recent beauty faves

I'm so excited to talk a bit about a few recent beauty favorites from the last six months. I have lots of holy grail items I've been using for years (my eyeliner, powder foundation, and dry shampoo, which currently comes with an extra mini bottle fyi) but I do love playing around with new items and finding new favorites. With Sephora's holiday sale starting today, I thought it would be a good time to share a few of the items I've really grown to love!

Amika Purple Shampoo // As a life long (highlight getting) blond, I only started using purple shampoos like two years ago! They make SUCH a difference! My highlights/balayage stays brighter so much longer. I've tried several different brands at different price points, and this has been my favorite - the actual shampoo is thick and a deep purple, lathers nicely for a sulfate-free shampoo, and one bottle lasts me about six months. For $20, I can't really complain! If you want a drug store conditioner, I've been using L'Oreals Ever Pure conditioner for years and really like it!

Beauty Pie's Vitamin C capsules // I have plans to dedicate a whole blog post about my experience with Beauty Pie in the next month or so (I'm putting in an order for a few more products on Saturday when my monthly membership renews), but I've already found several items I absolutely love. I've been a long time fan of Vitamin C products - they have helped lighten up my acne scarring and keep my skin looking refreshed (here's a more in depth article about the benefits of Vitamin C). I've enjoyed the Paula's Choice serum as well as Kiehl's, but Vitamin C is fairly unstable and needs to be in sealed and dark containers, which is why these individual shells is the perfect storage for this serum! I use it every morning under my moisturizer. I've been using it for two months now, and am re-ordering another bottle this weekend. It's my favorite skincare product of the last year! If you want to try out Beauty Pie, you can use my referral to get your first month membership for free.

Hourglass's Ambient Light powder // I first heard about this on Jaclyn Hill's youtube, and finally broke down last year, and bought the mini version. I ended up using it every day, and a few months ago bought the full size version. I use this on light make up days (ie at work) as an eyeshadow base, and then lightly swiped across my cheeks and nose as a light highlight. It's just so pretty and the regular size is going to last forever (I wish I had just purchased the full size from the get go - a mini is 1.4 oz for $24, and for $48, you get 10 oz!). Love love love. This would also make a great present!

Beauty Pie's Sleep Oil // I have been using face oils on and off for years now...but it turns out, I was using it ALL WRONG all that time! I was putting it on over serums and under moisturizer, but actually face oils don't moisturize your face, they lock in the moisture. derp. Anyway, since realizing my mistake, I've been happily using Beauty Pie's sleep oil correctly, and it's becoming my favorite step in my night time routine. I pat on a few drops all over my face and wake up with soft and glowy skin every morning. If you're thinking about trying out Beauty Pie, I'd definitely recommend this as one of your first purchases! A bottle probably lasts close to a whole year - I've been using it since August, and have barely made a dent in the bottle.

Ole Henriksen's Scrub // as a girl who grew up with St. Ive's apricot scrub, but also someone who has read enough posts about skincare to know that we shouldn't use abrasive scrubs, I can't help but really enjoy this scrub. I stopped using my retinol cream during pregnancy, and since restarting it after delivering Penny, my skin is going back through a bit of a shedding period while my skin gets re-used to the retinol. I find using this scrub just once a week, using very light circular motions rather than hard scrubbing it into my skin, gets rid of all the dead skin without causing a bunch of trauma to my skin. This would especially be great for anyone dealing with a lot of flakiness during the colder months! Again this will probably last quite a long time since you only need a little bit once or twice a week.

Kat Von D's eyeshadow palette // I've enjoyed KvD's eyeshadow palettes for years now, but this one has become a true staple for me. I am definitely not a make-up guru, I do basically the same thing every day, and have for basically a decade now, but this palette gives me everything I need from lighter every day looks to having a few darker colors to play with. The middle of the palette is what I use the most, from the base color to the highlight to the black for "smudging" my liquid eyeliner. And it's currently on sale (on top of the sale!), so you can get it for a steal.

Tarte's mascara // I'm forever looking for my holy grail mascara - I tend to use one kind for a few tubes, and then move on to the next. I prefer the brush mascaras (versus the plastic wands), and have found what I now believe is my favorite mascara to date. It just elongates, thickens, and isn't clumpy -it's like the holy trinity of mascaras! I always wear an eyelash primer under my mascaras, which helps, but am just such a fan of this mascara that I purchased several more during a recent Tarte sale!

