Yeah, I have thirteen makeup highlighters - I realize it's a little unnecessary! The first highlighting makeup I purchased was Bobbi Brown Extra Illuminating Moisture Balm, and the rest.. well.. I'm a product junkie!

Highlighting, low-lighting and contouring are a must these days. AND there are hundreds of highlighting products to choose from. Before I get in to the specifics, they're all similar. Yeah, the only major difference is whether the product is a solid (creamy-stick), dewy-balm-like stick, powder or liquid. Maybe some have anti-aging qualities or contain SPF, but aside from texture, color and sheen, they're closely related. Here's what I have to say about some of the more popular highlighting products..

Want a slight glow - Bobbi Brown Extra Illuminating Moisture Balm is subtle and effective. Application is smooth and the barely-there sheen is flattering. Another BB liquid highlighter is Bobbi Brown Face Highlighter. This light liquid will give you super-shiny highlight. It has a strong gold-tone, and there's a whole lot of sparkle in this product. Laura Mercier Foundation Primer - Radiance has a gold-tone and lots of micro sparkles. This light liquid is a bit much for my facial skin, but looks great on legs and shoulders - mix with your body moisturizer and blend well. Primers are great for subtle brightening.

BECCA Backlight Filter Face Primer is unique in that it blurs imperfections, while giving your skin a radiant glow. The super-lightweight liquid absorbs nicely. There is a subtle glow, but barely-there sheen. Be warned, this product has a strong scent (for those who are sensitive). Like the Bobbi Brown Extra Illuminating Moisture Balm and Laura Mercier Foundation Primer - Radiance, this product is for priming your skin. The effect is subtle, but makes a difference. 

Want a dewy look? Ciaté Dewy Stick has a balm-like texture that glides on oh so smoothly giving your skin a low-shimmer, dewy glow. This The super-light balm is creamy (not tacky). This multipurpose product nourishes your skin, illuminates and leaves a wet-dewy-like sheen. LOVE! Glossier Haloscope is similar, but has more shimmer. The dual-delivery formula combines makeup and skincare. The inner solid oil core contains vitamin-rich minerals, while the outer circle contains genuine crystal extracts. This two-in-one product is lightweight and high-shimmer. Both these dew-infusing products are great for those no makeup days.

Use my link to get 10% off your first Glossier purchase - http://bff.glossier.com/gMn0U

My go-to highlighters are MILK Makeup Highlighter (perfect for body), Benefit Watt's Up! Cream-to-powder Highlighter (favorite), and tréStiQue Mini Highlight & Perfect Multipurpose Stick. MILK Makeup Highlighter is the size of a round deodorant. The larger surface allows for great body application. The product melts with your body heat and blends nicely. I use it on my legs and arms. The Watt's Up! Cream-to-powder Highlighter is the perfect shade (on pale or sun-kissed skin), and the little sponge applicator is handy when you're on the road. I use a damp Beauty Blender (with water and Farsáli Rose Gold Elixir) to blend the Watt's Up! highlighter. The tréStiQue Highlight & Perfect Multipurpose Stick is a similar shade and texture to the Watt's Up! The cream-gel product glides on smoothly, and the luminescent shade is perfect on sun-kissed skin.

Powder highlighter is still my go-to finishing touch. I LOVE Bobbi Brown Highlighting Powder in Pink Glow. The cool-pink highlights are nice on pale skin, and the effect is subtle (apply lightly). I use a fan brush to lightly sweep the product across my cheek bones. For more intense shimmer, I use a dense brush and sweep the powder down the bridge of my nose and across my cupids bow. This product is for specific highlighting (not an all-over glow). This powder highlighter is perfect for a little extra light-reflective glow.

I consider highlighting a necessity. Even when your skin looks drab and downright yucky - highlighting will do wonders for your complexion. Apply an all-over illuminator to, well.. allover. Apply makeup highlighter to your cheek bones, down the bridge of your nose (don't go all the way to the tip) and across your cupids bow. Fake a fresh glow and highlight.

There are currently 496 moisturizers available at Sephora.com. Choosing a facial cream can be exhausting. You really have to know your specific needs (anti-aging, acne and blemishes, dryness..). You gotta research ingredients that are necessary to your needs, and start reading labels. Customer reviews and personal beauty blog posts are an excellent way to narrow down your search. How many stars does the product get? What are 'real' people saying? I'm a self-declared product junkie and think these hydrating products are worth a mention.. This is intense hydration - Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream is a concentrated 30 percent hyaluronic acid cream. Hyaluronic acid is a potent hydrator that can retain up to 1000 times it's weight in water. If water was creamy- this would be it. It's so refreshing, and leaves your skin feeling silky and super-nourished. The non-greasy cream absorbs fairly quickly (a little goes a long way), and doesn't leave your skin shiny. Water Drench is the perfect hydrator during summer. I purchased this a few months ago and couldn't stop applying it during the first week (2-3 times a day). It's addictive. I use the moisturizer when I plan to go bare, cause it's not thick enough to prime my skin for makeup.

