Summertime Skincare

 

 

Summertime skincare is all about convenience and moisture. I don't tend to wear a lot of makeup during the summer - mostly BB cream, eyeliner and mascara- but what I do wear I want to remove quickly and without drying out my skin.

 Enter Bosica Make-up-Break-up Cool Cleansing Oil. It is refreshing; there is a bit of a cushioning effect that doesn't tug onto the skin. My makeup breaks down and makes me look a bit like the Joker but, hey, it gets it off.

Next I use the Bosica Clear Complexion Tonic. Spray it on and poof, toned skin is pampered and doesn't irritate my skin. Mostly my skin just feels clean!!

Add in my favorite moisturizer in Clinique Moisture Surge and my standard Origins GinZing Eye Cream and I, and my skin, is a happy camper.

 

Yours xx

 

April Favorites

It has been a while since I've done a Favorites post. I haven't been testing too many new products out that I have been loving. I want to make sure I am sharing true favorites with you, lovely readers, so, yeah, that's my long winded excuse for not posting March Favorites.

April was full of showers (some with snow.. bleck.) so hopefully May brings some May-like flowers and sunshine. I do like a little rain so on those days I was exponentially happier than others. Does anyone else feel the same way about rain? I have heard that it makes people depressed and unhappy but, not me. I enjoy lots of things about the rain: the smell, the puddles, raincoats, clouds, free car wash.... the list goes on. But I am so ready for some sunshine!!

My favorites have been the more constant items in my routine and items that I couldn't have survived without. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 





Origins GinZing eye cream
In order to make myself look and feel human again after waking up this has been a MUST. Slap a bit of this on after a morning cleanse keeps my bags at bag and really lights up my under eye areas without globbing on the concealer. When I do put makeup on over it, the makeup sits nicely and doesn't crease or goop up. (Such descriptive words today...)

Clinique Moisture Surge
This was an unexpected free with purchase product from a later favorite. I went into the Clinique counter to get more of my 3-step treatment and the new Cheek Pop blushers, this little guy came home with me too. My skin has been feeling the effect of winter as of late so the more moisture the better. I have been using this at night before bed and when I wake up in the morning all the dry patches are gone! Poof! It is like a nice cold drink of ice water on a hot summer's day for my face. I really like this guy... enough to purchase a full size!

 



Physicians Formula Bronze Booster Beauty Balm
Talk about a name...shesh. I had been on the hunt for a new drugstore bronzer. I watched multiple YouTube videos, read oodles of beauty blogs, and this one seemed to have a lot of positive recommendations. It is shimmery but not too shimmery; it is bronzing but not orange and very easy to blend. I dust it across my cheeks, forehead, down my nose, and under my chin. I have used it to contour but I like it more as an all over color.

 



 



Clinique Cheek Pop in 01 Ginger Pop
The packaging, the design, the color and the texture of this little guy is #flawless. If you are a blush-a-holic, this is must have. It looks like a cream blush but has a powder finish on the cheeks. I use my Real Technique Stippling brush to apply and then I blend with my fingers (if I'm feeling particularly rushed) or my blush brush. The color payoff is awesome -- super pigmented. Start with a little, blend, blend, blend, and layer it on. I don't think I can emphasize this enough - BLEND! I walked into my office at work looking like Frosty the Snowman and I don't want this to happen to you too! Us girls gotta stick together.

 

 





Too Faced Natural Eyes Neutral Eye Shadow Collection
This palette came in my PopSugar box for the month of April and I have been using it every day since. My favorite combination is Day. I put Heaven all over the lid; Sexpresso (don't really care for that name but, hey, whatever) on the outer corner and blend! I put Push-Up onto the center of my lid for a bit of highlight. It comes with a little how-to use guide to create different looks. The colors are super pigmented with little fall out. They are really fun to blend and play with for all sorts of looks. Plus, it is super small (the container is magnetic so that's fun to play with... #geek) which is very convenient for travel.

 



Soap and Glory Flake Away body scrub and The Body Shop Honeymania body butter
I'm going to talk about these two products together because they have been the body care dream team. My skin was not ready for Spring season until these came into my life. The body scrub smells like sugary-peachy-shea happiness. It has scrubbed off all that funky dry skin stuff to leave behind fresh sun ready skin. The body butter leaves a honey scent that is just, ahh, bliss. It isn't sticky and absorbs very quickly. It has been like an IV for my skin. Plus, I smell AWESOME! :D

Caudalie Beauty Elixir
Beauty in a bottle. This feels fantastic on my skin. Story time: When I was a kid and in soccer we had these squirt bottles with fans attached. When we would come onto the sideline for break this was like instant relief. That mist was refreshing and energizing! This product is the adult version of that spray bottle. After I tone and exfoliate my skin, I spray this on for a refreshing, cooling mist. It smells minty and fresh. It makes my skin nice and glowy before I apply my moisturizer. (PS I did already repurchase this little guy.)

