'I’m a beauty addict and these are 7 products I can’t believe I didn’t try sooner.'

There are so many downright delightful beauty buys out there. 

With new releases seemingly every second day, there’s no shortage of goodies to add to your routine to take it to the next level. 

As someone who has quite the soft spot for beauty, it can sometimes get very overwhelming. Just when you think you’ve found your perfect foundation/cleanser/blush/lipstick…*BAM* a new one hits the market and you’re left wondering if it could be the one for you.  

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I try to shop smarter, not harder when it comes to upgrading my kit (I only have one face, after all), but every now and then I sleep on a product or two that I should have snapped up straight away! 

Did I think they surely couldn’t live up to the hype? Could I not bear the thought of replacing a trusty fave? Who knows! Regardless, I let these seven products slip through my fingers for too long, and I can’t believe I didn’t try them sooner. 

A quick reminder that everyone’s skin is unique, so patch test goodies you haven’t tried before and seek advice if you’re unsure if a product is for you. I’m not a dermatologist, and these are just my own experiences trialling beauty products. 

1. Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in Minette, $73.

Image: Westman Atelier

I am a diehard blush fan. If I was only able to keep a handful of makeup products, blush would undoubtedly be one of them. What other product possesses the power to instantly illuminate, lift and bring your face to life?! So, when I slid this Westman Atelier blush over my cheeks for the first time, it was big ‘where have you been all my life’ energy. 

The velvety-smooth, long-wearing formula applies with ease, and it does not move the foundation underneath. Sorcery! 

I also find it super buildable, so I can have a subtle hint of colour or a feisty pop of pigment. Minette is my perfect peachy shade, but you best believe I’ll be trying the other shades soon too. 

2. Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, $42. 

Image: Paula's Choice

It’s no secret that Paula’s Choice knows skincare. Like, really knows. After recently subbing in this BHA toner (and giving some of my AHA toners a well-deserved break) I’m honestly struggling to work out why this one hasn’t been in my cabinet forever. 

Many a skincare aficionado has raved about this toner, and now I know what all the fuss was about! With a breakout-busting formula championing salicylic acid and green tea, I’ve found this toner helps unclog my pores and boost my skin’s radiance. I’m mad at my past self for not trying this sooner, but chuffed that she’s with me now. 

3. MCoBeauty Highlight and Glow Beauty Wand, $28.

Image: MCoBeauty

As a certified glow-getter, highlighters are a must-have in my makeup routine. Over the years, I have acquired quite the hefty collection of both liquid highlighters (for the cooler months) and powders (for always). 

So, imagine my surprise when I tried these bad boys for the first time just recently and fell in love. The easy applicator. The subtly tinted glow. The price! A perfect final touch for my face before I head out the door all beamy. 

4. Sunday Riley CEO Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Oil, $120.

Image: Mecca

Sunday Riley makes some of my ride-or-die skincare faves. Good Genes? Couldn’t live without her! UFO Oil? An essential! As a vitamin C obsessive, I am shocked and appalled that it took me so long to treat my skin to the pure delight that is Sunday Riley’s CEO Glow oil. 

A lovely blend including vitamin C, turmeric root extract, red raspberry oil and cranberry seed oil make this product juicy, glowy goodness in a bottle. It’s now become one of my most trusted pre-makeup products in the cooler months when that dewy look is a little harder to achieve, earning a firm place in my heart and my bathroom cabinet.  

5. Charlotte Tilbury Superstar Lips in Pillow Talk, $49. 

Image: Charlotte Tilbury

Okay, so this one is embarrassing. 

Every Charlotte Tilbury makeup product I’ve ever tried has been *chef’s kiss* and Pillow Talk has to be one of the most loved and rated ones there is. Somehow, for reasons I am unable to explain, I have resisted the temptation to add this one to the cart for quite some time. 

And now that I’ve given in, I have regrets for waiting so long. 

This colour is simply perfection, and the Superstar Lips formulation (it includes hyaluronic acid for hydration) means I don’t have to add gloss or balm for all-day wear. Just swipe and go! Obviously, she’s now become a handbag staple. 

6. Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil, $130. 

Image: Mecca

As a brunette masquerading as a blonde for the past five years, I’ve tried lots of healing and nourishing hair products. Think: masks, fancy shampoo and conditioner power-couples, treatments, oils… the list goes on. Little did I know that shiny and happy hair was just a small bottle of goodness away. 

This Gisou hair oil is a hard-working multitasker – you can use it as the finishing touch on styled hair, as a pre-styling product, or as a repairing treatment. I have quite thin locks, so I love to massage it into the ends of my hair when wet and let the oil work its magic. 

A little goes a long way, so the smallest bottle (20ml, $37) keeps me going for agessss. Plus, it smells heavenly.  

7. Soap and Glory The Righteous Butter Body Lotion, $20. 

Image: Soap & Glory

I’ve moisturised my body every single night (and some mornings) for over a decade. This is not fake news – I truly have not missed a night in all of those years. As a result, I have tried more body creams than I could possibly count and it’s pretty hard to get me to swap out my tried and tested faves for a newbie. 

However, I recently happened upon this Soap and Glory lotion and was won over by its delightful scent (bergamot, peach and patchouli all feature – drool) and easy-to-use pump lid. Once I lathered up on the stuff, I was well and truly hooked. 

Aloe vera and shea butter ensure my skin is buttery soft, and this stuff literally disappears into my skin. No slippery or sticky residue in sight!  

So many products I wish I’d tried sooner but I'm stoked to have in regular rotation now! 

Extra shout-outs to the Lanolips 101 Ointment, $18.95, which I somehow went my whole adult life thus far without, and the Morphe Continuous Setting Mist, $24, which I should have been using to lock down my makeup looks way earlier.  

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What beauty product do you regret not snapping up sooner?

Feature image: Hannah Rabbitt/Mamamia