My Beauty Top Ten

I haven't had the chance to pamper myself in quite a while. I just looked down at my toes, thinking about a mere few years ago when I had the time and flexibility to take care of them. Not that I did it super often, but I remember from time to time, I'd soak my feet in Epson-salty warm water, pumice my feet into a leathery softness, slather them with my favorite foot lotion (LUSH's Pied de Pepper - spicy, delicious yumness), yank on some socks, before kicking them up to watch an episode of Friends or Desperate Housewives. Well, I just recently threw away the remnants of my Pied de Pepper. It was nasty - all separated and liquidy, a far cry from its opaque and creamy hey-day. I just don't have the time to pumice and slather and recline much anymore. Although I did get a pedicure with my good friend Beth, what, six months ago? From which I still proudly sport a jagged sliver of burgundy nail polish on the tips of each of my big toenails. Never surrender!

Anyway...

My beauty regime is less a lingering pamper, and more a minimal, rote series of events. Since having Anika in 2008, what I do is exactly that: a routine. However, in the name of good spirits, hope, wishful thinking, whatever you'd like to call it, I'm sharing my list of my favorite beauty products that I love and have loved, whether by necessity or desire. This was actually in response to a Show Us Your Life post from one of the blogs I read regularly, but I was too late to join in. So, a solo post will have to do. Here's my top ten beauty products I use.

1. Bare Escentuals Foundation - in the fairest color, natch, appropriately titled FAIR. This is the product that really made me interested in beauty products. The dip, tap, swirl method of the mineral makeup is really easy for me, and not heavy looking. I love it. And then I looked into their eyeshadows and.....

2. ... found Bare Escentuals Celestine. It's just a lovely cool neutral taupe that works great with my pale skin and greeny/bluey eyes. And it's just shimmery enough to make me swoon.

3. Biolage Defining Elixir - My holy grail of hair products. I've been using this for over 15 years and haven't found anything that works as well for my hair type. It defrizzes and separates my curls without weighing down my hair or making it greasy or crisp, two words I don't want associated with my hair - groooooosssssss.

4. Trader Joe's Honey Mango Cream Shave - Yum to the um. This stuff smells like a tropical deliciousness. And its $3. It makes me want to go shave my legs right now. Actually, I'll be right back...

5. Laura Geller Balance and Bronze - If I could take one piece of makeup with me to the deserted island, it would be this. I can use it as an all over color, blush, bronzer, eyeshadow and concealer. How miggity-magical is that? And it lasts for-ev-er. I've literally had my B&B for well over five years, I use it nearly every single day, and there's still about a third left. Laura, please don't ever stop making this.

6. Origins Ginger Essence Perfume - My signature scent. It's just so fresh and so clean clean. A little citrus, a little spice. They should make it into a cocktail.

7. Almay Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover Pads - Utilitarian. These little pads are total workhorses. They get the job done well.

8. MAC pigments - How could I pick just one of these. I just can't. MAC. I loooooooooove you. You sucked me in with your sparkly Crayola hues, like Key West on a Saturday. Crayola hues that I never actually wear, but just really like to look at. I stick with colors like Subtle, Coco, Goldenaire, Mauvement... Neutral colors, with some purples too. I've pared down my stash considerably, but just can't get rid of all of them.

9. Philosophy Shampoo, Shower Gel, and Bubble Baths (3-in-1s) - Any and all. The one I am currently enjoying is Coconut Toasted Marshmellow. I'm not sure if I should eat it, or just smell it, but oh YUM! It's tropical with just the slight slight slightest bit of bakery. Also, Cinnamon Buns is the bomb. Seriously, go buy it. And then lather, rinse and yes please repeat.

10. Biolage Detangling Solution - Just the tiniest dollop of this gets through my curly birds nest wind storm hair on a bad day.

Update: I got to do a spa day with my sister right after I finished writing this. And (to quote my good friend Michele) man oh Manischevitz did I need it. It was pure condensed euphoria. And we had a beautiful snow day to cherry the sundae. Ah, sweet relaxation! Chummin' me in, relaxing my defenses. What a difference a day makes...

Monday, I am so ready for you. Bring it.