Smart is Always Beautiful: July 2016

My Face Mists

I use a lot of facial mists in my routine. Like, a ridiculous amount. I was looking at my vanity the other day and wondered if I needed all of them or if I was just a crazy person. My answer was: yes, yes I do need them. The jury is still out on the crazy thing though. These are pretty vital steps in my routine and because of these sprays I use less makeup in general. So, I thought that I would go through all of my sprays and explain what I used them for and maybe I'd sound a little less cuckoo. But, probably not.

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water is a silicone-free, alcohol-free, oil-free water that is infused with electrolytes. It is designed for use three ways: Creating a light, sheer, even canvas prior to makeup application; setting makeup to lock in your look with added hydration; and spraying on face throughout the day to refresh makeup and restore radiance. I love it for two of those three purposes. I spray it on my face after my last skincare step to prime my face for makeup. Then I use it to set my base makeup. After I apply foundation and concealer I spritz it on and let it dry before I apply any powder. This probably isn't the most necessary step, but I really feel that it helps everything stick around every day. Layering is the key. Then, if I need a refresh or my face feels a little parched this is what I reach for. It makes everything feel revitalized and look refreshed. I use it so much that I go through a ton of it.

Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix is the setting spray that I am currently using; MAC Fix + also serves the same purpose and I've found them both to be about on par with one another. Setting sprays are NOT fixing sprays. Setting sprays are used to serve a single purpose: mesh all your makeup together to create one layer of makeup. In Photoshop you create an image with multiple layers. When you are done, you save the image and it flattens back into one single layer. That is basically what the fixing mist does for your makeup. Think of your foundation of one layer, and concealer another. Blush is another and so on and so forth. After everything is applied you spray this on your face and it makes everything become one meshed layer. When you look at your face after it dries you'll notice that it made everything look smooth and airbrushed. That blush that wasn't quite blended in now looks perfectly blended. Add a little too much powder? The fixing spray fixes the cakiness. It really doesn't do anything to make your makeup stick around longer though. I do use this also as a medium to apply eyeshadows wet for the foiled look. This medium makes the eyeshadow pop like crazy and last all day. I also use this on a eyeliner brush with an eyeshadow and it creates a really nice liner that doesn't smudge or budge all day. For me, it's easier to apply but with the right shadow it looks like a liquid liner. This is pretty much the #1 essential in my kit.

Urban Decay DeSlick Makeup Setting Spray is the very last step in my makeup routine. This is a fixing spray and it's sole purpose is to make your makeup last all day, especially when added on top of the setting spray. I like this one specifically because it helps oily skin stay matte throughout the day as well as making makeup stay put. If your are at all like me, you spend a good part of your morning routine putting on your makeup and it's frustrating looking at your face in the middle of the day and seeing all your hard work gone. I can't tell you how many bottles of this that I've gone through. On the hottest day of the year, I'll look at my co-workers who are sweating up a storm and look like an oil slick. I, on the other hand, look nice and matte and my makeup hasn't budged. It's pretty awesome. When I use this I basically ignore setting powders except under my eyes. I really like skipping that step, and less makeup is always a good thing. I use this on the regular especially during hot months. I don't necessarily use this every day during the cooler months. I highly recommend this fixing spray if you have oily to combination skin.

Okay so hear me out on this next one, okay? I got the Avene Thermal Spring Water in an Allure box and immediately thought that I would never use it. Then I tried it out a few times and now I kind of don't want to live without it. I like it for two real reasons. First being the ease of use. I hate bending over a sink and splashing water on my face. A washcloth isn't much less messy and after it's been used even once it can host bacteria. I will wet my Clarisonic and add cleanser. Then I spray this on my face to wet and cleanse away. Afterwards I rinse and spray again to saturate my face. Then I take a clean dry towel and use it to dry my face and make sure that all the soap residue is gone. That is the second reason. Where we live, we have extremely hard water. I'm used to the hard water. If I go somewhere that has soft water, I'm not used to the slick feeling you get when you rinse. It feels, to me, like you can't get the soap off. Hard water though, has a lot of extra minerals and those minerals can severely dry your skin out and leave extra residue. I have used this 1.7oz can for more than a month and there is still quite a bit left in it. Crazy right? I picked up a set of Evian Mineral Water Spray 6-1.7oz cans for $21 during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. That works out to $3.50 a can, which makes me feel better about spending money on canned water. Normally Sephora sell a set of 3 of the 1.7oz cans for $21. There are other uses that the water is good for: post-procedure, during travel, allergic reactions, redness, itching, and after sun. Evian claims that it can also be used to refresh makeup throughout the day, but I'm not quite sure I would use it for that purpose. I can live without this. It's not the most necessary product ever, but I do really like having it.

