We Aim To Slay

Over the years I’ve tried many different products in the skin, hair, nail care, and makeup categories! Today I’m sharing my genuine thoughts about these products – and how you can shop my exact favorite products!

Shopping on Benable!

Earlier in the year I was contacted by Tony Staehelin, Founder of Benable, to see if I would be interested in “getting in at the ground floor” of a new form of social media: Benable. This site is a unique blend of Pinterest and Instagram – users create lists of recommendations, and those recommended items can be purchased directly from Benable, both through their browser site and mobile app! 

I was excited by this prospect to help me fill a gap in my coverage – an organized format to share all of the products that I’m using, in a way that allows me to make real time updates and allows all of you to purchase exactly what I’m using! As you read through this post, you’ll find links directly to my Benable lists, allowing you to see exactly what I’m using! 

In the spirit of transparency, I admit that I do make a small commission from all items purchased through my Benable lists. Those funds are used to continue to create this content – whether funding the purchasing of products to test, or stays in far off locations – so I appreciate your support of We Aim To Slay!

Nail Care

I’ve always been a fan of having a manicure, but as someone who breaks their nails frequently, it’s hard to justify salon prices. Enter one of my best decisions – learning how to do my nails at home! 

I’ve shared my love for the brand Le Mini Macaron before, but there’s more to a beautiful manicure than just polishes!

Since starting my nail journey is 2023, I’ve consistently purchased LMM’s Gel Removal Wraps and Builder Gel – which they now sell in several shades –  as well as many polish shades! Also by LMM, and one of the most useful tools in my nail kit, is the Gel Polish Remover Tool! 

Despite how it may seem, Le Mini Macaron isn’t the only nail care brand I use! My mom has graciously allowed me to use her extensive collection of Beetles Gel Polish shades!

In order to maintain my manicures for as long as possible, I like to treat my cuticles to extra love through oils. I’ve purchased two: the Sally Hansen Vitamin E Oil, and the Nailtopia Brightening Apricot Oil. Because the Sally Hansen oil contains Vitamin E, I like to use this one when I clean up my cuticles prior to painting each manicure; to do so, I use the Revlon Cuticle Trimmer.

I also keep as many nail files on hand as possible, as well as containers of hand cream – there are some of both in my car,  my purse, and in my work bag!

And if you’ve caught some of my more recent manicures, you might have noticed that I’ve been experimenting with nail appliques, including LMM nail sticker sets and a set of gold appliques that I got from Temu!

Skin Care

For many years I have struggled with my combination skin – I get super oily in the summer, extremely dry in the winter, and no matter have I have tried in the past, I can’t seem to get a handle on my “problem areas”: large pores, wrinkles, and dark circles under the eyes. 

In the last year I have finally found a winning combination, and in the last few months I’ve seen some incredible results!

Cleansing and Hydrating

The secret to my newfound success? Washing my face twice a day! It may sound simple, but cleansing at night is more vital than I ever would have thought, as doing so consistently has drastically reduced the size of my pores! 

Two years ago I fell madly in love with Tatcha’s The Rice Wash cleanser; a cream cleanser that features exfoliators. I use a pea-sized amount, warmed between my hands, and begin cleansing using a mix of The 60-Second Rule and a silicone scrubber.

I’m a big fan of using a serum, and after using Avocado + Aloe Double Shot Face Serum by Fourth Ray Beauty (which I really did enjoy, it was just a tad heavy after using it for several months, so I prefer to use it as a treatment!) I learned that my skin responds really well to aloe vera and avocado oil. From there I tried the Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Recovery Serum, which felt great on the skin, but I didn’t feel as if I was getting the best results – or rather, I didn’t notice any changes in my skin at all. 

Now, I’ve been enjoying using three serums by The Ordinary: The Salicylic Acid to help target my blemishes, The Aloe 2% + NAG 2% to help soothe my sensitive skin, and the Hyaluronic Acid 2% serum to help promote moisture absorption.

After serum I move into eye care, reaching for the Belif Aqua Bomb moisturizer, my preferred “eye cream”! This lightweight and ultra hydrating gel formula absorbs quickly to leave a silky smooth base for your makeup, and a little goes a long way! 

I’ve tried many eye creams in an effort to lighten my dark under eye circles and to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, including a recent attempt with the Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Hydrating Eye Gel, The Clinique Peptides, a brightening formula by TONYMOLY, the Clinique All About Eyes, the Kylie Skin, and more that I can’t even remember! 

