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

I use hairspray on a daily basis. And more often than not, I use a hairspray cocktail of three formulas: one for shine, one for hold, and another for more hold when my hairstyle deflates two hours later. Luckily, I found Shu Uemura Art of Hair Detail Master Directional Fixing Spray, $38, which has replaced my entire cabinet of hairsprays.

Shu Uemura's fixing spray dries instantly, making styling a breeze and keeping me from using far too much product. My other, lacquer-like hairsprays force me to shampoo daily, but this spray leaves touchable texture so I can simply brush out and restyle the next day. Just a few spritzes allow my curls to last all day with no crunchiness. And my favorite part: It leaves my hair so shiny, I get compliments all day. (I'm almost afraid to give away the secret.) -- Hayley Mason