The Everyday Base Routine

October 20, 2016 in Makeup, Skincare

I've mentioned before how my everyday makeup varies every few weeks - I go through phases of wearing the bare minimum, only to suddenly be motivated to do a full face for weeks just a short time later. Lately I've been in a more "full face" state of mind because I've found some products in my stash I just really love using and had forgotten about until now.

The weather has started to cool down finally, and my skin is feeling it. I've started incorporating a facial oil underneath my moisturizer in the daytime, and the moisturizer I've been going for is a little heavier than I used to use during the day as well. I've fallen back in love with the Marie d'Argan 100% Pure Argan Oil* as it just feels beautiful on the skin. It's so incredibly nourishing and moisturizing, but it doesn't leave me feeling greasy. I also use this at night and take some time massaging it into my eyelashes and eyebrows, and I think it's really helped condition them and help them grow! It doesn't make my makeup slide around and pairs really well underneath. The moisturizer I've been reaching for to go on top of the oil is the Better Skin Co Mirakle Cream* - this might be my favorite moisturizer ever (along with the Glossier Priming Moisturizer of course). It's super hydrating, but again, it doesn't make me greasy. It absorbs into the skin quickly, leaving it plumped and ready for makeup. I'm almost at the end of my tub and I'm definitely going to be purchasing it myself when it's gone.

Another product I've pulled out of my collection and fallen back in love with is the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation. I used this so much when I first got it in the spring, but it just fell by the wayside until now. I just can't bring myself to use anything else lately, though. On top of the oil + moisturizer combo it glides beautifully onto the skin and stays looking great all day. I typically stripe it on around the center of my face, where I need the most coverage, and blend it out with a buffing brush (I always use the Zoeva Silk Finish Brush). It leaves such a lovely luminous finish to the skin that I really love - I love that it's not matte but it's not like the super dewy bases I wore all summer.

The foundation stick usually covers all the redness and most of the blemishes that I want it to, but when I need a little more coverage or something to cover dark circles I've been reaching for the Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer. I love how lightweight it feels and how non-cakey it is. It really brightens my undereyes and doesn't make them crepe-y and dry.

No matter how much makeup I'm wearing, I just always have to add the Glossier Haloscope in Quartz to my cheekbones and browbones. Now that I'm not wearing a super shiny foundation, I still like adding a bit of a dew factor on the high points of my face. This is perfect for that since it has the hydrating oils as well as real crystal dust in the formula. It's just my holy grail highlighter, which is saying a lot because I'm such a highlighter fiend. I wear it every single day, either on its own or mixed with other products. If you get one thing from Glossier (get 20% off here!), this should be it.

What products have you been using as your base lately? And what's your favorite facial oil for daytime? I'm thinking I might need the Kiehl's one...

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

Five to Try

October 18, 2016 in Makeup, Skincare

I know it's been less than a month since my last Five to Try post, but they've become some of my favorite posts to write - it gives me an excuse to try lots of new things and put together the best of the best. I'm covering a lot of bases this time around, from the most luxurious-feeling cleansing balm to some beautiful new lip products.

Pixi Nourishing Cleansing Balm* | I just mentioned this in my Pixi post, but I fall in love with this stuff a little more every time I use it. I like using it in the morning, and it really plumps up and smooths my skin, making it ready for makeup application. Now that the weather is cooling down (except it's 80 degrees today), my skin has been slowly drying out, so this is a welcome one to really help nourish the skin from the get-go. It's quite an affordable pick, but the thick, rich texture makes it feel super luxurious and definitely more expensive than it is. Also if you like rose scents you need to try this ok thanks bye.

The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask* | Hang tight, I'm working on a review of all five of these new Superfood masks that will hopefully be up on Saturday (I just have one more mask to finish testing), but so far my favorite of the bunch is the charcoal mask - something I wasn't expecting at all. It feels quite intense, cooling, and tingly on the skin as it detoxes your pores. I definitely would say it's a dupe for the GlamGlow Youthmud Mask for a fraction of the price. If your pores are in need of a good vacuuming, definitely try this one out. It's also 100% vegan.

Onomie Powerful Priming Serum* | I've already reviewed this and the rest of the line here, and I haven't been able to shut up about the concealer lately, but now I'm turning my attentions to their primer/serum hybrid. This is such a lovely product - it feels hydrating, firming, and plumping to the skin, and it has a tiny bit of shimmer in it to give you that natural, lit-from-within glow. It's perfect for no-makeup days as well as underneath makeup. I've noticed with consistent use it really does even out my skintone and make it more bright, so it's one skincare/makeup hybrid that actually does everything it says it will.

