Fashion/Beauty Friend Friday was created by ModlyChic.  Visit her blog to participate, or to view other responses to this week’s questions!

This Week’s Topic:  Beauty products 

What’s your favorite drug store makeup product and your favorite higher-end product?

My favorite drug store makeup product is, by far, L’Oreal HiP (High Intensity Pigment) Lip Gloss (color: Tainted).   Living in the desert, I find that lipstick dries out too quickly on my lips and constantly needs refreshing.  L’Oreal’s HiP line has tons more color than typical gloss, but is far more hydrating than lipstick.  Best of all, somehow they managed to find a way to keep it from bleeding into the fine lines.

My favorite high-end product is Ben Nye’s Luxe Eye Shadow line.  Ben Nye is more of a makeup artist/theatre brand, so sadly it isn’t available in most stores.  The Luxe line has just enough shimmer without full-on sparkle, and the colors are intense!  They can be played down for day or built up as bold as you want them to be, making them extremely versatile.

Is there one type of product that is your go-to, can’t live without? 

My Bare Minerals powder foundation.  Amazing stuff.  It feels like I’m not wearing any foundation at all, but does a fabulous job of smoothing out skin tone and small flaws.  And for some reason they actually carry a shade that is pale enough for my fair skin.    Although occasionally I do add a bit of zinc oxide powder to make it a hint paler, while adding additional UV protection.

What’s the best hair product you’ve ever used? 

BioSilk Hair Treatment.  It really does make my hair feel like silk, and drastically reduces tangles.

Fess up, what’s the worst beauty look you’ve tried to rock and look back at now with a little shame or apprehension that you actually did that? 

This is a tough one.  Not because I think every look I’ve ever tried has been a winner, but because every look was a part of my evolution.  I try not to feel shame for anything as long as I was trying to look my best.  I guess the closest for me would be back when I was a teen and was trying to “fit in” with the popular, trendy girls.  I wanted so badly to hide the fact that I was creative and original and just plain different, because teenagers make fun of those qualities in their peers.  This led to teased hair, acid-washed jeans, and other 80s fads that were popular at the time; things I attempted because it was expected, but never really felt good about.

When it comes to beauty products, we all use the same basic products. What do you use that helps show off your personal flare and personality? 

Probably the Ben Nye products mentioned above.  Because being into the Goth look inevitably brings out a little bit of the theatrical in us.    Also, I am a huge fan of the single, thick liquid eyeliner line on the top lashes.  Nothing on the bottom.  This is a departure from the typical “black all the way around” eye look, while still being “dark” overall.  And it gives me just a tiny hint of the 1940s glamor that I so admire.