Top 10 Beauty MUST-Have's

I get asked all the time about the products that I can't live without. After years of doing make-up with every brand on the market, here is a list of my top ten favorites:

PRIMER:

Yves Saint Laurent Top Secrets Flash Radiance -- It smooths away fine lines, hydrates and prepares the skin for foundation better than any primer I have used. And I love the built-in brush. Available at http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/.

FOUNDATION:

I am obsessed with Giorgio Armani Beauty's Designer Shaping Foundation and Foundation Brush. It is the closest thing to airbrushing that I can find... foundation perfection as far as I'm concerned. I wear it in shade 8 but most of my clients are a 7. Available at http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/.

CONCEALER:

The best concealer that I've ever found is by Cle de Peau Beaute, which you can find at Neiman Marcus and Saks. It covers EVERYTHING! From age spots, dark circles to freckles and blemishes; and the best part... it doesn't crease or flake. It is genius. Available at http://www.neimanmarcus.com/.

CONTOURING:

I am obsessed with contouring these days! The cheekbones, jawline and top of the forehead must be contoured!! Foundation evens out your complexion but makes your face a blank canvas... so you must add the dimensions back in by contouring. My absolute favorite product for this is Hourglass' Bronzing Duo. It's a cream-to-powder formula that melts into your skin and I love the 360-degree compact mirror. You can find it at http://www.thebeautycloset.com/.

BRONZING GLOW:

I've had the best success with Smashbox's Fusion Soft Lights. The mosaic of colors blend together beautifully for a sun-kissed glow, without anyone know you are faking it! I especially love applying it with their fan brush, because it doesn't grab a lot of color and you can slowly build until you have your desired glow. Available at http://www.sephora.com/.

BLUSH:

I love for my clients to have a radiance about them, not clown cheeks. NARS Blush in Luster is brilliant for achieving that, because it is a sheer golden apricot, made with transparent pigments to avoid heaviness. It truly does look gorgeous on everyone, on camera or on a dinner date! Available at http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/ and http://www.sephora.com/.

POWDER:

After I have applied bronzer and blush, I love going over it with Lancome's Absolue Radiance Powder in Absolue Pearl. All of a sudden the face comes alive with the perfect amount of shimmer and everything blends together effortlessly. Available at http://www.sephora.com/.

BLENDING BRUSH:

I could not not not live without my NARS Botan Kabuki Artisan Brush. It's an investment ($75) but lasts forever and is my secret weapon for blending and buffing after I've applied bronzer, blush and highlight. You never want to see where your bronzer ends and your blush begins, but you have to have definition between the two. This blends together any lines so they run together and gives everyone the perfect glow. Available at http://www.sephora.com/.

LIQUID LINER:

There is no better liquid liner on the market than On The Edge Hook-up by Mark Cosmetics. It doesn't flake or feather and is the most user-friendly brush on the market. Any one can draw a perfect line like a pro with it! I use it most in Cleo (black) but I personally love it in Nefertini because it still adds the drama that only a liquid liner can, but is softer for a freckled-face strawberry blonde like me! And at $5, it's a steal!! You can find it at http://www.meetmark.com/.

MASCARA:

I adore the department store brands, but I swear by Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara. Years ago when I was assisting Meg Ryan's make-up artist, he laughed at me for spending so much money on mascaras for my kit. He introduced me to 2000 Calorie and I've been hooked ever since. It gives major volume and length but doesn't clump, which is hard to find. And because it is under $10, I buy a new one for each client and give it to them that day, because I don't believe in sharing mascaras and disposable wands are poorly designed and never give me the effect I want. Available at CVS Stores and http://www.ulta.com/. LIP COLOR:

The silkiest lipstick I can find is Cle de Peau Touche de Rouge. They are super slim and incredibly creamy. They are a luxury at $50 each, but you feel like a queen every time you treat your lips to a fresh coat. Luckily, a tube can last a long time, because the color has staying power that lasts for hours. It is every lips' dream and my favorites are 101, 105 and 106. Available at http://www.neimanmarcus.com/.

OK, I know I've actually listed eleven of my favorites here... but Top Ten sounds much more David Letterman and I really did try... but I couldn't decide which one to drop from the list, because I love them all!!

Photos courtesy of Cle de Peau, Giorgio Armani Beauty, Hourglass Cosmetics, Mark Cosmetics, Lancome, Max Factor, Smashbox Cosmetics, Yves Saint Laurent and NARS Cosmetics