Fantastic Friday Four: Skin Care Faves!

I may have mentioned recently that I'm a makeup junkie.

FYI, that also applies to skin care. 

I LOVE trying new stuff out.  I have super dry skin, particularly in the winter, so anything moisturizing is my jam.

So I thought I'd share four of my current favorite skincare products!  Happy Friday!

Soap & Glory Beauty Sleep Accelerator

Given that I'm OBSESSED with Soap & Glory's body butter, when I saw the night cream I knew I had to try it.  It's super thick and creamy but doesn't feel greasy. 

Lush Popcorn Lip Scrub

You guys, this literally tastes like kettle corn.  And the instructions are to literally rub it into your lips and lick it off!  Lush products are completely natural so it's safe!  It's like a snack, but it's also a really good lip exfoliator for anyone like me who gets very dry lips.

Algenist Eye Renewal Balm

Remember the whole dry skin thing?  That goes double for the under eyes.  This cream is AMAZING.  I actually got it as a sample at Sephora and it's lasted me over a month.  A little bit goes a LONG way.  And that's using it both morning and night!

Fresh Rose Floral Toner

I'm a sucker for rose scents, and this one isn't overpowering.  This toner is super refreshing. I spray it on after a shower or when I get up in the morning.  Also love to just mist it on to freshen up my makeup during the day.

What are your favorite skincare items?

**This post contains affiliate links**

Fantastic Friday Four: YouTube Made Me Buy It!

So.  I like makeup.

I kinda have a problem.  Keep in mind that's only my top shelf.  The drawers beneath it and the vanity table is stocked, too!

As such, I have developed quite a habit of watching YouTube beauty related videos.  A few of my favorites are:

Carly Cristman
Jaclyn Hill
Casey Holmes
Kathleen Lights
Allana Davidson
Beauty Broadcast

Saturday mornings can kind of get away from me, as you can see by the above list (which is abbreviated, I assure you!).

One of the videos I watched was a YouTube made me buy it one, and I got to thinking that there are MANY items that I bought because of a YouTuber's review.   So I thought that might be a fun Fantastic Friday Four post!  Below, see the four of the hundreds of things that YouTube made me buy!  (FYI - none of these were bought with anything but my own money :))

1.  TooFaced Chocolate Bar Palette

Kathleen Lights does so many great tutorials with this.  First of all?  It legit smells like chocolate.  But more than that, it's so pretty.  I love the golden sparkly shade on the bottom and the plummy shade on top.  It's not over the top, you can get a lot of pretty and neutral looks from this.  And did I mention it smells like chocolate?

2.  Too Faced Melted Lipstick 
Are you getting that I love Too Faced?  This lipstick is very different in that it has a spongy type applicator.  I love this color - it's VERY nude but it is a perfect base for a colorful lip gloss!

3. Nars Audacious Lipstick in Anna
This one was talked about on literally every YouTube channel I watch.  As such, I couldn't find it anywhere until about a year after I heard about it!  It's SUCH a pretty color.  Perfect for everyday!

4.  Mac Blush in Melba

I remember Jaclyn Hill talking about this blush and saying it was perfect for people with fair skin.  That would be me.  Also, the peachy color is subtle making it great for everyday wear!


Any other makeup fans out there?  What are your favorites?




**This post contains affiliate links**

Fantastic Friday Four - September 30

TGIF y'all!

Is it me, or has September been a MILLION years long?  I'm getting a 4 day weekend this weekend so hooray for that.

Here are some other things making me smile this week!

I hosted a family brunch this past weekend, and the Mimosa Bar was a hit!  I had some raspberries and strawberries, champagne (obvs), and three different juices - orange, tropical, and mixed berry.  YUM.  Also, LOVE this chalkboard that I got on clearance on Michael's!

I am OBSESSED with this Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Night Cap.  I got a sample in my Sephora Play box and have been using it all week.  I use it after showering on wet hair, and I also have put it on before bed on dry hair (it's pillow safe!).  It smells amazing and my hair is sooooo soft. 

