Current Beauty OBSESSIONS

A lot of products come my way - some are great, some are not. Below are a collection of things I have been using and loving!

The Zoya lipstick in Addie is my new everyday color. It's the most gorgeous pink/mauve/nude and it had great lasting power. If I want to pump up the color I line my lips and fill them in entirely with Chocolate glimmerstick by Avon. I also love this liner with another lip favorite, Clay Crush by Maybelline.

The L'Oreal mask was actually sent to me from Influenster (such a fun concept!! Sign up HERE if you haven't yet. Free products in exchange for honest reviews!) Anyways, I was sent the "Clear & Comfort" version of this mask, and I really enjoyed it! My skin felt super smooth and soft after I used it, and it helped to dry out a pimple I had, without drying out my skin. I will definitely buy a new tub of this when I run out! The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is something I should have told you guys about loooooong ago! I've been using it for over two years, and only recently bought a second jar. You put a tiny dab on your lips right before bed, and wake up with beautifully hydrated lips. We are coming to the time of year where it's getting colder and drier, so I tend to add a bit more at night during the chilly months.

Native deodorant. So, I did an Instagram story mentioning that I was going to make the switch over to natural deodorant, and I've never had so many direct messages in my life, lol! Anyways, I have successfully made the switch and am really loving Native brand! The scent I'm using and loving is Apricot & White Peach. If you've been thinking of making the switch to natural deodorants, I highly recommend it. I switched Tony over too, and he's been really happy as well.

Makeup Forever's nourishing primer was sent to me a while ago, and I finally picked it up recently, and have been thrilled. My skin is super sensitive and for most of my life has been oily. Since I've gotten older it's moved onto combination, and quite recently it's been feeling dry. I switched over to this hydrating primer and am in love! It makes my skin feel great, and holds my makeup on all day.

The Urban Decay Troublemaker is bomb dot com!!! It goes on so beautifully, doesn't flake off and is super black! My one criticism is that it's a bit harder to remove than other mascaras, but I can handle it, for the look it gives off. Also, the packaging is super pretty ;)

What are YOUR current beauty obsessions?! What should I try next??!

Avon for Project Runway

I am a total Project Runway fanatic, AND a makeup junkie so you can only imagine how excited I was when Avon sent me some of the products being used on this season of Project Runway! Avon is the makeup being used this season, and I am loving seeing little snippets of what the makeup artists do for each model (I wish they would show more!) I checked out the Avon website, and found a great section with behind the scenes info from the makeup this season, with head makeup artist Hector Simancas - check that out HERE.

Anyways, the sweet people at Avon sent me a gorgeous eight-color palette called Smoky Nights, swatched below, which has a really great variety of colors, perfect for making all sorts of different looks! The pigment is awesome, and stays put all day!

They also sent a super gorgeous eye liner in the color Sugar Plum, which is a gorgeous deep purple (perfect for my hazel eyes) with just the tiniest bit of shimmer. It also has crazy good pigment!

They also sent a two-color palette, called Warm Cashmere with two really great neutrals. A beautiful lipstick called Tender Kiss, which is a great everyday color. The perfect nude, with just a touch of pink. And finally their lengthening mascara in black.

Here I am with eye shadows from the Smoky Nights palette, the Sugar Plum liner, lengthening mascara and Tender Kiss lipstick. 

Do you use Avon? My grandma sold it when I was little, so up until now my only experience with the company was mini-sized hand creams, and chapsticks with calendars on them :) This makeup wears beautifully all day, and after a quick look at the website I am SUPER impressed with the prices, and will definitely be checking out some more of their items.

Current Beauty Obsessions - July 2016

This month, in honor of America's birthday I'm featuring nothing but products made in the USA!

First up - Oribe Apres Beach Spray. With a name like Oribe, I was kind of expecting it to be made in Europe, but nope - made here! This is one of my favorite, favorite, favorite products EVER. It is expensive, but worth every penny and as soon as my can starts to feel a bit light I run out and grab another. My hair is super fine, and the bottom half is wavy and textured while the top half is stick straight. I like to spray a bit of this on my hair when it's damp (like two small sprays) and then work it in and let it air dry. I then go over my hair with my curling iron to give some texture and curl to the pieces up front and on top that dry straight, and then I set everything with the spray. It holds the texture and style for days and the smell is insanely delicious. I buy it at my salon, but you can get it on Amazon if you aren't local to me.

Honest Company Healing Balm. This stuff is pretty awesome. I've been using it on my cuticles and lips as just a deeply hydrating moisturizer, but Tony had a bad burn on his hand, and we put the balm on and it took care of it in no time. Even he was impressed, and he's a hard sell on everything! This is a really great product to have around for all sorts of things, and I am loving it!

