Tag: #beautyblogger

Drugstore Makeup Starter Kit Under $170!

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Did you know that you can have a complete collection of makeup for only $170?! Well, you can! This blog was written to further prove this point! One of the most common beauty questions I am asked is, “What are the best makeup products from the drugstore?” I wanted to list out my top picks in each category that are tried and true! These are not only my personal favorites, but are also loved by friends and family that have tried too! I love finding products that perform like high-end makeup, but are budget friendly, so this post was a joy to create! To narrow down the list, I only included the products I feel are necessary for a day-to-day makeup look! You can interpret this post as a drugstore makeup starter kit, since I am only providing my reviews on the basic beauty necessities! I hope you enjoy reading and find your new favorite drugstore makeup products! 

Face

     

NYX Cosmetics Angel Veil Skin Perfecting Primer, $15.99
An amazing primer for all skin types. This product works best by gently patting into the areas where you have enlarged pores or tend to get oily. I have tried out very expensive, high-end primers and this one beats them out every time. This will fill in all of your trouble areas, including fine lines, while also extending the wear time of your face products. Another great aspect is that you only need to use a small, pea-sized amount for a flawless complexion! 

     

L’Oréal Infallible Pro-Matte 24HR Foundation, $12.99
I can’t get enough of this foundation! It gives you full-coverage and conceals any redness or skin troubles, while also allowing some of your natural moles and freckles to peak through! I love the demi-matte finish because it keeps your face looking fresh, while also controlling the production of excess oils. My favorite way to apply this foundation is with a damp Beauty Blender or sponge, but I have also found that this product goes on beautifully with a flat top blending brush. 

     

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer, Neutralizer, $8.99
Another long-time favorite of mine, I have found this concealer to always be a staple in my collection. The coverage on this product is amazing and will definitely conceal any dark circles or discoloration. I use the shade “Neutralizer” because it has a brightening, yellow undertone, which highlights my medium-to-tan skin tone perfectly! There are a few different shades in the collection so you can certainly find a perfect match for yourself too! The reason I continue to repurchase this product is for its combination of a full-coverage finish, brightening shade formulation and ability to wear throughout the day without fading or creasing!   

NYX Cosmetics HD Finishing Powder, Banana, $9.99
I feel like this is a hidden gem from the drugstore because it brightens your under-eye in the same way that most high-end “Banana” shade powders apply! I set all of my highlighted and concealed areas with this product to provide additional brightening effect, while also ensuring nothing creases throughout the day. If you have dry under eyes, you can just swipe your damp beauty blender that you applied your concealer with, into this pressed powder and apply directly to your skin to give an additional amount of moisture, while also setting your makeup! I have noticed that the formulation of this product gives an airbrushed finish to the under eyes because it buffs out any fine lines underneath the eyes and fills in the pores that can tend to appear in your t-zone. 

     

Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder, Transparent, $4.99
This is my favorite all-over face setting powder because it is so finely milled and gives your skin an airbrushed appearance without looking chalky, which some matte powders can tend to do. I purchase the shade “Transparent” because it sets my foundation, without altering the color. Whenever certain liquid products oxidize, they can change to a darker or more orange color, the same can happen when applying a face powder. Choosing the wrong shade can completely throw off the good color match you had for your foundation, which is annoying. I like this particular shade because it truly just sets your foundation, without changing the coverage or color of it.    

    

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder, Sunny, $4.99
Such a beautiful, natural looking bronzer that can suit so many skin tones. This is a really popular bronzer because it is matte, which can be tough to find at the drugstore. It also has a unique terracotta undertone that gives your skin the most beautiful warm glow. In my opinion, bronzers that have an almost red undertone can translate on the skin very naturally since your face gets a tint of that when you’re sitting outside, regardless of your pigmentation! Although this bronzer is extremely warm, I have seen it work on a variety of complexions because of its unique color. At a price point of 5 bucks, it’s definitely worth a try! 

