products i love

Good morning, friends! If you follow me on Instagram (and if you don't...why not?), you know I frequently do small posts about my favorite products. I love trying new products (I'm a huge Birchbox fan!) and I wanted to do an all encompassing post here. Behold, my beauty roundup! beautybreakdown

 

So, I like to think I'm a low maintenance gal, but looking at that spread...I know I'm not. However, I do like to keep it simple, and here's what I do...

In the Shower:

I don't wash my hair much, but Amika Color Pherfection Shampoo is my go to when I do. I've been using it since last fall, and I can't get enough. Like I mentioned here, I think the key to making your color stick around is not washing your hair much, but I love the way this shampoo smells, and it's made in the USA without any scary ingredients! I'm a recent convert of the Clarisonic, and I'm completely hooked. It gets every last speck of dirt, makeup, and oil out of your skin. I highly recommend it, you can usually find it for much cheaper on Gilt, Ruelala, or Hautelook. I've also started using Frank coffee scrub twice a week; it's an all natural scrub that not only exfoliates, but reduces cellulite and clears away acne. I've used it three times and I can absolutely attest to its magical powers. My skin is definitely more smooth and the pesky/gross breakouts I get from working out are gone.

In front of the mirror:

I've been using S.W. Basics' oil makeup remover for a while now; it doubles as a light moisturizer and the company is BK based! If you don't like oil based products, this might not be for you; it's definitely oily (but I love it!). Coola is the best all natural sunscreen; this product also acts as a tinted bb cream, meaning it reduces the appearance of pores. It would be especially great to use on vacation when you might not feel like wearing any makeup. Speaking of, my absolute favorite makeup companies are Josie Maran and tarte. Tarte has the best amazonian clay bronzer with no sheen to it, so you simply get a clean bronzed look. I put this on over foundation, though you don't really need to. I use Josie Maran's nude eye makeup palette for plenty of simple, neutral shimmer. And tarte's lights, camera, flashes is the best mascara I've ever used, period. I've tried every mascara out there (from Maybelline to Benefit) and I can honestly say this product stands on its own. I use Chantecaille's gel eye liner when I want dramatic eyes - I'll be doing a fool proof cat eye tutorial soon!

Underarm:

It makes total sense that I would have a category just for my pits. My underarms sweat a lot, and I love DermaDoctor's MEDeTATE wipes. If I have something serious coming up (an interview, an important night out), these are the best for making sure my sweat stays in control. I searched for a while for a deodorant that's cruelty free and actually works, and LaVanilla is the best I have found thus far. It's all natural, which usually means it does nothing, but this scent (I use lavender) smells great and it has only failed on me in the sweatiest of circumstances.

There you have it! I'd love to hear your thoughts - what are your favorite products?

 

image is my own. all products mentioned in this post are cruelty free with the exception of DermaDoctor MEDeTATE wipes.

FIVER: stuff we wanna share

Aaaand we're back! Just a little blogging respite to catch our proverbial breath.  And how inspiring was Court's post yesterday?  It was exactly what I needed to read and gave me a little boost to get back into this blog.  I'm in!

A lot has been going on!  My nephew was born on Monday, and I cannot wait to meet him this weekend!  Aside from that...

A great brand you should check out.  I received their chapstick in a Birchbox, and I was instantly intrigued.  In my quest to weed out products that are tested on animals, I was in need of some makeup remover.  Their version is all natural, organic, and only has 3 ingredients (plus how cute is the packaging)!  If you are crafty you could make it yourself!

Reasonably priced, beautiful clothes.  I discovered this website on Pinterest, and I am loving all their inventory.  I ordered this.  Sweaters and plaid?  How novel.

YogaGlo.  In my January challenge, there were days where I simply didn't feel like leaving the house to go to class.  This website has been awesome (and it's affordable!) for sneaking in some sun salutations whenever the mood strikes.

Are you a list maker?  I totally am.  Sometimes when I'm reading my work emails in the morning, I write down notes before answering them, to highlight key points.  Kind of an extra step, but it works for me.  I love these planners; though I am not type A, there's something about organization by date that just feels wonderful.

This...

 

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Hellooooo, gorgeous.  Happy Friday!!

Anything you're loving and want to share?  I dare you to comment :)