Get Glowing

Posts about glowing skin are definitely my favorite to write, which I'm sure you can tell because I put up some variation of one almost once a week. Having quite dehydrated skin, I'm always after products that will give me a glow. I'm constantly updating my stash with new glowy products, even though I've only got one face and would have to look like a shining beacon that's visible from space for the rest of my life to use everything up.

I always talk about skincare bits in posts like this, so I'll just get those out of the way first. I've mentioned over and over how much I love the Glossier Priming Moisturizer - it's basically holy grail by now. It's one of the best moisturizers that just instantly makes my skin glow, even though it doesn't have any shimmer whatsoever. A similar product I've been using lately is the Lune+Aster Recharge Cream* - this is basically an ultra-hydrating cream that's meant to be worn under makeup. If you've got dry skin that drinks up your makeup, you need this. It gives the same phenomenal healthy glow to the skin as the Glossier, but it's quite a bit thicker (a plus for me, because I usually layer the Glossier moisturizer with another thin moisturizer for optimum hydration). I really notice my base staying on longer than usual when I use this as my skin is well-hydrated, so it doesn't drink up my foundation. For a more obvious glow I like to pile on the MAC Strobe Cream - this has teeny tiny shimmer particles in it, just enough to catch the light and make you look like a dreamy ethereal woodnymph. I especially like this mixed with the Glossier Priming Moisturizer.

Speaking of shimmery base layers, I've also finally gotten my hands on the BECCA Backlight Priming Filter. This is even more beautiful than I ever imagined. It's similar to the Strobe Cream in that it adds a believable dewiness to the skin with the help of some shimmer, but while the Strobe Cream is more of a white pearl, the BECCA primer is more of a pale gold. This is seriously dewy skin in a bottle and I'm obsessed.

Now that we're in makeup territory, I'll move onto the piece de resistance of the post - the Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Powder Duo in Moodlight. I finally got this (for my birthday! Thanks Mom!), and I'm head over heels in love. It's quite a subtle highlight, so it's perfect for everyday. It really just enhances and perfects the skin. I assumed this was a highlighter and bronzer, but it's really pretty much two highlighters - the darker shade is more of a rose gold and is actually more shimmery than the light shade. I apply it on the backs of my cheekbones like a blush/bronzer/highlighter combo and then top it off with the lighter shade on the tops of my cheekbones. I can't even describe how stunning this product is, I know I didn't pay for it but if I ever hit pan I'd repurchase in a heartbeat.

Another palette I've been dipping into quite a bit is the Lune+Aster Moonrise Glow & Contour Bronzing Palette.* I mentioned this in my Lovin' Lately post, and it's just a perfect palette if you're in need of both a bronzer and a highlighter. The bronzer isn't totally matte - more of a satin finish really, and the highlighter is a stunning champagne gold. This really reminds me of the famous CT Bronze & Glow Palette - my sister has it, and swatched side by side, they really are quite similar. If I'm not using this palette I go for my trusty combo of the Make Up For Ever Pro Bronze Fusion Bronzer in 15I and the Anastasia Beverly Hills Illuminator in Starlight (which may have been limited edition? say it isn't so!). All of these products will give the skin the most amazing glow - I think the difference all lies in using a glowy bronzer as well as a highlighter. It really makes you look like you've just gotten back from the most relaxing tropical vacation. Since that's something I wish I was actually doing in real life, I just pile on the glowy bronzers and highlighters.

What glowy products have you been loving?

*Some of the products mentioned have been sent to me for consideration, but all opinions are my own. Please see my disclaimer for more information.

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Bedtime Beauty

I mentioned in the AM/PM Routine Tag that I always like to take my time with a nice, relaxing evening routine. While going through my usual steps I picked up on a few patterns in the products I'll always use before bed without fail - my routine may not be using the exact same products every night, but I often use the same kinds of products.

THE SMOOTH LIP DUO | I've said before that I absolutely can't sleep without first putting on some lip balm. For the longest time now my staple has been the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask - it's so thick and beautifully nourishing, so it definitely sticks around till morning. Lately I've been squeezing in an extra step with the Bite Beauty Whipped Cherry Lip Scrub. It's a nice balmy texture with just a little bit of grit - it's not as scrubby as something like the Lush Lip Scrubs, but I like that it's not super abrasive so I can use it almost every night. This duo ensures I wake up with the softest lips possible, and it really helps keep them conditioned despite wearing lots of matte liquid lipsticks.

THE OVERNIGHT EXFOLIATORS | I'm really into chemical exfoliators, especially ones you can just slap on and let them do all the work. They give a glow and help to just remove all the excess gunk hanging around your skin - two things my skin always needs. As a more affordable option I've been loving the Pixi Overnight Glow Serum - it's kind of a thick, syrupy consistency (the pipette can get a little messy), but it spreads over the skin easily and you can feel it immediately get to work. This feels quite moisturizing on its own, but I like to follow it up with a moisturizer after letting it sink in and do its thing for a bit. A similar product I've been obsessed with is the M-61 JetGlow Serum* from Bluemercury. This has a thinner formula, like a lightweight oil, so it sinks in so quickly. Like the Pixi offering, this one also has glycolic acid as its exfoliant (which my skin loves), but it also has some other skin lovelies like red seaweed to promote skin firming and goji berry to improve skin elasticity and fight free radicals. I wake up with especially peppy and radiant skin when I've slapped this on.