Add this one to the optional, but super nice to have list: Origins Maskimizer. This is pretty new still but it's basically a primer for a face mask. You saturate your face with this and then apply your face mask like usual. The primer is a Marine Algae Complex that boosts the potential of your mask. It also helps the mask spread over your face easier and more even. And then when you remove it, it makes that easier too. I really do feel like I see a difference when I use my Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask. I feel like it's a little more hydrating. It's a pretty rough mask to remove normally and a little harsh, but this makes the whole process easier on my skin. Imagine what this could do for a hydrating mask. Again, this isn't on the must have list, but I'm really glad that I have it.

A lot of these sprays share claims, so I could downsize if I wanted to. They all do such a great job at what I'm using them for that I don't really want to. Smashbox Primer Water is the most versatile. It really does an amazing job, but as a setting spray Make Up For Ever outperforms it. And for a fixing spray DeSlick is king. So if I had to do without, I could survive with the Smashbox primer alone, but luckily I don't have to because I would miss them both.

What face sprays do you use? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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, by Jackie Diane

acne

Skin Care Heroes: Face and Lips

I started writing this post as a love letter to my skincare routine a few months ago and immediately I got a really bad break out... And, why wouldn't I? So, I stopped what I was doing and proceeded to eliminate and then gradually re-introduce products that I thought might be causing my problem. I found the culprit and luckily it wasn't anything I was over the moon about or anything that I was mentioning here. The other day I was looking at my bare face and I was noticing how smooth, radiant, and blemish free my skin is. The single zit that I'd gotten on my last period has cleared up and I decided that it's time to get back to this love letter.

I've been using some of the same products consistently for a while now and they aren't going anywhere anytime soon. I wanted to share my current favorite skincare obsessions not because my skin is so flawless and beautiful; I've just finally gotten to a point that I understand what works for me and what my skin needs. Aside from the unavoidable skin woes, my complexion has been pretty spot on. Even when I get sick and cold sores pop up or hormones get the best of me and I get a couple crater-like friends, I bounce back a lot quicker. I owe it all to a selection of products that I'm not only in love with but I genuinely look forward to using.

I am pretty lazy and while I don't actively seek to skip steps, sometimes laying on the couch takes precedent or the bed is just sooo much closer than the vanity. This collection of products have turned it all around for me though. I've seen how well they work and I truly enjoy using each and every product so I don't skip steps. Sure, I have the occasional fall asleep on the couch night still but I when I'm awake I actively choose every night to go through the whole routine of skin care before I hit the pillow for the night and these products are the reason. This is not my entire skin care routine, it's just the tried and true favorites of the bunch.

First Things First: MAKEUP REMOVER

Coconut oil - In my pre-teens I got really into rubbing baby oil into my hair. I loved the sheen and it cut down all the frizz. My mom, however, absolutely could not handle this. She constantly kept sending me to wash my hair out and I think she threw away my bottle a few times. While she was partially correct - baby oil wasn't the best thing to rub into my hair - I was onto something with oils. I spent a long, long time after this phase avoiding any oil on my skin, in my hair, or near my face at all costs. That is until I found coconut oil. Now I use it as a hair treatment and it's the best thing ever to rub on my eyes to remove all the water proof mascara and eyeliners, and other stubborn makeup. I don't lose any lashes in the process and it's truly nourishing. Nothing stings, my face doesn't feel tight or over dry, and it removes every trace of waterproof makeup. Every vanity should have a jar of coconut oil. Just remember to use oil in moderation. There can be too much of a good thing.

