Fall Essentials: Skin Care (Boots, Origins, & Clinique)

Happy Hump Day! As promised, I am bringing you my favorite skin care products I use during the fall (and winter) seasons. For the record, my skin is normal to dry during this time of year. I am clog prone but have found a couple of amazing products to get rid of my pesky clogged pores (cellnique skin action sebum gel and one that will be mentioned in this post)! My skin care routine doesn't really change in the winter but there are a few products I add to assist with making my skin look healthy and hydrated. 

First, I use the Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask whenen I feel like my skin needs a boost of moisture. The product itself is a peachy pink and white thick and creamy consistency. I use 1-1.5 pumps to cover my face and then maybe add just a little more to extra dry areas. Very few things irritate my skin but this is a hypoallergenic mask so if you experience irritation, this mask is one to try. I normally don't use this every week but it can be used on a weekly basis for 10 minutes at a time to give your skin some extra moisture. When I rinse this off with warm water it literally melts off the skin and leaves my skin with a beautiful, hydrated and soft texture. 

When my pores seem to be extra clogged I use the Origins Clear Improvement Mask. This mask is really great for any time of the year but I especially like this in the winter time. I used to use Clinique's Step #2, the toner, when my skin was not cooperating but I found that to be a bit drying. This is a charcoal mask so it does get hard and a little uncomfortable as you keep it on but the mask is not drying whatsoever. It dries to a clay like consistency and attacks what ever dirt is in your pores and helps give your skin a clearer appearance. I use this 1-2 times a week OR I use it as a spot treatment if I have any pimples or breakouts.

And of course I couldn't do a fall essentials post for my dry skin without  a moisturizer. I use Clinique's Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturizer every night and I feel like this makes such a difference in my skin. My skin doesn't quiet glow the next morning but it looks very even, smooth and healthy. The moisturizer promotes cell turnover so I am left with fresh, new skin cells which is why I don't even feel the need to apply much foundation the next day. When applying this after washing my face at night it does feel thick in texture but ask it sinks in it gives your skin a nice smooth feeling. I always apply my moisturizer while my face or hands are still a bit damp. This helps the moisturizer sink into the skin, rather than just sitting on top of it. Before purchasing this I read many reviews with ladies of all skin types so I think this would be a great product no matter what your skin type.

What skin care products do you especially love in the fall?

August 2013 Beauty Favorites

Hello! I hope the start of your long day weekend is going well for all of you who celebrate labor  day! I am sharing my monthly favorites for the official last month of summer. I have so many mixed feelings about this time of year because while I love summer and it makes me sad to see it go, I absolutely love fall! I love the weather, the makeup, the fashion, and of course all the pumpkin flavored goodies! Oh well time will go on and I will proceed with my monthly favs!

I have a few lip products to share so I will begin with those. 

I never got in the habit of using a lip liner but I purchased NYX's lip liner in Nude Pink to help even out my lips and provide a base for my lipsticks. It goes well under any lipstick and helps in making my lipstick last longer than it normally would. Nude pink it just slightly lighter than my natural lip color which is great because it helps which ever lipstick i apply go on more true to color.

When I was planning on a night out in August, I would reach for Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable LipBalm Stain. I have the shade Sweetheart Valentine which is a vibrant pink. I love this because it's a very light weight product but it still provides your lips with a little bit of moisture. The Just Bitten Kissable LipBalm's have a slight sheen to them. As far as the staying power of the color - I would say I get about 3 hours out of it.

NYX Lip Butter Gloss in Peaches and Cream is a really pretty bright pink shade. I have been doing really simple eyes this month any playing up either my cheeks or lips. I like wearing Peaches and 

Cream for a pop of pink.

I have been experimenting with a couple of concealers recently but Tarte's Maracuja Creaseless  Concealer has been a favorite of mine this month. It is the most cream and moisturizing concealer that provides my under eye with a dewey finish. It stays put all day without creasing - full review here!

