It's the first favorites post of 2015! January has been a great month for me. I really started off my 2015 with a bang! New direction, new friends, new joy. No better way to start out the new year! Here are a few things I was loving in January.
The Body Shop Tea Tree Cool & Creamy Wash: This face wash is so great! My face feels squeaky clean after using this and it has helped calm down any breakouts that start to appear throughout the week. I love the tea tree scent that it has to it, it's not too strong either. This will be repurchased. Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser Split End Bandage: I found this on the clearance end cap of Target and thought it was worth a shot. I have been applying it to my ends before I blow it dry. It seems to be helping my ends not look so dry and damaged from the winter air. It also smells really good. EOS Lip Balm in Coconut Milk: This is right up my alley. I love anything coconut scented for anytime of the year. I am a big fan of EOS lip balms and this was a special edition one. It gives great moisture and smells amazing on the lips. NYX HD Concealer [medium]: I picked up this concealer on a whim and have really enjoyed using it on pesky spots that need some covering. I don't use it under my eyes because I found it creased a little bit on me. Lush The Olive Branch Shower Gel: I have loved every lush item that I have purchased in the past and it's no different with this one. Although, I am not too hype on the smell of the mandarin in it but love the moisture from the olive oil that this shower gel gives me. It's perfect for dry winter skin. Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Descanso: This came in my Nars lip set that I got for Christmas. I have been wearing this pencil the most lately. I have branched out to the bolder shades but always find myself coming back to the nudes. It's a 'your lips but better' tea rose colored pencil that fits perfectly in your handbag. Bath & Body Works Sleep Lavender Chamomile Pillow Mist: I have been having some sleeping issues this past month and while in Bath & Body works a sales associate pointed out that their 'sleep' line was on sale. I thought I would give this pillow mist a try. Spray one or two mists on your pillow before laying down and the scent of lemon and chamomile smooths you right into dream land. [not nightmare land...which is what has been happening.]
Essie Maximillian Strasse Her: This shade is a mix between a grey and light blue. It's a perfect winter shade. I have gotten so many compliments on it and it is the perfect addition to my Essie collection. I can always count on Lily Pebbles for an excellent nail polish recommendation. [Please excuse my Michigan winter hands]
If you didn't know, I have been documenting my Whole30 journey on instagram [@whole158_withbee] and am 33 days into it already! Eating clean has been a huge favorite of mine this past January!
I am so excited for February and have some goals that I want to accomplish this month. One goal is to read one of the two books that I bought in January. What were some things you were loving in January?
Share them with me!
Hannah has been my best friend for years and years and I haven't managed to rummaged through any of her beauty products at any point during our friendship. Well, the time has come to see what she has been using and what's currently in her beauty bag.
I asked Hannah to bring me everything that she is using right now as far as beauty and nail products. Here's what we got! "This maybelline master precise liner gives a good precise line. Haha get it. That's the name. I am not the greatest at eyeliner and this is the easiest for me to use and get close to my lashes. It washes off easily if you make a mistake and there is zero to no smudging. Don't look at the nib, I need to get a new one." When I saw this Rimmel Stay Matte I was curious because I just put it on my 'to buy' list. "I use this as my foundation. It helps me to not be shiny, stays put and is not cakey on my skin. The mousse texture helps a little product go a long way. I just put a dollop on the back of my hand and it will cover my whole face. It might not be great for winter though, in the winter my skin becomes more dry. I am sure I will switch to something else when the seasons change." Ok, let's talk about this Revlon quick dry topcoat because I can't seem to stray away from my Essie No Chips Ahead. "This topcoat doesn't smear off the polish underneath. My nails chip easily and this helps get a couple more days out of my polish. I enjoy it. It's the 3rd bottle I have bought. The quick dry Essie top coat is too sticky for me. This one has no sticky factor. As far as my favorite polish right now? Essie Mint Candy Apple. I mean, who doesn't love this polish? Or candy apples? Or mints?" I am proud to say that I introduced Hannah to the wonder that is Real Techniques brushes over a year ago and her life has been changed. "I have a big face and this brush is the perfect size for it. I use this brush for my powder and to set everything in place. I use baby shampoo to clean it. You taught me that Bee. Sorry...bad brush etiquette, it's really dirty."
I was excited to see that Hannah had this skincare set from Juice Beauty. I have had this sitting in my amazon cart for a couple weeks now. "I don't have severe adult acne but I have more of the, 'I'm 25 and still get zits are you serious?' type of acne. If you read any reviews about this set online people either love it or hate it. I bought the Organics to Clean Skin kit because my old skincare line No Zit Sherlock by Bliss was sold out. Since buying the Juice Beauty kit I haven't switched back to Bliss. The face wash and serum are great for both morning and night. I do remove my makeup before using the face wash. I have read online that some people don't like the fruit smell but I don't mind a little fruitiness in my life. The moisturizer is a little heavy, which I like for night but not for morning. It makes my face too greasy for the day. The kit does come with an apple peel which I wouldn't use more than once a week because it does dry out the face but it does work well for my problem areas. Overall I think it works well for my skin type but it might not be the best for severe acne prone skin."
