New Project Pan: 2019 Seasonal Focused

So, I am starting this late, but I am doing seasonal project pans this year! I still have until June 21st, which is the first day of summer. Since I am starting it late, I have chosen my items accordingly for my Spring Project Pan. I am starting out with 5 items that I want to use up/hit pan on. If I finish something up, I can rotate something else in to try to get to 5 by the first day of Summer. These will be more manageable for me than trying to do a year long project with 20 items at the moment, when I have a lot of other projects going on and not to mention work, Dean, college, and a new relationship to boot. I thought that I would update this at the end of every month. So, end of April, end of May, and the finale of the project in June.

I chose 5 items to use up by June 21 st. One or two items might be ambitious, but I think that I can do it. I want to use up my MAC Prep + Prime Fix + in Lavender, DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom in the 0.5 oz container, PIXI Sheer Check Gel in No 2 Sun Kissed, Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Au Naturel, and Marc Jacobs Enamored Hi-Shine Lipgloss in 312 Sugar Sugar.

I have about a 1/4 of this bottle left and I would like to move on to the coconut scented one for the summer. This is a primer spray, so I use it after I put on my face cream but before I start putting on any makeup. I usually will put a second primer on top of this one after it dries. I believe it seals in moisture as my other primers tend to be drying for my oily skin. I believe that as long as I use it, this one might be finished by the second update that will be at the end of May.

A perfume is always ambitious, but considering there is only a little bit left, I think I can manage to use it up as long as I remember to apply it everyday. It is a long lasting perfume, but gone by bedtime. I could apply first thing in the morning and before bed to get the most use out of it. I love the way this smells, but I am tired of this floral. I want the green apple version of this so bad. I for sure will buy more DKNY perfumes and the apple scents tend to learn more summery/spring for me rather than fall. This perfume is for sure a Spring perfume, hence why it’s in this project.

Another ambitious one. I have 1/3 of this tube left and again, this is pretty old in my collection. I think I can finish it off, if I use it without fail every day. This may be one that I end up not finishing, but I bet that I can make a ton of progress on it. The thing is you don’t need very much to get a lovely bitten look to the cheeks. I apply with my fingers and then buff out with a kabuki blush to get rid of any harsh lines. I would love to use this up before it goes bad. I have another potted cream blush to use up after this one and that one is better suited for summer with its Popsicle red shade.

Not much left to this nude cream eye shadow stick. It is quick and easy for a very neutral look. This makes it really easy for me to wear eye shadow. I just apply to my finger and then to my eye lid. I have hooded eyes, so I tend to do a one to two eye shadow look. I know that in the future I want to buy more cream eye shadow sticks and small/mini powder eye shadow palettes. I don’t want big bulky eye shadow palettes anymore. They aren’t for me. Thank god, I only have 1 to work through. I like the credit card sized palettes or the little Too Faced ones. Perfect size for me, when I’m not really into eye shadow. Cream eye shadow though has me second guessing not being into eye shadow.

I threw in a lip gloss, because I can plow through a lip product easy. This one even has windows, so I know there is already good progress done to it. This shade is way too sickly nude on my lips, so I wear it around the house. I love the formula and the minty tingle. It is a very good lip gloss that I would want in more shades when I can justify buying more lip products. If I move more out, I’m closer to buying more. This is how I am choosing to look at it. I have no doubts of using this one up.

There you have it! The five makeup items that I want to move out of my collection by the first day of Summer. I am eyeing a few other bits for what I want to use up in the Summer. One of them, I know will be a hair care item that has stuck around for way too long. I will for sure be going for a Summer seasonal vibe like I did for Spring. I picked out neutrals with flush cheeks and Spring scents.

Anyone else doing a Seasonal project pan?

With Love,

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My Last Sephora Play! February

I cancelled my subscription tom Sephora Play! because I have a ton of makeup that I need to use up and it was sending me repetitive products two months in a row. I decided that I would rather just buy my own beauty products when I run out than keep getting samples that I might not enjoy. I feel like when I am choosing my own products, I do a ton of research and almost always love it or like it at the very least. I plan on subscribing to Audible. The first month is free and after that, $14.99 a month for any audiobook that they carry and the book is mine forever on my account. I plan on downloading the books to my computer storage, in case they ever go out of business. I plan to listen during my workouts and $15 isn’t really too much to spend a month on a book any way. I used to buy 2 books for $20 practically every month.

