The three cosmetics I can't live without are blush, eyebrow gel and lip balm. I LOVE blush and have as many shades as I do lipstick colors. I usually opt for coral shades - cool tones look great with pale skin and black hair, but I do dabble in pinks and neutrals sometimes. Blush changes your complexion (and overall look) dramatically. Whether you want a subtle no-makeup-makeup look, drama or sun kissed skin, you can transform your face with blush. I have a great Spring/Summer collection of blushes - the variety of colors make for the perfect look in every situation..

The Bobbi Brown Cheek Glow Palette (Pearl and Pink Flush) includes the amazing BB Pot Rouge cream blush and a cream highlighter. This palette can be used on your cheeks for a subtle glow or on your lips. I've been using Pot Rouge on my lips for a while, but never on my face. Cream blush always seemed little strange to me - application is more difficult and I like using makeup applicators, rather than my fingers. You gotta prime your face before applying cream makeup and only a little at time. The heat exuded from your fingers allows you to blend the blush nicely, so take your time. If you have dry skin, cream blush is a good solution. The Pink Flush shade and Pearl highlight in this palette are perfect for summer - pretty and subtle.

I've always been a fan of Bobbi Brown blush. There's a variety of shades in matte (for the perfect flushed look), or shimmer. The pigment is strong and the color lasts. The brighter/darker shades can be heavy in color, so layer lightly. Bobbi Brown Blush in Coral Sugar gives you a subtle pink-flush. Apply to the balls of your cheeks for a healthy look. Bobbi Brown Blush in Apricot is a vibrant shade (a deep coral), and is the perfect evening color.

Bobbi Brown Blush in Nude Peach and Laura Mercier Joie De Vivre Windflush are the perfect no-makeup-makeup shades. These colors give you a subtle-flush (wind flush). The peach shades will look great on any skin tone, especially pale tones. When your outta time or just lazy, these blushes are great for a little color and no-fuss look.

MY FAVORITE - Givenchy Prisme Blush in Rite and Givenchy Prisme Blush in Spice. I'm obsessed. These prisme blushes can be used four ways - candid alone (lighter color), bold alone (darker color), harmonious (combination of both), or structured (allow your brush to pick up the light on one end and dark on the other, then apply with the darker shade on the bottom. I have one negative critique - the scent is strong and unpleasant (kinda like an old ladies perfume). I'm not sure why blush should even have a scent. If you're sensitive to smells, this blush is not for you.

These colors are AMAZING. The peachy-coral shades of Rite (pictured) are sweet and subtle - Perfect for a sun-kissed glow. Spice is a little darker, with a coral undertone and pink highlight. LOVE.

I love Benefit cosmetics. The brand is fun, vibrant and ranks high on the 'favorite makeup brand' charts. Benefit Cosmetics Makeup Kits are the prefect way to try the brands best sellers and get a cute little makeup pouch. I purchased the 'Sunday My Prince Will Come Easy Weekender Kit' and 'Date Night With Mr. Right Sexy Night Out Makeup Kit' (the names are so fun). The products pictured here are from both kits - I only kept my favorite mini products and the pink pouch. There's also a Benefit Work Kit, Girl! Work-Day Essential Makeup kit. Each Benefit Cosmetics kit comes with four mini's and a makeup bag. 

My favorite Benefit products - Benefit Watt's Up! Cream-to-Powder Highlighter in Champagne is my favorite highlighter (and I've tried them all). The highlight is subtle and the perfect shade. The stick glides on nicely - apply to your check bones, the bridge of your nose and upper lip with a damp beauty blender. The full-sized product has a little sponge applicator on one end, but I prefer the beauty blender. Benefit High Beam is a satiny-pink liquid highlighter. I put a little in my moisturizer for a healthy glow. Benefit They're Real! Tinted primer in Mink Brown is the perfect primer for eyebrows and lashes. Apply the primer before mascara for a dramatic look, or alone for a 'no-makeup' kinda look. Benefit GALifornia Blush in Sunny Golden Pink looks amazing on sun-kissed skin. It's an orange-coral shade and the pigment is strong, so apply a little and layer. 

The Benefit mini products are really small and perfect for your handbag or travel cosmetic bag. I love mini's! Each kit retails for $32 and are available at Sephora.

The pistachio-caramel scent of Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream is AMAZING! I can't wear perfume (too sensitive), but this deliciously scented product line doesn't bother me at all. The scent is strong but sweet and intriguing. The cream is super-nourishing and has a slight shimmer that gives your skin a subtle glow.