I was so impressed with her use of the Naked 3 palette. She is almost hitting pan on a couple different shades. "I have replaced my naked 2 with the 3. I stick to the left side for a more daytime look. I take the shimmer of 'dust' and add 'limit' or 'strange' on top of it to matte it out a little. If I want more of a nighttime look or just some more drama I will work my way towards the right side of the palette. Using the same technique of adding a matte shade on top of a shimmery one. I also use the brush that came with it. You can tell because it's um... yeah, I should wash that. "
"Younique 3D fiber lashes, yes they are expensive. I have a friend who sells them. I had free shipping so I thought I'd try." Hannah explained the process to me and how it took her a couple tries to get it right. "First put a normal coat of mascara and then use the fiber lash wand on the tips and wiggle it. You need to remember to wiggle it or else they will get spidery. You also need to remember to have both wands ready. The fiber lashes need some moisture to hold onto and if you wait to long your lashes will dry from the first coat of mascara. It takes a couple tries but you'll get used to it. This mascara adds some more dimension, length and volume and it doesn't irritate my lashes. Plus, it washes off easily with soap and water. I don't use it everyday. Just more on the weekends. It was a splurge and I really like it." Thanks Hannah for letting me go through your beauty bag!
Alright, time for a new little series on my blog. I always love seeing what products other people are using and loving. Basically, what's in their beauty bag at the moment. What better way to start off this series than taking a peak into my current beauty bag! These are the products that I am reaching for as I get ready to tackle each day. I have been more of a minimalist lately. Only using a few basics to give myself a fresh and natural look. Don't get me wrong, some days do call for a dramatic winged liner look. This fall for me it's all about a fresh and awake look. Glowing skin, long defined lashes, strong brows, and a small pop of color on the lip.
Rimmel match perfection has been my autumn foundation. I was able to find a perfect match on my first try, 202 nude. This foundation is not only a great deal but the coverage is great and buildable. This foundation keeps my oily skin at bay without being super matte. It just looks natural and glowy. The lasting power however isn't so great. I find that it's great for during the work day but if I have something in the evening I need to touch it up. This physicians formula mineral glow pearl was in my last favorites post and I have been seriously loving it! It's a perfect bronzer/highlight combo. It's also not orange. It gives the perfect amount of acceptable daily shimmer. Simple soothing facial toner is a nice and gentle toner that won't irritate the skin. I have noticed after consistently using this that the excessive oil my skin was producing has calmed back down. It leaves my face nice and clean without that tight feeling some toners can give. Maybelline instant age rewind dark spot eraser+treatement is a new product in the 'age rewind' line [which I love!] This one is just as amazing as all the other ones. I love the funky sponge applicator, although it does get a little dirty from time to time. This does a good job at hiding dark spots and covering blemishes. It's also light on the skin, I feel like sometimes concealers can feel thick and heavy. This one definitely does not.
NYX butter gloss in eclair has been my go to gloss for everyday. It's a mauve-y pink that gives just the right hint of color to your lips. I have always loved these glosses because of the price, color pay off, and they smell so sweet.
Covergirl clump crusher, not sure how I feel about it quite yet. Yes, it holds up to it's name and does de-clump your lashes. But personally I am not a fan of the plastic mascara wands and I kind of like some clump on my lashes. However for an everyday lash this does the job. For a more dramatic look
I have been layering it with Maybelline Miss Manga [which y'all know I love].
I have ditched my e.l.f eyebrow kit for this perfect dupe of the benefit gimme brow. [Which I thought distributed too much product on the wand and made my eyebrows looks too dark.] The maybelline brow drama gives me just enough product to fill in sparse areas on my brows in a very natural way. Also, this accidentally was put through the rain test and it held up very well.
There y'all have it, everything in my current beauty bag. What's in yours? I would love to know!
I was given an Ulta gift card last week and decided to challenge myself to come as close as I could to the total without going over. I went over by 10 cents! I'd say that was a success. I bought things that were on my "if I go to Ulta" list I keep on my phone.
Here's what I got.
Freeman Charcoal & Black Sugar Mask: I had gotten a sample mask of this a few weeks ago and loved it! I put it on my list to purchase the full size one later. This mask warms up when it's on your skin. It's not your typical mask that you let harden and wipe off with a warm towel. I don't leave it on long. The black sugar granules need to be moved around to exfoliate your skin. Once you wash it off you're left with a freshly exfoliated face that is nice and polished. [hence... a polishing mask.]
