Seven Beauty Must Haves for Spring Break

This is the HOLY GRAIL of bronzers. Stilla's One Step Bronzer should come in a gilded chalice, because it is uh-maze-ing. I discovered it through my Birchbox subscription last summer, and fell in love. The oil-free moisturizers have three illuminating shades which blend perfectly to give you a radiant glow. You will look like you just spent a week in St. Bart's or some other glamorous beach locale. People will compliment you on your radiance, and I am not kidding or dishing out hyperbole here. This stuff WORKS.

Olay's CC Cream is amazing. It's technically named "Olay CC Cream-Total Effects Tone Correcting Moisturizer with Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 15," but good god, that is a lot to type. It's basically OIay's take on a BB cream. It evens out your skin tone, moisturizes, helps fight signs of aging, and prevents further aging with a SPF 15 Sunscreen. It's a powerhouse, y'all. Pack light for spring break by tossing a bottle into your makeup bag, because Olay CC cream does the work of, like, five other products which is good because you're on vacation and AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT.

I have to get all uncool mom here and remind you that if you're getting out in the sun (be it at the beach, or in my case, sweating and cursing while you attempt to plant a garden) you need to wear sunscreen. I never used sunscreen when I was younger, and I am beginning to pay for it now in age spots and wrinkles. NOT COOL. Using a broad spectrum sunscreen today is so much cheaper than chemical peels, Botox, or even worse, treatment for skin cancer, down the road. I love Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer line of sunscreens. They're oil-free and won't clog your pores. Plus, they go on without that sticky feeling and stay put for hours.

I know you're all, "But Meg; you just extolled the virtues of sunscreen usage!" right now, but trust me on this one: Hawaiian Tropic Tanning Oil makes a great vacation perfume. Just a little spritz will take you away to sunnier shores. It's an instant pick-me-up. Hawaiian Tropic Oil can be used for more than just tanning, y'all. PRO TIP: If the ends of your hair are damaged from salt water, chlorine, or heat, try spritzing a little oil in your hands and rubbing it in to the damaged ends of your hair. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes and then shower and shampoo it out. Your hair will be silky smooth. I also keep a bottle in my bag during vacation to tame any frizzy/flyaway hairs that pop up on the beach.

You don't need to be on the coast to rock the sexy beach waves look. I love this stuff because it contains real saltwater, which goes a long way in creating those natural-looking waves. You also get a medium strength hold to help lock your waves in place, and the spray is alcohol free--which means it won't damage your 'do.

If you're planning on spending any time in the sun, owning a bottle of this is a prerequisite. If you're like me and have color-treated hair, the last thing you want is for your color to fade. Elnett's UV protection prevents color fade, which means you'll look better longer, and the hairspray itself is, hands down, the Greatest Hairspray of All Time. There's a reason they obviously haven't changed the can artwork since the Seventies: they don't have to. This product is amazing.

Make this multi-tasker part of your spring break beauty routine. Staniac is another product I found via Birchbox. It's no secret that I am a fan of lipstain, but I find this product to be even more essential on vacation or any trip because it can pull double-duty: use as a lip stain or as a blush to boost your radiance. I can't get enough of this stuff.