A Look into my Beauty Routine...Part Two

Today I'm going to show you what's currently in my makeup bag.  Pretty much all of my cosmetics come from Walmart or Walgreens, because I just don't want to spend a lot of money on makeup.  I'd rather save that money for clothes ;)

For my foundation, I use L'Oreal true match.  I have used this for about two years and love it.  I do change up colors in the summer and winter, because I tend to have a nicer tan in the summer and I need a darker shade.  On days when I am going to church or somewhere nice, I use the L'Oreal true match foundation, sun beige W6.  When I am in a hurry and don't want to spend a lot of time on my makeup, I simply use the L'Oreal true match liquid powder (compact makeup), and I use the neutral buff beige N4.  The reason I use two different colors is that they don't carry the same colors in the compact makeup as in the foundation, and I also realized that the compact makeup tends to go on a little lighter, so I needed to go with a darker shade in that.

After my foundation is applied, I use the L'Oreal true match blush in subtle sable, warm W5-6.  I just recently changed colors and I really love this color on.

Once my blush and foundation have been applied, I use the Ulta Powder bronzer.  I love this because it evens out my foundation and darkens up my face in general just a bit.  Sorry about the picture below; that was the best I could find!

 Once the foundation is all done, I apply my eyes - I start out by lining them with L'Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner.  I have used ALL.KINDS. of eyeliner and mascara, let me tell you.  I just recently tried this new eyeliner, and I absolutely LOVE it!  I almost didn't try it because of how thick the pencil is, but I have loved the application of this liner and it really lasts for a long time.  I bought it in black but next time will buy a brown pencil.  I think brown makes your liner not look quite as harsh.  I also use my liner to fill in my brows just a bit, because my brows are very thin.

Not long ago I tried out the Revlon eye shadow, and I cannot even tell you how much I love it!  I bought the 555 Moonlit Revlon colorstay with the four colors in it, and on the back it instructs on how to wear all four colors.  I don't know about you, but I have a tendency of getting into a rut of wearing my makeup the same way for like 15 years, so I have enjoyed changing up my eye routine a little bit.  This eye shadow lives up to its promise to last 16 hours!  I was surprised with how long this shadow lasted!

As I said earlier, I have tried so.many.kinds of mascaras, and the last time I ran out, I tried the Almay Get up and Grow, and so far I am really liking this mascara.  I don't know if I have seen any significant growth ;), but I do like the wand and feel like it helps with volume and length of my lashes.  It does say on the bottle "one coat", but I have to apply two or it does not look like I have very much mascara on.

After my face is pretty much done, I apply my lips.  For a while now I have pretty much done a fairly neutral lip.  I start out by lining my lips with Maybelline Rose 05 lipliner, and then I apply my lipstick, L'Oreal1165 Tickled Pink. 

And that's it!  I have had to try lots of products and spend a good bit of money on things I didn't like to get to where I am today - with a makeup bag full of products that I actually like!

I'm always up for hearing things that are working for you with your cosmetics!  If you have anything great that you just can't live without, please do share!  Hope you've taken some ideas from the last two days of beauty posts.

Happy Sunday :)

A Look into my Beauty Routine...Part One

Do you love to see what beauty products girls are currently using?  I know I sure do, especially if it is affordable beauty products!  I thought it would be fun to show some of the beauty products I am currently using and loving.  Today I will show you what products I use for my hair care routine, and tomorrow I will share my makeup routine.

As far as my hair care, this is something that I do not take lightly, because I have EXTREMELY thin hair.  I am currently wearing my hair a little longer than I normally wear it, so I have to choose my hair products very carefully to keep it looking healthy and thicker than it really is!  I just recently changed shampoos, and I am LOVING everything about this shampoo, from the fragrance to the texture of my hair after I shampoo.  I also love that it is convenient to buy, as I can get it at the salon in my local Walmart.

I always look for a sulfate-free shampoo and I NEVER use conditioner.  Conditioner weighs my hair down very heavily.  I also try not to shampoo my hair every day, because I notice it getting limp when I have to wash it daily.  One to two times a week I will spray this Matrix total results moisturizing spray pictured below on the very ends of my hair just to keep it from looking dead on the ends.

 

After shampooing and drying my hair, I use the Big Sexy Hair root lifter to give it some volume.

The Big Sexy Hair root lifter is a non-negotiable to me, as I have seen that it majorly makes a difference when I don't use it.  I also use a flat iron spray to protect my hair from the heat, and a spray starch ironing spray.  I just lightly spray these over my hair before I apply any kind of heat to it.

When I am done styling my hair, I use a L'Oreal root lifter that I LOVE and I pray they never quit making - it tends to lift while at the same time gives my hair a little texture, as well, without being hard and crunchy looking.  Then I spray it with Suave max hold.  I absolutely love all of these products, and they are all very affordable (unless you run out of them all at the same time, which has never happened to me but could be pretty pricey if it did!).

