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Browsing tag archives: trechic

Sophisticated Finds: Beauty Product Miracle “BB Cream”

My Sophistication Muse, Audrey Hepburn
Sophisticated Finds revolves around my favorite beauty discoveries, techniques, fashion trends and anything else “pretty” that catches my eye. I look forward to sharing these ideas with you and hope to hear your suggestions and feedback as well! I am no expert at beauty or fashion by any means but perhaps that will make my thoughts more relatable. Simply put, I’m just a girly-girl navigating my way through the fabulous finds I come across.

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Have any of you ladies heard of the new-to-America product, BB Cream?
BB Cream (aka Blemish Balm, Beauty Balm, Blemish Base, Beblesh Cream) is already a huge success in Asia but it is just starting to drift over to the
United States.

From everything I’ve gathered, women in Asia love it simply for all of the many benefits packed into just ONE product. BB Cream is said to combine the benefits of primer, blemish coverage, skin tone correction, and lotion IN ONE PRODUCT and I am pretty sure there are certain BB creams that include even more benefits than this!
If you’d like a more thorough description you can read about it on daily glow.
The more and more I read about it the more I wanted to try it.
And well, you know me, I gave in 😉

I wanted a BB Cream that woul control my t-zone (my ultimate goal!) while providing some of these other great benefits. After a little “Googling” I settled on Etude House BB Magic Cream (Refreshing) which is for oily skin.

I should also mention that from the “research” I’ve conducted there is a very big difference between the new BB Creams in the American market and traditional BB Creams found in Asia. Garnier and Clinique have recently come out with their versions of BB Cream but from what I’ve read they are really just tinted moisturizers. I was very much intrigued by Clinique’s version but then I read it had fine glitter in it. Glitter or shine of any kind is a no-no if you have oily skin or a t-zone and want to avoid drawing attention this (i.e. products like Revlon Photo-Ready Mousse won’t help shiny skin). Unfortunately, Clinique was out. Anything else I read about Garnier’s BB Cream was unimpressive as well. When I looked on Sephora the only other options were out of my price range. SO this is how I ended up choosing Etude House BB Cream and I was able to purchase it via Amazon since it is not sold at stores in the USA. (**UPDATE: I was able to find it with cheaper shipping on EBay!) I know this will turn some of you off because you can’t buy it at your local drugstore or ULTA but honestly, I was so happy with this product I wanted to right a review about it.
So what exactly did I love about the product? I should say I haven’t been using it long enough to notice any improvement in the overall condition or tone of my skin. We’ll see if I notice this later. So far I have really enjoyed the ease of the application and the coverage. You can apply it with your fingers like tinted moisturizer but I like to use a foundation brush. The coverage is a little better than a tinted moisturizer but it isn’t heavy or cakey, which I love. It only comes in one color and it goes on a little light at first but it miraculously adjusts to your natural skin tone. Also, a little goes a long way so you won’t speed through this product.
My absolute FAVORITE thing about this product is that it is the very first foundation type product that I have tried that does not leave me with a shiny t-zone by lunchtime.
The first time I tried it I could NOT believe it when I checked its wearability mid-day. NO SHINE! I do like to set it with the E.L.F. Mineral Booster Loose Powder I suggested before but even without it the typical t-zone shine was nowhere to be found.
BEAUTY PRODUCT BREAKTHROUGH! WOO HOO!!!


Yes Ladies, I was jumping for joy 😉
Since BB Cream is making it’s way through brands like Clinique and Garnier I can only hope in the next year or two Drugstore brands will develop their own versions. We’ll see what happens! Until then I had to let you know about my latest discovery.
Have a great week, everyone!

