY these days. In the time we’ve been in Florida I just haven’t found a go-to place like the ones I loved back home in San Diego. I attribute my healthy looking cuticles to the Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Remover. I’ve tried several brands of cuticle softeners and hers hands DOWN is the best. As a quick side note last year I started taking biotin supplements. I tried the HUM Hair Sweet Hair and Nature’s Bounty which made my hair grow like CRAZY but I didn’t really see that much of a difference in my nails. My hand care routine and favorite tools here.

I need that nude nail polish!

The polish that gets the most compliments is Chanel Le Vernis in Organdi (swatched here). It’s a nice basic neutral nude pink cream. Lasting power is very good on me. My favorite top coats are the Chanel Le Gel Top Coat or the one from Smith and Cult. I do not like Seche Vite because it always has major shrinkage on me.

I hope you enjoyed this roundup! These are the items I use the most whenever I get questions from you, strangers or friends about what I’m wearing or using. I’ve been asked by a lot of you for a list of my absolute can’t live without products are. I’m thinking long and hard about that one because so many of the things I’ve fallen in love with have been limited-edition or discontinued but stay tuned because that list is coming!

For those what to know about the shelf and accessories the shelf itself is the Ikea Billy Bookcase. Small gold wire basket is from Crate and Barrel. Glass shadow box is from West Elm. Tan bag is the Chloe Mini Marcie (reviewed it in depth here). Clear bag is the Staud Mini Shirley bag. Sweatshirt worn in top image is by Reformation (I didn’t show the front, but Andrew picked this out for me, lol).

Also for those who want just the list, here are the Top 16:

1. Pat McGrath LUST Gloss in Flesh Astral
2. NARS Velvet Lip Glide in Swing
3. Fenty Gloss Bomb
4. Christophe Robin Shade Variation Care Nutritive Mask with Temporary Coloring in Warm Chestnut
5. Sisley Hair Rituel Precious Hair Oil
6. Moroccanoil Treatment
7. Drunk Elephant TLC Sukari Babyfacial
8. Sunday Riley Good Genes
9. Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Foundation
10. Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter
11. Armani Neo Nude Powder
12. Tom Ford Highlighting Duo
13. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Incandescent Electra
14. Byredo La Tulipe
15. Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Remover
16. and Chanel Le Vernis in Organdi

If you have anything beauty-wise that always gets you compliments please share them in the comments below. I’d love to read about what is the most flattering on you 🙂