18 Beauty Products Our Moms Taught Us To Use
7 min read
Among the myriad of moments I’ve had with my mother, the first day I asked to wear makeup was unforgettable. I was around eleven years old and at that point, my idea of a top-shelf beauty product was vanilla-flavored lip smackers. After realizing there was more to beauty than lip gloss and temporary tattoos, I finally got the courage to ask my mother for makeup and skincare advice. I received the cursory speech about “learning to embrace my natural beauty” and all that. While I may not have appreciated it then, I am grateful for my mother’s advice to take care of my skin and be thoughtful about the products I chose. Time and time again, whenever I use these products, I’m always reminded of my mother. As we approach Mother’s Day, our team reflects on the meaningful conversations they’ve had with their mothers about beauty and their own tried-and-true products that have been passed down through generations.
Makeup
Chubby Stick Balm
Recommended by: Samantha Wu, Marketing Coordinator
After graduating from my lip smacker days, I took after my mom’s idea of makeup—a hint of blush and some color on the lips. I’ve always loved a good-quality balm and this Chubby Stick does the trick. In my mother’s typical fashion, this provides some natural-looking color without drying out your lips.
Clinque
Great Lash Mascara
Recommended by: Emily Greene, Marketing Strategy Director
The very first beauty product my mom ever let me borrow (cue cringey flashbacks to 6th grade) was her Great Lash mascara and, believe it or not, it’s the only mascara I’ve ever used since! Great Lash (specifically in the shade ‘blackest black’) is my holy grail / can’t live without / desert-island product, and I truly only have my mother to thank for having bold, flake-free lashes for the last 17+ years.
Maybelline
Dior Addict Lip Tint
Recommended by: Leya Kaufman, Head of Brand, Publisher & SVP of Sales
I live for a statement lip and so does my mom. This is our go-to shade and we keep at least one in every purse, car, or drawer that we encounter daily. We’re obsessed.
Dior
Les Pinceaux de Chanel Angled Eyeliner Brush
Recommended by: Camille Freestone, Senior Style Editor
My mom used to always get on us for our makeup appearing “too harsh,” especially when we were first starting to wear it. As an alternative to pencil or liquid eyeliner (this was also the waterline era), she suggested we use a dark eyeshadow with a really precise eyeliner brush for a subtle, sultry look.
Chanel
Benetint Liquid Lip Blush & Cheek Tint
Recommended by: Leya Kaufman, Head of Brand, Publisher & SVP of Sales
While a makeup-free look might be all the rage now, my beauty role model, AKA my mom, has been lighthanded with her makeup application for decades. This is the blush I remember her wearing when I was in middle school and whenever I feel like my products are a little too dense, I come back to it. It adds just the right amount of color.
Benefit Cosmetics
Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer
Recommended by: Emily Greene, Marketing Strategy Director
For as long as I can remember, my mom has been preaching the importance of wearing sunscreen and moisturizer every single day (especially since we both have super fair and dry skin). While my mom is infinitely more low maintenance than I am, this tinted SPF/moisturizer duo is a favorite among us both. With hyaluronic acid and aloe water, it’s perfect for an all-day dewy finish that won’t dry you out or leave you vulnerable to UV.
Clinique
Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick Balm
Recommended by: Katie Mok, Content Management Coordinator
My mom and I typically have opposing opinions when it comes to lip products, but this YSL lippie created a united front. She’s a lipstick girl, while I still stand by my lip tints, my loyalty wavers when she swipes this lipstick on. It’s so nourishing and the color payoff is amazing.
Yves Saint Laurent
Superhero Volumizing Waterproof Mascara
Recommended by: Patricia Foster Stein, Executive Beauty Director, Brand Partnerships
Mom always emphasized your best feature and her expressive eyes said it all. She discovered the It Cosmetics Line on QVC years ago and the formulations keep getting better. This new Super Hero Waterproof mascara gives super volume and length, and now comes in a life-proof formula that resists smudging, sweat, and even humidity.