~Christi

Sophistication Sundays – Latest Product Raves & Reviews

My Sophistication Muse, Audrey Hepburn
Sophistication Sunday revolves around my favorite beauty finds, techniques, fashion trends and anything else “pretty” that catches my eye. I look forward to sharing these ideas with you and hope to hear your suggestions and feedback as well! I am no expert at beauty or fashion by any means but perhaps that will make my thoughts more relatable. Simply put, I’m just a girly-girl navigating my way through the fabulous finds I come across.
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I decided that after my absence in Sophistication Sunday posts that I should spend a little time talking about my new favorite products. Just when it seems I’ve completed my beauty arsenal there are a few more things I add to the mix!
First up, I have to review my new favorite eye shadow palette. I am SERIOUSLY in love with this thing! No, it’s not new to the blogger world (as I have been reading about it for months) but it took me a long time to break down and buy it.

The Urban Decay Naked Palette:

(Photo Source)

*Angels Singing*

As I said, I had heard great things about this in the internet world but because of the price tag hadn’t tried it myself. When my girlfriends and I recently took a trip to NYC one of them (a makeup fanatic like myself!) had the palette and I just had to try it out. I was quickly sold on the quality of the shadow and since I had saved spending money for NYC I figured I could justify the purchase.

Unfortunately, every Sephora we went to was sold out!… NOOOO!!!!


(Photo Source)

Okay I didn’t quite react like that but I was disappointed. *sad face*

Luckily when I returned to South Dakota – there it was! Waiting in stock just for me, at Sephora. Yippee!!!! And the rest is history.
Seriously though, this stuff is AMAZING!
I am usually changing eyeshadows all the time and searching for the perfect neutral.
This palette is packed with 12 beautiful neutrals that go on like a dream! If you’d like to see them “swatched” here is a great post from Beauty Deviant.
A lot of the shadows I’ve used are powdery and lack pigment when I actually apply them. In other words they look great in the pan but don’t really show up when I try them out.
This quality Urban Decay shadow is the perfect balance. It shows the color and amazingly enough looks great on everybody! Those Urban Decay people are GENIUS, I tell ya.
You can find this in stores (or online) at Sephora for $48. As I said before, I couldn’t imagine paying the price initially but I honestly haven’t used any other eye shadow since I purchased this. It is well worth the money and will last a very long time. Love it!

Another new beauty product on rotation is:

Physicians Formula Mineral Correcting Primer


Some of you may remember my initial post about foundation primer here. Since that post I’ve still been on the hunt to find my favorite primer. I decided that if I could make my own it would lack the odd smell of E.L.F.’s primer, have the color/coverage of Rimmel’s and the lightness & fast-absorption of Smashbox’s. BUT until I’m able to make my own line of foundation primer (ha!) Physician’s Formula will have to do.
I purchased this in “nude” for some coverage but it also comes as a pink highlighter or green corrector. It doesn’t provide the coverage I like but it is better than the completely clear primers. My biggest problem with the product is the container. I’m not a huge fan of the brush application and usually just twist it up, wipe the brush on my fingers, and then apply the primer. So it’s not great but it works and retails for around $10 and so far lasts much longer than Rimmel’s.
All in all I give it a B-

Last but not least I thought I would end on a hair product high note.
And surprise, surprise it’s another find from the Organix brand.
and this newest addition is just as amazing.

Organix Shimmering Keratin Oil

Organix Every Straight Brazilian Keratin Therapy Shimmering Keratin Oil

When I saw this on their website I was anxious to try it! Unfortunately I couldn’t find it in any of the normal stores. I decided to order a few things from Ulta that I couldn’t get in town and added this to the mix.
The first morning I tried it I overdid it a little bit! I didn’t think it would be so potent and quickly learned a little goes a long way with this product. In other words, don’t spray too much or it makes your hair greasy! Just a couple sprays up the shine factor and provide smooth results. My favorite way to use the product is to spray it in my hand and rub it on the ends of my hair after I’ve finished styling it. It cuts down on frizz and helps leave strands smooth and shiny. Best of all, like the other Brazilian Keratin products, it smells heavenly.
It retails for around $6 and I am happy to report that I spied it on the shelf of one of the big box retailers today. If it made it out to the Midwest it should be at a store near you 🙂
Have you tried any of these products or any new ones worth trying? Let me know in the comment section below!
~Christi

