Must Have:

Swell Water Bottle: I never thought I would be a person that would religiously carry around a water bottle, but I can now say I take my Swell bottle everywhere with me! I have heard everyone say for years how important it is to drink water and I have always been so bad at it but this year I promised myself I would be better at drinking more H2O. It helps with everything in your body especially your skin. And I have to tell you that I drink SO much more water out of this bottle than I have out of any other water bottle I have ever used before. I truly never thought I would love this because I have to remove the lid and there is no “straw”, but I am telling you I am drinking tons more water and my skin can tell the difference! The only downside is how much I have to go to the restroom now, but I have decided to just deal with it!

Phone Case: So yes, I know everyone has a phone in their purse, BUT I am not talking about my phone but my new phone case. I used to use a clip-on light to help take better photos, especially at night but the clip just didn’t always do the best job and using the flash doesn’t work on your phone when taking selfies or selfie videos and the flash when taking photos at night often times doesn’t do the photo justice. So, I found the LuMee case and I am in love with it! Takes way better photos and videos which makes editing for me so much easier. This is great for Fashion Instagrammers like me but truly is a great tool for anyone who takes photos on their phones.

Lipstick: The one thing I never leave the house without is lipstick. I have so many tubes of lipstick I could open my own lipstick store. I am obsessed and buy it all the time. No matter if I am at Duane Reade or Sephora I am constantly buying it…. I can’t stop myself! And I am ALL about the lip stay. I never wear anything that doesn’t last for at least several hours because what is the point? Why constantly reapply if you don’t have to….am I right?! I always have a red, nude and pink on hand. These are my current go-to’s: I think L’OREAL makes amazing color stays and my favorite red right now is Infallible 2-step lip color 211 Infallible Red. The pink I am currently wearing the most is Dior Ultra Rouge “Ultra Lust-Rosewood/485” and my favorite nude, well I had to choose two because I couldn’t decide, Tom Ford Rouge A Levres in “Spiced Honey/57” and Anastasia Liquid Lipstick in “Crush”.

Aquaphor : Yes, I am obsessed with Aquaphor! I put it on my lips at night before I go to bed and I use it on my face all the time when my skin is dry. I have an allergy that twice a year causes the underneath of my eyes and eyelids to peel like crazy for about a week and the only thing I have found to help eliminate the dry flaky skin is Aquaphor. Winters in NY, any time I travel someplace with a dry climate or when I fly... I always carry it because when my face gets flaky I just put Aquaphor on it! And I have been known to even douse my face with it at night when it is especially dry, and it works wonders. It is in my nightstand, in my purse and my medicine cabinet…. I seriously cannot get enough! Full disclosure that since I have been drinking more water using this on my skin has become a lot less necessary.

Mini survival kit: I pride myself on being a person who always has what she needs. Now this, of course, does not mean I am a light traveler in any sense of the word and that also includes what I schlep around in my purse on a daily basis. This little self-made kit comes in very handy on a regular basis. What’s in it? Fashion tape, safety pins (big and small), Band-Aids, Sephora blotting paper, Aleve, hair ties and bobby pins, nail file, Visine and MAC Prep + Prime that I use to refresh my face when traveling or throughout a long work day.

Grey Hair Cover-up: This is also in my little styling kit, but it is so important it deserves its own mention. I have talked about this Bumble & Bumble Bb color stick on my stories and it is a true savior to me. I try and extend my coloring appointments as long as I can and sometimes my schedule causes me to delay between appointments even further, so this little tool comes in so handy! It is quick and simple and so easy to use in the mornings before heading out the door.

Truvia or Stevia: I am a girl who loves her coffee but needs a little sweetness added to it. So many places have Splenda, but I do not use that artificial stuff…full disclosure I used to use it all the time and once I realized how bad it was for you I switched to Stevia because it is natural and comes from a plant and now I can’t stand the taste of it. I have this on hand at all times but whenever an establishment has it I am overjoyed because then I can save my stash for when I really need it. You should have seen the supply that just came with me to Park City!

Mini Calendar: I am so old school with this and am such a visual person. When I am working on my schedule for weeks out that includes travel I have got to see months at a time and my phone just doesn’t work for me. I used to print out the calendar sheets an write on those but then I had to carry around loose pieces of paper and that was just ridiculous so now I carry a little mini calendar that I can easily take with me and I always use pencil when writing in it. Then once things are somewhat set, they are never fully set because my schedule is always changing, I put it in my phone.

Hand Sanitizer: Let’s be honest I live in New York City and am always on a plane…need I say more?!

Highlighter: I love having a dewy glow to my skin, but they so often can wear off as you go throughout your day, especially with days as long as mine. I love the BECCA highlighter and use it every single morning. But for the touchups I am obsessed with RMS Luminizer X Quad; it’s so easy to take with you and all you need is your finger to apply it instead of the brush you need with powders. But this is also great for in the morning when putting on my make-up because it goes on my eyes, cheekbones, above my eyebrows….any place on my face where I want to add a little shimmer.

XO Tamara

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