I don't keep the big jar in my bathroom. Instead I pour some into a smaller container and keep it in my vanity. I am way too clumsy to keep a big glass jar in my bathroom. My trick for removing waterproof mascara is to run a clean index finger into the jar to pick up product. Then I gently rub my finger over my lashes until the mascara starts to lift. Then I'll use a makeup wipe or cotton pad with micellar water to remove the rest of my makeup and finish off my eyes. Next up, I cleanse my face.

CLEANSER

Clarisonic Mia FIT - This is my newest BFF. It's gentle enough to use twice a day, but oh how I love looking at all the makeup and dirt that works itself from my face and onto the brush. (Does anyone else do that?) It makes cleansing a breeze. I use the highest speed. The clarisonic times out it's cycles and pauses briefly to tell you to move onto the next part of your face. Boths cheeks (roughly 10 seconds each) until the first prompt, chin, jawline, and neck until the second prompt, nose until the third prompt, forehead including my temples until after the fifth prompt, then rinse with a washcloth. It's so easy and I can honestly say my face has never felt cleaner.

Murad Clarifying Cleanser - This is my all time favorite go-to facial cleanser to keep my skin blemish free. I discovered this years ago in a kit after I had a really bad allergic to Proactiv. It was immediate relief then and now every time I stray away from this cleanser I eventually break out and find my way back. It lathers up nicely and rinses away without any residue. The salicylic acid at 1.5% is what keeps my skin clear and blemish free. I chose this over the time release cleanser because the time release cleanser has less salicylic acid content is less at 0.5%, and it doesn't quite do the job. This cleanser is going to be my go-to for as long as they make this cleanser.

Salicylic acid can be a little harsh especially if you aren't acne prone. I only use it once a day. If I cleanse more than once a day I use a mild cleanser or lightly cleanse with a cotton pad and micellar water. You can actually exacerbate your condition if you over cleanse and strip your face. The oil production will jump into overdrive and clog your pores as fast and you clear them out. I have always really liked charcoal scrubs, like Lush's Dark Angels or Coal Face, for clearing out pores and exfoliating. If you don't need an anti-acne cleanser to keep you from looking like you're going through puberty, I can't suggest either of these enough.

FACE OIL AND SERUM
I really love using an essence after I cleanse. It's a great step to start re-hydrating and nourishing. It really preps your skin to receive all the benefits of your serum and moisturizer. I am kind of bouncing around a bit currently. If you have upwards of $99 to spend on this step, the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence is pretty amazing. It's really hard to justify spending that kind of moola, but it's a kind of hydration and skin softening like you wouldn't believe. Highly recommend. I will update you if I find a comparable more affordable option.

Jouer Daily Repair Treatment Oil - Oh, how I love this product. Seriously, it's my favorite product to apply in my daytime routine. I put 3 drops on my fingertips and rub my hands together to warm the product up, then smooth it over my face and neck. It feels so amazing. It instantly rejuvenates and locks in moisture. My face has become so much smoother. There are no bumps or wrinkles to be seen. I just want to keep rubbing my face. It just looks so much healthier, plumped, and radiant. Did I mention radiant? Because seriously I apply this and my face just radiates light from within. Plus it has Rosehip Oil that protects from antioxidants. Who doesn't need that? I mean just look outside at all the pollution. I will use this as a last step in my skin care over moisturizer or alone as my moisturizer step. If you don't need the extra hydration it is pretty amazing on it's own.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair - I use this serum at night to unlock the fountain of youth. I use the Jouer oil in the morning and this one at night. This is designed to work overnight while your skin is already naturally repairing itself to hydrate, firm, and strengthen your skin. It's a thicker serum that spreads over the skin really nicely. After scrubbing your face this serum instantly soothes and rehydrates. It soaks in rather quickly and doesn't leave any kind of film. You could almost forgo a moisturizer, but with the moisturizers that I use I still don't want to.

