Beauty: High/Low Maintenance

I’m going to attempt to write a beauty post, which seems kind of silly because I like to think of myself as the queen of low maintenance. I think a natural look is the prettiest look. But maybe that’s the point. After all, if you’ve got a good routine, you don’t have to waste a lot of time fussing and searching for products. I’ve recently hit the sweet spot when it comes to my beauty products, and I thought I’d share. My former client Studio Marie-Pierre Key West is a beauty pro with a great blog, so I’m taking a few cues from her.

Through the years my beauty routine only seems to get more high maintenance, and I’m never reminded of this more than when I travel–there’s always one more thing to squeeze into my suitcase! And then there’s the conundrum of 3.4 oz of liquid through security. Maybe that’s one of the benefits of expensive products coming in tiny containers. I’ll admit, I scale back when it comes to travel, happy to use the hotel shampoo or whatever’s in my friend’s bathroom.

Different destinations also call for different beauty regimens. Key West and Caribbean Island vacays–blissfully low maintenance. Cities, like New York and Paris–high maintenance. One of the things I love about living in Miami is that it’s both. You can spend an entire weekend at the beach with nothing but SPF and chapstick, and then go out for an evening with dramatic makeup and a blowout.

Without further adieu, here are my favorite products that are making my beauty routine a breeze these days.

Skincare

Caudalíe- This line of French all natural, paraben-free products are made from grapes from Bordeaux. Fancy, right? It’s easily the most luxurious line I’ve used. Everything smells fresh and natural, and glides on the skin like silk. I love the VinoSource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum ($48). It melts into the skin with the perfect dose of weightless moisture. The VinoPerfect SPF 15 Day Perfecting Fluid ($72) has this incredibly creamy texture that truly brightens your complexion. To round out my routine, I use the VinoPerfect Cell Renewal Night Cream ($72). I was first introduced to Caudalíe with a free sample pack at Sephora and never looked back.

Sircuit Skin Cosmeceuticals- When it comes to cleansing, Sircuit can’t be beat. It’s another all natural, organic line produced in Los Angeles. I was introduced to Sircuit by my aesthetician at Exhale Spa in Miami. Their cleansers offer the perfect balance of a deep, thorough cleaning without overdrying the skin. I use Savior ($38) when the weather’s hot and steamy, which can make my skin acne-prone, and X-Trap ($38) for everyday use.

Hair

Kérastese- I resisted using an expensive shampoo and conditioner for a long time, and was a devotee of Neutrogena’s Triple Moisture line until it seemed to stop doing the trick. I get my hair cut at Sean Donaldson with Nichola, and decided to go all in on whatever she recommended for my hair, and I’m happy with the results. Overall, my hair’s soft and manageable, which means a lot to a girl with naturally curly hair. I use the Cristalliste Bain Cristal Fine shampoo ($39), Nutritive Fondant Nutri-Thermique conditioner ($41), Nutritive Sublimateur Jour cream ($42) when I style my hair straight, Nutritive Oléo-Curl cream ($42) when I style my hair curly, and finally Nutritive Masquintense Fine mask ($60).

Makeup

Stila All Day 10-in-1 HD Beauty Balm with SPF 30 ($38)- So beauty balms are all the rage these days. A salesgirl at Sephora recommended this one to me. The product’s name is a mouthful, but it pretty much sums up what I’m looking for in a foundation–basically that it’s not a foundation and it does all kinds of things with one quick application. I have to say, this product has really amazed me. It comes in one shade, which at first I thought was way too light for my skin tone. But give it a minute. Once it blends into your skin, it disappears, and what’s left is a truly radiant complexion with imperfections, like discoloration and fine lines, softened. Crazy! It also controls oil, which is great in humid South Florida. Best of all, it really looks like you’re not wearing makeup!

Dolce & Gabanna Monica Voluptuous Lipstick ($33)- I was introduced to this product at the Sephora flagship store in New York’s Meatpacking District, and fell in love. Every girl needs a good red lipstick and Attractive Monica is a cut above the rest that I’ve tried. It’s a highly saturated color that manages to feel both silky and long-lasting. I’m dying to add more shades to my makeup bag, like the nude Natural Monica. They’re only found in select Sephora stores and fine department stores.

Perfume

Annick Goutal- I discovered this small French perfumerie during one of my winter’s in Paris, just off the boulevard Saint Germaine. Un Matin d’Orage ($120) was their new fragrance at the time, and I loved its light, sweet scent–perfect for day, summer, or anytime in Miami. It means “morning of the storm” and is reminiscent of a garden after the rain with notes of Japanese gardenia. Fortunately, I can re-up my supply at the Saks Fifth Avenue in Bal Harbour–I’m still looking for a more compelling excuse to return to Paris!

Tomorrow I’m off to Curaçao, so we’ll see what I manage to squeeze into the suitcase tonight and what stays at home. Do you have any favorite beauty products? Do you consider yourself high/low maintenance? Please share in the comments below!