My 2010 Beauty Besties

These are my top-rated MUST haves of 2010!  My..."beauty besties" of the year! 

Best Tinted Moisturizer:

I like Laura Mercier's Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer.  It's got SPF which is ALWAYS a must year round, and it's easy to apply w/ your fingertips.  It gives great coverage (more than your typical moisturizer for sure) and also stays put even in those hot summer months.  It's a little on the expensive side at $42 a pop, but a tube will last you forever--seriously like the whole year.  All you need for full-face coverage is a pea sized amount. [btw they have another version that's not oil free]

 

Best Drugstore Foundation

Lumene Double Stay.  This stuff is cheap - the coverage is great, and it really does last all day.  The texture is super smooth, light and doesn't give you that caked-on foundation look.  I get a lot of compliments when I wear this stuff!  It makes your skin look dewy and fresh, and MOST importantly, natural!  I apply with my fingertips, no primer needed, which I think is great + fast and easy.  This is a must-have, especially for the price.

Best Luxury Mascara:

DiorShow.  Its top-rated by many, and with good reason.  This mascara makes all lashes (long, short, sparse, whatever), look full, long and lovely!  The downside is that it IS a little pricey (around $30), and dries out semi quick, making it not work as well.  Don't mess up like I did and get the DiorShow Iconic <-- that mascara sucks big time and leaves you racoonlike in under an hour of use.  If you're going to spurge be SURE to stick with the regular Diorshow - you won't be disappointed!

Best Drugstore Mascara(s):

This one is a tie for me between L'oreal's Original Voluminous mascara and Covergirl's new Lash Blast Fusion.  They both work wonders, probably as good as the Diorshow.  I hate to spend a ton of money on mascara ALL the time, because you actually AREN'T supposed to use them longer then a few months.  So, when you're feelin' cheapy but want those to-die-for lashes, snatch up one of these mascaras.  Neither budges all day, and both give you long, thick and volumous lashes!

Best Shampoo and Conditioner:

MoroccanOil.  This Shampoo and Conditioner is good for all hair types but especially those with dry hair.  It's very moisturizing and has an awesome fresh and almost summer-y scent.  A couple of my fave things about this combo is the fact that its sulfate free and color safe.  Typically this set is around $40 for the set - but your HAIR is something that you absolutely cannot cheap out on.  When you are using a high quality product it will last longer then the cheap stuff, and just be so much better for your hair. 

Best Hair Mask:

Frederic Fekkai Protein RX Anti-Breakage Treatment Mask is perfect if your hair is brittle, broken or weakened from coloring, relaxing, or heat styling.  I use it every 2 weeks and it makes a mega-difference in your hair.  Its shiny, healthy feeling/looking and the best part is that is smells like marshmallows...mmmmmmm. :)

Best Eye Primer:

So maybe everyone doesnt use Eye Primer, but i surrrrrrrrrrre can't go a day without it!  My lids are like little oil slicks and w/o a good primer, my shadow is creased in an hour or two.  A lot of people love Urban Decay's Primer Potion... it absolutely does NOT work for me.  My fave brand is Too Faced Shadow Insurance. ($18)  This primer makes my shadow really stick ALL day.  It also makes whatever shadow you use more vibrant and true to its color.  LOVE it, and can't go w/o it! 

Best Perfume:

Viktor & Rolf's Flowerbomb.  This perfume smells frickin' ah-maz-ingggg.  The top notes are tea and bergamot. Middle notes are sambac jasmine, orchid, freesia, rose. Base note is patchouli.  This perfume is very FRESH and classy smelling.  Can something smell classy?  Um, YES because it does!  I got a sample of this while checking out at Nordstrom one day, and seriously bought it that afternoon.  Instantly hooked.  @ $100 for the 1.7 oz and $150 for the 3.4 oz its a teensy bit pricey - but worth it. OH, SO, worth it!