Whenever I return from a shopping trip with beauty products in hand, the loudest groans echo from my younger sister’s room. “Really, Alexis? Another lipstick? You literally have like 10 of the same shade!” As her grumbles gradually fade into Charlie Brown’s teacher’s voice, I joyfully bounce to my room and revel in the instant high I feel when I unwrap a new purchase. Whether it’s make up, facial lotion or nail polish, I would be lost without my holy-grail of beauty products. After years of trial and error, I have become hopelessly devoted to five brands that keep my skin radiant, lips perfectly pouted, hair well moisturized and nails glossy. Take a look!

1. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula (Face and Body)

Talk about an addiction! From head to toe, I deck myself out in Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula daily. After getting over my high school, Bath and Body Works “I want to smell like flowers” phase, I wanted to go in a completely different direction. I stumbled across Palmer’s products when I noticed lots of girls at my college applying what looked like a giant glue stick to their lips. It started off with the Swivel Stick and, as you can see, my collection gradually grew to cleansers, exfoliators, lotions, lotions and more lotions. I adore the smell, the thick consistency and my silky, smooth skin.

2. CoverGirl Lip Perfection (Lips)


Now, I have already shared my love of lipsticks. Behold, merely half of my collection and feel free to groan with my sister. I would consider myself an old school CoverGirl lover. Ever since Tyra Banks awarded CoverGirl contracts to the winners of America’s Next Top Model, I subconsciously thought that I would look like a model wearing this brand. Crazy right? The Lip Perfection line never dries out my lips and the color lasts all day. What more could a lipstick lover ask for? 

3. Carol’s Daughter (Haircare)


For my curly-haired girls out there, the name Carol’s Daughter might ring a bell. Years ago, Lisa Price (the real Carol’s daughter) appeared on Oprah to promote her line of beauty and hair products. A few years later with the help of other famous faces including Solange Knowles, Selita Ebanks and Cassie, the line really took off and, naturally, I got caught up in the hype! I can say that haircare products have been the most difficult items for me to find. However, Carol’s Daughter wholeheartedly helps with my haircare needs. I recently purchased the new Transitioning 1-2-3 kit to stimulate new growth and to improve the texture of my hair. As I continue to tend to having two textures of hair (both curly and straight) while my chemical relaxer grows out, Carol’s Daughter products keep my hair moisturized and frizz free.


4. & 5. O.P.I. and American Apparel’s Nail Lacquer (Nails)


In my house, manicures are for three things: proms, weddings and graduations. Seeing how often those come around, I give myself manis and pedis that would fool the most high-end salons. As someone who has always had long nails, I constantly keep them colored. On those rare salon trips, I noticed that many manicurists used O.P.I brand polish. When I found out that they were sold at Sephora, I stocked up. As for American Apparel Nail Lacquer, I will honesty admit that it is my one, occasional splurge. I love their range of colors, especially their pastels, and honestly who can’t resist a nail polish that dries quickly?

Lovelies, what beauty product brands can you not live without? Are there any brands you’ve been dying to try?