Loving Lately | June Makeup Favorites

Long time no favorites post, right? Since I haven't done a Favorites in a couple months, there are too many products I want to write about to fit into one post. So part one, The Makeup, is today! I can't believe we're already halfway through the year - it's certainly flown by and doesn't seem to be slowing down any time soon. Here's hoping I can actually get more time to sit and pump out a few more posts than I've been able to lately. 

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter | If you're a fan of glowy skin, run, don't walk and pick this up. I put off buying this for awhile because I wasn't really sure what it was, but the reason it can be confusing it because it literally does it all. Wear it all over the face as a glowy primer, mix into foundations to make them dewier, or apply to the high points of your face after foundation for a subtle highlight with no shimmer. It works equally well at all three, which is usually quite rare. My favorite way to wear it is by mixing it with other products (are you surprised?). I stripe it on all over my face, concentrating it on the high points of my face, and then I go straight in to my foundation without blending the Flawless Filter first. This was a bit of an impulse buy, but it's become my favorite product from Charlotte Tilbury that I've tried.

Charlottle Tilbury Light Wonder Foundation | Speaking of Charlotte Tilbury, I've fallen back in love with the Light Wonder Foundation. I don't know why I ever stopped using this for a second, because it truly is the most beautiful foundation I own. It gives a good amount of coverage (light, bordering on medium) and yet is totally undetectable on the skin. Seriously, usually you can see foundation sitting on my skin just a little bit, but not with this one. It becomes one with the skin and gives the perfect glow. It lasts pretty well on me, too.

MAC Eyebrow Styler* | I don't change up my eyebrow products often, so when I do, you know the products are great. I got a box from MAC last month full of eyebrow products, and I instantly fell for the Eyebrow Styler. It's a skinny pencil with a spoolie on one end, which is normally the type of brow product I go for. The shade Stylized is perfect for me - it's an ashy brown that almost has a bit of a green tone to it, which surprisingly works really well with my skin and hair color. It's quite pigmented but easily blends when brushed out and lasts so well. I wore it in my brows for my wedding!

Fenty Beauty Killawatt Highlighter, 'Lightning Dust/Fire Crystal' | This one was influenced by Joelle Hyman, one of my favorite people to follow on Instagram. I had this highlighter sitting in my collection for a couple months (I grabbed it when my sister decluttered it), but I always tend to reach for cream highlights over powders. Seeing Joelle talk about it reminded me what a beautiful product it was - it looks like a cream highlight once on the skin, so it's perfect for summer when you want the look of a glossy cream highlight, but you don't necessarily want the feel of one. I've been dipping into the Lightning Dust shade almost every day (with an Elf Highlighter Brush) and I'm obsessed.

Glossier Cloud Paint, 'Storm'* | Of course I had to include the newest Glossier launch. Out of the two new Cloud Paint shades, Storm is definitely my favorite and the shade I was waiting for. It's a warm rose-y brown that gives the perfect flush of color to the skin. I have to use a very light hand, but the result is always so lovely and fresh-faced. The Cloud Paints are my favorite blush formula anyway, so I'm happy to have this new addition to my collection.

Milk Makeup Kush Mascara + Glossier Lash Slick* | If you want fluffy, fluttery lashes that look like extensions/falsies and don't smudge at all, I'd definitely recommend trying this combo. The Kush Mascara gives a good dose of volume and really makes the lashes look soft and fluffy, and then combing the Lash Slick through after the Kush Mascara has dried really separates the lashes and lengthens and fans them out even more. Kush lasts pretty well on me on its own, but using the Glossier as a "top coat" really seals it in and makes it not smudge at all. I wore this pair for my wedding, and despite lots of happy tears and dancing until I was sweating, I didn't have mascara smudges under my eyes all night.

YSL Liquid Color Balms | You can always tell I love a lip product if I buy it in multiple shades. I first bought the YSL Liquid Color Balm in shade #10, wore it twice, and loved it so much that I went back and got #12. They feel like water going onto the lips, are more pigmented than I was expecting, and look soft and balmy. It's such a good everyday lip product because it wears away evenly and leaves a subtle stain. I like that these aren't overly glossy, but they still seem to glide over lip lines and make the lips appear plumper.

