Hi! My name is Mary Bordelon, and I’m a fashion student, blogger, and YouTube video creator (I refuse to use the usual title) currently living in Morgantown, West Virginia—also known as the middle of nowhere. I’m a bit of a beauty hoarder and tend to collect things with pretty packaging, rather than what may actually work for me. I’ve definitely found a few gems through this method, and if they look nice on your vanity or in your shower, isn’t that just a bonus? Below are my current favorites, as well as how I found them, and how I incorporate them into my routine.

Glossier Priming Moisturizer

Beginning with skincare, Glossier’s Priming Moisturizer is probably my most used product. I have pretty dry skin, and in the winter it’s definitely worse- I’ve found that Glossier’s Priming Moisturizer Rich won’t heal my frost bitten cheeks, but if I use it continuously, my skin never reaches the point of being dry enough to flake to begin with. I use the original PMR in the spring and summer, when I don’t need quite as much hydration as I do when it’s cold.

Grown Alchemist Intensive Hand Creme and Le Labo Hand Pommade

Another moisturizing body product I’ve been into would be Grown Alchemist Intensive Hand Creme! This was a gift from the company and I had ended up just throwing it in my school bag for when I needed it, and again, by surprise I really ended up loving it. The scent is very herbal and slightly medicinal, but I love that seeing as I grew up with a lot of similar smelling products. For me, this is nostalgia in a hand creme, also in very cute packaging. Honorable mention for hand pampering: Le Labo’s Hand Pommade.

YSL Babydoll Mascara and L’Oreal Telescopic Mascara

Moving on to beauty, my main focus every time I wear makeup is the eyes. I love a bold 60’s look, and I feel it really flatters my saucer shaped eyes. I go for a thick cat eye almost everyday, and the best product I’ve found for this so far is Jessie’s Girl Liquid Liner, in the silver tube. It has more of a paintbrush tip than a marker tip, and doesn’t drag, making for smooth, thick black lines. As for lashes, I also like those thick and bold. The mascara love of my life is the YSL Babydoll Mascara, but I’ve found that L’Oreal’s Telescopic is almost an exact dupe, if not better and blacker than the original. The only thing missing is YSL’s floral scent, but I’d say it’s worth saving your money and purchasing this one. Pro Tip: I keep tons and tons of q-tips readily available when drawing my cat eyes. If you mess up, just wet a Q-tip and swipe your mistake away- no need to start completely over.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream

I’d like to personally take this time to thank my french-cajun roots for the size and shape of my lips. They’re definitely a defining feature of my face, and I like to dress them in nude and berry shades. My all-time favorite lip product between both drugstore and high end categories, is NYX’s Soft Matte Lip Cream in Abu Dhabi– not too warm or cool, and not super drying. Bonus: goes with every eye makeup look imaginable.

Rosehip Oil and L’ancome Rose Makeup Remover

And finally, my final favorite isn’t really a specific product, but more of just a little-known beauty secret. I started using rosehip oil as makeup remover this past summer, and have never gone back. I ended up spontaneously staying with my boyfriend for a month when at the time, he lived 3 1/2 hours away. I was meant to only be in town for a week and quickly ran out of the L’ancome Makeup Remover in rose I had packed. When you wear as much black eye makeup as I do, a remover is necessary. I brought this with me to use as a body moisturizer boost, but I gave it a shot as a remover, and it worked wonders. I let it sit for maybe a minute, and my makeup melted off instantly, with no harsh rubbing, and acted as a bonus eye area moisturizer. Again, I’m never going back.

Words, Mary Bordelon.