Sephora Collection Rouge Matte Lipstick in Rebel Chic 1g $2.33

This lipstick is currently being discontinued at Sephora since the full size is on sale for $7 now. It is a nice wine berry color that looks really good sheered out. It is actually a wearable color for me, but it takes a bit of blotting.

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Let’s Go Crazy 1.8 g $20

This is 75% of a full size. I am very happy with the brand and color which is a bright pink. It is the perfect Summer color. I wish I would have gotten a lipstick and a gloss or something, instead of just two lipsticks. I will use this for sure, but probably after I finish my Kat Von D Pool Party Liquid Lipstick, that is a color that I would buy in a full size once finished. Nars has some controversy about not being cruelty free now. Not sure I would actually buy anything from them.

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Rosegold 1 g $17.40

Again, this is 3/5ths of the full size. It is in a pretty shade that I will get a ton of use out of, but will not purchase as it is not CF. It is a very decent cream eye shadow and I love using it for day looks. I like simple eye looks and this takes 5 minutes for both eyes to be done. I love doing my makeup on my days off and work at home days. The only day that I do not wear any makeup is on Sundays to give my face a breather. I still wear lipstick though!

Perfume Sample: Atelier Cologne….AGAIN

Seriously this is like the fourth time this brand has been featured in my bag. I want a sprayer, not a dabber! I have to use up one of my reusable sprayers, so I can dump these dabbers into there. Some of them do smell good layered. I just hate having these sitting in my samples stash. Number one thing I hate about beauty boxes has got to be the perfume samples. If I want one, I would get one at the beauty counter.

 PTR Firm X Peeling Gel 15 ml $7.20

I think peeling gels are a gimmick, plus I got a peeling gel in January. Plus, I got a caviar stick in January in a different color. This box is SO repetitive. I really don’t care about peeling gels. I will use it to use it up, but I would not purchase one myself. I like liquid chemical exfoliates and physical ones best. I have never saw improvement in my skin when using a peeling gel. I just don’t see the hype.

Belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb 5 ml $9.60

Again, in January, I got an eye cream too. This is the reason why I cancelled. I had two months in a row with the same type of products in it. I also decided to go CF and Sephora itself isn’t CF. It sends CF and non-CF products. I didn’t want to buy anymore non-CF items anymore when I can help it. Right now, I have one non-CF product in my shower right now. Most of my skin care, hair, and body care are CF. My makeup is still a mix of things, but I no longer buy non-CF. I make mistakes sometimes, because I am human. I am making a conscious effort though to be CF, a minimalist, non-consumerist, and just overall a more healthy person.

I have a LOT of changes going on in my life right now. I am going back to college, my work dynamic is changing with working from home and doing Saturdays, blogging regularly, Dean and all of his needs and challenges such as school worries, my dad’s impending foot surgery, learning how to drive by getting my permit again, and trying and failing to keep the house in order. I am in the midst of consigning a ton of clothes, because I have been exercising and losing more weight. Also, Dean’s closet got cleaned out and I have those clothes as well. I am going to be dividing the clothes into seasonal piles and try to get as many done as possible.

Also, I found a whole plastic tote filled with my old slimmer clothes. It is like finding money or getting extra makeup that you didn’t pay for in your Sephora order. I am so happy and will be trying on all these “new” clothes to see if I can add more clothes to my closet. Let’s be honest, I don’t have much that really fits me anymore and I am constantly consigning and thrifting. I love losing all of this weight and getting down to my pre-pregnancy size, but I don’t have to cash to buy much clothes replacements. Hence, where the consignment money comes in to buy new clothes. The circle of life.

With Love,

 

 

Project $200 Pan Finale

I had fun for the past 6 months trying to use up $200 worth of makeup products. I already know that I have won this challenge and I feel really proud of myself. I know that this year’s challenge will be a success as well as long as I work at it and don’t slack off too much. Now, let’s recap from last month. I used up $189.18. I think I beat the $200 mark for sure with these two products.