Sophistication Sundays – Organix Brazilian Keratin Line

My Sophistication Muse, Audrey Hepburn

Photo Source

Sophistication Sunday revolves around my favorite beauty finds, techniques, fashion trends and anything else “pretty” that catches my eye. I look forward to sharing these ideas with you and hope to hear your suggestions and feedback as well! I am no expert at beauty or fashion by any means but perhaps that will make my thoughts more relatable. Simply put, I’m just a girly-girl navigating my way through the fabulous finds I come across.
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A few months ago I wrote about my love for Organix’s Moroccan Oil. At that time I could only find this product line in Walgreens but it seems to be at all the normal stores now (Target, Walmart, etc). I love Organix because it is reasonably priced and I’ve never been disappointed with any of their products I’ve tried.
Today I wanted to mention my new favorite line within the Organix family:

Brazilian Keratin Therapy



Photo Source

Right now I’m loving the Brazilian Keratin Therapy Anti-Breakage Serum and the Brazilian Keratin Therapy Flat Iron Spray.
First let’s talk about the Anti-Breakage Serum.

The first thing you’ll notice about this serum is that it smells AMAZING! Seriously it is so delicious, but don’t eat it 😉 I usually interchange this product with the Moroccan Argan Oil but find that this works best for battling frizzies. It’s also supposed to prevent breakage and help strengthen hair. Who doesn’t like the sound of that? I just apply it to my damp tresses and let the blow dryer get to work.
As I’ve mentioned before I’m not one of those lucky ladies who can blow dry and go. I have to straighten or curl my hair after I blow dry it. Yes that means even more hot tools on my hair. This is where the Flat Iron Spray comes in.
Once again the smell is heavenly and I love how it lingers on my hair afterwards. I just spray it through my layers and get to work straightening or curling.
They have a few other products in the Brazilian Keratin Therapy line are the Shimmering Keratin Oil and the Hydrating Keratin Masque.
Have you tried any of the Organix products?
Have a great week.
~Christi


