My Daily Skincare Routine

I thought since January is all about fresh starts I'd take a minute to show you guys my daily skincare routine and talk a little about some newer products that I'm loving.

One of the newer items is the Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover cream. This stuff is a revelation. It's not greasy at all. None of that gooey, grease feel you normally get from eye makeup remover, and it works on waterproof mascara. BONUS. Quickly and easily removes eye makeup without feeling harsh or greasy and leaves my eyes and eyelashes happy. Really good find.

Next is the Clean and Clear Deep Action Exfoliating Scrub. Do you know how hard it is to find just a basic scrub that isn't geared toward anything but exfoliation. HARD my friends. I like this because it's got a lot of scrubbies without feeling harsh and also has a cool tingle which just makes your face feel super clean.

That teeny itsy bitsy bottle is the Philosophy Clear Days Ahead cleanser and can I just say one of the best cleansers I've ever used. My skin freaked out over the holidays...I think the stress of the rebuild, the holidays and the super cold temperatures did a number on my problem areas (my cheeks). This is one of the first salicylic acid products I've used and liked. I will definitely be purchasing the larger bottle when this baby one runs out.

Neutrogena Acne Stress Control toner. HOLY GRAIL STATUS. This reminds me so much of the original Proactiv toner that I loved. This one has a slight cucumber scent to it but it's not a burny-painful toner. It definitely works and has helped clear my cheeks up in record time. I can't say enough good stuff about this toner. I know the Acne Stress line can be hard to find (not sure if they are discontinuing??) but this toner is great and if you see one, I'd highly recommend snatching it up and trying it out.

Amena Bean Glycolic Moisture Cream. I've done a full review on this before, it's still the bees knees in my book and one I use every night with great results!

Origins Make a Difference cream. I use this in the morning and it helps keep my skin supple and hydrated without getting greasy or over moisturized. It has a slight satiny quality to it and I just love this stuff.

Clinique All About Eyes eye cream. I only use this at night and a little goes a long way. I use this more preventatively than anything else, just to keep the wrinkles away not to really treat anything yet. It's lightweight and effective and does not irritate my eyes.

Colors of the Rainbow Tag!!

Sometimes I get jealous that YouTubers get to do all the fun tags...

I saw EleventhGorgeous do this tag and it looked like so much fun. I wasn't tagged, but I'm totally hopping on the tag train.

The Colors Of the Rainbow Tag!!



photo courtesy of weheartit.com

Red: Maybelline The Vivids Vivid Rose. I'm sneaking this one in because the color is completely pink, but the PACKAGING is red...so it counts, right?? It is my favorite lip product right now. Feels good on the lips and manages to stay a decent amount of time on the lips. Crazy intensely pigmented without getting milky or chalky. SOO PRETTY!

Orange: Clinique Happy perfume. That sweet little orange writing gets me every time...and the scent actually does make me happy! I don't typically love the color orange, but Happy is the happiest orange thing I own.

Yellow: Dickinsons Witchhazel Foaming Face Wash. This does not smell good...it smells like dandelions or weeds to me. But... and this is a major BUT...it works amazingly well. It's gentle but effective and has left my skin feeling and looking nicer than it has in months. It doesn't dry my skin at all but has somehow almost reduced my breakouts to non-existent. I've only been able to find it at Walgreens, but it is definitely worth picking up.



photo courtesy of dickinsons.com

Green: Origins Make A Difference + Rejuvenating Treatment. Kind of more of a teal...but hear me out! This greenish little jar is full of some amazing stuff. I use this at night and in the morning and see such great results with it. It feels luxurious and makes my skin feel supple and happy.


photo courtesy of origins.com

Blue: JulieG "Cabana Boy" nail polish. Oh man, do we have a little crush on this or what? It's been on my nails the last 3 times I've done them. Love love love this $3.99 little bottle of cobalt heaven.