Sephora's sale is currently going on, and ends on 11/11. If you're doing some early holiday shopping, one of my favorite items to gift is this perfume set - it comes with nine deluxe samples of perfumes, as well as a gift card for the full size version of one of them. You get 9 cute little bottles plus the full size version, which is great for any fragrance lover (especially since they can pick out their favorite in the end - I find it so tricky to gift fragrances!).

recent beauty empties

Over the past few months, I've used up quite a few products, and wanted to share  my thoughts on them! I firmly believe that initial impressions aren't sharing the full story, but continued use lets me give a more thorough and honest review of the product. There were several items, including my beloved eyeliner and mascara primer, that I've already reviewed so many times that it wasn't worth mentioning again, but there are quite a few new products I've used up and wanted to share my thoughts! I also wanted to mention that Sephora's semi-annual VIB sale is coming up, so I shared my purchased at the bottom of the post!

my daily make-up routine for 4 AM wake-up calls

As a creature of habit, I tend to use the same make-up products over and over again - that's why I've been using the same eyeliner and powder for over 8 years now! But I'm definitely open to experimenting here and there, and have found some amazing new products that I really love. My big goal when I do my make-up is to have dewy skin and brighter eyes - when you get up around 4 AM most days, I need a few extra products to look wide and awake when I may not be! Here's what my current make-up routine looks like - the ones with the * are my favorite "brightening" products!

1. *Becca Backlight Primer // I've had this bottle for about two years, and keep coming back to it. It just provides the prettiest dewy skin as a foundation for the rest of your make-up. It's great for those of us with drier skin!
2. Touch In Sol Primer // I do struggle with enlarged pores, especially around my nose, so I use this mostly in that region to help blur out those imperfections. 
3. Dior BB Cream // My friend Amy started using this BB cream last year and raved and raved about it, so I finally bought it last summer, and have been wearing it every day since then! I apply about half a pump to my skin with my fingers. It's the perfect medium coverage I was looking for, and a little goes a long way! Highly recommend this if you're lower maintenance but want a beautiful medium coverage BB cream. 
4. *Becca Under Eye Corrector // This is one of the newer products I've started using. I have fairly dark circles under my eyes (I've had them ever since I was a kid). This brightens up that whole area underneath your eyes. If I was less lazy, I'd also use concealer, but I try to have a speedy routine in the AM, and this I can just dab on with my fingers. 
5. Smashbox Powder // You guys already know this is my holy grail item. I've tried a bunch of different powders over the years, but none compare to this one. It's the best. 
6. Charlotte Tilbury Bronzer // I bought this on a whim last March, and have used it every day since then! I'm just now getting to the point where I need a new one. The "sculpt" side is the perfect color for light contouring and bronzing - I use this under my cheekbones, along my forehead, down my nose, and at my jawline. It just adds the perfect amount of glow to your face. As soon as I'm all the way done with this, I'm going to buy this kit, as I don't use the highlight side as much as I'd use a blush. 
7. Dior Blush // This blush is so darn pretty - it's one of those that makes a "custom" color or whatever with your skin tone. I don't really buy that - it's just a pretty pink color! I've had this for at least 9 months, and still haven't hit pan. A little goes a long way!
8. *Nars Eyeshadow // I don't have time in the morning for a lot of blending and all the things that come with a lot of eyeshadow. I have this in All About Eve, and it's the perfect lighter colored eyeshadow to bring some light to your eyes without looking like your eyeshadow is that white eyeshadow we wore in 6th grade (or was that just me?).
9. Stila Eyeliner // HOLY GRAIL, please never stop making this eyeliner! I always have at least two back-ups in my collection because I refuse to even try anything else. 
10. *Smashbox Eyeliner // I use this in the pale color for my lower waterline. It's a little trick to bring more brightness to the eyes, and this eyeliner is waterproof, so it lasts all day!
11. Anastasia Brow Pencil // Looooove this brow pencil - the thicker edge means it takes less time to color in my brows. I use this in taupe.
12. Anastasia Brow Gel // A quick swipe of this across the brows keeps them in line, and more defined. It also helps keeps them "on" for longer!
13. Urban Decay Primer // Another item I keep buying over and over again. I've tried several different eyelash primers at different price points, and this continues to be my favorite. I use two light coats, and I never have an issue with mascara flaking. It's my secret for thicker and longer looking lashes!
14. Chanel Mascara // I started using this after receiving a few samples, and fell in love with how long my eyelashes were looking. I previously never liked that kind of brush for mascara, but when I combine this with another mascara, it gets the perfect "long and lush" look I want. 
15. Lancome Mascara // I bought this a few months ago, and am getting towards the end of this tube. It's okay, but I like my Bobbi Brown mascara more, so I'll be repurchasing that once the Lancome one runs out. 

I shot a quick video of my make-up routine. Please forgive the horrible lighting - this was early in the AM, and I just finished a work out, so I'm still a bit flushed from that as well. 

my daily make-up routine (& a Sephora giveaway!)

It's been a hot second since I last wrote about my daily make-up routine (...so it's been like 18 months), and since quite a bit has changed (and a few things have stayed the same), today's post is all about my current make-up routine! I have this thing down to a science, and can do all of this in about ten minutes now. If I'm in a hurry, I skip the foundation and highlighter parts, but for the most part, here's what I use every day!