Sophistication Sundays – Foundation Primer

My Sophistication Muse, Audrey Hepburn
Photo Source

Sophistication Sunday revolves around my favorite beauty finds, techniques, fashion trends and anything else “pretty” that catches my eye. I look forward to sharing these ideas with you and hope to hear your suggestions and feedback as well! I am no expert at beauty or fashion by any means but perhaps that will make my thoughts more relatable. Simply put, I’m just a girly-girl navigating my way through the fabulous finds I come across.
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As many of you lovely ladies have probably noticed primer has taken the makeup world by storm. Once a product only found in more expensive/high end makeup, you can now buy primer in most drugstore brands. Today I will review 3 primers I’ve tried. I know there are SO many more out there so if you use a different kind (that is reasonably priced!) please comment below and help a girl out 🙂
First off, if you haven’t heard of primer or don’t use it here is a little synopsis: primer goes on after the lotion and before your foundation (or mineral powder or what have you). Like priming a wall for painting, primer creates a smooth, even surface and extends the life of your makeup. If you haven’t used it give it a try and I bet you won’t go back!
When I went out to find primer I was looking for something that was inexpensive but worked. I read good things about Rimmel’s primer so decided to give it a shot.
Rimmel Fix & Perfect Foundation Primer is relatively low-priced (sorry I can’t remember what I paid for it!) and you can find it at most drugstores (target, walmart, etc). This primer comes in one shade called apricot. Evidently it isn’t supposed to matter what your skin tone or complexion is; it’s supposed to work for everyone. It looks a little orange coming out of the tube but it doesn’t go on orange and blends well. I liked the fact that evened out my skin tone (something clear primer doesn’t do) and created a smooth palette for my makeup application. Cons: I didn’t feel like very much came in a tube. I’ve used other primers since and I seemed to go through this one much faster than any other. I also felt it was a little heavy. Primers I’ve used since this kind were lighter and didn’t feel as thick.
The second primer I tried was ridiculously expensive:
Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. I was lucky to have it in a smaller size as part of a Sephora promotion. There is no way I would use it otherwise! It retails for $48 a pop – EEK! Sephora users give it rave reviews and say it is the best primer out there. I was hoping with the name of it that it would help minimize shine. Although I liked the application (smooth, light and fast absorption) I missed the tint that came with Rimmel’s primer. The tint of Rimmel’s enabled me to use the product not only as a primer but as something quick to throw on my face if I was running out to the store. This primer is “colorless” so aside from that downside I did enjoy how fast it absorbed into my skin. I didn’t feel like it helped control shine though and I felt like I went through the bottle rather quickly. So for this price I wouldn’t buy it again. One last note: I hear it is comparable to Sephora’s primer.
Most recently I took a chance and purchased E.L.F.’s Mineral Primer.
The primer is $6 (actually pretty spendy for an E.L.F. product!) and so far I’m happy with how long the product has lasted. One pump covers my entire face where I would sometimes have to 2 pumps of Smashbox primer. The application is somewhat in between the first two. It is thicker than the Smashbox primer but much lighter than Rimmel primer. Again it doesn’t have the color so I’m missing the tinting aspect. I haven’t noticed it’s helped control any shine but I would say it works very well for creating a smooth, even base for makeup application. I will probably stick with this one until (or unless) I find a reasonably priced alternative that controls shine and has a tint.
So do any of you use primer? If so, what is your favorite kind? I still don’t feel like I’ve found my favorite so I’d love to find one to add to my regular routine. I’ve been think about trying Physician’s Formula primer. And I’ve never ventured to green primer (to correct redness) – have any of you? I’d love to hear your feedback!
Have a great week 🙂
~Christi

Sophistication Sundays – E.L.F. Cosmetics

My Sophistication Muse, Audrey Hepburn

Photo Source

Sophistication Sunday revolves around my favorite beauty finds, techniques, fashion trends and anything else “pretty” that catches my eye. I look forward to sharing these ideas with you and hope to hear your suggestions and feedback as well! I am no expert at beauty or fashion by any means but perhaps that will make my thoughts more relatable. Simply put, I’m just a girly-girl navigating my way through the fabulous finds I come across.
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As a newlywed couple on a budget (and starting out in this fabulous economy) we love a good deal! So today I’m writing about one of my favorite cheap thrills: E.L.F. Cosmetics.

No not that Elf…



THIS E.l.f.





A few months ago I watched a video from one of my favorite you tube “vloggers” and was eager to try winged eyeliner (some people have a knack for it but it seems daunting to me!). So I went off to Target looking for some black gel liner at a reasonable price. While perusing through the aisles I happened upon a gel eyeliner by a brand called E.L.F. (eyes lips face). I was drawn to the sleek, black packaging and then I looked at the price. WOW. Is this real?! The products ranged from $1 – $3 a pop. I was skeptical and kind of wrote it off as being poor quality. Wet-n-Wild and N.Y.C. are two well-known inexpensive beauty lines but I am often not impressed with their products. I decided to give E.L.F. a go and I am so happy I did! It is my new favorite cheap thrill!
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I am extremely happy to report that I’m pleased with the quality of almost every product I’ve sampled. You can find E.L.F. at Target and one day I randomly found an E.L.F. kiosk in one of our grocery stores as well. If you can’t find E.L.F. in your area they have a fantastic website that offers even more variety to choose from and near-constant daily deals and coupons. A girl can’t lose with this! I can actually afford to try these beauty products (and tools!) without worrying I’ll blow our monthly budget. Talk about the best of both worlds for a “recessionista” 🙂
The other thing I really love about E.L.F. is that they offer a lot of products that usually take awhile to make their way to the regular drugstore brands like Covergirl and Maybelline. Products such as matte finisher clear nail polish, eyebrow gel and powder set, and makeup setting spray just to name a few. On top of this they really offer a plethora of products to choose from. Aside from the plethora of makeup there are fantastic makeup brushes, tools and bath/body products.
Let me be clear here, I am in no way affiliated with E.L.F. I’m just so happy with this find that I wanted to share it with all of you. And just to give you a taste of their products I’ll give you my 5 current faves:
1. Studio Eyebrow Kit

