Among many things that I hate that my mom is right about, I should have never plucked my brows as a teenager. It took a life-changing session with a brow waxer at Anastasia Beverly Hills to realize that my mom was spot-on: a set of full, well-shaped brows are transformative. I let my brows grow in -- big, bushy and proud -- and never looked back. Still, my power brows don't feel complete until I've brushed on a bit of Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Color.

You see, brow pencils for blondes can get kinda freaky. Most that I've tried look too orange, too gray or simply too dark to blend with my natural brow color. And then there's the fading factor. But Stila's pen leaves the faintest, most natural wash of color -- no harsh lines here -- and genuinely stays put all day. I appreciate my precious pen even more when I inevitably misplace it, settle for using some crappy, waxy pencil for awhile, rediscover the pen under my car seat (because it's always under the car seat) and continue rocking my natural-looking power brows. Mom approves. --Katie McCarthy

Try as I might, I've never been a lipstick girl. I painstakingly apply a bright color with every intention of owning that bold lip, but one unexpected encounter with a mirror and I'm tissuing it off. Actually, I've come to like the faded lipstick look that no amount of tissue can remove. And I've finally found a product that gives me that lingering kiss of color without tissue-blotting.

Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Rose, $6.99, is a touch of color that brightens my lips without making me afraid of my own reflection. It's got the addictive moisturizing element of a lip balm, but a hint of color that makes me look natural and healthy. It's kind of like that berry-red shade my lips become after being exposed to cold and wind in winter, minus all the chapping, peeling and accompanying sniffles. Being a beauty hoarder/editor, I have glosses and balms that are five years old that I still can't finish, but this little balm is on its last twist. --Emily Woodruff

I tried countless makeup removers -- wipes, oils, oily wipes, oil-free removers, removers for sensitive skin -- but the story was always the same: painful squinting, regret and splashing my face with water in a panicked attempt to stop the burning. My eyelashes became regular casualties and I often went to bed with red, irritated eyes (and remnants of mascara on my face).

I was almost ready to give up my weekday cat eyes and weekend smoky eyes until I tried Lierac Micellar Cleansing Water, $24. I have to admit I wasn't entirely sure cleansing water had a purpose, but now I depend on it to conquer stubborn eye makeup late at night. Just a few pumps of this alcohol- and soap-free formula on a cotton pad and my waterproof mascara comes off in a few swipes -- without setting my eyes on fire. The cherry on top: Since there's no rinsing involved, I can quickly hop into bed with squeaky-clean skin that's surprisingly soft. --Erica Smith

"An eye cream? I'm too young for that," I naïvely thought when Laura Mercier's Flawless Skin Repair Eye Serum, $83, was recommended to me. Oh, how wrong I was. Once I found out that the signs of aging can start as early as your 20s, I became obsessed with eye treatments. Laura Mercier's is the one that I keep coming back to.

The consistency of this serum is creamy, yet lightweight enough to layer underneath concealer. Even though I want to slather this all over my eye area to keep lines at bay, it only takes a tiny bit to make a difference. Not only does it help my concealer go on smoother and crease-free, the pearl-y, luminizing particles give me an extra brightening boost (so essential when I'm running on only five to six hours of sleep). Plus, I like knowing that the Japanese botanicals and geranium extracts are working all day long to stave off my inevitable lines for as long as possible. --Allie Flinn

I'm naturally one of the palest people on the planet -- and not one of those luminous, alabaster-pale girls like Kate Bosworth. With my dark hair and penchant for wearing black, I give off a Wednesday Adams vibe, garnering at least one "Are you feeling alright?" comment over the course of winter.

I had pretty much accepted my washed-out fate until I met St. Tropez skin-finishing expert (and life-saving genius) Sophie Evans. After one spray tan with Evans (she's worked with St. Tropez for over 14 years, spraying bronzed gods/goddesses like David and Victoria Beckham), I was determined to keep up my new glow.

St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse, $44, allows me to do just that. The shade technology lets me determine how light or deep I want my tan. Just shower one hour after applying for a hint of color, two for a medium glow or wait at least three hours for a dark tan that still looks natural. Meanwhile, the mousse formula makes it easy to cover my whole body in minutes, it dries quickly and the result is a perfect bronzed glow every time -- even when I haphazardly slather it on five minutes before crawling into bed.
--Marissa DeSantis