It Cosmetics
Retro Matte Lipstick
Recommended by: Camille Freestone, Senior Style Editor
My mother instilled in my sister and me the value of lip color, but a red lip in particular. She used to put Mac Ruby Woo on me for dance recitals until I started wearing it myself. Now, it’s a signature component of nearly every formal event I attend.
Mac Cosmetics
Skincare
Illuminating Eye Crème
Recommended by: Patricia Foster Stein, Executive Beauty Director, Brand Partnerships
My Mother always taught me about cause-related beauty and that’s exactly what this amazing new Tata Harper Illuminating Eye Cream does for sustainability. This diamond-dusted eye cream extends the lifespan of packaging to prevent unnecessary waste from entering landfills across the globe. Talk about a feel-good glow!!
Tata Harper
Shea Butter Hand Cream
Recommended by: Camille Freestone, Senior Style Editor
My mother’s bathroom counter was mostly bare but this L’Occitane hand cream always earned a spot outside the drawers thanks to its everyday use (and—let’s be real—the nice packaging). Now, it’s earned a spot on my bathroom counter, as well.
L’occitane
Clarifying Cleansing Foam
Recommended by: Katie Mok, Content Management Coordinator
My first exposure to skin care was, like many, through my mom. When I started breaking out my mom taught me to use a cleanser–start with a pea-sized amount and lather up the foam. Lo and behold, this is the mother/ daughter-approved cleanser we turn back to every single time.
Shiseido
Black Rose Cream Mask
Recommended by: Leya Kaufman, Head of Brand, Publisher & SVP of Sales
My mom stopped aging years ago. She looks effortlessly youthful and for as long as I can remember, she has slathered on Sisley. While I haven’t overhauled my entire nighttime routine in favor of the brand’s secret potions (yet), this cream mask is now part of my weekly ritual.
Sisley-Paris
Renewal Treatment Oil
Recommended by: Patricia Foster Stein, Executive Beauty Director, Brand Partnerships
Since I was a little girl, my Mom always instilled in me the importance of good skincare and treatment oils. She would say it’s a necessary luxury and that your skin is the canvas of your face. EVE LOM’s luxurious blend helps lock in moisture, soothes fine lines and brightens my skin. An added bonus is that it comes with complimentary Rose Quartz Gua Sha, and once I explained to her what a Gua Sha is, we’re both obsessed.
EVE LOM
The Hand Cream
Recommended by: Emily Greene, Marketing Strategy Director
I don’t know a single other person who swears by quality hand cream as much as my mom does—but, suffice it to say, she definitely knows what she’s talking about because her hands definitely look younger than mine (and she has 30 years on me). This Nécessaire cream is one of our go-tos to keep on hand (no pun intended) all year round. It feels just as luxe as it looks.
Nécessaire
Pro Collagen Celebration Trio
Recommended by: Patricia Foster Stein, Executive Beauty Director, Brand Partnerships
Growing up, our bathroom vanity closet was like a treasure chest filled with magic. My mother always emphasized the importance of a skincare regimen, and that’s why we love the Elemis Pro-Collagen Trio. This special 20th-year celebration of the brand includes a Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, Marine Cream, and Night Cream. We used to buy the brand in London until they came to the US 7 years ago and have not stopped!
Elemis
Perfecting Repair Serum
Recommended by: Katie Mok, Content Management Coordinator
After getting my digital perm, my mom stresses hair care should be top priority. After loads of her recommendations, this is the one that stuck out the most. This serum perfectly hydrates and nourishes the hair, leaving a sleek shine that lasts throughout the day. Plus, it tames all my flyaways and baby hairs without leaving an oily residue.
Mise en Scene
Essential Energy Hydrating Day Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 20
Recommended by: Samantha Wu, Marketing Coordinator
If you have ever met my mom, you would know that she does not age. She has the most beautiful skin, mostly as a result of her consistent skincare regimen. One of the main beauty tips my mother taught me was to immediately apply some type of cream or lotion after washing my face. After being conditioned for years to add that step into my morning and nightly routine, I’ve become obsessed with all types of creams and lotions. A favorite of both my mom’s and my late grandmother’s, Shiseido cream never fails to deliver.
Shiseido
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