The Everyday Vacation Face

July 07, 2016

In case you've missed it from my copious amounts of beach posts on my Instagram, I'm on vacation this week! I kept myself from overpacking as much as I usually do (except for a separate makeup bag for lip products) and have been sticking to the same group of products everyday. I don't wear makeup to the beach, but I like to put a little bit on after coming back and showering so I'm ready for tourist-y pictures at a moment's notice in the evenings.

I've been starting my makeup everyday with a thin layer of the bareMinerals Complexion Rescue. This is definitely my favorite base product ever - it's so glowy and makes the skin look so healthy. You can't even feel it at all, and it has SPF 30, too. Next I do my brows with my trusty combination of the Glossier Boy Brow in Brown followed by the Milk Makeup Gel Brow in Pilsner It's super quick and easy and leaves my brows looking more groomed than they actually are.

I only brought one cream eyeshadow instead of multiple palettes (like I usually do), but I haven't even been using that in fear of it creasing. Instead I've been tightlining my upper waterline with the Colourpop Creme Gel Liner in Brew-Haha and also smudging it into my upper lashes at the outer corners. This stuff doesn't budge at all, so I'm never worried about it smudging down my face throughout the night. All that's left for the eyes is a coat or two of the Covergirl Clump Crusher Water Resistant Mascara. I had heard so many great things for years about this mascara, and I finally decided to pick it up when I went home last weekend and forgot to pack any mascara. It's been the only one I've reached for since I got it.

I've been making my cheeks extra glowy, because if you can't be dewy and verging on shiny on vacation, when can you? I start by striping on a bit of the Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer in Baked right underneath my cheekbones, and then I apply a little of the Glossier Haloscope in Topaz directly on top. I'll then blend the two out with the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. I blend it along my cheekbones, up onto my temples, and down to my jawbone. Lastly I stripe on a generous amount of the Glossier Haloscope in Quartz in a C-shape from my brow bone to cheekbone. I can't stop using these highlighters - they're phenomenal.

I packed a whole separate makeup bag full of lip products because I just couldn't choose, but I've been going for some variation of a sheer nude lip most days. I've been reaching for the Covergirl Oh Sugar Lip Balm in Candy quite a lot - once it's on, the formula reminds me a lot of the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments. The Candy shade gives the most natural-looking pink flush to the lips, too. When I want a more traditional lipstick I've been going for the Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Sheer Liar. It's super easy to apply and wear, and I think when smudged into the lips it makes them look a little fuller and almost bee-stung.

What products do you reach for in a more easy, laid-back look?

Milk Makeup First Impressions: Part 2

July 05, 2016

You may remember a couple months ago I picked up a few things to try from the new Milk Makeup range. I was really impressed with everything I got, so a couple weeks ago I decided to get a few more products to try. I went for the Blush Oil in Ripe, the Gel Brow in Pilsner, and the Lip Color in C.R.E.A.M. Once again, Milk has not disappointed.

Blush Oil | I had wanted to try the Blush Oil since making my first order. It just sounds like the coolest concept. Now that I'm really into that ultra-dewy look, I knew I just had to have it. I picked the shade Ripe, which is described as a dusty rose. The product comes in a click pen with a rollerball on the end, so it's super easy to apply on the go. It's really blendable and adds a subtle flush to the cheeks. It's less "oily" than I was expecting from the name - it's more like a hybrid between an oil and a cream. It sets down nicely, and I don't feel like it's going to melt off my face, even in the heat. It does leave the skin with a lovely fresh glow, too - the finish reminds me of the Stila Convertible Colors, but this feels much lighter on the skin.

Gel Brow | I've found my new favorite brow product. Since trying this, I haven't even touched my Anastasia Brow Wiz. The pencil is quite soft, so I've found I do have to sharpen it pretty often. It's still going to last me much longer than the Brow Wiz though. It glides on so easily and adheres to the skin so I can quickly fill in the thinner patches of my brows. I've been able to fill them in in record time since starting to use this. The color is a perfect ashy brown shade, too, and because it's so soft you can adjust the amount of pigmentation you get by using different amounts of pressure.

L to R: Pilsner, Ripe, O.G. Red, Gnarly, C.R.E.A.M.