I finish up with moisturizer, sunscreen, and lip balm! Currently I’m using The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA. This is a change from the Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream, which featured the cutest plum-shaped jar and refillable pods! I did like how this cream felt, but it was quite pricey – $40 for the jar & product, $34 for the refill pod. I’m not sure how I feel about The Ordinary’s moisturizer – on the one hand I like that it absorbs very quickly, but on the other hand, it’s very lightweight, in a way that feels almost like a powder as its rubbed into the face.

During the winter and at night, I like to layer my moisturizer beneath my all time favorite lotion, the Ponds Dry Skin Cream for sensitive skin (with the blue top)! I also use this as my all body lotion, and it is truly the most hydrating product I have ever used! In fact, my great-great-grandmother used this same exact brand on her face every single day! 

For the last year I’ve really liked the Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen – a change from the SunBum Face Sunscreen. Innisfree’s formula is a 36 SPF, which has a pearlescent cast but absorbs quickly and translucent leaving a lovely glow! But as an ocean lover and surfer, I am currently on the hunt for a reef-safe sunscreen alternative! 

My lip balm of choice is the Jack Black Shea Butter & Vitamin E formula, which is taste and smell free, ultra hydrating, and also features SPF! 

Treatments and Tools

Part of why I like to wear makeup during the day is the absolute necessity of taking it back off at the end of the day! I’ve shared my preference for a makeup removing balm in the past, but I’ve finally found one that is available consistently, and doesn’t clog my pores – the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm! Not only does a little go a long way, but it doesn’t leave a residue after rinsing off, nor does it irritate my eyes and skin! In fact, using this cleansing balm in tandem with my new skincare routine, my skin is finally purging some long standing debris! 

I have previously used the cleansing balms by TONYMOLY, Belief, Tatcha, Sephora Brand, and e.l.f Cosmetics, and I have to say, this Clinique one is a standout! 

Once my skin is properly cleansed there are a number of treatments I like to do to promote cell turnover and to flush my pores including steam facials! In the past I’ve shared that the EZ Basics Facial Steamer is one of the best facial steamers I’ve ever used. Unfortunately, I broke mine, so currently I’m using the Beautural Garment Steamer – yes, I’m using my clothing steamer to steam my face! – and I haven’t had any issues so far!

In tandem to steaming my face I enjoy using my pore tools – there is a set included with the EZ Basics steamer! – to quite literally “scrape” the blockages and debris from my pores to help promote deep cleaning. Once my pores are open I like to follow up with a deep cleansing mask. I’ve always liked using charcoal masks, as they tend to be purifying. In the past year I have really come to enjoy using the Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Mask. This clay mask features little exfoliants to give you an extra deep cleanse as you wash it off.

When using masks to help relax – one of my favorite forms of self care! – I like to use eye masks and sheet masks. I’ll try nearly any sheet mask, but I always come back to the brand TONYMOLY. Because I’ve always suffered from dark under eye circles, I’m always on the hunt for deeply hydrating products, such as the Fourth Ray Beauty Chill Sesh Eye Masks! I even keep the jar in the refrigerator so they feel even more refreshing when applied!

Hair Care

After making the transition to my natural curls in 2017, I have tried many different products to help care for and maintain my mixed type curls!

Cleansing

There are some items that I order again and again, no matter what – the Not Your Mother’s Naturals Tahitian Gardenia & Mango Butter Conditioner, the Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo, and the Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In Conditioner. I have been using these three products consistently for quite some time, having started using this conditioner almost seven years ago! When I first started to learn how to care for my curls, I quickly realized that my hair was very dry and needed as much additional moisture as possible. 

I started using the Not Your Mother’s Naturals lines, vacillating between the Tahitian Gardenia & Mango Butter and Royal Honey & Kalahari Desert Melon Conditioners, and the Tahitian Gardenia & Mango Butter, Royal Honey & Kalahari Desert Melon, and Activated Bamboo Charcoal & Purple Moonstone Shampoos. Both the Tahitian Gardenia & Mango Butter and Royal Honey & Kalahari Desert Melon lines focus on hydration, and the Activated Bamboo Charcoal & Purple Moonstone line focuses on detoxifying and clarifying. 

