Routine Round Up

I feel like I have been posting a lot about facial products that I like but I can't help it - great skin is the key to life (...or something like that). So, I'm back to share my daily routine that has been working wonders for my skin over the past few weeks. In the winter months, it's easy to continue your routine of harsh toners and washes but it's important to moisturize all year long. Your skin in the winter gets dry and tight so here are some products that may save you.
For starters, I use this Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash year-round because it's dermatologist-recommended and does the trick for me. It's simple and works.
Next, I use this Ultra Facial Toner by Kiehl's. It looks, feels and goes on more like a lotion. It's definitely not a harsh toner that burns your skins and kills everything in sight.
My final step is this Nutriganics Serum by The Body Shop. It was on clearance for $10 and is great for anti-aging (never too soon to start fighting those wrinkles, gal pals!) so I thought I'd try it out...I was out of face lotion anyway. This product is my favorite! It glides on like silk and unlike some serums, doesn't have a greasy feel.
My skin feels amazing - give it a go!

Bought, Tried, Loved: My Current Faves

I love taking chances on products. There is some sort of thrill I get from feeling like I'm on the verge of finding my new absolutely can't live without product. Above are some of my recently-purchased products that I can't get enough of.
Let's start chatting about them...the first product I'd like to rave about is the facial brush in the top left corner. I bought mine at HomeGoods...yes, HomeGoods. My face feels noticeably more clean after using this in conjunction with my favorite face wash (Neutrogena). Best part of this brush is that I like it better than the electronic version, yet it was under $5.
Next up, the Sonicare. My mom and dad swear by these electronic toothbrushes and bought my boyfriend and I matching ones for Christmas. What a gift! Never have my teeth felt cleaner! I can't imagine now going back to manual brushing. Yes, these are a little pricey. However, dentists insist that these are a necessary part of dental hygiene. You can find these at Target, Walmart, etc.
Burt's Bees facial cleansing clothes (cucumber) was another win for me. I typically use Neutrogena makeup removing cleansing clothes but wanted to switch it up. The cucumber scent is refreshing and soothing at the same time. Not to mention, definitely comparable in price to other wipe options.
This Dove shampoo (Oxygen line) is fabulous! If for nothing else, the scent is addictive. My hair feels squeaky clean and the Oxygen condition makes my hair feel like silk. I will be buying this again when it's time to restock (rare for me...I like experimenting).
This navy Revlon polish (in Urban) is my winter must-have for my nails! Don't get me wrong, I'm as into Linkin Park after Dark as the next gal but sometimes you need a fresher option. Navy nails are a bit more unexpected and of course, trendy.
This Origins GinZing eye cream is a Monday morning savior! This cream brightens your eye area and wakes those peepers up. I'm not a morning person so God bless this heavenly product! Thank you, Origins.
Garnier does it again...they have created this Blackhead Eliminating Scrub and it works! I originally purchased this for my boyfriend but have since then, stolen it for myself. This product contains charcoal which helps combat the dirt, oil and impurities that cause blackheads. Well done, Garnier...well done.

There you have it - if you are looking for some new products to take some chances on, I've laid them out for you!

Winter Must-Haves

Winter is among us, friends. Am I happy about it? No. But Mother Nature doesn't care what I think so I'll just be here in Chicago making the best of it. As you know, your makeup routine and products have probably changed a bit over the past month. The lips are getting darker and your skin is getting more dry. React accordingly. Swap out your typical hand lotion for a hand cream or even a body butter. Layer on chap stick before your lipstick or alone. While I'm complaining about the harsh winds and snow, you won't find me making a negative comment about finally getting to bust out my plum lipstick! Silver lining, everyone...silver.lining.

Drugstore Products I Can't Live Without: Hair Edition

I've been growing my hair out for what seems like decades. It's like a whole new world. So maybe options! Every morning I have a series of thoughts..."Curls? Straight? Curly pony? Top knot? Braid? Craaaap. I'm shaving it off. Britney Spears did it." With long hair comes a bit of maintenance. I do believe in the occasional splurge but I'm here to tell you there are some fab products hiding at your local CVS, Walgreens, Target, etc. I'm here to save you the time and money and tell you exactly what to snatch up.