        

Wet n Wild Color Icon Blush, Pearlescent Pink, $2.99
These blushes are my absolute favorite from all drugstore brands because of their extremely inexpensive price and incredible pigmentation. I have every color in the range, but especially love “Pearlescent Pink” because it’s an exact dupe to one of my favorite high-end blushes by NARS in the shade “Orgasm.”

     

Makeup Revolution Pro Illuminate, $7.00
This highlight can be found at Ulta because I truly could not find a product from the common drugstores (Walgreens, CVS, Rite-Aid, etc.) or Target/Walmart that was worth mentioning in this post. It’s really difficult to find non-glittery, sophisticated highlights at a low price point. I came across this product out of pure curiosity and ended up loving it! It is a very neutral, champagne highlight that can complement any makeup look. It has very fine gold shimmer, which I personally think looks more natural on the skin than silver or white. If you live near an Ulta and want to add a highlight to your kit, I would definitely recommend giving this product a go!

     

L’Oréal Infallible Makeup Extender Setting Spray, $16.99
This is hands down my favorite drugstore setting spray because it makes your makeup last forever! It gives your skin a slightly matte look, which is nice whenever you’re trying to keep a fresh face throughout the intense summer weather! I also love this formula because it doesn’t cause your mascara to transfer onto your eyes, as some setting mists do. I truly think I like this setting spray more than my Urban Decay because it works better at keeping my makeup on and looking freshly applied. My only complaint is that the nozzle on this product doesn’t dispense the mist as finely as the Urban Decay. Luckily, I can look past a packaging annoyance when I’m paying only half of what my high-end favorite costs!  
 

Eyes

   

Wet n Wild Photo Focus Eyeshadow Primer, $4.99
As someone who has oily eyelids and constantly fears eyeshadow creasing, I need to use a primer every day. The best one I have found at the drugstore is by Wet n Wild! Not only does this product prevent creasing, but it truly brings out the vibrancy of the eyeshadows you are using. I noticed that the pigmentation lasted longer when using this product than without. 

     

L’Oréal Infallible Eyeshadow, Iced Latte, $7.99
These are the best shimmery eyeshadows at the drugstore! They come in a ton of colors and I always get compliments whenever I wear them out! The shade “Iced Latte” is a perfect, taupe/champagne, every-day eyeshadow color to wear all over the lid, or just to brighten up the inner corners of your eye. I like to apply these eyeshadows using my finger because you will get the most color payoff by gently pressing the pigment onto your eyelid, rather than sweeping with a brush!

        

Milani Everyday Eyes Eyeshadow Collection, Earthy Elements, $8.52
This is my favorite drugstore eyeshadow palette because the formula is just as good as many high-end palettes than I own! I had previously never tried Milani eyeshadows and picked up one of these palettes on a whim. I could not be more pleasantly surprised with the buttery texture of the matte blending shades in the palette. I love the shade selection in the “Earthy Elements” Palette because I am obsessed with warm bronze and orange shades. These shadows last forever on the eyes too! Every palette in this range have beautiful shades that you could combine to make many different looks. If you like the shades in the Urban Decay Naked Palette, you should pick up “Bare Necessities” because it’s an exact dupe!  

    

L’Oréal Infallible The Super Slim Liquid Eyeliner, Black, $8.99
Finally, a good felt tip eyeliner at a drugstore price! I am obsessed with this eyeliner because it is completely matte black and does not budge once you apply it. I find that for me personally, using felt tip eyeliners work easiest when doing winged eyeliner, so that is why I am very happy to have found this one at the drugstore. 

         

Rimmel London Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer, Nude, $6.99
These Rimmel liners are excellent for the waterline because they stay in place, even if you have watery eyes like me! I love using a nude shade for every day because it widens the look of my eyes, while brightening my inner rim, which is a win-win on sleepy mornings at work! 

    

L’Oréal Telescopic Carbon Black Mascara, $9.99
This is just my personal favorite mascara of life. Regardless of how many high-end mascaras I buy, I always come back to this one from the drugstore because it gives me my idea of perfect eyelashes. I think this formula does an excellent job at both lengthening and adding volume. I also love the fact that it does not smudge and is able to last on my eyelashes all day long. 