light

This kit comes in light, dark, ash or medium. It has a slanted brush for the pigmented wax (on the left) to whip your brows in to shape while the other side fills in brows with powder.
2. Mineral Blush

Joy (mauve lilac)

I adore this blush! It is a little more expensive but coming in at $5. (still pretty cheap though, right??) It only takes a tiny amount of product to flush your lovely apples and the product stays put all day. This made me extremely happy because so often my blush fades by midday. I haven’t had a problem with this fading and have barely made a dent in the product. I have a feeling it will last quite awhile! I purchased this blush in “rose.”

3. Professional Studio Endless Eyes

Pro Eyeshadow Palette



This palette is amazing and is only $10! It features 100 different eye shadow colors. With this affordable palette I have virtually every color at my fingertips. Sometimes more is more 🙂

4. Essential Mechanical Eyelash Curler



Eye Lash Curler

I’ve been through many eyelash curlers over the years and this one is by far my favorite. It is only $1 and it works so well! It doesn’t pinch my eyelids and the design of it is so much more user friendly.

translucent

Okay I know I mentioned this briefly in a previous post but I had to mention it again. It is my absolute favorite for combating midday shine. Because of it’s fabulous price I keep one in my makeup drawer, one in my purse, and one in my desk. Have I mentioned I love this?
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So have you seen E.L.F. in any of your stores or have you given it a try? Will you try it? I’d love to hear your feedback!
~Christi

Sophistication Sundays – Volum’ Express One by One Mascara

My sophistication muse, Audrey Hepburn
Photo Source

Sophistication Sundays will revolve around my favorite beauty finds, techniques, fashion trends and anything else “pretty” that catches my eye. I look forward to sharing these ideas with you and hope to hear your suggestions and feedback as well! I am no expert at beauty or fashion by any means but perhaps that will make my thoughts more relatable. Simply put, I’m just a girly-girl navigating my way through the fabulous finds I come across.

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I don’t know about you but one of my favorite beauty products to try out is mascara. It probably lands in second place next to my love for trying new nail polish colors.

I was intrigued by Maybelline’s Volum’ Express One by One and have been meaning to try it for awhile. I am already a fan of the Volum’ Express mascara line and figured this new kind might become a favorite in my beauty arsenal. I figured that it would provide powerful, voluminous lashes with the added bonus of avoiding that “spider legs” look. Yes, some fashion houses are pushing this spidery look as a hot new trend (i.e. 3 coats of mascara followed by pushing lashes together in clumps with tweezers) but I am not a fan!

So here is a shot of the product:
Nice, bright packaging as usual for Maybelline mascaras.
The wand came separately and not in the tube (as is common with many mascaras now).
The head of the wand has the rubbery bristles that have been more and more common among all the cosmetic brands.
The Verdict
The first thing I noticed was the smell. It was REALLY strong! It almost made my eyes water because the smell was so potent.
The mascara applied easily and did not clump as promised. If you’re looking for a good everyday mascara it’s not a bad choice. However, I was thinking I would use it like I use the regular Maybelline Volum’ Express: for a more dramatic nighttime look. It just didn’t work that way. I’ll use it for a little while but I don’t plan on making it one of my “regulars.”
Everyone wants something different from mascara. For example there is a cult following for Maybelline’s Great Lash. To this day I have no idea why. I HATE it and it doesn’t impress me. Personally, I look for a mascara that will give a dramatic impact to my lashes with lots of volume and thickness. I didn’t really get that from the One By One mascara so I wouldn’t buy it again. That being said, some of you may love this new product and it may give you just the look you want. To each his own!
Have you tried any mascaras lately that you LOVE or HATE? I would love to hear your feedback!
~Christi