Redken Extreme Anti-Snap: This is one of those "saw it in a youtube video" purchases. I have been looking for something to help with split ends and dryness on my ends. My ombre dyed hair seems to be getting lighter with more sun and the lighter it gets the more damaged it looks. This is supposed to help with all of that! I bought the smaller travel size version before committing to a $18 full size bottle.
EOS Lip Balm: Pretty self explanatory. These lip balms are awesome. You need them in your life.
Organix Nourishing Coconut Oil Hydrating Mist: I am all about coconut when it comes to summer. The smell just screams summertime to me. I thought this mist would be great to add shine and moisture during the months when my hair is exposed to an excessive amount of sunshine.
Essence Colour & Go [that's what i mint]: I have never tried any products from Essence but the $1.99 price tag on their polishes had me curious. I am pleasantly surprised by the quality and pigment of their polishes. It's long lasting and my favorite part, it's quick drying! This picture was taken 3 days after painting my nails. No chips, no pealing, still perfect nails. I will be back to pick up a few different shades.
May has been a very interesting month. From running my first 10k, my best friend getting mono, and my brother breaking his ankle in two different places, the month has definitely not been boring. I am excited to enter the Summer months and break up my routine with different activities. I am excited for bike rides, the start of the marching band season, bonfires, and late evening talks on the porch. Here are my favorites from May.
Bondi HairBand: I won this headband at my morning Spin class. This headband has been a lifesaver. Not only is it wide enough to protect my hair from the sun but it doesn't budge. Perfect for a long run or bike ride.
Shady Lady Eye Shadow by The Balm [shameless shana]: Let me just say that I don't appreciate the silhouette of a very busty lady on this product or the name of this shadow [let's rename it 'spiritual shana'] but the pigment is amazing. The shimmer in it compliments my brown eyes without being too flashy. Perfect for everyday. If I want to make it more dramatic, I will just add Urban Decay- Darkhorse.
Rimmel Scandaleyes [001 black]: The first time I tried this, I did not like it. I thought I would give it another shot and I like it a lot now. I put it through a series of tests which include the humid day test and the crying test. It stayed on and didn't smudge at all. Also, it's $3.99!
L'Oreal True Match Foundation [buff beige n4]: Hello New Favorite Drugstore Foundation! I knew this stuff was great but hadn't tried it out yet. Well, let me tell you... it is amazing! The only thing that would make this better would be if it had a pump. The coverage is great and it has prevented my mid-day oiliness from happening. It also has an SPF in it, which is great for the sunny summer months coming up.
Coty AirSpun Loose Powder [original formula- translucent extra coverage]: This is an amazing Walgreens find. It was sitting on the bottom of a shelving unit all by itself. It was the last one left. [that's normally a good sign though when the product is almost gone]. This is a great translucent setting powder. It fills in pores and hides imperfections. On no makeup days I have been using this over a bit of concealer. The only thing that I don't like is the scent. It has a kind of elderly lady/baby powder scent to it. They do make an unscented one. I will get that one next time but for now, old lady it is.
Real Techniques Power Brush: Ok, I love all of the brushes from Real Techniques but I thought this one needs a shout out because I have been using it with the Coty AirSpun Powder. It's big, fluffy and it's the perfect all over coverage brush.
Boots Expert Sensitive Gentle Refreshing Toner: My eyes have been super delicate this month, I blame my allergies. I found this a while ago while shopping at Target. I use it to tone my face after cleansing. I also use this to help remove any extra eye products that might get left behind. It is super gentle and doesn't sting or irritate my eyes at all. A toner and an eye makeup remover in one, yes... sign me up for that!
Sinful Colors [wisp 1225]: This is a new line of extra shiny shades from Sinful Colors. Not only is there extra shine to this but the lasting power is longer. It's tough to find a white that you only need 1 or 2 coats for but this one is perfect. I have been rocking some white nails for most of May. They are bright and sometimes obnoxious but that's ok. As my skin gets darker the brighter they get.
Audible ["Crazy Love" by Francis Chan]: I neglected to cancel my audible membership and wound up with an extra credit in my account. I sent a text to my cousin Gabe to see if he had any book reccomendations. His text back said, "What is your spirit hungry for?" First off... that is an amazing question. I feel like that could be a separate post for another day. [which might happen] He recommended this one. So far it has been amazing. I listen to it while I am driving or during an early morning workout. I have found myself going back to chapters and listening again while taking notes. So many great truths about what it is like to be authentic and fully in love with God.
Amanda Cook & Bethel Music [You Make Me Brave]: This song has been my anthem ever since they released it in April.
You make me brave
You make me brave You called me beyond the shore Into the waves You make me brave You make me brave No fear can hinder now The love that made a way You make me brave You make me brave You called me beyond the shore Into the waves You make me brave You make me brave No fear can hinder now The promises You've made Here's to a brave and amazing June!
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