I don’t talk about it much on here, but I am a bonafide beauty lover. I love testing products, and finding the perfect items to put into the daily mix. Makeup to me is just another venue of creative expression — art for your face, on a daily basis! What better practice? While I switch a lot of things in and out, here are six products that I’ve kept in my mix for over a year or two — and one for 8+! I’m talking to you Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer. Each of these products is on a higher end of costs compared to something you might find at Target, so that’s why they are a perfect item to indulge in yourself or to give as a gift this season. These are also picks that work well for a variety of skin types and tones, so if you’re looking to invest in some product, these might be great ones to try out. Here’s a little about why I’ve picked each of these beauty indulgences and why they keep sticking around. I’m also a sucker for beauty reviews, so please, if this is not your thing, bear with me.

Benefit Benetint: It stays all day, and you can use just a little amount to give you a shade that matches your skin tone perfectly. I’ve had my same bottle for over a year with almost daily use, so it’s definitely a smart investment. Bonus: acts as a lip tint too!

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer: My mom’s friend from Ireland was visiting us while I was in high school and she recommended this moisturizer. Being in high school as an athlete, I needed something no-fuss that I could wear daily and not feel like I was all gunked up. With the added SPF, this started to feel like second skin and kept my face protected when I was out on the water. I’ve always had a bit of redness on my face, and this covered that and still kept my freckles exposed. I use it now as a quick fix to a bare face when I don’t want to spend the time to put all my make-up on to run to the store. It also builds up nicely, so you can layer coverage where you need it most. It feels amazing on my skin, and it’s been a tried and true product I haven’t been able to stop buying for 8+ years.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream: Just. Yes. I put this on every night, and I wake up with my face feeling smooth and moisturized. My boyfriend even sneaks this when he’s around!

Nars Bronzer in Laguna: A friend of mine had me try this a couple years ago after I complained about my bronzer making me too orange. This is the perfect hue for her, me, and many other ladies I’ve talked to. It has a hint of shimmer, but not enough that you can’t use this to contour. It makes the whole bronzer thing look natural, and I can’t applaud it enough.

Clé de Peau Concealer: This is one I have recently strayed away from for the price alone. It is hands-down the best concealer that I have tried for blemishes, and especially under the eye. Even though I can’t justify spending $70 on this twice a year, it’s on this list because it would truly be an awesome indulgence for the holidays. Mom, if you’re reading, my shade is ivory ;)

Tarte Mascara: I went through a phase where I tried about 20 different mascaras over a year or two. This one stuck. It makes my lashes look longer, fuller, curlier, and it doesn’t leave me with racoon eyes when I wash it off because it’s made of more natural materials. This is the only mascara that I’ve had multiple people ask me if my eye lashes were real because they looked so long — yep, they are.

See the entire gift guide here.

Thank you so much for letting me indulge in this post. You have just seen the tip of the iceberg, hah. Anyone else a birchbox fan?