A few of my favorite things...

7/4/10 EDITED to include $$ for each item...

So I'm sitting at my desk performing my afternoon ritual- and by ritual, I mean the lag in the afternoon where I have already had 3 diet cokes and still look like I need a good nights rest...my skin is oily and tired and I need serious lip gloss to perk me up...anyway, I am performing my ritual and I realize that I am truly a creature of habit. When it comes to skin care that is...I also realize that there are things I have ALWAYS had at my desk, ever since I had a desk of my own starting 18 years ago...things that I LOVE and cannot do without no matter what. I actually have two sets of these things..one for home and one for work. Yea, I'm a freak...most of you will probably be thinking, "dude, put them in a bag and carry them back and forth"...the rest of you, well you understand me and the need for CONVENIENCE....Now, the brand names of these things may have changed, but the things themselves have not!

I'm telling you ladies, and even gentlemen, making this ritual, that takes all of 3 minutes, part of your afternoon,will have your skin happy, glowing, and not old and haggard any longer! At least that is what I tell myself to feel good....and to justify the cost...:)

My favorite things that I am never without are (in order that I use them in my ritual):

1. Oil Blotting Tissues (my fav is MAC Blot Film)- I have oily skin...especially in the summer and it is disgusting. I have a ginormous forehead as it is, I don't need an oil slick accentuating it...know what I mean? Anyhoo...these little wonders blot the oil from your face without removing your make up.! The MAC brand is a bit pricey at $13.50 a pack but you can also get the Clean and Clear brand from any drugstore for half the price and they work just as good. The MAC films are just larger...for people with GIANT foreheads like me. :)

2. Face Mist- I have used Evian Facial Mist in the past, but my all time favorite facial hydrator is MAC  Fix+. It is basically purified water infused with vitamins that hydrates your face giving it a dewy finish. It feels so good and relieves the stress from your skin...I love to use it when I travel as my skin gets pretty dehydrated from the nasty recycled air on the plane. Be careful that you don't get your neighbor with overspray. LOL! not that I would know anything about that...:) ($18)

3. Lush Sweet Lips Lip Scrub- There is a store that sells all natural cosmetics called LUSH. They sell two of my favorites on this list. This one is their sugar lip scrub. You basically lick your lips, rub this YUMMY scrub on your lips to exfoliate them, then you lick it off. It is edible...It makes your lips soft and ready for my favorite item #4...or for kissing.... I use it before bed too! ($8.95)

4. Lip balm- and my favorite is Rosebud Lip Salve shown here: it is hands down the best thing EVER and hey, I started using it way back when IN Style magazine told me that Gwenyth Paltrow loved it! You used to only be able to order it online, but now they have it everywhere. It comes in a fun round tin, and smells really good. I use it all of the time especially right before bed...after my Lush Lip Scrub (see #1 above). ($6)

5. Cuticle Cream- I was an all time fan of Sally Hanson Cuticle Cream for years, until I found this new little gem. It is called Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter and it can be found at LUSH. It can be used on hands, feet, etc..I use it for my cuticles in the summer and the backs of my hands in the winter. Again, this is another thing I use before bed too. It smells really good!  I NEVER have hang nails or dead skin around my nails. This stuff is amazing!!! ($12.95)

6. Nude Lip Liner- I used to use Revlon Colorstay lip liner in Fleshtone until they discontinued it after 8 years! Ugh! I was pissed! Anyhoo, I have several favorites including MAC lipliners in Spice and Whirl, but my go to fav is Loreal Color Riche Lip Liner in Vintage Nude. It is the perfect shade for my favorite lip gloss in #7 below. ($7.95)

7. Lip Gloss- I am a (excuse the expression) make up whore. Everyone who knows me will vouch that I own too many eyeshadows, lip sticks, lip glosses, etc to count...I love pretty make up. It makes me feel great! As many lip glosses as I have coveted over the years there is one that has been my all time favorite for exactly 7 years. I wear it almost everyday....well, because it is part of my afternoon ritual. It is the PERFECT shade of nude. You can wear it alone for an all over gloss, or with the lip liner above for the perfect nude lip...goes GREAT with smoky eye looks! It is Loreal Colour Juice in Carmel Creme. This one is getting harder and harder to find. I had to order it on line the last time...($7.95)

So there you have it! I honestly love these things. Feel free to let me know of any new things you love that I should try!