My friend Amber always has the best makeup and beauty tips. She is the go-to among our girlfriends for new products & tricks we had no idea existed before but now we cant live without. Here are three such things:

1. The nail polish Penny Talk by essie . I met up with Amber and some friends for a quick afternoon get together and she was wearing this nail polish. It’s perfectly shimmery but still almost a neutral. I picked it up and it doesn’t disappoint.

2. Lanolin (aka nipple cream) as lip balm. I use Lansinoh brand.  I know, I know, it seems weird, but trust me here. I was skeptical when Amber suggested it as well but now I use it too and there is no looking back. It makes a lot of sense if you think about it. And for purists, its only ingredient is wool fat, with no added ingredients or chemicals.

3. The oil cleansing method for washing your face at night. Have you heard of this? I hadn’t until Amber mentioned it. Another thing I was skeptical of, it is a technique that involves rubbing oil into your face and then wiping it off instead of face wash. Crazy, right? But it works amazingly. My husband, a scientist/chemist type said oil attracts oil like a magnet so that’s why it works. I had really clear skin in high school and then as soon as I hit my twenties I developed really bad acne that I still battle and have the scars to show for it. I tried everything and nothing helped. Oil cleansing has been hands-down a miracle for my skin.

What are some of your tried and true or new favorite beauty tips?