1. MD Solar Sciences Mineral Tinted Crème SPF 30 Broad Spectrum, $32
This is the silkiest, smoothest sunscreen I've ever put on my face. I actually look forward to putting it on every day, which is the first time in my life I can say that about a sunscreen. And the tint gives me enough coverage that I can skip foundation altogether. Amazing.
2. Stila Smudge Crayon Waterproof Eye Primer + Shadow + Liner in Kitten, $22
This stuff has changed my makeup world. It's an eye makeup primer, which means any shadows or eyeliner I layer on top stay put for hours. And this shade -- Kitten -- is really layer-able. I put on one or two layers on most days and that's it -- the gold undertones bring out the blue in my eyes. And when I want to go for more drama, I layer a few of my favorite shadows on top. Plus, the stick is so convenient -- this gem is always in my makeup bag.
3. Korres Magic Light Face Contouring Trio, $28
This is a new addition to my makeup haul, and I've now been using it every day for the last two months. In one compact, you get a bronzer, a blush, and a highlighting powder. Some days, I just use the blush/highlighter combo to brighten up my skin. Other days, I contour with the bronzer. And no matter what I do, my skin always looks natural -- none of the telltale signs that my cheekbones really aren't as high as they look (cough -- like the Kardashian Klan).
4. Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Monte Carlo, $34
This is the best colored gloss I've ever tried, and the pink-red color is perfect for my fair (and pink-ish) skin tone. It's sheer but packs a lot of color, it lasts for a couple hours, and it's super moisturizing and not at all sticky.
5. CND Solar Oil, $7.50
I stash bottles of this nail and cuticle oil everywhere -- in my bathroom, on my desk at work (and at home), in my car, on my nightstand. I always had the worst cuticles and dry-looking nails, and now I can go manicure-free and my nails look neat and polished. Plus, the almond scent is so happy-making.
We've got tons more product secrets! Click on to see our shameful celebrity perfume confessions �
Right now, I'm going through a horrible breakup with all of my favorite beauty products.
I'm not alone, either. All of us Total Beauty editors are taking a break from our beloved moisturizers and hair masks. The reason behind our splits? We're testing nominees for the Total Beauty Awards 2013. (You can vote for your favorite beauty products here.)
See, as beauty editors, we see literally hundreds of new products every year. Maybe thousands. But January through April is like speed dating for product junkies. We can't afford to go steady with any beauty product (no matter how amazing it is) because we have tons of new products that need our attention and review.
But here's a little secret we've all been keeping: We're totally cheating. Sure, we're giving each Beauty Awards candidate its full time, but we are also reuniting with our trusty faves every chance we get. Especially when a skin or hair tester wreaks more havoc than it does good.
To explain our longing for our all-time favorite beauty products, we each wrote little love letters explaining the top five beauty products we couldn't image life without. Read on to see which gems made the list. If it sounds like we're gushing, we are. These products are that good.