     

NYX Cosmetics, Micro Brow Pencil, Ash Brown, $9.99
This eyebrow pencil is an exact dupe for my Anastasia pencil in the shade Ash Brown and costs half as much. It’s a no brainer to switch to these because they apply exactly the same, their shade selection is just as expansive, they give a natural looking texture to the brows, plus they last throughout the day! I continue to repurchase this eyebrow pencil and personally could never go back to paying twice as much for Anastasia pencils again. 

        

e.l.f. Studio Eyebrow Kit, Medium, $3
This is my favorite eyeshadow powder! I like to use powder on the front part of my brows so it doesn’t look as harsh as filling in completely with a pencil would. This powder has the perfect ashy undertone to compliment my eyebrows and keep them looking as natural as possible. 

      

L’Oréal Brow Stylist Plumper Brow Gel Mascara, Medium to Dark, $9.99
By far the best eyebrow gel at the drugstore! This product will hold your hairs in place and make sure they do not move throughout the day. Whenever I don’t set my eyebrows with a gel, I notice they tend to fall straight (which looks weird and terrible) so this product is perfect to prevent that from happening! The formula attaches to your existing hairs, so if you wanted to fill in your brows naturally with just one product, you could totally just run this through to get a subtly defined look. 
 

Lips

    

Jordana Easyliner for Lips Retractable Pencil, Tawny, $1.99
One of my favorite every day lip pencils! The shade “Tawny” matches my lips perfectly and allows my lipstick to stay in place and not settle into any lines. I love filling in my entire lips with this product and wearing as a lipstick as well because it’s so beautiful. I can’t get enough of these liners and own them in every color!

    

NYX Cosmetics Butter Lipstick, Root Beer Float (aka Pops), $5.99
This lipstick feels more like a chapstick, which I personally enjoy for every day wear! I think the color is a beautiful nude shade, but I am also impressed with their bold colors as well! The formula is very sheer and won’t be the longest lasting through eating and drinking, however if you are just looking for an easy, comfortable lipstick to wear to work and school, I think you will enjoy these!

    

NYX Cosmetics Butter Gloss, Crème Brulee, $4.99
You just can’t go wrong with NYX lip products! These lip glosses are so nice to wear because they have a buttery consistency that isn’t sticky at all! They are pigmented, so you could totally get away with just wearing one of these without a lipstick underneath! I own many shades and all are consistently incredible!
       


Thank you so much for taking the time to read this lengthy post! These products would cost a grand total of $168.34 without tax if you buy every item at full price. Most of the time, ULTA offers Buy One Get One Half Off on their drugstore lines, plus many drugstores also run sales and provide coupons on beauty offers so shop smart! I think that you will all love these products, but I also want to know which drugstore makeup products you love the most! For whatever reason, I get more excited about finding hidden gem products that are inexpensive, than high-end makeup releases, so I would really appreciate your suggestions! Thanks again! 🙂

   

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Laura Geller Baked Color & Contour Palette

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Laura Geller Baked Color & Contour Palette, $45.

    

I wanted to review the new Laura Geller Baked Color & Contour Palette because I think this is extremely appealing to those who enjoy having the convenience of three face products in one compact. If you love to travel, but hate separately packing a blush, bronzer and highlight, this product could be for you! This palette is also ideal for girls who want an easy way to grab one item and complete a majority of their face makeup without the worry of choosing blush/bronzer/highlight shades that all match. The overall size of the product is huge, which is nice because you can fit your normal sized brushes into each individual section, without mixing colors. Laura Geller’s baked products are known for their airbrushed appearance on the skin and their ability to last throughout the day! I will preface this review by saying unfortunately these shades are too light for my olive-tan skin tone. I am torn on whether I should return it or not, because I could potentially use it during the winter months when I am more of a medium skin tone! Regardless, after testing this formula for a week I can say those with fair to light-medium skin tones will absolutely love it!

