Beauty Dare: How Many Products Do You Use?

We had a request at bb the other day to give our list of essential products (perfect for our beauty SOS theme) with a range of affordable to exxy. And that got us thinking - what are the essentials? We were divided here at bb. So I did quick poll to see what our idea of 'essential' meant - how many beauty items did you put on your face today?

Again, the results were varied! 15 was the most and 4 was the least. All up, the girls in the office at the time of voting had used 74 products on their face today. Where do you come in? If you need a little help with the basics, check out our guide below. And as I mentioned, these are just the basics - there is a part 2 to come with the next most important group of products (deciding was so hard!) But here are the ones to get your started...

Cleanser

A cleanser is the first step of any beauty routine. It will cleanse skin of any excess sebum, lingering makeup, or simply dirt and grime from the day before.

$ Yes to Blueberries Age Refresh Smoothing Daily Cleanser – Milk makes it super hydrating RRP $14.95

$$ Bioderma Sebium Foaming Gel – Perfect for oily, combination skin RRP $24.95

$$$ emerginC Komucha Cleanser - Inclusion of all natural ingredients means it works for all skin types RRP $45.00

Exfoliator

Not a step to be skipped, exfoliate at least 3 times a week to remove dead skin cells, unblock pores and refine skin texture.

$ SimuOlive Tebe Cleansing Face Polish - Gentle and contains botanical oils and extracts to soothe whilst polishing RRP $24.95

$$ Indio Facial Scrub - Uses fine beads of salt from the dead sea to gently remove surface detritus RRP $56.00

$$$ Alpha-H Gentle Daily Exfoliant - A non-abrasive, powder, micro-exfoliating treatment
. Contains crushed fruit enzymes naturally sourced from papaya and pineapple RRP $59.95

Toner

Toners are very important, but often overlooked. They help to remove any residue not washed away by your cleanser. They also help to refine pores before makeup application.

$ Innoxa Super Senstive Shine Toner - Formulated to help rebalance the skin, assisting to control shine, reduce pore size and refine skin texture RRP $14.95

$$ Bioderma Sebium H2O – Removes makeup and cleanses impurities without having to be rinsed off! RRP $19.95

$$$ First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads - Improves skin clarity and reduces visible pores. Glycolic acids to make them safe and effective for daily use RRP $31.95

Moisturiser

Essential to any routine, moisturisers hydrate the skin and replenish nutrients lost due to harsh environments, like drying winter weather.

$ NS 7 Dry Skin Moisturiser - Hydrates and nourishes dry or sensitive skin
· Light, non-greasy and fast absorbing RRP $7.95

$$ Ayruda Skin Perfecting Moisturiser - Ultra light formula, perfect for under makeup and brightens the complexion RRP $79.95

$$$ Indio Smooth Emulsion - Best for normal to dry skin, and boost circulation to fight premature aging RRP $139.00

Foundation

A basic foundation is a makeup must have. Light or full coverage is up to you, and pick the formulation based on your skin concerns…

$ Palmer’s Even Tone BB Cream – For those who prefer a sheerer look. Available in fair/light & medium/dark
and leaves skin beautifully luminous and naturally more even toned – ace for light coverage RRP $9.99

$$ Erborian BB Crème au Ginseng – 3 in 1 formula that combines SPF, moisturiser and foundation. Perfect for everyday wear, with medium coverage RRP $59.95

$$$ Inika Mineral Foundation SPF15 -  This mineral foundation is perfect for those with sensitive skin and can be built up for a fuller coverage. Matte texture also helps oily skin stay sheen free throughout the day RRP $59.95

Bronzer

A touch of bronzer adds a little life to your look, with dimension to play up the natural contours of your face. Apply below cheek bones and to the jaw line and temples for the most natural look - and don't forget to blend!

$ Australis Jumbo Bronzer - A mineral pressed bronzing powder in JUMBO size for never ending use! RRP $19.95

$$ MeMeMe Goddes Rocks – This one container has multiple bronzing purposes. The multi-toned hues of the bricks combine for the perfect sun-kissed glow RRP $36.95

$$$ Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder - This soft matte, silky-smooth bronzer instantly gives the look of a natural tan, perfect for all year round

RRP $66.00

Mascara

If you only ever could use one product on your eyes for the rest of your life, it would have to be mascara!

$ Almay Get Up and Grow Mascara - Hypoallergenic, so suitable for sensitive eyes, the pro-vitamin, anti-breakage formula give just enough thickeness to lashes without looking OTT RRP $19.95

$$ Eye of Horus Mascara - The flexible brush glides through lashes to curl and enhance, whilst the natural formula is kind to eyes. Removing is also easy, with warm water enough to dissolve the natural mascara waxes RRP $30.00

$$$ Napoleon Perdis Mesmer-Eyes Mascara - With volume and lengthening properties, this formula conditions with vitamin E, panthenol and bamboo, as it makes lashes refined and long RRP $38.00

And those, my bb's, are the very basics any beauty bag should contain - how you use them is up to you! If you er on the more extravgent side of beauty, you might want to check out our basics round 2, for a little more inspiration about what your face might be yearning for. Stay tuned!

How many products did you put on today? What is your can't-live-without beauty item? Let us know in the comments below! - Lauren