At 41, I sometimes find myself looking for a miracle in a bottle.  The concealer that will hide the under-eye darkness that comes with having a very active 10-month old.  The serum that will hydrate and smooth a face with decades of acne damage.  The body cream that will hydrate skin that can no longer seem to get enough moisture.  I often have to remind myself that these products can’t do what I am subconsciously willing them to do: make me thirty-three again.

Recently, I’ve started working on remodeling my expectations.  I can’t turn back the hands of time, unless blood of peasant virgins is on an ingredient list somewhere and I missed it.  But I can give my skincare routine and makeup bag a boost.  So here are a handful of products that I’ve tried recently that I really loved.

OPI Repair Mode Nail Serum // If you caught last week’s Friday Five, you know that bare or naked-look nails are in this summer.  If your nails are suffering after years of gel manicures, OPI has the product for you.  Repair Mode is used for six days to rebuild bonds and develop smoother, stronger nails.

I’m going nail polish free this summer, like I have every summer.  But if you want to try the Naked Manicure look, try this kit from Zoya.  You can use it to neutralize discolorations under colored polish, or you can wear it solo.

Osea Anti-Aging Body Balm // I received this Body Balm in a sample kit with a beauty order this spring.  It was rich, hydrating and seemed to work wonders on the patches of skin around my knees that were brutalized by months of compression socks while pregnant.  But $52 for a 5oz bottle of lotion is just not something I can adopt into my skincare routine.  So I will stick with my GIANT bottle of Creme de Corps, which last for almost a full year.

Olivia Garden Nano Ceramic Round Brush // I blow out my hair almost every morning, so a good round brush is essential.  I need something that will give me that perfect bend at the ends without frying my hair.  This large brush with a ceramic coated barrel gives me just that.  Add in a bit of IGK Good Behavior heat protecting spray and I can use heat without frying my locks.

Charlotte Tilbury Color Chameleon Pencil // This product was a re-buy for me, and the first time I used it, it reminded me why I love it.  And why I need to replace my makeup more frequently.

I had been using the pencil in my makeup bag for almost two years (I know, I know), and I didn’t realize how dry it had gotten until I pulled a new one from the package.  The pigment was richer, and the smoothness of the application was a wake up call that that old pencil was probably tearing up my skin.  I have learned my lesson.

The amethyst is my absolute favorite color, it brings out the green in my hazel eyes.  I also love the golden quartz which gives me brown with hints of gold.  Choose the color tailored to your eye color for best results.

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