   


The blush is in the shade Tropic Hues, which can be described as a glowing, peachy-pink. This was my first time wearing a Laura Geller baked blush and I really liked the way it looked! It is a very sheer formula, but can be layered for desired intensity, without looking cakey. It isn’t a shimmery blush, but it definitely has a glowing aspect to the formula that translates to a very youthful and fresh look on the cheeks. The Bronzer is the same as their Baked Body Frosting in Hawaiian Glow, which is a bestselling/top-rated product in the Laura Geller line at Ulta! I thought this bronzer was gorgeous and gave my skin a luminous glow, very similar to my Hourglass bronzer! I loved that this gave my skin a dewy-look, without getting oily throughout the day. I was so impressed that this bronzer blended seamlessly and looked natural, even in broad daylight! The French Vanilla Baked Highlight is also a cult-favorite product, which I’ve read other bloggers rave about in the past! I was happy to try it out and think it looks absolutely beautiful on the skin, however if you are tan or darker, it can look like a white stripe on your cheekbones (not flattering) so be warned! With all of that aside, it is a pretty shimmer highlight that does look shiny on the cheeks, without being glittery! It could be described as a creamy bright champagne highlight.

  

So although this product wasn’t a perfect match for my skin tone, I would still definitely recommend it to those who are more fair than me. I think the product performed great, it lasted on my face through long work days without a setting spray, which is very impressive! I was also extremely impressed with the bendability of these products. Once applied, they seemed to melt into my skin to the point where you couldn’t see where the lines began and ended. I loved the luminosity to these products and thought they brightened my face in a very unique and youthful way. Although this is a baked powder, they never look dry or cakey on the skin. I also enjoyed the simplicity and convenience of having all three shades in one compact. Laura Geller did a great job choosing shades that were all very complimentary to one another and didn’t require the use of other shades to make a complete and cohesive makeup look. I want to try out more products from this line, so if you have any favorites that would compliment olive-tan skin tones, than please let me know! I would love to do another review based upon your recommendations! Thank you for reading!

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!

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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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! 

May Favorites! 

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I love reading other bloggers monthly favorites, so I wanted to do one of my own! I included beauty, fashion and lifestyle favorites! Let me know if you enjoy reading posts like this and want me to do other monthly favorites in the future! Thanks for reading! 

    

Beauty       


Elizabeth and James, Nirvana White Eau de Parfum Spray, $80.

This perfume is described on Sephora’s website as a “blend of delicate peony, chic muget, and tender musk for a feminine scent with dark sophistication.” I have a hard time with most floral perfumes because they tend to give me headaches, however this one does not! It’s really difficult to describe scents, but I will try my best to convey my thoughts! Nirvana White is a very light floral scent that is mixed with a warm note that I can’t pinpoint! I think the idea of such a natural, floral scent gives this perfume more of a refreshing vibe that I haven’t experienced before! It lasts really long into my day and I get compliments every time I wear it! It is by far my favorite daytime scent!

    

Dermadoctor, KP Duty Dermatologist Formulated AHA Moisturizing Therapy For Dry Skin, $10.

I think this is the perfect product for Summer if you struggle with severe dry skin like I do! Dermadoctor’s products include, “a patented blend of glycolic acid, green tea extract and urea to help exfoliate, calm and hydrate,” which are all great ingredients for sensitive skin! As long as I can remember, I’ve had rough bumps on the backs of my arms. It’s a huge insecurity of mine because in the summertime I’m always wearing short sleeves and tank tops that reveal this problem area. Luckily, I’ve found this lotion that has significantly decreased the look of bumpy skin on my arms! On Ulta’s website it’s listed that this product, “Helps improve the appearance of parched skin and rough chicken skin bumps (like keratosis pilaris).” So good news, if you’ve always struggled with uneven texture on your body, this lotion will fix it for you! 

      

Loving Tan, Deluxe Bronzing Mousse, in shade “Ultra Dark,” $39.95.

