Serum Series: Vitamin C

Over the years, I have been guilty of riding the waves of numerous fads...BB creams, blue mascara, glitter eyeshadow, Noxzema (remember that?)...you get the picture.

However, I have finally found a new obsession that will not only stick but will leave me thanking myself years from now. I have stopped being lazy about my skincare regime and started making the investment in preventing my potential future saggy and wrinkly face.

I can say, with some certainty, I will be a bag of bones and wrinkles if I don't actively start working towards some type of preventative anti-aging movement. 28 years of sun exposure and several of those years living in Florida equals bad new bears.

Lately, I've noticed my concealer gets caught in my fines lines under and around my eyes. I blamed it solely on my concealer. So, back to Sephora I went...numerous concealers later and I had to face the facts. My skin has lost a bit of elasticity around my eyes.

So, naturally I started frantically Googling what my favorite celebrities are doing to make their skin look like they just hopped out of the fountain of youth. I mean, is Jen Aniston 21 or 41? No one would know. So, after probably 75 different articles and interviews read, I knew I had to add to existing routine some Vitamin C (and other serums...to come in future posts).

I'm not trying to just think something is going to do miracles for me and waste money and then in a month from now notice that the bottle has collected dust. This is the new "anti-clutter" Kacey speaking, of course. Plus, when I step into the skincare aisles of Sephora, I'm overwhelmed by the immediate over-stimulation of what seems like millions of products and price tags that I'd have to hide from my husband (oh yeah, forgot to mention... I got married).

So, let me make this simple for you. If you don't have Vitamin C in your current face product rotation, step up your game. Here's why...as we age, our body's collagen breaks down and the collagen production minimizes. This is where the the devil's work (wrinkles) come in. Vitamin C serums pack their biggest punch by increasing the production of collagen, which means increasing your skin's elasticity. And boom, we are fighting wrinkles before they start OR helping to decrease wrinkles that have already formed.

If you're like me, you enjoy researching a gazillion products before making a purchase. I like to make sure I'm getting a good product at the right price. I won't overspend just for a certain brand name. It HAS to work. So, on to Amazon I went after scouring Sephora's site. Along came Eve Hansen products. I'd, personally, never heard of this brand but with hundreds upon hundreds of reviews, I felt confident giving it a whirl. For a 2 ounce bottle of Vitamin C, you're looking at a price tag over under $18 on Amazon. Compare this to the $60-$80 you could be spending elsewhere.

Bottom line...you can't argue with the science. This product is 100% vegan, fights free-radical damage, sun damage (YES!), improves pigmentation issues, improves skin tone AND texture and is good for all skin types. A few drops massaged and patted into your skin twice a day!

Call me when you're 65 and you can thank me then.

Current Faves

We buy something new to give it a whirl. We instantly love it or hate it and have immediate buyer's remorse. Here are a few products I've tried over the last few months and I've decided are keepers!
Starting from top left, this is a mauve lip liner (pictured is from Urban Decay but my favorite is from The Body Shop - color: Clover). I use this shade to line my lips before applying my nude lipstick or nude lipgloss. It makes ALL the difference.
Next up, this Essie polish (in my top 3 shades of polish). This color, Fifth Avenue was first purchased for me by my now fiance and I recently had to restock because I use so often (winter AND summer). It's the ultimate red...not too blue...not too orange.
Next, my favorite shade of blue for summertime. This royal blue (by Sinful Colors --$2 at drugstores) looks so amazing on tan skin and is vibrant!
Erase Paste by Benefit is just my type of concealer. It's thick enough to hide my zombie-like dark circles but doesn't look cakey. Plus, a little bit goes a long way with this product so restocking is at a minimum.
This Revlon Colorburst Lip Stain stick was a surprisingly great product. I, for some reason, wasn't loving the idea but am so impressed. It has a refreshing mint flavor and the thick pencil helps with precision. Stays on all day - perfect for summer!
This Revlon Colorstay eyeshadow palette is a product perfect for any skin tone and all year round. I use the top two on a daily basis and add in the bottom two for evening! It's neutral enough to be paired with any lipstick shade!

