Month: June 2016

June Favorites!

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M.A.C Cosmetics Lipstick, “Del Rio,” $17. Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW Pomade, “Ash Brown,” $18. ColourPop Highlight Super Shock Cheek Pearlized, “Wisp,” $8. Real Techniques Bold Metals 300 Tapered Blush Brush, $18.99. Starbucks, Stainless Steel Clip Handle Tumbler – Mint, 16 fl oz., $22.95. Keurig K-Cup Pack 18-Count The Original Donut Shop Vanilla Cream Puff Coffee, $11.99. FunKo Pop Figure, Phoebe Buffay, $11.99. Nordstrom, Treasure&Bond Cuffed Denim Boyfriend Shorts, $39.90. Nordstrom, Ray-Ban ‘Original Aviator’ 58mm Polarized Sunglasses, $200. Tory Burch, Sedgewick Ballet Flat, Blond, $175 (On Sale).


  

Beauty

M.A.C Cosmetics Lipstick, “Del Rio” 

My first favorite is the M.A.C Cosmetics Lipstick in the shade Del Rio. The color is described online as a muted plum-brown, but I find that on my lips, it looks more red-brown. I bought this product thinking it was going to be a dark mauve color that looks like the rest of my favorite every day lipsticks, but instead it stands out for its unique terracotta hue. I love that this is a satin finish that feels hydrating, without being sticky like a standard lip gloss. Since my lips do tend to dry out during the summer months, I try to branch out from the popular matte formulas. This lipstick is also amazing because once it stains your lips once wearing off, leaving a pretty natural flush to your lips.    

     

Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW Pomade, “Ash Brown”

Known as the queen of eyebrows, Anastasia always creates the best brow products! The DIPBROW pomade is known as a product that will fill in your eyebrows and provide a natural looking color to any sparse areas. The formula is waterproof and performs amazing in the hot weather. One of my biggest fears is to sweat an eyebrow off, so knowing that they will stay in place through sweating and random summer rain showers gives me peace of mind. I love the shade “Ash Brown” because it’s dark enough for definition, but does not look harsh in natural settings. The best way to apply this product is with a very thin, angled brush to create natural-like hair strokes. It took me about a week to get the hang of using this product, but once I mastered the application technique, I don’t think I’ll ever go back to a standard brow pencil! Not to mention, since using the DIPBROW pomade, I have cut down the time it takes me to do my eyebrows in half, which also makes this product very valuable to my makeup routine!

  

ColourPop Highlight Super Shock Cheek Pearlized, “Wisp”

Since it’s June favorites, I had to include the highlight shade I’ve been loving on the tops of my cheeks all month! It is only $8 and of course, from ColourPop! Their Super Shock Cheek in the shade, “Wisp” is amazing! The color is described as a golden champagne with pearlized gold duo chrome finishes. It is seriously such amazing quality for the price since it is so smooth and shiny on the cheeks, rather than glittery (which is common with less-expensive highlights). I have swatched this shade side-by-side with the Becca highlight in “Opal” and it is an exact dupe! Not to mention, this formula is extremely long lasting throughout the summer heat, which is always a bonus. I would mention that if you are extremely fair skinned, you may find that this highlight is too golden on you! I would recommend ColourPop’s highlight in the shade “Lunch Money” or “Spoon” if you have fair-to-light skin tones because they are very bright and light shades that will compliment your complexion beautifully.

    

Real Techniques Bold Metals 300 Tapered Blush Brush

I have a brush to include as well! The Real Techniques Bold Metals 300 Tapered Blush Brush is an amazing, affordable brush for any powder makeup product. My favorite way to use this brush is to press my loose translucent powder into my under eye area and set my liquid concealer before it creases. The brush is very soft and dense, making it ideal to blend powder products seamlessly on the face. Since the dome-shape of the brush is more ideal for sweeping product onto the skin, your liquid makeup will not be disturbed from excessive blending. I also love this brush for blush because it picks up just the right amount of product and is awesome at shading in the apples of your cheeks. For the price, this brush looks and feels extremely luxurious, which is an additional bonus!


Lifestyle

Starbucks, Stainless Steel Clip Handle Tumbler

This coffee mug is SO GOOD! I had previously been using a Tervis Tumbler as a coffee cup because they’re known for being remarkably insulated and keeping hot liquids, hot! This cup from Starbucks puts my old Tervis to shame! It truly keeps my coffee hot (not warm; hot) for hours! I usually brew my K-Cup at 7:30am and my coffee will remain at that initial temp until 11am. It is really that good! I also love the mint color because it’s muted, but stands out amongst the other silver and black coffee cups. Plus this one has a flexible rubber handle because that has a clip attached so you can attach it to your purse or backpack. You need this cup if you are a coffee lover!     

