My Must-Haves: Bronzing Edition

Bronzers and self-tanners are my summertime {makeup} best friends. I always feel cuter when I look like I've been kissed by the sun. Who doesn't? I've assembled some of the color achieving products I use in an effort to feel less like a Cullen.

Nars Bronzing Powder Not too shimmery / glittery, blends easily.

Lorac TANtalizer Baked Bronzer Especially good if you already have some color. Adds more of an intense glow.

Lorac Blush/Bronzer Duo Great combo for allover and cheek color.

Jose Maran Bronzing Argan Oil Bronzey shimmer oil. Can be applied to the body, face and hair. Super moisturizing and smells delish.

 

Tan Towel Self-Tan Towlettes So easy to apply.  No yucky self-tan scent. Great color without streaks.

Jergens Natural Glow Foaming Daily Moisturizer Dries incredibly fast. Very little odor. Natural looking color in very little time. So much better than the lotion.

My Must-Haves: Volume 7

My ever-expanding beauty arsenal has some items I've yet to share.

Batiste Dry Shampoo - Brunette

I've been using Batiste dry shampoo for ages, but finally they came out with a spray for brunettes. Travel sizes are now available too (but not in brown that I know of) - I keep them in my purse, gym bag, etc.  

Moroccanoil Oil Treatment

This product is raved about by many and I have to attest it makes my hair soft and shiny and it smells super yummy. There's a mini bottle that's great for travel and the gym, I just keep it and fill it up from the larger bottle when it runs out. Beware blonds, I've heard using this can make your hair orangey.  

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss, SPF 15 - Pink Afterglow
You can't beat this lipgloss - it's not sticky, has SPF and is very affordable.  I have a bunch of colors, but Pink Afterglow is my fave and perfect for everyday wear. 

 

OPI Nail Polish - 25 Colorful Years 

This is my new favorite red - that's all.

 

The Body Shop Bath Gloves

My friend Lori gave these to me for Christmas and they work so well at exfoliating.  Perfect at  scrubbing away dry skin, especially before a spray tan. 

 

Kiehl's Cryste Marina Firming Eye Treatment  

I like this eye cream because it's on the thicker side and feels really moisturizing.  I'm not really sure if there are any noticeable changes, but I like the way it feels.

My Must Haves: Volume 6

I haven't done one of these in a while and of course I have new daily favorites!

Laura Mercier Undercover Pot

This compact little pot is a great three-in-one.  The Secret Camouflage (left) is long-lasting and thicker than the creamier Secret Concealer (right).  I use the Secret Camouflage on blemishes and the Secret Concealer under my eyes.  Below the those is the Lightweight Translucent Loose Setting Powder, which I lightly dab on any spots I may have concealed and also brush allover to set my makeup as a whole.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil

This eyeliner glides on extremely smoothly and stays put for hours.  My color of choice is Rockstar, which is a dark purple.  I usually wear it on my bottom lashes to add a pop of color that isn't over the top and inappropriate for daytime. 
 

Fresh Twilight Freshface Glow

This smooth, pearly cream hydrates and creates a nice glow.  I usually put it around my eyes and the tops of my cheeks, not all over, as my Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer takes care of the "lit from within" look I want. However, if I don't use the Laura Mercier Moisturizer and opt for something else, then I'll use this as a primer underneath.

The All Nighter Hair Powder

Love this stuff- its a mix between a dry shampoo and a styling product.  Gets rid of greasies and totally gives my hair volume at the roots, body all over and creates hold. I've had my bottle for months and there's still a bunch left. *Just be careful not to get too much on the skin of your part or on your clothes, as the power is colored. 

My Must Haves: Volume 5

Time for another installment of my ever-changing list of necessities. To view previous picks, go here.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 - Illuminating

I use this every single day. Its not too thin, like many regular moisturizers and its not as thick as regular foundation. It has a slight sheen, and I've been told on more than one occasion that my skin is glowing, when that's all I've been wearing. And of course, the SPF is a necessity.

Batiste Dry Shampoo

An absolute MUST. I go through so many cans of it. It gets rid of greasies and adds volume and texture without a powdery look. A life saver on days when I haven't washed my hair and is also great for touch ups mid-day when heading from work to drinks. It comes in 3 different scents, all of which are quite pleasant.

TIGI Bed Head Hard Head Hair Spray
This hair spry is strong enough to hold my curls for hours, but on the flip side, it doesn't make my hair crispy or sticky and untouchable.