Lancome L'Absolu Lacquer | I have since bought a second shade of the Lancome L'Absolu Lacquers after taking the photo for this post, too. These initially feel quite similar to the YSL Liquid Color Balms when applied to the lips - almost water-like and cooling, but they look quite different. These are a bit more pigmented, much more glossy, and yet feel weightless on the lips. It pretty much feels like you don't have anything on. My favorite thing about these, though, is their longevity. When applying them, they feel like they're not going to last very long, but they last hours and hours and even stay put through eating. When they do wear away, the glossiness fades first, and then the color evenly fades into a stain. If you're wanting a glossy bright punch-y color for summer, definitely go with one of these - they'll last you through barbeques and ice cream!

Bobbi Brown Lipstick, 'Sandwash Pink' | I had to mention this one because it was my wedding lipstick. I love the formula of Bobbi Brown Lipsticks - they don't feel too thick or heavy on the lips and yet have good pigmentation, leave a nice satin finish on the lips, and last well through eating and drinking. Sandwash Pink is the perfect neutral pink that makes it a lovely "my lips but better" shade. It showed up really well in wedding photos without drawing attention away from the rest of my bridal makeup look.

NARS Orgasm Afterglow Lip Balm | Another impulse purchase that I thoroughly do not regret. I'll admit I was sucked into this by the packaging and also because it was the last one in my Sephora when I went to "just swatch it." But it's become one of my everyday go-tos. It gives the lips a nice wash of pink, and the golden shimmer running through it doesn't look foiled or frosty, but rather gives the lips a plumped, glossy sheen. The balm itself is lovely and actually hydrates the lips with NARS's Monoi Hydrating Complex. I've been reaching for it as my daytime lip balm no matter what other makeup I'm wearing!

What makeup bits have you been loving recently?

Products marked with an asterisk (*) have been sent to me for consideration, but all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

Wedding Skin Prep | The Routine I Followed for a Month Before the Wedding

The biggest thing I stressed about in the lead-up to the wedding was trying to get my skin in its best shape. Over the winter my skin was probably the worst it's ever been, so I was starting to freak out. During the spring, I finally started finding a good routine to stick to, and for about a month or a month and a half leading up to the wedding, I stuck to it to a T. I think the strict routine without swapping different products in and out really helped my skin in the long run.

Evening Routine

For my evening routine I really wanted to focus on cleansing all the makeup and dirt from the day off my skin without stripping it, and loading it back up with moisture and nutrients it had lost. I stuck to fairly simple products and didn't go for many actives - I didn't want to risk any kind of reaction.

I started each night by massaging the Caudalie Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil* over dry skin, makeup and all. It easily broke down all my makeup and washed away cleanly, leaving my skin cleansed and moisturized rather than stripped. To make sure all the dirt and makeup was really washed away, I went in with a second cleanse of the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser* and massaged it in with the Wyld Skincare Pink Konjac Sponge.* This duo was perfect - the Soy Cleanser is super gentle and quite soothing, and the soft konjac sponge really gently exfoliated my skin.

Next I went in with toner, but instead of swiping it over my face with a cotton pad, I patted in a few layers with my hands. The Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner* has been a favorite for quite awhile now, and my love for it is still going strong. It makes my skin feel nicely hydrated and soft, and it's quite soothing from the rose as well. As you'll see, I use this product morning and night.

Next for my serum step I used a product that can be either a moisturizer or a serum, Stratia Liquid Gold. This is one of my favorite finds - it contains fatty acids and cholesterol to mimic the skin's moisture barrier, so it's excellent for repairing and soothing. Any time my skin is feeling itchy or tight, I reach for this, and it sorts it out right away. I didn't remember to use eye cream every single night, but when I did, it was the Belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb. This is still one of my favorite eye creams - it's incredibly moisturizing and leaves my undereyes super smooth, but it's still lightweight, non-greasy, and doesn't clog my pores.

I then massaged a healthy dollop of the Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream.* This has quickly become one of my favorites - I've been using it off and on for about a year, but using it consistently has really proven what a great product it is. Not only does it pump the skin full of hydration, but it also really helps to soothe my skin and leave it super soft come morning. My last step every night was basically marinating myself in facial oils - most nights I combined two. If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know I've been obsessing over the Leo Oil for the past two months. It's really worked wonders for my skin, really helping to clear it up and maintain balance. I used the Leo Oil without fail every single night, and sometimes I mixed in a few drops of the Caudalie Vine[activ] Overnight Detox Oil.* This was one I especially loved using at night after my kickboxing classes. Not only did it keep my skin moisturized and glowy, but it really did make my skin feel cleaner and more "detoxed" in the morning.

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Morning Routine

My focus for my morning routine, like my night routine, was simplicity and hydration, as well as brightening. I was finding I was waking up with a bit of dullness (because it's allergy season), so I reached for products that would help combat that.