I only use a detox and clarifying shampoo when I feel a lot of product build up on my scalp, and I try to concentrate the product directly on my scalp and roots. The NYM shampoo was a great introductory product, which led me to try the CurlSmith WAsh & Scrub Detox Shampoo – a product that I enjoy but use sparingly, as more moisture stripped away from curly hair leads to more breakage. 

After suffering from overly dry and brittle hair, I found the Mielle Rosemary and Mint Strengthening Shampoo due to the viral reaction to the strengthening oil in the same line. Rosemary and Mint act as natural clarifying agents, while the formula promotes strengthened locks and healthy growth. With the results speaking for themselves, I began using Mielle’s Honey and Pomegranate Leave-In Conditioner, which promotes hydration and moisture. The combination of these three products has helped to heal my curls, allowing them to grow longer than they have ever been before!

Treatments

When my curls feel tired and dry, I’ll begin by detoxing my scalp before moving into some sort of nourishing treatment. For the last few years I have sworn by the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Treatment Masque, a product that serves many purposes in my hair care routine!

Sometimes I’ll apply the masque to my hair after rinsing out my shampoo, making sure to work in sections and to comb the product through from roots to ends. Once applied, I’ll clip back my hair – if I want the masque to penetrate deeply, and if I have the time – I’ll add a shower cap to insulate my hair, essentially “steaming” the masque into my strands! When I’m running short on time, I’ll add the masque to my hair in place of leave-in conditioner and styling products, allowing my hair to air dry and get as much out of the masque as possible. 

In the past I have tried the Olaplex Bond Smoother No.6, and while I did think the product worked well, the containers are very small, and I felt as though I needed to use a lot of product each time.

Styling

Once my curls are cleansed it’s time to start styling! At the most basic level, I am applying products that promote hydration and will help the individual strands bond together to form the actual curls. For my blend of 3B-3C-4A curls, I find that cream based products and gels work best for me! 

No matter what, I always begin my styling process with a leave-in conditioner. For the past few years I have loved the Mielle Honey & Pomegranate, but before finding this holy grail, I used many products!

Shea Moisture was the first curly hair brand I tried after making the big chop! I tried several of their products but always found myself coming back to their Jamaican Black Castor Oil Leave-In Conditioner. This product operated similar to the LUS Styler in that it helped to hydrate and style my hair simultaneously. But, like many other oil based products, it eventually proved too heavy for my mixed curls. After graduating from Shea Moisture I moved to Cantu, specifically, the Argan Oil Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream, which was very hydrating, but again, the added oils proved to be too much for my hair. From there I moved to the Carol’s Daughter Goddess Strength Leave-In Conditioner that was so, so, so good! I loved everything about this – until it became next to impossible to find!

In the fall, I was introduced to a new hydration product: Pattern Beauty’s Moisture Milk. Brand founder, Tracee Ellis Ross, is quick to explain that this product is not a leave-in conditioner, but rather, an additional conditioning product to boost hydration all day long! I like to layer this on top of my leave-in conditioner and beneath my styling products.

After applying my hydrating products I’ll begin sectioning my hair and using the raking method to apply a styler. For many years, I swore by the L.U.S All-in-One Styler (you can read my full review here!), which feels like a cream-gel-hybrid, and acted as the perfect product – I could quite literally apply this product on top of my leave-in and call it a day! I highly recommend this product for the #CurlyGirlies with busy schedules! 

Lately, I’ve sworn by the Pattern Brand Styling Custard, which has a similar consistency to the L.U.S., but offers a delightfully floral scent! 

Now that I’ve got my curls looking the way I want, it’s time to seal the look! I prefer to use gels to finish off my style, and currently I switch back and forth between three different options, depending on my desired effect. 

To style a wash-and-go, I reach for the Pattern Brand Curl Gel: Curly Hair Gel for Styling & Defining, which I apply using a mix of the raking and prayer hands methods. When I’m doing a curl touch up for my face-framing pieces I’ll use a bit of the Not Your Mother’s CurlTalk Gel, and if I’m refreshing my most recent style or slicking back my hair, I’ll reach for the Pattern Brand Strong Hold Gel. 

Recently, my mom introduced me to the Ouai Hair Oil and it is worth its weight in gold! Typically, oils are too heavy for my hair when I leave it natural, leading to dryness and frizz. But this oil is one that my hair loves whether curly or straight! A little goes a long way, so I recommend using pea-sized amounts until you know your hair’s tolerance level!

