My Top 2022 Home and Beauty Products

Online shopping is my favorite way to shop. I usually do tons of research before I make a purchase: customer reviews, YouTube Videos, Facebook and Instagram inquiries, etc … It is getting even more tricky to shop online as positive reviews can be fraudulent and solicited. And we won’t even discuss “influencers” who in no way provide a wide spectrum of the word “beauty”. So when I get a great product online, I must share the goodness! Listed below are my top finds of 2022:

For the home:

Blue and cream tassel

This beautiful blue and cream tassel is even more lovely in person! It is a pale aqua/sea blue with cream and taupe accents. I originally bought two with the idea of using them as tie-backs for my living room curtains. I loved them so much in fact, I purchased two more to add little pops of French Country charm in the kitchen. You can purchase a two-pack in an array of colors at Amazon.

 

Orleans fragrance oil in “French Quarter”

We discovered the Orleans fragrance line once we moved to Louisiana. My boys love the “Jazz” room spray and I found that “French Quarter” suits my fancy. I use the room spray in my car and the scented oil diluted with water in my diffusers. “French Quarter” has rich notes of lily, vanilla, and musk. Class and sophistication in a bottle! You can purchase the oils and sprays at Orleans Home Fragrances.

 

Makeup and Skincare:

Revlon BB Cream and Candid Foundation

Ever since my favorite foundation was reformulated; I have been on the hunt for that “perfect” replacement. After exhausting almost every foundation out there, I began to feel lost. Recently, I discovered Revlon’s “PhotoReady” BB Cream after I decided that my forties were the time to add sunscreen to my makeup routine. I liked it just as much as any other BB cream I have ever tried so I purchased the “PhotoReady Candid” foundation to get more cover. I really like the mix of these two formulas. My skin likes to misbehave and freak out on me every other day. These formulas last all day and do not feel cakey. I also find that they do not settle into lines and creases as much as some fancy foundations. At a great price point, I can play around with shade and consistency without the guilt of paying a high-end price! You can purchase both at your favorite drug store or Amazon.

 

Dime “Eyelash Boost Serum”

 

My sister-in-law shared Dime beauty with me over the holidays. I love that their line is clean and safe for sensitive skin! I’ve been using this “eyelash boost serum” for a couple of months and can really tell a difference in the length of my lashes! I only wish it worked for my mane as well! It is best to purchase this product from Dime Beauty Company’s website.

Merle Norman’s Mascara Primer and “Lash Lift” Waterproof Mascara

 

 

Merle Norman lipstick in “Cheerleader”

 

Texas gals love their Merle Norman! I stopped by a local shop in Lafayette looking for foundation and ended up with their mascara primer and “Lash Lift” waterproof mascara as well as a sample of lipstick in “Cheerleader”. Wowzers! I really feel like the primer and mascara combination adds amazing length and separation to my lashes. It also lasts all day so no raccoon eyes here! I returned to the store to purchase the lipstick in “Cheerleader” after wearing the sample for several days. It’s a soft pink that looks naturally rosy … not too pink… and perfect for every day! Visit Merle Norman’s website to find a studio near you!

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri nail polish in “Taupe Priority”

Flesh-toned nail polish is very chic at this moment. It took me a while to jump aboard but when I found Sally Hansen’s Insti-Dri nail polish in “Taupe Priority”, I was hooked! I’m not very talented at painting my nails and this shade does not show “oops” as much as other colors. It dries super quickly, too! Does not require perfection and a quick sheen to the nails = win/win! You can find this shade at your local drug store or on Amazon.

I would love to hear from Lousiana Moms! Please share with us your favorite home and beauty products. I think we all appreciate finding products that come highly recommended by the people we know and trust!

Amanda Kosmer
Amanda grew up in East Texas with the last name of “Thibodeaux”. As a child, she found her last name was very odd and even more peculiar to pronounce! She and her husband are recent transplants to Youngsville where they are raising their two energetic boys. Amanda is a girly girl who loves all things feminine: the sparkle of new earrings; the glamour of a perfectly red lipstick. She has proclaimed to be many things: an old soul born in the wrong era, a land-locked mermaid, and a bull in a china shop. A booklover since she can remember, Amanda indulges herself in the smell of freshly printed pages and can’t stand the stench of an old book… she wonders “who else has touched that book and what images did they conjure up as they read the very same tale?” This thing is for certain, however, Amanda is a mother who believes in the power of Faith, dreams, and imagination. One of Amanda’s most favorite quotes by Erin Hanson gives wings to her dreams: “What if I fall? Oh, but darling, what if you fly?”