1. Smashbox primer: I have larger pores, and this does a great job of "blurring" them out. Downside is that some days I need more hydration, so I sometimes use the Laura Mercier primer for those dryer days. 
2. Hourglass foundation stick: A YouTube favorite, I started using this about four months ago and absolutely love it! I love that it's really buildable (I don't it to be super thick, so I just use a few swipes of this), that you don't have to get any foundation on your hands, and that there is such a broad selection of colors so you can really get your perfect color. I blend it out with my Beauty Blender. Highly recommend, especially if you travel a lot (no risk of spills!).
3. Urban Decay concealer: Still one of my favorite concealers I've ever used ( I'm on my third tube now). I am curious about the Tarte Shape Tape though - everyone seems to love it!
4. Smashbox powder: Still one of my holy grail items. I've been using this for over six years now and have no plans on changing my powder anytime soon. I use it with an It Cosmetics brush and the combo is 👌
5. Charlotte Tilbury bronzer: One of the newer pieces of my routine, I love the color and formulation of this bronzer. It's not too orange, and has good staying power without being overwhelming. This guy is a bit of a splurge for sure. I use it with this Morphe brush (which I absolutely adore!).
6. Bobbi Brown blush: I wear the "pretty pink" color and it's the perfect amount of pink glow for every day wear. I apply it with a Sephora blush brush that I've had for years and years. 
7. Urban Decay setting spray: As I mentioned last week, I spray this on a beauty blender, and then tap on to my skin. Have you tried this trick yet? It's one of my favorites!
8. Becca highlighter: This is something I've owned for over a year, and continue to really enjoy. I use an Anastasia brush to apply a little on my cheek bone and nose. While I love the pretty glow this provides, it's also the first step I'll skip if I'm in a hurry. 
9. Charlotte Tilbury eyeshadow: In every day life, I just use my fingers to put a swipe of the lightest color on my lid. It brightens up my deep set eyes, and I think it provides a better foundation for my eyeliner. If I'm going somewhere special, I'll apply a bit of the darker color to my crease for added definition.
10. Stila eyeliner: You already know this was going to be here - it's the only eyeliner I've used consistently for the past seven years or so. #holygrail
11. Eyelash curler: One of those steps that makes such a huge difference that I never ever skip it! Eyelash curlers are the secret to longer looking fluttery lashes. 
12. Eyebrow pencil + eyebrow gel: I have used several different methods for "applying your brows" but I really like using the brow definer pencil the most - when you apply and then use the spooley to brush it out, I think it looks a lot more natural than a pomade like the dipbrow, and it's a lot quicker to use than a powder. Combined with a clear gel, they now last all day!
13. Eyelash primer + mascara: Saving the best (and most important!) step for last! I have been using this eyelash primer for about 18 months now, and am on my third or fourth tube of it. It makes such a difference in the thickness and volume of your eyelashes, and really makes your mascara stay put (I never have issues with flaking). I've been playing around with a few new mascaras, but my go-to is still the eye opening mascara. It does dry up quicker than others I've used, but a few drops of contact solution fixes that problem real quick, and extends the use of the tube for at least another month this way!

And that's it! It takes so much longer to write that up than to actually do it 😂  I did want to mention that this upcoming week is the spring VIB sale event! Here are the details:

• VIB Rouge: 
• April 18th - April 24th
• 15% off with code ROUGESPRING
• VIB:
• April 19th - April 24th
• 15% off with code VIBSPRING
• Beauty Insider:
• April 20th - April 23rd
• 10% off with code BISPRING

Since I'm doing pretty good on my go-to products (I have a few favorites stock piled from previous sales), there are just a few things I'm going to order. I want to try  Hourglass's primer (I've read so many good things!), this CC cream from It Cosmetics, and Dior's lip scrub+ balm combo (I tried this last weekend and my lips looked amazing after!). To celebrate my five year of blogging anniversary though, I want to give one of you a little extra spending money for the sale! Enter the giveaway below - and as always, thank you for being my internet friends and loving make-up and skincare as much as I do! Giftcard will be in US dollars.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

all my beauty secrets, in one post

Okay, that title is misleading, because I have all of four beauty secrets. But I am going to share them today! These aren't those odd beauty tips like "use a potato instead of a beauty blender" or "use a spoon to apply eyeliner", but little things I've experimented with over the years that have really worked for me!

spray setting spray on a beauty blender instead of your face

I discovered using a setting spray about a year ago. I loved that a two second spritz could solidify your make-up and make it last all day (or night!). But I really hated spraying it on my face. It just felt wrong, and eventually I stopped using it because I didn't like the process. . Then one day when I was using my beauty blender to add a bit of liquid highlighter, I wonder if I couldn't use the sponge to also apply the setting spray. Turns out, I love this way of applying setting spray much more, for several reasons! One, you get a much more even coverage of the setting spray since you control exactly where it goes. Two, you don't have to spray anything on to your face. Three, it doesn't get in your hair. Four, since your pressing the setting spray into your make-up, your make-up not only lasts longer, but it also looks more natural!

how to: spray 2-3 spritzes of your fave setting spray (this is the one I use) onto a beauty blender, and pat pat pat!

use a dark eyeshadow + eyeliner brush to blend out liquid eyeliner

up close pictures of eyelashes are weird.