Keurig K-Cup Pack 18-Count The Original Donut Shop Vanilla Cream Puff Coffee

Since I am mentioning my favorite coffee cup, I also wanted to mention my favorite coffee! I am currently obsessed with the “Vanilla Cream Puff” medium roasted coffee from The Original Donut Shop because it has a hint of sweetness, that isn’t artificial or over-the-top. I don’t like adding creamer or sugar to my coffee on an every day basis, so it’s nice to have a mild and flavorful coffee that I can brew and go during the mornings when I’m rushing off to work!

FunKo Pop Figure, Phoebe Buffay

I wanted to include this in my June Favorites because it is something that makes me smile whenever I look at it! Friends is one of my all-time favorite television series and Phoebe is my favorite character, so having this on my desk makes me feel like a true fan girl! I recently started re-watching the seasons on Netflix and I just wanted to throw it out there that if you haven’t watched Friends yet, you really should! It is a show that will brighten any bad days and make you laugh out loud, which sometimes is necessary amongst the craziness of current popular television series. This show is just relaxing and uplifting to watch, so Friends and my Phoebe Buffay figure are definitely favorites every month of the year!

Fashion

Nordstrom, Treasure&Bond Cuffed Denim Boyfriend Shorts

Finally, I’ve found the perfect denim shorts! Recently, I’ve been having a tough time finding shorts that are an appropriate length for a 24 year-old, but also have a trendy look to them. These are amazing! The 4 inch inseam ensures you aren’t showing your butt cheeks throughout the day, but also is short enough to look like shorts. The material is denim, but it is noticeably stretchy, which makes them extremely comfortable to wear through any circumstance. I love that the cuffs around the thighs are sewn to stay folded, so you don’t have to worry about them falling down and having to constantly re-fold. If you are in between sizes, I recommend the larger size because they are a bit small around the thighs (depending on your body shape) and would probably be more comfortable a bit looser, than tight! I already ordered two other washes in these shorts because they are that great, so you need them!

    
Nordstrom, Ray-Ban ‘Original Aviator’ 58mm Polarized Sunglasses

I love these sunglasses so much because they’re not only a classic style, but they also provide serious sun protection! The polarized lenses definitely make a huge difference, so trust me when I say it’s worth the extra money to get the polarized styles! My first pair of Ray-Ban’s were not polarized and I never knew what made them so special from other cheaper sunglasses (besides the brand name) but now that I have used the polarized for a couple years, I think they are a must have for anyone who cares about protecting their eyes and are particularly sensitive to light! I wear these with casual and dressy outfits and find that the aviator style truly goes with everything. The metal frames are such nice quality and feel more comfortable than plastic frames, which can tend to be tight on my big head. I want to continue buying polarized Ray-Bans, so let me know your favorite style so I can add to my collection!

   
Tory Burch, Sedgewick Ballet Flat, Blond

These flats were a major splurge for me! I don’t like spending a lot on shoes, but I could justify buying a pair in a neutral color that I could wear every day to work. I was expecting these flats to look beautiful, since they’re Tory Burch, but I was shocked at how comfortable they are too! I did not have to break them in after buying them, nor did they leave any bruises or blisters on my feet, like most shoes do on my feet! They go perfectly with all of my work outfits and I am always receiving compliments on them! Luckily I picked them up when they were on sale and could use an extra 10% off coupon code too! I just checked the website and they are now an additional 30% off and still in stock!

   
Thank you so much for taking the time to read about my monthly favorites for June! These posts are so much fun for me to write, so I hope you enjoyed! Let me know the products you have been loving all month long!

Easy Summer Makeup Using The Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette

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I wanted to do a quick look for gals who enjoy bronze-taupe shades for every day makeup! My favorite eyeshadow palette of all time is the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette! I find the colors are versatile enough to be daytime and nighttime appropriate and there are enough colors included for both cool and warm toned looks. Not to mention, the quality of the eyeshadows are amazing. They’re buttery, pigmented and easy to blend! The most important part is that these eyeshadows actually smell like cocoa powder! You will honestly love this palette and see that it is worth every penny once you begin creating the beautiful variety of looks that you like!   


To begin, I primed my eyes using the Urban Decay Naked Weightless Concealer. I then took the shade “White Chocolate” and applied it all over my eyelid, up to my brown bone to neutralize my skin and help my other eyeshadows blend out easier. I then took “Salted Caramel” with a fluffy blending brush into my crease. I think this warm brown shade can be worn in so many different makeup looks to provide a universally flattering transition, while blending out your lid shades. Next I applied “Milk Chocolate” onto the outside corner of my crease in a V shape. This step will further define your eyes and help blend any darker shades you set down. For my eyelid, I applied “Champagne Truffle” on the inner corner to brighten and widen the look of my eyes. This shade can also work beautifully as a cheekbone highlight if you’re looking to keep the look very cohesive. With a flat shader brush, I took “Marzipan” on my inner third to create an ombré effect to my eye look. Next I placed “Creme Brûlée” on my middle third to give a gold sparkle effect. Lastly, I placed “Hazelnut” on my outer third to darken the corner and give a cat-eye effect to my lids. 