I finished the Laura Mercier loose setting powder at $4.56. The Vampire perfume went for $20.00. So I bet my goal of $200. I ended my project in December at $213.74! This was such a fun project and I look forward to the new project that I am planning next year. Stay tuned to find out what I am doing in 2018!

With Love,

December Empties

Instead of saying another month gone, I’ll say another year gone this time around. I believe the older you are, the faster time seems to go by. Time never went by this fast when I was in high school. It only ever went fast when I was actually enjoying my life. Now, days that drag and days that fly, all seem to go at the same pace. Sounds cliche and maybe it is but it is also the truth. I would never go back in time. I want to always be moving forward, never going back. For the new year empties, I am going to be trying a new style of empty posts. Stay tuned until Feb to see the new empties.

1. & 2. International Delight Coffee Creamer

3. & 4. Gerber Graduates Lil’ Beanies

5. New England Coffee Colombian Supremo

6. Dunkin’ Donuts Caramel Coffee Cake

7. Gerber Puffs in Sweet Potato

8. Dr Fresh Kids’ Toothbrushes

9. – 12. Two Sharpie Highlighters & Two InkJoy pens

13. Zesty Paws Turmeric Curcumin Bites

14. ProActiv Refining Mask

15. Belif The True Cream Moisturizing Balm

16. Coty Vampire Perfume

17. Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

18. Velvet Purple Scrunchy

19. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% and Zinc 1%

20. Biore Baking Soda Cleanser

21. Gliss Ultra Moisture Shampoo

22. Equate Motrin

23. Soap & Glory Clean On Me Shower Gel

December was a light month for me and January is already looking better. I have been decluttering some makeup products here and there that are just not good anymore. As I go throughout the year, I plan on decluttering anything that I don’t like that I know are recent products to friends and anything else can and will be thrown away. It’s time for a new me that doesn’t keep products around just to have them.

With Love,

 

December Sephora Play!

The last box of the year and it came on December 23rd. Seriously. I usually get my box from 10-20. I feel like it took FOREVER! Okay, I’ll stop complaining. lol. I really do love the Sephora Play subscription that I get every month. Some months are better than others, but overall, I think you get good bang for your tenner. I might not use everything immediately, but I am happy to try everything that I can. I am rotating through my makeup collection and making it a big priority next year that if I don’t love something, I give it away. If it is too old, throw it out. If I’m not loving it, it isn’t worth the effort to use it up or pan it.

I love the bag! It is very cute, but I really don’t have a need. I usually just donate these bags away to be recycled and proceeds goes towards a local charity. I’m actually going to be using my card, because I am hitting up Sephora. I want to buy something during the 20% off sale and possibly cash in some points.

Drybar Triple Sec, 0.35 oz for $2.17

This is a 12th of the full size, so to me it seems like a tiny sample. I would have at least liked to have seen a half of an ounce for a hair product. This will probably only be a couple of uses. I have to use a lot of dry shampoo to soak up the second day oil in my hair. It gets oily super fast. I think it smells nice and I cannot wait to use it once I use up my Not Your Mother’s dry shampoo. So far, I really love the Amika Perk Up dry shampoo for my hair. I don’t have to put a ton in and it really works.

Stella McCartney perfume sample

I love that this is a natural rose scent. I’ve been really into rose scents lately. I would love to receive a foil packet instead of a perfume every other month though. I haven’t gotten one yet and I would really like to. I have too many perfume samples at the moment since I’m trying to work through a bottle of perfume.

Clinique Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen, 0.34 g for $7

I’m going to say that this is a third of the full size, since I cannot find how much is in a pen anywhere. I look forward to using this when I don’t currently have an eye liner open. I am trying to use up a black and glitter eye liner. I’m pulling it out in January, so we shall see if it is still good or not. I’ll be blogging about my makeup clearing journey, so you guys won’t miss a beat. Subscription bags are great, but if I don’t like it, I’m not going to be keeping them around anymore.

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Matte Au Natural, 1 g for $17.40

This is more than half of a full size! It is pretty close to a full size and way more than half. I am very pleased with the amount of product in this one. This is a nude color that I will be using all of the time. I actually prefer to work with cream shadows, so I am excited to try this out in my January rotation. If it wears nicely on my eyes, I will be very happy. Eye shadow creases on my hooded eyes like crazy, especially creams. I had a hard time getting rid of the swatch so I have high hopes for this one. I would work this on the lid and crease and pop a bright eye shadow on the lid.

