Beauty Junkie

I cannot pass a beauty counter without being lured in by all the pretty colors and lovely smells. When it comes to glosses, lotions and potions the term "less is more" does not exist in my world. This is not to say you will find me wearing blue eyeshadow and hot pink lipstick to the grocery store, but I do have an abundance of products to choose from in my beauty arsenal.

As a self-professed beauty junkie, I thought I would share five of my favorite summer picks:

1. I am crazy in love with Moroccan Oil for so many reasons, but I will try and narrow it down to a few. First, none of their products are tested on animals or use animal products. Second, not only do the products make your hair look amazing, but they also help to strengthen and protect the hair. All of their products are alcohol free, smell fantastic, are light enough to use in the summer and ....well you get the idea. I am a big fan.

2. I have been on an epic search for the perfect foundation. Having combination skin makes it difficult to find a foundation that provides decent coverage without making my face look and feel like an oil slick by 3pm, especially during Boston summers where the humidity hangs around 80%. Enter Stila's One Step Makeup! This is my new favorite beauty purchase this month. The fantastic product is a primer, concealer, powder and foundation all in one lovely bottle. The Stila Blog says that "the one step makeup is a must have for anyone looking for perfected skin in seconds! the four in one formula saves times and makes anyone’s skin look fantastic" and I would have to agree with this wholeheartedly. I am totally hooked.

3. Who doesn't love long, curly, flirty eyelashes? I don't know any women that don't want gorgeous long lashes, but we could do without the raccoon eyes in the morning. It seems that no matter how much you scrub (which is not good for your sensitive eye area) you just can't remove all the black from the night before. With Trish McEvoy High Volume Mascara you get all the benefits of mascara without the morning after raccoon eyes. This mascara has silicone tubes that form around each lash without smudging or flaking and each tube easily washes off with no left-over residue. I still get a kick out of seeing those little tubes in the sink....beauty technology. Love it.

4. Summer is not summer without bronzer and this year M.A.C has really outdone themselves with the To The Beach Cream Bronzer. Not only is the compact pretty, the bronzer is absolutely fool proof because it goes on lightly and evenly and you build the color as light or dark as you want. You can use it all over your face for a just left the beach sun-kissed glow, or use it as a blush or a high-lighter. This is a limited edition product and most likely will not be available for much longer. I have been using it for a few weeks and plan on buying another compact to ensure I don't run out, who said we can't be sun-kissed in December.

5. During the winter months I only wash my hair 2-3 times a week, but in the hot summer months I tend to spend a lot more time outdoors -- playing sports, swimming, exploring the city and well...sweating. All of these activities force me to wash my hair almost daily, which is, as The Gloss will attest, damaging to your hair and scalp. I went to my local Sephora and explained my predicament to a hair product specialist and she sent me home with Ojon Ultra Hydrating Conditioner. This is an ultra-rich daily conditioner that is fortified with Ojon oil, shea butter and sweet almond protein. My hair has been healther, happier and smelling delicious ever since adding this fantastic product to my daily routine.

Have a beautiful sun-kissed summer. Enjoy.