A few of my favorite things

I am going to deviate from my typical attempting-to-be-serious-and-thoughtful fare and take a page from the Cool Lady Blogger (CLB) playbook here. CLBs love to make lists of their favorite products and then tell you why you should buy them. Unlike many CLBs, however, I was not paid or asked to write any of these reviews. I just like these things and use them every day.

Something that I used to keep secret that I am not keeping secret anymore, Interwebs, is that I really like makeup. (Feminists, recoil!) I love playing with makeup. I love shopping for it, even though I am very cheap and could never justify spending $65 on a tinted moisturizer, for example. The small irony is that I actually don’t wear a lot of makeup. But I love it just the same. So, from a now-outed cosmetics devotee, here are the things that I have found and loved.

Aveda’s Flax Seed Aloe Strong Hold Gel

I am a fervent evangelist for this product. I have been using it for more than 10 years now (just like my mom) and I will stockpile it like a crazy person if Aveda ever stops making it. If you have curly hair like I do, you also probably have your “magic product” that you can’t live without. This is mine. Most products marketed toward people with curly hair are greasy and not very strong. A nickel-sized amount of this stuff goes a long way. I use it every other day, right after I shower, and scrunch it through wet hair. Without it, I wouldn’t be presentable in public.

Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmers

My mom’s store started selling these lipsticks from Burt’s Bees and ever since then I’ve been trying to collect them all. (College roommates routinely teased me for my weird, sprawling collection of these identical-looking yellow tubes.) But they are the best, and here’s why: Lipstick dries out your mouth and makes you feel chalky and heavy. These lip shimmers glide on smoothly, add a perfect dab of color, AND feel light and refreshing–producing the cooling effect that Burt’s Bees traditional lip balm has. I haven’t found a shade that I don’t like and I will probably be using these forever and foisting them on my friends. Favorite shades: Rhubarb (nice deep pink); Fig (my go-to fall color); Peony (very light effervescent pink); Papaya (rusty); and Raisin (deep red).

MAC Studio Fix Powder + Foundation

A pressed but simultaneously lightweight powder that magically smooths and finishes your complexion–and keeps the shine away for a long time. For $27, this stuff lasts me for about five or six months, and I think it’s totally worth it. I don’t like wearing foundation, so this is a wonderful compromise. Brush it on just like you would powder and you’re done for the day.

Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette

Concealer is a bummer. I wish I still didn’t have to use it… but I do. And when you do need it, I recommend this set by Sonia Kashuk (at Target). Your skin tone changes with the seasons and your eye area is usually yellower than the rest of your face and so one color of concealer usually can’t cut it. This is where Sonia Kashuk comes in. This set also lasts me for months and months. Definitely worth the $10.

Boots No. 7 Mineral Blush

I looked for lightweight, non-glittery blush for what feels like ages (even though it was probably only a year), and I finally found what I was looking for with Boots No. 7’s mineral blush (sold at Target). Best blush I’ve ever used and I’ve tried dozens and dozens. Will never try another one for as long as they keep making this stuff.

Benetint by Benefit

While shopping for wedding makeup, I knew that I had to find a lip stain for the big day. Guion flatly refuses to kiss me, ever, if I have anything on my lips (even chapstick makes him wary). We were advised to try Benefit’s well-known and widely lauded stain Benetint and so we did. It is wonderful. It is the perfect pink color and it lasted all day long. And best of all, Guion would kiss me at the altar! This reminds me that I need to save up and buy some more…

Essie nail polish

My friend Courtney is the queen of nail polish and she once gave me sage advice about it: If you like to paint your nails, buy high-quality nail polish. One bottle of good nail polish is worth more than 30 bottles of cheap stuff, which applies in globs and streaks and chips off in about three minutes. I finally took that lesson to heart and threw out all of my cheap polish. I’ve been exclusively buying Essie–gradually, slowly–and it is definitely worth it. It just makes me happy.

Mrs. Meyer’s Hand Soap

A bottle of Mrs. Meyer’s by the kitchen sink even makes doing dishes a pleasant experience. Favorite scents: Lemon verbena, geranium, and basil.

Whew. Is this what real CLBs feel like?