January: All About Skincare

I have been obsessed with my skincare lately. It started when I got a stye in my eye, which I was overly stressing about (and ironically, stress can be one of the causes, right? COOL) and then I had some sort of weird reaction to... something. I tried a lot of crap to get rid of my stye, and something caused my skin to FREAK OUT. I'm not really sure what. But, my face was red and peeling, my tone was uneven, and I just looked rough.

I decided to really focus on my complexion. I love makeup, but no matter how great the makeup is, it won't look good going on crappy skin. So, I got to reading. I got to testing. I got to getting rid of my dark circles, come hell or high water.

Ooh, water.

Here are some of the things that I KNOW have worked for me so far, and I will keep using to see if I notice long-term impact:

1. Coconut Oil
I love to wash my face with coconut oil. I get it from the grocery store, but I always look for organic, plus important words like raw, and unrefined. Do some research... they aren't all created equal. The one I linked is "so pure you can eat it". How is that a bad deal? If it's truly good for you, you should be able to do whatever you want with it, right? To use it, I scrape a little from the jar, and rub my hands together to warm it up/melt it. Then I massage it into my face softly, and rinse off with a hot washcloth. I don't rub the oil off, either... just press the hot washcloth into your skin and softly remove. Add more hot water, and press into your skin to remove. It takes off the excess, but still leaves a really light film there for added moisture.

2. Toner
I've used two in recent weeks: The L'Oreal Hydrafresh, and this new and much preferred one, here. The second one, by Avalon Organics, is a much better choice - full of vitamin c, aloe, cucumber and papaya... and is free of parabens, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances.

3. Other oils
Right now, I'm using Frankincense oil - just a drop or two into a small amount of coconut oil, and 100% pure argan oil. I got mine at my local grocer. I have only used this a few times, but I love that it absorbs quickly, and doesn't leave me feeling greasy. I have heard AMAZING things about cacay oil, so I'm doing my own research and will probably try this next. If I had an extra $100 laying around right now and I didn't think my husband would serve me with divorce papers, I would splurge on this Bamford Restore Elixir. This elixir has rosehip oil, which I've also used in the past and will probably buy some of that again here soon. Basically, I am in love with oils and elixirs and I want to put it all on my face.

4. Wash your face morning - AND NIGHT
I know, I know. Sometimes it's just not feasible. But I've seen a noticeable change in my skin - without using any of the above products religiously - when I wash morning and night. Think about it. You're laying on a (probably somewhat dirty) pillow all night. Oils, room dust, drool... it can't be good for that complexion, girlfriend.

5. DRINK WATER
I don't even need to provide any supplemental information here. WATER WILL HELP YOUR SKIN IF YOU DRINK ENOUGH OF IT.

I also love the Yes To Cucumers and Yes To Blueberries lines (I use the blueberry moisturizer), but I just found this - and I'm sold. Going to add this to the list and get it in my bathroom immediately.

What are some beauty routines or products you swear by? I'm in the market for a great eye cream, so if you have any suggestions, I'l take 'em!

Merry Christmas To Me: My Recent Beauty Haul

I got a chance to go out Christmas shopping, like, the day before Christmas Eve. While I was out, I picked up a few things for myself (sorry Paul), and I am so happy with my purchases, so I thought I would share them.

I mean, I didn't SET OUT to buy these things, but they just... fell into my cart. I don't know. It was weird.

Stop looking at me like that.

M·A·C 'Prep + Prime' Fix+ Finishing Mist • M·A·C • $22

I bought this because Jaclyn Hill loves it, I'm just gonna put that out there. I also love Urban Decay's Chill All Night setting spray, but I have used this a couple times now as a refresher before I put on my makeup, and I like it. It hasn't changed my life, yet... but I like it.

Boots No7 Youthful Eye Serum - .5 fl oz • Boots • $23.99 

I'm gonna sound SO "stay at home mom" right now, but I saw this on Dr. Phil, and the dermatologist that was on the show talking about this serum was pretty pumped about it, so I got pumped, too. I've only been using it since the 23rd, but I took before pics... if I notice a different, you'll hear about it.

