We are almost halfway into January, can you believe it? This is the month where everyone is recovering from the holidays, still trying to stay warm, and a lot of people have set forth on the task of taking better care of themselves. I thought I would let you know about some of my current favorite beauty and personal care items in case you were looking for some new ideas. Most of these items are readily available at drugstores, Target and Walmart. I'm all for convenience so I love being able to run in, pick up contact lens solution, my allergy pills, and grab a new mascara or nail polish while I'm at it! Don't get me wrong, I love good quality products, and these are - for a great price.
L'Oreal True Match Lumi Foundation - I am a huge fan of L'Oreal products. When I was in my twenties, I worked at the Lancôme makeup counter at Macy's. It was such a fun job playing with makeup all day! I learned a lot, and certainly grew accustomed to their high-quality products. You may or may not know that Lancôme owns L'Oreal. Many L'Oreal products are actually quite similar to Lancôme's (aside from the packaging). Lancôme's foundations glide on smoothly, wear well, and last most of the day. L'Oreal's do too! I recently started wearing their True Match Lumi foundation and I love the luminous glow that it gives my skin. The foundation doesn't feel heavy (which I love) and it also doesn't settle into fine lines (which I also love). This foundation is a bit moisturizing so it's good for my skin in the winter. I will say that I'll probably be switching to another foundation (possibly L'Oreal Infallible Foundation) in the summer months because I know my skin will be more oily then.
Dove Quench Absolue Ultra Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner - I was hesitant to stray from my salon shampoo and conditioner but I decided to give these a try and I am truly impressed. I notice my hair is a lot smoother and easier to style after using these products. My hair is thick, wavy and can frizz easily. I wouldn't recommend the Quench line of products for fine hair because it would probably weigh it down, but it works wonders for me!
Burt's Bee's Natural Lip Shimmer - If you know me, you know that I always have atleast two of these in my purse! I may have even bought you one to try because I love it so much. This is, hands down, my favorite lip product. I like it because it's made from great ingredients, it gives a very subtle color and shimmer, and it has a nice peppermint scent (from peppermint oil, which gives a slight tingle). My favorite shades are Caramel (for a natural nude look), Peony (for a sweet, light pink shimmer), and Fig (for a bolder red lip).
Cerave Moisturizing Cream - I've tried just about every cream you can think of to treat my eczema. Cerave Cream was recommended by my dermatologist and it's been the only thing that calms my skin down. It also makes my skin incredibly soft. I love that is contains hyaluronic acid and ceramides because those ingredients are said to have a plumping effect on the skin to make it soft and supple. I also use this Cerave Facial Cleanser and I swear by it, it's the best I've found.
Burt's Bee's Facial Cleansing Towelettes - Sometimes I like to quickly remove makeup before a workout or just freshen up a bit. These wipes are so handy for that! They even take off non-waterproof mascara! I love the cucumber and sage version but I also use their pink grapefruit wipes as well.
EOS Lip Balm - There is also a chance that I may have given you one of these before! I love them because, come on, they are cute! Okay besides the obvious reason, they moisturize my lips well, have great ingredients and smell amazing. I keep one in my nightstand and apply it right before bed. The Sweet Mint is my favorite but I also love the Coconut Milk and Vanilla Mint scents.
Stila Convertible Color - This item is a little bit pricier than the others so far, but it's very versatile and I find that you don't need to use very much of it. I mainly use it for my cheeks for a rosy glow. The liquid blush that I used to love (and have blogged about in the past) seems to have been discontinued so I had to search for a replacement and I love this. I carry some in my purse so that I can add a little cheek color if I need it and it's pretty on lips too. I like the shades Camellia, Lillium and Petunia.
Wet n Wild Color Icon Bronzer - I have to confess, I used to be a bronzer queen! I look back at pictures and cringe. I used to think, the bronzer the better! I used to use tanning beds (I know) and layer on the bronzing powder and somehow I believed that looked natural. I'm back to my fair skin now (and moisturizing like crazy!) but I did want to check out this bronzer after hearing so many good things about it. It lives up to the hype and you can't beat the price! I chose the lightest shade, Reserve Your Cabana, and it gives a very subtle shimmer. It also seems to help set the rest of my makeup a bit, so I'm a happy camper.
Essie Polish in Ladylike - I use Essie Polish a lot. I love the quality, it seems to hold up better and last longer, and the color selection is great. This shade, Ladylike has become my go-to color. It looks lighter in the picture above, but you'll see that it's a mauvey-pink. I've worn it in the fall, but I think it's a nice color when you are trying to lighten up your look in January and February.
Dove Dry Spray Deodorant/Antiperspirant - Most of the time I try to use a natural deodorant, and I do realize that what you put under your arms should be as clean and natural as possible. There are times though, when natural deodorant just won't cut it and that's when I use this. I enjoy the convenience of a spray, and this one dries quickly, almost instantly. They have several scents, but I like the clean smell of this one with the blue cap.
L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara - As I previously stated, I HEART LOREAL. Their mascara line features (IMHO) some of the best I have ever used. I typically use their classic Voluminous mascara and I get a lot of compliments on my lashes (people have even asked if they were false eyelashes on occasion). I picked up this newer version of Voluminous mascara a couple of weeks ago and it's very similar to the classic, but with an even more amazing brush! The mascara brushes are key to a good mascara and L'Oreal nailed it with this one. The swoop on the end helps to fan out the sides of my lashes in the outer corner nicely, and the entire brush does a great job at separating the lashes overall.
I hope you find this helpful and try some of these products! Oh, and a couple more things, in case you were wondering, these posts aren't sponsored - these companies have no idea who I am, so these are all unbiased reviews. I just enjoy this kind of thing and if I can help someone out who is looking for a reliable product, I'm happy to do it!
Also - CVS has a sale going on until 01/16 on L'Oreal and Cerave products - check here CVS Weekly Ad - so if you are thinking of trying any of those products it will save you a little money.
Enjoy!