This Dove shampoo and condition with pure oil is LIFE CHANGING. Not only is the scent blissful but it makes you hair so soft. It feels like silk after just the shampoo, pre-conditioner. That's a winner in my book.

It's a 10 ...well, I'd be surprised if you haven't heard of it. It's truly a miracle. It's performs 10 duties...volume, shine, detangling, etc. What's not to love here?

This L'Oreal hairspray is perhaps more than Tresemme or a Pantene hairspray but...Rachel Zoe uses it. It's a classic, it does some heavy duty holding and has a scent that I'm crazy about.

Shower caps...sure make you look like a granny instantly but hey, they work. My hair made a 180 when I stopped washing it so often. I try to keep it down to 2-3 times a week. This cuts down on the drying, styling and overall stripping of my hair's natural oils. Another tip? Air dry those locks! I haven't used a hair dryer in over a month and a half and can tell a big difference.

Suave Keratin Dry Shampoo - this is my main secret. As I mentioned, since I don't wash my hair as much these days, dry shampoo is essential. This particular kind is under $3 and smells AH-MAZING! Spray at your roots and brush out your hair. I spray a little before bed and when I wake up. Give it a go!

This Organix oil is the perfect product for post shower wet locks. It smells heavenly and soaks into your hair easily. I only put this product on the bottom 3-4 inches of my hair and only use about a drop the size of a quarter. Always go for less first...you don't want to end up over doing it and having to rewash your hair (my worst nightmare).

Enjoy these drugstore products - less fancy but major bang for your buck! Happy shopping!

Must Be Magic

One of my favorite beauty products right now is this L'Oreal Magic BB Cream. This product comes out of the tube white and then glides on to your skin while transforming into a shade of your choice (I wear medium). It's very light and doesn't look caked on. I top this product with a little powder for daytime. 

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.

Pregaming Wrinkles

In my amazing package of goodies from L'Oreal, I found something I was extremely excited about...anti-aging products. While I may be in my 20's, I want to do whatever I can to prevent wrinkles so I don't look like a bag of bones and wrinkles when I am a bit "wiser". I've been using these products twice a day (once before work and once before bed). The Revitalift for eyes is intended to not only help with dark circles, but also to fight the fine lines that accumulate around women's eyes. The concentrated serum is my favorite product of the three. It feels like silk when you apply it to your face. Who wouldn't like that? The moisturizer (in the jar) is a daily must. Overall, after over two weeks of using this line, my skin feels smoother and softer. I also think my dark under eye circles are not quite as dark. Mission "Pregame Wrinkles" accomplished.

Essie Essential

I realized after all these manicures, I missed actually doing my own nails. Yes, it's a pain to let your nails dry and yes, I never fail to mess at least one nail up and have to start over but...it's my kind of fun. Since I've been on the hunt for the perfect red-orange mix since birth, I was dying to find this new Essie shade (Saturday Disco Fever). Oh hello, honey. With one coat of OPI base coat, two coats of this pretty polish and a finale of Seche Vite top coat, I'm ready to rock. 

Fresh Faced

Living in the Southwest Florida in the summer means one thing: sweat. Not a much more attractive way to put it...perhaps "glisten"? Regardless, this type of heat does not allow you for a face caked with foundation and powder unless you're totally kosher with your face melting off 3 minutes after walking outside. This BB Cream is super moisturizing and light. With SPF 30, it's perfect for summer. Unlike some tinted moisturizers, this cream doesn't look oily. This specific brand of BB cream offers about 5 shades and is under $9. Bargain.

Silky AND Savvy

With nearly 15 shampoos, conditioners, face washes and soaps, it's a must for this product-obsessed gal to be smart. I hate to sit down and think about the amount of money I've spent on all these bottles of soap. But, luckily for me, I learned a trick from my mama years and years ago that has saved me money and made my legs silky smooth the whole time. Swap out your shaving cream for cheap conditioner. Shaving with condition instead of shaving cream will save you money for two reasons. One, cheap conditioner is $1 (Suave comes in a million fabulous scents). Two, one bottle lasts forever. Your legs...and your boyfriend...will thank me (or better yet, my mom!).