I was super excited when Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Body Fragrance Mist released. It's the same yummy scent of the cream but in a light body mist. The bottle is HUGE and I'm sure will last six months. This body mist can be used on your skin, your hair and you even lightly spray your closet to give your clothes a pistachio-caramel scent - you're gonna want to surround yourself with this scent.

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Kiss Cupuacu Lip Butter is one of my favorite lip balms - I have one in my bathroom, one at my computer and one in my handbag! The light, creamy texture is nourishing and the tube is BIG, so it will last a long time. The cream and lip balm are infused with super nourishing ingredients Cupaçu butter, Açai and coconut oil. If I had to choose one product line of the year, it would be Sol Janeira Brazilian.

I've comprised a small list of 'on a budget' gifts for her. These trending products are all AMAZING! Gift them alone, mix-and-match, or create the ultimate stocking for the girl who's obsessed with cosmetics. 

Sugarbearhair is no different than any other 'healthy hair' vitamin as far as ingredients go. These little chewy bears are taking over Instagram simply cause they're cute, and the vibrant color looks great in photos. These mini turquoise bears are fun and taste yummy (like eating gummy bears). Most of us have 'hair struggles' and would appreciate berry flavored gummies that promote healthy hair. One jar (60 bears) retails for $29.99. 

I've been raving about Glossier products for the last few weeks and Balm Dotcom (the universal skin salve) is my favorite. The dense salve is perfect for any and every dry patch on your skin. Apply to your nails, face, body.. There are five to choose from and retail for $12. 

It's Skin Cookie Body Ice Cream is AMAZING! The mint, original and strawberry flavors smell just like (JUST LIKE) ice cream. This body ice cream is lighter than a body butter but thicker than body cream. The soft cookie chip pieces melt upon application and add to the 'ice cream effect'. Each 2.7 oz pot (small enough for travel) retails for $10 at Sephora. LOVE!

MILK Makeup Limited Edition Triple Threat Glow Set contains three travel size, best selling products. The mini Face Mist contains rice and ginger water that calm and nourish skin. The Sunshine Oil comes in a little rollerball pen - perfect purse/travel size. Body and face oil are essential during the cold season. And.. my favorite is the super tiny Highlighter Cream Stick. The color is universally flattering and brightens your skin for the perfect highlight. This mini highlighter is a great travel replacement for my Benefit Watt's Up! Cream to Powder Highlighter (you all know this one). These three mini's come in a plastic box, retail for $30 and will make just about anyone happy!

Most people who wear makeup, own a beautyblender® makeup sponge (or some other brand). If not, GO GET ONE! Another innovative product by beautyblender® is the liner.designer. The triple-edged eyeliner guide works with all eyeliner formulas to create the perfect look. It's like eyeliner application for dummies. The silicon guide comes with a mini plastic case and suction cup (not sure why there's a suction cup?). liner.designer retails for $16 and is available in pink or clear. 

There ya have it! The ultimate gifts under $30 for the product junkie(s) in your life. 

I KNOW! Another opinion in a sea of Glossier followers, but I'm kinda hooked and need to talk about it. The IntoTheGloss.com beauty blog comprised a cosmetic brand based on expert opinions from the 'coolest girls on the planet'. Glossier Makeup is simple, yet effective (stole that from Zac Posen). Maybe it's because all my favorite bloggers rave about this brand (specifically The Supers), or the pastel packaging (the world is having a muted/pastel moment - INSTAGRAM), but I was immediately obsessed. 

Let's talk about The Supers - These 'fast' absorbing serums are packed with nutrients to boost your skin. Super Glow is like water and absorbs immediately. The vitamin C brightens and magnesium energizes your skin for a much-needed pick-me-up.

Super Pure takes a little longer to absorb but diminishes without a trace. This serum combats redness (niacinamide -vitamin B3) and helps calm blemishes. Super Pure water-gel-like serum removes impurities (zinc) and gets you through those umm.. periods when you need it most! 

Super Bounce (my favorite) plumps the skin with hyaluronic acid and vitamin B. Hangovers, long flights and climate change can wreak havoc on your skin - in comes SUPER BOUNCE!! This gel-like serum takes a few minutes to absorb and leaves your skin feeling soft and hydrated. After a week of daily use, my skin felt nourished (I needed it). It contains hyaluronic acid (plumps the skin) and vitamin B5 (regenerates new skin). 

