Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag.

I think I’ve already mentioned my fav little traveling companion, the Truffle clarity pouch, before.  The perfect (chic, sturdy) alternative to a plastic bag for getting your liquid cosmetics through TSA.  Well, it’s on sale now in select colors ($2o!!):

Strongly recommend, y’all.  But what I’m really psyched about is the new cache of goodies about to be delivered to me from my good ol’ buddy Sephora.  My latest discoveries:

+For the longest time, I did nothing in the way of styling my brows (well, except for uber-regular eyebrow waxes).  But then my technician offered to pencil and gel them in place and my whole face looked different.  I’ve been using Benefit Brow Zings ($32) ever since — you use the darker wax to sort of outline the shape and then fill in with the lighter powder.  But I just recently decided I needed a gel.  This one from Anastasia ($22) is supposed to be rad.

I’m also curious about this Givenchy “Mister Eyebrow Fixing Pencil” ($26), which apparently comes out clear but tames all brows?!  Meanwhile, Benefit’s High Brow ($22) promises to highlight your features with a simple swipe under the brow.  #browsonfleeeeeek

Speaking of highlighting, I received a sample of Benefit’s Watts Up ($30) and it is the JAM.  I swipe a little under my brows, on my cheekbones, and — secret I learned from reading a behind-the-scenes of a how-they-style-JCrew-models-for-the-catalog — a little dab just above the middle of my top lip and a swipe down the middle of the nose.  These sound odd but if you blend a bit it really highlights all of the best parts of your face somehow.  It makes you look luminescent, glowing.

But if you want to be let in on a serious beauty secret: try Kevin Aucoin’s The Sensual Skin Enhancer ($48).  I picked this up while glum because my skin had broken out thanks to stress and my illogical decision to ditch a skincare regimen that had worked for like a decade and needed some coverage.  Gals, this stuff is a serious business.  I mean, it’s borderline stage makeup.  A littlelittlelittle dab will do ya.  So I put a little dab on each blemish, a dab under my eyes, and a dab at the base of my nose.  Then I blend with my Beauty Blender ($20) and a little bit of tinted moisturizer (I use Laura Mercier).  It literally leaves your skin looking flawless but not cakey-fakey.  I finish with a little bit of this Ambient Lighting Powder ($45), which has to be one of my favorite cosmetic discoveries of the past year.

I vow this because my father-in-law mentioned that my skin looked “perfect, glowing” out of the blue over the holiday.  What a compliment!  Mental note to never stop using this.  Although I’m so intrigued by this Kevyn Aucoin stuff.  I’d know he was famous for his contouring technique, which always sort of left me cold (think Kim Kardashian and super made-up, fake faces).  I’ve historically been more the type to throw on tinted moisturizer, a little mascara, and a swipe of blush, and call it a day.  I don’t like the super made up look.  But now, after the wild success of his enhancer above, I’m curious…I may even swap out the Ambiant Lighting powder above for his celestial powder ($44), which has gotten rave reviews.  I want this rad fan brush ($60) to go with it.

And, my little sister (probably a bigger cosmetic junkie than I am — she always knows what’s up) turned me onto Urban Decay’s Naked eye palettes ($29) for everyday, understated chicness:

I’m also eager for my new Oribe shampoo ($44) and conditioner ($46) to arrive.  I’ve been using Living Proof shampoo and conditioner ($24 each) and while I’ve liked it, it doesn’t quite lather up enough for my taste, and I love the way Oribe accents my highlights.  (I’m going in for a touch up next week and am going to amp up the blond.)

I’m also getting some new bar soap from Fresh ($15) — I really love bar soap.  It’s so old school.  And Fresh has the BEST scents and the most gorgeous wrapping.

I recently had my hair blown out at Drybar and the stylist used Triple Sec ($26) — a three-in-one volumizer, texturizer, and dry shampoo — at my roots to add a little oomph and volume.  I’m intrigued.  If you’re new to their products, I literally cannot rave enough about their flexible hold hair spray ($26).  It works like a charm, doesn’t leave hair stiff, and actually smells great.  But you might want to test the DryBar waters with this four-pack of styling products ($39) — a good value!

Oh, and for when I’m styling with my curling iron or blow dryer or straightening iron, I also almost always use either Drybar’s Hot Toddy or a combo of Bumble and Bumble’s Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil  ($39) and Primer ($30).  They all protect your hair and really lead to a smooth blow-out.  Love both.  I was reminded while home, though, that I used to love Biosilk’s Hair Oil ($24) back in high school.  The smell takes me back…and it really works magic on protecting your hair.

OK, SO excited to try all these new goodies.  But tell me — do any of you ladies have a rec for a great eyeliner?  I hate them all.  The liquid ones smear too much, the pencil ones don’t glide on easily enough.  Recommendations?!