If there was one thing I learned in high school (you know, besides algebra and American history), it was that shiny-haired girls rule the world. Unfortunately, those were the dark days -- before YouTube tutorials and blow-out balms -- so those of us who were not genetically blessed with sleek, lustrous locks were S.O.L.

Today, however, I can have the hair of my teenage dreams, thanks to Tresemmé Get Sleek Blow Dry Balm, $6.49. It's the perfect antidote to the poofiness and frizziness blow-dryers tend to wreak on my hair. I slather it on damp hair to achieve smooth, glossy, tresses, as well as on dry hair to tame flyaways. And, at less than 10 bucks, it's a product I could have even afforded on my meager babysitting earnings back in the era of proms and dial-up. --Mary Squillace

As a kid, I thought my freckles were cute. Now, I dream of erasing every last dot on my face. (Maybe because I spend way too much time with dermatologists who unapologetically refer to all freckles -- including mine -- as sun damage.)

So I laser. I peel. And I use every brightening product I can get my hands on. But because new brightening products pop up all the time, it's rare that I ever finish one. That wasn't the case, however, with the Eve Lom Brightening Cream, $110, I just scraped completely dry.

This cream is silky and decadent without being heavy. It keeps my skin feeling hydrated all night despite the cold, dry weather. It's infused with rose oil that makes it smell divine. And it definitely helps brighten my freckles. For the first time in a long time, I'm not looking forward to the next new brightening cream -- I'm planning to get another jar of this one. --Dawn Davis

Confession: I love red wine. Give me a glass of a Napa cab, and I'm in my happy place. However, wine doesn't exactly love my skin. On those nights where I do indulge in a few glasses, I wake up looking like the life has been sucked out of my skin. So when Guerlain Météorites Baby Glow Sheer Liquid Foundation, $54, crossed my desk, I was intrigued. It promised to make skin look radiant and minimize the signs of fatigue -- just what the doctor ordered for my sometimes-zombie-like pallor.

It was love at first swipe. The superlight formula is perfect for everyday wear, and is delicately scented with the brand's signature violet fragrance, so it feels luxe right from the get-go. It's infused with pearl pigments in red, green, blue and gold that blend into my skin oh-so-easily, making it look glow-y and alive (no matter how many glasses of wine I've had). In other words: It's like a life-restoring defibrillator for your face. --Allie Flinn

With winter in full swing, my skin is starting to get superdry -- because just like the classic Christmas song says, baby, it's cold outside. On top of the chilly, harsh weather, I'm probably not helping matters by taking marathon-long, dehydrating hot showers and spending inordinate amounts of time camped in front of the heater.

But unless you have a creepy dude holding you captive indoors like the guy in the holiday ditty (seriously, couldn't he have just lent that woman his coat?), then you -- like me -- will have to bear the unforgiving winter elements.

So in addition to grabbing a jacket, I reach for Soap & Glory's The Scrub of Your Life, $12. When my go-to body lotion isn't enough to alleviate my thirsty elbows, legs and hands, this moisturizing foaming scrub unearths baby-soft skin. Plus, the scent, which combines hints of citrus, strawberry and gardenia blooms, lets my mind escape to warmer climes during all those leisurely showers.

And unlike a lot of other scrubs, this formula doesn't leave behind an oily reside. On the contrary, it gives me touchably smooth skin that helps me feel hot -- even if it's cold outside. --Rose Curiel

If you like horror stories, keep reading. It's Halloween 2015. I'm applying my makeup (a bold cat eye to match my "Bad Blood" costume), when all of the sudden, my foundation begins flaking off my face, like a snake shedding its skin.

Immediately, I remove all my makeup and begin furiously washing and exfoliating to rid myself of the dry, dead buildup. But nothing works. I spend the rest of the day looking like a reptile in false lashes and wondering how the heck to solve this insidious new problem.

As it turned out, the root of my dry skin woes was my face wash -- I had been stripping my face with cleansers meant for oily summer skin. But the day I started using Acure Organics Sensitive Facial Cleanser, $9.99, things took a turn for the hydrated.

This affordable cleanser has a creamy texture that foams up into a lush lather as you wash. Its formula is packed with dry skin fixes like probiotics and Argan oil. And most importantly, it cleanses my skin without parching it. Since using the product, I have nearly bounced back from my reptilian state. A happy ending to a terrifying tale. --Amanda Montell