I pride myself on having friends with a wide variety of personalities and tastes. And, It's important to surround yourself with people that help enhance your personality and enrich your life.... Basically, so that their good qualities rub off on you. My dear friend Amy is a hardworking medical professional, foodie and a loving dog mom. She has a busy schedule, so it's important that her makeup routine is quick, but will last all day.

Amy's morning makeup routine normally takes her between five and fifteen minutes. In that window of time, her priorities are to moisturize, conceal and fill in her brows. Anything else is just icing on the cake! To balance out her complexion, she applies Tarte's BB Tinted Primer in Light. To get a little more coverage, she applies a thin layer of Glo Minerals Pressed Base in Natural Medium. This combination can give light to full coverage and is great for sensitive skin types. Amy is a fan of simple, glittery washes of color across her eyelids. Some days it may be a subtle Champagne, like this E.L.F. eyeshadow in Celebrity, or if she's feeling a bit more bold, she'll reach for her Laura Mercier eyeshadow in Gilded Bronze. Either way, she always primes her lids with Urban Decay's Primer Potion in Sin, a soft pink, champagne tone. This keeps her eye look in place all day. I love how Amy has a mix of price points in her eye makeup collection. To help define her eyes and create a bit more drama at her lash line, she reaches for this Loreal Matte-Matic Eyeliner. Then she finishes her eye look with a few swipes of Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara for volume and length. Gorg!

When it's time to put a little color on her lippies, Amy's "go-to" nude is Urban Decay's Revolution lipstick in Naked. For a little more shine and moisture, she tops it with Buxom Lip Polish in Dolly. And when she wants to add a soft flush to her cheeks and a bronze glow to her complexion, she pairs the Beauty Counter blush in Tawny/ Whisper with the Beauty Counter Matte Bronzer. Thats complexion perfection that you don't have to feel bad about!

Have you ever tried any of Amy's favorite products? She and I are trying to make our makeup bags more "Green". If you're trying to shift your makeup bag to a bit more natural ingredients, what are your favorite products or lines? Please let us know in the comments below. Until next time friends!

~ Shana

The month of October is such a transitional month for North Carolinian's. It wasn't until the end of the month that it started feeling like Fall, at all. This month's favorites are a group of products that made me excited to get ready for my day on these crisp mornings that we've been having. So, let's dive it!

The Becca Ever-Matte Primer is a must for anyone who deals with excessive oil. As the month cooled off, I'd use it just in my T- zone. This is the key to my makeup lasting for a 10 hour workday. I, also, added the AG Hair Sterling Silver conditioner to my weekly shower routine. I shampoo my hair first in the shower and then let my conditioner soak in for the rest of my time. This hydrating conditioner also neutralizes out yellow, or golden, tones in blondes or light hair. It's an absolute must for any blonde, and would be amazing for you ladies rocking extreme grey tones in your hair as well. My favorite eyeliner this month was the Liquid Liner from Glo Minerals. Waterproof is an understatement with this liner, it will not budge once it has set. The thin, felt tip applicator makes it so easy to get a precise flick, or a dramatic wing. The color is a deep, opaque black with a subtle satin finish, gorgeous! This liner has found a permanent place in my professional kit and my personal makeup bag.

These next three products definitely took my classic look to the next level! I'm so bad for biting my lips and eating off my lipstick through the day. So, when it comes to lip color I need something that wears off naturally. That's why I'm loving this combination this month. Urban Decays Liar lipstick is my perfect brown nude shade. It's so creamy and moisturizing, but has a long wear time. This is actually my second tube of it, because I accidentally left my first one on set for Love It or List it. After months of missing it, I had to have it back in my life. I've been layering it under Marc Jacobs Lip gloss in Rebel Rebel, and it's a stellar combination. Rebel Rebel is a natural rose color with a violet undertone. You notice a subtle shimmer in the package, but I don't find that it transfers to the lips and gives you Glitta face. I also like pairing it with MAC Patisserie and Syrup. The packaging is sturdy and luxurious feeling, and the formula inside is a thicker, long wearing consistency. The icing on the cake is the soft minty scent of this gloss, it's an all around fabulous lip gloss! Now, I'm about to blow your mind. I fell in love with a highlighter this month...I know...I'm oily...What am I thinking? I originally looked into the Becca Highlighters for my kit to fill a few gaps that I had. I picked up Moonstone, and for a while I just stared at how beautiful it was. Then, I realized that I will always need more shimmer in my life so I started using it every day. And, I haven't stopped. On myself personally, this creamy powder applies smoothly to the skin and makes you instantly radiant. It's beautiful on the tops of the cheeks, cupids bow, or as an eye shadow. I love that when I use it I look purely glowy, it doesn't emphasis my natural oiliness at all.

A few months ago, I needed an updated business card holder. So, I happened to be perusing the Darling Magazine online store and saw this adorable case from Hawks & Doves. It went right into the cart and in a few weeks it was on my door step. I didn't realize until I got it in hand, that this sturdy black leather case was handmade in Raleigh, NC. I love that it's stylish and I get to support another local business.

I hope you enjoyed my favorites for this month. Let me know your thoughts on any of these gems if you've had a chance to try them in the comments below. See you soon!