If you’re like us, you’ve probably wondered what famous people add to their carts. Not the JAR brooch and Louis XV chair but the hair spray and the electric toothbrush. We asked Belinda Carlisle — a solo artist and the lead singer of the Go-Go’s, who recently collaborated with Too Faced on a lipstick— about the reading light, moisturizer, and planner she can’t live without.
I read all the time and finish about 30 to 40 books per year. As I got older, I needed glasses and more light in order to read in bed. Traditional reading lights are fussy. You constantly have to redirect the light and it takes forever to get it right. This is very sleek. I wrap it around my neck and there are two flashlights on either side. You can direct them up or down or in any direction you want. When I’m sitting in the dark, I can’t see anything except for the flashlights. My husband makes fun of me for using it, and I even made fun of it when I first saw it because the light is so ridiculous-looking. But now I own two — they’re rechargeable, so I always have the spare one charged in case the other goes out in the middle of the night.
I lived in Asia for seven years. They’re really into their gadgets there. I saw a warmer like this in the kitchen department of a store — you had to walk through it to get to the grocery section. At first, I was like, “Please. That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen.” But after a year or so, I thought, “Why not? Maybe they know something I don’t.” I swear to God, it has changed coffee-drinking for me. If you don’t finish your coffee in a half hour, it’s lukewarm or cold unless you refill it or heat it up. That’s why this is the best invention ever: I can put my coffee cup on it and it will stay hot for hours if I keep it there. I couldn’t bring the one I bought in Asia to the U.S. when we moved back and was worried I wouldn’t be able to find a replacement. But, sure enough, there this was on Amazon, because it has everything.
Everybody is digital now, but I like writing things down. I like to see my weeks one at a time. I know you can do that with Google Calendar or whatever, but a planner is more special. I keep all of my old ones in a big envelope so I can revisit everything I’ve done in past years. I’ve always used Filofax, for close to 30 years now. I know what to expect. I like the format. It’s consistent. I’m very old-school. I turn off all of my phone notifications because I don’t like being disturbed. I don’t know when anyone texts or calls or emails me. I look at my phone when I want to, not when it alerts me. My husband doesn’t understand it, but I prefer life this way.
I’ve been using this for 40-odd years. It’s one of those classic standbys. My skin is extremely, extremely dry. But when I put this on at night, it no longer feels dry the next morning. I use it on my face, my cuticles, my feet — I rub it all over them, then put socks on to let it soak in. It’s a miracle cure. There’s a reason why it’s been around for so long. I don’t remember who first introduced me to it. A lot of the girls in the Go-Go’s use it, too, and have been for probably just as long.
I lived in France for 25 years, which is where I was introduced to Clé De Peau products. I was at a little cosmetics store in Cannes and the guy said, “You have to try this concealer. You don’t need any foundation with it.” He was right. I’ve now been using it for more than 20 years. As far as beauty products go, it’s one of those things, like the Elizabeth Arden cream, that really did change my life. Some days I go out with just lipstick and a little bit of this on under my eyes or wherever I might need it. The concealer makes my skin look radiant. It’s not heavy. I apply it with my fingers — I think you get the best coverage that way, plus sponges and brushes waste a product because it sticks to them.
I don’t have a huge sweet tooth. I’m more of a savory person, with the exception of this chocolate. It is the best — honestly, better than See’s, which used to be my favorite. A friend of mine who lives in Hollywood, near the shop, introduced me to it. The store has a chocolate factory attached. It reminds me of I Love Lucy because there are these women in aprons and this conveyor belt for chocolate. It’s the real deal. They don’t use chemicals. The dark chocolate with peanut butter and pink Himalayan salt is off-the-charts good. I stock up when I come to L.A. and keep it in secret cupboards so nobody can steal it. A few months ago, I picked up a bag of M&Ms and I couldn’t eat them. The candy just tasted like chemicals and sugar. This chocolate is pure and perfect.
Candles are a part of my daily ritual and have been for years. I get up very early in the morning, make my coffee, then go light my candles. They burn for a few hours. In the evening, I light them again to wind down when I’m reading and meditating. I’ve been doing this for years and years. I’ve used candles from all the companies, but I always go back to Diptyque. Its candles burn the longest and have the best scents — they’re not overpowering. Tuberose is my go-to. You definitely know there’s a fragrance in the air, but it doesn’t smell all chemically and pungent. It’s very subtle.
Apple cider vinegar is a miraculous product. It’s great for your immune system and for your skin if you have blemishes. I used to drink it every day with honey, but it’s kind of harsh. Taking these gummies doesn’t give me that burning sensation in my stomach. But now my problem is not eating the whole jar because they’re so good. They taste like Haribo. They’re addicting, so I try to keep it to three a day.
You can get a really great workout with bands alone. I’ve done Pilates and yoga for 25 years, so I just kind of know the routines. There are a ton online, if I need something to follow — sometimes I look up routines on Pinterest — but I pretty much just do my own thing. You can get all sorts of different bands. I picked these up because they have different strength levels.
[Editor’s note: Belinda’s exact set is currently out of stock, but we found lots of similar ones on Amazon, like this 5-band TechStone set that is available for the same low price.]
This is another miracle product. For those who don’t know, silver was used as an antibiotic at the turn of the last century. I learned this about 20 years ago, when my friends were using it for a lot of things. They were putting it on fruits and vegetables and even their skin. I started researching it and the history was so interesting to me. Recently, I was dealing with a hard-core case of eczema, so I went to a dermatologist who gave me a cortisone cream. The eczema went away, then immediately came back. I decided to try the silver colloidal spray on it to see if it works. I sprayed it on the patches and the eczema was gone the next day. I didn’t expect that to happen, but I was so impressed. I always have some in my medicine cabinet.
In my early punk days I would do some bolder colors, but as I’ve gotten older, I just stick with neutrals. They go with everything. I wanted to create a shade that I would wear daily and feel good wearing. I like lipsticks that are very nourishing, and the team at Too Faced really knows what they’re doing. We made a great lipstick. The tube is cute, too. It has puppies on it and my signature inside the casing. The lipstick will also benefit the Animal People Alliance, an organization I do a lot of work with.
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