Sophistication Sundays – MAC Studio Finish Concealer

My sophistication muse, Audrey Hepburn


Sophistication Sundays will revolve around my favorite beauty finds, techniques, fashion trends and anything else “pretty” that catches my eye. I look forward to sharing these ideas with you and hope to hear your suggestions and feedback as well! I am no expert at beauty or fashion by any means but perhaps that will make my thoughts more relatable. Simply put, I’m just a girly-girl navigating my way through the fabulous finds I come across.


If I had to pick the most important beauty item I could NEVER go without I know exactly what I would say: concealer! Unfortunately I am not one of those ladies who can throw on foundation or powder and leave the house. I inherited horrible, unattractive dark circles… ugh (thanks, Dad!)

Okay they may not be this bad but seriously that’s what I would feel like if I left the house without concealer under my eyes. Yuck!
And of course the other wonderful thing about concealer is how much it comes in handy when you have a blemish. Yes, suffice to say concealer is my best friend. Over the years I have tried many, many different types of concealer. So much of it is thin and has the consistency of foundation. Basically it helped a little bit but it didn’t truly cover those dark circles or blemishes.
Concealer Attempt #1:

Covergirl Fresh Complexion Concealer
Photo Source

This was my favorite kind of concealer in high school because it was cheap. But really, it didn’t work well for my dark circles… actually it didn’t really cover the blemishes well either 🙁

Concealer Attempt #2:

Photo Source

During college I moved onto Neutrogena 3-in-1 Concealer for eyes. This seemed to work a tad better than Covergirl but I still wasn’t satisfied. This cost anywhere from $7-$10 a pop and I would go through it very quickly. They just didn’t put that much in the little tube and I remember feeling like for the quality of the product I was spending way too much money and constantly running out.
Attempt #3 – The MIRACLE WORKER ((angels singing))
Enter that fateful day when I happened upon MAC Studio Finish Concealer. We were in Florida for my bestie’s wedding and her childhood friend (who’s makeup always looks AMAZING) was using it under her eyes. I was very curious and asked her about the concealer. She was happy to let me try it and needless to say I was instantly hooked! I think I asked her about 20 times what color it was so I could be certain to order the right color off the website when I returned home (we don’t have a MAC store in SD). This stuff is fantastic! It has just the right consistency so it really covers the dark circles and blemishes and stays put. The cost is a bit higher than what I used to pay – it’s $16.50 – but don’t get sticker shock because you wouldn’t believe how much makeup they pack into that little container! I usually buy one shade for the winter (NW 20) and one for the summer (NW 25) and they typically last me a whole year! When I think about how quickly I would go through this little tubes of sub-par Neutrogena concealer I can easily see I’m getting a better quality, more cost-effective product. I will never go back!
One last note, in order to stop this product from settling into lines under my eyes I make sure to use primer under my eyes. I will still get a few faint lines but they appear within 5 minutes and I usually just take my finger and quickly swipe over them and right before I walk out the door.
So do you have a beauty product you couldn’t live without? What is it? Do you have a concealer that you think takes the cake? I’d love to hear your suggestions.
Have a fabulous Sunday… xoxo
~Christi

My Current Beauty Essentials (Non-Makeup)

Over the years I have tried tons and TONS of different beauty products. And to be realistic I will most likely keep trying new products. I’m always willing to see if a different product works a little better than my current fave. However, the following are my current essentials and I haven’t been swayed away from them yet!

