I will be the first one to admit that I am in love with beauty products. When I pass a magazine stand and there's an Elle or Glamour with "100 Best Beauty Products" printed across the front of it, my first intention is to flip to the article in excited anticipation. I think it all started when I went to New York City with my friend Shawn in the 7th or Eighth Grade. I went to the Sephora store in Times Square and it was like someone let a sugar deprived four year old inside Willy Wonka's Factory. I wanted Everything... Over the years I've started a collection of my favorite products. Here are a select few that have made my life more complete. What are some of your favorites?
-I have pale combination skin...my T-Zone gets super shiny and it drives me crazy. I want my skin to be healthy and not completely matte looking, but I don't want to have a beacon of light on my face either. This powder is a perfect product to help your skin look fresh, healthy, and soft. It's a lightweight powder that can be applied with a big pouf that comes in the compact. I keep it in my purse for quick touch ups when I go out. It work especially well in these humid rainy spring months when my face tends to get a bit shinier.
- This blush is ALWAYS on the top lists of make-up artists, style gurus, and celebrities. And I totally 100% agree with them. This blush is beautifully peachy and shimmery and works with my pale-pink complexion. It immediately gives your whole face a natural flush that stays on throughout the day. The price tag is a little much, especially for us budgeters, but it looks amazing and lasts you for a long time, because a small sweep across your cheeks is all you need.
- I put a dab of this foundation on a make-up sponge and blend it onto my face and immediately I see redness and blotchiness start to disappear. This foundation has no fragrance, oils, or fillers that clog up your pores. You feel like your skin can breathe and look smooth and flawless at the same time.
-My friend Emily gave me this and I'm addicted to it now. It freshens your breath and lips with icy mint and gives your lips a subtle shine. It keeps your lips super hydrated with the peppermint oil that's in it.
-Sometimes you just went that Fashion Model nude pout. This lipstick is rich and silky and comes in lots of pretty shades. One of the WORST possible things a long-wearing lipstick can do is dry out your lips. This stuff keeps them moist and not sticky. I like the Madere nude color and pair it with done up smoky eyes for a night out on the town.
-This is a really pretty every-day lipstick that is lightweight and comfortable. I have this lipstick in Sweet Honey and works well to just swipe on in the morning before I go out.
-I have this lipstick in Wine with Everything, 50% of me wanted it because yes, I do love a good red wine and the other 50% wanted a flattering shade of red for a pale-skinned strawberry blonde. Red lips can be so classy and lovely, but the wrong red can be disastrous. This is a bit more dark, but still has that cherry colored pop.
-How can I express my love for this perfume... I want to drink it it's so good. Now, I'm not crazy, I would never do this, but the smell is deliciously floral and fresh. My boyfriend gave me a Sephora card as part of my Valentine present (he knows me very well) , I went in on a search for a new fragrance to wear for the Spring and Summer time. The brilliant Sephora employee suggested that I spritzed my two favorite perfumes on, one on each wrist and walk around the store a bit to smell them on me. She told me that some scents just don't mix with your natural scent. Words of wisdom. On one wrist I spritzed Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb and on the other Chanel's Chance. Chance won by a long shot. I just kept smelling my wrist, people thought I was a little weird, but that was fine. This perfume is perfect for you if you love lemon, citrus, or floral scents.
-Slather this stuff on after you shower for super-soft moisturized skin. It's a class that works wonders.
-Just don't ever by nail polish remover in a bottle from now on. I'm impatient, and I dread the day when my nail polish begins to chip away and I know it's time to remove it. I used to scrub and curse trying to get bright red and dark purple colors off my nails. This jar is awesome, it takes me significantly less time to put my finger into the weird spongey jar and wiggle it and Ta-Da, the nail polish is gone. Very good buy for very little!
-This lavender shade just makes me think of all the pretty spring flowers that are popping up. It's part of Essie's French nail color line and I'm kind of in love with all the colors.
-The mocha-beige color works well with lots of outfit choices. This polish stays on forever and won't chip easily. It's part of Sephora's Urban Ballerina Nail Color line which are all beautiful colors.
- I love this bright coral color on my toes this Spring. It's a very happy bright color that instantly gives your nails a girly peach tone.
-This stuff is like Hogwart's Magic for your nails. I love sparkly glitzy things but, in small doses, and this is perfect. The coppery-colored specks in the clear polish look amazing on top of darker purple nails or on top of nude colored nails as well. It also acts as a protective coat. So pretty much, you have a sparkly force field on your nails.
-I like to keep my hair long which means not cutting it for long periods of time. In that growing process, sometimes your hair needs a moisture wake-up call. Biolage's balm is a super-good smelling hair mask that makes your hair, silky, soft and healthy.
-In the morning sometimes I'm running around trying to get so many things done I don't have time to jump in the shower let alone cook a decent breakfast. Sometimes I know I'm going to need a shower at the end of the day because I get messy, painty, and gluey working with kids and doing art. This dry shampoo is a good pick-me up for hair that may be lacking glamour.
-Every time I dry my hair I work a dime sized of this magic stuff into my hair. It keeps away frizz, smells clean and lovely, and using it is kind of like weather proofing you hair.