Caudalie Vine[Activ] Energizing & Smoothing Eye Cream, 0.16 fl oz for $13

This is a third of the full size of eye cream, so I am happy that it is a really decent sized eye cream sample. It takes me a while to go through eye cream. I almost never need to buy it, because these samples carry me throughout most of the year. I am curious about this brand, but I feel like the beauty world is over it. I’d like to try more of it. I really love the beauty elixir, but I can buy a Smashbox Primer Water for less and get more. I feel like they are overpriced and trying to be luxury.

MUFE Artist Rouge Creme Lipstick Fuchsia Pink, 0.04 oz for $7.34

Another generous size for being a third of the full size. This lipstick is super soft. While I love the purple pink color, the bullet is already being smashed around inside of the tube. I would not buy a full size of this. I will be pulling it out in the spring and summer, but this really isn’t a winter color. I would have appreciated a soft pink or a winter berry.

$46.91 is the total value of this box. I would give this box 3 out of 5 stars, because of the great value and I’m not excited for the lipstick and the black liner. I am excited to see what the next year brings to the Sephora Play! box. I have been really happy with the items that I have received this year. I plan on going through my collection soon and getting rid of the samples that I didn’t enjoy.

With Love,

Sephora Play October

Another month has come and gone and this one is almost over. I received my Sephora Play late this month. Maybe it had to do with customized foundation color? I’m not sure if it’s my color, but I’m going to try it out. If it doesn’t work out, I can get a new sample in store with my Sephora Play! card, which is fantastic of Sephora. Everyone is guaranteed a good foundation color, even if it isn’t your perfect foundation formula. Well, as long as that brand in that foundation has a color to match you to. Have you guessed the theme yet for this month’s Play box? It is Complexion Companions.

I really love this month’s box contents, but I don’t care for the bag to be honest. I thought that all of the products went with the theme. Sephora seems to be getting better at doing these themed bags. I got two items from the same brand in this box, but they are completely different products, so I don’t mind it that much. But come on Sephora! You have tons of brands and I get two from the same brand? Must have had too much samples from that brand. That’s really the only disappointing thing in this box: that I got two samples from the same brand. I absolutely LOVE everything though.

Chanel Gabrielle

I read Stella’s blog and she wrote about buying this perfume. I can say that this is a beautiful and sweet adult fragrance. It is floral, but sweet. It isn’t musky. It is the perfect day time scent and very office friendly. I wear perfume everyday and I can see this one being a go to staple. When I need to buy a Spring scent, I would consider this one. I need to get myself down to four bottles of perfume: one for every season. This would be a perfect Spring scent. It is fresh and light. I really love it.

MUFE Ultra HD Skin Booster Serum, 0.15 fl for $15.38

I am very surprised at the value of this sample. The full size is a little more than double this amount. That seems like such a small amount for a full size worth $41. I would never send that much for less than 0.5 fl oz of serum. I spent $40 on the Sunday Riley UFO that was 0.5 fl oz of oil and I considered that expensive but worth it. I am already using a hydrating serum right now, but as soon as that one is done (which will be pretty soon), I will be testing this one out. I feel like hydrating serums are very basic. I will probably just repurchase the one that lasted me several months and was very cheap.

Becca First Light Priming Filter, 0.2 fl oz for $7.60

Another expensive brand that I have been dying to try. I say Lizloveshermakeup on Youtube rave about this product and the fact that it is purple has me hooked. I’m so shook to be able to try this out. I haven’t found a primer that I am in love with yet, so maybe this one will be the one? It’s hard for me to find makeup products to be my holy grails. Preferences change all the time and my skin changes as well. Things I used to love, no longer it the bill. Plus, I’ve gone cruelty free, which really restricts my options. I’m pretty sure Becca is cruelty free, so if I love it, I’ll purchase it. Once I’ve gone through my other full size primer. Samples, I can go through, but I need to get my full size out of the way in order to buy another.

Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops in Moonlight, 2.8 ml for $7.98

Another product that I am super stoked to try. I’ve tried other things from Cover FX, but what I really wanted to try was this highlighter. It is a nice bronzy pink shade and I am so excited to wear it. I want to get the little volt set of all of these mini ones. It blends out like a dream and you can make it look subtle or beam in your face. I like to go a little more subtle for work, but glowing on the weekends. It will be a great versatile liquid highlighter in my collection. If I really love it, I’m going to buy their unicorn shade. Although, I do hear that the full sizes tend to dry out. I’ll stick to buying the smaller size if I really am impressed by this one.

MUFE Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation in R230, 5 ml or $6.45

I feel like this will be a good match, even though it is lighter than my Sephora match which is R250. This was the featured product of the month that everyone should have gotten in their bags. I am happy with the shade. In the bottle it looks more on the pink side. I have a yellow undertone, but I like more rosy to neutral foundation colors on me to tone down the yellow in my skin. I like to look healthy and have a good glow. Yellow is very sallow and I don’t need a yellow foundation to emphasis that. I am using a sample of a cushion foundation right now. I will use this to see the color match, but I probably wont break it out until December to use on a consistent basis.

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder, 0.12 oz for $4.56

Another product that I was excited to see in my bag due to all the Youtube hype. Basically, I was excited with everything in my bag this month. I have run out of all my loose powders, so I am going to be putting back my ELF color correcting finishing powder in cool and putting this bad boy in my cabinet. I am a huge fan of loose powder, even though it is very messy at times. I still love a pressed powder, but loose powder seems to suit my preferences better at the moment.

$41.97 is the grand total of my bag. While I don’t think it was the most expensive bag, I believe one of my bags hit over $50 in the past, I am the most excited about the products in this bag than any other I have received before. It is quadruple the value that I paid for and the fact that I can use every single product on the daily makes this a 5 out of 5 for me hands down. I look forward to what the next two bags have to bring for me in 2017.

With Love,

Sephora Play! September

I am not going to lie. I was a bit disappointed with what I got in this Sephora Play. Nothing really wowed me. I did get some exciting brands, but not the items that I would have wanted from that brand. I will still use everything that I got, but I hope next month will bring an exciting product or two. The theme was Fall Into Beauty and I have to say, I really love the bag this month and I’ll be using it for my monthly beauty bag for this upcoming month at least.

The red polka dots on the Play! Card are very reminiscent of Minnie Mouse for me. How can you not love that bright silky hot pink bag though? It’s an ultra girly color with such a cute saying on the front.

My free perfume sample had two perfumes from Clean in it. I wish I could have gotten a foil sample instead, which Sephora will now be doing in addition to the perfume sample. You will either get perfume or a foil packet. I am personally all for the foil packet. I have too much perfume to begin with without having all these samples around.

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Intense Black 0.25 ml for $11

This is half of the full size making this a generous sample and I am excited to try this out. Everyone loves this eyeliner. I just wish I could have gotten a full color instead of black. I have too many blacks and I tend to use colored ones more often than black. I don’t even use eye liners that often either. I have a different liquid black eyeliner that I should use up first, but I look forward to the day that I can try this one out. I can practice my cat eye or just line my waterline. It will be used eventually.

DevaCurl Melt Into Moisture Matcha Butter Conditioning Mask 1.5 fl oz for $6.75

I will have to wait until I use up my Lush hair masks, but this one does sound promising. My hair has been getting curlier since I’ve stopped coloring it a year ago. Gosh, I cannot believe that it’s been a year and 4 months since I bleached my hair. Now, it is a brassy mess and blonde is too much upkeep for me right now. I intend on chopping off most of the blonde. Once I’m all my natural hair color, I will see what I want to do with it. I’m thinking temporary washout color for when I need a boost. I’ll probably will get to trying this out next year. I think I still have like 6 uses out of each Lush hair mask that I have remaining that will go bad if I don’t use them. I use them GENEROUSLY and they still lasted like two years.

Belif The True Cream Moisturizing Bomb 10 ml for $7.60

I was so excited about this until I looked at the back and saw just how little product would be in there. I still want to try this out immediately. My skin has been flaking like crazy these past few days, because I left a face mask with sulfur on for too long and it dried out my skin bad. It could have been from my retinal moisturizer, but I only used that twice every other night and I didn’t show any signs of sensitivity. I’ll be only using that mask on my nose for now or use it for only 10 minutes on the T-zone. I’m hoping this moisturizes my flaky skin and that it stops peeling soon.