THE RETINOL TREATMENTS | When I'm not using a chemical exfoliant, I like to use products with a form of retinol in them to help resurface the skin - they really help keep acne at bay for me. You probably all know my obsession with the Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil (review) by now, so I won't bore you too much. It's just my favorite face oil ever, and I always wake up to much nicer, more even skin. A newer bit I've been trying is the Trufora Night Serum 85*. It doesn't contain retinol (or its derivatives) like Luna does, but it's got peptides that display retinol-like effects. It absorbs into the skin quickly and really helps to smooth the skin. This also promotes a more even skintone for me, and I can absolutely tell a difference in the hydration of my skin when I've used this.

THE HEAVY DUTY CREAMS | I mentioned in my Lovin' Lately last weekend my love for the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Deep Moisture Balm. It's a super thick, rich cream that instantly soothes the skin and delivers intense moisture. I love using it after a facial oil to really lock it in and leave my skin looking juicy come morning. Another bit from Trufora that's been perfect for my skin is the Intensive Night Treatment*. It's designed to be used with their Night Serum, and they really make the perfect pair. This cream isn't as heavy as the Kiehl's but still packs quite a punch in the moisture department, courtesy of two forms of hyaluronic acid among other intense hydrators.

THE HAND HEROES | The last step before hopping into bed is slathering on some hand cream. My hands can get easily dry and cracked, but as long as I keep up with hand cream every night I'm fine. When I'm really needing to relax I reach for the Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm - it sinks in quickly and leaves no greasy residue. The real winning quality to me, though, is the smell. It smells quite herbal and it really relaxes me. The other hand cream I'm always reaching for (it's quite a bit more nourishing than the Aesop) is the Skinfix Ultra Rich Hand Cream*. Despite being ultra rich as the name suggests, it doesn't leave a greasy film on the hands. It's scentless and really softens the skin - I really love it.

What products do you reach for at bedtime?

*Some products included have been sent to me for consideration, but all opinions are my own. Please see my disclaimer for more information.

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First Impressions: Milk Makeup

Do you ever try something from a new/new to you brand and love it so much that you suddenly need everything else from the line? Because that was me with Milk Makeup. Born of the NYC/LA-based media company Milk, the line promises to be cool, eco-conscious, and perfect for the person on the go. Being more and more in the mindset of "stay in bed as long as possible," lately, the "on-the-go" aspect really spoke to me - to me, "on-the-go" products mean "easy and quick to apply." Most of their products come in handy twist-up sticks that are definitely perfect for quick applications and touch-ups. The line is cruelty-free as a whole, and many of the products (they say 60% of them) are also vegan. I got the Matte Bronzer for my birthday at the beginning of the month, and after trying it once I knew it was love. I immediately picked up three more products in the Sephora VIB Sale the following week. Here's what I've been thinking so far.

Matte Bronzer, 'Baked' | The one that started it all. I first saw this being used in an article on XoVain, and I knew immediately it was my kind of product. I've been more and more into bronzers lately, and I love me a cream product, especially when it comes in a stick. The Matte Bronzer in Baked is the absolute perfect shade for creating warmth in the skin (of which I have none), though it is not orange in the slightest. I love applying it in a "3" shape on the sides of my face and blending with either my fingers for the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush for a little bit of sculpting and bronzing in one. The formula is so creamy (it has "Milk Melt Technology" to melt on contact with body heat) and just melts into the skin, though I'm not worried about it melting off in the summertime. This was love at first swipe for me, so I of course added more to my collection.

Highlighter, 'Lit' | I bet you're not surprised I bought the highlighter - they're my weakness. This has the same melting technology as the bronzer, so again, it's ultra creamy and blendable. It's a soft pale golden champagne shade that leaves the loveliest sheen on the skin. Needless to say, I'm hooked. I sweep this on the tops of my cheekbones, down my nose, and dab a little bit on my cupid's bow and on the inner corners of my eyes with my fingers. I can definitely see myself dabbing this on my collarbones too in the summertime if I'm feeling extra fancy.

Lip + Cheek, 'Rally' | The third chubby stick-type product I've got is a color for the lips and cheeks - I picked Rally, which is a mauve shade (of course). The color payoff of this is more sheer than the bronzer, which I like because with my rosy complexion, I need to be careful about color on my cheeks. Just like the bronzer and highlighter, it blends beautifully into the skin. It also contains mango butter, peach nectar, and avocado oil for hydration - it doesn't feel greasy on the cheeks, but it's incredibly nourishing on the lips. I dab the stick on my cheeks and blend with fingers when I want to use it as blush, but I apply it to my lips using my fingers. I'd love to try the deeper berry shade ("Quickie") next.

Ubame Mascara, 'Inked' | I was in the market for a new everyday mascara, and this one looked promising. I love that it comes in a squeezy tube, although I don't really know why it pleases me so much. I also really like the wand, a fiber brush composed into three balls (although the models in Milk Makeup's demo videos saying "It's got balls!" over and over is a little grating). It grips every lash and really helps lift them up. I get a really great curl and impressive length with this. Despite not being waterproof, the curl hangs around until the end of the day, too. I usually have to wear waterproof mascaras so they won't smudge on me, but this one doesn't cause any major issues. If I'm having a particularly oily eyelid day, I'll have to wipe away a few tiny smudges under my eyes in the afternoon, but that's it. I'm so impressed with this mascara, and it's one I'll definitely keep repurchasing to use on an everyday basis.

Milk Makeup is available to from Sephora, Urban Outfitters, and the brand's website. Have you tried anything from Milk Makeup?

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