 I know this sounds like a lot (and it really is, for as little hair as I have haha), but it is not cumbersome and seems to be working well for me and for the length of my hair right now.

What are some of your favorite products?  I love to hear what others are using and how it works for them!  Hope this gives you some new ideas.

Happy Saturday!

Favorite Pampering Products

I think everyone has some beauty products that they just love to use to pamper themselves! I have a few of my own and I thought I would share those with you all today.

The first is my Clarisonic. If you don't know what this is, you basically put your face wash on here and it washes your face in one minute. My aunt gave me this for Christmas one year, and I didn't really think I would use it all that much...but I LOVE it! It cleans my face really well, and my skin feels so soft when I am finished.

 

 

This is the face wash I use with my Clarisonic. Again, it was a gift from my Aunt Connie. (She is an aesthetician.) I love this face wash because it doesn't leave my face feeling tight or dry!

 

This moisturizing cream from Lancome is to die for. Now...let me say...I would NEVER purchase this cream. It is WAY too expensive. However, I have bought eyeshadow several times from Lancome and this moisturizer came in the free gift bag. So, I have several of these stashed away. I use it very sparingly. It doesn't take but just a tiny little bit to moisturize your entire face.

 

 

 

 

I started using this lotion from Kiehl's a few years ago and absolutely love it. It is really thick, without being greasy. I also like that it doesn't have a scent to it. With me being a nurse, I'm not able to wear scented lotions to work. This moisturizes really well and the container lasts a really long time.

 

The last thing on my list is these bath minerals from Beauticontrol. I love to take a nice hot bath and pour these in. It just really relaxes me and makes me feel less stressed out! I love them!

 

So, this is my list of favorite pampering products. Some of them are pricey, but I didn't actually purchase them. A few of them I did purchase, but I feel like they were worth the splurge. We all need to be pampered every now and again!





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Transitioning between the Seasons

I don't know about you, but the hardest times of the year for me to know how to dress is at the change of the seasons. Especially when you feel like it is "supposed" to be a change of season, but the temperature doesn't really "feel" like the season has changed yet. We are into September now, so I don't feel like I should be wearing my full-out summer clothes anymore, but it is still HOT here in the South!! I know there used to be certain rules like, no sandals after Labor Day, etc. I don't really believe in following rules like that in fashion. I think you should wear what you love and what you feel is appropriate for the season and occasion.
This is what I wore to church on Sunday. I'm trying to start wearing darker colors and transition to more of the fall look.

Cardigan: Ann Taylor Loft, Scarf: Ann Taylor Loft

Top: GAP, Pants: New York and Company

Shoes: Rack Room

 

I do feel like it's a little too early to pull out my boots, so these are the perfect in-between shoes! I love these booties. They are really comfortable and I am able to wear them with pants or skirts/dresses. They are a fun alternative to a pump or flats.

Hope this gives you some ideas on how to transition your fashion into fall!







Fall Trend: Layering

I have not had a chance to take even one picture over the last week, and so I am unable to put up my what I wore post this week.  I promise next week that I will have some new pictures!

For now, I wanted to share one of the looks I am currently loving - it's the layered look.  I can't wait to pull out some sweaters once it gets a little cooler, and get to layering!  Here are some beautiful layered looks that I am currently loving...

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Have I convinced you yet of how cute this look can be?!  I have never really done the layering thing before, so I am excited about trying out this look this year.  So hurry, fall, and bring your cooler weather so I can get to layering!

 

Happy Wednesday! :)

 

 

Floral Skirt

   It's been a long time since I have just LOVED my outfit. This past Sunday was a big day at church for our youth ministry. We were eating breakfast there, having regular services, then eating lunch & having a session afterwards so I knew I had to wear something comfortable. This was the perfect outfit! Daniel didn't get my shoes in the pictures on my camera so I'll post a picture that Jenna took from my phone.

  This is an outfit that expresses my personality perfect! I love feminine florals, I love skirts & I love pink. The skirt came from Ross for 8.99, I've had this pink shirt from Gap for years & it is so comfortable, the necklace was a gift from my sister-in-law years ago, & my shoes came from Target.

I already cannot wait to wear this again! 

Borrowed style

Happy Labor Day! I'm spending the day today having a cookout with three of my four sisters. There are so many fun things about having sisters. One of those things is always being able to share and borrow clothes. For as long as I can remember we have all shared clothes. I borrowed this colorful top from one of my sisters and I love it. For one reason I love it because I don't think it's something I would have picked out to buy. However when my sister offered for me to borrow it, I have loved it. I love the cut and color of this top. Does anyone else out there love to borrow clothes from a friend or sister?!