I've been using these lightweight serums for a few weeks and like the results - nothing major, but a slight improvement from my everyday skin issues. If there was ever a bandwagon to jump on, it would be this one - Glossier. The Super Pack retails for $65 - not bad for three 15 ml bottles of 'super-liquid-vitamins' for your skin. Order Glossier products online and they arrive in a pink bubble wrap pouches - great for travel or just sporting a pink bubble wrap pouch in your handbag. This post got me thinking, what would I do with my pile of pink pouches? store a wet bikini, cell phone at the pool, cosmetics while travelling, it would make a funky clutch..  

I am a self-declared product junkie and I LOVE Sephora Favorites. These boxes are a great way to try new cosmetics without spending dollars on full-sized products. Oh, but I would pay full-price for some of these mini's (major 'mini' product junkie)!

Honestly, I don't have time to try every product in these boxes and if I did my skin and hair would most likely get super angry and lash out in flakes and frizz. There's only so much you can put on your face and a multitude of products doesn't promote healthy skin. I choose boxes that have a few products I intend to try and then share the others. An excellent gift idea for the holidays - buy three to four boxes, split up the products amongst your friends, arrange in small Sephora bags, tie a ribbon and everyone will love you.

Back to my mini product addiction. I prefer little products, cause I can pack tons of shit in my cosmetic bag without compromising and they fit in my Cosmocube nicely. And.. you're getting great value for your dollar. The Glow For It box has six products for $30 ($6 each). Not bad considering the full-sized Benefit Watts Up! Cream-to-Powder highlighter retails for $30. Multiple mini's for the cost of one full-sized. I never finish full-sized products before they expire anyway - there's always something new to try.

Concealer is the arch enemy to my under eye! I've watched countless videos and can't seem to mimic the flawless concealer look most vloggers achieve with ease. Mind you, I am older than most beauty bloggers and once the botox begins to wear off and the wrinkles appear my concealer creases. A few days ago I had Dysport injected into my under eye area (under my eye, not the sides) to combat the little lines. I'm hopeful.. Will let ya know..

I'd like to use full-coverage concealer (sometimes I need it), but I gotta stick to light layers of sheer concealer and a little 'baking'. I'm a creature of habit and admittedly addicted to Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, but lately, I've been exploring other brands. To my surprise, I'm switching concealer brands. But first.. Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener has been my go-to under eye pick-me-up for years. It's sheer, glides on nicely and brightens the under eye area. I use Light Bisque 2 - the pinkish shade works well to combat slightly dark circles. The Tinted Eye Brightener is meant for minimal under coverage and is just not enough for me anymore (FU*K AGING). 

When the Intensive Skin Serum Concealer and Corrector released, I was excited. New, lightweight under eye products by my favorite brand. I purchased the concealer in Ivory 2 and corrector in Light Bisque 2. The concealer is similar to the Tinted Eye Brightener - silky and weightless. The color is yellowish and it definitely brightens the under eye, but the coverage is light. I use the concealer first to combat the dark circles and then the Tinted Eye Brightener to lighten that area even more. The corrector in Light Bisque 2 doesn't jive with my skin tone AT ALL (despite the Tinted Eye Brightener being Light Bisque 2). I tried it a few times and am not willing to invest another $40 experimenting with different shades. I can't say if the product is good or not, cause I didn't give it a fair go.

In come the 'NEWBIES'.. Laura Mercier Candleglow Concealer and Highlighter is AMAZING! It brightens the under eye area and highlights for a luminous under eye glow. It is sheer coverage, but the highlighting aspect makes a big difference. LOVE. The round applicator is nice to the touch and allows for easy application. I use Fair to Light 1 - a shade lighter than my foundation.

Another brand I've been obsessing over lately is Glossier. IntoTheGloss.com beauty blog comprised a cosmetic brand based on expert opinions from the 'coolest girls on the planet'. I'm a fan of the blog and am falling in love with the cosmetic brand. One of the MANY products I purchased is the Stretch Concealer. It comes in a glass pot - preferable packaging (so you get every last bit). The formula is lightweight, silky and when applied with your ring finger, goes on nicely. It is sheer coverage, but layers well. The nourishing oils are apparent in the texture and results. I can see myself applying this concealer to other areas on my face for a little brightening and sheer coverage on dry spots.

MILK - 'for the girls who spend less time getting done up and more time getting stuff done'. Umm ok! Seems like the MILK makeup line would require just as much time as any other to apply, but they're trying to market a certain girl and well, I'm not gonna argue their 'new take on makeup'.

