Retin-A! Without it, I would already look like my mother. On a really bad day.
My Routine:
On a normal work, day, about 40 minutes start to finish. If I really want to make an impression, I've been known to take 2 hours or more. I enjoy watching the transformation, so I don't mind taking the time. Just straightening my hair takes an hour and a half from blow-dry to flat-iron.
My Horror Story:
Okay, I'm dating myself, but there used to be a product called "QT" (for quick tan) need I say more?
After trying literally hundreds of self-tanning products, I have finally found my "holy grail"!! It is super-moisturizing, non-streaking, and gives your skin a totally believable, tawny glow! There is nothing to compare to it, and I have used them all!
Where has this been all of my life!!! I read about it on this site, went out and got some, and now I can't deal with my hair without it! I blow-dry and flat-iron my hair a lot, and this keeps the breakage and dullness at bay. The night before a day off, I saturate my ends with it and after washing I have incredible shine. It's great as a leave-in conditioner as well. I get anxious if I don't have at least one extra bottle as a back-up.
I have, conservatively, over 100 lip products in my makeup collection. I picked up a few of these at VS the other day, because I noticed that they had updated the old formula with 3 different tints. Of course, I had to buy all 3. The product is glossy, moisturizing, and gives your lips a hint of color, and the illusion of greater fullness, probably due to the high level of gloss, but maybe in part to the infusion of mint. I bought 2 in every color, and I have stashed them everywhere, so I am never without one!