TOP PICK: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner

I adore these eyeliners... adore! They are, by far, the most long-lasting eyeliners that I have ever used, and far superior to MAC Fluidlines and Stila Smudgepots. It's better than MAC because they aren't as slippery, and therefore you have more control when applying. It's better than the Stila because the finish is not as matte and flat. And, of course, the Bobbi surpasses both in longevity.

This is available in 17 colors, in varying shades and in metallic or regular finishes. The two that I swear by are Espresso and Caviar. Espresso is a coffee color with no hints of red at all, and is enough to define my dark brown eyes. (I usually cannot wear brown liners because I need a lot of eye definition.) Caviar is an even darker brown, almost black... so pretty!

$21 for a little pot seems a little expensive, but even with daily use, I've still had my Espresso one for like 6 months, which is way longer than some pencils. I'll probably throw it out within the year, though, just because the idea of dipping a brush in there every day seems very bacteria-ridden. (I am also the girl who throws her mascara away exactly at 3 months, if not sooner!)

Definitely try this! You're guaranteed to find a color you like, and you will be pleased with the lasting power and results!

TOP PICK: Elnett Hairspray (French version)

I have to preface this with the statement that I don't use many styling products. I hate having my hair bogged down with anything, much less hairspray. However, Elnett is in its own category.

I first read about this legend in the pages of my magazines many years ago. Unfortunately, my first trip to Paris wasn't until 2006, which was when I got my first bottle. (It was unavailable in the U.S.) When I tried to buy it here, stores like Zitomer were selling it for upwards of $30USD, which is insane.

This spray is amazing, though. What makes it great is that it holds without any sort of stiffness, and you can brush through it without experiencing any sort of flakiness or "hairspray dandruff." It feels like your hair, but with more control and body. Now, if you like the shellacked look, then this is not for you. But if you are looking for natural-looking hold, like your hair is just naturally obedient, then try this!

I do have to add a disclaimer, however. Elnett recently became available in the U.S., sold exclusively at Target for about $12-$13USD, and unfortunately, this doesn't quite compare. Because of the different drug as well as environmental regulations in America, this has a different propellant. Even if you hold the bottles in your hand, you'll notice the American one seems heavier, even though the bottles are the same size and contain the same amount.

The mist on the U.S. one is not quite a fine, which means that unfortunately, you will get that hairspray stiffness in certain parts of your hair. Plus, it feels heavier and like it doesn't hold as well. This is quite sad, because it means acquiring this product is still a bit difficult. Luckily, my friend Aurelie just sent me 3 bottles - yay!

TOP PICK: Cle de Peau Concealer

I have so many raves about this concealer! This was my first concealer splurge, and I am already about halfway through my second tube. Yes, $70USD is absolutely ridiculous to spend on a concealer... but in the long run, it truly is worth it. The concealer comes in a small stick (0.17 ounces), which is about a size of a lipstick, but it lasts about one year. So, even if you divide $70 by 300 days, that comes to $0.23 a day, which is much less than a gal would spend on her daily cup of coffee.

Cle de Peau's concealer comes in 4 different neutral tones which would be a good match for most ladies. The color that I have is the lightest one, Ivory (Ivoire), which is perfect for my light beige skin. It's not too yellow or too pink.

The coverage is very strong without being heavy. The texture is creamy, but not so creamy that it melts off your face or anything. It's not necessary to set with a powder, either. I like that I can use it to hide my heavy undereye circles without having it smudge or having it make me look like I have fine lines around my eyes. I can also use it to cover any pimples and a couple of dark spots on my face. It is just that versatile. There is no fragrance, and you can also apply directly from the tube to the face, which is great for lazy girls like myself!

I love this, and will cry if it ever gets discontinued!

TOP PICK: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

My skin is fairly clear most of the time (*knock on wood*) -- so for the most part, I just use a tinted moisturizer, concealer and powder. (Yes, looking "au naturel" takes lots of work!) The tinted moisturizer that I love most and keep going back to again and again is Laura Mercier. She has since released an oil-free version as well as an illuminating version, but my review is for the original, which is a staple in my makeup bag.

It retails for $42USD for 1.5 ounces, which is not exactly cheap, but is well worth the money. It comes in 7 colors, and the one that I use is Nude (the 2nd lightest color), which works well for light beige skintones. There is an SPF 20, but I don't think that the sunblock it uses protects adequately against UVA rays, so I still use a moisturizer with sunblock underneath.

The ingredients are:

Active Ingredients: Octyl Methoxycinnamate and Menthyl Anthranilate. Other Ingredients: Purified Water, Cetearyl Alcohol (and) PEG-40 Castor Oil, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Cyclomethicone, DEA-Ceryl Phosphate, Hexyl Laurate, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E Acetate), Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Carbomer, Methylparaben, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Propylparaben. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Mica.

The container is kind of ugly, as seen in the pic above. It is an opaque plastic squeeze tube, which is kind of annoying because you can't see how much product is left, but is rather sanitary, since you can just squeeze it out and not contaminate the product inside.

Coverage is rather full for a tinted moisturizer. I use about a dime-size amount for the entire face, and with frequent use, a tube can last almost a year. By itself, it does even out the skintone and hide some enlarged pores, though you will certainly need concealer to cover up undereye circles or any scars/spots on the face that you would like to hide. The texture is like a light lotion, and blends well into the skin. I usually just apply it with my fingers, though you could also use a sponge. The finish is a bit dewy and very natural looking, similar to real skin. As for lasting-power, I do set the T-zone with a pressed powder (because my skin is rather oily) - and by doing that, it does last on my face the whole day. I do have to blot once during the day, which is not too bad for me. The oil in this does not make me break out or anything, either.

I always get compliments on my skin when I wear this, because it just looks like I have a nice complexion. Very natural indeed!