EYE CREAM
Odacité Ba+S Eye Contour Baobab Sarsaparilla Serum Concentrate - This one is new to my arsenal, but it's so amazing. It comes in a little bottle with a dropper. You can actually add a few drops of the concentrate to your eye cream and apply or, like I do, put a single drop of concentrate onto my index finger, rub both index fingers together to warm and then lightly pat the serum directly onto my under eyes. After the serum is absorbed I add a light eye cream; I like First Aid Beauty's Eye Duty Triple Remedy. This is a serum but it looks, feels, and smells like an oil. And that's because it's made from Baobab, Sarsaparilla, Palmarosa Neroli, and Lavender oils as well as Vitamins A, E & F and plant sterols. This nutrient rich concentrate targets wrinkle reduction, improved elasticity, puffiness, and dark circles. I have battled dark circles my entire life and no amount of sleep or stress reduction has ever fixed them. Six days into a super relaxing vacation and my under eyes are still as dark as ever. I have been using this for less than a month and I have already seen an improvement to my dark circles. I've actually cut the dark circle corrector out of my normal everyday makeup routine. My eyes are also firm and less puffy. This product is seriously amazing.

Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme Global Anti-Aging Eye Balm - One of my most favorite products ever is an eye cream. I remember an episode of Weeds where Nancy was in a coma in the hospital after getting shot. Her sister made the comment that Nancy loved eye cream and proceeded to apply an eye cream for her. I hope that if I'm ever unconscious for a long period of time someone loves me enough to apply an eye cream for me and please let it be this one. The skin around your eyes is super thin and delicate and easily damaged. It's super important to keep the area hydrated and protected. This skin around your eyes actually ages years faster than the rest of your skin. Seriously, you can forget every other step in your routine but an eye cream is so so important. This is a nice, light cream to moisturize and firm, it really doesn't feel balmy like the name would suggest. I have used this for over a year now. I didn't really have any fine lines or wrinkles to correct, however I do feel like the long term use has made my eyes appear younger and firmer. It also adds just the right amount of hydration. I use this at night before bed so it has all night to soak in and hydrate and firm. You can also use it as a mask if you need the added boost. Gob it on your eyes, let it sit for a couple minutes and tissue off the excess. There is a weird sparkle to this cream. It is only visible if you over-apply though so that's my gauge. Also, I do not understand why all of these brands insist on putting delicate creams in a jar. Jars are magnets for dirt and germs. I always wash my hands thoroughly before I start putting my fingers in jars.

MOISTURIZER
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Sleeping Cream - I adore First Aid Beauty. I keep a tube of the Ultra Repair Lip Therapy by my computer monitor in the office. I usually have a tube of the Ultra Repair Cream nearby; in my purse, in my desk, on my vanity, because it's a great multi-purpose moisturizer. It's gentle enough for use on your face but also relieves dry cracked hands, elbows, you name it. I need more than hydration from a night time moisturizer, so when I was looking for a night cream that would work as a overnight mask the Hydra-Firm Sleeping Cream from FAB seemed light a no brainer. I use this every night as my last step before climbing into bed. It works to deeply nourish and also combat fine lines and wrinkles. It's a very thick cream. You could stick a pencil in the middle of the jar and it wouldn't fall over. It's a little more difficult to scoop the product out, but once you start rubbing it into your skin it feels like the most luxurious, hydrating, calming thing ever. I wake up in the morning and my skin looks plump and feels as smooth as a baby's bottom. All FAB products are hypo-allergenic and safe for sensitive skin, which is important to me. There's absolutely no scent to this cream. Again my only complaint is that they put it in a jar.

ACNE SOLUTIONS
Murad Acne Clearing Solution - I use a pea-sized amount of this product after cleansing and it's a huge contributing factor to my clear skin. This is a thin gel with 0.5% salicylic acid content. It goes on as a step 2 treatment to keep acne and redness at bay. For the most part the the cleanser keeps my skin clear, but this product takes care of all the little bumps and redness that I can get on the high points of my cheeks. It took me a long time to realize that these bumps were acne that needed treated. I also haven't needed a green corrector to counteract redness since I started using this treatment again. It really does help. This is a non-negotiable in my routine.

Odacité Bl+C | Black Cumin + Cajeput Serum Concentrate - I got a small vial of this in a Birchbox and I wasn't sure how much use I would get from it, but one day I got a pimple. I hurriedly put this on as a spot treatment and by morning it was gone. No kidding. It didn't even leave a scar. I was sold. This serum concentrate uses Black Cumin oil control to the spread of breakout-causing bacteria and Cajeput for it's potent antiseptic properties. Now every time I get a pimple, I apply this as my spot treatment as soon as I notice it. I get the amazing over-night results as long as I apply at the first sight of a bump. If I wait until it's a white head it takes longer to subside. If you are more acne prone you can also add this concentrate in with your moisturizer twice a day to keep your skin from breaking out. It takes so little per use that I'm still working on the small vial, so this bottle is going to last me forever. The dropper is also a nice, sanitary perk to the packing. Love. This. Stuff.