This bronzing mousse by Loving Tan has the best formula by far when compared to my old favorites, St. Tropez and Vita Liberata. The color is FLAWLESS! It’s a deep olive-based, natural looking tan, rather than your standard orange or red undertone formula. The best part about this product is its longevity! On my skin, I can maintain my Loving Tan application for up to 5 days until it starts to fade! With other self tanners, I would notice it wearing off by the second day! I encourage you to check out their Instagram for before and after photos so you can see the difference I’m talking about! 

        

Becca Cosmetics, Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed, in shade “Champagne Pop,” $38.

If you don’t have this product, you need to go on Sephora’s website and purchase it immediately! If I could only recommend one highlighter to you, I would say Champagne Pop by Becca every time! It is universally flattering on every skin tone and truly unique in color. It’s highly reflective with peachy, champagne undertones. It looks gorgeous for daytime or night looks and lasts all day long! It’s a beautiful, buttery product that I know you’ll enjoy no matter what! I’ve been wearing it non-stop during the month of May! 

        

Laura Mercier, Translucent Loose Setting Powder, $38. 

This product is something I never want to be without. I never understood the hype over using translucent setting powders because I thought if they didn’t provide any extra coverage, then what was the point? Well, this powder has changed my opinion completely! It’s silky-smooth texture fills in pores and leaves your skin looking matte in areas you would tend to get oily (t-zone). It never looks cakey, which some tinted foundation powders can tend to do! Another reason I love this is because it does not have any flash back! A lot of translucent powders will show up as a white cast on your face in flash photography, but for whatever reason, this powder does not! Believe the hype and go buy this powder for the summer months! 

      

Too Faced, Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick, in shade “Fig,” $21. 

I’m absolutely in love with the formula on these lipsticks! It’s a very comfortable and creamy matte that you apply out of a lipgloss-like tube. I love many of the shades in the range, but in particular, I think the shade “Fig” is perfect for the spring months! It’s a beautiful, violet shade that is surprisingly subtle. These lipsticks are non-drying and leave behind a pretty stain once they’ve worn off! I have worn this lipstick so much throughout May and always receive compliments on the color of this product!

     

Nivea, Men’s Sensitive Post Shave Balm, $6.49.

If you’re new to makeup and want to build your collection with an inexpensive primer, you need to try this Post Shave Balm instead! Yes, it sounds crazy and this is definitely a product marketed towards men…however, the ingredients in this formula match many of those in high-end face primers! It smooths skin, extends the longevity of your makeup and moisturizes at the same time! I have the one labeled for sensitive skin and haven’t broken out once from this product. The trick to using this product is to rub it into your face long enough to feel it get tacky. You want your skin to feel borderline sticky and then apply your liquid foundation on top! Shout out to NikkieTutorials on YouTube for this amazing drugstore find! 

     

Fashion 

    

I wanted to add in some of my fashion favorites for the month of May as well! I’m not going to go into detail about each of these products because this is a beauty blog, but let me know if you would like to see some fashion posts! My Converse are comfortable to wear and go with any outfit! I love wearing these with casual outfits or t shirt dresses! My favorite loose jeans are the Tomgirl style from AE! They are baggy and on trend, without being unflattering. My fringe bag is my new favorite thing! I love crossbody styles and find that this color matches every outfit. I was really happy that I could find an inexpensive, but high quality bag that has this trendy fringe style! These are items that I’m wearing on repeat all month long and wanted to let you know about!    

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Lo Sneaker, Optical White, $49.99. American Eagle, Tomgirl Jeans, $49.95. Nordstrom, BP. Layered Fringe Crossbody, $28.

     

Lifestyle     

I also wanted to include some lifestyle favorites of mine that I’m loving! This bottle will keep your water ice cold for 24-hours without melting your ice! I’ve been using this product on a daily basis and never want to be without it during the summer months! My Erin Condren Life Planner keeps me organized every day! It’s durable on the outside and has beautiful colored pages on the inside! Lastly, my snack obsession are the Snap Pea Crisps in the Caesar flavor! I promise you’ll be hooked on these after you try one! They satisfy the need for something crunchy, without being high in carbs and fat! 