Benefit Gimme Brow #3 1 g for $8

This is a third of the full size, so between this one and the other one I have, I have a full size gimme brow. I don’t really do my eye brows, but I have been because I have it. I don’t need to buy a brow product. I have naturally thick brows. I need to get them reshaped, but otherwise than that, they are in really good shape. I will use this up after I finish my opened tube. I don’t care for this product, because I really don’t need it. Only waxing will shape my brows. I have too much eye brow rather than too little.

Laura Mercier Velour Lovers Lip Colour in Happy 0.09 oz for $21

This is almost a full size and totally worth the $10 price tag for the box. I was scared at first that it was going to be super pigmented, but it is very buildable. You can do a sheer wash of color or full on glam demonstrated by my swatches. It is such a pretty color and I will be pulling it out for the holidays. I might even wear it at work since it’s such a friendly formula. It has a semi matte look and feels comfortable on the lips. I always put a balm underneath my lip sticks, so it may not be as comfortable if you don’t prep with a balm before hand. I love the subtle metallic finish. It is more of a shimmery effect than a metallic one. I find metallic colors to be unflattering for the most part.

The value of my September box is $54.35!! I think this is one of the highest valued boxes, but I feel meh about it. I would give this box 2 stars. I’m really only excited for the lip stick, but I gave another star for the value of this box. Sephora Play is a worthwhile subscription to me. I get beauty treats every month for $10 and build up my makeup collection for cheap. If I had a daughter, I would get this for her. It’s great for beginners or for the beauty adventurer that loves to try out everything without breaking the bank.

With Love,

In The Nude

For Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Nude

I liked using this, but only when I powdered on top of it. It has a tendency to move around on my face and be rubbed off. Okay, I didn’t really like it, but I spent 20 USD on it. I made it work. I used my fingers to apply to avoid brush strokes on my face. It never really sunk into my face and made me look too shiny. It gave a medium coverage and I loved how “perfected” (poreless) my face looked. It’s not worth all the work I had to go through to achieve it though. I would try more by this brand. I’ve heard amazing things about their powder and lip gloss, but I will not be repurchasing this item.

With Love ❤

My Current Morning Skincare Routine 2015

Heya Aspiring Gurus!

I haven’t done an updated skincare routine in ages! Well, that is a little dramatic, more like over a year. A lot has changed in my life and my skin care routine is constantly changing. I haven’t had a steady routine for a long time, not even now. I’m hoping to discover more products that I love. So far, the only constant in my skin care routine has been my Cetaphil Facial Moisturizer. Everything else is in constant flux. I guess, that is to be expected for a skin care junky like myself. I love all things skin care…maybe even more than makeup. Shocking, I know. Any ways, let’s get into my morning skin care routine, which includes my basic makeup face for work. I like to keep my makeup basic for work. I’m there to work, not impress, but I love a little makeup.

Skin Care Routine:

First, I start off my washing my face with whatever sample that I have left over from my subscription boxes or the last drags of a cleanser I didn’t particularly like. I actually subscribed to Beauty Fix and September’s box comes with a facial scrub, so I will be using that. I haven’t found a Holy Grail morning cleanser yet. I just apply my chosen cleanser, leave it on for a minute, then rinse and pat dry. Really simple and easy, because my mornings are busy and my routine needs to be short.

I either use a toner or I go right to my moisturizer. I used to use toner religiously, but it is something that I stopped doing this year. I really want to get back to using it. I want to get a liquid one though. These toner pads are too scratchy and harsh on my delicate facial skin. I want to buy a Burt’s Bees one and get some exfoliating cotton rounds. Or the Pixi Glow Tonic, I’ve heard amazing things about that one as well.