LIP CARE
Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask - This thick, not greasy, lip mask is the reason I wake up with pillow soft lips every morning. It doesn't matter how big the puddle of drool on my pillow is. I apply this to my lips after I climb into bed and finish my glass of water, just before I drift off to sleep. I can still feel the balm on my lips when I wake up. I actually wait until morning to use my lips scrub because this stuff actually heals and repairs flakes and cracks. I also have a small tube stashed at the office and the car because this stuff is the only balm that heals and soothes severely chapped lips. I will also smooth this over dry areas around my lips, sexy I know, and it rehydrates those patches just as well. I love that all of Bite Beauty's products are food grade quality so there's no guilt for what I'm accidently ingesting. Can't live without this. I kind of hyperventilate just thinking about it.

Nuxe Rêve De Miel Ultra Nourishing Lip Balm - I have a a weird thing that I convince myself over and over that I love honey flavored, scented everything. I ordered this Nuxe lip balm based off some pretty high recommendations. The lemon and honey scent was just a plus. Then, just like every other time, I take a whiff expecting heaven and suddenly I remember. "Oh yeah, honey isn't my favorite." Besides that, this potted lip balm nourishes, repairs, soothes and protects lips. It works great enough that I have gotten over the scent. It's much thinner and lighter than the Bite lip mask and it's perfect to prep my lips for lipstick. It also mattifies slightly and makes your lips look nice and healthy so even if you don't apply lipstick this is really nice. I use this in the morning after brushing my teeth and washing my face. I do not carry it with me due to the pot. It's a little too bulky and it's harder to keep your hands clean on the go.

So those are my tried and true favorites of the skin care world. What are your favorites?

Do you have any thoughts on these products? Tell me in the comments below.

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, by Jackie Diane

Charlotte Tilbury

Beauty Things that I NEED from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

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, by Jackie Diane

Makeup

What it Means to Wear Makeup in the Workplace

When I was in Junior High and possibly younger I, like a lot of other girls I'm sure, thought that the only way to get boys to notice you was to wear makeup and have silky smooth hair. I didn't really lose this mindset in high school, I think I was just too tired to get up and care. I dated a guy for three and a half years in high school and he didn't seem to care when I didn't wear makeup but he did like it when I did. I would get the occasional, "Why don't you wear red lipstick like my mom does?" (I still see his mom almost every day and that's something we laugh about every once and a while). Then I started dating my would-be husband and my whole world just changed. My husband doesn't like makeup. Not even a little bit. I honestly don't think he's one of those guys that thinks girls are trying to trick guys into thinking they're pretty. Through the conversations we've had I have deduced that he doesn't like looking at my face and seeing obvious makeup texture. And, I get it. It's hard for me to see others wear the wrong foundation shade or cake it on so thick that you're waiting for it to crack. Him not liking makeup has done two very important things for my psyche. First, I feel comfortable enough to go bare faced when I want and still feel beautiful because that's the way my man prefers me. Second, I love applying makeup and experimenting with new products and tricks so he's going to have to live with that, but I do strive to look as lifelike and natural as possible when I do.

