Happy Thanksgiving + Beauty Products I'm Thankful For

'Tis the day to ponder how blessed we are and how we can be a blessing to others. Beyond sumptuous meals and festivities, I am thankful to be alive, healthy and surrounded by supportive loved ones!

This week, select members of The Beauty Council collaborated to feature products we are thankful for. In my little black book of vanity, they are essentials (1) I can't live without (2) repurchased many times (3) used countless times. Life-saver, absolutely!

::    press samples, affiliate    ::

Choosing which items to include for this post wasn't that hard because they are mainstays in my ever-expanding beauty stash. So in no random order, here are my picks (reviews are linked):

Two years and counting, declares my ever reliable MIA2 from Clarisonic! I use this nightly and recharge it every 3 wks or so. I have repurchased the brush (for sensitive skin) many times over. Call it perception marketing but since owning this gadget, I cannot call it a night without using it. Clarisonic = clean face.

I love body oils, that's a fact. I've tried several brands but L'Occitane Fleur D'Or & Acacia Luminous Oil quelled me like no other. One bottle lasts me for about a month so I need a backup at any given time. It hydrates my skin so well with fragrance which seems to transport moi to nirvana. Subtly floral, never intoxicating. It's so good I had to purchase the EDT for layering.

Summer glow year-round, thanks to my favorite foundation to-date, Guerlain Terracota Joli Teint. It's matte without looking dull, has spf 20, does not require a primer underneath or setting powder, and totally budge-proof. 

Okay fine Imma vampire. But seriously, I'm thankful for all the serums I have tried because time stood still... I don't know about you but it ain't ticking for me! A recent discovery but ultimately my favorite from Murad, Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum does work. It did brighten my face and fade post-acne marks. I hope this won't get discontinued or I'm doomed.

Makeup brushes come and go but this foundation brush from Tarte is the best I have tried! I've washed it countless times and used practically everyday but it never lost its form or shed a single strand from day one. Like ever. And ever. Individually it costs $32 but when you buy it from QVC, you can get it + Tarte foundation for only $39!

Irreverently used a.k.a I-dont-care-how-gorgeous-the-packaging-is-I-will-use-it-until-it-hits-pan. I rarely contour but I like sun-kissed look on a daily basis. I own several bronzers but I always gravitate towards Givenchy Croisiere Terre Exotique 2 Douce Croisiere. Quite a mouthful, but in plain jane's lingo, it only means one thing: naturally glowing.

In days I want to look more dolled-up, I turn to Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure (soft plum) and Diffused Heat (peachy pink). Finely milled and glitter-free, it gives my cheek the right amount of color!

Saving my huge addiction for last.... Designer-brand lippies!!!! Of course this post won't be complete without reiterating my insane adulation over Tom Ford and Givenchy lipsticks, to name a few. You can tell I have repurchased many times, totally guilt-free! I work hard so I call these treats my calorie-free candies! Indulgence ain't a sin baby. 

some Tom Ford and Givenchy lippies randomly selected for pictorial :-)

It's Black Friday and Cyber Monday in a few days. If you're buying online, remember to use ebates for cash back. Here's my referral link in case you're interested. Mahalo!

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