time to hydrate |

I have 3 makeup kits: a train case that has all my products that I often use when I do makeup for other people, a bigger personal case that contains the items I don’t use every day (like my smoky eyeshadows and the like), and a small bag of everyday essentials. By far, the items I turn to literally every single day are stashed in the smallest case. Here is what’s inside that case. I would recommend these products without hesitation; they’re the ones I rely on day in and day out.

1. Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Pale Pink ($24): This cream blush lasts all day, and is the prettiest pink shade I’ve found. It glides on whisper-soft for a gentle blush, and layers beautifully for a more pronounced flush. Note: this is the old packaging of this product; check out the new packaging, available now.

2. Shiseido Eyelash Curler ($19): Since the She Uemura curler is only sold online now, I use this–and it’s just as good. Curls expertly, with all-day hold.

3. MAC Strobe Cream ($15-$30): I mix a few drops of this into my tinted moisturizer for extra glow.

4. MAC Bronzing Powder in Refined Golden ($23): This shimmery bronzer gives my fair skin just enough bronzey glow that’s believable, not fake. Note: This packaging is from the 2010 “To The Beach” collection, and is no longer available. Refined Golden is part of MAC’s permanent collection, so the bronzer itself is still available.

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One of my 2012 resolutions is to take better care of my skin. I am embarrassingly lax when it comes to caring for my face. No matter how many times I promise I’ll slather on moisturizer with SPF every morning, I inevitably forget and get out of the routine. I rarely use eye cream at night, let alone during the day. But now that I’m 30, the faintest hint of crepiness has crept up below my eyes. Not ok.

As a result, I’ve vowed to establish a solid skincare regimen this year. The first step I’ve taken toward this is with AHAVA Time to Hydrate Gentle Eye Cream ($32). The cream contains an infusion of AHAVA’s proprietary minerals from the Dead Sea, which are supposedly great for your skin. I’ve been using this during the day to fake a well-rested look — even when I only logged a few hours’ sleep. I wouldn’t recommend using this as a night cream; it’s not strong enough. For that, I’m still using my beloved Creme de La Mer. But this is a great option for daytime hydration.I like it for several reasons. I smooth it on under my eyes before applying my concealer, and it feels like a big drink of water for my delicate undereye skin. It also helps my concealer glide on smoother, and I’ve noticed it doesn’t cake into the very fine lines under my eyes halfway through the day. With this as a base, my concealer lasts longer. It’s something small that I worked into my routine, but I feel so much better doing it.