Last night we went to a business dinner. I'd gone pretty bare faced during the day so I went home and spent way too much time on my makeup to get ready. I loved the eye look that I created, but when I started applying the base products everything seemed to go the opposite direction of what I wanted. First I applied way too much of the salmon shade of Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer Corrector to my under eyes and it was a bitch to blend. Next, I decided to mix my Cover FX Custom Cover Drops in with my Becca Backlight Priming Filter. I've done this before and it looks so beautiful and naturally radiant but this time for some reason from the second that I applied it I felt like I was wearing a mask. I think in retrospect that I might have mixed in too much for the Custom Cover Drops. Then I applied Benefit Dandelion Dew drops to my cheeks lightly with a stippling brush and I instantly felt like a clown. Normally this blush looks natural and glowy. Not this time. I resisted the urge to wipe everything off and start over - I'd already wasted too much time. Instead, everything that I did from that point forward was to counterbalance all that "damage" I'd just done. In the end, I used a light dusting of Hourglass Ambient Lighting powders to make my face look more lifelike and a spritz of Make Up Forever Mist & Fix Setting Spray to counteract any powderiness I was experiencing. I looked fine. I had actually left the house with a well applied face of makeup. I got compliments when people saw me. But here's the thing; I knew that I had two camps of people around me. The first advocate was sitting right next to me and without asking, I knew that Husband didn't like my look and felt that I had wasted my time doing things I didn't need to to my face. The second camp appreciated the effort that I made and knew that I had expertly applied a face of makeup that I could be proud of. So what's a girl to do?

I have chosen to join my own camp and it's a camp that advocates for whatever makes me happy. I like this camp. Honestly, I didn't like last night's makeup look. I was proud that I had made it work, but I didn't feel like myself. I didn't feel natural or beautiful. I was actually more embarrassed that anyone had said anything that drew attention to my makeup than I was appreciative the compliment. I don't think they were facetious at all - they were genuine. I just was hoping it was natural enough to other people for me to forget about everything I'd done. It didn't ruin my night at all. I had a great time with great people. The first thing I did when I got home was wash my face and take my contacts out though. And, it was instantly a relief. I loved knowing that I can recover from my mistakes but I will not be going for that look again. Lessons learned. So what does make me happy? Some days, like today I'm perfectly happy finishing my skincare routine and then walking out the door. Other days, it's applying the same makeup I've worn all week long. Other days it's trying out a new blush or bronzer or eyeshadow palette. I am a complex individual.

I'm usually bare faced on weekends unless I have some place to be. I also liberally allow myself to go to the office bare faced once a week. This one has been a little harder for me. These days things are a bit different but it used to be very taboo for me to have no makeup on in a professional setting. After college, I ended up in a corporate setting for almost ten years. For half of that, I answered to male bosses. With male bosses I had about the same philosophy as I do now. If I get makeup on great, if I don't then great also. Obviously for special events and meetings I made the extra effort to polish my appearance. The second half of my employment I had almost all female higher-ups. Things quickly changed. No one ever sat down and had a one-on-one conversation with me, but it was made clear that makeup was pretty much expected at all times. It was the way that they gauged how much effort I was putting into my self every day. If I wasn't wearing makeup then I wasn't committed to my job and I'd never getting ahead in life. It became really stressful and it never felt like I was going through the process for me. It was always to impress someone else because they had mandated that I should. Even if I wore makeup it seemed like it was never enough. "Great job on the eyeshadow and mascara, try eyeliner next time though." This was not a good time for me. Now, I work for myself and I truly feel successful even on the days that I don't wear makeup. But it wasn't always that way, it took a long time for me not to feel like a failure for not wearing makeup in the office every day. Sure, from time to time now I'll see myself in the mirror and start to focus on how small my eyes look without eyeshadow and mascara on, but then I'll force myself to focus instead on how smooth and glowing my skin looks on it's own.

The biggest thing for me to truly feel at home and be okay with being bare faced again was to embrace a skincare routine that I love. I was thinking about it the other day and originally when I signed up for Birchbox three years ago, I was kind of disappointed in how little makeup I was getting. I really wanted to try new makeup but this box was packed full of skincare and perfume and hair care. It's all really good stuff but I wanted makeup. I almost cancelled my subscription but as I started using the skincare and getting to know the brands I really decided I liked what I was getting. Today, I can credit Birchbox for probably half of my skincare routine. I have found products that I enjoy and look forward to using and I see how much different my skin is, for the better, now that I enjoy taking care of it. That makes it easier to show my face to the world without a stitch of makeup on.

The other things is that people don't treat me any differently on the days that I don't wear makeup versus the days that I do. I will even get compliments on how cute I look on the days that I don't wear makeup. I think the difference is confidence. Once I embraced caring for myself as opposed to hiding my flaws my confidence grew. Who cares what some judgy b!%@# thinks?

