Top 10 Beauty Products

On Thanksgiving, I am very grateful for all of my friends around the country. Therefore, I have asked my good friend Lois to provide her top 10 beauty products to share with you so you are thankful for her, too!

The Top 10 List by Lois, who lives in San Diego now, but is a Canadian transplant:

1. Cargo - The Big Bronzer
There is only one reason for making this my #1 beauty product. It's the best. Down here in SoCal, most women have 24/7/365 perma-tan that I just don't seem to embrace. I love the look of that "glowing" skin, but skin cancer runs in my family and my best friend is a dermatologist, so I'm pretty much a Nicole Kidman when it comes to laying out. But that doesn't mean I have to look pasty white when the temperatures are soaring into the 90's. Instead, I use my Cargo bronzer everywhere. On my cheeks, forehead, and yes, occassionally even my chest. It's safe, looks natural, and gives just enough of that sun-kissed look without all the sparkles.

2. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer
Incredibly light and protective coverage for the summertime. This is the perfect substitute for foundation. Use it instead of your daily face lotion and you'll get sheer, lightweight coverage, as well as SPF 20 protection. Between this and the Cargo Big Bronzer, you don't need much else!

3. Laura Mercier Foundation Primer
For those special occassions when you want your make-up to stay put and look fresh all night, Laura Mercier Foundation Primer is a must-have. It smooths over even the most obvious blemishes and holds your make-up really well, even in humid considitions. It's also oil-free so that's a bonus for those of us susceptible to breakouts.

4. Chanel Blush
Every girl deserves a splurge every once in a while...and this is definitely mine. I don't usually spend $45 on blush, but this is an exception. I love the quilted pattern on this blush and the little velvet bag it comes in. I know, I know. I'm a sucker for the luxury marketing scheme, but the blush is pretty darn good, too! I've had mine for just more than eight months and I use it almost every day and still have a lot left. The colors they have are classic, so you can use them with everything.

5. Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum Twist and Spray
We all have a signature scent. Mine happens to be Chanel. I grew up associating good memories with my mom's Chanel No. 5. So when it came time to pick my "signature scent", I beelined for the Chanel counter. I've been using Coco Mademoiselle for about three years now and I never get sick of it. They just recently came out with this great Twish and Spray bottle, though, so I highly recommend that for those of you who travel.

6. Shu Uemura 24K gold eyelash curler
A staple for my everyday look. A good eyelash curler is a necessity for any girl's make-up bag.

7. OPI "Makes Men Blush" or "Tickle My Francy-y" Nail Polish
I love a good classic pink for my nails. I rarely wear any nail polish so, when I do, I like to keep it natural loking. OPI is, by far, the best nail polish around and these two new colors from their Designer line are my favorites. I tend to go darker for my toes, but I change it up so much that I don't really have one color I can point to.


8. Prescriptives Camouflage Cream
This is the best concealer I've ever had. It gives extremely smooth coverage without looking cakey, and it's not too expensive. At first I thought the tube was only going to last a few months, but I had my first tube of this for a year and it just ran out. You aren't supposed to keep foundation longer than a year, anyway, so it was perfect timing! I like to use it under my eyes and around my nose (which, sick or not, always seems to be red!).

9. C.O. Bigelow Lemon Sugar Body Scrub and Bath and Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar Body Butter

Have you ever had those little bumps on the back of your arms? This is the solution! I only use this when I have to, but it smells awesome and really works well to give your skin a fresh start. If you live in a cold and dry climate (think Canada here), this is a necessity. Just make sure you follow it up with heavy body butter.

10. Softlips Vanilla Chapstick


I always have chapstick with me and Softlips is the best brand. It conditions, has SPF 20, and smells great. It comes in a two-pack, so I keep one in my nightstand and one in my purse. It's not fancy or expensive, but it's the best.

Obviously I have my staple mascara and some fun eyeshadows, too. I like Mary Kay's new compact for when I travel, but other than that, the above list is a pretty good glimpse into my make-up bag and my everyday routine. I try and spend no more than five minutes doing make-up in the morning, so these products are my life-savers to keeping me on schedule.