    

I did also give myself a black winged eyeliner because I love the way this defines my lash line and elongates my naturally round eyes. On the lower lash line, I smudged the Stila Stay-All-Day Eyeliner pencil in Lionfish. I also took the shadow color “Hazelnut” and further blended out this area for no harsh lines. Of course I added plenty of mascara for this look because I love the look of full and thick eyelashes! Below is a photo featuring the remaining makeup products I used to create this look! 

    

I think this is super easy and pretty for summertime because it incorporates soft shimmer shades in a warm, bronze color family. It’s not too dark or smokey, but it does define the eyelids in a flattering way. I would recommend this eye look to anyone because I think it’s universally wearable and gorgeous for day or night! I also want to add that although I chose a neutral lip color, this eyeshadow look is simple enough to pair with a red or violet colored lippie too! I want to create more looks using this palette, so let me know what you would like to see next! I’m thinking of an olive-green look with bronzed skin…the possibilities are endless! Thank you so much for reading! 

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette, $49.


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The Best Cream and Liquid Highlights! 

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Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight, $22. Benefit Cosmetics Girl Meets Pearl, $30. Benefit Cosmetics Watt’s Up! Cream-to-Powder Highlighter, $30. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector, in the shade Opal, $19.


As you know, it is super on trend to have glowing, dewy skin this Summer! I love powder highlighters, but I can achieve an intense glow effect when I use liquids! I have a few different purposes for these products and wanted to share how I use them to achieve a flawless, lit-from-within complexion!       


First up is the Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight! This cream-to-powder formula is applied best with your fingers or a damp beauty blender depending on your desired intensity. I would describe the color as a shimmery, pink-toned, silver highlight. It gives a subtle effect to light skin tones because it’s such a fine shimmer. If you have a medium to tan skin tone, then it will be a bit more noticeable since it doesn’t have warm undertones! The only con to this product would be its ability to fade throughout the day. That is why I like this product to layer with my powder highlights to give them an extra boost and prolong the longevity of both products. My favorite powder highlight to wear with this cream highlight is the “Mary Lou Manizer” by TheBalm. I find that using a powder highlight with a champagne shimmer counteracts the sometimes unflattering cool tones of the Clinque highlight formula! 

      

My next favorite is the Benefit Cosmetics Girl Meets Pearl liquid highlighter! I love this product to mix in with my liquid foundation to give my skin a natural glow effect. I find this product is perfect to add into any foundation because it won’t change the color. Some liquid highlights can turn your foundation more yellow or more pink, the Girl Meets Pearl gives a natural, subtle champagne glow that is universally flattering. I only use this product to mix in because it does not look good when I try to use it like a cream highlight. Whenever I place it on top of my cheeks and down the bridge of my nose, it causes the foundation to break up and look patchy. Of course, Benefit packaging is so cute, which is another reason to check this product out! The twist up container it comes in makes sure your product stays as hygienic as possible and ensures no leaking if you do want to travel with this product! 

     

My absolute favorite cream highlight is Benefit Cosmetics Watt’s Up! It has a perfect golden shimmer that gives your skin that intense, almost wet looking effect! This product makes me feel like I’m actually J-Lo (which is the best feeling ever) and it will last all day long! Since it’s a cream-to-powder formula, it will not break up when placed on top of your foundation. It also looks beautiful when layered with a powder highlight on top! I love using Champagne Pop by Becca to layer on top of this because the warm-peach undertones compliment the Watt’s Up golden tone in such a gorgeous way! 

       

The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector, in the shade Opal is a gorgeous product to blend on your bare skin, before foundation, so that it peaks through when the light hits your face! This is a very pigmented, intense glow so I use this product very sparingly. I have tried to use this product over top of foundation and find that it only works if used with a damp beauty blender because it will break up your foundation if patted in with your fingers. I love the subtle champagne shimmer this product gives and it is highly reflective, which makes it so unique in my collection. I love to layer Becca’s Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed on top of the liquid version because it just intensifies it even further and will ensure your highlight lasts all night long, even through the Summer heat! 

     

Liquid and cream highlights can be intimidating because they do require a lot of blending to look good, however I do find that they give a unique, intense glow effect that cannot be replicated with powders! I want to share my favorite powder highlights soon because I have quite the collection, so let me know if you would like to see that! Thank you so much for reading! 

