Summer Beauty Favorites
The season of sun and sand is finally here (yay!) and we've been taking full advantage over at our house. The last few years, our summers have been full of house projects and weddings and all kinds of craziness, so we've made a point to have some more fun this year. That means saying "yes" to beach days and boat rides and lots of dining al fresco. Enjoying the weather is my #1 priority in the summer so I really try to be outside whenever possible. However — as this past week of oppressive humidity has proven — it's hard to look your best when you can feel your hair frizzing the second you walk outside.
To be ready for whatever outdoor plans lie ahead, these are some of my favorite products for enhancing my summer glow and keeping those beach waves looking fresh:
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray // Have you ever found a product that makes you say "where has this been all my life?!" This is mine. Better late than never I guess. This spray works SO WELL for keeping my makeup from sliding off my face in the summer heat, and is great for preserving a full face for a night out. Perfect for summer wedding season, too.
OUAI Rose Hair + Body Oil // My hair takes a beating in the summer – between humidity and pools and tangled hair from boat rides and bike helmets. I like using a hair oil to keep things smooth and moisturized and I love that this does double duty on skin. It absorbs really quickly and doesn't leave that coated feeling like lotions do, which is so gross in the summer. Plus I LOVE the way it smells – just like roses in the most delicate way...it's so dreamy.
Fresh Sugar Rose SPF Lip Treatment // I've been more diligent about sunscreen now that I'm older and wiser, and I try not to forget an SPF on my lips too! This is my go-to because I love the tint, unless I'm packing a beach bag because *warning*: this stuff will melt like crazy in the heat. In those cases I prefer Maybelline's Baby Lips with SPF which is equally fabulous.
Kristen Ess Beach Wave Spray // High-five to my sister for turning me onto this wave spray! It works so well and I also love that it adds a nice bit of shine. Bonus points: I can pick it up at Target, along with all of the other impulse purchases that I didn't need ;)
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer // This is my holy grail bronzer for an all over glow. It's goddess-level amazing. If I'm skipping my foundation, I can dust this on and still feel put together. It looks shimmery in the pan, but doesn't go on with any shimmer effect. It's similar to the other Hourglass Ambient Lighting powders in that way (if you haven't tried them...do it). You don't need much; I use a big fluffy brush to apply all over my face and neck, and bam – you look like you've spent the day at the beach.
Oribe Humidity Spray // Humidity + my hair = no bueno. It frizzes instantly. This stuff acts like a humidity shield and for that I'm forever grateful. I like to buy the travel size because 1) it ain't cheap and 2) I can throw it in my purse for touch-ups throughout the day.
NYX Waterproof Mascara Topcoat // I absolutely hate waterproof mascara, but it becomes necessary in the summer when bodies of water are on the agenda. I prefer to keep a waterproof topcoat around for these situations, so I can use my normal mascara and layer this on top. The Anastasia topcoat I use has been discontinued, but this NYX version gets great reviews and the price is right!
If you have any products you rely on for the season, leave them below! Hope you are all having a fun summer!
Everyday Beauty Favorites
Since my last skincare post, I had some requests for another product roundup – so I'm here to share my favorites from my everyday makeup routine. Even on my most basic days, I still take time to do my brows, freshen up my skin, and throw on a nude lip. I tend to mix things up from there, but these products are the ones I reach for consistently and that never disappoint.
My skin is in that in-between area, where I don't want the full-coverage of foundation every day, but I do want more than a tinted moisturizer to even out my tone. This has more coverage than a tinted moisturizer, but still lets your skin show through. Bonus points: it does double-duty as skincare and an anti-aging regimen. This formula is full of peptides, vitamins, and hyaluronic acid to give long-term brightening and firming results. I love multi-tasking so this is money in the bank for me! The shade I use is medium.
2 // MAC Pro Longwear Concealer
I love this concealer for my under-eye area and for the occasional breakout. I get dark circles like woah when I'm tired, and this totally takes care of them. It lasts all day (seriously) and is never cakey like many of the cream-based concealers I've tried.
I don't go into full contour-mode every day, but I do use 1-2 of these in my daily routine – usually one of the bronzers, and then a highlighting shade swept over my cheekbones, forehead, and down the center of my nose. There are a ton of YouTube videos showing how to use this palette to its full potential, so I highly recommend checking them out!
4 // Anastasia Brow Powder Duo
My brows and I have been on a lifelong journey together. They have taken on many forms — from overgrown (au natural) to over-plucked and almost nonexistant (don't give a middle schooler a pair of tweezers without a tutorial). They've finally reached their current state, where I think we've achieved total harmony. I rely on this brow powder to fill in any sparse areas, and then use Anastasia's Dipbrow and brush to shape and contour.
5 // Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil
I love these pencils because they last, don't bleed, and come in a variety of awesome colors. I used to stick with black liner (in Perversion), but I also love it in Rockstar, Goldmine and Hustle. Truly...I want the entire crayon box of these liners!
6 // Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
I think I've tried every mascara in the book, and this is my hands-down favorite. I don't need to use a lash curler with this, but if I want an extra boost, this is the one I use. My only gripe about this mascara is that it occasionally flakes a bit towards the end of the day. Otherwise, it is my holy grail and I'll never turn back. My previous favorite was Benefit's They're Real! but it just doesn't give me the va-va-voom that this does.