Rimmel Glam'Eyes Mascara
As I've mentioned before, I am always trying new mascaras, looking for the perfect one. For now, this is it. While I'm normally not a fan of rubbery applicators, this one is different for some reason. Perhaps it's because the its thin and bristles are two different sizes. It's also flexible and soft. The results are long, clump and flake free lashes.

Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion - Sin

I've used the matte Urban Decay Primer Potion for quite some time and have given it rave reviews. This shimmery primer delivers the same, just with some color and shine. Sometimes I just use it alone as a simple base. Other times I layer shadow over it and it stays all day without creasing.

Vaseline Aloe Fresh Protecting Body Lotion w/ SPF 15
During the summer I like to sit outside during my lunch break, which means I must wear SPF. I don't like applying regular sunscreen on my body during the day when I'm at work, because it can get on my clothes, and smell like I should be at the beach, not the office. I like this light, fresh-smelling lotion, which contains SPF.

Anastasia Brow Pen - Long Wearing Brow Tint

We all know Anastasia is the authority on brows. I've used the Anastasia Perfect Brow Pencil and Brow Ex-press in the past, but this newer addition is a dream. It goes on really easily and precisely, looks natural and is long lasting.

Tried it. Love it.

I finally bought the much-reviewed CoverGirl LashBlast mascara earlier this week. I must say, I am very impressed. It's truly one of the best mascaras I've used - and I've tried a lot. The rubber applicator made me a little wary at first, as I haven't liked others I've used in the past, but I didn't experience any problems with this one. The mascara itself is great - it goes on evenly with no clumping at all, lasts all day and doesn't flake off. My lashes appear longer than they do with other mascaras, thicker too. LashBlast is definitely going on my Must-Have list.

My (Maybe) Must-Haves: Vol. 4 - an Update

Here are my follow-up reviews after using the products I bought last month. Unfortunately only one item made it onto my definite "must-have" list.

I liked the Smashbox Bionic Mascara at first, but often near the end of the day, I had mascara residue under my eyes. Onward to a new mascara (currently Lancome Definicils Pro).

Erase Paste by Benefit is just so so. I like the consistency and it provides pretty good coverage, but the downside is that it tends to visibly crease under my eyes sometimes.

Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Pout is good, but not great. I think maybe the color is not quite right for me, but there's nothing really bad about the gloss.

Smashbox O-Gloss is the one that made the list. It's super soft and smooth and adds a nice rosy hue to your lips. The other day I was looking a little pale and only had the O-Gloss in my purse, so I dabbed a little on my cheeks and looked much more refreshed.

As a cosmetics junkie, rest assured that I will be purchasing, trying and reviewing more products soon.

My (Maybe) Must-Haves: Volume 4

We'll see if these items end up on my "must-have" list after I've used them for a while...

Last week I ran out of lipgloss, foundation and mascara. Well, I didn't run out of mascara, but I bought brown on accident - the horror! Seriously, black makes all the difference. I just didn't look right wearing brown.

Anyhoo, I cautiously went to Sephora to pick up the items I really needed. I have a tendency to accidentally find too many things I simply must have on most Sephora trips, so I tried my best to keep the spending to a minimum.

As I've said before, I'm always on a quest for the best mascara. The last one I used (not including the brown incident) was Imju Fiberwig. I liked it, but I got kind of tired of having my sink covered in black flecks after every face washing. So I decided it was time to move on. This time I opted for Smashbox Bionic Mascara. So far I like it a lot. It's lengthening and thickening and stays put. Oh and it's black. "Jet black" if I'm being specific.

My next item was Erase Paste by Benefit. You may remember I'd wanted to try when it came out a couple of months ago. It's fine, but not great. I like that it's creamy and not drying or too thick, but it doesn't completely rid me of my dark circles. I think I will try Lyndsy's suggestion for that facial inconvenience, which I too, have been graced with as of late. In the meantime, we'll see how Erase Paste works when I get a zit - that's the true test!

The last two lipglosses I've used (until the end of the tube) are Her Glossiness by Benefit. I like it, but thought I would switch it up. I got two new ones, both my Smashbox. The first is Lip Enhancing Gloss in Pout. It's a pretty, sort-of bubblegum pink. Not shocking pink, but a nice pink that I think would look especially good if I had a tan. The gloss itself if smooth, shiny and wearable. It feels moisturizing and not sticky.

The second gloss I decided on was Smashbox O-Gloss. I think this may be the softest, smoothest gloss I've ever used. It's kind of similar to another fave of mine, Smith's Rosebud Salve, but feels even better. It goes on clear, but changes to a berry shade once it's on your lips. I was a little surprised how pink it got, but I like it. Great for during the day when you want to feel like you have something on and you don't want to look dead (how Amber describes the way she looks if she doesn't have lipstick on - yes, she still wears lipstick) Note: Jackie, this is not a gloss for your nude-loving lips.

