Surprisingly, one of the most frequently asked questions here is what my favorite beauty products are. I’ve done a few posts over the last six years about what’s in my makeup bag, but these are my favorite basic makeup products right now. Some are long-time favorites and some are more recent favorites.

1. Make Up Forever HD Invisible Cover Foundation in Ivory- This is hands-down the best foundation I’ve ever tried. I’ve been wearing it for about a year, and I love the coverage, love how light it is, and love that it lasts all day. I apply it using a stippling brush, and it has such great coverage that I can apply it in about 30 seconds. It is really great foundation!

2. Dior 5-colour eyeshadow in Grege- I cannot say enough great things about Dior eyeshadow. The pigment is strong and the color lasts all day. It goes on without having to apply more than one coat to get the full affect. And the 5-colour palettes build so beautifully together. I also love the Incognito palette. One palette lasts me almost a full year.

3. Bobbi Brown blush in Bright Pale Pink- I have worn this color off and on for the past six or seven years. I will get a wild idea to try a new blush, but I always come back to this one. I love the color and just love Bobbi Brown.

4. Clinique Quickliner in Black- I have used this eyeliner for fifteen years. And that’s just crazy that I’m old enough to have been wearing an eyeliner for that long. But I am and this is the one I love. It goes on smoothly, and lasts all day. It’s great.

5. YSL Lipstain in Rose  Tempura- I love pinks and anything that brings color to my face. I’ve not always been a fan of glosses and stains, but this one is absolutely perfect. It’s not sticky and they mean it when they call it a stain.

6. Dior Addict Lipstick in Sheer Dark Pink- Dior lipstick lasts for hours and I just love the pigment. And it just feels good when it goes on. I only apply lipstick once or twice a day, so it also lasts for months.

7. Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit  in Ivory- This combination is God’s gift to women. Seriously, it works miracles.

Not pictured: Maybelline Valum Express The Falsies Mascara. This is my absolute favorite mascara. After years of buying expensive mascaras, some would irritate my eyes (I have very sensitive eyes) and some just did nothing for my lashes. Falsies mascara is the best I’ve ever tried. I love it!

Are any of these your favorites? What’s your best beauty product recommendation?

Today, for Build ‘Em Up, we’re all sharing a study on marriage, family, or parenting that has changed the way we did things in our home. (Not just a study that made us cry.) A study that made us take action. 

I am often emailed and asked about what my favorite Bible study is for various topics. And I have been in a lot of studies, but we might just study a book of the Bible for six months, or they’re all women’s studies.

A couple of years ago, Todd and I did a study on the book Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs together. It was actually a really tough pill to swallow.

Love & Respect is based on Ephesians 5:33. “However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”

The main idea behind the book is that unconditional respect for him is as powerful as unconditional love is for her.

It was very eye-opening for me, as I realized more and more how important it is for me to let Todd know that I trust him and value his opinion. How important it is that I speak to him in a way so that he can hear in my voice how much I love and respect him.

It didn’t completely change me- I am a work in progress. But it made me a whole lot more aware of the way he is wired and what makes him feel loved and valued.

And on the flip side, I realized just how closely love and respect are tied. In order for me to feel that unconditional love, I also have to know that he loves me and cherishes me and values my opinions and ideas.

I’m glad we read the book together so we could discuss it. There were, of course, parts of it that we discussed together and decided that it wasn’t for us. It’s Biblical commentary based on God’s truths. But it’s still commentary, so there were some things that the authors wrote that just didn’t work for us. But we talked about it together.

I wasn’t sure that I could write about this book because I didn’t show Todd the kind of respect he deserves last night, and we had a pretty big argument last night. So it just felt weird to write about how this book had been “marriage-changing.” It was definitely marriage-altering.

Have you read Love & Respect? What did you think? And what would you say was the most life-changing resource?

Blogging is such a fun thing. A few years ago, I started pinning these gorgeous long bob hairstyles on Pinterest, and the girl in the pictures was this beautiful, “real life” girl who had a hair blog.

And then a couple of months later, I saw her at the Blissdom conference. And then again recently at the Influence Conference.

Kate from The Small Things Blog has such a great way of helping every day girls learn how to style their hair and try new things with makeup.

And in this video from BlogHer, she’s talking all about a great look for makeup to wear to work. I love all of her tips and love that natural, glowing look that everyone can wear every day!