Liquid eyeliner is my go-to eyeliner, and has been for the better part of the last decade. I love that you can be really precise with it, you can easily get in between the lashes (important for blondies like me!), and it lasts all day (seriously). My favorite holy grail eyeliner is Stila's - I keep a stock pile now just because I love it that much. One of my favorite tricks for emphasizing the eyes is to "smudge" the eyeliner out with a dark eyeshadow. I like to keep my eye make-up pretty "minimal" during the day (minimal for someone who likes to play with makeup!) by just wearing a swipe of eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara, but for occasions like going out with friends, on a date, or to special events, I use this to add a bit of dimension to my eyes without going overboard with a bunch of smoky eyeshadows and more liner.

how to: dip an eyeliner brush into a dark eyeshadow (mine is a dark purple from this palette), then starting right past the outside of your eyeliner, brush it towards the middle, right over the liquid eyeliner. Finish with your favorite mascara (my go-to combo is Urban Decay's primer + Bobbi Brown's mascara).

apply dry shampoo before working out instead of after

sports bra | water bottle

I only wash my hair about every four days...but I also work out about 4-5 days a week. My secret to not washing my hair after every work out is to use dry shampoo before rather than after. I find this provides some cushion to get your styling to last longer - the sweat doesn't get in your hair as much, and it's less likely to get frizzy from the humidity. I also always wear a shower cap when I take a shower afterwards!

how to: spray a generous amount of your favorite dry shampoo (this is mine!) before going to the gym. Use a soft hairband to keep your hair back during your work out, take your hair down soon after finishing, and wear a shower cap while in the shower. 

use texturizing spray before curling your hair to help set curls

I have fine hair - I have a lot of it, but it's fine, which means it does not hold a curl very well. Multiple hair stylists have tried to prove me wrong over the years, and every single one has commented how "oh yeah, your hair DOESN'T really hold a curl, huh?". Yep. I have found a few things that have helped though with my eternal desire for hair with more curls and volume. The biggest thing I've found that makes a difference is using a texturizing spray before I curl my hair. I have two I really like - Oribe was my original favorite (it smells so so good...but is also pricy) and Living Proof's volume blast is a close second. I find that my hair curls quicker (less time on the iron!), the curls last longer, and bonus, you already used the volumizing spray so you don't have to disrupt your curls after.

how to: spray on hair, focusing on roots and ends, wait a few seconds to dry, and then curl your hair how you usually do.

And that's it! My little beauty secrets that I've learned over the years. I would love to hear what your own little secret is - I'm always looking for new tricks to try!

beauty tuesday: my favorite make-up removers

We discuss make-up quite a bit around here, but one thing we haven't talked about is make-up removal! I've been a beauty magazine junkie since I was young, so I've always made sure to follow the rule of taking your make-up off at night. I used to be all about the Neutrogena face wipes, but I eventually got sick of spending $6 every month on wipes I was throwing away, plus I never felt like they were very gentle on my eyelashes and skin around my eyes. Then for many many years, I used simple coconut oil to remove my eye makeup. This worked like a charm and was super cheap, but it was so messy to use, and even messier to travel with. I recently had the chance to try out two new methods of removing make up, so I wanted to share both with you today!

Bioderma Micelle Solution

I have heard about micellar water for quite some time, but was always hesitant to try it. I've used a lot of oil based make-up removers in the past, and hated how they felt greasy and didn't actually remove my make-up completely. Bioderma reached out and asked if I'd like to try a bottle, and so I finally gave it a try...and I am converted. I've been using my bottle for more than three months now, and from the first use, I was hooked. I soak a cotton pad to be about half wet, and then just softly wipe at my eye make-up. I use some heavy duty eyeliner and mascara, and this just wipes it away. My favorite part is that it feels just like water - magic water that removes your makeup with zero effort - instead of the oily liquids I've used in the past A bit of research shows that micellar water is basically cleansing oil molecules suspended in water, which explains why it cleanses so well but doesn't leave an oily mess behind. It's great for my sensitive dry skin too, and I've felt that the skin around my eyes has been less dry since I started using it. Of course, I like to see how any remover compares in price with my very cheap coconut oil routine. A 500 mL bottle (the size I have) costs about $17. Like I said, I've been using mine for about three months now, and have only used about 1/3 of the bottle, so I would say that it's actually pretty comparable to the coconut oil when priced out over the year. I did receive my bottle for free from Bioderma, but will definitely be purchasing a new bottle once this one is empty (in like six months!). Beautylish has several sizes in stock as well.

