June Favorites

Happy Monday, loves! Today, I wanted to share with you my beauty favorites from the month of June. I honestly feel like I just made my May favorites last week. It makes me sad seeing the summer fly so quickly. This month, I made a point to start focusing a little more on the condition of my hair. While I do take pretty good care of it, I wanted to kick my haircare up a notch. (It's a constant battle to want sunny blonde highlights AND healthy hair!) I also have been experimenting with new makeup techniques and applications. So therefore, I think it was a great month! ;) Here are things that I have been reaching for!

fun colors, am I right? 

DermOrganic Intensive Hair Repair Masque // Ulta // I wanted to purchase the Macadamia Oil Masque, but my Ulta was out of stock. I decided to pick this up & have been loving it! It makes my hair feel very conditioned and strong-- which is great for blondes like me!

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in1 Styling Treatment // Ulta // I bought this in the set I linked. You can buy the cream individually, however, I wanted to give it a shot in the travel size before committing to the full size price. So far, I have really been enjoying it. It gives my hair a sleek & moisturized finish after blow drying.

Chanel Blush in Rose Initial // Nordstrom // This shade of pink is the perfect flush of color for spring & summer. If I am not wearing NARS Madly blush, this is my other go-to. And the smell. Wow! There's nothing like the scent of a Chanel blush. 

Tarte Airbrush Finish Bamboo Foundation brush // Sephora // I got this brush a few years back in a featured set from QVC. I really didn't use it much when I first got it. But after seeing Brianna Stanko use hers in a recent video, I decided to whip mine out again. I love it for when I'm in a hurry. It quickly distributes all the product and basically does all the work for you. I highly recommend this brush to someone who want to use liquid foundation, but doesn't want anything fussy.

Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Dani // Sephora // These glosses are great. I have several of them, and you can't go wrong. I have been obsessed with this soft lilac-y pink color & it pairs perfectly over nude & baby doll pink lipsticks.

MAC Lipstick in Shanghai Spice // Macys // I love this color for everyday. I can pop this lipstick on without a mirror and know it looks great. It's a soft peach pink that is very wearable. I highly recommend this to any one who is looking to get into MAC lipsticks.

Maybelline Fit Me concealer // Ulta // I was recommended this concealer from a friend, and am so happy I tried it out. The price tag is great and the consistency is just right. It covers my under eye area without being too thick. Be sure to set this, and it won't crease! 

Loreal True Match foundation // Ulta // I love this foundation because it contains no oil, fragrances, or pore clogging components. It has great build able coverage and it a great option for those seeking a  less costly liquid foundation. 

What things did you reach for this month? I'd love to hear your favorites!

XO, Carrie

Buying Guide: 24 Products for the Beauty Obsessed

THE TRUTH

I can't hardly begin to tell you how many times I have been asked what my all time favorite       is when it comes to beauty products. "What item of makeup could you never live without?" Unfortunately, there is never one magical, gleaming answer that will leave any given person feeling satisfied, as if they have been lead on to some big secret. Honestly, no product is "one size fits all" or a product that would be "holy grail" for each and every single one of us. So today I am here to give you advice for purchasing makeup & forming an appropriate makeup collection suitable to YOU!

This list breaks down the 24 things I think all beauty obsessed gals should be able to find in their makeup bag. These things will allow you to create any given makeup look, any day of the week, at any hour without carrying a 20 lb. trunk of supplies. This guide is to help budget and help decipher what is essential and what is not. 

THE LIST 

1. Moisturizer- suitable to your skins needs
2. Foundation- liquid or powder- with a finish and coverage that you enjoy on a day to day basis
3. Powder- translucent to set all of your foundation and concealer
4. Under eye concealer- in a shade or two lighter than your skin to brighten and color correct
5. Blemish concealer- in a shade that matches your skin to cover acne marks and discoloration
6. Bronzer- a matte powder that can double as an all-over bronzer and a contour shade
7. Blush- in a wearable, everyday shade (i.e. NARS Madly)
8. Eyebrow pencil- a shade or two lighter than your eyebrow hairs
9. Eyeshadow primer- somethings your shadow can stick to
10. Versatile eyeshadow palette- a shade range that can give you any look, day & night
11. Eyeliner- liquid or pencil- black or brown
12. Mascara- buildable, volumizing formula in black or brown black
13. Chapstick or lip conditioner- essential for locking in moisture
14. Lipstick- for whatever mood you are feeling
15. Lip gloss- a shade that looks good with any look
16. Foundation brush or sponge- for an even, flawless application 
17. Powder brush- large and fluffy to lightly and evenly distribute product
18. Bronzer brush- medium sized and somewhat dense to sweep color onto key places of the face
19. Blush brush- angled and soft to give your cheeks a flush of color
20. Eyeshadow brush(es)- you choose how many you need for each function
21. Tweezer- you never know when you might want to get rid of a stray hair
22. Small scissors- this will come in handy for than you know
23. Spooly- for combing out brows and lashes
24. Eyelash curler (optional)- curling your lashes help to open your eyes

BUYING TIPS

TIP #1: Every time you watch a YT video or skim a magazine and see something you might be interested in, type it down in your phone. Over time, your list will grow, often times, leading to duplicates of things you might like to try. If you continually see you want to try a coral lip and a golden highlighter, those are the perfect things for you to eventually purchase. This will help prevent you from purchasing too many products you might not need in your collection. (For those who aren't beauty hoarders anyway.) 

TIP #2: Go with your gut! I once was on the hunt for the perfect rose lipstick. There was a perfect shade by NARS that put a smile on my face when I applied it. But, I opted to seek a cheaper alternative and came home with, what I thought was a dupe, from the drugstore for about $7. I soon found it wasn't what I wanted and went on the hunt for other dupes. After several purchases, I realized I had already spend as much as the perfect option from NARS would have cost me. Lesson learned. 

TIP #3: If you have a large collection of makeup, learn to rotate the products you are using frequently. This will help you to use up more product and also help you preserve those coveted items you have, rather than using them up right away. It can be fun to save certain items for "special occasions"!


XO, Carrie

picture via pinterest