I travel quite a bit for work, and because of all the time I spend in the air (and in TSA lines), I'm more than a little obsessive about what goes into my carry-on. I have three toiletry bags with me at all times -- one for liquids, one for makeup and one for dry necessities (toothbrush, deodorant, etc.) -- and they're all at capacity. However, I recently managed to squeeze in a bottle of SK-II Mid-Day Essence, $80, and I'm so glad I did.

While many face mists are glorified water, this one is packed with pitera -- a youthifying ingredient derived from sake rice. And the superfine mist is seriously refreshing. A few spritzes every two hours is all I need to keep my skin moisturized even on the driest of cross-country flights. And it's packaged with travel in mind: The lightweight bottle contains less than three ounces.

Actress (and SK-II spokesperson) Cate Blanchett is also a fan. She jets back and forth between Sydney and L.A., and I imagine her with a flock of elfin assistants misting her the entire time. While that definitely isn't my reality, I'm not going anywhere without my own little bottle. --Dawn Davis

Hair oils and my fine hair mix about as well as Gwyneth Paltrow and cheese from a tin. Most of them leave my hair more limp and greasy than shiny and polished. But then celebrity stylist Mark Townsend slipped Dove Regenerative Nourishment Serum-In-Oil, $5.99, into my purse (along with an unused toothbrush to tame the pesky flyaways I'm always dealing with). This is the man responsible for Reese Witherspoon's iconic 2007 Oscars bangs and Dakota Johnson's recent slew of amazing hairstyles, so I knew he was trustworthy.

And the product did not disappoint. The unique formula is part-oil, part-serum; the oil nourishes hair deep in the strand, and the serum adds smoothness and makes my hair supermanageable and can't-stop-touching-it soft. I use it on dry hair after I'm done styling to add shine and whip those flyaways into submission, and on wet hair before styling if it's feeling particularly dry. Also, since using this product, I haven't discovered a single split end. Coincidence? I think not. --Allie Flinn

I'll be honest: When I first heard about body serums, I thought they seemed like a pretty unnecessary addition to my already packed post-shower routine. Why in the world would I slather on a serum before my body-lotion-and-sunblock combo? It's not like I had the luxury of whiling away my mornings on a chaise lounge as I waited for my skin to absorb a bajillion products.

But that was before I learned that most body serums pack anti-aging ingredients and I got my hands on L'Occitane's Almond Velvet Body Serum, $56. Not only does this light, non-greasy formula sink into my skin immediately, but it provides a healthy dose of vitamin C, a crucial antioxidant found in plenty of anti-aging facial serums. And when you live in a land of perpetual sunshine like Los Angeles -- where your skin is constantly exposed to harmful rays due to a year-round wardrobe of tanks, shorts and swimsuits -- it becomes especially important to take preventative measures to preserve every inch of your skin.

Since this product leaves my skin supersoft -- not to mention fragrant, thanks to its delicate powdery scent -- I can skip the moisturizer if I'm in a rush, making this time-saving anti-ager a necessary staple in my routine. --Rose Curiel

My hair is like a rebellious teenager. Whenever I try to tame it with my flatiron, it puts up one hell of a fight, and I often lose -- coming out frazzled and frizzy. So, what's a woman to do with troublesome strands? Call in reinforcements of course.

Now, I'll admit that I'm definitely a hair product snob. I've fried my hair enough in the past to know which products work, and it's rare that I reach for a drugstore brand over salon products. Thankfully, a good friend convinced me that I needed to try L'Orèal Paris Smooth Intense Ultimate Straight Boosting Pre-Conditioner, $6.99.

The results? I was blown away by this drugstore product. This pre-conditioner is a miracle product that straightens out my wild hair every time. When I hop in the shower with this magic pre-conditioner, my hair comes out looking shiny and straight before I even douse it in styling products. Plus, this stuff makes my fried strands so smooth, that I find myself running my fingers through it all day.

It's safe to say my rebellious hair is now on the straight and narrow path.

Once upon a time, my ideal Friday night looked a little like this: Wriggle into some too-high-pumps and a too-short skirt, sip on well drinks and dance until last call, and stumble home shortly before dawn (with a potential pit stop at Shake 'n' Steak along the way). Today my ideal Friday looks a little different: Wriggle into too-large sweats and queue up my latest Netflix obsession, order a pizza and pour a glass of Montepulciano, and slather on a face mask (with the intention of being in bed by midnight).

Lately on these oh-so-eventful weekend evenings, I've been pairing my wine and pizza with Sonia Kashuk's Skin Detox Purifying Black Mask, $15.99. Designed to soak up oil and impurities, this charcoal mask contains a cocktail of skin-enhancing acids (think: salicylic, lactic, and AHAs) that help fight signs of aging by boosting cell turnover and smoothing out skin's texture.

In less time than it takes to get through one episode of "Master of None", I'm looking at a visibly brighter, softer complexion. (Though, I should mention that I would not necessarily recommend this heavy-duty detox mask for women with sensitive skin). And at less than 20 buckaroos, it's a fraction of what I'd pay for a full-on facial -- which means I can justify throwing down more cash on next Friday's bottle of red. --Mary Squillace