The Fall Lip Edit

September 27, 2017 in Makeup

It seems like the weather is clinging to summer for dear life here lately, but I've already started changing up my makeup and have been going full Fall Mode. The biggest change has been in lip products - I've gone from subtle pinks to more brown and berry tones. I still am reaching for the same types of formulas for everyday wear - normally with a bit of a sheen and on the sheer side.

T-B | Leo, Billie on the Bike, Bansar, Craving, Bond Girl, Liberator

My everyday favorite once the weather starts cooling down is definitely the Glossier Generation G in Leo. It's the perfect hint of brown, and it's sheer so it lets your natural lip shade come through a bit. On me this makes it look a little bit like a subtle brick red. I have all the shades of Generation G's, but if I had to get rid of them all and only keep one, I think it would be Leo. The next brown-ish shade that's a little stronger than Leo is the NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Bansar. Again, I have a whole handful of these NARS Lip Pencils, but Bansar is my favorite. It's the perfect mix of pink and brown, and the formula is lovely. It has a satin finish obviously, so it's not drying, and the subtle sheen makes the lips look fuller. I find it doesn't slide around on me, and it gradually fades evenly. For more special occasions, I go for the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Bond Girl. This is more of a true matte formula, but it's still quite creamy and comfortable. Bond Girl is the best of both worlds here, being described as a "Brown Berry." It's a little neutral, and yet a little bold, which is exactly what I want from my fall look.

The berry shades I've been reaching for make more of a statement of course. The Hourglass Girl Lip Stylo in Liberator is the prettiest subtle berry shade. The formula of these is beautiful - so creamy and comfortable. They're a bit on the sheer side but can be built up to a more opaque color easily. Another buildable lipstick I can't stop wearing is the Rodin Olio Lusso Luxe Lipstick in Billie on the Bike. It's such a beautiful purple shade that makes your teeth look really white. On an everyday basis, I pat this on over a lip balm to sheer it out, and it makes the perfect stained color, like I've been eating blackberries or something. I'm definitely eyeing a few more shades of these (Red Hedy will be mine!). The most opaque of the berry tones I've been gravitating towards is the MAC Amplified Lipstick in Craving. As an Amplified formula, it's creamy and super pigmented. Despite not being a bold shade, it gives a bold look because of its opacity. The color is a stunning berry-toned pink that adds a bit of a plum vibe to any makeup look. This one is great for patting on over lip balm, too - it becomes a really complexion-brightening shade.

What are your lip picks for fall?

Five to Try

September 26, 2017 in Makeup, Nails, Skincare

These kinds of posts are some of my favorites to write - I just love discovering new products that I love and want to recommend. I'm happy about how much healthier my spending habits have been lately, but I still do miss trying new things all the time.

Glossier Body Hero Daily Perfecting Cream* | This month Glossier launched Body Hero, a duo of body care products to give you that "Glossier Glow" on the other 90% of your body. Buying the Duo saves you $5, but my favorite product of the two (and the standout for me) is the Daily Perfecting Cream. It's a rich, buttery texture - think Priming Moisturizer Rich, but in a tube - but it sinks in really quickly. It has the loveliest orange blossom neroli scent that isn't overpowering and stays close to the body, and it also has the teeniest bit of shimmer to give you a dewy glow. I used to only moisturize my legs after showering, but I love this stuff so much that I actually use it all over. You can get 20% off your first Glossier order through my rep link.

Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer | Another huge launch this month was that of Fenty Beauty - I tried a bunch of products from the line, and actually the standout to me has been the gloss. I love that she started with just one shade, and it really does seem universal. It's a warm rose nude with a bit of shimmer that looks just beautiful. It makes the lips look fuller without being too over the top, and the formula is comfortable and moisturizing rather than sticky. I love the scent too. You can read my thoughts on the other products I've tried in my Fenty Beauty Review.

REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask* | I've heard so many great things about this mask over the years, so I was so excited when it was sent to me this month. I'm all about exfoliating masks to brighten my skin, so I knew my skin would love this. It's a smooth, creamy consistency that spreads over the skin easily, and it smells really citrus-y. It contains glycolic, lactic, citric, and tartaric acids to dissolve dead skin cells and reveal brighter skin. I love this one because it's not harsh on my skin - I can use it in the morning with no leftover redness, and it makes my skin super smooth.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask | This is another cult-favorite I finally got my hands on this month. My lips are a little weird and react to random lip balms, so it took me awhile to stray from my Balm Dotcom in the day/Bite Agave Lip Mask at night routine, but this one has fit in nicely and hasn't given me any reactions. It's not quite as thick or sticky as the Bite lip mask - it actually feels quite smooth and soft on the lips. It still manages to stick around all night, and I can still feel it on my lips when I wake up in the morning. I love that it smooths my lips so well overnight without even having to use a lip scrub. It's a great one for lazy nights when I just want to get in bed for sure. Plus, it smells like pink Starbursts (the best flavor), so you really can't go wrong.