Indigo: WTF is indigo and who owns an indigo beauty product?? I'm going to go with Navy...ok? Neutrogena Nourishing Eyeliner in Twilight Blue. It makes your eyes look whiter and definines your lashes without being super harsh like a black can be.




photo courtesy of neutrogena.com

Violet: Maybelline "The Falsies" Mascara. Not the flared version, the original version. This mascara replaced CoverGirl's Lash Blast when I got sick of purchasing new tubes that were already dried out. I have repurchased this mascara consistenly every 3 months for about a year and it is definitly great. Perfectly, lenthened, seperated and black black eyelashes that last all day without flaking or smudging. Why haven't you tried this yet??



photo courtesy of maybelline.com

Pink: Beyond The Zone Smooth Criminal Humidity Blocking Hairspray. I have used Tresemme Tres 2 hairspray for about 8 years. I love it. But...Sally's was having thier BTZ products 2 for $12 and I was out of hairspray and thought I'd give this a shot. WOW. It's the finest hairspray. It almost feels like a gentle mist coming out of the bottle but then you see the results and it's suprisingly good. Oregon does get humid and my hair tends to poof when it's humid. This stuff holds my style while still leaving it touchable and moveable. Really impressed with this hairspray.



photo courtesy of sallybeauty.com
 

Rainbow: I don't really own anything "rainbow" but I do own something with tons of colors that I love. The NYX Every Color Imaginable 78 color palette. This has literally one version of every color I can think of and they are pretty great quality as well.

How Much Is Your Face Worth-Tag

I've seen this post on a few other beauty blogs lately and thought it was quite fascinating. The basic idea is to tally up the cost of all of the products you use on your face on any given day...The Price Of Beauty.

I kind of pride myself on using affordable products but I do let a high end item sneak in every once in a while. So I assumed that I would be in the mid-range, about $30. Um...not even close. Totalling up what you put on your face every day can give you sticker shock!




Face of the Day



Foundation-Neutrogena Healthy Skin $12
Powder-Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Skin Protecting Powder $4 (on sale, regularly $10)
Bronzer-Revlon Bronzed and Chic Bronzer $12
Blush-CoverGirl Classic Color Blush in Soft Mink-$5
Concealer-Maybelline Dream Lumi Concealer-$8
Eye Primer MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study $18.50 (purchased with gift card)
Eyeshadow-Wet n Wild Sweet as Candy $3
Eyeliner-Revlon ColorStay Liquid Eye Pen $8
Mascara-Loreal Voluminous Carbon Black $8
Eyebrow Pencil-Maybelline Expertwear brow pencil $4
Lipgloss-Bonne Bell Mocha Mousse $4

Grand Total...$86.50

I guess if you think about how much USE you are getting out of each product as well as how long certain things last (Paint Pot, Foundation, Bronzer will last several months before I need to repurchase) the cost makes a little more sense. Just seeing it all totalled up like that, looks like a  LOT of money to me.

Give it a try, how much is your face worth?

Neutrogena Nourishing Eyeliner Review

Today I'm reviewing the Neutrogena Nourishing Eyeliner. I purchased this in the Twilight Blue shade, a really gorgeous deep sapphire blue. I have enough black and brown eyeliners to last a lifetime and thought a deep navy would be a nice change up. If done correctly, a navy eyeliner can be very flattering and modern.


photo courtesy of neutrogena.com

 The reason this really caught my eye was because of the product description from Neutrogena:

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Neutrogena® Nourishing Eyeliner defines and brightens eyes with luminous color. Subtle light diffusers make the whites of eyes appear whiter, while rich color nourishes skin with Olive Oil and Rainforest Shea Butter. The built-in sharpener gives precise definition and the contoured smudger softens and blends for a variety of looks.

• Infused with olive oil and rainforest shea butter to condition the delicate skin around your lashes
• Creamy automatic pencil glides on smoothly, then transforms into long-lasting finish that won't budge
• Built-in sharpener and smudger allow to create the perfect look--from precise definition to smoky effect

Sold right? Yeah, me too.

I think the subtle shimmer in the blue does make your eyes look whiter, at least it did on me and I have fairly light grey eyes. The other colors are a black, a brown and a charcoal grey.

I was a little disappointed in the texture of this. With all that olive oil and shea butter I thought this would be a little creamier, or glide on a little easier. It definitely took some pressure to get the color as dark as I wanted it but I suppose if you want long wearing you can't have it be too soft or you will get transfer and smearing. So, that's a fair trade off. I do feel like this wears longer on my eyes than the ColorStay eyeliner did.

Here it is swatched on my hand, next to Revlon ColorStay eyeliner in black to show the color.

The tube itself is interesting, it's almost dainty. Very slender and easy to use.

Overall, I'd say that I was intrigued by the concept of these eyeliners and the one I purchased didn't disappoint. I would definitely repurchase in one of the other shades. I don't know how "nourishing" an eyeliner will actually be on my eye skin in the 8 hours a day I wear it, but it can't hurt to try right?