I'm curious what your thoughts on it are. There seems to be a lot of articles and discussion on social media about embracing a makeup free face these days. Is that something that's acceptable in your workplace? How confident are you in your own skin?

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, by Jackie Diane

Anastasia Beverly Hills

What I Bought Myself for my Birthday: Part Two

So here's the second part of my birthday haul. Last week I shared what I got from Sephora with gift cards that I got for my birthday. This week my Ulta order finally showed and now I can share that as well. I got a little irritated with Ulta about this order. I didn't call them or anything, it was just a mental/impatient thing that I went through. I got a notification that they shipped my order but it didn't actually make it to UPS for four days! FOUR DAYS! And then it took a week after that for them to move it across the country. So this order took forever to arrive. My birthday feels like it was so long ago now. But it's here now and that's all the matters. So here is my Ulta Birthday Haul!

I have mentioned that I have a great fondness for stick foundations so it should come as no surprise that I picked up another one to try. I spotted the Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Makeup Stick on the new products tab and immediately threw it in my cart. I think stick foundations are easy to apply and a less messy use. They also tend to have a creamier, thicker texture which usually means great coverage or super oily. Obviously, I always hope for the non-oil slick version. These are also great to throw in your bag and take with you for touch ups, which I rarely do, but if I know that I'm going to have a long day that I might want a touch up, then this is nice to have. This is supposed to be the same formula as the Teint Idole Foundation just in the more convenient, highly buildable stick formula. I haven't tried this formula yet, so I'm excited to give this a go. I've always loved how amazing Lancôme foundations have made me complexion look in the past.

I have kind of an OCD thing about owning everything in a series. Back when we had a DVD collection I couldn't buy a movie without also owning their subsequent sequels, regardless of how bad they were. Now, I have all three Urban Decay Naked Palettes (they didn't number the Smokey palette so I've been able to pass over it - but it's been kind of a struggle) and now I have all three Lorac Pro palettes. At first the Lorac PRO Palette 3 didn't jump out at me but then slowly and surely, the shades really started to appeal to me. They are really neutral but extremely pretty especially used in conjunction with the other two palettes. I mean can you really have Pewter without Light Pewter? Or Mocha without Dark Mocha? I think not. So far I've tried an eyelook with the Rose Bronze, Almond Pearl, Clay, Canvas, Dark Mocha, and Black. It was really really pretty. They are all extremely pigmented and easy to blend, as you would expect a Lorac palette to be. I knew Rose Bronze was going to be pretty, but I think Clay is going to be my new go to transition shade. There's something really unique and flattering about it. I'm excited to throw Amethyst into the mix... Oh, and Pink Nude. The shades are all so pretty. So far this palette is an A+.

I picked up one of the Tarte Tarteist Glossy Lip Paints earlier this year, but it had a melt down in a hot vehicle back in June. Of course I had to pick up a new one and this time around I chose Goals, a really pretty rosy peachy pink. I really like both the matte and glossy versions of the lip paints. The glossy version is a gel-like and doesn't feel sticky. They don't seem to quite dry like the mattes do. They are kind of more like a glossy liquid lip hybrid. I wouldn't say that they moisturize your lips, but they don't dry them out. They feel really amazing on. The color selection is awesome. I love when collections have a well rounded out 'a shade for everyone' shade selection. I probably will end up with a few more shades from this range in the future.

I really fell in love with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette after I first saw it but man is it scary looking. I love the shades: a burnt orange, a beautiful raspberry, a pumpkin spice, and a gorgeous brick red; But, I'm not quite sure how to wear them yet as they are really intimidating. I'm up to the task though! The color payoff is amazing and they are really easy to blend. It was a well thought out palette and really unique. There's also something really artsy about it, being that they are shades inspired by artists' oil paints and it's called the Modern Renaissance palette. It kind of makes me want to go Paris and Italy and hit the museums and art galleries. I really think that I'll get a bit more use of this in the fall when I want my eyes to look like an autumn leaf. But, I think I can create an amazing look with the pinky shades that will look amazing with summery bronzed skin. I'll keep you updated for sure on the looks I come up with.