Pacifica® Rose Gold Brightening Primer Serum - 1 oz • Pacifica • $15.99

I love this brand, and I will pretty much buy anything that says Rose Gold. I used this on Christmas Eve, and I loved how dewy it made my skin. If you're not a fan of "the dew" (like, if you carry mattifying papers in your purse to get rid of the first sign of shine), you might not appreciate this product like I do.

M·A·C Lipstick • M·A·C • $17 (in the shade Velvet Teddy)

I have been trying to find a dupe for Kylie Jenner's stupid lip kit (I say stupid because any color would look amazing on lips that have been pumped full of plumper), and Jessica said this was a great option for Dolce or Candy, one of the two (they look pretty similar to me, but whatever, Kylie). And it's true! It's the perfect matte nude with a slight mauve undertone. I've worn it a few times now, and I'm a fan. Ironically, I'm lining my lips with MAC's "Buerre" liner, which is what I first found almost two years ago when I began searching for Kylie's colors. She has issues, but that girl also has some amazing matte nude lip colors. Bravo to her make-up artist, for real. I'm concerned that I've been Google-stalking Kylie's lip colors since she was, what, sixteen years old? I need a life.

Drybar 'Mai Tai Spritzer' Sea Salt Spray • $25
I sprayed this in Sephora whilst Christmas shopping, and I had to have it. It gave my freshly-washed hair the perfect beachy texture without feeling too greasy, and it smells amazing. So, yeah. This is a staple now. I love that I can add it to wet hair for fuss-free waves, or I can add it to already styled hair to mess it up a bit. Ain't nobody got time for perfectly curled hair anymore, it's 2016 people!

What are your favorite recent beauty purchases? I am so obsessed with trying new products. Next up: a fantastic beauty oil!

The One With Coconut Oil For All The Things

I'm a huge fan of coconut oil, and I have gotten many friends and family members hooked on it as well for various parts of their daily routines. I mean, how many products can you moisturize with, cook with, and brush your teeth with - all out of the same tub?

I'll tell you. None. Well, none aside from coconut oil.

I have three case studies I'd like to quickly review for you. When you're done, feel free to run out to Costco and buy the giant tub. You'll never regret it.

The exact one I use 

#1 - The One Where Waterproof Mascara Actually Worked
I accidentally bought waterproof mascara one time (I usually HATE waterproof makeup) and I literally couldn't get it off my eyes to SAVE MY LIFE. I started to have a little panic attack. Eye makeup remover, hot water/wash cloths, soap, prayer... Nothing was working. I didn't even have any smudgy raccoon eyes from almost getting it off. Nope. It was STAYING PUT. I mean, on the bright side... it works. But on the flip side... I want to go to bed, and if I sleep in makeup, I wake up with swollen, itchy eyes that don't go away for hours.

I had one more option: coconut oil. I scraped a small amount from the side of my nearly empty jar, rubbed my hands together, and gently massaged my eyes. When I looked in my mirror, I was so excited: racoon eyes FOR DAYS. The black practically slid off my face. All I did was wipe it off with a hot wash cloth after that. I've been using nothing but coconut oil to remove my makeup since that fateful night.

The One With The Glowy Skin
People compliment me on my skin a lot on social media.

I confess: I am very quick to use the filters in PicTapGo to edit my pics, or redo shots 100x for better lighting, or even do a little smoothing of my under eye circles in other apps (YOU have two kids and then tell me you don't want to hide those things a bit for your memory books). So, I always feel guilty accepting compliments about my skin. Like... I'm such a cheater.

But, I felt this way UNTIL a friend of mine IN REAL LIFE told me that she thinks my skin looks just as good in person as it does in my pics, as she was sitting across from me at a local restaurant after our manicure date. Like, in real life. No phone in sight. Ok. I can accept that.

I was like "Yeah. It's gotta be the coconut oil."

The One Where Lavender Oil IS NOT SOOTHING

I love lavender oil, and to make a long story short and slightly less embarassing, I accidentally got some in my eyes. LAVENDER OIL IS NOT SOOTHING IF YOU GET IT IN YOUR EYES. I thought I was going blind. I remembered that coconut oil will immediately get rid of the sting/burn (which is why it's recommended as a carrier oil), and it does. It's instantaneous, and it floored me! I wish I could say I've only done this once, but I've done it a few times... so, yeah, I know this for sure.

Let me know if you use coconut oil for something totally random that I should be using it for, too!