Bobbi Brown Cosmetics has been my go-to brand for years. The Hydrating Face Cream and Vitamin Enriched Face Base are two of my favorite BB products. The Hydrating Face Cream absorbs nicely, plumps your skin, and creates the perfect base for makeup. This lightweight formula has a refreshing, masculine scent that diminishes quickly. It's also enriched with mineral water. I'm addicted to water (really) - I consume two to three litres a day. On the subject of anti-ageing, water is your best friend. The Vitamin Enriched Face Base is an oil-free primer and moisturizer. Like the Hydrating Face Cream, this product hydrates and plumps your skin. It's much thicker than the Hydrating Face Cream and has a light, citrus scent. I use the Vitamin Enriched Face Base if I need super-nourishing, and plan to pile on the makeup.

I love this brand - so does everyone else. The oh so popular Glossier brand prides itself on a no-makeup-makeup kinda look - a natural girl who doesn't fuss over perfection. Don't we all wanna be that girl? Glossier Priming Moisturizer and Priming Moisturizer Rich hydrate and prime your skin for makeup (or not). Priming products simply nourish and plump your skin, giving you a healthier look, and preparing your face for easy makeup application. The Priming Moisturizer contains Hyaluronic Acid, Mushroom Super Hydrator and Vitamins A, C and E. This lightweight formula is buildable and has a 'cream' scent. There's something to be said for products in tubes - you can really get down to the last dollop. The Priming Moisturizer Rich is much thicker and ideal for bedtime. It contains Red Algae Complex, Ceramides (oily waxes), Fatty Acids, Murumuru Butter, and Lavender Oil (could do without this scent). Like the Priming Moisturizer, this formula contains an anti-redness complex (I need that), and Oxygenating Agent. This is a 'luxurious face cream'.Use my link to get 10% off your first Glossier purchase - http://bff.glossier.com/gMn0U

Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Cleansing Oil-Crème Duo is a super hydrating-cleanser that will leave your hair silky and soft. The dual-chamber disperses the moisturizing cream from the inner chamber, and a low-foam cleanser from the outer chamber. It's a two-in-one super hydrating wash. This product is great for anyone with dry, damaged strands, flyaways and frizz. I use this Cleansing Oil-Crème Duo every third wash. Hairdresser's Invisible Oil signature scent is coconut(ish) and subtle. Along with every other product by Bumble and Bumble, I LOVE this Cleansing Oil-Crème Duo.

Another amazing new product from Bumble and Bumble is the Balm-To-Oil Pre-Shampoo Masque. This stuff saved my hair. Take a big dollop, rub your hands together to melt the product and apply to dry hair, section by section (dry hair absorbs better than wet hair). Leave for a minimum of twenty minutes. This super hydrating masque contains the Hairdresser's Invisible Oil six signature oils - argon, macadamia nut, coconut, safflower seed, grape seed oil and sweet almond. The signature scent is delicious. I apply this masque once a week, and it has made a HUGE difference in my hair. I've been struggling with severely damaged hair for a year, and only saw a significant improvement after using this product. A MUST HAVE.

Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil is my favorite haircare collection. I've been using the shampoo, conditioner and oil for years. Each time a new addition is released, I purchase it, and am never disappointed. The product line includes - shampoo, conditioner, primer (great for detangling wet hair), oil (super lightweight), the Cleansing Oil-Crème Duo, pre-shampoo masque, and Dry Oil Finishing Spray. I use all of these products regularly.

I've tried many other brands over the years, but keep going back to Bumble and Bumble. Many of the products are also available in travel size (love that). If you don't wanna invest in the full-sized, opt for the travel size (I'm sure you'll upgrade to the larger versions).

I love Benefit cosmetics. The brand is fun, vibrant and ranks high on the 'favorite makeup brand' charts. Benefit Cosmetics Makeup Kits are the prefect way to try the brands best sellers and get a cute little makeup pouch. I purchased the 'Sunday My Prince Will Come Easy Weekender Kit' and 'Date Night With Mr. Right Sexy Night Out Makeup Kit' (the names are so fun). The products pictured here are from both kits - I only kept my favorite mini products and the pink pouch. There's also a Benefit Work Kit, Girl! Work-Day Essential Makeup kit. Each Benefit Cosmetics kit comes with four mini's and a makeup bag. 

My favorite Benefit products - Benefit Watt's Up! Cream-to-Powder Highlighter in Champagne is my favorite highlighter (and I've tried them all). The highlight is subtle and the perfect shade. The stick glides on nicely - apply to your check bones, the bridge of your nose and upper lip with a damp beauty blender. The full-sized product has a little sponge applicator on one end, but I prefer the beauty blender. Benefit High Beam is a satiny-pink liquid highlighter. I put a little in my moisturizer for a healthy glow. Benefit They're Real! Tinted primer in Mink Brown is the perfect primer for eyebrows and lashes. Apply the primer before mascara for a dramatic look, or alone for a 'no-makeup' kinda look. Benefit GALifornia Blush in Sunny Golden Pink looks amazing on sun-kissed skin. It's an orange-coral shade and the pigment is strong, so apply a little and layer. 

