According to Amanda: Mascara Hack

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and is fully recovered from the turkey-coma.  If you braved the crowds at the mall yesterday, then I hope you've rested up from that too!  I opted to sleep in and deck the halls with all things Christmas, and let me tell you, it was totally worth it.  I did go shopping in the afternoon but nothing really struck my fancy (except for Bath and Body works candles ... so many candles).  I think I'm losing my retail-therapy touch, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.  Since this whole past week was a little off with the holiday and long weekend, I wanted to post something short and sweet today. 

I recently ran out of my Benefit They're Real! mascara and decided to just go pick up one of my drugstore favorites, The Rocket by Maybelline.  If you've tried either one of these, then you know just how stubborn and difficult they both are to remove.  That's probably why I like wearing them so much, because I know I won't have racoon eyes or little mascara flakes all over my face at the end of the day, but at the same time I dread when I have to try and take off the stuff.  Plus, I'm a girl who really likes to pile on the mascara. 

I've already talked about how I really don't like to use oil-based eye makeup removers because I feel like I'm tugging too hard at my eyelashes and not much ends up actually being removed.  The lotion-based remover that I do use does a pretty good job, but I still have to go over each eye a couple times to get it all, and even then there's still some residue.  When I received a sample-size mascara from a recent Sephora purchase, I decided to try layering that mascara under my Maybelline.  That night, it was soooo much easier to remove!  Since the stubborn mascara is not applied directly to your eyelashes, it makes all the difference.  I haven't had any problems with the wear of my mascara since doing this either.  It's also a great way to use up those samples or mascaras that you might have purchased but didn't like so much to wear on their own.

What are some of your tried and true beauty hacks?

xoxo,

Amanda 

Winter Skin Care Essentials

I don't know about you, but my skin has about as much moisture as the Sahara Desert this time of year.  I really started to notice it recently in the mornings after applying moisturizer.  My skin would feel just as dry as it was before, like it was drinking up my trusty Aveeno and begging for more.  Tight, itchy skin is not a good feeling, let me tell you.  It makes foundation application and everything else ten times worse too.  I knew if I wanted to get through the winter months to come with some sanity, I'd need to up the ante on my skin care.  So far, I've found a good regimen that seems to be working well.  It's a balance of old favorites and new goodies from the Sephora VIB sale (impeccable timing, am I right?). 

Here are the products that are essential for me and my skin during the harshest weather.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple

There's a reason this cleanser is an Allure beauty award winner.  It's creamy and gentle but still incredibly effective at removing every last trace of makeup from your skin.  I've been able to stop using makeup remover wipes (which I find to be drying) with this product, it's that amazing!  In the winter this is especially important because you don't want to strip away your skin's natural moisture every time you wash your face.

St. Ives Apricot Scrub

Every couple of days, I like to exfoliate my face to get rid of any dry flakes and dullness.  This scrub does the perfect job of revealing fresh, glowing skin while also maintaining hydration.  Your skin will never feel as soft as it does after using this scrub.  It's one of my HG drugstore products, and you really can't beat it for the price.

Ponds Makeup Remover Cream

I've never been able to use oil-based eye makeup removers.  I always feel like I have to pull and tug way too much at my eyelid and lashes to get anything to come off.  That's no good for a slew of other reasons, let alone the residue it seems to leave behind.  I've found some awesome cream eye makeup removers over the years, but they always end up discontinued, so maybe I'm the only one that feels this way?  Either way, I tried this cream recently and so far I really enjoy it. I wear some pretty stubborn mascara and it removes everything.  The proof is in the pudding when you don't wake up with racoon eyes in the morning!

Benefit It's Potent! Eye Cream

I don't really have a huge problem with my under-eye skin being dry, but I still like to use an eye cream nonetheless.  A little preventative TLC can go a long way down the road, after all.  This little jar has lasted me just about all year and I love the texture.  It's not too light or too heavy and soaks right into your skin so it can get all of the benefits (get it, ha).  I'm a total product junkie so I'll probably try something new when this is used up, but I still highly recommend this as a good eye cream, especially if you've never used them before.