No Cuts, Just Contour

I can't say that I, myself, have hopped on the contour train...however, I can say that I'm completely mesmerized by the drastic results I've seen when it's done properly. Take Kim Kardashian for example...I would have bet money that she had a nose job. Turns out...evidently, she didn't...it is just intensely contoured makeup that is strategically placed to make the bridge of her nose look slimmer and her nose look overall smaller. Well-played, Kim. Here is a lineup of contouring makeup that is the best of the best.
Have at it! May the contouring odds be ever in your favor.
Photo: Polyvore

Favorite "Now" Fragrance

My coworker, Kelsey, always smells absolutely amazing and come to find out, it's this fabulous fragrance that smells oh-so-divine. Not sure if you're ready to commit? Try a rollerball of a fragrance (around $25, perfect for throwing in your purse or travel) and test out the scent before making your wallet take the hit on the entire bottle. 

Take It Off

Great...you've got your super glam smokey eyes on, ready to take on the world. Now what? Well, when it's time to lay down for the night, you're best off removing everything pre-beauty sleep. Above I've provided you with eye makeup removers that are not only super effective but completely affordable. The Almay remover pads are handy, great for travel and inexpensive. My preference is the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes. Not only are they great for travel, as well, but they also smell clean and don't over dry your skin. 

Breathe It In

Perfume is my everything. I mean, I keep my perfumes on a cake stand for goodness sake. It's much like heels or jewelry or a purse...just completes the outfit. I've picked out some of my favorite scents that I keep stocked up on. As you can see from the top three, I don't believe in too much Chanel. Coco Mademoiselle is a classic and all three Chanel Chance (the gold/yellow not pictured here) are my go-to fragrances. Flowerbomb, in the bottom left corner, is a scent I can't get enough of. Most of my female coworkers wear it and I just never get tired of it. It's a comforting smell to me. In the middle of the bottom row is an oldie, but goodie. Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker was a staple for me in college but the scent is still as lovely as ever. I can't quite put my finger on what I like about it but it's a hidden gem. Last but not least, my ultimate favorite...Jimmy Choo. It's the most enticing smell in the world...in my opinion..and luckily for me, it's my blog so I'm allowed to act like that makes it the truth. If you haven't tried it out, do yourself a favor and spring into Sephora for a quick test run. And if nothing else, these bottles are just damn cute. 

Spray Away

If you're a female and you're breathing, then you depend on dry shampoo for basic survival. However, most dry shampoos are white-ish and leave brown hair looking grey. If you're a blonde (natural or not...), you're golden...if anything, it calms down my exposed brown roots - thank goodness. For my gal pals with darker hair, I've found this product that is invisible. Spray away, my friends.
Find this product at Sephora.

Prime That Pout

There is nothing more aggravating than realizing your luscious lipstick has worn off, leaving you looking haggard and less than put together. I thought lip liner was something only by the old schoolers. Turns out, it's kind of a big deal. A clear liner, like the one above (by Bite Beauty - available at Sephora), gives you lipstick staying power but didn't leave that trashy line. For extra long lasting lip color, fill in your entire mouth after lining your lips. Voila - pout perfection!

Back to Basics

I'm all about trying out the newest and funkiest products, but sometimes it's important to not lose track of the best and most basic products. This hand cream above, L'Occitane, (available at Sephora) is the ultimate product for extremely dry hands. This shea butter based product not only heals cracked hands, but also smells amazing. What's the best overall product for lips? My coworker turned me on to this rose salve above by C.O. Bigelow (available at Bath & Body Works). Run along little product junkies...snatch these up for your purse, makeup bag, car, wherever.

