This blush had me at hello. I'm a sucker for bright blush -- the brighter the better -- and Flower Beauty Transforming Touch Powder-to-Creme Blush in Tickled Pink, $9.98, is the queen of all hot pink blushes.

Then, there's the issue of consistency: This blush is like nothing I've ever used before. It's a loose powder, but when you tap it with your finger or a brush, it melts into a silky, buttery cream. This is high-tech sci-fi magic you have to see to believe. When I apply it, it blends beautifully, and the finish is fleshy -- not too matte, not too dewy.

The third thing this blush has going for it? Star power. Like all Flower Beauty products, it was created by Drew Barrymore. And I'm not talking, "oh, she slapped her name on a lipstick." With Flower, it's more like, "oh, my childhood idol (see: "ET," "Firestarter" and "Boys on the Side") worked with a cosmetic chemist to find the coolest new technology out there, hand-picked the perfect colors, named it herself and then took a bunch of beauty editors BOWLING (Instagram proof here) to tell us all about it." She really, truly made this blush, and that means something to me -- even if it shouldn't.

When I wear this blush, I look prettier -- the color makes my pale skin look alive -- and I feel closer to Drew. Creepy. I know. But I bet you will, too.

Bonus tip: The Real Techniques Bold Metals 300 Tapered Blush Brush, $23.99, (shown here) picks up just the right amount of this magical "is it powder, or is it cream?" blush every time.

To me, nothing says glamour like a classic, cherry-red lip. Whether worn by Old Hollywood icons like Marilyn Monroe, or current red carpet queens like Gwen Stefani, it's a look that can be just as elegant as it can be rebellious . And, being beauty obsessed, it's a look I'm always trying to copy.

While glossy red lips are always in style, it's the matte texture that's ruling the runway and red carpet (and seems to be the hardest look to pull off). Many matte lipsticks can leave my lips dry and cracked, or have to be touched up every hour. Lipstick Queen Red Sinner Matte Lipstick, $22, not only lasts all day, but it also contains moisturizing ingredients like shea butter and beeswax to keep lips smooth.

A rich, true red color that's just as flattering on my ghostly pale winter skin as it is when I'm (faux) tanned in the summer, this lipstick glides on smoothly and builds in color. For the perfect set up, I start by exfoliating my lips with Fresh Lip Polish, $22.50, then line and fill my lips with M.A.C. Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in Trust in Red, $20, before putting on the lipstick.

Not to mention a swipe of this red lipstick has everyone fooled into thinking I have it all together … even on days when I can't be bothered with my full makeup routine.

If you look in my bathroom, you'll find that I've got face primers and eye primers galore. I will start my entire makeup routine from the beginning if for some reason (a lack of caffeine, usually) I forget this crucial step. But even I, makeup primers' biggest cheerleader, thought that a lip primer seemed like an unnecessary step. One night out with Stila Lush Lips Water Plumping Primer, $21, proved me wrong.

The creamy, opaque formula applies like a gloss and dries to a semi-matte, pink-y nude finish. It's ultra-hydrating and spackles in the lines and cracks on my lips, which creates a smooth base for my lipstick to stick to and helps it apply more vibrantly. If that wasn't enough, it also contains plumping, smoothing peptides, like vitamins A and E, that make my lips appear fuller -- watch out, Kylie Jenner. --Allie Flinn

My hatred for removing mascara is well documented. I hate how I can never seem to truly remove every trace of it -- I always notice some lingering black flecks or shadowy residue. Even when I find a decent makeup remover, the rubbing and scrubbing it takes to remove the mascara leaves my lashes looking wimpy and unhealthy.

Then a cosmetic chemist introduced me to tubing mascara. Unlike a regular mascara, which is wax-based, tubing mascara forms a film around the lash (like a tube) that is easily removed with a little water and light rubbing. The removal process for L'Oreal Paris Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara, $10.95, is a dream. It slides off in pieces with an elastic-like consistency, so it doesn't leave any dark circles behind. Plus, the double-sided wand has a peptide-infused base coat on one side, and an inky black formula on the other that gives me exactly what I'm looking for: nourished, well-defined, long lashes that won't fall out when I take off my makeup -- or leave me looking like I haven't slept in a week. --Emily Woodruff

I entertained the idea that finding a $10 body lotion with a top-shelf fragrance might be an unreasonable expectation. I have slathered my needy, Keratosis Pilaris-ridden skin in its fair share of moisturizers -- and though I've found many a drugstore lotion that hydrates to my liking, I wanted one that that also smells fancy. Like the gardens at Versailles, like the New England countryside in springtime. And I wanted to purchase it with one-dollar bills. So sue me.

Lo and behold, this anomaly exists. I found it at Whole Foods, smelled it, loved it, looked at the price tag expecting double digits but was gloriously met with the numbers $8.99.

The Shikai Hand & Body Lotion in Gardenia is exactly what I wanted. Now trust me, I can call BS on a fake gardenia scent from a mile away, but this one is authentic -- all-natural and light, leaving just a trace of Versailles on my skin all day. This stuff is buttery in texture, but easily absorbed. It's botanical-rich and cruelty-free. And, yes, it makes me feel fancy. Five stars. --Amanda Montell