Philosophy Hope in a Jar for Dry Skin

The original Hope in a Jar is probably one of my all time favorite moisturizers, but it just doesn't give enough hydration in the winter, which is why I hadn't bothered to repurchase it lately.  I knew that for winter, I'd need something richer.  With the VIB sale that just ended, I took this as the perfect opportunity to try the dry skin formula.  I've been using it for about a week at this point, and so far I can truly tell a difference between the two.  My skin looks soft and supple, and foundation application has been so much smoother.  I don't know why I didn't try this sooner!

What are some of your skin care essentials for the winter months?

xoxo,

Amanda 

Sephora VIB Sale Wish List

Yes, it's really that time of year again.  Can you believe it?  I've been giving my wallet a rest for the last couple of months or so, using up products I already have, in preparation for the big sale.  To a beauty junkie like me, this is almost as good as Christmas.  Almost.  But I do have to say, it's a wonderful thing that my birthday just so happens to fall during the sale.  Hello totally justifiable reason to go shopping!

Since I've been refraining from purchasing anything beauty related lately, and taunting myself with trips to the mall "just to look", you can bet your bottom dollar that I have a list of the goods I want to get my hands on.  I thought I would share them with you so we can eagerly await the sale together!

Sephora Favorites - Superstars

This one was a no-brainer for me, considering that I wanted to purchase three of the included products anyway (brow wiz, eyeliner, and mascara).  For only a few dollars more than I would have spent, I could get this gorgeous box of goodies.  It's only fair that I do the economical thing and get more for my money, right?

Bite Beauty Lipstick in Pomegranate

I've gotten over my shyness about wearing bold lip colors everyday and now completely embrace it.  There's just something about the colder months that make you want to rock a purple, or pink, or red lip.  However, my selection of reds is a bit lacking.  I've got some orange-red colors, but they don't compliment my fair skin the best.  I saw a lot of recs for this particular color, a true cherry-red, and knew I had to give it a try!

Philosophy Hope in a Jar for Dry Skin

This is my absolute favorite brand of skin care.  I use their facial cleanser every day, morning and night.  I've also tried the night cream and original Hope in a Jar.  I knew I wanted to re-invest in a good moisturizer, but lately my skin has been so darn dry that I didn't know if the original would cut it.  When I saw that they had a dry skin formula, it went right on my list.  I'm looking forward to seeing how this compares and if it truly holds up to the name. 

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone

This is one of those "beauty bloggers made me do it" things.  It wasn't even on my radar as something I wanted to buy, but I was sitting around watching haul videos on YouTube over the weekend (total guilty pleasure) and suddenly it was like I had to have it.  I'm sure I have products already that give similar results, but then again you could probably say that about everything I'm listing here.

Benefit Gimme Brow in Medium/Dark

My latest obsession has been filling in my brows and trying all the things to see what I like the best (hence the brow wiz in the favorites set).  It's funny, I never really took the time to do this, but one day I decided to use that little brow powder/wax set I had purchased ages ago and see what I could do.  Even though the color was a little off, the difference was ah-mazing.  I actually have Gimme Brow in the lighter color, which I realized is way too light for me, so I wanted to grab the dark shade for those morning when I don't want to go through the whole shebang but still want to polish my look.

I'm sure multiple trips to Sephora will be involved for the sale, but this is what I am most excited to get.  What are you looking forward to buying?

xoxo,

Amanda

According to Amanda: Five Beauty Tips for the Not-So-Morning Person

If you're anything like me, mornings are a bit of a struggle when it comes to getting out of bed.  By the time I've half-slept through ten songs on the radio, I realize there's hardly any time left to get ready and get out the door semi on time.  That being said, I've mastered some time-saving techniques to help me get ready faster without having to sacrifice my beauty routine.

Skin

Shower at night.  I can't say this enough.  Every time I feel lazy and decide to wait until morning, I always regret it.  Being able to immediately get dressed and do your hair and makeup when you get out of bed really helps to get the ball rolling.  If you rely on a shower to help you wake up, try coffee!   Washing your face with cool water can also help (and you want to wash your face and moisturize anyway, so win win!).