    

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Are Makeup Setting Sprays Even Necessary? 

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Let me begin by answering the title question; yes, makeup setting sprays are a very necessary part of any makeup look and will completely change the look and wear-time of the products you use. The most obvious usage for these products are to set your face to extend makeup longevity, however there are other ways you can use these mists to get the most out of your money! I want to share with you my favorite makeup setting sprays and the ways in which I use them!

M.A.C Prep & Prime Fix +, $22. Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray, $30. Tony Moly Pocket Bunny Sleek Mist, $15. SEPHORA COLLECTION Beauty Amplifier Set and Refresh Spray, $16. Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water (1 oz. Travel Size), $16.


    

     

M.A.C Fix + is a setting spray mist that is water-based and lightweight. It refreshes skin after makeup application and will lay all of your powder products flat to reduce the look of a cakey appearance. This is also the best setting spray to use to intensify the look of your sparkly eye shadows! If you spray your eye shadow brush with this mist, then dip into the shadow you want to use, it will then apply in a more foiled effect for a intense pigmentation! You can even use this method if you want to intensify the glow on your highlighting products. This product stands out to me because of the dewy effect it gives to my makeup. It has the power to take an all-powder, matte look and transform it into a natural, seamless makeup look. It can blend out harsh lines from contouring and highlighting, flattening and melting the product into your skin. M.A.C Fix + is truly a one-of-a-kind product that I cannot live without!

     

My all-time favorite, holy-grail makeup setting mist is the Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray! If you buy only one of these products from this post, I would suggest this one! For starters, this works on every skin type, from dry to oily, it will extend your makeup longevity! I have tested this spray for years and it can will perform through the coldest months, when your skin tends to get dry and the hottest months, where sweat and oiliness can otherwise cause your makeup to break up! I think this spray is a true setting spray in the sense that it locks in your makeup and extends it’s wear time throughout the day (or night)! You seriously need this product because it will completely change the way your makeup looks and feels and of course, it will make all of your makeup products last longer!

     
A newfound love of mine is the Tony Moly’s Pocket Bunny Sleek Mist! First of all, the packaging is so adorable and definitely was the driving force behind purchasing this product! You will find the mist is very finely dispensed and feels so refreshing on the skin. It is described as an oil-controlling facial mist that is also hydrating for your skin. There are added skincare benefits to using this product because it is formulated with fruit extracts! I definitely think this product controls the oiliness of my skin whenever I use it in the morning to set my makeup. It also softens the overall appearance of my pores, which is an added bonus! This product is also awesome to store in your purse for a refreshing mid-day mist. The only con to this product (which I can definitely see past) is the initial fragrance. It does smell exactly like baby powder, so if you are sensitive to that scent, you may want to stay clear!

     

The next setting spray that I love using is the SEPHORA COLLECTION Beauty Amplifier Set and Refresh Spray! This is a really awesome product because it is neither mattifying or glowing, it truly gives a natural, skin-like finish to your makeup once you apply it! The price is also great, $16 for 2.7 oz.! I also wanted to mention that this product has a slight cooling sensation when applied to the skin, making it ideal for the summer months. I have found I can increase the vibrancy of my shadows and pigments by spraying this on the brush I am using, so it serves a dual purpose too! From my personal experience with this product, I have found it extends the longevity of my makeup for a couple of hours, but nothing more than that! Unfortunately, it does not do the best job at controlling oil, so I would pass on this product if that is a major concern for your skin type!  

     

The Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water is a product I initially felt skeptical about. I could not justify paying for something that claimed to be a glorified water. Luckily, this product really is so much more than that! If you enjoy using products that are free of alcohol, oil and silicone, than this will be your best friend! It is enriched with electrolytes to keep your face moisturized, while locking in your makeup. I have tried this product as a priming spray underneath my makeup and I love the way it performs! It is extremely lightweight and refreshing on your bare skin, but works to fill in pores and smooth uneven texture. I find that my foundation applies beautifully and lasts for a long time when used on top of this primer water. I have also used this product to set my makeup and found it also works well in this form too! It is a product that will not extend the longevity of your makeup for an extreme amount of time, but it will prolong it for a few hours. I have heard it does work better on dry skin because the concept for the formula does focus on hydrating, more than oil-control.

    
I really hope you were able to pick a new setting spray out from the list to try out! Since it is summer and the weather is only getting warmer, I wanted to get this post up as soon as possible! I have noticed such an incredible difference in the way my makeup looks, feels and lasts since beginning to use a makeup setting spray. I still have many more that I want to try, so feel free to leave a comment with your favorite! Thank you so much for reading!
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How I Make Bold Lip Colors Wearable!