I've been trying this new thing where I don't wash my face in the morning, but rather wipe it down with toner on a cotton pad. My skin's really been loving it, actually. I've been doing this with the Pixi Glow Tonic every morning, and after years and years it's still one of my favorite products. It smooths out my skin over time but is gentle enough to use every day. Next I would go back in with the Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner, patting in a few layers with my hands like I would do at night. This added lots of hydration and got my skin ready for makeup.

For serum I was using the Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum* each morning, and again, it quickly became a staple. It really brightened up my skin over time, and it always made me look so lit-from-within-glowy. I made sure to use this before doing my makeup on my wedding day, because it always made my skin look so nice right off the bat. Even though I was wishy-washy with eye cream at night, I never forgot it in the morning. I was using the Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream, and it really does make a difference in my undereyes. It's a gorgeous almost balmy formula that sinks in without being greasy, sits well under makeup, and it instantly brightens up my undereyes. Seriously, I think I need to use less concealer after using this.

While at night I would split up my moisturizer and oil steps, in the morning I was almost always rushing out the door, so I mixed a few products together. I started with a bit of the Fresh Vitamin Nectar Moisture Glow Face Cream,* added a couple drops of Leo Oil, and then added a couple drops of the Dr. Jart+ Camo Drops.* I got a nice dewy glow from the cream, the soothing and healing power of the Leo Oil, and the color correcting capabilities of the Camo Drops - a win, win, win. This left my skin perfectly prepped for makeup. Lastly, and I'm sorry for forgetting to include it in photos, was always the most important part: sunscreen. I went for Glossier Invisible Shield every morning - it's still my favorite because I love that I can't feel it on my skin at all.

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Once per Week

I'm a face mask fiend, but I really toned it down leading up to the wedding, just because I was afraid of overdoing things and giving myself a reaction. I picked out three masks that covered all my bases and aimed to use them once a week, spaced out throughout the week. In reality, I think I ended up using them slightly less often than that - maybe once every week and a half.

The first mask I really needed was a good detoxing clay mask. Even though my skin isn't oily, I can still feel it getting congested with buildup from time to time. I went for the Caudalie Instant Detox Mask* here. I love that it sucks everything out of my pores, but it doesn't leave my skin feeling super dry. Using this always helped to shrink breakouts and made my pores appear smaller.

The next must-have mask was something deeply nourishing and moisturizing. I have quite dry skin, and every once in awhile I need to give it a kick when all my regular hydrating skincare isn't quite cutting it. Here I always reached for the Fresh Creme Ancienne Ultimate Nourishing Honey Mask.* My skin just loves anything with honey (let me know if you'd like to see a post rounding up all my favorite honey skincare products), and this is one of the most beautiful masks I've ever tried (and it should be, for the price). It's a thick, creamy consistency that spreads over the skin easily without being sticky, and it stays put without dripping. I like to apply this and really let it sit for a good hour or so. My skin is always deliciously smooth and plump afterwards. This is dangerously making me want to try the rest of the Creme Ancienne line.

The last mask I felt like I needed was a good exfoliating one. I almost picked Babyfacial, but in the end I was afraid of overdoing it and picked out the Pixi Peel & Polish.* I like that it only takes two minutes, doesn't sting, and instantly makes my skin feel bright and baby-smooth. I'd use this every night if I could - I love it that much. 

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Throughout this month of using the same products over and over, I admittedly did get extremely bored (I just love trying new products and product combinations), but I think my skin really thanked me for sticking to a routine. It's something I'm still trying to hold onto now that the wedding is over. 

What skincare products would you pick out to use before a special occasion? Would you stick to a routine like this?

Products marked with an asterisk (*) have been sent to me for consideration, but all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

Bridal Makeup Picks | Everything I Wore For My Wedding

I've been promising this post for awhile, and now it's finally here. I just got married on Friday, and I did my own makeup. If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know I had quite the journey of figuring out everything I'd wear and what kind of look I'd do for the day. After a few trials and a lt of practice, I think everything went off without a hitch.

