After Using My Mom's Makeup During A Mother-Daughter Trip, I Immediately Bought These Products For Myself

My mom has an incredible sense of style and always looks put together, but, growing up, she was not the person I turned to for makeup advice. She’s a pro at velcro rollers and is the first to notice when I need a "little color" on my cheeks, but the act of doing makeup was just never her thing. I, unfortunately, have pictures of a younger me at dance recitals with not-so-cute mounds of blush on my cheeks and blue eyeshadow up to my eyebrows as evidence.

But, in the past year or so, ever since discovering the closest Ulta store to my hometown (30 minutes away) and getting her makeup done a few times for special events, she’s really stepped up her game. She recently told me she's learned to love makeup well into her 60s, all thanks to product recs and lessons from a few makeup pros, and, yes, Instagram Reels.

Which is how, earlier this month, I found myself raiding her makeup bag in the hotel bathroom while on a mother-daughter trip. Admittedly, I did so at first without her permission but after being wowed by several products, I had to let mom in on the fun. And I’m glad I did! Over the next few days of vacation, we enjoyed playing with the makeup together, even giving each other tips on how to use the products in different ways. So much that there are three stand-outs I decided I couldn't live without when I got home.

I texted my mom a few days after the trip to confirm the shade of bronzer and foundation drops, and she replied, “I never thought the day would come that you’d be asking me for makeup advice.” And, honestly, same, but I’ll take it now—and you should too.

CHANEL LES BEIGES Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream

As someone who has not committed to the cream makeup train, I was initially reluctant to use this cream-based bronzer. However, I applied my regular face makeup (a glow-y BB cream and foundation all-over, with some concealer on spots) as I normally do, then added this “where the sun would naturally hit the face.” Other than the texture of the bronzer, which is a gel-meets-cream consistency, the application was no different than my powder bronzer routine. I drew a “3” on each side of my face, as someone (not my mom) taught me years ago, hitting my forehead, cheekbone, and chin line, with a medium-sized sculpting brush. It blended beautifully and somehow got even prettier as I layered on blush, a light power, and highlighter. On light makeup days since, I've enjoyed using this alone on top of my go-to BB cream. It applies easily and adds a natural, healthy glow.

BUY IT: $50; Saksfifthavenue.com

TULA Skin Care Take Care + Nourish Advanced Hydration Body Moisturizer 

This product comes recommended by an Ulta sales consultant who helped my mom. She was looking for a nice lotion to mix with some bronzing drops ahead of spring dress season, and this is what she ended up with. I wore several dresses throughout our mother-daughter weekend, and I lathered this lotion on every time. It was so moisturizing, so light, and so absorbent on my arms and legs that you'd never guess it was the first time they'd seen the light of day since winter. I've been using it every day since. Best part: It comes in a large tub, so you can be generous with your application!

BUY IT: $38; Amazon.com 

Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Dewy Foundation Drops

Mom has been swearing by this one for a while now, and I, admittedly, haven't listened. I'm someone who has my foundation routine down pat—I've been using the L'Oreal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion as a base for years, topping it off with the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream Illumination for a full-coverage, yet glow-y look. But, on the trip and with the product right in front of me, I decided to mix this with my go-to cream. The texture is much thinner, so it actually made everything go on smoother. Much like the CHANEL bronzer, I've liked using this product on its own too. I'll probably stick to mixing this with my IT Cosmetics cream for weddings, and more formal events where I'm looking for full-coverage, but for Saturday morning errands and days in the office, this is the bottle I'm now reaching for.

BUY IT: $68; Sephora.com