Makeup Eraser

This is another one of those products I had heard a lot about, and had sitting in my Amazon cart for a while, but never pulled the trigger on. I've been working with Popsugar's Must Have box program for several months now, and every month has brought some great new products into my life (if you're interested, you can use the code SHOP5 to receive $5 off your first box). This month's box included the Makeup Eraser mini, so I was very excited to test it out. It's basically just a polyester washcloth that promises that it will erase all make-up by simply wetting the fabric and wiping away your makeup. It even promises to remove waterproof formulas! I've only used this for a few days now, but have been very impressed by it's ability to remove my makeup. I honestly didn't have high hopes as I assumed it was just basically a more expensive wash cloth (which doesn't ever actually remove makeup well) but this little guy works so well! All you do is get it wet, and wipe at your make-up. It only took a few seconds, and all my eye makeup was transferred to the towel. Then I rinsed it with soap, and it looked brand new again! Instructions say it should last 1,000 washes, so all in all, $12 for three years of make-up removal is one heck of a deal. It also comes in a larger size, which I think I would like even more. The one thing that was a problem for me is that it irritated my eyes a bit - I don't know if that's because I'm rubbing water into it or because I have very sensitive eyes, but that did leave my eyes a bit irritated.

In the end, because the Makeup Eraser left my eyes a bit irritated, and because I like the added benefits of the Bioderma micellar water, I'm going to use the Makeup Eraser for travel (it's the perfect size!) and the Bioderma for my every day. I would love to hear about your experiences with various make-up removal methods, and which one you prefer - wipes? oils? cleansers? leave it on and reapply the next day? ;)

beauty tuesday: how too faced's better than sex compares to bobbi brown's eye opening mascara

As a blondie with really light eyelashes, I've always been very self conscious about how different I look without mascara on. I have longer eyelashes, but without some product on there, you can't even tell I have any! I think if you polled all light eyelashed ladies, 95% of us would say that if we could only wear one type of make-up, we would choose mascara.

Therefore, for as long as I can remember I have had an obsession with eyelashes and mascara. My parents were slow to let me wear make-up (the agony of being the first born!), but I have very clear memories of being in seventh grade and sneakily wearing clear mascara, thinking it would help with those blond eyelashes. It obviously didn't do anything, but since I started wearing eye makeup in high school, I've been obsessed with making my eyelashes darker, longer, and as prominent as possible. I've done it all - eye lash tinting (did nothing), Latisse (lengthened but didn't darken), eye lash extensions (hated that you can't properly wash your face and the $$$), as well as try just about every mascara on the market. It wasn't until I tried the Too Faced's Better Than Sex mascara that I was truly loyal to an eyelash product for almost three years. Then a couple of weeks ago, I heard about Bobbi Brown's Eye Opening Mascara, and was finally tempted enough away from my holy grail mascara to give it a try. Thanks to Sephora's amazing return policy, I really didn't have anything to lose. Now that I've sufficiently had time to give it a try, I wanted to show you guys how they compare.

Brush & Formula: Both have fairly large brushes, but the Bobbi Brown wand is definitely bigger - the first time I used it, I was a bit overwhelmed just by how large it actually is! They do say that you should use a mascara brush that has the shape of the eyelashes you want. So for me, I want as thick and voluminous lashes as possible, so those are the kind of brushes I look for. The formula of the BTS mascara is definitely wetter, especially at first. I actually didn't really like the first week or two of use just because the formula was too wet, and not buildable enough for my liking. The nice thing is that one tube lasted me about 3-4 months. The BB mascara, on the other hand, definitely starts at that perfect buildable formulation, which I really like. I also think it takes fewer coats to really build up to the look I want - I could get away with even just one coat over a primer, but I prefer to do two, just because bigger is better in my book! Time will tell how long one tube lasts though, and at $7 more expensive, I hope it lasts just as long! 

Application & Wear: I've had several readers tell me this, so I know I'm not the only one, but I could never get the BTS mascara to not smudge along my lower lash line when I was applying it. I don't know if it's because of the hourglass shape of the wand or what, but it got to the point where I tested out a smaller wanded mascara from Clinique just to see if that helped (it did, but I hated having to add another step). Several people also said that the BTS mascara flaked off really bad for them. I personally never had that issue, but I also always used an eyelash primer first. Now with the Bobbi Brown mascara, I don't have that issue with lower lash smudging, so I really think it's the brush from the Too Faced Mascara that caused that problem. With the Bobbi Brown mascara, I'm still using the primer, so I haven't had any issues with flaking with that formulation either. Both are easily removed with my Glossier cleanser (it's too hot in the house to currently use my preferred method of make-up removal, coconut oil). 

Appearance: I think these pictures really do portray the brush = eyelashes theory - the Better Than Sex eyelashes are a bit sparser, thinner and fluttery, while the Eye Opening eyelashes are thicker, longer, and slightly crowded. For me, especially since I wear glasses daily, I really prefer it this way. Ideally, I want someone to think that my eyelashes are fake (is that such a small request or what). Up close, it looks a bit strange (kind of like spider legs...) but behind glasses that make my eyes appear smaller, I really like how the Bobbi Brown Eye Opening mascara looks. My eyelashes just appear longer, thicker, and darker, and really do open up my eyes. Am I completely converted from three years of loyalty for Too Faced's Better Than Sex? ...I think so. I'm definitely going to continue to use the Bobbi Brown Eye Opener mascara, and hope it holds up as well as it does now!

