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

While I know that taking a few minutes to lather my entire body in lotion is just as important as the insane amount of time I spend covering my face in serums and creams, I am simply too lazy to do it. I mean, I already scrubbed down in the shower and that was exhausting enough.

While I was happy to go on living lotion-less, my world completely changed when the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, $45, found it's way to my desk. I was not only smitten with the alluring tropical smell, but its extremely creamy and lightweight consistency, which made lather time feel like a mini trip to the spa.

Apart from making me feel exotic with it's naturally moisturizing Brazilian extracts -- think guaraná, cupuacu butter, brazil nuts and coconut oil -- it does wonders for my booty. The caffeine-heavy guaraná helps boost circulation, which means the product tightens my skin while also nourishing it --and I'm left with an overall smooth-and-glowing look.

It's safe to say that I've probably never a loved a body lotion more than this one. Now I just need the Brazilian booty to go with it. --Jessica Amaris

When I picture the ideal woman, I imagine someone effortlessly charming -- straight out of Old Hollywood. She's confident and alluring, but approachable. She's quick with a witty retort and is never at a loss for words. Her perfectly coiffed hair is perpetually in place, and her red lipstick never transfers to her teeth. She has certainly never left a bathroom with toilet paper stuck to the bottom of her shoe.

Let's be clear: I am not that woman. But a few spritzes of Maison Martin Margiela Replica Lipstick On Eau de Toilette, $125, make me feel like this vision of glamour is within the grasp of my not-so-glamorous hands.

Featuring a blend of floral and powdery notes, Lipstick On is elegant and sophisticated without coming off fussy or old. It's delicate and feminine, yet not cloyingly sweet. At first whiff it smells, yes, almost exactly like a waxy tube of lipstick, but in a way that's satisfying and nostalgic. The scent lingers all day, but never overpowers.

Even when paired with sneakers, jeans and unwashed hair, this intoxicating aroma makes me feel chic. I may be a far cry from my ideal, but you'd never know from my signature scent. --Mary Squillace

There are cult beauty products, and then there are French cult beauty products. For years, I heard murmurings about Biologique Recherche Lotion P50, $95. It fell into the second camp, and women in the know were smuggling it back from Paris. Still, I wasn't dying to try it. P50 is (sort of) a toner, and I'm not a toner person. I assumed I wasn't missing anything. Boy, was I wrong.

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to get a Biologique Recherche facial at Rescue Spa in Philadelphia, and I emerged with a new face -- glowing, lifted and toned with defined cheekbones and nary a blackhead or freckle in sight. The aesthetician recommended an extensive regimen of Biologique Recherche products (of course), but stressed the importance of P50.

So I picked up a bottle of Lotion P50 1970. It's a blend of acids (lactic, salicylic, malic, phytic) and niacinamide that deeply cleans, brightens and exfoliates. The 1970 version also contains satisfyingly tingly yet extremely medicinal-smelling phenol, an antiseptic that has made my pores almost invisible. It eliminates any dirt or makeup my cleanser missed, and it makes additional exfoliation completely unnecessary -- that's how well these acids work.

Now, P50 is the Windex (a la "My Big Fat Greek Wedding") of my beauty routine. Sun spot? P50. Zit? P50. Hangover? P50. But I'm still not a toner person -- I'm a P50 person. --Dawn Davis

I have a tendency to hoard powdered cleansers. They're absolutely perfect for travel; they won't leak all over your bag, you can pack them in your carry-on and they gently exfoliate to remove all traces of icky plane, train and automobile grime. In fact, until Bioré Baking Soda Cleansing Scrub, $9.99, came across my desk, I would save them specifically for trips because they were so expensive.

But that's the wonderful thing about this cleanser: It works just as well -- better, even -- than the expensive versions, and costs a fraction of the price. It gets superfoamy when you add water, and the pH-balanced baking soda formula scrubs away dead skin and clears out pores without causing any irritation or drying out my skin.

Now, I keep one in my travel bag and one on my countertop -- and my skin has never been happier (or smoother). --Allie Flinn