Deeeeeeep Clean Facial Cleanser

I don't know why this is one of the hardest things for me to find. I am continually looking for a nice, gentle face wash (with no scrub) that I can use to wash off my makeup and mascara before I use my daily scrub. I've tried using the Ponds makeup remover cloths, they feel like they leave a residue. I've tried Clean and Clear, it never really quite got rid of the mascara. I tried several. I don't want anything in it (no scrubbies, no beads, no nothing...). Just a good wash to remove makeup and residue so I can scrub my face. Most importantly, something I can use on my eye makeup and will leave my skin feeling clean.

I think I may have finally found it. Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser. I've been testing it out for a week or two and I really enjoy it. It does what it says, takes only 2 pumps to fully remove all of my makeup and leaves my skin feeling so fresh and CLEAN. I feel like even if I didn't follow up with my scrub and toner, my skin would be clean enough. I am really liking this face wash. Once again, impressed with Neutrogena and it living up to it's claims.

Pricing was reasonable as well, it was $6 for 6.7 fl oz. I will definitely be repurchasing this.

photo courtesy of Neutrogena.com

Neutrogena Wet Skin Kids Sunscreen

We have a  6 year old, very active son. Sunscreen has been a pain in my neck for such a long time with him. When he was a baby, we used Neutrogena Pure and Free sunscreen on him. It worked great, but he wasn't crawling around with sticky little hands or running away when I was trying to apply it. Once he started crawling and was on the move, I was in search of something that would dry quickly and not run into his eyes while providing excellent SPF. We tried the spray sunscreens, he always complained that those kinds "stung" or "burned"...not exactly the response you want regarding a sunscreen!! We tried Coppertone Water Babies, Coppertone Kids, Banana Boat Kids, Aveeno, Costco brand...you name it, we've tried it. Nothing really met the requirements. Fast drying, no "burn", not sticky and effective. So the hunt continued.

Last summer we decided to go back to a Neutrogena brand since that worked before on Little Man. I found the Neutrogena Wet Skin Kids Sunblock Lotion SPF 45. It alleges that it can be applied to dry OR WET skin, which...awesome right? We have a pool and this kid is in it all summer long. If I can slather this on wet or dry and guarantee a good sun block, I'm in. I forgot about it until these past few sunny weeks and grabbed another bottle of it. It dries REALLY quickly, has no harsh odors, lasts through swimming or sweaty days and he doesn't complain when it's time to reapply. I'm in love. Neutrogena wins again for my family!!



photo courtesy of neutrogena.com



Breezy Summer Beauty Tips

Warmer weather calls for LESS maintenance as far as I'm concerned. Summer is when I feel my best, a little bit of a tan, brighter clothes, blonder hair and low maintenace is just the best way to take advantage of all the perks of summer weather. Here are a few of my favorite summer tricks to beat the heat but play up natural, beachy beauty.

1. Ditch the foundation! Like...stat. There's no need for it, it's too heavy and won't make it through a hot sweaty day anyway. Rather than melt it off and clog your pores go with something lighter. A good tinted moisturizer will have a strong SPF but also offer some nice coverage. I adore the Aveeno tinted moisturizer and Origins VitaZing. Summer is also the time of year when glowier skin is not only acceptable, it's gorgeous. Don't bust out that powder at the first sign of glow. Use blotting papers instead if you really can't stand it, but summer skin is glowy. Go with it. In addition to ditching the foundation, I rarely wear eyeliner in the summer. A quick swipe of a Paint Pot from MAC or Maybelline Color Tattoo cream eyeshadow with 2 good coats of a black mascara (CoverGirl Lashblast 24 hour mascara is GREAT for hotter weather) is really all you need in the summer. I even ditch powder blushes and go for something easier like a cream blush or just bronzer on my cheeks.

2. Go with the flow! Let your hair be. If I flatiron my hair, step outside and instantly the hair around my face is wavy. What's the point?! There is nothing worse than standing in a hot bathroom under a blow dryer and flat iron in 90 degree weather. GROSS. Let your hair do it's thing. Wash, condition, comb it out and apply a product like Moroccan Oil to keep the flyaways down and let it dry naturally. Be creative, try different braids, fishtails, topknots, twists, ponytails, anything that takes advantage of your hairs natural texture. Your hair will love you and you'll love the sexy results.

3. Moisturize! What's sexier than healthy, glowy arms and legs in the summertime. Expose the best of your body, use a nice daily lotion with a good SPF (don't forget your decolletage!) and then a heavier cream at bedtime, paying special attention to feet, knees and elbows! There is no better way to fight aging while keeping your skin looking young than taking good care of it. Vaseline has a gel body oil that I love in the summertime. I also always keep Banana Boat After Sun lotion on hand at all times. It's got aloe and prolongs your tan while nourishing your skin.

