Derby City Darling

No-buy month is going strong.

and I haven't even stepped foot in Target or a mall in over a week - quite the accomplishment. I promise, we aren't addicted or anything though. It's just the first thing we think to do when we hang out. My whole perspective on spending and saving money has really changed since I moved into my own place a couple years ago, but we can dive into that some other time. Today, I wanted to share my current makeup routine, since I've brought out some old favorites that hadn't gotten any love in a while.

After I wash my face and apply moisturizer, I put on

Clinique Superprimer Face Primer

(the formula that color corrects redness) and let it sink in while I make my coffee. For foundation, I actually like to mix a couple of different products -

Becca Ultimate Coverage Complexion Creme

and

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation.

I do this partly because I am very fair and have a hard time finding a perfect shade match, and partly because I have not found a holy grail formula that I absolutely love. I finish my base by concealing under my eyes with the

Maybelline Dream Touch Lumi

concealer. Because the foundation mixture I use has such full coverage, I rarely use extra concealer on blemishes. If you want the extra coverage though, I recommend the Pro Longwear concealer from MAC.

To set the foundation in place, I love

Urban Decay's All Nighter

. My skin has actually been pretty dry recently, and I can still use this without worrying about it drying my skin out even more. I put on my makeup around 7:30 every morning before work, and when I get home 9-10 hours later it still looks just as fresh and not completely worn off of my face. Next I dust a little bit of

Rimmel Stay Matte

powder on my face, followed by

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder

in Radiant Light to give my skin some life. I love this stuff because it's just the right amount of bronze for my fair complexion. For a pop of color on the cheeks, I've been loving

Hourglass Ambient Blush

in Luminous Flush. I contour my nose ever so slightly with

Nars Laguna Bronzer

and my face is good to go. This little bronzer guy is one of those old favorites - I purchased it a couple of years ago in a holiday set and somehow it was buried in the bottom of my drawer among blushes and powders and highlighters - oh my!

Now with the eyes, we are

really

getting into old favorites. I don't know if anything can top the

Naked Palette

in that category. This was one of my first major beauty splurges when I first started getting into makeup several years ago. It's treated me well through the years, and I'm happy to be using it again. Can you tell which shades are my favorite?

I like to prime my eyelids first, and lately I have been using the

Lorac Eye Primer

, another little guy that had gotten lost among other goodies. From the Naked palette, I apply Sin all over the lid, Toasted in the crease, and Virgin as a highlight. I'm not usually one for eyeliner, but when I do wear it I reach for the

L'Oreal Lineur Intense

. I just apply a thin line on the outer part of my upper lash line, stopping right before the pupil. I think I always shied away from liner because I would apply too much, and it made my eyes look smaller and closed off. By only lining the outer edge, it actually creates the illusion of your eyes being wider and the lashes fuller, which is very flattering.

My go-to mascara at the moment is

YSL Babydoll

. I usually don't go for high-end mascaras because there are so many affordable options at the drugstore, but I splurged recently on this baby and I love it! The last thing I do is fill in my brows with

Benefit Brow Zing

. Again, I never used to bother with this step until I tried it once and saw what a difference it really makes. If I only had time in the morning for a couple of steps and not this whole routine, I would definitely apply mascara and fill in my brows. I think those two things have the most impact on making you look polished and put together in the least amount of time.

To complete the look, I use

Bite Beauty Lipstick

in Fig. This stuff is ahh-maz-ing. It's not a true nude, but it's not crazy bright pink either. It's just perfect for everyday wear, especially since I work in an office environment. The color lasts all morning until it's time for lunch. Then I can just re-apply once more in the afternoon and I don't have to give it a second thought. Forgive me for forgetting to take a picture of it!

All in all, this routine takes me about 20-25 minutes in the morning. That may seem like a lot to some people, but for me I love makeup as a form of self-expression so it's totally worth it. And trust me, that's nothing compared to the weekends when I know I'm not under a time crunch to get out the door.

What is your makeup routine like? Have you rediscovered any new products you had forgotten about?

xoxo,

Amanda

Michael Kors Hamilton Slouchy Satchel

Spring has finally arrived here in Louisville, and I couldn't be happier. Of course, that means shopping for new clothes and accessories is absolutely necessary. About a week or so ago, my friend Chelcey and I were out doing just that. While the retail therapy was wonderful and much needed, I couldn't help but be annoyed at the pain of lugging around my suitcase of a bag. Don't get me wrong, I love my Michael Kors satchel, but having a sore arm from shopping just wasn't going to fly any longer. I had my eye on a gorgeous mint green cross-body bag from Fossil, but I wasn't ready to splurge just yet. Little did I know, the perfect bag was waiting for me somewhere else.

Then, a couple days ago after work I decided to stop by Target and see what was new. Lo and behold, a beautiful bright pink bag caught my eye as I walked in, and I knew I had to have it! And I mean, come on, it's Target. If I could only shop at one store for the rest of my life, it would be Target. I don't know how I didn't think to look there before. I immediately scooped one off of the shelf and headed for the checkout, so I could get home and fill it with all of my

junk

stuff and start carrying it.

Merona Mini Satchel

Now I don't know about you, but changing bags is quite the ritual for me. It's a chance to purge all of the unnecessary things weighing me down (literally) and start fresh with only the things I really need. Those gum wrappers at the bottom - trash. Receipts from last week's shopping spree - filed away. With a new bag free from clutter, a girl can conquer the world.

Clockwise, starting with the wallet:

Kate Spade Wallet (similar)

, Orbit Gum,

Anthropologie Sunnies

Vera Bradley Cosmetic

, EOS Lip Balm,

Soap and Glory Hand Cream

This is where we start talking downsizing. Spring to me is all about ease and functionality. If I'm going to be out and about enjoying the beautiful weather, I don't need to carry a whole lot with me. For me, the essentials are my wallet, hand cream, lip balm, gum, a small makeup bag, and sunnies. All of these items fit perfectly in my new Target bag, with room to spare if I ever need to cram something else in there. Also, I love this Kate Spade wallet because it can double as a chic clutch for going out or if I am making a quick trip to the store. I definitely don't need to carry those cough drops from my cold three months ago, or my old point-and-shoot camera (cell phones these days work just as well).

Within my makeup bag, I just carry a small mirror/brush combo I found at Target, a roller-ball perfume, my go-to everyday lipstick and gloss, and another lip balm. I particularly love this Sugar Rose balm from Fresh because it's an effortless way to add a pop of color without requiring the precision of a lipstick, perfect for when you might be caught without a mirror handy. The roller-ball perfume is super convenient as well, especially when the weather heats up and you want to be able to easily re-apply your fragrance. And of course, every girl needs to have their favorite my-lips-but-better shade at their fingertips at all times. If you're ever in doubt about what shade of lipstick to wear, your MLBB shade is the easiest choice you can make.

So there you have it, my spring essentials and tips for downsizing to a smaller, more functional bag. What are some of your Spring necessities? Have you found a new bag for the season? I'd love to hear your tips and tricks as well!

xoxo,

Amanda