S’ip by S’well, Jelly Bean Green Stainless Steel Water Bottle 15oz, $24.99. Purchased from Target! Erin Condren Life Planner, price varies. Snap Pea Crisps, Caesar, $1.99.

My Favorite Blushes!

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I have a weakness for blush. As you’ll soon find out, my favorite shade to wear is a very warm toned, peachy-pink. I find these are very complimentary to my olive skin tone and usually match the bronzey makeup looks I do on a regular basis. In my opinion, blush brightens my overall look and provides a natural flush of color to my cheeks that I otherwise do not have. I don’t go a day without it because I feel that it marries my bronzer and highlight together, filling in any gaps of bare skin. Even my “no-makeup” makeup looks incorporate blush application. I think it’s one of the easiest ways to look more awake too! By providing this flush of color, you will liven your complexion and create a youthful glow.
 


I’ve tried out so many blushes, ranging from inexpensive to very high end. I really think I’ve pinpointed my favorite formulas based on smoothness of application, pigmentation and longevity. By far, the best blushes I’ve tried and own are the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes. These babies are in a league of their own! I’ve never found a blush that’s anywhere close to as good as these are. They apply softly on the cheeks and the color does not fade throughout the day! Tarte advertises that they’re a “12-hour wear” formula, but these have definitely lasted on my skin for much longer! It’s really rare that every blush shade in a brands collection is equally as amazing and these truly are! I have no doubt that any color you choose will be your new favorite! I started wearing these blushes five years ago and they are still the ones I keep repurchasing to this day! Here are my absolute favorite shades that I would categorize as must-haves! 

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush, $28. Top Row Shades: “Peaceful” and “Natural Beauty” Bottom Row Shades: “Tipsy” and “Glisten”


  

The next blushes that I love are from Too Faced! The Too Faced Love Flush Long-Lasting 16-Hour Blushes are really nice! Very pigmented and apply super evenly on the skin. I personally think the formula is more on the sheer side, which is nice if you prefer to build up color in a natural way. I definitely stand behind the claim that these last for 16 hours! I do think they start to fade after that point, unlike the Tarte blushes! Also I’m obsessed with the packaging of these blushes because they remind me of Polly Pocket, so cute! The next blush I have from Too Faced is their Sweetheart Perfect Flush Blush! These boxed blushes are also in adorable packaging that holds the beautiful, baked, ombré blush inside. I think this color is so pretty when I swirl my brush to pick up all three colors at once. The formula has fine gold shimmer throughout and shows up on the cheeks as a subtle glow that’s perfect for summer! Although Too Faced doesn’t advertise this as a long-lasting blush, this particular color held up for an entire work day on my skin and did not lose any vibrancy over time. I highly recommend you check out the other shades in the range because they have something for every skin tone! 

Too Faced Love Flush Long-Lasting 16-Hour Blush, $26. In the shade: “I Will Always Love You.” Too Faced Sweetheart Perfect Flush Blush, $30. In the shade: “Sparkling Bellini.”


Lastly I wanted to include the Becca Afterglow Palette, which can be found exclusively at Ulta. I found this palette was a great way to try some of Becca’s Mineral Blushes as well as their Shimmering Skin Perfectors! I already owned the white-gold highlight in the palette called “Moonstone” and use it to achieve an intense icy glow on the tops of my cheekbones. The Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in “Rose Gold” and “Topaz” are more of a blush topper for me personally! I apply these on top of the blush I’m wearing to give me an all-over illuminated glow. The Mineral Blush in “Wild Honey” and the Mineral Blush in “Flowerchild” are absolutely stunning! Both are extremely different in color, but equally as gorgeous. My personal favorite is “Wild Honey” because it’s unique to any other shade of blush own and is universal enough to match any makeup look! The Becca Mineral Blushes in this palette sadly only last about 6-8 hours on me before I feel like I need to reapply, but with that said, the smooth texture and pigmentation on these products outweigh any cons. I’m so excited to try more of these colors and put them to the test during the Spring and Summer months! 

