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Beauty by Kelsey

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Featured posts:

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Oct 29, 2024
Things I’m Loving 10.29.24
Oct 29, 2024
Oct 29, 2024
Oct 22, 2024
What Was a Harder Transition: 0-1 or 1-2 Kids?
Oct 22, 2024
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Oct 15, 2024
Things I'm Loving 10.15.24
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INSTAGRAM: @DADMUNK

My handsome boys! Today’s post on the blog is my experience with the transition from 1-2 kids vs the transition from 0-1 - link is in my bio 💙
Do you have 2+ children? What transition was the hardest for you?
Current go-to’s 🤎
I have a new post up on the blog today and have been putting them up every Tuesday if you haven’t caught it in my stories! I’m hoping blogs will make a comeback because I really love writing about all my favorites
Medication and therapy changed my life and helped me be the kind of mom my boys deserve. Check in on your friends and loved ones, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. You are not a burden. Signed, a confident second-time mom who struggled with
What’s the feeling called when you’re exhausted but your heart is so full it could burst? 🤍 #weekenddump

Milk Makeup Blur Stick | First Impressions

January 17, 2017 in Makeup

When one of my favorite brands drops a new product, I'm all ears. I started hearing some hype building around the Milk Makeup Blur Stick a couple weeks ago, and it really sounded like something I'd want to try. It promises to blur imperfections on all skintones, from pores to fine lines, all while being oil- and silicone-free. Usually I stay away from blurring primers because they break me out in painful cystic acne - I'm pretty sure it's from the silicones. Anytime anything has that slippy texture, I run the other way. Hearing that this could somehow blur the skin without silicone really piqued my interest. 

The Blur Stick comes in Milk's typical "chubby stick" packaging, similar to their bronzer and highlighter. This makes it super easy to apply to the skin on areas of interest. It's the most interesting sensation to apply this to the skin - in fact, it feels like nothing. It doesn't leave the skin feeling slick or overly matte. I instantly can see a difference - my pores are smoothed over, and some discoloration seems to somehow be soothed (even though the product is totally clear). Dabbing a bit under my eyes even smoothes over some fine lines I've been noticing there. In the photos below you might be able to see the difference in texture it made around my nose. The photos are totally unedited (so enjoy my mustache and spotty chin).

Before applying Milk Makeup Blur Stick

After applying Milk Makeup Blur Stick

The Blur Stick claims to be mattifying, which worried me a little, as my skin is normally on the dehydrated side and I'm all about keeping things glowy. But I've found that since I only use it through the center of my face, it keeps those areas from getting greasy throughout the day. It doesn't dry my skin out - it just leaves it looking like skin. My makeup sits really well over it, too, although I have to make sure to only apply a small layer to my nose to avoid foundation breaking up on top. I haven't had any issues with breakouts or clogged pores after using it every day for the past week and a half.

I bought my Blur Stick myself, but last week I got a super exciting package from Milk Makeup's PR Team containing three more - I gave them to my mom and sister to try, and since they have different skin types than I do, I thought it would be helpful to share how they're getting on with it, too.

My sister is 21, and her main concerns with her skin are oiliness and her pores. She says, "I'd say that primers for oily skin make my skin feel tight and heavy, but this one just feels like my skin is naturally that smooth. It also doesn't feel like my pores are being clogged, which is what freaks me out about most primers. It's not the most oil-absorbing primer I've ever used but it does its job really well and feels so great that as of right now, it might be my favorite."

My mom has asked me for recommendations a few times for oiliness and uneven skin texture, and she's really been loving the Blur Stick as well. She says, "I love how it feels when you put it on - almost velvety and so smooth. I put it on my entire face and it stays matte for the whole day, but it doesn't feel like there is even anything on my skin. I really like that although there is no color, it really does even out my skin. It even diminishes a broken capillary I have on my cheek! I will definitely use this every day regardless of whether or not I wear any other makeup because I feel like my skin looks so much clearer and younger."

So it seems like Milk Makeup's Blur Stick will work well on a variety of skintypes as well as skintones as again, it is completely colorless. I'm in love with mine, and I'm super glad my mom and sister have been loving theirs, too.

Have you tried the Blur Stick yet?


Curating a Cohesive Style Within Your Beauty Collection

January 13, 2017 in Makeup

I'll be the first to admit that I'm a bit of a makeup hoarder - some people collect stamps, or Pez dispensers, or coins, and I collect makeup. I've really grown quite proud of my collection, as I'm realizing that every product I own fits my style and is something I would wear. And it's only taken me three years. I've gone through cycles of beauty hauls and purges to curate my collection, and I wanted to share some tips I've found helpful if you're looking to really make sure your collection "speaks" to you.

WOULD YOU WEAR IT?

Let's start with the obvious one - go through your collection and think about each product. Is it something you'd genuinely wear? Does it fit into your personal style/aesthetic? It took me a long time to admit that I'm just not one for super shimmery smokey eyes (in fact, I haven't worn eyeshadow for more than three days in a row in months), so I eventually gave away my Naked palettes. I had a few bright orange lipsticks that looked stunning when swatched but just made me look ill. Go through your collection and be picky - if you haven't worn it even once in about six months, chances are it's just not your thing.

WOULD YOUR BEAUTY ICON WEAR IT?