Have you used either of these great mascaras? Do you have your own holy grail mascara you want to share?! While I really like the ones I've found, I'm definitely opening to trying others. 

beauty tuesday: those damn large pores (and how to cover them up)

before | after Estee Edit's Pore Vanishing Stick

Over the past year, I've become quite content with the direction my skin is going. With the help of Paula's Choice, my acne has drastically cleared up, and with the help of my tretinoin cream, the hyperpigmentation I had from the acne is now going away too. Which means it's time for me to focus my skin insecurities on the next item...my large pores.

I've always had them, and after talking to my dermatologist about it, turns out I have my genetics to blame as genetics are really the reason for the size of our pores...which means there's also not a ton that can be done about them.  We have all seen products that promise to reduce pore size, and not shockingly, they don't really work. My doctor did say that my tretinoin cream should help, but to be honest, I've been using it for nine months now, and I haven't really noticed much of a difference. So I'm going to continue her recommendations, which is to use the tretonoin cream, and start an at-home microdermabrasian about once a week (do you have any recommendations? I was debating trying the Ole Hendricksen power peel, if any of you have tried it, I'd love to hear your thoughts!).

Anyway, all of this is to say that since there isn't a ton that can be done about the actual pores on my face in ways of treatment, I was more than willing to try out Estee Edit's new Pore Vanishing stick to cover them up. What it is is basically a primer in stick form that blurs the look of pores. While not really a new concept (Smashbox and Benefit both have primers geared toward reducing the look of the size of pores), I found the concept in stick form to be so much easier to use. In the morning before putting on my makeup, I use my regular primer (I use this Laura Mercier hydrating primer for my dry skin) over the rest of my face, and then use the Estee Edit primer on just my nose. Although the rest of my face is on the dry side, my nose is my one oilier spot, so this primer not only helps with the oil, but it really does blur away the enlarged pores! As you can see in the picture on the right, you can't see all the little spots like you can on the picture on the left. I currently don't wear foundation on a regular basis (my face is covered up by a face mask most days anyway), so I like that this helps cover up my insecurities without adding much more than five seconds to my morning routine. I'd definitely recommend at least swiping it across your nose the next time you're in store so you can see the difference it makes - when I tried it, I immediately felt okay spending $28 on the stick as I saw that it actually worked.

This is  my first purchase from the new Estee Edit line (which is an Estee Lauder line at Sephora) but I was playing around with a few items while I was in the store recently so I'm looking forward to trying a few more items. I'm going to get a sample of the White Mask for sure (the reviews look promising!). I'm also intrigued by their mascara as it comes with two wands - one side to build up your lashes (the brush looks very similar to my beloved Too Faced mascara) and a smaller side to define (great for the lower lashes).

beauty tuesday: how to get your makeup to last all day

Now that I've been working longer and longer days, I've been looking for makeup that lasts as long as my time in the hospital does. Below are the products, methods, and tricks I've found that work for me! While my makeup didn't exactly last through a 28 hour shift, it does hold up for 12+ hours!

start with the right base

No matter your skin type, using a primer is the vital first step to getting your makeup to last all day. There is a whole range of primers out there that address all and any of your skincare concerns. For me, I need something that is hydrating. My staple is the Laura Mercier hydrating primer, but have also enjoyed using Nivea's post-shave balm (review here), Urban Decay's Pore Perfecting primer, and Becca's Backlight Priming Filter. I would really like to try Too Faced's primer, partially because of the good reviews and partially because the packaging is so cute! Unfortunately, since I do not have experience with oiler skin, I don't personally have any recommendations - if any of you do and have found a primer that works well for oiler skin, please share below in the comments!

I personally rarely use an eyeshadow primer - I find that using my face primer on my eyes is usually enough to stop my eyeshadow from migrating and creasing, but I also don't wear a ton of eyeshadow during the workweek. This may not be the case for you if you have oilier skin though. I do own the Urban Decay eyeshadow primer, and it's the perfect primer for nights out when I go a little heavier with the eyeshadow. 

And for those of you who have issues with mascara fallout, you need to try a primer! I'm a big fan of the Urban Decay primer, and just ordered my second tube. Not only does it keep your mascara right where you want it, but it makes your eyelashes look almost fake they are so big (see here for proof!). If you are looking for something a bit more inexpensive, try the primer side of L'oreal's Double Extend mascara. 

pick the long-lasting products
Seems kind of like a no-duh statement, but it surprisingly took me a while to find products that really did stay on my face for 12+ hours. Below are the ones that stick around for an entire shift:

Estee Lauder's Double Wear Light: I've heard great things about their Double Wear foundation, but since I didn't want a full coverage foundation, I went with the lighter coverage version. I plan on having a full review of this in the coming weeks (completely with 12 hour later pictures!), but let's just say that this stays right where you put it. Highly recommend!

