my go to's

i'm definitely not by any means an expert, or even that knowledgeable about beauty products, but i enjoy reading what people use and what works for them, and i love trying out new stuff. this is a list of my very most essential go-to beauty products that i can always count on and use almost daily.

1. Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in "Cherish" - smells delicious, i love the color, it goes on great and truly stains your lips, so it lasts for hours. I'm not quite confident enough (yet?) to sport a bright red lip and be totally comfortable with it, but this color is noticeable while still subtle enough that I can stay in my comfort zone. 

2. Jergen's Natural Glow gradual tanning lotion - while I get really sick of the smell of this lotion, I think it works great. I can get a noticeable tan in only 2-3 uses and I think it looks natural (as long as you know how to apply tanning lotion and can avoid streaks and splotches). I buy this almost every year around this time, as my jeans and long pants make their way to the back of the closet, along with all my tights, so I can show off my legs without looking scary-pasty, before I've had the chance to lay the sun for a few hours.

3. C.O. Bigelow's Vitamin Boost Toner - I discovered this stuff while working at Bath and Body Works, and they've since stopped selling it, but I've continued to buy it on the Bigelow website because I love it so much. It smells amazing and can be applied before or after make-up. It wasn't until I started using C.O. Bigelow's skin care line that I started seeing permanent changes to my skin, and I will never turn back! Devin and I also both tend to use it when we get sunburned on our faces. It is very relieving and the vitamins help heal the burn quickly. 

4. Bare Minerals. I bought the starter kit a few years ago (which, if you're going to start using this makeup, definitely buy the kit. It's super discounted and includes all the brushes, bronzer, mineral vail, brush shampoo, and foundation. It's the best option for getting into the line) and will probably never use another makeup for as long as I live. They have so many foundation colors that once you find a match, it's totally invisible on your skin. It's so light, you can't even tell you're wearing make up and I think the coverage is awesome. I never thought I would get that from a powder, but this stuff works! It's a little pricey, but you only have to buy it ever few months, instead of every few weeks, and it's good for your skin! I feel like this is another product that helped my get permanent results with clear skin.

5. Love and Beauty nail polish - this is the Forever 21 brand nail polish and i'm absolutely addicted to it. It's not the highest quality nail polish, but I've never been able to justify spending money on this stuff, and these bottles are only $2.80! They always have tons of colors. More than half of my nail polish collection (which is massive by the way) is Love and Beauty.

6. L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream - I have only been using this stuff for about 2 weeks. Before, I had been using the Garnier BB Cream and I really loved it. It covered well, it smelled good, but I always had to put quite a bit of powder over it because it made me look oily, no matter how little I had put on, and I usually avoided already-oily spots anyway. The L'Oreal brand is a weird texture and goes on white until it warms to your skin, but I think the coverage is better and it goes on very matte. I wish they had a few more tones, because neither the light or the medium shades match my skin very well, and mixing them would be a huge hassle, but I love it enough to just make it work! I can use this product by itself, with a little mascara and feel just fine, without putting on any other makeup.

7. Great Lash Mascara. I used to think this stuff was a joke and really cheap and for little teenagers, but turns out it's one of the best mascaras ever! It's cheap, it comes in every shade, and I get longer, fuller, non-clumping lashes with this then I have with any other mascara (and I've tried the lot of them!) I'm sure I'd be happier with a department store brand option like Clinique, but you'll never see me spending that kind of money. My first choice will probably always be eyelash extensions, but the cost and maintenance turn me off. I think Great Lash is an awesome option. I like that it's light and unscented, too.

8. Bath and Body Works "Secret Wonderland" lotion - I worked at Bath and Body Works for about a year 2 years ago and am just now running out of lotions, candles and other smelly things. I tried every lotion that store released for that year (which I bet was at least 100) and this is still my favorite. I'm also a huge fan of Dark Kiss. I love the formula of this lotion because the smell isn't overwhelming and it gives me exactly the amount of moisture I want. I'm really OCD about the way my hands feel and I always have lotion with me because of it. I don't feel like it leaves me skin oily or with a residue. $10 for lotion is pretty steep, so I tend to use it just as hand lotion. 

9. Victoria's Secret "Tease" perfume - my favorite smell in the world. I had sort of been looking for a scent I could wear forever that was mine. I had been rotating Bath and Body Works favorites for awhile, but I wanted something different and a little more serious. I haven't splurged on the actual perfume yet, and just have the body mist, which doesn't last as long as I'd like it to, but this smell, man. It's dang good.

10. Vaseline - Good old vaseline! I use this for EVERYTHING. Literally. I put it on my eyelashes to help lengthen them before mascara. I put it on my cheeks for a little glow. I put it in my eyebrows sometimes even! I put it on my elbows when they are dry. I put it on my lips over some concealer instead of buying nude lipstick. I use it on my cuticles. It does it all. Literally. I even use it in my hair as styling wax when I'm in a pinch. 

11. Tresemme Dry Shampoo - I haven't tried a different brand of dry shampoo because I've been good with this one! I can go about 3-4 days without washing my hair with the help of this magic stuff, and it's a life-saver on camping trips. It smells really strong, and you have to get some practice with applying it without giving yourself grey spots, but it works like a charm. 

12. Vaseline Cocoa Butter lotion - This is my favorite body lotion. I use lotion after every shower and sometimes before bed. I have a giant bottle of it at work, even. I love the smell and it's the perfect moisture. A basic lotion has to be on a list like this! I've tried other brands' cocoa butter lotions and I don't like them nearly as much as Vaseline's. 

There you have it! I'm not a big spender when it comes to beauty products. I like it to be simple, do it's job, and smell good, and all these products do just that! Hopefully this is helpful and let me know if you have any of these and love or hate them, let me know if you try them, and let me know if you have better suggestions! Every product on this list is under $10 with the exception of the bare minerals (which is about $30 for foundation).