Because it's fall, and all things are pumpkin in my world, I made a batch of these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Energy Balls from Clean Food Crush.  Super easy and sooooo delish.  I subbed in pumpkin seeds for the nuts, but everything else was the same.  It made a huge batch as well!  I have 2 to 3 as mid-afternoon / pre-workout snack and they are a perfect boost.  Also, they keep great in the fridge!

Because it's Friday.  And also, accurate.















What are you loving this week?

Fantastic Friday Four

Here are a few things making smile during this heat!

This sign is life.  As someone who has never passed up a tailgating opportunity (and as we get closer to football season!), I had to get this one!

I have a big pile of summer reading, in the middle of this one and loving it.  If you love recent history, and getting some really interesting details about the lives of some very famous people, this is a great read.

I have always wanted a fluffy white comforter.  However, my adorable cat Charlie is black and sheds like you wouldn't believe.  But I finally bit the bullet and got one.  The compromise is the burgundy throw where he actually does most of his sitting (though I do still have to brush off the bed with a lint remover pretty much everyday!)

I'm a sucker for all things rose scented, and this moisturizer from Korres is no exception.  The rose scent isn't super overpowering, so it won't linger with you all day.  The cream itself is really moisturizing and leaves my skin feeling really soft.  I also have the overnight mask in this same formula and it's another favorite!

What is making you smile this week?

Out of the Kitchen: Klorane Smoothing and Relaxing Eye Patches

Because who doesn't need a little relaxing?

I got a 2 pack sample of these in my May Ipsy bag and was intrigued.  See, I suffer from luggage eyes.  School, tutoring, more school, and a cat who likes to wake me up at the crack of dawn even on the weekends.

So I gave these a shot.  And I really really liked them!

Each envelope had two eye patches in it.

They fit perfectly under each eye, you simply press them on and leave for 15 minutes.  They are so cool and refreshing, a perfect eye treatment for summer.  After I took them off, I definitely noticed less baggage, and my eyes definitely felt more 'rested'.

Also found them on Amazon!

Out of the Kitchen: Favorite Winter Lip Products

So just like dry skin, chapped lips are the bane of my winter existence.

But with this winning combination, my winter lip blues have definitely subsided!

First, let me be upfront.  These aren't the cheapest products on the market. BUT.  They both last an extremely long time because a little goes a long way.

First up, Popcorn Lip Scrub by Lush.

OMG you guys.

So basically, you take a pinch of this, rub it on your lips to exfoliate, and then lick it off.  Yes, the directions say lick it off.  And it basically tastes like kettle corn.

I do this a few times a week before bed, and then follow with this.

The Agave Lip Mask from Bite Beauty.  I pretty much love anything this company does (they deal strictly with lip products).  This is $26, so not cheap, but again, a little goes along way.  I've had this tube since last March or so and I have barely made a dent in it.  Basically it's like a thick balm that you can put on before bed and when you wake up, your lips feel incredibly hydrated.


Any other lippy recs?  Throw them at me!

Out of the Kitchen: Beating the Winter Drys!

So, I have dry skin.  All the time.

But in the winter, I have the WORST dry skin of all time ever.

Especially in school, where the heat in my classroom is just this side of Hades. 

So I've found a few products that really and truly help me keep my skin nice and hydrated, and on the plus side, also smell great!

Mario Badescu Facial Spray
This is super affordable at $7.00 a bottle (at Ulta).  I keep this in my desk at work and spray it on my face throughout the day.  It smells lightly of roses, which, yum.  And it won't mess with any makeup you have on your face.  Super refreshing if you need a pick me up!  And very soothing and hydrating!

Too Faced Hangover Primer

This one is a bit pricier, at $32.00 a bottle at Ulta (Sephora has this as well).  But worth it.  The coconut water in the primer makes it cooling when you apply it.  It has a thin consistency but feels so hydrating, and it is great under any foundation or other makeup you use.  Also, best name ever.

If you have any other recommendations for a dry skin girl, leave them below!