My current moisturizer is my Holy Grail and I will never stray too far from it. I love the Cetaphil Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15 so much! I do have my eye on the Neutrogena Grapefruit Acne Fighting Daily Moisturizer, since I do get acne and I find that having an acne lotion works really well at treating and preventing them. I tend to find them drying, so I always use them every other day. I still get the acne fighting effect without it over drying my skin and making it even more oily than it normally is. I have oily skin. Always have and most likely always will. I’m finding out what works and what doesn’t. I have to use moisturizer. If I don’t, my skin is even oilier from lack of moisture and it overcompensates. I use one pump, brush my fingers together, and tap most of the product on my cheeks before moving to cover my forehead and T zone. I also go down my neck with whatever remains. I’m heavy on my cheeks and jaw line, where I tend to be drier. This leaves my face slightly dewy, before it soaks in. It usually takes two to 5 minutes to completely soak in and look matte.

Then, I like to add on some skin protection, since I have a genetic history of skin cancer and have had two scares so far in my short life. Cancer is no joke and everyone should be using actual SPF in their routine. SPF in your moisturizer isn’t enough. Now, I’ll get off my soap box. I look for acne safe SPF that will not clog my pores or make me more oily. I pour a quarter sized amount on my fingers and dab some of my neck, cheeks, and forehead. I rub in my neck first, then my forehead, then my cheeks bringing the product to the rest of my T zone as well. I will apply another quarter sized amount of product and repeat. This ensures that I am getting all the protection that I need from the sun on my daily adventures (going to work or daily events). It takes 5 to 10 minutes for this to sink in and for the white cast to disappear. It leaves my skin with a healthy glow after. I look hydrated and healthy. I will usually have breakfast and get dressed during this time.

I will prime my eyes to prevent them from getting too oily throughout the day and to get rid of the purple discoloration that I have. My veins color my eye lids to look like I’m always wearing purple shadow. A skin colored primer cancels this out perfectly. Right now, I am using ELF and I warm it up on the back on my hand before applying it. I would not repurchase this. It is dry unless you warm it up first to get it creamy. That wastes product though and I’d rather just use a creamy product in the first place.

I will then use my current base with a flat Kabuki brush. I love using this brush to apply foundation. It blends out like a dream. I am using a travel sized version of Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer, which has just enough coverage for my taste. I really love it for that everyday look. It gives my skin a healthy glow and depending upon my mood, I will sometimes not use powder after. It is just a pretty finish that sometimes I don’t feel like covering it up with powder. I apply from the outside of the face in to the center.

If I have any redness or acne peeking through, I will add my trusty concealer on top. I want to try the Nars dupe from Maybelline when I am done with this one. This does not completely cover acne and I think it works better for dark circles. It brightens up that area while concealing the purple color as well. I always use a little underneath my eyes, since I have hereditary dark circles. It is very creamy and blends out really well. I like using a foundation brush in a tapping motion to blend it into my tinted moisturizer.

While my face sets,  I will style my hair. It can take me anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes most weekday mornings. I will then decide depending on how my skin looks that day, to use a highlighter or a staining blush. If I want to look glowy and skip powder, I will chose a highlighter. The pink one doubles as a blush! I use it on the apples of my cheeks and blend in a c shape going towards my hairline and onto my temples. It gives me that light from within glow. I then, pat some of the inner corners of my eyes and on my eyebrow arch. Most of the time, I forget the cupids bow. It is a subtle glow with micro-shimmer, instead of obnoxious glitter.

If I am feeling like I want to use powder, I will use a staining blush. This one from Pixi looks scary, but it blends out into the most beautiful sun kissed glow. It has that beach vibe to it that I love. A little goes a long way, but I find that it is foolproof to apply. Even when I use a little too much, I can still blend it to look natural. I use my fingers and concentrate on the apples of my cheeks before blending out towards my hairline. It gives it a nice faded effect and best of all, no harsh blush lines!

If I decide to powder, I use a fluffy brush and apply the powder in a tapping motion concentrating on the T zone and lightly coating the cheeks and neck. I don’t love the one that I am using, but it is good for setting my makeup and keeping me matte throughout the day. By the end of the day, I am oily, but not as oily as well I use zero powder. It doesn’t add much color, but it does lighten the skin a little bit. It hasn’t broken me out, which is a good thing in my book.

That is my morning routine! I might just go ahead and do my evening routine tomorrow, but these types of posts have been draining to my lately with being pregnant and all. I might just do a book review post instead, I hope you all don’t mind. I want to see your morning routines! If you have a post on one, link it in the comments section below. I love reading these types of posts!