If you follow my social media, you might have noticed that I have been wearing my hair straight lately. To protect my curls throughout the straightening process, I apply a heat protectant on top of my leave-in conditioner – the It’s A 10 Blow Dry Cream. Also a straight hair product, when I use my heatless curler, I like to prep my hair with mousse and currently I’m using the Texture I.D. Thermal Multi-Styling Foam. I’ll apply the mousse prior to putting in the curler, use my hair dryer to activate the product, and then put on a satin bonnet before heading to bed!

Makeup

And last but not least, we’ve reached the Makeup Masterlist! 

Long time followers will know that I often try to explain my makeup application process, and prior to the launching of the We Aim To Slay YouTube Channel, it wasn’t the most effective process! But, as someone who frequently tests makeup products, I love being able to share my thoughts and honest opinions on each product!

Face Products

After cleansing and moisturizing my face, I begin every single makeup look with primer. The one I reach for time and time again is the Maybelline Master Prime in the pore minimizing formula. It goes on smoothly and absorbs quickly! Recently I tried another Maybelline primer, the Jelly Poreless Jelly 24-HR Blurring Poreless Primer, and while I didn’t love it on its own, I found that the two of them mixed together makes an impenetrable base! 

Over the years I have tried many different bases, from foundations to tinted moisturizers to BB creams and more! At the end of the day, it’s most common for me to switch back and forth between two Clinique foundations: the Clinique Even Better Makeup Foundation, and the Stay Matte Oil-Free Foundation.

When I was 18 I was lucky enough to go to Greece, where I found and fell in love with a M.A.C. BB Cream I’ve never been able to find again. It led me to find and fall for a unicorn product – the Urban Decay Naked One and Done – until it was discontinued.

For years I’ve been mourning its discontinuation, as it really was the most magical foundation that matched the skin tone of every woman in my family. Although there was (shockingly) no dupes listed for it on Temptalia, I retook the Foundation Matrix quiz and it suggested the Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow All-In-One Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 25 with Hyaluronic Acid, in shade tan. 

I’ve now been using this product for about a year, and I think it’s a perfect color match! It’s super lightweight on the skin and blends really well, with a very smooth application. I even wore this foundation during a crossfit workout and it stayed put! 

There are two concealers I use all of the time – the Tarte Shape Tape Concealer in shade light-medium sand, and the Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Full Coverage Concealer. Because the Tarte concealer is full coverage, I like to use a slightly lighter shade, and use it primarily for full face looks. The Lancome concealer is a perfect match for my skin tone – in shade BIS – and I prefer to use it for my everyday makeup looks, when I tend to stay away from foundation to let my skin breathe.

Because of my olive undertones, I like to use a peachy blush! For the last few years I’ve been using the Sailor Moon X ColourPop Blush in shade Cat’s Eye, which features flecks of gold shimmer, which compliments my two favorite highlighters – Urban Decay’s Naked Illuminated in shade aura (discontinued), and Benefit’s Cookie!

When it comes to bronzing and contouring I’ve been using the Tarte Park Ave Princess and the Fenty Match Stix in shade Truffle, respectively. The Tarte, a powder bronzer, is the perfect compliment to my skintone, and the Fenty, a cooler toned cream, adds depth and dimension to each look I create! Prior to these products, I avoided bronzing and contouring, but now I feel like it really makes a difference! 

Once it’s time to set my face, I always finish with a setting spray! My go-to pick always has been and always will be the Morphe Continuous Mist spray, as it applies evenly and sets quickly. I recently finished off a bottle of the Sephora Brand Setting Spray, which featured a lovely grapefruit scent! I liked the product, but after using the Morphe spray for so long, I don’t like the nozzle or the application process. Setting powder wise, I prefer a translucent and loose powder formulation, specifically the Morphe one, but I recently finished a container of the Sephora Brand Setting Powder and had no complaints!

Eyes & Eyebrows

They say the eyes are the window to the soul – and I think the eyebrows are the frames of your face! To keep my eyebrows tamed all day long I start with brow wax; my favorite, Milani Stay Put Liquid Brow Wax, comes in a translucent formula (the one I prefer) as well as several brow shades! I recently finished a tube of the Benefit Fluff Up Brow Wax, and though there was nothing specifically off about this product, I still preferred the Milani product.