My Must-Haves Vol. 3

I've used Tweezerman tweezers for years. My mom initally got me hooked on them and now I can't bare to use another kind; others simply don't compare. The tweezers come in all sorts of colors - I like to get them in bright colors so they're easy to find in my makeup bag.

I always have a tin of Smith's Rosebud Salve or Smith's Minted Rose Lip Balm in my purse and gym bag. They're silky and smooth and smell nice, but subtle. It gives lips a little bit of a tint, but not a lot. I also use it on my cuticles when they're dry. Apparently, the Rosebud Salve (not the minty one) is also a good cure for diaper rash.

Olay Complete Olay Complete All Day Moisture Lotion w/ SPF 15 is what I use every morning under my makeup. Its oil-free, really moisturizing, not too thin or thick and doesn't make me feel shiny or like I have a layer on my skin - all the things I look for in a daily moisturizer, with the addition of an SPF, which as we all know, is a must.

A few times a week at night I use Pond's Dry Skin Cream on my face, neck and chest. Its super rich and thick and is hopefully warding off dry skin and signs of aging

I am always trying new shampoos and conditioners, but Pureology Antifade Complex Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner is my favorite. I love the minty aroma and the tingly feeling it gives my scalp. I use the hydrate system but they have others for volume, straightening and more - all for color-treated hair. My hairstylist uses this product and told me a hint she learned, that you only need a small amount, the size of the 4 circles embedded in the bottle

My Must-Haves Vol. 2

As previously mentioned, I am a product and cosmetics junkie. Or should I say connoisseur.... So I thought I'd do another edition of some of my favorite items.

In the past I've stayed away from tinted moisturizers; mostly because I thought they didn't provide enough coverage and/or were too shiny. However, now I am a loyal user of (oil free) Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

When it comes to concealer, I just can't seem to find the perfect one. Benefit Boi-ing is nearly there. Its creamy and glides on with ease - much more so than sticks, which in my opinion, can be noticeable or too thick.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Lounge is one of the most interesting colors I've come across. It looks different every time I use it and I always get compliments whenever I wear it. Its a super smooth, pearly, shiny, brownish, reddish, green. Paired with other shadows and liners, you can increase and change the hue you want more of.

One lovely summer day in '06, my friend Jackie and I stumbled into Barneys New York and happened upon the Sue Devitt Counter. Before this, I'd never tried Sue Devitt products - normally I gravitate towards more eye-catching, less basic looking packaging when trying something new, but the people at the counter sucked us in. Unsure what we thought, they convinced us into getting our makeup done. The end result was fabulous makeovers in pretty colors just perfect for our friend's up-coming wedding. Afterward, we both "accidentally" spent quite a bit of money on our new found lovelies. Our favorite was this E-Z Shadow . Its a glimmery powder you can simply roll on lids. For more intensity, I like to press on to lids with a flat brush. Fingers work too. My favorites are Nara (top) - a sparkly gold, Bambari - a glittery bronze and Hopetown - a shimmery, less glittery plum.

Our next favorite item from our excursion was the Eye Intensifier Pencil. Its a thick enough to be used as a shadow, yet thin enough to be used as a liner. There is a great little smudger at the opposite end of the stick. Its really long lasting and waterproof, but comes off easily. It goes on really smoothly and is perfect for inner eyelids. I have it in Tanzania, which looks great with the golden and bronze E-Z Shadows and Pointe-Noire, a basic black.

I am always buying and trying new mascaras. I have at least three in rotation right now and have two more in their packaging, just waiting for my current ones to run out.

I really like Sue Devitt (notice a theme?) Water Resistant Mascara. Its conditioning and doesn't make my lashes dry or the mascara crumbly or flaky as many often do. It removes with ease too, which is not common for most waterproof mascaras.

For lengthening I like Urban Decay Skyscraper Mascara. Its not super dramatic and is perfect for every day wear.

Tanning Bed in a Tube by Too Faced is a new favorite of mine. Its a body bronzer and self-tanner in one. Usually, because of the way they smell, I can't bare to wear self-tanner any time other than when I am sleeping and not sniffing. However, Tanning Bed in a Tube smells pleasant and tropical and isn't overpowering.

b.e. by becker.eshaya is one of the most recent perfumes I've purchased. Its floral and clean, but not too light. I especially love the 7.7 ml fragrance pen. So simple to just grab it out of your purse and roll it on when you're on the go. Especially great for travelling.