I’m sure everyone in the world has a list of must-have beauty products, but today I was reading a post on Total Sorority Move and I was inspired to write my own. I was surprised to find how similar my own list was to the one I found on the website. It’s pretty impressive to know my favorites are more universal than I thought.

Of course there is some deviation in every list, but here are the few products (and my favorite brands) I simply cannot live without:

1. A coverup that matches your skin tone

I spent at least five years finding a coverup that would work for me. I am extremely fair-skinned, but also have olive undertones, so I found it difficult to find something that wouldn’t wash me out or look cake-y. Covergirl’s Clean Sensitive Skin makeup blends well on me and lasts the whole day. Just be sure to use moisturizer so your skin doesn’t makw awkward coverup flakes.

2. An eyeshadow palette that is extremely versatile

I personally don’t enjoy buying multiple little eyeshadow pots that only seem to take up room and get lost. Instead, I would love to have everything in a compact palette that I can use daily. Urban Decay’s Naked Eye Palette just does that. Being a redhead with brown eyes, this palette has colors that highlight my eyes and don’t look too dark on my light skin. It’s incredibly versatile and I have had no issues using it for both night and day use.

3. A great summer nail polish
 

You could be the palest person in the world, but bright nail polish looks good on anyone’s toes in the summer. Find a color you love and stick with it. Above is my personal favorite, Essie’s Cute As A Button. Since I only wear this shade in the summer, I never get sick of it!

4. A signature scent

Naturally I would say that all girls need two scents: a spring/summer and a fall/winter appropriate scent, but in general one is acceptable. Although it is more of a winter scent, Dior Addict 2 is my go to perfume. It is the scent my friends can smell and immediately think of me. I wear it nearly daily and I would probably walk to Dior headquarters myself if by some horrible accident it were ever discontinued.

5. A lip balm that doesn’t dry out your lips (preferably with SPF)

Even in the hottest of months I occasionally see my lips getting a bit chapped. Finding a lip balm that can work in versatile weather is important. My personal favorite is EOS in Lemon Drop. It’s compact, has an SPF of 15, and tastes fabulous.

6. Blotting papers
 

These are my wonder sheets. I have combination skin and I tend to get very oily throughout the day. Blotting papers help eliminate that without ruining my makeup. Plus, they are relatively cheap and very easy to stash in a compartment of my bag. Find these at Sephora or virtually any beauty supply store.

7. Makeup Remover
 

The age-old rule is true: never go to bed in your makeup! It’s important to have a remover that gets everything off, in addition to washing your face. MAC’s works great for me, and isn’t at all oily, which is an issue I have found with most.

8. Dry Shampoo
 

I pretty much swear by dry shampoo. Straightening my hair can be a hassle and I like it to last as long as possible without looking dirty or greasy. A good dry shampoo will absorb the grease and usually give your hair at least another day of use. Pssst (pictured on top of post) is my personal favorite. Not only is it cheap and smells awesome, it is available in pharmacies and beauty stores everywhere.

Lovelies, do you agree with my choices? What are some of your must have products & the brands you use?

[Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]