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One of my favorite ways to wear makeup in the summertime is a natural eye look with glowing skin and a bright, attention-grabbing lip color. I find that this is the perfect way to wear minimal makeup, but still appear to have taken time and effort to look put together. Keep reading if you want to learn some of my favorite tricks on how to wear a bold lip color, while keeping the rest of your face subtle!      

    


My first tip is to start with even and glowing skin! I like to use a pore-filling primer, full coverage foundation, highlighting concealer and a matte setting powder to provide a great base that will be long lasting. I next go in with a bronzer that matches the undertone of the red lip product that I’m using. For example, in this post I’m wearing a warm-orange toned red liquid lipstick, so I wanted to use a warm bronzer to match! I find that the juxtaposition when using makeup products with clashing warm and cool undertones can look unflattering and throw the entire look off. This also applies to the blush and highlighter I use as well! Again, I opted for a warm toned coral blush and golden highlight to create cohesiveness! Lastly I keep my eye makeup fairly simple by just using a golden, shimmery shadow all over my eyelid, and blending out my crease using the bronzer I used! I also decided on a black winged eyeliner based on just personal preference, but feel free to skip this step and just focus on really building up your lashes!

e.l.f. Lip Exfoliater, $3. M.A.C. Cosmetics Prep + Prime Lip, $16.50 ColourPop Ultra Satin Lips, in the shade Naked Ladies, $6.

Now onto the fun part; the lips! I really love wearing these coral-orange-toned reds in the summertime because they’re bold, yet wearable! I start off with exfoliating my lips and making sure there is no dead skin that could cause gross patchiness with my lipstick. I love using the e.l.f lip exfoliator because it’s only $3 and tastes like brown sugar! The packaging is in a lipstick holder, rather than a pot, making it very convenient for travel. Anytime I use a liquid lipstick or matte lipstick, I use my M.A.C lip primer underneath to provide moisture and increase longevity! I’ve found that when I use this, my lip products wear off more evenly, rather than in noticeable, random sections. Whenever I choose a bright lipstick, I prefer to make sure the formula is matte for a couple of reasons. Typically matte formulas do not transfer to other areas of the face, meaning that if you’re outside and sweating, your lipstick will not start sliding around and transfer to your chin and around your mouth! I love matte liquid lipstick formulas for bold colors because I don’t have to buy matching lip liners every time since these don’t go out of my natural lip line once applied! I also feel like matte formulas are less harsh, so you can be more adventurous with your color selection! Sometimes when a lipstick is also glossy and also sparkley and also bright, it can be a really attention-grabbing statement that isn’t always desirable for daytime wear. Whenever I wear a bold color lipstick that is in a matte finish, I find that it doesn’t overpower my entire look and demand awkward, judgmental staring from strangers. That is just my personal opinion though and what I have found makes me most comfortable on a day-to-day basis with my makeup! I have talked about the ColourPop Ultra Satin liquid lipsticks in other blog posts and I still stand by my initial review of this product being so good! They are extremely comfortable, do not wear off and at a great price point of only $6! They have so many shades online, so you’re bound to find something you love! This shade, “Naked Ladies” is a beautiful coral-red that I got so many compliments on when wearing. I would highly recommend you check it out! Let me know your go-to, summer, bold lip color and your favorite liquid lipstick formulas! Thanks for reading! 

Best Bronzers For Any Budget!

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Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer, Luminous Bronze Light, $50. Too Faced Soleil Matte Bronzer, Chocolate – medium to deep, $30. Too Faced Beach Bunny Custom-Blend Bronzer, Beach Bunny – bronze/ soft peach/ golden ivory/ golden tan, $30. Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer Murumuru Butter Bronzer, Bronzer, $14.99. Physicians Formula Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Pressed Bronzer, Medium, $14.99 L’Oreal Glam Bronze Bronzer Summer Collection, Glam Bronze Medium, $14.99.


    

Bronzers are an essential makeup item during the warmer months. If you’re like me and enjoy looking bronzed on a daily basis, I have some favorite drugstore and high-end bronzers to share with you that I think you will really enjoy! I wanted to break these bronzers up into a few different categories, such as price, color and finish. These are the best formulas in those three different categories in my opinion, so I wanted to share my favorites with you and hopefully help you find a good match that fits your personal preferences!    

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer, Luminous Bronze Light, $50. Too Faced Beach Bunny Custom-Blend Bronzer, Beach Bunny – bronze/ soft peach/ golden ivory/ golden tan, $30. Too Faced Soleil Matte Bronzer, Chocolate – medium to deep, $30.