Berry Good, Sugar

I'm always game for a new lip product. Megan, my gal pal, gave me this Sugar (in Berry) lip balm/stick when she was in town and I'm obsessed. This product makes my lips soft but adds a nice berry tint, as well. Find this at Sephora. 

Brighten Up With Blue

Spice up your regular makeup routine with a bold color as your bottom liner. To help the the shadow (used as liner) stay in place, wet a Q-tip before dabbing into shadow. Rub along bottom lashes and make line as thick as you prefer. For this look, I used a Sephora Baked Color Palette. 

Nothing Better than Butter

You know you have a true friend when they read your blog and take notes on what you might want for your birthday. Thank you, Christen for my Lips and Tips gifts! This nail polish is the ultimate color for Christmas...the perfect mixture of holiday red and sparkle! The lipgloss is equally as festive and pretty (more bold in person). You better believe I will be sporting this gloss and polish to our company Christmas party. 'Tis the season for the prettiest lips and tips. Available at Nordstrom, Ulta and more!

Prime It, Conceal It, Work It

If you have never used Benefit's Boi-ing concealer, well then, honey...you are missing out. It's one of those makeup basics that is worth the money. A thicker paste than some cheapies, this concealer camouflages your flaws from under-eye circles to blemishes. This 2-in-1 compact I recently purchased also contains Benefit's Lemon Aid...the ultimate color-correcting eyelid primer. With this primer, you can count on your eyeshadow showing up more true to color and staying on all day/night. Find this combo at Ulta. 

Jungle Love

I don't need to even say why I'm posted about this...meow. This Dior Fall Look Jungle Eye Shadow Palette...it's to die for. That champagne color is perfect highlighting your brow or on the inner corner of your eye to give yourself a little pop and make you appear more bright eyed and bushy tailed. 

Work (Eye) Wear

If you can't have fun doing your hair and makeup for work, then your work week is just that much more rough than the rest of the working world. I like to keep it interesting. Yesterday I opted for a light eye (never forgetting my liquid liner) and a darker gloss. Today I went for a smokey eye and nude lipstick. Yes, I wore smokey eyes to work...sue me. For both looks, I used my Sephora Eye Palette! Va-voom!

Oh my, O-GLOSS!

O-GLOSS, a Smashbox product, is the first intuitive gloss created. This miracle product goes on clear and reacts to your skin chemistry, creating a personalized shade of lipgloss. For a more dramatic look, line and fill your lips with lipstick or a pencil and then apply O-GLOSS. 

Bronzed & Beautiful

With the summer sun slowly turning into fall days, you may start becoming more reliant on your bronzer to give you that healthy glow. So, why not make it the best bronzer? Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder is the queen bee of bronzers. Find it at Sephora. Trust me, you'll love it. 

Pretty, Pretty Palette

This eye shadow palette, made my Sephora, is one of my favorites...and why wouldn't it be? All these color in this sleek little case? Yes, please. These shimmery baked shadows are easily applied dry or wet. With these 10 sultry shades, you can't go wrong. I especially adore the royal blue and purple shades - perfect for using as a liner below your bottom lashes for a pop of color!

Nothing but NARS

You will never convince me there is a better, more perfect blush that NARS Torrid. Everyone's go-to is always NARS Orgasm but newsflash...this color is where it's at. The peachy hue is perfection. When I dropped my makeup bag on the ground last week and the only thing that broke was my NARS blush, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a mini meltdown. I have never been able to find a blush that I adore more and I doubt you could either. 

Mad About Makeup

Since I was little and sneaking into my mother's makeup stash, I have been addicted to doing my makeup, other people's makeup and well...talking about makeup. I have a huge pet peeve with ladies who do crazy smoky eyes with a bold lipstick. It's one or the other, honey. When I do a fun lipstick, I do a very neutral eye shadow, a little liquid eye liner and mascara. Looking like a clown is not cute. I've tried it all but this Revlon liquid liner is my favorite. For this lipstick, try Sephora's Mr. Lover.