To fill in my brows I go back and forth between a powder and a pencil: the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Duo in shade ebony – which is perfect for everyday brows –  and the NYX Long wear Slim Eye Pencil in the shade black brown, which I prefer for the stage.

I’ve been a longtime lover of NYX’s liner pencils, so I was inspired to purchase several more of the Slim Eye Pencil Long Lasting Eyeliners in various colors including Purple, Emerald City, Electric Blue, and Black. While I don’t use a colored liner frequently, they do make it easier to do abstract and colorful makeup looks! For my everyday liner needs, I go back and forth between the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner, using a dark brown, dark grey, or black eyeshadow, and the L.A. Girl Dream Glitter Liquid Eyeshadow in shade aura, which I like to apply on top of white liner for extra sparkle!

I’ve mentioned before that there are three eyeshadow palettes that I use most consistently, all of them by ColourPop – the Sailor Moon x ColourPop Pretty Guardian, the Limoncello, and the Of Quartz. Between these three palettes I have every conceivable shadow I could think to use: greys, browns, and shimmers! My next most used palette is the Morphe 35H Hot Spot Artistry palette, consisting of many shades of blue, pink, grey, and brown. When I want to experiment with truly vibrant shades I’ll reach for the Juvia’s The Zulu palette, and for green tones I go back and forth between the Profusion Cosmetics Emeralds and the Makeup Revolution Forever Flawless Chilled palettes!

To finish off every eye look I reach for the L’Oreal Voluminous mascara – a product I’ve been using since I was 14 years old! This is one of those “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” products, because I’ve tried many mascaras over the years and I always come back to this one!

Lips

In my everyday life, I never leave my house without lip balm! Currently, I have several tubes of the Jack Black Shea Butter & Vitamin E lip balm – one of the most hydrating and soothing products I’ve ever used! Similarly, my go-to, everyday lipstick is the Clinique Almost Lipstick in shade Black Honey, a cult classic berry hue that looks a little different on everyone!

For a more formal event, such as the stage or an evening out, my number one favorite is the (now defunct) Bite Beauty matte lipstick in the shade Chai. Unfortunately, this brand no longer exists, and while my mom bought me six more tubes from E-Bay (thanks, Mom!) I’ve been on the hunt for a dupe shade ever since. 

This search led me to try two shades of the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks;  “Queen Of Poisons” (formerly known as Lolita I), described on their website as a “chestnut rose: hue but I found it to be a deep purply-aubergine shade; and “Moon Flower” (formerly known as Lolita II), described as a terracotta rose hue. Neither of these shades resemble the Chai lipstick, but I quite liked both the formula and how the shades looked on, especially Queen of Poisons!

As you may be able to tell, I prefer my lipsticks to have a reddish-hue, either falling in the berry category or the terracotta shade family. And although I am quite hopeless at applying lip liner, I enjoy working with the Huda Beauty Lip Contour 2.0 in shades Very Berry and Rich Brown. 

Also by Huda is a lipstick formula that I like, but I know it’s the wrong shade for me – the Huda Beauty Demi Matte Lipstick in SheEO. Similarly, last year I bought myself a Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lipstick in the shade Cover Star and it is comically too light for me; I could literally use it as a concealer!

Quite randomly, I found a red lipliner in my lipstick kit – the Thrive Causemetics lip liner in shade Valisia. When I want to create a red lip look I reach for more bluish-hues in the red family, such as my go-to’s, the NARS Velvet Lip Crayon in shade Cruella and the Revlon Color Riche in shade Rouge St. Germaine.

When I was a teenager I loved lip gloss! Nowadays my curls tend to get stuck in gloss, but I always pair the Chai lipstick with one of two ColourPop glosses – the Sailor Moon x ColourPop Cosmetics Ultra Glossy Lip in shades Moon Tiara and Sailor Moon. Moon Tiara is a true golden gloss, adding the perfect amount of glitter and shine to any lip look! And, Sailor Moon is a more pinkish gold, helping to temper any dark lipstick you pair it with!

What Do You Think?

Check out my Benable lists and let me know what products you end up trying!

I’ll be back next week to help inspire you as we move out of the last days of winter with a spring-inspired #SevenDaysOfSlay! 

Have a great rest of your week, and remember to SLAY!