Smashbow Powder: I seem to work this into every beauty post, but that's because it is one of my absolute favorite beauty items. Not only does it even out your skin, make your pores disappear (truly!), but this is what sets all the rest of your makeup. I've purchased...probably at least 8 of these over the years.

Brow Pencil: I used a brow powder for years before switching to a pencil. They say that powders look more natural, but I find that with the right pencil and technique (you have to use the spooley!),  not only will your brows look "natural" (but better, obviously), but they'll also be there by the end of the day. I'm currently using Charlotte Tilbury's Brow Lift, but if you are looking for something with a few more colors, Anastasia recently came out with a similar product with more color options. If you are still noticing that your eyebrows are disappearing, try a brow gel after coloring in your brows!

Stila's Liquid Eyeliner: It says it right in the name - stay all day! Another one of my holy grail items, I've purchased probably at least 20 of these, and the day I find out they discontinue it is the day I order 20 more online. This truly stays on my eyelids all day long - through allergy season, sad movies, and afternoon naps.

Too Faced's 16 hour blush: A recent discovery, this blush not only comes in adorable packaging, but lives up to its name. It gives you just the right flush while staying put all day.

finish with a setting spray

This is fairly new to me, but I've been using Urban Decay's setting spray for about six months now, and have actually noticed quite a difference! Once all of your makeup is applied, apply your RBF (so that your face is neutral, unless you are lucky and don't have RBF like I do), and spray one-two pumps on your face. Wait about 15 seconds for it to dry before talking or really moving your face, otherwise it will settle into the crinkles of your skin. 

I hope that helps getting your make up to last all.day.long! If you have any tips, tricks, or products that have helped to increase the longevity if your makeup, please share below in the comments!

beauty tuesday: using a Nivea's post shave balm as a primer + current foundation routine

While I love my pricey beauty products, I also really love finding an inexpensive option that works just as well. I found out about using a men's post shave balm as a primer through youtube (and only about a year late) but I've really been enjoying it! Below is how I use, plus my current foundation routine.

I'm hoping to do a few more videos in the future, so feel free to subscribe to my channel (although the videos will always be posted on here as well). I'm currently working on the lighting issue so hopefully the next video won't be as dark ;)

Nivea Post Shave Balm

Pur HydraFluid foundation in Light c/o

Laura Mercier foundation in Medium Ivory

Nars concealer in vanilla + beauty blender

Aesthetica palette c/o + Morphe brush E48

Smashbox powder in light/neutral + IT brush No. 101*

Bobbi Brown bronzing powder in natural + IT brush No. 108*
Bobbi Brown blush in Nectar + Sephora brush

Becca highlighter + Urban Decay blurring brush

Urban Decay makeup setting spray c/o

my lipstick is Clinique Pop Lip in Fab Pop 

* I misspoke in my video - these are IT brushes for Ulta, not IT cosmetics :)

beauty tuesday: my daily make-up routine

While I don't talk about it much, I really love make-up. I'm constantly reading reviews online, and playing around with different products. Over the past few months, I've tried a few new products that have become staples for me, so I wanted to share! Here are the products I use on a daily, not-in-the-hospital, basis. I always want my made-up self to look like me, just better ;)

Let me know if you have any questions (and no judging my bare face!).

Primer: Urban Decay
Foundations: Laura Mercier (medium ivory) + BareMinerals (buttercream)
Concealer: Nars (vanilla) + Sephora brush
Powder: Smashbox (light)+ ItCosmetics brush
Bronzer: Bobbi Brown (natural) + Real Techniques brush
Blush: Urban Decay (fetish) + Real Techniques brush
Eye Cream: Charlette Tilbury (marie antoinette)
Eyeliner: Stila (intense black)
Eyeshadow: Stila + Crown brush via Ipsy
Eyebrows: Anastasia (soft brown) + Sephora brush
Eyelash curler: Shiseido
Mascara: Revlon + Too Faced
Lipstick (not filmed): Nars (roman holiday) or Bobbi Brown (pale mauve)

ps. need a new cute makeup bag? how cute are these dogeared bags? one of each please!

love it / want it

Over the past few years, neutrals have slowly been taking over both my closet and my make up routine. I rarely shy away from the more subdued colors of bronze, soft pinks, and a thick black lash anymore (even though I wish I could rock the blue mascara like my mom does!). Here are a few of my tried and true neutral favorites, as well as a few from Nordstrom's New Neutral collection that I'd like to try out in the future: 

one: pricey, but one swipe is all you need for a customized pink pout 

two: two layers of this, and you'll have a chip free manicure for at least a week

three: used only on special occasions, I love the bit of beautiful hightlighting this does!

four: a serious staple in my rotation (other current favorites: go ginza and minimalistic)

five: it looks super pigmented, but it actually looks really natural on (and one pot lasts forrrrrevvver)

six: truly the only eyeshadow palette you'll ever need

seven: the easiest way to get that flushed look - watch the video to see how pretty it is on!

