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

I didn't know how much I loved my Restorsea Reviving Cleanser, $65, until it was almost gone. I started thinking about which cleanser I was going to try next, and I realized I didn't want to switch. (And as a beauty editor, that sentiment isn't just unusual -- it's unnatural.)

Of course I've loved cleansers before, but this one has a special purpose: It's the cleanser I turn to when my skin feels really dirty (think NYC pollution or excessive waterproof makeup) because it removes every trace of everything. I especially love doing "the toner test" where you wash your face and then swipe it with a toner-soaked cotton pad to see how much grime and makeup is left behind. With this cleanser, the cotton pad comes back clean.

In addition to gentle, sulfate-free cleansing ingredients, it contains a natural enzyme derived from salmon that gently exfoliates and brightens skin. As a self-proclaimed freckle hater, I'm a fan of anything that helps lighten them, and I definitely notice a difference when I'm using this cleanser.

And if you're balking at the price, know this: A bottle lasts for months and months. Now, I think it's time for me to restock.

There are two things you need to know about me: I love to work out, and I abhor washing my hair every day. Needless to say, dry shampoo is my desert island beauty product. I thought I had my routine on lock until Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo, $22, came into my life, and swept me off my feet.

What makes this dry shampoo different is that it contains a patented molecule that makes the superabsorbent powders easy to brush out, and these powders not only soak up oil, they also soak up sweat. (Cue sweeping romantic music.) I could go on and on about the technological advances (and believe me, they are cool) -- but I know what you're really curious about: Does it work, work, work, work, work?

Yes, it works harder than Rihanna wants you to. And here's how: You spray it on your hair, wait 30 seconds for the powders to do their thing, then use your fingers and a brush to get it out of your hair (yes, the powders don't sit on your scalp like others do). The result: Shiny, clean, just-got-a-blowout hair that miraculously doesn't smell like the sweat I worked up doing burpees that morning. In a word: Lifesaver. --Allie Flinn

When it comes to hair, it's pretty much a given that we strive for the opposite of whatever we're born with. Curly-haired gals tend to be all 'bout those Brazilian blowouts, while those with pin-straight manes have probably considered reaching for a Bump-It at least once in a desperate attempt to add life to limp strands.

I fall into the latter camp, having slippery-straight hair that falls flat when left to air dry. Getting highlights definitely added some much-needed texture, but I still have to reach for a blow-dryer on the daily to gain volume. Or at least, I had to until I discovered Umberto Beverly Hills Lifting Powder, $11.99.

A tiny sprinkling of this root-boosting powder adds instant height to my dry hair. And the best part is that I get to swap damaging heat tools for my hands, since the application process requires only fingertips. Another bonus? The product also absorbs oil, so my day-two, normally greasy and weighed-down hair is still pleasantly plump.

All in all, this time-saving multi-tasker lets me fake the glamorous, full hair I failed to inherit, making it as much a booster to my mood as it is to my roots. --Rose Curiel