Monday, March 26, 2018

March Favorites (2018)

I cannot believe it is almost April already, but I have to admit, I'm definitely ready for the warmer weather. March's favorites were admittedly not the funnest (I was sick for a couple of weeks) but they are definitely still favorites! Leave me a comment and let me know what you're loving this month. XO




I know everyone is on the oil train, but for good reason. I've had these for quite a while and while I have a diffuser, that's not my favorite way to use these. While I was sick, I loved putting a few drops of the peppermint and tea tree oils around my shower drain and when I took a shower, it was like a minty spa. It definitely cleared up my sinuses and gave me some relief. I recommend trying it, even if you're not sick, just for a relaxing spa-like shower.


I freaking love mascara primers. Seriously. I've used one for years and while I love the Lancome one, it is pricier and I go through these like crazy. This L'Oreal voluminous one is a great drugstore option. It's thick, it's lengthening, and it just gets the job done. If you love long, voluminous lashes, I recommend trying this out.


I have definitely been trying to use more natural products this year and I really have enjoyed this Burt's Bees milk and honey body lotion. It smells amazing (kind of minty, actually) and it's super thick and hydrating, which is exactly what I need. 



Over the last few months I've been using more natural lipsticks because they are just so quick and easy and always look put together. My first go-to this month is the e.l.f. Nicely Nude (bottom) lipstick. It's a nudey-pink color with some gold in it and just super pretty for everyday wear. My other (and all time) go-to is Kate's lipstick in the color 08 (top). It's a deep rosey pink and perfect for Springtime.


These Nature Valley granola cups with almond butter are ah-mazing. They are the perfect afternoon pick-me-up and are a healthier way to satisfy my sweet tooth or 3pm sugar craving that I seem to get every afternoon. These and a cup of coffee and I am in heaven!



Monday, March 19, 2018

LA Girl: First Impressions

I have never used anything from LA Girl, even though I know it's quite a popular brand because it's super affordable. In my area it's quite hard to find and we only just got a CVS that stocks it, so now that it's more readily available I may be trying quite a lot from it if I actually like it! This is a total first impressions, meaning I just opened the package and swatched the products. I still have yet to use them on and see how they wear. I only purchased two products for the time being to see what I thought.





The first product I picked up was the Matte flat finish pigment gloss in the color Fleur. I was so interested in this particular color because I actually have nothing like it. It's a mix between a nude and a coral and it's super pretty. It's quite thick and it'll be interesting to see how it wears. I've never heard of a matte gloss so I'm hoping it will be comfortable to wear. I'll keep you updated on whether or not this worked for me but I do have high hopes and I'm super excited about this.




I also picked up the LA Girl Nudes palette. The packaging is thick cardboard, which seems like it will hold up well. There is a mirror which makes the lid quite heavy so it doesn't stay up on its own, which is kind of annoying. The swatches are not the most pigmented and I was slightly disappointed by this palette, but I haven't used it on my eyelids so I hope it translates differently. The color range is beautiful with the dark end being purples, which I really love.

The palette and matte lip were each $7.99 so super affordable. I'm hoping that the wear on these is really good because I love a great affordable brand!

Have you guys ever tried anything from LA Girl? If so, what's your favorite product? I hope you all enjoyed your weekend! XO

Monday, March 12, 2018

Skincare Routine

My skincare routine has changed so much over the past couple of years. Not only is it more specific (i.e. anti-aging care and oil control), but I've really narrowed down the products I use instead of changing products all the time. I've finally found products that work for me and a routine that I actually enjoy doing. For so long I was trying the newest and latest and using products I didn't particularly love because I had them and wanted to use them up before buying something new. These days, I know what I like and that's what I buy and use, making it much easier for me to actually have a routine and stick to it.

Just a little info about my particular skin: I'm super oily. I don't just mean t-zone, I mean everywhere. No amount of primer has ever been able to make my makeup last all day, but I've found that with my skincare regime, I've been able to control it a lot more. I also have very large pores so a lot of my skincare routine is about cleansing and keeping my oils under control.


This Biore charcoal cleanser is my absolute favorite. I've used charcoal cleansers for the past few years as they really help control my oil and cleanse my skin, but this is by far my favorite one and since it's from the drugstore it's super affordable. I use it morning and evening. I use the St. Ives fresh skin apricot scrub a couple times a week to keep blackheads at bay and I really like it. It's also super cheap and you can get it at any drugstore.


I've used tons of toners over the years and while they all work pretty much the same, I really love this one from Burt's Bees. It has a nice fresh scent to it that makes it really nice to use. It's also quite cooling so I love it. I use it both morning and evening.


This Lancome advanced genifique concentrate is quite pricey, but I love the results. I use it after cleansing and toning and it helps even out my skin tone. I've definitely noticed it's helped my fine lines. I buy so much from Lancome that I have about a million samples of this, but it's definitely worth the money, in my opinion. I use it in the evening.


This instanatural age-defying eye cream is my favorite eye cream that I've ever used. First of all, it's huge as far as eye creams go so this will last me forever. Second, the ingredients are all natural and clean so I know exactly what I'm putting on my skin. It's super thick and creamy and I love how hydrating it makes my under eye area - it's definitely helped my dark circles. I use this in the evening only.


I use the Julep boost your radiance rosehip facial oil in the mornings and it's one of my favorites. It brightens my skin and makes makeup application so smooth. I was using another oil simply because I wanted to use it up and I hated it so I never looked forward to my morning routine. I finally decided that was ridiculous, so I tossed that oil and started using this one because I love the fresh scent and how bright it makes my skin. I use the Avalon Organics vitamin C oil on my face at night. I don't know if it's true, but I read that it's best to use vitamin C oil on the skin at night so your skin can get the most benefit. All I know is this makes my skin look super refreshed in the mornings. It's pricier, but still from the drugstore so it's easy to find.


I use the Olay complete face lotion with SPF 15 every morning and I have done for years. It's nice, it's light, it has SPF, and it's been my trusted day lotion for a very long time. I switch between the St. Ives Timeless skin lotion and the instanatural retinol moisturizer at night. I love the St. Ives one because it's so affordable and it's also super rich and nourishing. The instanatural retinol moisturizer really helps restore my skin's elasticity and is also really hydrating.


I use a clay face mask 3 times a week and when I don't use the mask I use my instanatural facial peel 3 nights a week. This seems like a lot, but as I said, I have super oily skin so this really works for me. Since I've done this routine and stuck to it, my skin has looked so much nicer and my oil really is under better control. 

In total, my morning skincare routine takes about 15 minutes and my evening skincare routine takes about 30 minutes. I actually enjoy doing them both and really look forward to my skincare ritual, especially because I love the products I'm using. 

Tell me, what do you guys use and do you have a routine you stick to? I hope you all have a great week ahead! XO