I like to paint outside the lines. Metaphorically, yes, but I mean physically—when I polish my nails, when I apply smudgy eye pencil, and especially when I apply mascara. It can get messy. I keep an arsenal of eye makeup remover and Q-tips in my kit for this purpose and it usually takes a few minutes to clean up my eyelids before I can move on. Those are precious minutes in the morning, and I usually only have six to myself before I have to be out the door.

So thank goodness for The Lash Card!

The Lash Card was borne of out of an old-school makeup artist’s trick of using a cut out business card to keep smears and snafus away. It couldn’t be easier to use: simply hold the card on your lid with one hand while you apply mascara with the other. If you’re intimidated or can’t picture this, just watch this one minute video. The nice, thick card stock also works well to smooth through any clumps and can help maximize curl. The card has two different sized curves so you can play around and see which works best for you. A ten-pack lasts about a month or more because you an use each card a few times.

File this under: as-obvious-as-inventing-a-Post-It-genius!

So last week, before my trip to Madrid, I went to Sephora to load up on travel-size goodies. And as I was grabbing spontaneous colors of Laura Mercier’s fabulous Caviar Color Sticks, I did a mindless grab-and-go with this eye primer. I had never seen an eye primer come in a range of shades the way concealers or foundations do, so I got curious. But I reserved hope because I’ve tried many primers and I’ve never found one that did anything remarkable for my oily lids. (That feels kind of gross to admit, but I’m all about truth here.) Inevitably, my eyeshadow creases within mere hours, be it powder or cream. Be it layered or alone. I’ve always been sort of resigned to having to touch-up my eye makeup a few times a day.

Until now.

Now, I have four words for you:

CREASELESS.

ALL.

DAY.

LONG.

This product is straight-forward: It’s an eye primer that does what an eye primer should do—keep your eyeshadow put. But here’s what it also does: it covers discolorations and blemishes, it soothes with vitamins and antioxidants. It creates a smooth brightness that perks up the eye on days you don’t want to wear eyeshadow.

I wear Flax, but there are six colors in the line to suit every skin tone.

File this under: Must have.

I’m in love with these Caviar Color Sticks from Laura Mercier. The formula is creamy yet super light, the finish is buildable and it lasts (read: no creasing) for hours.

I’m always on the hunt for great makeup that’s easy and fast, and these babies make applying eye makeup a cinch. They’re a foolproof shortcut to a simple smokey eye—or a nice way to experiment with color. I use Khaki for my everyday smudgy eye uniform, and I love Plum for a pop of deep purple, which I’m really feeling for fall.

A lot of friends have asked me recently what I think of the Clarisonic cleansing brushes—do they really do anything? Are they worth the money? My answer, unequivocally, is YES and YES. And I don’t say this just because it feels good (it does) or because it seems more effective than using my hands or a washcloth (it is). And I definitely don’t recommend Clarisonic just because it looks so cute in pink on my sink. (You should see it against the white marble.)

I’m a huge fan of Clarisonic because there is actual science behind it. It’s no gimmick. There have been authentic studies conducted. The company has bonafide, proprietary sonic technology that powers the brush, separating it from imitators.

How it Works

Aforementioned proprietary sonic frequency produces over 300 movements per second. (This is not a rotating brush.) The flexing action works to loosen dirt and oil, enabling a much deeper cleanse, which leaves skin primed to better absorb your skincare. I use the Aria model shown above, which has three speeds, a timer to ensure even cleansing (unexpectedly helpful) and the ability to swap out brush heads.

60 Seconds to Use

Place cleanser of choice either directly on face or on the brush itself. Turn brush on speed of choice. Cleanse 20 seconds on forehead. 20 seconds on chin and nose. 10 seconds on each cheek. Rinse face, rinse brush. Voila!

Results

Smoother, more radiant and, yes, cleaner skin.

P.S. Clarisonic recently launched a new skincare line that I LOVE called Sonic Radiance, pictured above.

This Argan oil just might trump them all. It’s light, dries in quickly and can be used head to toe. I’ve been using it like crazy—on my cuticles, on my kids and lightly on my dry hair. My favorite part, though, is that it’s fairly traded and produced by an inspirational women’s cooperative in Morocco.

I really heart Neal’s Yard. Their products are organic, beautifully packaged and well priced. Find them here or at your local Whole Foods.

P.S. I also love their White Tea Facial Mist and organic body scrub.

As a general rule, I like to keep my clothes and makeup pared down to the essentials—only what I really need and really use. I believe in uniforms and basics and streamlining. For so long, I had just one eyeliner in my kit, a perfect smudgy chocolate brown pencil, but Urban Decay’s Ink for Eyes has been added to my permanent go-to collection because of its perfection at one singular purpose: precisely filling in the lash line. I don’ generally wear a liquid liner “look,” I’m all about a smudgy, smokey eye day or night, but this tiny, skinny pen is perfect for defining the lash line in a bold yet inconspicuous way—a little secret that really opens the eyes in a no-makeup look kind of way.

It’s waterproof, smudge proof and dries instantly. It’s also formulated without parabens, sulfates and phthalates. 

P.S. If you love liquid eyeliner, also check out Benefit’s They’re Real Gel Eyeliner.