I've Spent Years Playing Product Roulette, But These 17 Have Won Me Over

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(Image credit: Emily Didonato)

The Lineup is a monthly series where we’re giving you an inside peek at the beauty lineups of cool fashion people, editors, makeup artists, hairstylists, and estheticians—all the people we trust the most. Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at all the can’t-live-without products that make their worlds go round.

If you're not familiar with Emily DiDonato's name, you'd probably recognize her face from the countless Maybelline ads she's appeared in (she became the face of the brand when she was fresh out of high school) or her modeling for Victoria's Secret and countless other designers. She's only 30 and has already had an impressive career that has given her opportunities to collaborate with some of the best makeup artists and hairstylists in the industry. "I've been on set for thousands of photoshoots, have tried so many products, and picked up so many tips and tricks along the way," says the New York–based supermodel. Though she admits she wasn't always skilled in the beauty department. "As a teenager, I went through a period of struggling with acne and genuinely didn't know how to take care of my skin. I tried so many different routines and systems, from Proactiv to Clinique, with hopes of achieving a clearer complexion."

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(Image credit: Emily Didonato)

DiDonato says she feels fortunate to have had exposure to beauty throughout her life, but after years of experimenting with skincare and playing product roulette, she felt ready to trade her complex 12-step routine for something more streamlined. "My dermatologist, Julie Russak, has taught me less is more and consistency and product compatibility are key." Ultimately, this is what led DiDonato to co-found Covey, a simple three-step skin ritual that works across all skin types.

Even though DiDonato's own line is keeping her busy, she still loves discovering and trying new products to feature on her YouTube channel. "I firmly believe that beauty products should make you feel good and shouldn't be a source of stress. They should make you feel confident and act as anchors even during the most hectic days," she says. Keep scrolling to see the picks that make her feel her best, and watch her break down her daily beauty essentials via our IGTV series, Beauty Wardrobes. 

Can't get enough of DiDonato's picks? Watch her break down her daily beauty essentials, the products TikTok influenced her to buy, and more in her Beauty Wardrobes feature on our IGTV.

Up next: Why I'm a big fan of Botox (plus 15 products I love, too). 

Group Executive Director, Branded Content and Beauty

Caitie Schlisserman is an L.A.-based executive director with over a decade of branded content and editorial experience. She joined Who What Wear in 2014 as the first branded content editor and has worked her way up to overseeing a team of talented branded content editors and the beauty department of the media revenue team. Before Who What Wear, Caitie helped launch FabFitFun's first subscription box and worked at a beauty startup where she assisted in successfully launching the editorial department.