I started off with freshly washed and moisturized skin (let me know if you want a post on the skincare I was using in the lead-up to the wedding, too!) and applied a base layer of the Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer. I never used to be a primer gal, but this one truly changed me. It sinks right into the skin but plumps up and hydrates it, which for me is key for getting my makeup to stay in place. I found my perfect foundation rather early in this whole process, and it was actually a mixture of two - I mixed equal parts Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation with the Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation (which has since been reformulated - I still used the old version). This combo gave me the perfect amount of luminosity, a skinlike finish, and great longevity. It lasted all night long. For concealer I went in and covered up any lingering patches of redness with the Milk Makeup Flex Concealer, which is my ultimate favorite. I love it so much that I couldn't even think of another one to even try when doing my makeup trials. Since it doesn't fully cover my acne scars, I took it a step further and spot concealed with the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer.

For my cheeks, I layered cream and powder products for optimum longevity. I started with a base of the Glossier Cloud Paints* in Dusk and Puff, using Dusk in places where I'd bronze and contour, and Puff on the apples of my cheeks where I was going to apply blush. I also used the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand as an initial layer of highlight - this is one of the prettiest highlighters I own, so I had to make use of it on the day. As for powders, I contoured with a bit of the Surratt Beauty Artistique Blush in Grisaille, which is a beautiful cool-toned brown in an easy-to-use, buildable formula. I also went for a Surratt Artistique Blush as my blush shade, dipping into La Vie En Rose - I almost went for a lighter shade, but I'm glad I chose something a little deeper that stood out in photos. To blend together the blush and contour, I added a bit of the Guerlain Terracotta Sun Trio Bronzer. Then I dusted a bit of the Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder in 01 Highlight on the tops of my cheekbones and browbones - this is probably the best highlight for brides. It's super subtle and gives you a lit-from-within glow. I finished off the skin with a veil of the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder through the center of my face.

I knew I wanted a more feathered, less blocky brow look, so I started with a layer of the Glossier Boy Brow in Brown and followed it with the MAC Eyebrows Styler in Stylized.* I only just got the brow pencil last week, but I instantly fell for the formula and application. It's waterproof, and it lasted all night without smudging. For my eyes, I was feeling a slight rose gold look, but I also wanted to throw in some cool tones since they're more flattering on my skin. To combine those two things together, I used the Glossier Lidstar in Cub as the base for my eyeshadows - it not only gave my whole eyeshadow look a more rose-gold hue, but also worked beautifully as an eyeshadow primer and kept what I put on top from creasing all night. I went in on top with MAC Eyeshadows, dipping into the Cool Neutrals x15 Palette and a custom palette my sister made from me - I used mostly Quarry, Cork, and Naked Lunch from there. For a little extra sparkle, I patted a bit of the Dior Fusion Mono Eyeshadow in Chimiere on the center of my eyelids. Rather than a harsh liquid line for eyeliner, which I don't feel is very flattering on me, I did a soft smoky wedge using the Colourpop Eyeliner in Brew-Haha topped with a dark brown shadow from the MAC Cool palette. For mascara I went a bit rogue, choosing to layer two formulas, neither of which was waterproof. I started with a layer of the Milk Makeup Kush Mascara because I just love how it makes me look like I have dramatic lash extensions - it makes them look super fluffy, fanned out, and voluminous. Then on top I combed through some Glossier Lash Slick to help separate any clumps, lengthen, and keep it from smudging. The longevity of these two blew me away - I was actually afraid I'd have to do an emergency waterproof mascara run the morning of the wedding, but these two ended up holding up perfectly, even when my husband broke down in tears during his vows, which made me cry a lot. The mascara didn't smudge at all throughout the night, holding up from about 2pm to 3am.

The last thing to apply was lipstick, and again, if you follow me on Instagram, you'll know what a dilemma I was having - I attach a lot of sentimental value to lipsticks, so I kind of wanted a new one that I could forever remember as my "wedding lipstick." But I also wanted to wear something I knew I liked and would hold up well. In the end I found a compromise - I went with a Bobbi Brown Lipstick, which I knew was a formula that worked well for me, but I picked up a new shade, Sandwash Pink. It's such a perfect, classic neutral pink. I hear it's the one Kate Middleton wore for her wedding, which is what made me make a beeline for it when I went to Sephora with my sister for this quest for a wedding lipstick. It worked out so perfectly and is now my new favorite lipstick. I layered the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk underneath of course, and for the reception I topped it with the Lancome L'Absolu Lacquer in Infra Rose for something a little more fun - the shade looked lovely over Sandwash Pink, and it added a beautiful gloss that stayed put really well. I definitely need to run out and buy more shades now, because the formula is phenomenal.

So that's it! Everything I wore on my face for my wedding. What are your favorite makeup picks for special occasions? And are you with me on the wedding lipstick thing?

Products marked with an asterisk (*) were sent to me for consideration, but all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.