Photo Diary: York Beach

July 11, 2015 in Lifestyle

Since I've been away on vacation for the past week, I thought I'd bring you something a little different today. I tried my best to document the trip, so I wanted to share a few snippets. My family and I go to York Beach in Maine every year, and we have been since I was little (probably about 16 or 17 years now!). It's my happy place and something I look forward to all year long.

The week totally blew by, but I managed to fit in all the traditions, like eating my weight in fried shrimp and lobster rolls and getting ice cream almost every night. We managed to catch the 4th of July fireworks and had a great view of them right from the cliff in the backyard of the house we were renting, and we tried a new Italian restaurant outside of town that was really good and had tons of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra pictures all over the place - I didn't want to leave. I almost forgot to watch the sun rise, but managed to get it in this morning shortly before we left (the only editing I did to the picture of the sunrise below was resizing it - those colors were really what it looked like), and it was breathtaking.

I had such a great and relaxing week and am a little bummed to be back home in the real world now. Regular posts will be up again starting Tuesday, but I hope you enjoyed this little deviation from my usual beauty banter.

Have you been on any fun summer vacations yet?

Simple Vacation Makeup

July 09, 2015 in Makeup

Whenever I go on vacation, I always get a little over-ambitious with the makeup I bring along. I think I've done a little better this year than in previous years, skipping out on things I know I won't use like powder blushes and contour. Even with my streamlined makeup bag, I still found myself gravitating towards the most simple routine as possible.

I've been starting by slapping on a thin layer of the bareMinerals Complexion Rescue to help even out my skintone and give my skin a glow. This feels super nice and nourishing on my sun-parched skin, and I can barely feel it on my face once it's on - a must for this humid beach town. I've been skipping concealer because I can just feel it sitting on my skin, which really bothers me, so I haven't really been worrying about the few scars and blemishes that show through the Complexion Rescue.

I usually don't like to go anywhere without filling in my brows, but when I'm going for such an easy and low-key look, a swipe of some tinted brow gel will do. I like brushing through a bit of the Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel in Brunette because it makes my brows look full yet natural. If there are any really sparse bits that aren't being helped by the brow gel, I'll fill them in gently with the Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Brown. On my eyes I've been going for a nice wash of a shimmery champagne to brighten up my eyes. I recently got the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Rose Riot and it's really lovely - it reminds me of a more subtle and cream version of Stila Kitten. I'll skip liner so it doesn't smudge down my face in the humidity and go for a mascara that gives lots of fluttery definition - the Maybelline Lash Sensational (waterproof of course) is perfect.

I skip cheeks altogether because they tend to look a little rosy in the heat and I'm producing my own glow with help from the Complexion Rescue, so I move straight to lips. I like to use something really natural and low-maintenance. I haven't been able to stop applying the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Petal, but the Dior Addict Lip Glow and the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in Rosewood are favorites as well.

What are your go-to picks for a super low-key look?

What's in my Beach Bag?

July 07, 2015 in Lifestyle, Skincare

Hello from Maine! I'm currently on vacation at the beach with my family for the week, so I thought I'd go through all of my beach bag essentials.

The most important thing is that SPF. I'm pale as a ghost and will burn after about 10 minutes of sun exposure, so protecting my skin is super important to me. I'm a convert to the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch sunscreen - after dealing with sticky limbs every year, I've finally found one that doesn't make me want to run for the showers immediately. I've got the SPF 100+ pictured but I'll probably be using something more like the 55 this year - is it true everything above 50 is all the same?

Another SPF I'm excited to try is the Supergoop! Defense Refresh Setting Mist with Rosemary SPF 50. I spotted this in Sephora while doing some last-minute shopping before I left and thought it sounded like the coolest idea. Reapplying sunscreen on my face all day really clogs up my pores and makes my skin so congested, so I'm really intrigued by having the SPF in mist form. I've tested it out a couple times already, and it really controls excess oil and smells quite minty and herbal, so I think it will be a great refreshing remedy for when I'm overheating on the beach. I'll report back on this one.

I also always make sure to bring along a lip balm with sun protection in it. I've got one from Hawaiian Tropic that has SPF 45, which sounds great and smells like coconuts, but as my lips are very randomly sensitive, I'm also bringing along the Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm with SPF 25 in the Black Tea & Blackberry scent just in case since I know that one won't give me a reaction.

Now that we've got SPF covered, the other most important thing for me to bring is a book. Since the water is so so cold in Maine, I mostly just sit on the beach and read. This summer I'm desperate to get back into reading the Game of Thrones books - I embarrassingly started A Clash of Kings a couple years ago and never finished it. In case I just can't get into it right now, I'm also bringing Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. I completely devoured Gone Girl when I read it in the fall, and I've heard her other books are just as good if not better.

In case I do go in the water, I always bring along a wide-tooth comb so my hair doesn't get too tangled up by the time I get back to the house. I didn't include it in the picture, but I'm also considering popping a mini of the Bumble & Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Primer in my bag too to give my hair some UV protection and to help detangle. I've also got to have my hair clip with me at all times - I can't stand my hair blowing in my face so I just clip it up into a very attractive top knot when I get too annoyed with it.

The last bits and bobs I carry around are my phone, some headphones, and some sunglasses. I've got three pairs I've been rotating through this summer, and they're all from Target (including those pictured). I'll also make sure I've got a water bottle with me so I don't get dehydrated, along with a loose dress or shirt I can throw on over my bikini.

What do you keep in your beach bag?