My blush of choice this month was Chanel's JC Blush in In Love - this I purcased off e bay. It was an authentic sample but I did not really care. I actually did not care for it the first few times I used it but it has really grown on me. There are photos and swatches here 

For mascara I have really enjoyed Maybelline's The Rocket. It provides nice volume and applies so easily! I have a full review of this mascara here

I included my MAC MSFN in this months favorites becuase I recently ran out and thought I would try something new. I ended up returning what I purchased because it just did not provide the flawless finish the MAC MSFN does for me. I wear the shade Medium plus for NC20. MAC's MSFN is really light weight and lasts all day. I find myself touching up about after 7 hours. 

Those are my August favorites! Thanks for stopping by and feel free to share some of your monthly favs in the comments below :)

What's in my Makeup Bag?

Hello girls! Today I am going to share with you what I keep in my makeup bag. These are essentials that I need with me if I know I am going to be out of the house all day. 

I use this VS makeup bag - it's a decent size to hold all of my things :)

First things first, powder...

Mac Careblend Powder - There are two things that I must carry around with me. Powder is one of them. I recently switched to the Mac Careblend powder which is much more travel friendly than the MAC MSFN which is another powder I love. The Mac Careblend powder comes in an enclosed case with a mirror and puff. It gives a very natural finish providing light to medium coverage depending on application.

Garnier Tinted Roller Ball - The other essential product I must have with me is THIS concealer. ALWAYS This has been a HG product of mine for the last year or so (will do a proper review of it). I always have this with me if I feel I'm looking tired. It brightens the under-eye area instantly.

Maybelline Full N' Soft - my all time favorite Mascara. I can apply this throughout the day with out brushing through dry crusty mascara that result in clumpy lashes

Spot Concealer - recently I have been carrying around the NYX HD photogenic concealer. But I do have a few on rotation in case my concealer wears off throughout the day.

Rimmel Special Eyes Pencil Eyeliner - For nights when I go out I always carry black eyeliner. I use Rimmel's Pencil liner. I feel I need it to intensify a look even more throughout the night.

Nars Madly - My perfect blush that obviously has had enough love. Madly is a dusty rose shade. When it's applied lightly it gives a really nice warm sheen. If you have a heavier hand it can give you a non-overpowering bronzed glow.

Lipstick - I always carry with me whatever lipstick/gloss combo I have at the moment. However, I always have Mac's High Tea lipstick on me. It's the perfect shiney nude lipstick for me and it goes with a variety of looks! I have also recently been carrying with me my Revlon Lip Butter in Creme brulee 

Mac Ricepaper e/s - this is a shimmer nude that if I feel I need it, swipe across my lid (with my finger) to brighten up my eyes

Kabooki - For my powder foundation I always use my Kabookie brush - I get nice coverage with it and it's the perfect size for my makeup travel bag!


What do you keep in your makeup bag?

Bare Minerals The Shining Moment Luminizer

Happy Sunday. Hope all of you can relax a bit today and have gotten all of your shopping done for those that celebrate Christmas! 

Today I am sharing with you The Shining Moment luminizer from Bare Minerals. It is a Limited Edition compact highlighter. There are 2 of these, the other shade is called the Love Affair. The difference is the undertones. While A Love Affair gives a peachy glow, the Shining Moment is a more golden champagne highlight. I have yellow undertones and I love golden highlighters so that's why I chose The Shining Moment.

Bare Minerals states "SeaNutritive MineralComplex, this silky smooth formula delivers incredible skin-nourishing benefits" I haven't been using it long enough to notice any benefits so I won't comment on that but I can say this is a lovely highlighter. The best way to describe this is that it gives your face a nice candlelit glow. It is very finely milled so it almost crumbles to the touch.  

The first few times I used this I applied it with a fan brush which gave a very subtle highlight. If you want a more intense highlight you can use a fluffy eyeshadow brush.

I would definitely reccomend this product if you are a highlighter junkie. It was selling for $26 on a few websites including beauty.com and the Bare Minerals site but I just noticed yesterday that it was selling for $20!

Have you purchased this Limited Edition Highlighter?? Will you snag this LE product before they run out?!