In Honor of Mom: Products That Remind Me of My First Beauty Icon
I get asked all the time who my ultimate beauty icon is.
Marilyn Monroe always comes to mind. Gwen Stefani, even. But the very first and most influential beauty icon in my life was – and still is – my mom.
She was the first person I ever saw apply lipstick. The first to show me how to braid my hair. And the one who brought me to the store to buy me my very first powder compact. She was the style icon that influenced me before I even knew anyone else in the world existed.
So, in honor of Mother’s Day, here are the products that remind me of my introduction to the beauty world… from my first beauty inspiration, my mom:
I remember my mom LOVED these Elizabeth Arden capsules. The oil blend hiding within these capsules provides a serious softening effect on the skin. Mom’s skin still looks great, so I know it works!
This was the very first cosmetic product my mom ever bought for me. I wanted to wear makeup so badly and I don’t think I appreciated the amazingness that is clear mascara back then. Now clear mascara is one of my makeup kit staples. I didn’t realize it way back when, but she was on to something!
This bottle looks like my childhood. As I’m sure you all have noticed, I have extremely fair skin. My mom used to slather my skin in Water Babies basically every time I left the house. She instilled the importance of sun protection at a very young age. My skin and I are very thankful for that.
After all of the mascaras I’ve tested, this classic remains one of my favorites. Before I saw it in all of the “cult favorite” roundups in all of my beauty magazines, I saw it in my mom’s makeup bag.
This one is also a classic. I remember my mom used to always use the original Oil of Olay beauty fluid, complete with powdery scent and major moisturizing power.
My mom always encouraged me to express myself and she never stopped me from snooping in her makeup kit. I often created my own masterpieces with her Estee Lauder lipsticks.
I can remember going to the beauty supply store with my mom to pick up this mask in the peak of my bad skin years. It does a seriously good job of removing blackheads and calming acne. I haven’t used it in a very long time, but this one is worth bringing out of the vault!
This one’s actually a bonus product. It doesn’t remind me of my mom, but of her mom. I know “grandma perfume” has a particularly negative connotation, but I always thought my grandma smelled amazing. I can vividly remember sneaking into my grandma’s room whenever I came to visit to drool over her elegant fragrance tray. Confession: I always snuck a spray of her White Diamonds.