The Benefit mini products are really small and perfect for your handbag or travel cosmetic bag. I love mini's! Each kit retails for $32 and are available at Sephora.

I'm packing for Santorini, Greece (YAY!) and thought I'd share with you my summer vacation essential cosmetics list and vacation beauty advise. Rule #1 - keep your makeup natural and your routine simple.

Opt for a natural glow with Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder and Bobbi Brown Blush and Highlighter Cheek Palette - shades of coral brighten your face and accentuate your bronzed skin. Buxom Mascara in black will make your lashes thicker, longer and give you a naturally enhanced look. I'm a lipstick girl, so it's no surprise I have four lip products in my cosmetic bag - Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme for the ultimate pouty lip, YSL Tint-in-Oil lip gloss to nourish my lips, Dior Addict Lip Glow in coral for the perfect summer shade and Bite Beauty BB for lips to hydrate, prime and protect my lips from sun damage.

Where there are tropical temperatures there is usually humidity which = frizzy, unmanageable hair! Don't fuss over a perfect hairstyle and opt for wavy 'I'm on vacation and I don't care' hair. Bumble and Bumble Prêt-à-Powder is a light dry shampoo with a fresh scent (oh and gives great volume when applied to roots). For texture and light hold in your waves use Bumble and Bumble Dryspun Finish.

Protecting your body from sun damage is of the utmost importance. I use Tizo3 sunscreen on my face (day and night, cause it's a great tinted primer), Skin Ceuticals Epidermal Repair for much needed moisturizing after the sun - this cream is used to repair skin after facial procedures and works great on sunburns. After a long day in the sun, the fresh scent of Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash (reminds me of blueberries) will leave your skin feeling rejuvenated - this cleanser removes makeup and oil while gently exfoliating your skin. Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash is effective and refreshing.

DIORSKIN NUDE Shimmer Instant Illuminating Powder applied to your cheeks and nose will give you a subtle glow. The powder has a slight shimmer, rose and bronzing affect. You can also apply to your décolletage to illuminate your neckline. I use this powder along with my bronzing primer to create a fresh, natural sun kissed glow. 

The DIORSKIN NUDE Shimmer Instant Illuminating Powder comes with a kabuki brush and Dior sleeve. The illuminating powder is available in ambre/amber and rose/pink. You can purchase the DIORSKIN NUDE Shimmer Instant Illuminating Powder at Sephora and most major department stores for $56. 

*This powder is a limited edition.

The KOH Anti-Aging Base Coat is basically a primer for your nails. Your nails become stained after applying dark (especially red) nail polish - this base coat will create a blank palette on your nails, so your polish will appear even and true to color.

Although this is a base coat polish, I use it as a color polish. Four coats will give you a subtle pink color that is clean and natural. After wearing dark polish on my toes for many years, I had deep yellow stains on my nails and was desperate to get them back to their natural color. I used the KOH Natural, Glossy Nail Buffer Set each time I did a manicure to gently remove the top layer of stained nail and applied the KOH Anti-Aging Base Coat. The KOH Anti-Aging Base Coat masked the yellow stains and my toes looked great. Even though my nails are back to their natural color, I still wear the KOH Anti-Aging Base Coat. I love the light pink color and natural nail polish goes with anything.

Too Faced Lip Injection gloss and lipsticks reign over all lip plumpers! The Lip Injection Extreme lip gloss is the ultimate lip plumping treatment. Your lips instantly become fuller and flushed with color. The scent is delicious and your lips tingle for a few minutes after application. I love the tingling sensation.

The Lip Injection Color Bomb is a moisture plumping lip tint. It is a crayon-like applicator that applies beautiful matte color. The lip tint comes in six shades, Bigger Berry, Eastwood Red, Plump It Up Pink, Coral Pop, Candy Burst, and Never Enough Nude.  The colors go on like a lipstick, and moisturize your lips while plumping them. It also leaves a tingling sensation in your lips after application. My favorite color is Coral Pop, it is the perfect coral/pink for spring. 

The Lip Insurance treatment is a lip primer. Apply this solution prior to lipstick or stain and it will prevent feathering around the edge of your lips. 

I'm obsessed with face primer, particularly, Colorescience Skin Bronzing Primer SPF 20 (Wild to Mild) and Colorescience Sunforgettable Primer SPF 30. Primer gives you a natural even tone, leaving no trace of caked on makeup (like foundation often appears). It blends perfectly, minimizes the look of your pores, fills in your wrinkles, and enhances your complexion. You will not get the same results you would with foundation, but it's a better way to even out your skin tone (without overdoing it). Visit https://www.colorescience.com/collections/primers for more details.