We will begin with bronzers in the high-end category that are available for purchase at Sephora. My ride-or-die favorite is the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil bronzer. I have been using this product since I was a sophomore in college (aka 2011!) and have never been without it! This is the type of bronzer that goes perfectly with my skin tone no matter the season, so I always like to have it available in my collection. First of all, it smells like chocolate; so that is enough reasoning for you to run out and purchase it immediately. Second of all, it comes in three different shade ranges so you can choose the best match for you, I am in the medium shade known as, “Chocolate.” The formula is creamy and blends seamlessly into the skin. This color is on the cool-toned shade range, which makes it perfect to contour and bronze all at the same time! It is also a matte finish bronzer so if you prefer that look, or have problems with texture on the skin you do not want to emphasize, I think you would really love the smoothing effect of this product. I cannot say enough good things about this bronzer and definitely will keep repurchasing for years to come!

     

The next high-end bronzer I wanted to mention is also from Too Faced, however it is drastically different than the Chocolate Soleil! The Beach Bunny bronzer is a shimmery, glowing formula of bronzer that has a warm undertone when applied to the skin. It is beautiful for the warm weather when you want your skin to glow and reflect in the light. I would describe this product as having a sophisticated shimmer because it is definitely not glittery by any means. I also love wearing this product as an eye shadow whenever I want to use minimal products on my face. It is a really long-lasting product, as all Too Faced face products seem to be. My favorite way to apply this product is with a big, fluffy brush over the high points of my face for an all-over, artificially sun kissed glow.

    

Lastly, I had to mention the most luxurious makeup product I own, my Hourglass Ambient Light Bronzer. I honestly cannot believe I paid $50 for a bronzer, but I was so intrigued by the idea of a bronzer being mixed with a luminous swirl of light reflecting powder. I picked up the lightest shade of this formula after reading reviews that the Medium shade looked really orange once applied on the skin. Whenever I wear this product, I am blown away by the finish it gives on my skin. It can be described as a sheer, but buildable formula that naturally bronzes your appearance. Since I do have an olive skin tone, this is more of an all-over face product for me. I use it when I want to give my entire complexion a glowing, bronzed look! This product is not shimmery or sparkly, it truly just has a glow to the formula that is so subtle, people will really think you have this gorgeous, healthy skin naturally! I am always receiving compliments whenever I wear this bronzer!

L’Oreal Glam Bronze Bronzer Summer Collection, Glam Bronze Medium, $14.99. Physicians Formula Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Pressed Bronzer, Medium, $14.99 Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer Murumuru Butter Bronzer, Bronzer, $14.99.


Of course, I had to mention my favorite bronzers that can be found at your local drugstore! There are so many good inexpensive bronzers out there, but I narrowed it down to my current favorite three. One of my very first makeup products that I ever bought was the Physicians Formula Bronze Booster. When I first started wearing this product in high school, I didn’t realize how great it was without any prior product knowledge to compare it to. Now that I have tried dozens of bronzers in every price range, I can confidently say this is one of the best. It is a very terracotta, warm-toned bronze shade with slight gold shimmer. It is extremely bendable and will look perfect with any makeup look. I love wearing this bronzer throughout the summer because it doesn’t fade regardless of the hot, humid weather and has the perfect amount of subtle shimmer to give the skin a pretty, sun kissed effect.     

The new Butter Bronzer, also from Physicians Formula, is a gorgeous light bronze, matte shade that truly smells like a tropical vacation. I honestly can’t get over how good this product smells, it reminds me of a pina colada! Even if you don’t purchase this product, you should seriously smell it whenever you see it out in stores. The formula is very smooth and blends so beautifully into the skin. It is a satin-matte finish, which is extremely natural looking. I have my Butter Bronzer in the darkest shade called, “Bronzer” and even that is very light on my skin tone, so this is definitely suited for fair-light gals! They also have a shade even lighter than this, so check it out if you have a hard time finding a bronzer that doesn’t look too harsh! I’m so happy I picked this product up because it’s a perfect neutral brown shade, which are hard to find at the drugstore! I think the packaging is so beautiful and again, I cannot stress enough just how good this bronzer smells! 

    

I did a full blog post on this L’Oreal Glam Bronze bronzer and wanted to update you on just how much I’m loving it! I use this product on a daily basis because it’s very wearable and easy to blend. I find that this is a product that takes little-to-no effort to blend and instantly gives me that warm bronze shade that looks like I just got out of the sun! I still love this formula and find it to be very long lasting. It is a satin-matte bronzer because it does have slight shimmer in it, but once blended on the skin, it resembles the look of a matte bronze. I think the packaging is great because the pan size is huge; making it easy to swirl your bronzer brush around and pick up product evenly. I love using this bronzer with a warm toned blush and gold highlight because I feel so summery and glowy! 

