FAB 5 OF THE WEEK: Five products you gotta have on your radar for Spring

I admit, unashamed, that I’m a beauty products junky. I’m known to spend untold amounts (I’ll never tell!) on irresistible creams and elixirs to fill my insatiable need. I’ve got warm-weather skin on the brain and these products are on the must-have list to gear up for spring:

1. Murad Active Radiance Serum with Resilient-C™ Complex
In a word, this stuff’s magic. Vitamin C and AHA’s get down and dirty to brighten and protect against the environmental stresses that jack up your skin on a daily basis. And it’s gentle enough for my sensitive skin. My face was noticeably dewier after just one day of using it. But, get ready to buck up cuz it’s a bit pricey–$89 for 1 oz (ouch!). A little goes a long way, though. And skinstore.com is now offering 20% off site-wide, so that helps the wallet some.   Buy it now.

2. Mario Badescu Azulene Calming Mask, $18
Soothes/hydrates your winter skin in 20 minutes and its clay base minimizes pores. Every time I use it, my face is as soft as a baby’s tush. Buy it now.

3. Philosophy Hope in a Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20, $38
I’ve tried a lot of tinted moisturizers. This one literally has it all–an airy, souffle-like texture, serious staying power, doesn’t make my sensitive skin break out, and comes in 8 shades from extra light to dark so finding my exact (multi-racial) match was no problem. I’m totally hooked. Buy it now.

4. Mineral Fusion Eye Pencil, $14.99
I have insanely sensitive eyes but a girl just wants a little definition. It took years of trying all kinds of eye liners touting “hypoallergenic, all-natural minerals, yada-yada” (and some seriously itchy, red, and even swollen peepers) to finally find Mineral Fusion eye pencil in coal (black). I happened to picked it up in my local Whole Foods on a whim (kept my receipt of course). And, by george, it works! It’s apparently formulated with chamomile, meadowfoam and vitamin E to soothe delicate skin around eyes and it’s free of gluten, paragons, artificial colors, fragrances and talc. But I think the real trick is that it actually stays put and doesn’t end up running into your eyes at the end of the work day or night on the town. Miracles do happen. Buy it now.

5. Benefit “Watts Up” Highlighter, $30
When I set out to find a subtle highlighter that gives the perfect dewy “red carpet” glow, I didn’t realize this was much easier said than done. Too glittery, too greasy, too thick/chunky…need I go on. I FINALLY stumbled upon Benefit Watts Up. The cream-to-powder formula goes on flawlessly and application is easily controlled depending on how much glow you want. It literally melts lightly into the skin leaving the perfect luminous sheen. There’s even a spongy tip for blending, but I find my fingers work best. Buy it now.