This week I thought I would share an updated peek into my morning skin care and makeup bag. Even though I am playing with new colors and products on a regular basis, these are the ones that I choose for my personal use.

Every morning in the shower I start with Better Botanicals Clarifying Facial Scrub ($16.99). Because it's gentle, it doesn't dry my skin, and I use a light touch, I feel comfortable using it every day. I follow that with RoC Age Diminishing Daily Moisturizer ($14.99). To be honest, this lotion has an ingredient list a mile long of names that belong in a chemistry book. The soy complex and vitamin E are supposed to help with the "signs" of aging, but truth be told, it's just a nice daily moisturizer with anti-oxidant protection. I also like that it gives my skin enough moisture so I don't get flaky by lunchtime. RoC is available at drugstores and at drugstore.com or ULTA.com. Age Diminishing Daily Moisturizer also comes in an SPF 15 version with Octinoxate 7.5%, Avobenzone 3%, and Octisalate 2%. I opted for the "unleaded" version because my skin does better with a physical block (like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide) rather than these chemical sunscreens.

I was never one for makeup primers until I tried BECCA Silky Hydrating Primer ($29). It gives my skin a bit more moisture, but most importantly, it really does help foundation and concealer glide on more smoothly and last longer. My foundation of choice is BECCA Luminous Skin Colour SPF 20 ($35 for 1.7oz pump bottle) in Sand (a light shade for cool undertoned skin) and I conceal any spots that need a little more with BECCA Compact Concealer ($35) in Latte (also a shade for cool skintones). The foundation is the first sheer base that I have tried and stayed with. It delivers on the promise other sheer foundations make: it diffuses the things you don't want to see without covering the nice looking skin that you do want to see. I use a pump and a half for my whole face, and I apply it with my fingers. Then I go back with the concealer and a brush and touch up any red areas or darkness under my eyes that need a little extra help. Follow with a light dusting (and I mean LIGHT) of BECCA Fine Loose Finishing Powder ($27) (I use Ginger) and you are set for the day. You can find more information about BECCA at beccacosmetics.com.

You might think that with all the cosmetics I get to play with that I use a whole selection of interesting colors and textures every day. Well, I hate to disappoint, but my regular "look" is superbasic: Rimmel Blush ($2.97 at Walmart) in Sienna (a brownish rose shade) or Passport Heat Bronzing Trio ($25 at Sephora.com) (and sometimes I swipe on a bit of one of the trio's bronzy-beige eye shades as well, which makes my blues eyes really pop), Physician's Formula Eye Definer Automatic Eye Pencil ($5.25 at drugstores) in Dark Brown and Rimmel 100% Waterproof mascara ($3.97 at Walmart). Ho hum, right? For my lips, I love Laura Mercier Lip Balm SPF 15 ($20 at lauramercier.com). It's spendy for lip balm, but it has a lovely smooth texture and just the right level of rosy tint that gives my natural lip color a bit of a boost.

I hope you enjoyed this issue of The Cosmetic Report!