eight: the outside is just so pretty, plus the reviews say it's the most beautiful pink when on your lips

nine: an update on the bronzer I grew up watching my mom use 

ten: this polymer trio promises voluminous lashes, and the reviews can't stop raving about it

eleven: besides being the perfect "better than nude" color, the name (bitch perfect) is...well, perfect!

twelve: you will never have to buy another blush again (*a Nordstrom exclusive...want so bad!)

thank you to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post - all opinions are of course my own 

unconventional beauty tricks that actually work

 

I'm always on the lookout for the "next best thing". I rarely re-purchase make up, moisturizers, cleansers, exc. just because I always hope the next purchase will be better than the last. Over the last few months I've picked up a few tricks that are somewhat unconventional, but are ones that I don't see myself needing to change any time soon either because they are so much cheaper than the traditional product or because it just works so well. 

Monistat Chafing Gel as a foundation primer:

I've recently started using foundation again (currently using the HD Invisible Cover Foundation) to even out my skin tone more. I was researching if I wanted to use a primer or not and I stumbled upon a tip to use the Monistat Chafing Gel as a primer. The main active ingredient, Dimethicone, is also found in a lot of the major brand primers like the Smashbox primer which goes for 5 times the price. While I don't have any experience with the Smashbox primer, I've used several different brands in the past and the chafing gel works just as well at filling in pores and helping keep make-up in place but for a fraction of the cost. My skin tends to run on the drier side and the primer helps it feel velvety soft all day. 

Head & Shoulders for body acne:

Acne on my back is something I've struggled with for 10 years now, and in recent months I've also started getting it on my chest too. SUPER FUN. I've tried everything over the years - pills, lotions, creams, swabs. Nothing has completely helped. I read someone suggest using the Head & Shoulders shampoo as a body wash - they claimed it completely got rid of their bacne (gah, I kinda hate that word). I've used it for a week now and even in just 5 washes I've noticed a huge difference with the skin on my chest. I was seriously shocked that it worked as well it as it did for a product that is in no way geared towards clearing acne. Apparently the pyrithione zinc is the magic ingredient so make sure whatever kind you use (I'm using the 2 in 1 classic currently) contains it. I smooth it on my skin and let it sit for about 2 minutes at the end of the shower.

aluminum foil to remove glitter polish:

I love to do my nails, but I hate removing the polish, especially glitter polish. I scrub and scrub with completely demolished cotton swabs trying to get it off. I learned this trick on Pinterest. You just soak half a cotton ball in polish, place it on your nail, and wrap the whole thing in a stripe of aluminum foil. Then you wait for 5 minutes, and all the polish wipes off clean! I have no idea why this works, but it does. No more scrubbing!

coconut oil as a make-up remover:

 I finally jumped on the coconut oil train last month, and when I asked on instagram what people use it for, Jentine from My Edit said she uses it to remove eye makeup. Girl, what? You want me to put something I fry eggs with on my face? I had been using the Neutrogena remover wipes for about 9 months and while they worked fine, I was sick of spending $8 a month just to remove make-up so when my pack ran out I gave the coconut oil a try. I rub just a tiny amount (not even pea size) between my fingers to melt it, and then I rub it all over my eyes for about 30 seconds. You'll temporarily turn into a crying LC lookalike, but all the eye make up will come off easily. I splash some water on my face (just like in the commercials! ha) to remove some of this make up residue and then follow up with a cleanser to remove the remaining make up and oil. It works so well for so little money that I don't think I'll ever go back to spending $8 on wipes that don't even work as well and just fill up my garbage quicker. The coconut oil is also very moisturizing so I feel it's better for the skin around my eyes, and there is less tugging and pulling as there was with the wipes. I have also been making an exfoliator mask once a week with the coconut oil by mixing a little bit with baking soda and the scrubbing it all over my face. 

Are there any unconventional beauty products you use? I'd love to hear about them so I can try them out for myself!

daily make up routine

I'm a big make-up person. I like to really present my best 'face' and so I spend about 12 minutes every morning putting on make-up. This is my daily routine! All the products I use are listed below. Almost all of my make-up is from Sephora as I'm very indecisive when it comes to makeup, so I choose to purchase them there rather than at a drugstore because I know I can always return something if I don't love it. In the end this saves me from purchasing a bunch of products I'm meh about, therefore saving space and money. I am kind of cheap when it comes to brushes though - all but one are from Target and were no more than $3. Sure I'd like more expensive brushes, but the ones I have are working fine for now.

Do you have any tips or product suggestions for me? Let me know in the comments please (and please don't tell me I look like a 12 year old boy without any make up on, I already know this haha)

Skin
Too Faced Tinted Beauty Balm (Cream Glow)
BareMinerals Concealer (Light 2)
Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder (Light)
Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer (Original Chocolate)
Smashbox Blush Rush (Radiance)

Eyes
Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette
Stila All Day Waterproof Eyeliner (intense black)
Smashbox Brow Tech (Taupe/Soft Brown)
Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara (Jet Black)