I started perusing the sale tab on the Ulta website, which honestly I never do. I spotted The Body Shop Vineyard Peach Body Scrub for half price. Vineyard Peach has been my favorite scent from the Body Shop for years and honestly who doesn't need a good body scrub? Scrubs give you glowy skin all over and for me I use them to get rid of the little bumps on arms. I'm not a huge fan of using big tubs in the shower, but my hair mask is also in a tub and there haven't been any accidents yet. I probably wouldn't have picked this up if it was being sold for full price though. For some reason The Body Shop treats Vineyard Peach like it's special edition. You can pretty much grab the body butter year around (if you can find it in stock), but the scrubs and shower gels come and go. I think they focus on this scent for spring time. I'm no longer finding this on the Ulta website, so I linked to the Body Shop's website which is also selling it for the $10 price tag.

I'm about to the end of my L'Occitane Almond Supple Skin body oil and while I really LOOOOVE it, it is really pricy. Especially for as fast as I've gone through it. So I thought that I would give my wallet a break and try to find something that was a little more affordable - Not that my skin doesn't deserve the luxury. I was kind of intrigued by the SheaMoisture Superfuit Complex Firm & Contour Dry Oil Mist. I think part of the intrigue was the promises of firming and smoothing. Normally I don't really buy into that kind of stuff, but the Brazilian Bum Bum lotion put some hope back into my life for miracles to happen. And, what woman over the age of 16 doesn't think about firming up their skin? I was hoping to love the scent. It's okay. It's not very strong or fruity. I think I'm going to miss the almond scent. Oh well. The bottle also says that you can use it as a hair oil and I do love me a hair oil. So we'll see...

Shea Moisture is on sale at Ulta for buy one get one 50% off and I've spent more money on those sales than should be allowed. There's just something about a BOGO that makes me feel obligated to put more into my cart. Anyway, I decided to try the SheaMoisture Fruit Fusion Coconut Water Weightless Texture Spray you know because it was half off... This is the time of the year that I'm okay with allowing myself to be a little lazy and let my hair air dry. I like that this texture spray is one of the few that doesn't try to sell you on putting salt water in your hair but rather nourishing ingredients like coconut water and aloe. It also sold me on being weightless and for fine hair. The problem that I have with letting my fine, wavy hair run free is that it's totally flat and lifeless when I don't apply any product but when I had a product for volume it becomes a poof-ball. So, I'm excited to see how a texture spray leaves my locks.

A note on the packaging: apparently this bad boy leaked while it was in transit, thus the weird bubbly label. It only leak on the Lorac Pro 3 Palette box and the palette itself was spared so no harm, no foul. But I definitely won't ever think about traveling with this bottle. It needs to just stay on a counter upright, for ever and ever.

A couple days after my birthday I went to my regular hair appointment at Ulta and ended up treating myself to the Marc Jacobs Fragrance Splash in Rain. I had previously abstained from the splurge because I worried that it was too similar to Clean Rain but, carpe diem! Ulta also doesn't have this on their website and it's limited edition, so there's that. It's birthday month and all that. My go-to signature scent right now is Maison Martin Margiela Replica Beach Walk, which I absolutely love. But I do like having Rain sitting next to it for a lighter, cleaner smelling option. It instantly makes you feel like you've been caught in the rain and I'm a sucker for that. It doesn't quite last on my all day though. Also, the clerk threw in the Marc Jacobs bag as a gwp. I thought I was really cool walking out of the store with this cute little bag instead of the traditional orange Ulta bag. She was such a sweetheart!

I also wandered over to Anastasia Beverly Hills and swatched some of the Liquid Lipsticks that are so commonly raved about. There was a shortage of Dusty Rose when it first launched and it was highly sought after. I can see why, it's super pretty. So I grabbed one of those and I fell in love with Crush which is a really nude rosey-beige. I really like these and they are a good 'traditional' liquid lipstick. They are a little drying and they take work to get them on evenly and looking nicely, but they are a really great product if you want to and have the time to put the work into them. I don't see me wearing them often, but I love them when I do. I have been topping Crush with Manna Kadar Lip Locked in Lucky and it's a really pretty combination.

Birthday month is officially over but at least I have all my goodies to get me through the subsequent months. Thanks for reading my blog and please don't hesitate to add comments!

Let me know what you've picked up lately!

Let me know if you have any thoughts or comments on these products!

Have a great day today!