Before my nighttime skin care routine morphed into a 12-step event (a hazard of working at TotalBeauty.com), it was simplistic to a fault. As in I rarely -- if ever -- used a moisturizer. You see, in my experience, night creams were greasy messes that caused breakouts. When I confessed this to my beauty-product-loving BFF, the look of shock and horror on her face was enough to send me in hot pursuit of a moisturizer that worked for my skin.

A few Google searches let me know that CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM, $13.99, was loved among users and dermatologists alike. When I started using it, I immediately understood why. Unlike other night creams, it doesn't suffocate skin, yet it feels as silky, rich and hydrating as many break-the-bank lotions. It's loaded with nourishing ingredients, like ceramides and hyaluronic acid, and it's void of additives that make my skin freak out. Even now, surrounded by expensive creams for the 2015 Total Beauty Awards, I still reach for this one. Best of all, it made my skin visibly healthier -- for less than I'd spend on an L.A. cocktail. --Mary Squillace

I'm usually a powder blush girl. I use mineral foundations for the most part, and creams usually don't mesh well with powder. However, once I laid eyes on this adorably packaged melon shade from Topshop, I had to try it.

The formula of Topshop's cream blush is dewy, but it blends over mineral foundation seamlessly. No streaks, no smudging -- just flawless, glowing cheeks. I also use a bit on my lips for a pop of color when I'm in a rush. I've been getting so many compliments from complete strangers on my lip and cheek color, which just reinforces what I already knew: This is beauty product love.

The packaging is really slender, so you can easily stash it in your purse. The shade range is beautiful, but I'm partial to Flush, a bright coral ideal for summer. I love the cream-to-powder formula that stays put all day, even on my oily skin. It's easy to build up the color, so I can go for a natural, everyday look or amp it up for a night out. I can't get enough of this cream blush -- thanks, TopShop. --Kelly Searle

My personal daytime skin care motto is "Everything's better with SPF." I want SPF in my moisturizer, SPF in my primer, SPF in my BB cream, SPF in my powder and I definitely want SPF in my eye cream. And yes, I layer all those SPFs together, and I still wear a hat and stay in the shade. I'm obsessive.

The latest addition to my maniacal SPF routine is Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Circle Perfector with SPF 30, $38. It's a titanium dioxide-based sunscreen with the slightest peach tint to balance out dark circles. While it's not high coverage -- there's only one color, and it works on most skin tones -- it is reflective and instantly brightening. On the weekends, I skip concealer altogether. (During the week I apply concealer with -- you guessed it -- SPF.)

But this is more than a tinted sunscreen -- it's also an awesome eye cream. It's moisturizing, makes a great base for makeup (not that you need it), and it contains activated vitamin C and licorice root extract, which lighten pigmentation and dark circles respectively. It's everything I want in a daytime eye cream -- and then some. --Dawn Davis

I'll get right to it: Hourglass No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil, $42, is my jam. It's one of those where-have-you-been-all-my-life products that I never even knew I needed ... and now it's become an indispensible part of my routine.

The price tag may seem a little hefty for a lip treatment, but this is no glorified lip balm. It contains 14 essential oils (lavender, rosemary and eucalyptus, to name a few) and is packed with plant oils like sweet almond and jojoba that nourish and moisturize my lips in a way no balm ever has. (Oh, and did I mention the tip is made with 24-karat gold? In addition to sounding ultra-fancy, it's also antibacterial.)

It's glossy, so you can wear it during the day, but I prefer to use it at night before I go to sleep -- I wake up in the morning with soft, smooth lips that are prepped for lipstick, but also look fab and healthy without anything extra. Plus, it's got an earthy, herb-y scent I can't get enough of. --Allie Flinn

Scents bring memories into focus for me like re-reading a diary entry or looking through old photos. One splash of Victoria's Secret Love Spell conjures up memories of my middle school locker and the many times I whipped Love Spell out of my backpack to (quite literally) drench myself in its intoxicating scent. Getting a whiff of Clinique Happy reminds me of cheerleading camp and my first day of high school. Without fail, walking through a cloud of Lacoste Touch of Pink will bring back sharp memories of my first boyfriend.

By college, I'd graduated to something a little more adult -- Chanel Chance. But now that I've been out of college longer than I was in it, it's time for a new fragrance. When Waterlily Sun by Aerin, $110, walked into my life, I knew it was the one. It's a light, yet complex fragrance that I haven't been able to stop sniffing since the moment I sprayed it. It reminds me of a cross between expensive department stores, sunshine and my old standby, Clinique Happy. The bottle is simple, but chic, adorned with a jade stone cap. At 1.7 ounces, it's travel friendly. This one's a keeper. --Emily Woodruff