     

I really hope you enjoyed reading this post! Hopefully you found a bronzer to pick up next time you’re shopping! Let me know your favorite bronzers because I enjoy testing them out and adding to my collection! 

Review and Swatches of Becca X Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection – Face and Eyeshadow Palette!

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The limited-edition Becca X Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection was highly anticipated by all! Once I found out the collection was being released online on May 26, I set my alarm for 12pm and ordered immediately! Acting like a crazy woman paid off because this entire collection sold out within the first hour! If you don’t already know about Jaclyn Hill, she’s a very popular beauty YouTuber and is one of my favorite girls to watch! She’s extremely knowledgeable about products, genuine in her approach, artistically talented and just absolutely beautiful! I highly recommend you subscribe to her channel! I already own a full-size Becca Champagne Pop highlighter (and love it), so I knew I wanted to purchase the limited-edition Face Palette and Eyeshadow Palette to add to my collection! If you didn’t get your hands on the products you wanted from this limited-edition set, have no fear! The full collection will be available in Sephora stores for purchase on June 16th! 

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection, Champagne Collection Face Palette, $52 ($132 value)


The Face Palette has two shades of highlighter and 3 shades of blush to illuminate your entire face look! The formula of the highlights are extremely pigmented and can be layered to create an intense glowing effect. They are both extremely long-lasting as well! The original Champagne Pop is a very peachy-toned, champagne colored highlight, while the new Prosecco Pop is a light gold, warm-toned shimmer. Both are absolutist beautiful and will be a must have for the summer months! The blush shades are Rosé Spritz, Amaretto and Pamplemousse. My current favorite way to wear these shades is to take Pamplemousse on my cheeks and Rosé Spritz right on the apples. I find that because Rosé Spritz is a shimmery blush, it really looks beautiful dusted on the front of whatever blush color you’re wearing to bring out that all over face glow, without emphasizing pores, as some shimmery blushes tend to do when applied all over the cheek area. These blushes are very sheer in formula and look beautiful layered on top of each other. They aren’t the longest lasting blushes I own, but I would consider them to last about 5 hours until fading, which isn’t terrible! I also think the shades are going to look really beautiful on every skin-tone, which is awesome that Becca and Jaclyn Hill took that into consideration when choosing these colors!

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection, Champagne Collection Eyeshadow Palette, $40.


The Eye Palette includes the shades Chardonnay, Champagne Toast, Cordial, Cognac and Bordeaux! This palette of both shimmer and matte shades is very versatile, making it wearable for daytime and nighttime looks! To be completely honest, these are not the best quality of eyeshadows I own. Yes, they are pigmented and blend out beautifully on the eye, but I noticed they fade pretty quickly even with a primer. My favorite color is Champagne Toast because it’s a beautiful warm bronze shade (my favorite) and it was unfortunately the most disappointing shadow in this palette. It faded from my eyes within the first couple hours and by the end of the day had completely disappeared. The matte shades are longer lasting in pigmentation and didn’t fade as terribly on my eyes. I am going to keep using this palette and try to find ways to make it work because the colors are so beautiful, but I definitely would recommend other eyeshadow palettes before this one. 

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection, Champagne Collection Face Palette, $52 ($132 value) Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection, Champagne Collection Eyeshadow Palette, $40.

   
If you only want to buy one item from this collection, I would highly recommend the Face Palette. It’s highly pigmented with beautiful shades selected for any skin tone. I think you will really love how this product layers on your skin, making it versatile enough to compliment many makeup looks. This Face Palette will be the perfect traveling companion for summer beach trips when you want your makeup to be pretty and glowy, without having to pack multiple products! Unfortunately, I wouldn’t recommend the Eyeshadow Palette because it just fades so bad! The sheer pigmentation of these shadows just doesn’t work for me. Let me know if you have a primer or special secret to applying these because I truly do want to make them work! Thank you so much for reading this post, leave me a comment below if you have this collection and what your thoughts are on these products! 

Nighttime Skin Care Routine

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Clarisonic Mia 2 Skin Cleansing System, $149. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Wash, $25. Origins Original Skin Renewal Serum with Willowherb, $39. Origins Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Bright Dark Circle Minimizer, $42. Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral-Enriched Renewal Cream, $43. It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream Transforming Moisturizing Super Cream, $48. SEPHORA COLLECTION Mud Mask Purifying & Mattifying, $20.


