In The Mix: The Beauty Products I’m Actually Using Right Now
By Kiri Johnston | 5th March 2026As a former makeup artist, I’ve tested a lot of beauty products over the years. These are the ones I keep coming back to, the formulas currently living in my makeup bag, lining my shelf, or sitting in my shopping cart.
Some are new discoveries, others are long-time staples. Together they make up the current edit: the pieces living in my makeup bag, lining my shelf, or sitting in my shopping cart.
The skin reset
SAN LUEUR Advanced LED Light Therapy Facial Mask has recently become part of my routine. LED masks are often used backstage to support collagen production and calm inflammation, and this one brings that treatment into a sleek at-home device. I’ll reach for it before a busy day or an event when I want skin looking clear and refreshed.
Yet to try: For daily radiance, Augustinus Bader The Vitamin C Serum is an essential post-summer. I’ve heard it layers seamlessly under makeup and leaves skin looking clear and luminous. One that’s patiently sitting in my cart.
Sans [ceuticals] Activator 7 Body + Hair + Face Oil is another recent addition. The New Zealand brand’s everything oil works across skin and hair, pressed into damp skin, through the ends of hair, or used as a facial oil before bed for a soft sheen by morning.
Coming soon: rhode Caffeine Reset Sculpting Cream Mask is already creating buzz. Powered by caffeine to help reduce the appearance of puffiness, the formula is designed to smooth and refresh tired skin in minutes. It’s firmly on my radar the minute it lands in Australia.
Complexion essentials
Lately, I’ve been converted to Prada Reveal Skin Optimising Foundation. It’s buildable, incredibly skin-like and easy to wear — refined coverage without the heavy mask effect. For everyday polish or a night out, it’s quickly become a go-to.
When I want more glow and longevity, Hourglass Illusion Luminous Glow Foundation SPF 30 remains a staple for my daily look. It photographs beautifully and delivers a softly radiant finish that lasts throughout the day.
For glow, I’ve been reaching for Haléau Pearl Baume Highlighter. Created by Australian beauty editor Eleanor Pendleton, the refillable formula sits somewhere between skincare and makeup. It melts into the skin rather than sitting on top, leaving a soft pearlescent sheen. I’ll tap it onto cheekbones, eyelids and the bridge of the nose for subtle luminosity.
I’ve really upped my blush game within the past few years, so the rhode Pocket Blush is creamy, easy to blend and designed for movement — nose, cheeks, lips, done in seconds.
The everyday extras
There are a few beauty pieces I rarely skip.
rhode Peptide Lip Shape Contouring Lip Shaper creates a softly defined, fuller look without ever feeling overdrawn. Subtle, wearable and genuinely flattering.
Layered with Gisou Honey Glaze Collagen Therapy Lip Mask, lips stay glossy, hydrated and healthy. It’s one of those daily habits you don’t realise you rely on until it’s gone.
Brows are a non-negotiable for me, MECCA MAX Brow Guru Cutting Edge Pencil (with the spoolie) is always in my bag. Sculpt, brush, done.
For a low-effort finish, Prada Banana Lip Balm adds a soft, slightly frosted sheen. I also can’t go past the silver packaging.
Hair, scent & the unexpected
TYPEBEA G1 Overnight Boosting Peptide Hair Serum is a new-generation hair treatment designed to support scalp health and stronger hair over time. The packaging is clean, the formula thoughtful, and it works overnight while you sleep.
Kérastase Le Parfum, the newest addition to the brand’s Gloss Absolu universe, a finishing touch that elevates great hair is a subtle finishing touch for great hair. It leaves a soft, glossy scent through the lengths after styling.
Then there’s fragrance, FENDI La Baguette Eau de Parfum smells like warm, freshly baked bread straight from the oven. Unexpected, comforting and slightly addictive. Enough said.
Yet to try: Another scent on my radar is Diptyque Orphéon Eau de Toilette, a new interpretation of the Maison’s cult Parisian fragrance inspired by the legendary Orphéon jazz bar in Saint-Germain.
In the mix
I’m less interested in excess and more interested in products worth keeping in rotation that work for me. Skin that looks like skin, texture over coverage, effortless over overdone. These are the products currently in my rotation.