Becca Afterglow Palette, $39.50. The blushes and highlight in the palette are in the shades: Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in “Moonstone.” Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in “Rose Gold.” Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in “Topaz.” Mineral Blush in “Wild Honey.” Mineral Blush in “Flowerchild.”


I hope I gave you some good suggestions on different brands of blushes to try! I know a lot of the shades are similar, but these peachy-pink tones are my favorite to wear! Let me know your favorite blushes because I’m always willing to step out of my comfort zone and try new ones! Thanks for reading! 

L’Oreal Glam Bronze Bronzer

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This gloomy weather has been making me crave Summer. Since I can’t naturally achieve my desired tan, glowy skin at the moment, I decided to cope the best way I know how and buy a new bronzer. Whenever I walk into any drugstore, I always check out the new makeup collections displayed in the front. I noticed L’Oreal’s new products for Summer right away because they were in sparkly orange packaging. Once I examined the new “Glam Bronze Bronzer Summer Collection,” I noticed there were three different shades in the range to suit light, medium and dark skin tones. I chose the shade “Glam Bronze Medium” because the shade was uniquely the perfect mix between a cool and warm toned brown. I also could see that there was visible gold shimmer on the pan, but I personally like my bronzers to have a sheen to them! Especially in the summertime for an added healthy glow to the skin!     

Glam Bronze Bronzer Summer Collection, Glam Bronze Medium, $14.99.


    

So now onto the actual review of the product! I’ve only been testing it for about a week, so these opinions are based on my first impressions! Beginning with the packaging, I really feel like for drugstore it’s pretty solid! It doesn’t feel super luxurious, but I also don’t think it’s flimsy like some other drugstore packaging can be. I think the size of the bronzer is amazing! The pan is huge so you can fit any sized brush into the product. Sometimes I like to use a large powder brush to lightly sweep bronzer all over my face for a natural, non-contoured effect, so pan size is important!   

Such a beautiful woven pattern stamped onto the bronzer. Love the attention to detail, L’Oreal!


    

The consistency of the bronzer is really different, in a good way! It feels like a hybrid between cream and powder. When swatched, this bronzer feels super silky on the skin, which is nice because most powder bronzers can be slightly chalky and have a lot of fallout. This bronzer is very evenly pigmented and doesn’t transfer the visible glitter that is on the pan, onto your face. I have a feeling it is an overspray and once I use the entire top layer of this product, a satin bronzer will be underneath! Overall this bronzer applies in a really natural way once on the skin. I believe the unique silky texture forces this product to blend in with your skin without any harsh likes. Once finished applying this bronzer, it truly just looks like a natural tan. 


As far as the longevity of this product, it lasted throughout an entire work day for me. This time lapse included applying at 7:00 am and arriving home at 6:00 pm. I would say once it was 8-9:00pm, I noticed it was broken up and patchy around my forehead. This is probably due to this area of my face falling victim to oiliness! Other than that, the product lasted nicely throughout my entire day! I did find that setting my entire face with a makeup setting spray (I use Urban Decay All-Nighter) did extend the wear time of this bronzer, but it honestly does that with any bronzer that I wear. 

   

I think this bronzer is perfect for someone who enjoys a neutral bronze shade. One that isn’t too warm and orange-based, or too cool with a gray undertone. It really looks so natural on the skin and melts in with the rest of your face products seamlessly. At $14.99, it is pricey for drugstore, but L’Oreal tends to be. I think with the amount of product you receive, the price can be justified! Again, you can usually find good deals on L’Oreal and other drugstore brands if you research what weekly sales are happening in your area, so try to get an added discount if you can! I would definitely repurchase this product and it’s now my new favorite bronzer from the drugstore. Also let me know if you would like to see a post about all my favorite drugstore and high-end bronzers! I think I have quite the collection and variety so it could help you find your next bronzer obsession! Thanks for reading!