     

Here is my nighttime skin care routine that I have been using for the last few months! I feel like I can see a noticeable difference in the way my skin looks and feels. Some of my personal problem areas are enlarged pores, uneven texture, dullness and dark spots. So far, I have noticed a significant decrease in my uneven texture and dark spots. I am so thankful that they have started to disappear because now I feel confident even when I am not wearing foundation! I accredit a lot of my skin’s improvement to my Clarisonic. I started using it in July of 2014 and was immediately blown away by the results. My texture has improved significantly and I believe the exfoliating properties have brightened the overall tone of my skin. Whenever I stop using my Clarisonic, I instantly notice my skin looking dull and patchy. I fully believe that the improvements I’ve noticed over time are because of this device. If you only invest in one skin care item from this post, I would highly recommend purchasing the Clarisonic because it has changed my skin completely and is the reason I no longer suffer from cystic acne breakouts. All of these products mostly stay the same throughout the year, but I do switch up certain products based on the season, since sometimes I suffer from oily skin in the Summer months! This is the current routine that I have been using for the past four months and truly believe my skin has never looked better!

Clarisonic Mia 2 Skin Cleansing System, $149. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Wash, $25.

I always shower at night, so I begin my nighttime routine with washing my face! I rinse my face a few times with just water to break down the majority of my makeup. Next, I place the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Wash onto my face and gently work the product into a slightly foamy texture. I then make sure my Clarisonic brush head is wet to begin cleansing! If you don’t know already, this device washes your skin through sonic pulses that feel like vibrations on your face! This is supposed to cleanse on a deeper level and resurface the appearance of your natural skin. 

It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream Transforming Moisturizing Super Cream, $48. Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral-Enriched Renewal Cream, $43. Origins Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Bright Dark Circle Minimizer, $42.

After I cleanse my face and have completely dry skin, I begin to moisturize! For whatever reason, the second I get out of the shower, the skin on my face dries so tight! It’s borderline painful how dry my skin feels after cleansing, so I have to use a moisturizing cream in order to hydrate and plump my skin back up to normal. Right now, my absolute favorite mouisturizer is the It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream Transforming Moisturizing Super Cream! I feel like this is really different from other night creams because its intensely hydrating without feeling greasy! Your skin will look noticeably more youthful because it gives so much added moisture to your face! I love taking this product down my neck and décolletage to make sure that skin does not wrinkle or look aged! I think this night cream would be amazing for skin of any age. I also think you would love this if you have a skin type of combination to dry. If you have oily skin, I do think you may find it to be too heavy and thick! However, if you do suffer from oily skin, I have a great nighttime moisturizer for you too! A major misconception among those with oily skin is that they should not use a night cream because their skin produces so much moisture already. This is false! Whenever you have an oily skin type, it typically is derived from your skin not recieving enough moisture, so your glands produce excess to make up for the amount its missing! My best suggestion would be to use an oil-free night cream formula that is non-comodegenic (will not clog pores) so you are recieving just the right amount of hydration. My favorite oil free moisturizer is by Origins. The also comes in a form that is not oil free, so make sure you read the packaging closely. I have fallen in love with both formulas and truly believe they deliver on every claim they make. 

      

Now for eye cream! Okay so this is an area I may need help in… As you may know, dark circles are a major problem area for me. Not a day goes ny where I dont need concealer. It is that bad. So of course I am trying to find a holy grail dark circle diminishing eye cream! The one I am using right now is really nice, but I’m not sure if it’s actually working. I love the fact that it’s non-greasy and hydrates my under-eye area, however I have not noticed a difference in lightening my dark circle area. So I wanted to show you what I am using, however it is not a product I am wow-ed by or want to recommend. So if you have an eye cream that you love and think would work for me, please let me know!

Origins Original Skin Renewal Serum with Willowherb, $39. SEPHORA COLLECTION Mud Mask Purifying & Mattifying, $20.

I love these two products to use every 2-3 days! The first is a serum that is all natural and fixes the texture on your skin. Any small bumps or dry patches are diminished by placing this product over your night cream. I’ve also seen this product make a significant difference in the size of my pores! I love that this product works perfectly in conjunction with the rest of my skincare products and compliments my skin type perfectly. The mask from Sephora is supposed to be a dupe for the Glam Glow Super Mud Mask! I definitely do think these two are comparable! It’s a zinc and copper mud mask that unclogs pores and fades the appearance of blemishes. I personally don’t use this product all over my face and prefer to do a spot treatment application on any bumps or acne I feel that’s coming on! It is a miracle worker and dries up any blemish in one night! It also fades the look of acne scarring, which is really helpful if you have sensitive skin like me and find a lot of fading products break you out! 
Thank you so much for reading this post! I wanted to mention that all of the products I use are Paraben-free! If you have any really great, all-natural skincare favorites, please let me know! I really am in desperate need of a new dark circle diminishing eye cream, so help me out! 😂 Also I really want to do a morning skin care routine, so leave me a comment if you would me interested in that too!