These sticks are, for lack of a better phrase, kinda fun. They're like little deodorant sticks packed with natural ingredients to hydrate and highlight. I gotta admit, the Holographic Stick and Highlighter are a bit too 'hyper' for my facial complexion, but they are great for highlighting other parts of the body. I use the Hydrating Oil Stick all over my legs and then apply the highlighter for a little color and glow. Shimmery legs appear longer and reflect light nicely in photos. For 'intense' highlighting, the holographic stick leaves a lavender-like hue of micro sparkle on your skin (not my favorite). I'm a little too old for purple highlights! 

I love the Hydrating Oil Stick - I'm finding new ways to use it every day. Aside from applying to my legs (super easy application), I also use the oil in the inner corner of my eyes. This area is a problem for me and is always dry?? After I have finished my makeup application, I hold my finger on the oil stick until it warms and then gently apply a little to the inner corner of my eyes. AMAZING results!

I was most excited to purchase the Cooling Water - I think it's the first stick I purchased (the others quickly followed). I was expecting big results from this stick and am kinda disappointed. While the cooling sensation (make sure to keep refrigerated or put on ice for 5) was nice, the solution didn't seem to have a big effect on my puffy eyes. The formula does glide on much easier when warm, but after cooling, application is harder and stretches your skin while you glide the stick around your eyes. Never stretch your under-eye area - gravity and age will cause enough damage, you don't need to add to this problem area. Mind you, I did wait until I had major under-eye baggage to try the Cooling Water. There are many other uses for this product, but I haven't got around to exploring them. I purchased this stick for my under-eyes and am not sure I would apply to other areas of my face for hydration and circulation - I have other products for that! The stick is still in my fridge and if I'm perusing the food selection, I might (and have) smear a little around my area for the cooling sensation.. 

The photos taken above show the highlighting effect of the Holographic Stick, Highlighter, and Hydrating Oil Stick. Yes, I separated the swatches, but they were all on my arm for the photo (same time, same lighting).

Six months ago, I was anti-sparkle, but since discovering the benefits of highlighting my face, I'm officially addicted. My highlighting products are growing faster than anything else in my CosmoCube (best makeup organizer).

After applying foundation, I apply Benefit Watt's Up! Cream-to-Powder Highlighter down the bridge of my nose, on my cheekbones, cupid's bow (to make your lips appear bigger) and blend with a damp beautyblender and a little Farsali Rose Gold Elixir. Then I apply setting powder, blush, maybe bronzer and all-over illuminating powder. All those powders on top of the Watt's Up! Cream-to-Powder Highlighter will lessen the illuminating effect and using a damp (oily) sponge to apply more is a no-no for me (I'm oily enough and gotta hold back on the Elixir). In enters my new favorite cosmetic - highlighting 'powder'. 

Of course, I opted for my favorite cosmetic brand! The Bobbi Brown Highlighting Powder in Pink Glow is perfect for a little extra light-reflective glow. The pink highlights are nice on pale skin tones and the effect is subtle (if applied lightly). I use the Sephora Pro Fan Brush #65 to little dust the highlighter on my check bones. For more precise application on my nose and cupid's bow, I use the Bobbi Brown Eye Sweep brush - it's more dense and allows you to apply more product. If you want a high-impact glow, apply a little Farsali Rose Gold Elixir to your cheekbones, bridge of your nose and cupids bow, then lightly apply Bobbi Brown Highlighting Powder - super glow! I LOVE this highlighting powder.

I already have a blotterazzi and many beauty blenders, but I couldn't resist the beautyblender + Too Faced holiday kit. I'm like a deer in headlights when it comes to light pink! I love this set, especially the mini highlighting compact by Too Faced.

I'm lovin' the light pink original beautyblender. Good to know - wash your beautyblender prior to the first use and after each makeup application, and always wet your beautyblender before applying makeup - I wet my beautyblender in water, squeeze out excess water and then apply a few drops of oil (Farsali Rose Gold Elixir is amazing).

The blotterazzi compact is super cute and the teardrop shaped makeup sponges are more subtle than the original bright fuchsia blotterazzi. The blotterazzi is a reusable oil absorbing sponge. There are two pink sponges inside the plastic mirrored compact. The water drop shaped compact has a vent at the back and a clear, hygienic separator to keep the sponges fresh. The unique shape (a flat version of the beautyblender) allows you to blot the contours of your face with ease while removing excess oil. 

The Too Faced Candlelight Glow highlighting powder duo comes in a small custom-designed compact. The Rosy Glow highlighting powder diffuses light, creating a subtle glow. Apply to your cheekbones, nose and brow line for a lit-from-within look. This mini Candlelight Glow compact is perfect for on-the-go touchups and travel.