Julep's new hydrating lip color in Primrose. It looks like it's not available on their site yet (I got it on my Maven box this month) but I'm assuming it will be out soon. The color is so gorgeous and it stays on for hours without drying out my lips. If you aren't a Julep Maven yet you can sign up here

Jergens Natural Glow lotion. I generally avoid anything that will show my legs like the plague. I'm also half Spanish, so I tan super easily. The result of having my legs constantly hidden + getting dark everywhere else (no matter how much sunscreen I use!) makes for an interesting look. Well, I had a shortish dress to wear to my cousin's wedding and my legs were ghostly white, but my feet were super dark. This lotion to the rescue! I put it on my legs first thing in the morning, and at night everyday for about three days and the result was naturally looking tan legs. I am now a fan for life!

not bad for a lotion, right?

These nail polishes are just awesome! Free of all the nasty chemicals that are unfortunately in so many brands, and they have great wearability. They last a long time without chips and I'm a huge fan. The blushing crystal I showed you here and will take pictures next time I'm wearing the others. the other colors are: Lagoon, Tahitian Pearl, Blue Nile and Confetti. I buy them at my local Whole Foods, but Amazon has a great selection online.

ColorScience mineral sunscreen. This is one of those products I wonder how I ever lived without. I am crazy about sunscreen, and am diligent in applying it to myself, my girls and Tony. I like to touch up throughout the day but when I've got a face full of makeup it's not ideal to swipe on more sunscreen. Enter this lifesaver - I just open up the cap and sweep the brush all over my face. It doesn't disrupt my makeup, and gives me the sun protection I need. SPF 50 for the win!! I keep it in my purse.

What are YOUR current must-have beauty products?? Let me know so I can check them out!

Current Beauty Obsessions - April 2016

I am a product junkie. Have been for as long as I can remember, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Here are the beauty products that have stood out for me this month:

Biore Baking Soda Pore Cleanser. This stuff is a winner! I have combination skin, and haven't had much luck finding a cleanser that didn't make my skin feel tight from over-cleaning, or one that didn't leave me feeling greasy. This cleanser is one of the very best I've ever tried, and for right around six bucks you can't beat it!

Strivectin Multi-Action Restorative Cream. It's a mouthful to say, and it's on the pricey side, but it is amazing!! It doesn't clog my pores, but it's heavy enough to keep me hydrated all night (I use it as my night cream.) I've been using it for several months now, and have noticed visible improvement in the overall texture of my skin, the little fine lines (especially on my forehead) and my skin is brighter overall! (I also use THIS at night with it, which I know helps as well.) This is the only product I can remember scraping the bottom of, and then instantly going out to buy another.

The Amy Nadine eye shadow palette. I love this one sooooo much!! It has the perfect nude, the perfect gold, the perfect coppery rose gold, and the perfect deep plum. You can create so many looks with this gorgeous palette. They're all highly pigmented, but have a gorgeously soft (but not flaky) texture. I can't recommend it enough!

Burt's Bees lipstick in Nile Nude. EEP!! It is so pretty and so moisturizing! I bought this on a whim at Target one day (story of my life....) and I now officially want all of the Burt's Bees lippies. It's a sheer formula, but still has a great color payoff, and is super moisturizing. I'm in love.

What are YOUR current beauty favorites?? Please let me know! My birthday is in a couple of weeks, and I need to add some fun things to my wishlist ;)

Current Beauty Obsessions - February 2016

Hey friends! Here are some beauty products I'm currently crushing on. Each of them have been used over and over by yours truly, and I'm going to tell you why I love them so much.

L'Oreal Magic Lumi Cushion Foundation: Wow, that's a mouthful! This foundation starts with a light, dewy coverage but you can easily build it up (without looking cakey) if you want more coverage. I find that it's long lasting (super quick to apply) and makes your skin look great.

Maybelline Brow Drama Gel Mascara: I may have talked about this before, because I've been using it quite a while and really, really love it. They have a clear version, and tinted versions (I use soft brown) and it grooms your brows nicely, keeps them in place all day and (as long as you aren't too heavy handed) looks completely natural, not like the overly sculpted, overly "done" eyebrows I see all over Instagram. I do the Subscribe and Save option through Amazon, and have it delivered every two months. Doing it this way is always about $1.50 cheaper than buying it at Target, and makes it so I never run out.

SkinFix lip repair balm: This one is newer to my arsenal, but it's fantastic. Just a deeply moisturizing, unscented lip balm. It's made with coconut oil and keeps my lips hydrated for hours. I also swipe it on right before I go to bed.

Ciate London lipstick in Praline: This color has been on heavy rotation with me for months now. It is so long lasting (without being at all drying) and the color is gorgeous. The website described it as a "deep, rich nude" and that's exactly what it is. If I'm having a minimal makeup day (maybe some light foundation, and a swipe of mascara) I'll just put this beautiful lipstick on and I feel instantly polished.

Hello Kitty for OPI Laquer in Let's Be Friends: I just adore this color. The website describes it as a cotton candy pink, but I have to say it's more of a milky pink. Much lighter than what I consider to be cotton candy pink. This color is light, but packs a punch. It's not at all sheer (I hate how many light colors are semi-sheer) and if you don't have it yet, you neeeeeed to get it while you can!

So, there are my current beauty favorites. Have you tried any of them, and if so what did you think? What are YOUR current favorites??