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

I've been on the hunt for my Holy Grail foundation since I started wearing makeup in high school. That quest ended when I found Jane Iredale's Amazing Base SPF 20. It is literally what dreams are made of. Most base products feel heavy on my oily, sensitive skin. Now though, I have to say what I've never said about a foundation before: Amazing Base feels like you're not wearing anything at all.

I've always been more of a liquid foundation girl, but this mineral foundation truly keeps oil at bay all day, and gives my skin a glorious glow without any shimmery particles. I love that it's made without synthetic chemicals, yet rests in a luxurious frosted tub with a pretty gold lid -- the packaging doesn't feel crunchy-granola at all. I buff it in with a dense brush, and the finish is so radiant, I feel like a legitimate forest nymph. It has SPF in it, so I don't have to pile on layers of pore-clogging products. It covers blemishes, cancels out redness and is oil free. If you've never tried a mineral foundation, this one might make you a convert. --Kelly Searle

For most of my life, I pummeled my acne-prone face with salicylic acid- and benzoyl peroxide-loaded cleansers. But at some point, I realized my arsenal of blemish-vanquishing washes was drying out my skin so much that it was actually prompting it to overcompensate with more pimple-producing oils. And so began my quest for a gentle, hydrating cleanser that would get the job done, but wouldn't cause breakouts.

Enter Olay Total Effects 7 Revitalizing Foaming Cleanser, $8.99. This face-saver effectively removes my makeup and staves off breakouts while leaving my skin feeling silky and soft, looking smooth and bright and even smelling great.

Plus, all of these nourishing properties fight signs of aging, which is music to my ears after recently celebrating a birthday-that-shall-not-be-named. It's the perfect bathroom staple for anyone living in limbo between adult acne and, um, let's just say, a more mature complexion.

Even better: Its measly price tag allows me to zip through bottles at lightning speed without stressing about going broke. --Mary Squillace