Every Woman's Quest: The Perfect Sea Salt Spray

There are a few things that we women desperately want in life.

• To marry our best friend
• To have a couple of beautiful, healthy children
• A body that looks good in a two-piece.

...and, a good sea salt spray.

CAN I GET AN AMEN.

I have tried them all. The expensive salon ones that leave my hair sticky or so stiff that I could probably rock a faux-hawk, the cheap ones from the drugstore that are literally like spraying water in my hair, and the oily ones that leave me looking more like I sprayed tanning oil on my head. Triple eww.

What I Love: January 2014

I wanted to share some of my favorite new beauty finds with you guys today!

Now, I can't take credit for all these finds. I blogged-stalked some of my favorites for these recommendations, and I adore them all.

One of my IG BFFs, Britt Havens, (did I really just say that? IG BFFs? How creepy am I?) posted about this on her makeup blog, which I randomly happened to find through her baby blog (like, I said, I'm a creep). She talked about how this smells deliciously like Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle, and I have to agree. It's amazing. And, it works really well for my winter-chapped skin, and it's small enough to fit into my makeup bag, which I love.

This little treat I found via the beautiful Mrs. Measom. She posted an Instagram photo about her find, and raved about how it was literally the best thing she's ever tried (or something like that). I need something light, something smoothing... something that makes me look like I'm eighteen years old and freshly returned from a tropical vacation. Flawless, airbrushed. In little to no time.

So, basically, I need a miracle. I'm new to the whole BB/CC cream thing (in fact, I have no idea what it is. I need to read-up), but if this little bargain from Target works this well, maybe I need to splurge on something a bit more professional. Thoughts? Please leave them in the comments!

Anyway, for what it's worth, I lurrrrrve this Garnier BB Cream. It's lovely and will probably be a staple until I find something even more miraculous.

I've seen this stuff a bazillion times, but somehow I've never tried it -- until now. I had a Sephora gift card for Christmas, and I stocked up on some little treats. This was one of them. I had recently read about this from my favorite food blogger, Jessica (seriously, she's amaze. I would read her blog even if the recipe isn't something I'd ever eat or make, because she's a riot). She blogged in November about some of her favorite beauty finds, and her schpeal about the Sugar lip balm convinced me to try it.

This is my own find - HA! See. I can be a beauty blogger.

I bought a rollerball of this fragrance at Sephora. I originally found it on Black Friday, and fell in love with the sweet cherry smell. And you guys, I am NOT a fan of cherry anything. Like NOT, as in NOT. Bolded, underlined. However, I smelled this without looking at the packaging, and when I loved it, I looked at the name: "Cherry In The Air". WHAT?

This is a limited-time-only fragrance, so you may not be able to try it. Neener neener neener. Just come smell me.

My hair gal used this on my ends after my recent bout of blond ombre... the only bad thing about this style is a natural brunette can seriously FRY her ends (ahem, me). So, I use this daily: on my wet ends, and then again once my hair is styled. Just for good measure. Not gonna lie, I bought this because it smells insane: like fresh pears and something else. When I forked over the $30 bucks, I also noticed it said organic.. so, like, justified.

Let me know if you have tried any of these products, or if you have some die-hard favorites that you swear by! My favorite blogs to read are "love lists", especially in regards to beauty products. I'm the girl that spends an hour of free time in the makeup aisle at my favorite drugstore. It's bad.

Currently Loving: Drugstore Deals

BIG SEXY HAIR Spray & Play Hairspray / It's A 10 Miracle Leave In / Yes To Cucumbers Facial Towelettes / Nars Blush {Orgasm} / H&M Hairstyling Ring / Revlon ColorBurst Lipgloss {Bordeaux} / Rimmel's Hide The Blemish Concealer

These products lately have made my getting ready routine so effortless. And, best of all -- with the exception of the blush, these can ALL be found at your local drugstore. I'm a sucker for a great deal, and so I'm excited to put my "stamp of approval" on all of these products.

Just a note on the cucumber towelettes... I'm a diehard Neutrogena Night Calming towelette fan, and haven't used anything except for those in quite some time. However. These cucumber towelettes are so refreshing. I love this line, and can't wait to try more.

Essie Obsession

This color on the left by Essie, Bikini So Teeny, is amazing. I don't know if I will take it off until October.