Dr. Dana 9-Free Nail Color* | Along with curbing my spending, keeping up with gel manicures went out the window, so the new nail system by Dr. Dana has been perfect! My nails were in rough shape, but the Hydrating Base Coat* has really helped too. They've come out with a line of six shades, all created by strong women - a collection I can get behind. They're all beautiful colors, but my favorites have been Gayle (King), the perfect nude, Judy (Joo), a classic deep red, and TheSkimm, which is their bespoke blue shade. The polishes apply well and aren't streaky, and they have the BEST brush ever. It's so easy to apply to the nail quickly and neatly.

Have you tried anything new that you love lately?

*Products mentioned have been sent to me for consideration, but all opinions are my own. Please see my disclaimer for more information. This post contains affiliate links.

LaFlore Skincare | The Power of Probiotics

September 22, 2017 in Skincare

This post contains sponsored content by the PRIMP Network. All opinions are my own.

Do you ever feel like your skin maybe isn't fuctioning at its best? Maybe it's a little dull and lackluster, irritated, or just tired-looking. Making the switch to probiotic skincare could be the fix for you. LaFlore Skincare has just brought out a brand new 3-step skincare system that will help "train" the skin to take care of itself, leaving a glowing, bright complexion. The probiotics work to enhance the "good flora," or microbes that live on the skin, which strengthens their defenses so they're able to heal and and protect the skin. They really work to target skin dysfunction at its core. The best part is that once the good flora are restored, the skin can be permanently healthy. LaFlore Skincare uses only active biomolecules at clinical strengths as well as natural plant-based ingredients - it's all about balance. They use a variety of different probiotics to target different skin concerns and provide the skin with the nourishment it needs all day long. The line currently consists of three products: the Probiotic Cleanser, Serum Concentrate, and the Probiotic Daily Defense Moisturizer.

LaFlore Probiotic Cleanser | This cleanser has a creamy consistency that works to gently exfoliate the skin as it cleanses. It contains Pineapple Extract to exfoliate, antimicrobial essential oils, Perilla Seed Oil for redness relief and for calming inflammation, and LaFlore's Probiotic Cocktail A for cell renewal and hydration. This cleanser left my skin feeling smooth and cleansed, but not stripped or tight. It feels slightly cooling on the skin, and I did notice a reduction in the redness in my skin quite quickly. This is meant to be used at night, applied to dry skin and rinsed off. It can also be applied to clean, dry skin and left on as a mask for about one minute.

LaFlore Serum Concentrate | This is my favorite product from the line. It's a lightweight serum that packs a serious punch in terms of hydration and nourishment. It contains a lot of skin-loving ingredients like Aloe, Hemp Seed Oil, Sea Buckthorn Fruit Oil, St. John's Oil, Avocado, Jojoba, Squalane, Beta Carotene and LaFlore's Probiotic Cocktail C. This really helped to soothe my skin and relieve redness, as well as keeping it nourished all night. It instantly gave a dewy glow to my skin and helped to brighten my skin over time.

LaFlore Probiotic Daily Defense Moisturizer | This moisturizer is more lightweight than what I'm used to, so I was really surprised just how moisturizing it was. It plumped up my skin and left it so smooth and even. It works to strengthen the skin's defenses against pollution and other common stressors, leading to healthier skin over time. It contains Aloe, Pomegranate Seed Oil, Bisabolol Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, and another Probiotic Cocktail (B). This keeps my skin nourished all day and creates a beautifully smooth canvas. It also subtly enhances the skin's glow with pearls.

One thing I love about the products is that the main ingredient in each of them is aloe, not water. This makes them so soothing and healing on the skin. The line is free from petrolatum, silicones, dimethicones, soy, gluten, mineral oil, parabens, and sulfates. They are plant-based, organic, and cruelty-free. After using the three products together for about a month, I've already seen great improvement in how my skin functions. It gets over breakouts more quickly, I haven't had much redness, and it doesn't dry out throughout the day. My skin's texture has also improved - the smoothness of my skin is one of the biggest changes I've seen.

You can get 20% off your purchase at laflore.com with the code PRIMP20.

Are you interested in this new line? Have you ever tried probiotic skincare before?