Face

When I'm pressed for time, I'll use my Tarte Amazonian Clay Airbrush Foundation instead of liquid because the application is much quicker.  This eliminates the need for the subsequent steps of setting spray and setting powder too.  Don't skip on the under eye concealer, though!  You'll want that to look more bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

Eyes

Cream eyeshadows are your best friend when you're in a pinch.  With a simple sweep of color over the lids you're good to go.  And with these products, you don't have to worry about the detailed precision necessary for a more intricate eye look.  Your finger is your best tool with them.  Sweep on a couple of coats of mascara and bat those eye lashes as you

walk

run out the door.

Lips

Desperate times call for desperate measures, so while you may want to apply that gorgeous red lipstick, resist the urge and go with a gloss instead.  Again, this eliminates extra steps (liner, etc) and allows for a quicker, less precise application yet still looks polished.  If you're feeling adventurous, bring your lippie of choice with you and apply at a red light.   Do not, I repeat DO NOT, apply your makeup while your car is in motion.

Hair

Who hates washing their hair?  This girl over here, that's who.  Well, it's not that I hate washing it as much as I hate the 30 minutes of blow drying and 30 minutes of styling that follow.  Because of this, I've gotten to the point where I can go about 5-7 days between washes.  Yes, you read that correctly.  This is probably my biggest time saver of all.  By now I'm sure you've heard all about dry shampoo, and I'm telling you, it is the best stuff since sliced bread.  The key is not to overdo it, but instead only apply when necessary to get the maximum amount of time from each wash.  You can always touch up a few curls or straighten a few wonky pieces of hair, but that sure beats going through the entire routine every other day.

What are some of your tips for getting out the door quickly in the morning?

xoxo,

Amanda

August Favorites

In case you couldn't tell from other posts lately, I am so ready for fall!  That being said, I can't believe how fast the month of August flew by.  Even though I'm beyond giddy that cooler weather is around the corner, I wanted to close out summer by sharing some of my favorites from the month.

Givenchy Le Rouge Lipstick in Rose Dressing

This perfect coral shade for summer accentuates blue eyes beautifully and doesn't look too harsh with my fair skin.  I'd call that a win-win.  Plus, you gotta love any lippie that can survive morning coffee, lunch, and an afternoon snack with little need for touch-up.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Airbrush Foundation in Fair-Light Neutral

I have to say, I have been very impressed with this product.  I can't remember a single weekend this month where I even bothered with liquid foundation because this stuff is just so darn easy.  I even wore it to work a few times and I didn't feel like there was an oil spill all over my face when I got home!  This will be accompanying me on my upcoming trip to Atlanta for sure!

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Black

Y'all.  I know I've said before that I'm usually not much of an eyeliner kinda girl.  But this is by far the easiest liquid eyeliner I have ever used!  You can draw the thinnest line ever with the felt tip

or go as bold as you dare.  And don't even get me started on how effortless it is to wing it out.  It doesn't feather or separate but removal is a breeze.  I just wonder why I never tried this sooner.

Korres Greek Yogurt Sleeping Facial

My skin has actually been leaning a little bit toward the dry side lately for who knows what reason lately.  But thanks to this moisturizer, I wake up with the softest, smoothest, most supple skin ever.  If it's good for your belly, it's good for your face, right?

Fresh flowers from Trader Joes

There is just something about coming home to fresh flowers on your kitchen counter that makes life so much happier.  At $3.99 a bunch, you really don't have an excuse to not get them! 

Parenthood

Since PLL is on hiatus and I binged my heart out on it to catch up to the current season, I needed something new to watch until my shows return in the fall.  Enter Parenthood.  I honestly can't think of any other show that has gotten me hooked so quickly.  I'm usually the type of person who needs to watch several episodes before I decide to jump in with a marathon or abandon ship, but I knew right away that this would have a place on my most recently watched category on Netflix.  And what do you know, it's returning this fall so I have a little bit of time to get caught up.  Don't mind me while I become a hermit for a couple weeks. 

What are some of your August favorites?

xoxo,

Amanda