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer | I've had this on my wishlist for ages, and the only thing holding me back was not knowing what shade to order (I don't have any Kevyn Aucoin counters near me). After googling a million swatches I ended up with shade SX02 in my Sephora cart and luckily, it's a match! I love how incredibly versatile this is. It's the most pigmented product I've ever tried, so even though the pot is shockingly tiny for $48 I can definitely see it lasting years. My favorite way to wear it is mixing a tiny pinprick amount in with a moisturizer to create my own tinted moisturizer for everyday. I just love how I can customize the coverage depending on how my skin is feeling. I'm working on a post rounding up all the things I've mixed it with and how it fares, so keep an eye out for that.

NARS Velvet Lip Glides | I mentioned these in my NARS Neutrals post, and they're just stunning. NARS always has such unique products, so of course their response to the liquid lipstick trend was something that doesn't dry down to a matte, but rather a pigmented gloss that wears down to a velvety stain. They feel so cushiony and comfortable on the lips, and the color lasts quite a long time. The gloss wears away after a couple hours, but I don't mind. I have the shades Bound, a mauve nude, and Area, a deep brown, and I'm obsessed.

What are your "must-try" products this month?

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

A Brightening Look with Pixi Beauty

October 15, 2016 in Makeup, Skincare

For the past couple months I've been super lucky to have been sent themed boxes of goodies from Pixi Beauty, one of my favorite brands. Their box this month centered around the #PixiGlow, and it really inspired me to put together this post. This post isn't sponsored at all, but Pixi did send me all of the products mentioned. I'm all about products to help give my skin a radiance and glow, whether it's from my skincare or makeup. I've been using this routine most mornings and have really been enjoying how "bright-eyed and bushy-tailed" I look and feel.

I start my washing my face with the Nourishing Cleansing Balm.* This smells so good and really gives me a moment to relax and prepare for the day. It's one of the thickest cleansing balms I've tried, turning into a thick oily cream as it's rubbed into the skin. On mornings when I have more time, I like to massage it into the skin and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it off, like a makeshift hydrating mask. You'll definitely need a washcloth to wash it off - I've found it leaves a little bit of a residue otherwise. It removes makeup really well, so I like using it at night too, but for me it really shines as my morning cleanser, especially as the weather cools down.

Next I sweep a cotton pad soaked with the famous Glow Tonic* over my skin. I've talked about how much I love this product and have purchased it multiple times - it's probably my favorite skincare product ever. It's a super gentle chemical exfoliant that leaves the skin bright, clear, and smooth.

As the weather is cooling down (and as I'm coming down with a cold), I've been loving using a facial oil in the mornings underneath my makeup. I've noticed my foundation looks so much better and actually lasts longer throughout the day. I absolutely love the Rose Oil Blend* for this - it has the same beautiful rose scent as the cleansing balm, and it's one of the most nourishing oils I've tried. It really plumps up the skin and adds a gorgeous glow. It contains sweet almond, rosehip, jojoba, pomegranate seed, and rose geranium oils, and my skin just drinks it up. It's a super affordable oil (that again, I've bought myself in the past!) that feels much more luxurious than the price point would suggest.

On days that I'm feeling a little lackluster and tired, I can instantly perk up my face with a bit of mascara. I've talked about my love for the Black Lacquer Lash Primer* already, but it beautifully fans out the lashes and preps them perfectly for mascara application. On top I love using the Lash Booster Mascara* in Blackest Blue. It's so dark it still looks black when applied, but you know how blue-toned reds make your teeth look really white? This mascara does the same for the whites of your eyes. I've found it really helps me look much more awake and ready to go.

I love wearing brightening shades on my cheeks - I'm super pale, so I always need to add some sort of color. I really like the Beauty Blush Duo* in Peach Honey. The peachy shade adds warmth and life back into the skin, and there's just enough shimmer to give the skin a beautiful glow. I mix the two shades together when applying.

Lastly, I've been using the LipLift Max* in Petal Ice on my lips. It's a really lovely gloss that reminds me a lot of the Dior Lip Maximizer. It gently plumps the lips without any stinging but with a minty freshness. The Petal Ice shade is a beautiful pale pink that seems to brighten and enhance the lips' natural color. It never feels sticky or gloopy, so it's a gloss I can definitely get on board with.

Have you tried any of these products from Pixi? What are your go-to's to look more awake?

Thank you to Pixi for sending all these products for me to try! All opinions are my own, as always. Please see my disclaimer for more information.