All I Want For Christmas…

The holiday season is fast approaching and that can only mean one thing: super fun make up kits at beauty retailers like Ulta and Sephora. The other day I went to Ulta because I ran out of concealer. Needless to say, I got distracted by all the fun, new, perfectly paired beauty packs. When I saw this I absolutely fell in love with the compact which has 2 eye shadow colors and a blush. The light eyeshadow shade is a great “vanilla” matte while the dark has just a hint of sparkle, it is not as dark as it appears. It’s the perfect combination for a simple, sultry eye. I am obsessed with the blush. It is the perfect peachy color that will work with every outfit all winter long. A huge plus to this pack is a full-sized eyeshadow primer ($20 by itself), which is one of my absolute faves. I had never tried the Too Faced mascaras or eyeliner, and they are surely going to become a new staple in my makeup drawer. The eyeliner stayed all day and did not budge or flake at all. The mascara does wonders by giving lots of volume yet does not clump. Finally the lipstick. For those of you that know me personally, you know I am more of a chapstick girl, but after trying this lipstick I think my views have changed. It is a full-sized la creme lip creme ($21 by itself) in a shade called “believe” and I am obsessed. The lipstick is creamy without being greasy and the color stays for a long period of time. Plus, it comes with a super cute travel sized make up bag. All in all, it is a great deal for the price, and has essentials you will be using all winter long.

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The Dirt on Face Wash

Finding a facial cleanser that you are truly happy with is very difficult. Especially when you need different cleansers for different purposes. Some are made to fight acne, but if you use them every day, then you run the risk of your skin becoming dry. Others are made to remove make up that goes deep and can clog your pores. Others are made to be daily cleansers to simply remove the dirt and sweat from the day. But how do you know which one is right for you? My trick, get one from each category and intermix them throughout the week as you see fit.

Bare Minerals Deep Cleansing Foam – $20

This daily cleanser from bareMinerals works wonders. After using it, your face feels so soft and smooth. It has a slight tingle when you are using it, almost like you can feel it cleaning your face. A little bit goes a very long way with this product because it does foam up nicely. This is my go to when I am traveling because I know it is going to get the job done for the few days I am away. The travel size is perfect and lasts a long time, so you are not constantly running to the store before your trip to try to find a face wash that doesn’t take up half your make up bag. You can find this at Ulta, Sephora, or any bareEssentials store.

Murad Pore Reform Line- $28 – 49.50

A lot of people are scared to try murad for fear it will dry out your skin. It is prescription strength, so that is possible, but if you only use it a few times a week, have no fear, your skin will be clear of acne and blackheads and look radiant. They recently came out with their Pore Reform line and I am obsessed. I keep the Pore Reform  Daily Cleansing Foam in the shower and try to use it every other day after I get home from a long day of cross-country practice. While it is considered a daily cleansing foam, I am still hesitant because it is such a strong cleanser. I also use the Pore Reform Blackhead & Pore Refine System Duo to help keep my problem areas in check. Step 1 is a thick, creamy, cleanser that you leave on your problem areas for 5-10 minutes then wash away. You then follow with step 2, which is a light weight lotion to help repair skin.  You can find the whole line of Murad products at Ulta or Sephora.

Stila Coming Clean Revitalizing Gel Cleanser – $22

After a night out, a lot of times, we are too tired to take off our make up, but sleeping in make up is not good for our skin. While the convenience of facial wipes sometimes win out, they do not necessarily get the job done. When I got this product and tried it out for the first time, I wanted to test just how well it removed the make up from my face. After washing my face, I got a make up wipe, and used it, and it was perfectly clean. I am in love. This is my new go to for completely removing my make up. You can find this at Ulta; Sephora does not carry Stila products.

Neurtrogena Microdermabrasion System – $22.99

Let me begin by saying that I LOVE this! I use this every other day to really get a good, deep clean feeling. The pads are premeditated, so you simply have to get them wet and attach to the wand. It does the same job as other brands of at home microdermabrasion systems for a fraction of the price. The starter pack comes with a months worth of pads and the refills come in 2 month supply pack for around $12. You can find this at Ulta or Target.

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Glam Glow

 

Taking good care of your skin at a young age is very important. I am always in the sun, whether it be on a run at cross country practice or laying by the pool, I know the rays are damaging my skin. In addition to this damage from the sun, I know my pores get dirty just from being outside all day. I have tried different masks in the past that are supposed to clean out pores and tighten the skin, but I haven’t been happy with any of the results. I was at Sephora one day when I stumbled upon GlamGlow, and my interest was sparked.  I did a quick google search on the product before I dropped $69 on a mask, and every review was raving about how awesome this product was. It has been said that Jennifer Aniston swears by this product and it was featured on Cosmopolitan as a must try. Naturally, I had to splurge.

I could not wait to get home and try out the new product. One of the best part about the packaging is the little reminder you get that you are sexy, and your skin will be even sexier.

This little jar of volcanic mud is my new obsession. Simply apply a thin layer all over your face, or do spot treatments. Allow the mud to dry then rinse off with warm water.

 

I am going to forgo posting pictures of what my mask look liked, so I have included the picture from GlamGlow’s website. It is very accurate. As the mud dries, it turns lighter in color, but it somehow manages to pull the dirt out of the pores, which is the little black spots you see everywhere.

 

It looks gross, and is a little pricey, but it is so worth it. Go try it. NOW!

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