Even though I’m happy with my current mascara regimen, I can’t help but but ask every beauty store clerk I encounter what their favorite formulation in the store is, because my quest for perfection in that realm is real. On a recent visit to Sephora, I was directed to this Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara, which is pretty fantastic: it goes on quite glossy and very black, and the volume it imparts is intense.

When it comes to lip color, my main priority (aside from the just-right hue) is something that goes on and stays stays put. I am also partial to matte as opposed to glossy, cause glossy is always so sticky. I am very much liking my new Nars Powermatte Lip Pigment in a color called Warm Leatherette. It’s on the pinkish side of berryish, so it’ll be even better when spring rolls along, but I’m wearing it now on those drab days when I need a little lift.

Until quite recently, I am embarrassed to say, I didn’t moisturize: everything I tried on my sensitive skin has played hell with it, and felt too heavy to wear under makeup. But Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Instesive Hydration Gel is so super-light you can scarcely feel it on your skin, and it hasn’t caused any irritation.

After I put that on, I apply Drunk elephant C-Firma Day Serum, which is also quite light and does a good job of evening out my skin tone, which can be all over the place. If you are interested in either of these Drunk Elephant products but aren’t certain about making the (not small) cash outlay, try this travel size duo.

Bloodshot eyes can ruin a good look, so on the days that mine are less-than-pristine, I use Rohto Cooling Eye Drops and they get an almost otherworldly white.

I loathe putting lotion on my hands, because it takes forever to absorb and I’ve got better things to do than just sit there and wait. But this Brazilian Bum Bum Cream sinks in shockingly fast, and smells delightfully of a Caribbean vacation, too.

Every few days, I wash my hair—I try to go as long as I can between shampoos but it tends to get wild—and the most boring part of my day is always the time I spend blow-drying. I have come to loathe it. So, in an attempt to minimize this time-suck, I took a chance on this little turban, which is made of what is purported to be ultra-thirsty fabric. The trick, I have learned, is to twist it super-tight—if you don’t do this, nothing special will happen—and to keep your hair up in it for several minutes—say the time it takes you to do your makeup. Your hair is still damp enough when you remove it to apply heat-styling product, but dry enough to significantly cut down the amount of time you spend styling. A minor miracle.