Current Beauty Obsessions

This post contains affiliate links, and/or press samples. As always, all opinions are my own, and cannot be bought.

This edition of Current Beauty Obsessions is a bit of a hodge podge, but some great things I've been digging lately!

I love a good body scrub, and this Rose Cardamom one by Bambu Earth is fantastic! I like it because it's not an overly oily body scrub, just an awesome, easy to use and great smelling exfoliator!

I have mentioned my love of ColorScience brush-on sunscreen, and now they have this incredible bronzing primer with SPF 20. YOU GUYS!! It is SO good! It comes out as this lightweight, bronze mousse and smooths beautifully on skin. It doesn't give coverage, but it definitely evens out your skintone. It works great as a super quick way to give yourself a little bronze boost, but it is also a fantastic makeup primer. I tested it out under Bare Minerals foundation, which completely wears off on me without a good primer, and it helped my makeup stay all day, and I loved the hint of color, and sun protection that it gave me!

Buxom lip gloss in Peach Daiquiri is a new favorite! I used to not be a fan of the Buxom brand glosses - the tingle was something I didn't care for. But now? I love it! It's this funny, tingling sensation that I've grown to enjoy and I notice it slightly plumps my lips too. This peach daiquiri shade is the perfect hint of color on it's own, but also looks great over so many different lipsticks. It is super shiny, which I love too!

The Shampure Dry Shampoo by Aveda is bomb.com! I worked for Aveda years ago (and got the best discount ever. Ugh, I miss that discount!) but the products are so great that I've never stopped using them. They came out with a dry shampoo not too long ago, and it is awesome! You hold the bottle near your roots and squeeze, and a little poof of powder comes out. Gently massage it into your greasy roots, and voila! Clean and fresh. It is seriously great!

The limited edition Go Naked perfume by Urban Decay is so good! The main scent notes are Italian Bergamot, Orange Blossom and Lavender, but I think it is best described as "Vacation in a bottle." Truly, the first time I opened it up and smelled it I was instantly transported to sipping mai tai's at Duke's.  The scent is all the best parts of a tropical vacation, and needs to be smelled to be truly appreciated. I love that it's in a rollerball that I can easily pop in my purse, and carry around. You'd better believe I will be rocking this scent all summer!

The entire California Dreaming collection by OPI is incredibly gorgeous, but "Time For A Napa" is just the most perfect bright coral creme I've ever seen. As I'm typing I've had it on for six days, and there isn't a single chip. My obsession with the Infinite Shine line is real!

The Aquis Luxe waffle knit hair turban. Kind of a random beauty favorite, but let me tell you why it made the cut: It legitimately dries my hair in half the time!! I am a big fan of air-drying my hair, and this towel absorbs SO much of the moisture. It is crazy. I was sent this as a press sample, and didn't get my hopes up. I've used hair turbans similar to this for years, and they've never absorbed moisture. This one is insane. I don't know if it's the waffle knit, or the type of cotton they use, or what, but I don't need to know why it works. All I know is that it does!

No beauty fails this time - maybe I didn't try that many new things, lol! What are your current beauty obsessions?! What about beauty fails?!

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!