Living in Michigan has given me some seriously dry skin during the winter months. Also, now that I’m a little older and over the 30-hurdle, I know that I need to hydrate, prime, and take care of my skin now so that I can try and prevent and slow the process of aging sooner.

That being said, I also don’t like feeling like I have a ton of stuff caked on my skin and like things to be light and airy and this product does just that. It hydrates and primes my skin for my makeup while also being lightweight and not feeling like I’ve just cover my face with a mask.

I don’t wear typical foundation anymore. I have combination/oily skin and over the years, I’ve noticed that most foundations make me break out and leave me feeling greasy at the end of the day so I just stopped using them.

Recently, I saw the Almay CC Cream on sale at Ulta and decided to give it a try. I was looking for a BB or CC cream to put on before I put on my powder foundation and that had a SPF.

I was pleasantly surprised with this CC cream and instantly fell in love with it. It’s lightweight and provides just the right amount of coverage for me. It stays on all day without making me feel greasy or like I have a ton of foundation caked on my face.

So, there’s a thing that begins happening when you turn over 30 and have kids… wrinkles and dark spots. While I have managed to stave them off as much as possible so far (thanks to some great beauty products), I know the inevitable is coming down the line.

I try and look for products now that contain the word “anti-aging” or some form of that to keep it off as long as possible. I’m not 100% sure that this concealer does the anti-aging thing, but it is one hell of a concealer. It covers even the biggest bags under my eyes from a sleepless night and blends seamlessly into the CC cream and powder foundation.

And if it is actually providing anti-aging benefits… then that makes it even more awesome!

I love this powder because it sets my makeup and keeps my face from looking too dewey or oily.

Like I said previously, I don’t like wearing a ton of makeup so a little CC cream and setting powder are perfect for me. I also love that it keeps my skin from getting greasy during the day.

Seems to be a common theme of this post. Haha… let’s see how not greasy we can get.

Statement brows are apparently a big thing right now and while I do not partake in making my brows the focus of my face, I do like a defined brow.

I, unfortunately, was not blessed with super amazing brows with a nice arch or whatnot. I just have a regular, almost straight brow. This pencil fixes all that. It looks amazing, blends seamlessly with my natural brows, and creates a slight arch that I just don’t normally have… all without making me look like a clown.

Score.

I know that some people say you should never buy pallets or a bunch of colors together because you usually never end up using all of them… however, I actually use all of these colors. Not at the same time, of course, but I do use them.

When I’m just doing a day look, I go for the lighter shades in just a sweep on the upper lid. If I’m going for a night look, then I can create a smoky eye with the darker colors and they all blend seamlessly together.

I even use the darkest 2 shades for my waterline when I’m feeling like doing a more dramatic day look.

Win-win-win for an all-in-one product.

Just a simple and affordable black eyelinerthat does what it’s supposed to do… line my eyes. I’ve never had luck with the gel or liquid liner so I just keep sticking to what I know and what I know how to use.

The waterproof version of this is perfect for lining my waterline for a dramatic look or I normally just use the non-waterproof version for upper lid lining before applying eye shadow and mascara.

I’m really not all that picky when it comes to my mascara. I just want something that makes them more defined, a little darker, and look a little fuller. I’m also not a fan of the new mascara trend of the huge, giant brush that comes with it instead of a regular sized brush.

Yes, I have big eyes but with a huge brush I can never seem to get all my lashes coated with mascara.

Thankfully this comes with a normal sized brush and it does exactly what I wanted it to and doesn’t cost a fortune.

Bonus that the waterproof stays on during my mud runs and Spartan races!

Another one of my minimal things. I don’t even own lipstick, I just have cherry flavored chapstick but better.

I have used chapstick for years and finally came across this Baby Lips brand because a friend of mine swore by it…. it was all she wore. And now it is all I wear.

I have about 5-6 tubes in various places around my home and in the car so I am never without it. I love that it leaves subtle color and makes your lips super soft. I will never be without it!