7 // MAC Lipstick in Creme Cup
I have a MAC lipstick problem. The struggle is real. I wear a nude lip most days, and my favorite nude lipsticks include Creme Cup (pictured, a pinky nude) and Creme de Nude (a true nude).
8 // NARS Lipgloss in Turkish Delight
This gloss works perfectly over a nude lipstick, or has face-brightening powers on its own. It's so easy and will always be in my bag!
9 // MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle
If I want a little more highlighter than what's in the Anastasia Contour palette, I'll use this, applied with a finger or with a soft fan brush. It's really subtle and not too shimmery, but you can build it for more for a night-out appropriate look.
10 // Make Up Forever HD Powder
I finish everything off with a few presses of this powder in my shinier spots. It's super light, never looks cakey, and gives a smooth, airbrushed look. Definitely my favorite powder that I've tried.
What are some of your favorite products? I am always on the lookout for new things to try!
Wedding Prep Skincare + Sephora Giveaway
With our wedding slowly creeping up on us, I've been paying extra attention to keeping my skin healthy and happy. Besides my usual everyday products, I've been adding in some spa-worthy home treatments to up my game (and save me money on facials)! I definitely want to put my best face forward on our wedding day, so having a long-term, consistent routine will help me keep things balanced. I also try to get off on the right foot by drinking plenty of water—but hey, if all else fails, that's what makeup artists are for!
The products I use vary with the seasons (my winter skin and summer skin are nothing alike) but these are some of my consistent favorites for both face and body. Check 'em out below and be sure to enter my giveaway at the end of the post for a chance to win a $25 Sephora gift card!
Left to right:
Philosophy The Microdelivery Peel
This is a quick, two-step treatment that exfoliates and resurfaces, but isn't too harsh. My face feels baby soft when I'm done using it. I especially love it in the winter when my skin is dry, flaky, and dull. Plus, the Vitamin C in it smells deliciously orangey and fresh! It's a bit pricey but a little goes a long way – when used twice a month, one set lasts me almost a year.
Exfoliating your body is just as important as treating your face—this is especially true if you use self-tanner or plan on getting a spray tan for your wedding. This scrub makes my skin silky smooth and gets bonus points for smelling like a beach vacation (although it comes in many other scents if that's not your thing). Another winter staple, but also perfect for the spring and summer when you actually start showing some skin. I reach for this at least once a week and follow with...
Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter
I bought this for the first time when I was drunk and watching QVC (don't ask...I blame Shark Tank) and I am so, so in love with it. I use Argan Oil on my hair so I was curious to try this body butter version, and it's wonderful. It's super creamy, yet light and fluffy, and moisturizes for hours without being gross or heavy. It's a luxurious upgrade to your daily body lotion.
Kiehl's Creamy Avocado Eye Treatment
Finding the right eye cream can be difficult, especially when the anti-aging results aren't instantly visible. I've cycled through a few and my favorite by far has been this one. It absorbs well and fight dryness. I've also found my eyes are less puffy when I wake up, which is sort of a miracle considering all of the bizarre wedding nightmares that interrupt my sleep.
Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask
Last but not least, my personal favorite—this is the mother of all facials. This stuff will purge your pores and smooth fine lines, all while making your face pulse (for real). It comes as a dry clay, which you can either mix with water or organic Apple Cider Vinegar, which is my preferred method. When mixed with the vinegar, the clay fizzes and bubbles and makes the mask easier to apply, when I've found water doesn't quite mix up as smoothly. Plus, you get the added cleansing benefits of the Apple Cider Vinegar to really make this a powerhouse treatment. I spread it on and let it sit until it's dry (about 15-20 minutes, or until you literally can't move your face). I love that it's cheap ($9!), lasts forever (I've had the same tub for over a year) and makes your pores disappear. My skin looks fresh and awake and it's super addicting—it's definitely a little intense so I try not to overdo it, once every other week seems to work for me.
To spread the love to all you brides and lovely ladies out there, I'm hosting a giveaway for a $25 Sephora gift card—the contest begins today and ends at midnight on Thursday 2/19. One winner will be announced here and notified by email on Friday, 2/20. You can enter through the widget below by completing any/all of the three options.
Good luck in the giveaway, drink your water, and don't forget to treat yo self! a Rafflecopter giveaway
*Zero disclosure here, this contest is not sponsored, all opinions are my own.
Fall Polish Roundup
I've been trying to resist the fact that it's fall, but now that it's really here, I can look on the bright side – dark manicures are in full force. My go-to shades for fall are nudes, grays, and burgundy, which are classically seasonal and go with everything from day to night.
I'm currently wearing OPI Scores a Goal, which is a nice dark raisin color, and for a more dramatic twist I switch to Essie's Wicked — an almost-black burgundy hue. OPI's Taupe-less Beach is the perfect gray-nude, and on the flip side, NARS Storm Bird is a cool, cloudy gray with a beautifully creamy finish. I usually reach for opaque polish, but I do have a few favorite shimmery shades for fall: Essie's Penny Talk and Butter's Chimney Sweep. I'm a big fan of Butter's formula, and have noticed it tends to chip less than other polishes. Sometimes the pricier options are worth it.
So are you embracing fall yet? And pumpkin everything?