Starting a blog is a little bit like starting a diet.  I know it’s going to be good for me in the long run, it requires effort and dedication, and it will instantly make me more annoying to be around (apologies in advance to my friends for the blog and sorry about that time I stopped eating gluten).  With a blog, and a diet, it can be difficult to know where to start.  Do I gradually cut out trans-fat or sugar and eat more kale salads, or do I go full Gwyneth Paltrow and make warm lemon water and colonics my staple meals?  If you know me, (see gluten apology above) you know that I sometimes like to do things to the extreme.  I’ve learned from experience that extreme changes are likely to end in extreme failures.  So, if you don’t know me, you will be grateful to avoid an extremely long blog post about every single thing in my makeup bag and get to reap the benefits of my first posts, in moderation, of my makeup essentials. The staples, if you will.

Any good makeup junkie knows that it can be exciting to try and buy new products.  Trends are fun.  Sure, we know that it won’t always make sense to have matte nail polish or Kylie Jenner lip kits (can that please be over already?) but we are willing to fork over the money to play around with the trends.  Plus you can maintain VIB Rouge status at Sephora without blinking an eye.  But more importantly – and more appealing to the non-makeup junkies – there are those tried and true essentials that earn a permanent home in our vanities.  These tend to be the products I recommend most to my friends because I can stand behind their value and effectiveness.  On my blog, I will share my makeup staples with you in a series of “staples” posts, with hair, tools, and skincare to come.  You’re welcome, in advance.