 

Herbal Essence Naked Dry Shampoo

Now, I am a huge fan of dry shampoo, but I hate the white-chalky mist on my roots. Enter this product  -- no white mist but all the benefits. It gives my hair that extra oomf. Plus, makes that second day hair look a little less second day.

 

 

That's all she wrote! I hope you enjoyed April as much as I did. What were your favorite products? Anything you'd like to recommend??

 

 

Yours  xx

 

Disclaimer: Everything mentioned above was purchased with my own money, pictures were taken with my camera (unless otherwise noted/credited) and all opinions are mine and in no way represent anyone or anything other than me, myself and I. This is NOT a sponsored blog post. You're beautiful.

January Favorites

January flew by and was a great spring board for 2014. I vaguely remember a while ago I shared some of my favorite products of the month with you... well, lets do that again, shall we??

 

 

Clinique 3-Step Cleanser, Toner, and Moisturizing Lotion

The first time I was spotted looking at makeup I was around 11. My mother said I was more than allowed to use makeup but I had to take care of my skin. We went straight to the good stuff for skin care. I have no idea why I have been bouncing around skin care products when I know, I KNOW, that this is the best thing for me. The liquid facial soup cleanses and removes any dirt and grime from my skin making it squeaky clean. Then I will tone my skin, creating a smooth surface for the moisturizing lotion to really lock it all in and in the winter, moisture has been my key necessity in products.

 



 

Smith's Rosebud Salve

Speaking of moisture, this has been a gift from the gods for my lips during winter. It is a rose scent petroleum jelly for your lips. Along with the rose scent, it gives my lips a nice pink and glossy color, which makes lip gloss, although fun, not necessary.

 

 

Revlon Colorburst Matte/Laquer Balm

Okay, I'm just going to come right out and say it: to me, these are the best lip product I have tried in a long while. The are moisturizing, plus supply a good amount of color that applications are few and far between. I do one application upon arriving at work and don't have to reapply until late afternoon or even when I get home because the color is still there. Application is super simple; if you can color in the lines, you can put these on. I started with colors that I knew I would wear all the time: Elusive, a light peach pink, Complex, a brown nude, Striking, a true red, and in the lacquer, Enticing, a shiny maroon red.

 

 

NYX Powder Blush in Peach

This blush is incredibly pigmented, a little goes a long way. It gives an Oh-Look-at-me, I-have-been-outside-and-just-naturally-have-pink-cheeks look. Very winter-esque chic. Perfect for January.

 



 

Maybelline The Falsies Big Eyes mascara

I am such a fan of the original formula of the Falsies that I had to try the Big Eyes version and I was not disappointed. With the separate wands for upper and lower lashes it lifts and adds insane volume to the upper lashes and separates the lower lashes making them look spider leg long. It does last all day, for me, and doesn't smudge either. Simple makeup remover gets all the product off with very little residue left.

 

 

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Sport Eraser

Disclaimer: I do not have dark spots. I do have really scary dark under eyes, which is why I picked up this product. Thought I might be able to eliminate my designer handbag dark eyes, and it does. The applicator is truly awesome. The sponge allows for flawless distribution of the product, as well as precision. I have it in the color 210 Fair.

 

 

The Body Shop Shea Body Butter

The 24 hour hydration is no lie. I have very dry skin and this product has been a life saver for me this winter. I body has been drinking this product up like a traveler in the desert! The scent is long lasting but not overpowering. It smells very nutty and creamy (if creamy has a scent...). It has been a huge success for me. I did try several other scents in small size to make sure, before buying the large jar, that it was the product for me, which, of course, it is.

 

 

Celestial Seasonings Fruit Tea Sampler

Yep, I love tea and am obsessed with this. I'm not usually a bit fruit tea drinker but this product might have turned me. These are super flavorful and not at all sweet, which was my big concern. And as I attempted to spend less money, the price tag for 18 bags is really hard to argue.

 

Those are just some of my favorite products for the month of January. I hope you all enjoyed it. And I would love to know what products you all have been loving this month??

 

Yours xx