I wish I was a beauty girl! The sad truth is (since I end up spending most of my frivolous funds on clothes and things for the house), my beauty bag is seriously left wanting. There are a few things I swear by (I'll  buy Big Shampoo by Lush forever) but I'm not really loving my current drugstore beauty situation... time to trade up!

Aesop Purifying Cream Cleanser, Volumising Conditioner & Fabulous Face Oil - It seems that everyone loves Aesop products (and with that gorgeously minimal packaging, who wouldn't?) and I must be he last one to give them a try. A few new facial products and a conditioner that won't weigh my hair down sound like the perfect things to test out.

Grown Alchemist Body Cream & Treatment Serum - Grown Alchemist is another brand that all of my favorite bloggers are recommending all of a sudden. Again, I can't help but think that beautiful packaging is to blame but I'm definitely a label savvy shopper. If something doesn't look good in my medicine cabinet, I'm a little less likely to purchase... oops! Since my skin is going b-a-n-a-n-a-s lately (blame our crazy month on the road) I've got my eye on these two healing products.

Rodin Hand Cream - I've been wanting to try this luxurious hand cream for the longest time. Why not treat myself to something a little luxe?

NARS Illuminator - When it comes to cosmetics, I'm a die-hard NARS fan. Their Sheer Glow foundation is my holy grail product and I can always count on the brand for beautiful shades of everything. This Summer it's all about dewy and glistening skin... enter the illuminator. NARS claims that this glow-reflecting liquid will "light the skin from within". Now that's something I'm sure we can all get behind!

LUSH Big Shampoo - This gritty shampoo (it's made with sea salt and smells exactly like fresh laundry!) is basically my favorite thing ever. Even though Lush recommends using it as a deep cleanse once a week, I tend to wash my hair with it at least twice because it's just too good. Since I scrub my (rather long) strands everyday, they can get pretty limp weighed down quickly. This buildup-stripping product removes all of the styling residue and gives my hair just enough bounce to flip it around like Beyonce... it's a good thing.

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With only a few minutes to spare in front of the mirror each morning (time is limited when you're chasing around a two year old and rushing to get as many cups of coffee in as possible before noon), I aim to make the whole process pretty seamless. I always like to look put together for whatever the day might throw at us but I've never been a big fan of a fussy routine... enter a few life-saving products and you've got the five-minute face!

01. Urban Decay Naked Basics - This palette is filled to the brim with pretty neutrals! It's perfect for everyday wear and I rarely find myself wanting anything more (see below) than a swipe of something taupe-y across my lid, something darker in my crease and a pop of highlight on my brow-bone + in the inner corner of my eye.

02. Dolce & Gabbana Shaping Eyebrow Pencil * - This product debuted this month (available only at Saks Fifth Avenue) and I just have to say, "Where have you been all my life?!" The tailor-made shape of this pencil is perfect for darkening sparse brows (for those of us who over-plucked in high school) and I love that the product is so natural looking.

03. Dior Eyeshadow Palette 'Earth Reflections' - For the days that I need a little extra sparkle... these shadows are perfect for date night and special occasions.

04. Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream - Since discovering BB creams and their cooler big sister CC cream (think tinted moisturizer with some serious fringe benefits), I haven't worn serious foundation in years. This one from Smashbox is fabulous for shooting blog photos since it doesn't leave a weird white-cast (caused by cover-up that uses SPF in its formula).

05. L'Oreal Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner - easiest. winged. liner. ever.

06. L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Volume Building Mascara - I change out my mascara like I change out my accessories but this flavor of the month is proving to be quite the contender. I have naturally long lashes so I love anything with a thickening formula!

07. Eyelash Curler - I'm less picky about how these perform than how pretty they look on my vanity... oops. This pretty gold curler gets the job done well and looks so good doing it! (I've got my eye on this rose gold version next!)

08. Smith's Rosebud Salve - I want to be a lipstick girl... I really do. Try as I might to find the perfect red pout, I always go back to my favorite minty lip balm in lieu of something more fabulous. This salve from Smith's is easy, with just the right amount of tint to get me through the day. Did I mention the packaging is adorable?

* I was gifted products courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana PR to celebrate the launch of their Shaping Eyebrow Pencil.  All opinions herein are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Chelsea & The City happen.