Let's Talk About Beauty

I'm always curious to find out which beauty products my female friends swear by. While I certainly love getting dolled up for a special occasion, my daily beauty routine is admittedly low-maintenance. I'm pretty loyal to the products I use, except for lipstick, to which I have a legitimate addiction and corresponding hoarding problem. (Seriously, don't even ask me how many lip sticks/stains/colors I buy in a single year. It's embarrassing).

Pictured above and described below are my tried and true favorites.

For hair:
1). I wash and condition my hair almost daily (yes, I know most experts would say that's waaay too frequently, but I can't help it. My hair looks best when it's clean). I've tried many, many shampoo/conditioner combos, but the one I return to again and again is Dove Daily Moisture. It's inexpensive and leaves my hair soft, silky and entirely residue-free.

2). Most days, I let my hair air-dry naturally. Less products and styling = better hair day, in my experience. My hair is naturally wavy and very fine, but I have a ton of it. A few sprits of Aveda's Volumizing Tonic on damp hair keeps the frizzies at bay and works well to enhance the natural body. Plus, it smells amazing!

For Face (Cleanse/Moisturize):
3). Typically, my skin is clear but super sensitive. I wash off make-up and sweat each night with Aveeno's Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser.

4). In the mornings, or after a workout, I cleanse with Kiehl's Pineapple Papaya Exfoliating Scrub. Yummy!

5). I've been using Kiehl's SPF 15 Ultra Facial Moisturizer for almost six years now and will probably never go back to anything else. Best stuff ever.

For Body (Cleanse/Moisturize):
6). Dove's Mild Classic Beauty Bar is my soap of choice. It's sudsy and smells they way soap should smell.

7). After showering, I religiously apply lotion all over my body before getting dressed. I actually use a bunch of different moisturizers, but Skin Trip Mountain Ocean Coconut Lotion is my all-time favorite.

8). I love wearing perfume and tend to gravitate towards light floral or citrusy scents. My signature is Vera Wang's Bouquet. I feel so feminine and delicious whenever I wear it.

For Face (Make-Up):
9). I exclusively use Bare Escentuals mineral powder on my face. I don't care for liquid foundation and my skin is fair and relatively even, so a light dusting of the mineral powder is enough to keep it looking smooth. I switched to this brand about five years ago and am 100% satisfied.

10). I normally don't wear anything on my eyes except for mascara, but for a fancier occasion or on a day I feel like "glamming," I love the look of winged-tip black liquid eyeliner. Lancome makes a precise one that I continuously restock in my make-up bag.

11). My daily mascara has always been the classic Maybelline Great Lash in Blackest Black. I honestly don't think anything else works as well.

12). On my cheeks, I use the Nars blush/bronzer duo in Sin/Casino. Usually, it's just a gentle sweep of the blush on the apples of my cheeks. I sometimes like the option of (light) bronzer in the summer.

13). I decided I need to devote another post solely to lipstick, but for the sake of this one, I recommend Rouge Allure by Chanel. It's pricey, but their line of reds is beautiful and I feel like a 1950's Hollywood screen siren whenever I wear it. An expensive indulgence, yes, but to me, it's worth it.

14). & 15). I am obsessive about keeping my lips hydrated, especially with so much lipstick wear. I alternate between Burts Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil and Smith's Rosbud Salve in Brambleberry Rose. (The stuff lasts forever!).

I can be ready in 10 minutes if I skip the shower, a fact of which I am proud. I embrace an unfussy beauty routine and view make-up as a fun way to accentuate and play up what's already there.

What does your beauty routine look like? Any products you absolutely can't live without? I'd love to hear!