4. Brighten up! If there is ever a time to take a risk and try some brighter hues, summer is it. Neons are in right now and my favorite way to use them is with neutrals. It's a much more grown up way to use these bright colors. For example, I'm loving the Sweet Tart lip butter from Revlon. It's a lot brighter than something I'd normally wear so when I use it, I use bronzer as a blush to naturally accentuate my cheeks and use a nice bronzey eyeshadow or go bare. Minimal everywhere else allows the bright lipstick to play up your best features and makes it a lot more wearable. Also try using brighter hues on your fingers and toes. Orly Passionfruit is one of my favorite summer shades for toes. It's a neon pink tangerine shade that compliments tan feet so well. Use a good top coat in the summer and you can get 2 weeks or more out of your at home pedicure. I use Seche Vite.

5. Bronze baby! See my list of my favorite sunless tanners. There are so many GREAT sunless tanners on the market, the possiblities are endless and the results are fast. Take advantage and get that golden goddess glow without damaging your beautiful skin. Always exfoliate first to ensure even application and enjoy that tan!

6. Drink up! Easiest beauty tip in the warmer weather is drink your water. It's just the best way to get beautiful skin, stay hydrated and take good care of yourself. I know water can get boring, add something to it! Lemons, limes, orange slices. I even like the MIO water enhancers and keep one in my desk at work for when that 8th glass of water is getting to be a little BLAND.

7. Exfoliate! When the weather heats up, our skin tends to lose moisture and can dry up. Nothing is more gross than alligator skin. Exfoliating is the best way to clear your pores, keeping breakouts at bay and ensuring you that gorgeous summer skin. I use Neutrogena All-In-One daily scrub in the summer to exfoliate my face daily. For my body I like the Coconut body scrub from Bath and Body Works. It's gentle but effective. This also applies to less obvious areas like your feet! I use a PediEgg a few times a week, especially in the summer on areas like the heels of my feet and the results are immediate. I follow this up with a nice thick moisturizer like C.O. Bigelow Lemon & Pomegranate Body Cream from Bath and Body Works. This keeps my feet sandal ready all summer long!

8. Smooth Move. The warmer weather calls for less clothing. This means paying special attention to shaving to ensure smooth skin. I've found the coolest shaving cream and I swear by it all summer long. EOS Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream. This stuff can be used wet OR DRY (for those last minute shaving emergencies when you don't have time to shower). It's super moisturizing, smells great and gets a super close shave on your legs. Because it's so moisturizing it also reduces razor burn and leaves your legs super smooth.

There you have it, my top tips for easier summer beauty!

Fresh, Dewy Foundation Trick

I know it's awful but I'm a full fledged, card carrying sun worshipper. We have a pool and a boat and we are outside ALL THE TIME in the summer. We all tan pretty easily even with sunscreen.

Anywhoo...this weekend included a lot of yardwork and sunshine and even though I had SPF 25 on my face, I still got some sun. Add this to my AcneFree regimen and you get dry skin. This creates a nightmare when trying to apply makeup for work on Monday.

Here's a little tried and true trick I use for dry skin and one I always use during the summer to get a nice, even foundation application. I always use foundation wedges for this, get them damp, squeeze out the excess water and then dab the foundation off the back of your hand and apply by dabbing sponge around the face. Don't rub, you'll just irritate the dry skin.  I use Neutrogena Healthy Skin foundation in Nude.

The water in the sponge keeps your foundation from just being absorbed in the sponge and gives it a much fresher, dewier application. I promise, it doesn't water down your foundation. You actually use less with this technique and it lasts all day.

Easy fix for dry skin and a great trick to cool off that hot summer skin. I tend to use less foundation (if any) in the summer anyway but this is a great tip for the days when you do need some extra coverage but don't want a heavy "mask" of makeup on.

Favorite Foundations

I am a complete foundation junkie. I am always on the hunt for the one that gives me full coverage where I need it, doesn't get cakey, won't oxidize or turn orange and doesn't cost me an arm and a leg. I used to be completely obsessed with Clinique SuperFit until they stopped making it. They market the Even Better foundation as it's sister formula but better, but I don't like it as much. So here are the top 5 foundations I've used, trusted and will continue to purchase.

