So...two weeks ago, I found myself crawling out of a car and walking into the emergency room. It turns out my appendix, now affectionately called Little Fucker, had decided to throw a party that I wasn't exactly invited to. After four days and four nights in the hospital, I was bruised, cranky and gross. As Andre Leon Talley is known for saying....there was a famine of beauty. Fortunately I had some good friends, my mother and four very essential products to help me survive.


1: MAC's Ruby Woo lipstick


I admit it - I was the girl in the hospital bed wearing red lipstick. My hair was a disgusting mess, my skin was dry but I was desperate to cling to a sliver of glamour. Ruby Woo is my not-so-secret weapon that I refuse to be without. The next friend I visit in the hospital is getting her very own tube.


2: Pond's Evening Soothe Wet Cleansing Towelettes


Not to be dramatic or anything, but staying calm in the hospital is paramount. Also, not matter how much you want to take a shower, it's not always permissible, given the IV attached to your arm like a vampire. These Pond's towelettes are hands down the best cleansing wipes I've ever tried. One side gently exfoliates while the other is smooth, plus the wipe is made of super-durable materials, so you don't feel like it's going to fall apart mid-use. The calming scent was like a sweet escape from the chaos surrounding me. Bless you, Pond's!


3: TRESemme's Fresh Start Dry Shampoo


Speaking of the disgusting mess that was my hair, I avoided mirrors at all costs because of that reason. Between the stress of needles and general inability to shower, my hair was beyond help. There is the distinct possibility that I used an entire can during my stay. I wasn't going down (with bad hair) without a fight.


4: Kate Somerville's CytoCell Dark Circle Corrective Eye Cream


When it comes to my eyes, I'm pretty obsessive about taking care of them. I've been a near-lifelong wearer of glasses and I'm terrified of the day the little lines develop around my eyes. Compound that with the dark circles that I swear I have and I'm a true eye cream addict. I love Kate Somerville's product for treating all of the above and being a great moisturizer to boot. When you're sitting in a hospital bed with zombie face, you'll take all the help you can get.


Remember friends, just because you're in the hospital doesn't mean that you shouldn't take care of yourself. It's the little things in life!

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Okay...so Buffalo isn't exactly a desert island, but when I packed in a hurry last week, let's just say I didn't snag a lot of options. When you're left with one or two choices, as opposed to an entire beauty closet, you learn to work with what you've got. Which products became my hero?


1: Maybelline's The Falsies Waterproof Mascara


Not only should summer be renamed sweatummer, but when tears are guaranteed, it's time to bring your very best. Naturally the only mascara I brought was The Falsies in waterproof, my summer mainstay. No matter how hard my mother and I sobbed, we never entered Monet territory.


2: Sally Hansen's Salon Effects Polish Strips


My mother and I spent a painful amount of time in Target, trying to gather all of the things that we needed to get ourselves feeling like we had it together. We debated appropriate nail polish colors and while I verged on a Sinful Colors metallic navy, I spotted Sally Hansen's Salon Effects in Kitty Kitty. Leopard nails aren't always the most appropriate (especially when you ask Mamacita) but I finally won the battle. Not only were they super easy to apply (less than 30 minutes, max), but they saved me from any embarrassing polish application mistakes.


3: Clarisonic Opal


Let's face it, when there's a family emergency, you're likely to lose sleep, cry and drink heavily. The only thing that kept me looking remotely depuffed was my Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion System. That's right - it's a Clarisonic for your eyes. Not only does it work with your own eye cream (though I love their serum), it also helps to depuff and reduce undereye circles, aka how not to look like a zombie.


4: Dior DiorLiner Liquid Eyeliner


If you know me in real life, this next statement is going to be shocking: I only packed one eyeliner for the trip. My dear friend Ricky Wilson, a Dior makeup artist, insisted that I had to give it a try, even though I was monogamous with my L'Oreal Lineur Intense. As much as I hate to admit it - he was right. It's a fantastic brush tip liner that goes on as black as night.


5: MAC's Warmth of Coral Mineralize Blush


I've always had such a tough time finding more natural toned blushes that don't look overly brown/orange/etc. Now that I have red hair, it's easier for me to play up coral tones and MAC's Warmth of Coral fits the bill perfectly. It gives the healthy peachy flush without being overpowering or looking too bronzey. It worked perfectly with MAC's Ruby Woo, my lipstick of choice for the trip.


The last time you packed in a hurry, did any unexpected items step up to the challenge? Have you discovered any beauty heros recently? I'd love to hear about them!