With Love,

Mini Mall Haul

Heya Aspiring Gurus!

I just realized that my post for yesterday did not upload, so I have already uploaded it. Hence, why there is two posts today. Yesterday, I went shopping with my best friend and we went to the mall. She also gave me a few goodies and I gave her some as well. We also ate at Panera Bread. It was my first time eating there and it won’t be my last. Seriously considering reviewing restaurants that I’ve been to now. lol. Any who, this is everything that is new in my life since yesterday.

From Dani:

OPI Nicole Roughles in Rock The Look, 15 ml

I have already used this and I love it. It is in tomorrow’s Manicure Monday post.

Sally Hansen Sugar Coat in 700 Cotton Candies, 11.8 ml

I am looking forward to using this in the next coming weeks depending upon how long my current mani lasts. I want to see how this one looks compared to the one above.

Simple Beauty Angelic Pink Luxurious Cream Bath, 3.4 fl oz

Dani knows how much I love my baths. I take one almost everyday to relax. It is part of my night time routine. This one smells nice, similar to Avon’s Sweet Honesty with more of a baby powder scent. I will enjoy using this as a bubble bath, when I run out of what I am currently using. If you are wondering, it is a foaming bath oil.

Bath Fizzer

I figured that this is good for two uses. It is something nice to add to your bath, when you don’t want to be covered in bubbles. I’m hoping it is moisturizes or does something. The packaging does not say much, but it is pink and glittery!

Stickers

I don’t know why the package says glitter, because they actually do not contain any glitter. They are more metallic than glittery. I cannot wait to use this in next week’s spread. I am working on it Monday, so you won’t see the last few weeks of my planner planning, until Saturday or Sunday. No sneaky peeks from me! These will make the grey and purple accents really pop against all the color.

Target:

This cute little number has dinosaurs on it, perfect for the growing little boy inside of me. It was only 1.50 USD, which is money well spent.

Marshall’s:

I found this at a great discount! It was originally 25 USD and I got it for 3 USD. These are cute for a little boy and I want to have at least 8 onseies like these for him to wear everyday. I currently have 5, so I have at least three more to buy for now. In a few months, that will be a different story. I’ve been buying 0-3 and 3-6 months though for some variety in sizes.

Claire’s:

Claire’s Flat Kabuki, 6.50 USD (6.91 with tax)

I have really wanted a buffing brush for a while for my foundation. Every kabuki that I looked at was either short or too small. This one at Claire’s is a great size for a great price. I am hoping that it performs nice. It feels dense and doesn’t seem like it would shed. Only trying it will tell.

Sephora:

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Nude, 1 fl oz for 21 USD (22.31 with tax)

This blended in beautifully when I swatched it. It is the perfect color for my complexion and it is the fourth darkest color in the line. It surprises me that I take such a dark color, because I’m usually the first one or two in a line. This is a bit yellow toned, which goes with my natural yellow undertone. It should cancel out my ruddy cheeks from pregnancy. I’ve heard a lot about this brand, so hopefully it lives up to the hype.

Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral-enriched Renewal Cream, 0.5 oz (100 point perk)

I will be using this as an eye cream. I really wanted to try some more from the Origins line, so this was really nice to try. I feel like my eyes can most benefit from this cream. If I like it, I will try the orange line for energizing tired eyes/skin.

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser (sample)

The employee included a small sample of a cleanser from Fresh. I already know that I love their soaps, so it is just natural that I will probably love everything else that they make, too.

Walmart:

Dove Dry Spray Deodorant in Cooling Cucumber

I needed a new deodorant and knew that I wanted to try this one. I really like it so far, but it isn’t “dry” it definetly adds some moisture to your pits. I air dry mine for 2 to 5 minutes. I usually use that time to wash my face and put on socks.

Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Power-Clear Scrub

I needed something for the heat rash on my back and I remembered loving this in high school for the same reason. Pregnancy has made me rashy again and they can turn into big, angry pimples. This has reduced the intensity of my rash and with time, I think it will make it almost disappear. I don’t think it will totally work, because again, hormones. Have you guys hauled anything lately?

With Love,