Taking the first tip one step further - picture your beauty inspirations and icons. Go through your collection and ask yourself if it's something they would wear. Now, this doesn't have to apply to everything. My ultimate beauty icon is Audrey Hepburn, but I'm sure she wasn't piling on the blue highlighters from the Anastasia Moonchild Glow Kit, which I love and will never part with. Think of their style and how you can adapt it to yourself. I feel like my penchant for lowkey and understated makeup looks focusing on the lashes and a pinky nude lip is definitely influenced by my love of Audrey Hepburn, but I throw in some smudgy brown liner (rather than a cat eye) and a highlight because that's just me.

DOES THE BRAND'S MESSAGE RESONATE WITH YOU?

This is a question I've found myself asking when going through my collection a lot lately. There are a few brands I had things from, but I just wasn't a fan of their brand image/message/business practices as a whole, so I made the decision to part with them. Even if the product was a color I'd wear or one of my role models would wear, I don't want to feature the product in my content if it's not a brand I can stand behind. Some brands I'm really admiring at the moment are Glossier, Bite Beauty, Drunk Elephant, and Milk Makeup, so I want to make sure I showcase brands like those more and clear out some clutter to give them more attention.

DOES THE BRAND'S AESTHETIC COMPLEMENT YOURS?

I've saved this one for last because sometimes I find myself getting a little shallow here - if I have two products that are similar shades and similar formulas and I want to get rid of one, I'll always keep the one with the packaging I like better. Lately a lot of minimal, monochrome packaging is speaking to me - I think this is why I'm falling in love with Marc Jacobs Beauty at the moment. Of course, it's more important for the product inside to be good than it is for the outside to look pretty, but isn't it a plus when just looking at the product makes you feel good? I try to steer away from products in overly cutesy, colorful packaging because it just doesn't fit the overall "feel" of my content - the product really has to blow me away for me to use it anyway.

I hope these were somewhat helpful or even made sense - do you think about your collection as having one cohesive style?


Spotlight: Marc Jacobs Beauty

January 12, 2017 in Makeup

I don't think of myself as super loyal to one brand or another, but every once in awhile I look at my collection and realize I've amassed a fair few products all from the same brand. This happened this weekend with Marc Jacobs Beauty - I've had a few bits for awhile but in the last couple weeks have added three more products to my collection. I haven't tried the whole range, but everything I have tried has been worth it.

I've been raving lately about how much I love the Under(cover) Perfecting Coconut Face Primer. I was never much of a primer gal before I tried this, but there's just something about how it plumps and smooths the skin that has me hooked. It's super hydrating on the skin but doesn't feel sticky or tacky under makeup - very important. It definitely helps my skin stop drinking up my foundation throughout the day too, so while hydrating primers normally aren't marketed for prolonging foundation weartime, it really does do that for me.

I'm quite smitten with the cheek products I've tried from the brand. I was sent the Air Blush Soft Glow Duo in Kink & Kisses from Influenster last summer, and I loved it so much that I recently bought the shade Flesh & Fantasy. The formula is beautiful and perhaps the most finely-milled powder I've ever felt. It adds such a lovely luminous glow to the cheeks without being shimmery or glittery in the slightest. Kink & Kisses is such a perfect neutral pink shade, and Flesh & Fantasy is a lovely nude. Over the summer I was also sent the Glow Stick Glistening Illuminator from Influenster and fell completely in love. I've heard some people say they don't get along with it, but it's one of my favorites. I apply it with my fingers and it leaves such a high-shine finish on the skin. It's got both silver and gold tones in it, so I think it would work on most skintones.

My sister got me the Style Eye Con No. 7 Plush Eyeshadow Palette in 'The Lover' for Christmas this year after I decided it would be the perfect mix of shades to use when I get married. This palette is stunning - the eyeshadows feel similar to the blushes, quite soft and finely-milled. The shades are so gorgeous, too. I love that they're quite rosy, but they're neutral rather than warm. I've used every shade in the palette already, and they all perform well.

Lastly, I've got three of their lip products. Their Poutliner Longwear Lip Liner Pencil in Prim(rose) is probably one of my favorite lip products ever. It adds the perfect neutral pink flush to the lips and does. not. budge. You might remember me raving about it a while ago because I wore it to a dentist appointment when I got two cavities filled, and it was still completely intact when I left. (side note: I swear I brush my teeth) After falling for the lip liner I grabbed one of the New Nudes Sheer Lip Gel Lipsticks in Role Play. These are really quite pigmented despite having "sheer" in the name, but they're super comfortable on the lips and last reasonably well. Role Play is a perfect deeper pink nude - it goes great with (Prim)rose. Lastly, I just picked up one of their new Le Marc Liquid Lip Cremes in the shade Shush, Blush. The formula is lovely - it doesn't feel too thick when applying. It doesn't completely dry down, so it's not transfer-proof, but that makes it so much more comfortable on the lips. Despite not being super matte, it still stays put on the lips and wears off evenly without smudging. The shade Shush, Blush is a really pretty deep pink that's quite unique to my collection, so I'm super excited to wear it more. It also goes really well with the lip liner!

Have you tried any products from Marc Jacobs Beauty? What are your favorites? I'm dying to get a lip gloss next, I've heard nothing but good things!

(This post isn't sponsored - although how cool would that be?! - I just am really loving the brand!)


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