Of Beauty Shelf Essentials

1. Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar ($5): This little bar of wonder has worked incredibly well on my acne-prone sensitive skin. I know many people aren't the bar soap fan, but it has lasted significantly longer than any other bottle face washes I've used before. 
2. Pixi Glow Tonic ($30): I use this religiously after I wash my face, twice-a-day-everyday. Unlike most toners, it's alcohol-free so it won't dry out your skin. I just take a cotton pad and a few drops of this and swipe it all over my face to remove the last traces of make-up or cleanser residue. 
3. Eucerin Daily Protection Moisturizing Face Lotion ($10): I had a bottle of this back in high school and thought it did the trick. It's nothing too special, but it's certainly not bad. Eucerin is known for the gentleness of their products, plus this had SPF so win-win.
4. Mario Badescu Seaweed Night Cream ($22): This is somewhat new to my arsenal since my beloved Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate ran out. It's thick in consistency, making it more of a cream than lotion, but that just means it's ready to banish those dry patches caused by the upcoming winter winds.
5. Tarte Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment ($38): I got a little sample of this from an advent calendar last year and absolutely loved it. I was never a one for eye cream, because why bother with an extra step at the end of the night, but when my sample ran out, I immediately went to buy the full size. It's not too thick and truly moisturizes your eye area.
6. Rosebud Salve ($6): I am trying to get into the habit of moisturizing my lips before I go to bed so I'll avoid waking up with dry and cracked lips. This one smells amazing, and if you don't like the tin packaging style, they also sell these into travel-friendly tubes.

Of Why I Use Eye Cream | Tarte Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment

1. It makes my skin care routine feel fancier.
2. Sometimes I get dry spots around my eyes, but this eye cream takes care of that. 
3. After a long day, it's good to gently massage the eyes and applying eye cream is the perfect accomplice for that.
4. This tarte one is known for brightening the under-eye area, but if that's not what you are going for, there's plenty of other choices on the market (Kiehl's Avocado Eye Cream is a cult classic)
5. It's light, absorbs quickly into my skin, and somehow manages to make my makeup around my eyes last a little longer.

Of Everyday Makeup

1. (Primer) - I wish I could say that this is something I apply every single day, but alas, I am one lazy human. But when I do apply this, it really makes a difference to making my makeup last longer. I find the Smashbox primer minimizes my pores, but the Hourglass one fights shine a lot longer. 
2. Concealer - I picked up the Collection Lasting Collection concealer on a trip to London while I was studying abroad last semester. Unfortunately, it's really hard to hunt down in the states. However, I've heard glowing reviews about how Maybelline's Fit Me Concealer is a dupe for the Nars Creamy Concealer, which we all know is a much coveted product.
3. Foundation - This MAC one is a new addition to my arsenal. This takes less than a minute to apply with a fluffy powder brush. It gives amazing coverage for a powder and doesn't leave that powdery residue on the face. If you have dry skin, be sure to really moisturize before using this. Since it has oil control properties, it's really going to draw out those dry patches.
4. Brows- Currently, I'm loving the Benefit one. It has a waxy texture as well as a sturdy spool-y brush to really blend the color so it doesn't look like I drew a bunch of lines in as my eyebrows.  But honestly, I think I'm using it because sharpening the pencil and watching it shrink gives me a strangely desired satisfaction. 
5. Eyeliner - Yet another loved item I picked up from London. But you can find the Soap & Glory Supercat Liner on Amazon, just for a heftier price than walking into Superdrug in London. But I guess if you calculate in the airfare to London...Regardless, this eyeliner has a thicker nib than most, which for me, makes the process of applying it ten times faster. The end is still pointed for precision and this jet black color has incredible lasting power. 
6. Mascara - I treated myself to a Tarte advent calendar this past Christmas and uncovered these two treasures. I never really considered primer for my lashes before, but this stuff gives loads of definition to my sparse lashes. Then I add two coats of the Tarte mascara. Usually, I prefer waterproof mascara since it holds a curl better. But it'd be a shame if I didn't use the spoils from my calendar, plus, waterproof mascara is such a hassle to wash off.
7. Lips - This changes everyday, but this Sheseido one in Fantasia is a current favorite. I've been loving plum shades a lot more this season, but this shows up a lot more pink in the picture. But since the weather's picking up, I should probably reach for some pink shades anyway.
8. Blush - Rose gold has been all the rage lately and Benefit's Rockateur is not an exception. I love the slight shimmer this adds to my cheeks and the rose gold blends the perfect amount of warmth into my dulled winter face.