First off is Neutrogena Healthy Skin. I ADORE this foundation. It gives great coverage, it's glowy but not sparkly, it's easy to blend, the colors are great and it lasts all day. This is a Holy Grail foundation for me, and the fact that it's drugstore and less than $12 is just icing on the cake.

Next is Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation. I purchased this when I was on the hunt for a long wearing foundation for a work event I had and boy does this live up to it's name. I wore it for a 12 hour work function in 98 degree weather and this stuff lasted! It is less than $7 per bottle, has a smaller color range, but the Soft Beige works perfect for my skin, it doesn't break up, it has AWESOME coverage and gives you flawless skin. Good stuff!

Nars Sheer Matte. The most money I ever have and ever will pay for foundation ($42)...Was it worth it? Eh...It's nice enough, but like it's name says, sheer. When I'm having great skin days, this stuff can't be beat, it's glowy, natural, easy to blend, perfect color match and so pretty on. But that price would definitely keep me from buying it again. I feel like the Neutrogena gives the same effects for much less money. However, if you have the $$ to spend, the NARS is a gorgeous foundation.

Revlon PhotoReady. I keep this on hand for photo's. If we are going to bday parties, weddings, social events where I know I will be photographed, this is the foundation I reach for every time. It's good coverage, easy to blend and has a good range of colors, it does have some light reflecting shimmer to it which is what gives you that flawless glowy look so I don't like it for every day, but for photos, this foundation is amazing and was less than $12. The only downfall is that this stuff is HARD to clean out of your foundation brush. I ended up purchasing a seperate foundation brush JUST for this foundation.

Lastly, we have Origins Vitazing. I purchased this for $35. This is the wierdest most amazing thing ever. I'd describe it as a tinted moisturizer, but SO much more. It has an SPF of 15, comes out white and when you rub it onto your face these little beads burst with tiny little pigments that give you nice coverage and make your skin look like you just got back from vacation. Gives you a little glowy color, not orangey or fake, just a lovely glowy face. It's my weekend go-to. I feel like this is actually good for my skin, doesn't make me feel like I'm slathering on goop when I don't need it. I will repurchase this as long as they keep making it. The only thing I've found, is don't wear a powder over it. It's not sticky, but it's "moist" enough on your skin that putting anything else on top of it just looks dirty. If you are going for light, fresh, healthy look, this, an under eye concealer and some mascara are all you really need.

Song of the Day: Long Time Traveler-The Wailin' Jennys

Review: Drugstore Dupe for MAC Mineralize Skinfinish-Natural??!!

Well, wouldn't that just be the holy grail of all things beauty?? It's not quite a 100% match, but it's pretty darn close and for the price difference, it's a winner in my book.

Now I love the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural. My color is Medium Plus. However, I do not love the cost. It's almost $30 for this baby. It did last me 4 months, but still. THAT IS PRICEY. And I am lazy. I hate going to the mall for makeup unless I absolutely have to for things I can not get comparatively at my favorite local stores.

Which brings me to my little discovery. I have been on the hunt for a pressed mineral foundation to rival MSFN. I tried a few with chalkier than desired effects, tried a few with minimal to invisible effects and then...I found it. Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation.

I've been into the Neutrogena Healthy Skin line for a while and really love the Healthy Skin foundation so I thought I'd give this a whirl. I was honestly super impressed. It was around $12 at Target, it's got nice packaging with a mirror and it's very silky. I can either buff it on with a kabuki brush when I want minimal makeup or use the little puff that comes with it and apply it over my foundation on days when I need a little more coverage or shine control. It lasts all day, never cakes up, doesn't oxidize or get orangey and gives honestly good coverage. Ding Ding Ding, we have a WINNER!



neutrogena.com

 Here is the product Description directly from Neutrogena:

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Mineral Sheers Compact Powder Foundation is the first purified mineral makeup in a compact. Neutrogena Mineral Sheers® Compact Powder Foundation enhances your skin through dermatologist-selected pure and gentle minerals. This convenient pressed powder foundation creates a naturally radiant and glowing complexion.

Featuring exclusive time-released antioxidants and SPF 20, new Mineral Sheers Compact Powder Foundation formula delivers extra soft and blendable pressed minerals, so you can build your desired coverage from sheer to medium without a heavy makeup look or feel. And, it's great for mess-free, easy touch-ups.

• Oil-free
• Non-comedogenic (won't clog pores)
• Fragrance-free
• Dermatologist developed

UPDATED: I have also heard recently that Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Protector Finishing Powder is a very comparable dupe for MSFN.

Song of the Day: Electric Feel-MGMT