1. Matrix Sleek Look Shampoo, Conditioner, and Extreme Creme

Luci got me hooked on Sleek Look products when I was about 16 and I haven’t looked back since! I have wavy/curly hair and the sleek look products, although designed for straight strands, leave my hair frizz free and well… sleek! I usually blow dry my hair and then run a curling iron through it. These products encourage my curls while keeping them in control.

2. Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover

I used to be a big fan of Clinique’s eye makeup remover. Once college rolled around I started wearing eyeliner AND paying for my own toiletries. In short, I needed a cheaper alternative. Enter the answer to my makeup “prayers” Neutrogena Eye Makeup remover. This stuff works just as well as the Clinique brand but sells for half the price! Most importantly it removes every trace of my stubborn black mascara and doesn’t leave an oily residue (ick). Miracle in a botttle.

3. L’Oreal Eye Defense Cream

It’s obvious to me just how sensitive the skin is around your eyes and how important it is for you to treat this skin delicately. This eye cream is a little pricey ($10-$12) but it lasts me about 6-7 months. Just a little dab under each eye will do! It moisturizes well and doesn’t leave the skin oily. I use it in the morning and at night and haven’t found an eye cream I prefer to it (although Tyra Banks swears by Vaseline!)

4. OPI Products

Over the last few years I’ve developed a greater appreciation for manicured nails. They have the ability to complete an outfit or simply polish off your look. I’m unable to afford weekly manicures and often grow frustrated with my nails chipping and peeling after 1 or 2 days. Then I discovered OPI nail polish. I was very hesitant to buy any of it at first (“$8 for nail polish?!!”). But once I tried it I quickly realized that if I was going to spend any time and effort on my nails I wanted the manicure to last! OPI nail color seems to last much longer and go on much smoother than most brands. Not to mention the fantastic brush – it really helps the nail color go on evenly and moves with the natural contours of my nails. Due to the price I don’t buy a lot of colors (and perhaps that’s the downside) but I developed a nice collection. I’m particularly in love with Royal Rajah Ruby (pictured above) which is a nice, dark red color that is appropriate enough for the office.

5. Burt’s Bees Lip Balm and Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme

I fell in love with Burt’s Bees lip balm a few years ago simply due to the minty effect it has on your lips. Can’t resist the tingles! Besides that it’s all natural, super moisturizing, and a great base to your lipstick or lip gloss. I use it every morning and every night before bed. Burt’s also has this great creme for your cuticles. My cuticles tend to get very dry during South Dakota winters so I keep a little jar of this at my desk. I swipe some around my cuticles once a day and have noticed a significant difference! An added bonus? It has a delicious lemony scent.

6. Kenra Volume Spray 25

Try this hairspray and you WILL NOT go back! I have converted several of my friends to this hairspray and it continues to be the secret to getting my hair just. how. I. want. it! It smooths fly aways, holds curl, and shapes flawlessly. I have tried switching to other hair sprays but after using this it is impossible to use an imposter. My two sisters, my mother and myself all swear by it; 4 women with amazing hair can’t be wrong!

7. Cetaphil Facial Cleanser & Clean and Clear Morning Burst Shine Control Cleanser

I’m a fan of Cetaphil because it is incredibly gentle so it’s great for people with sensitive skin like me. It leaves my face feeling clean and not stripped. I’m a big proponent of washing your face daily – never go to bed with makeup on! I’ve also taken a liking to Clean and Clear’s Morning Burst Shine Control Cleanser. It’s great for providing moisture while keeping my annoying t-zone in check. Now if only they would come out with the same moisturizer with some SPF 15. That’s the only downside to this product!

What are your tried and true beauty essentials? Do you prefer to buy them in the stores or order them online? A lot of people utilize drugstore.com because let’s face it, it’s never out of stock! I find myself wondering if it would be smarter to buy this way (hello, free shipping). Up next, my makeup essentials.