Lip Color | I first tried the Lip Color in a set of samples sent to me from Urban Outfitters - it contained a fuschia color called Gnarly, a blue-toned red called OG Red, and a nude called C.R.E.A.M. The formula of these is so nice - it's incredibly creamy when you apply it to the lips, but it sets down to a matte finish. They don't feel drying at all. They last quite awhile, usually only fading after I eat, and they don't bleed or smudge. I picked up the full size of C.R.E.A.M. because it was my favorite of the set and it's a perfect everyday nude. It's very close in color to my natural lip shade. If you're looking for a good nude lip product, I'd definitely give this one a swatch.

Have you tried anything from Milk Makeup? Is there anything else from them I need to try? I'm interested in their new Sunshine Skin Tint!

Summer Skin Essentials

July 02, 2016

I figured today would be the perfect day to write about my summer skin essentials - when this post goes up, I will be on my way to Maine to relax at the beach for the week! Now that I'm not in school anymore, our vacation to Maine truly signifies the beginning of the summer for me. When the weather warms up, I start straying from my favorite thick, heavy creams and rely on more brightening, lightweight formulas. I've been having a bit of hormonal breakouts lately, but I already know that once they clear up this routine will be a hit.

I like really gentle cleansers morning and night, but a nice extra kick for summertime has come in the form of the Farmacy New Day Gentle Exfoliating Grains (mine is a mini from the Perennial Picks Skincare Discovery Set*). It's a powder you mix with water to create a foamy cleanser. I'm always wary of things that foam, but this doesn't strip my skin at all. I like that the powder doesn't completely break down, so you get a bit of a gentle scrubbing action in there too. I've packed this with me to get my skin looking bright and clean each morning and make sure the remnants of the previous day's sunscreen is all gone.

As you may have seen in my June Favorites on Thursday, I've been really loving the Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum. This is a perfect addition to my routine for summer. Vitamin C is known to boost the effects of your SPF, so I'm definitely bringing this along to make sure my skin is extra protected while I'm at the beach (wearing a hat under an umbrella, of course). This is hydrating but not heavy or greasy at all, and I've already been noticing that it's lightening up my acne marks. It does have a bit of an odd smell, but I'm told that's the good sign of a seriously good and effective Vitamin C serum. The smell fades quickly so I don't mind.

I love reaching for lightweight gel-creams instead of my usual thick night creams so my skin doesn't feel like it's suffocating in the humidity. For a nice, simple pick I go for the Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb - it really feels like you're giving your skin a drink of water. Despite having dehydrated skin, this is enough moisture for me, and I love layering it over/under facial oils, too. For a bit more brightening oomph I reach for the Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream* (review). This really plumps up my skin, and when used consistently it does brighten up my skin and leaves it radiant and dewy throughout the day.

In the past couple years I've had a couple family members have some skin cancer issues, so it's really made me ultra-vigilant about my SPF. I start that routine by using a facial SPF daily, and I like using a moisturizer with SPF to get the two steps in one. When I know I'll be out in the sun I've been using the Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47. It comes out as a thin consistency, but it does feel a bit thick while rubbing it into the skin. I'm assuming it's because it's a physical sunscreen. This doesn't leave a white cast on my skin (although I am pretty pale, so I don't know how it would fare on darker complexions), and it keeps my skin moisturized all day without being too greasy. A lighter option I love is the Purlisse Blue Lotus Essential Daily Moisturizer SPF 30.* This one is more lightweight and feels really soothing on the skin. This is a chemical sunscreen, but it hasn't broken me out or irritated my skin at all. I like wearing this one under makeup because once it sinks in you can't feel it on your skin at all, while you can feel the Josie Maran one. While I'm on vacation I'm expecting to use the Josie Maran one in the morning before I go to the beach and then the Purlisse one in the afternoons after coming back from the beach and showering.

One last way I like to make sure my SPF is topped up is by using the Supergoop Defense Refresh Setting Mist. This is genius in my opinion - a face mist with SPF 50? I was sold just by reading the label. I love carrying this in my beach bag because it's so easy to reapply, and I don't feel like I'm just clogging up my pores by reapplying a thick sun cream. This is a bit mattifying too, so perfect for calming down sweaty skin.

What are your skin picks for summer?

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