By this point in the winter, my skin has basically given up. All the oils and creams in the world can't seem to keep it from flaking by mid-afternoon. But Skinmedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator, $178, has changed all that. It's an incredibly light gel-like serum that's packed with five different types of hyaluronic acid -- an ingredient that's famous among skin care dorks for holding 1000 times its weight in water. Hyaluronic acid is also found naturally in the skin, and this product helps your skin build up its reserves. So while most moisturizers temporarily hydrate the flaky cells sitting on top of your face (the ones you're probably going to scrub off at the end of the day anyway), this one works on a deeper level for long-term hydration.

While I consider myself neither young enough nor cool enough to pull off black lipstick IRL, the allure of a vampy lip color is not lost on me. That's why I'm obsessed with Givenchy Rouge Interdit Vinyl Color Enhancing Lipstick in Noir Revelateur, $33: It looks like it's straight out of "The Craft," yet when you swipe it on, it morphs into a sheer, wearable berry shade. The tiny ribbon-adorned tube also happens to be incredibly chic, making me feel much cooler than I really am.

After testing dozens of natural deodorants for a story a while back, I determined that Schmidt's is the only one that works for me. But there is a downside: It comes in a pot with a tiny spatula, and you have to massage it into your armpits every morning. While the touching doesn't bother me (it's self-love, people!), the necessary post-application hand-washing is an annoying extra step. Fortunately, the deodorant goddess (a.k.a. Jaime Schmidt) smiled down upon me, and released a slightly tweaked stick version of my beloved Schmidt's Natural Deodorant, $9. Now, you can swipe and go, and save the self-love for a time that's less hectic than the morning rush.

My curling iron addiction means my ends are always a little fried. And, though I hate to admit it, I'm in the habit of mindlessly picking at them while I sit on the subway without cell service.

Even though there are countless split-end products on the market, the MIT scientists who formulate Living Proof decided to allocate a small percentage of their brainpower to my very important problem. The result of this meeting of the minds? The best split-end solution I've ever tried. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Fresh Cut Split End Mender, $24, uses ionic force to hold the splits together -- something they call "instant zip technology." The split ends are still there (and they'll be there until you get a haircut), but they're held together so you can't see them. And if you can't see them, you can't pick at them.

Like any beauty junkie, I love a sheet mask. Give me a hotel bed, a glass of cabernet and a sheet mask, and I'm in heaven. Still, most sheet masks can be a little goopy (hence the hotel room -- better for the mess), and so much of that goopy goodness seems to evaporate instead of sinking into my skin where it belongs. With an Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrated Recovery PowerFoil Mask, $79, the evaporation problem has been solved. The sheet is backed with foil to help force the moisturizing, age-defying serum into the skin speed up results to an efficient 10 minutes. When you wear it, you look like a futuristic Tin Man, which makes the experience even more enjoyable.