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The #ProductEmpties We Loved to the Last Drop

From new finds to longtime favorites, these are beauty products that our editors use until the bitter end (of the tube)
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The Shine Spray That Cuts My Blow-Dry Time in Half
Here's where I confess that despite my beauty editor status, I am incredibly lazy -- borderline slovenly -- when it comes to my hair. As in, I'm more likely to show up with wet or second-day (or, let's be real, third-day) hair than styled strands.

It takes a small eternity to blow-dry my thick, moisture-loving locks, which doesn't work with my already-frantic morning routine. So I'd resigned myself to a continued committed relationship with dry shampoo -- until I discovered Shu Uemura Straightforward Time-Saving Blow Dry Oil Spray, $39.

It cuts my drying time in half (trust me, I timed it), and leaves me with sleek, shiny, just-came-from-Drybar strands. And the product boasts some pretty rad technology, to boot. The omega 3- 6 and 9-packed formula uses some of the same glide-enhancing ingredients as makeup foundation, so you get an even coat of its silky goodness on every strand.

I don't plan on breaking up with my beloved dry shampoo anytime soon, but thanks to this time-saver, I have pulled my blow-dryer out of retirement. --Mary Squillace

To peep all of my Holy Grail beauty products follow me on Instagram @msquillace

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The Perfume That Quickly Became My Summer Go-To
I'm by no means dedicated to a single fragrance, but it's rare that I add a perfume to my repertoire of six or seven scents. And I'm extremely picky about the fragrances that do make the cut: rich musky perfumes tinged with sandalwood or tobacco -- scents that are more unusual than they are commercial. (Yes, I admit it: I'm a fragrance snob.)

So when I heard about the Jo Malone Herb Garden collection, I assumed I wouldn't like it. Sure, it would be lovely for someone who likes fresh, green fragrances, but I am not that someone -- or so I thought. Jo Malone Nasturtium and Clover, $70, proved me wrong.

The scent is like a picnic in a clover field on a warm summer day. You've got a glass of freshly squeezed lemonade in your hand, and somewhere in the distance jasmine grows on a trellis. Heavenly, right? The real kicker for me, though, is the punch of vetiver at the end. Sure, it's a grass, but it's a mysterious, masculine-scented grass, and it makes this fragrance incredibly special.

Nasturtium and Clover is so special, in fact, I've been reaching for it daily. My other favorite perfumes all seems too deep and musky for warmer summer weather. I'd rather smell like I've been sipping lemonade at a picnic. -- Dawn Davis

To see the rest of my fragrance collection, follow me on Instagram @dawnspinnerdavis.

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The Drugstore Highlighter That Makes Me Glow
I am obsessed with things that sparkle and shine so, natch, one of my favorite beauty products is highlighter. As a beauty editor, I was lucky enough to get my hands on Maybelline Master Strobing Stick, $11.99, a month before it launches in stores this July -- and I've been wearing it every day since.

It was love at first swipe, and, like anyone in the throes of a new romance, I talked, texted, SnapChatted and Instagrammed incessantly about it. What makes it so good is the formula: It's creamy, blends right into skin and contains just the right amount of shimmer for a strobed look. The stick format makes it ultra easy to swipe on my cheekbones; I use my finger to pat it under my brows, in the inner corners of my eye and, if I'm going out, down my nose and above my Cupid's bow. It also looks amazing in photographs and IRL, which is a big plus in my book. This relationship is simply meant to be.

Follow me on Instagram @allieflinn (I promise I post about more than this highlighter).

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The Eyeliner That Gives Me a Perfect Smoky Eye
If there's one thing I love, it's a sexy smoky eye.

Yup, I'm the girl you see rocking night club makeup in the middle of the day -- but I just can't help myself. There's something alluring about dramatic eyes. So you can imagine how stoked I was when the answer to my perfect-smoky-eye-every-time prayers landed on my desk: The Palladio Fifty-Fifty Cat Eye Liquid Liner + Smoky Kajal, $15.00.

My infatuation started when I realized I could create a smoky eye in under five minutes with this eyeliner. Plus, the dual-ended liner gives me options. The liquid liner on one end provides an even, blunt line for dramatic eyeliner, and if you struggle with your cat eye, the steady application brush will help you achieve a straight line. On the other hand (or end rather), the kajal pencil blends beautifully into the skin. I like to gently sweep a blending brush across my top and bottom liner for a flawless smoky look around the eyes. The best part? At under $20, it doesn't break the bank. I couldn't have asked for a more purrrfect match.

For more of my beauty obsessions, follow me on Instagram @siremj

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The Sunscreen That Makes Me Love Sunscreen
Confession time: I hate wearing sunscreen -- which is basically a cardinal sin when you're a beauty editor.

Yes, I know that sunscreen protects my skin, prevents premature aging and wards off skin cancer. Still, it's hard to get jazzed about applying the stuff. The sunblocks of my youth either left my skin slick and smelling like a coconut, or sticky and coated in a white cast that stained my swimsuits. They were a chore to apply -- and then to have to re-slather every two hours? Hard pass.

Thankfully, sunscreen has come a long way in recent years. Case in point: Kiehl's Sun Protector Water-Light Lotion for Face and Body, $29, which isn't just tolerable -- I actually enjoy putting it on. True to its name, this lightweight lotion-like formula absorbs immediately upon touch, leaving my skin feeling soft, never greasy. Between the barely-there texture and fragrance-free formula, it's kind of like wearing nothing at all. And most importantly, it gets the job done: It recently kept me burn-free after a weekend of swimming and pool-lounging in 100-degree weather.

It goes without saying that Kiehls' sunscreen has earned a permanent spot in my beach bag, which I hope is enough to help me atone for my past beauty transgressions. --Mary Squillace

For more of my summer staples, follow me on Instagram @msquillace

Ever had a beauty product you love so much that you shook, hacked, scraped or squeezed its container until you were absolutely positive you had expended all of its precious contents? Rare indeed is the product that elicits that deliciously desperate feeling, especially in beauty editors. So when our team of beauty mavens encounters a rave-worthy product, you know it's the real deal. Herewith, our editors rattle off their "beauty empties," aka the best beauty products that they can't help but use until the last drop. Read on for their best nail polishes, hair products, skin care products and makeup now.
MAR 13, 2020 | SHARES
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