Best Beauty Purchases 2016

Morning! Some of my favorite posts to read at this time of the year is people’s favorite posts, best of, or recaps. I just love looking back and seeing all the good and positive from one year and heading into the new year with hope and happiness. Another favorite post of mine to share and to read from other’s are their favorite beauty products! When I initially went to write this post, I didn’t think I had too much to share, but then when I reviewed my Instagram and published posts- I had a lot! I was pretty successful in the beauty product department for 2016 and didn’t really have any stinkers, but today I’m sharing just my absolute favorites of the year with you!

Friday Faves- Beauty Products

Hello and happy Friday! I haven't done a Friday Faves in a short bit and I'm happy to bring it back with some of my recent beauty faves, some new and some tried and true. I don't usually have a theme for these posts, but today's just happened to be all beauty items. Do you guys like these posts? Do you prefer a theme? Let me know, I want to make sure I'm creating content you enjoy reading.

Friday Faves

Friday!! My favorite day of the work week is finally here!! Last weekend was so busy and flew right by and I've been looking forward to this weekend all week long. We just have a few plans, but I mostly plan on staying home and hanging with my littles. Swim, dance, cleaning, purging, relaxing, and lots of ice cream are on my to-do list.

This week's Friday Faves is a little bit of everything and I'm super excited about each one. I love sharing these posts with you guys. It's been a great way to share different items and shops I've found. I try and do them every week, but if I don't have enough things for a post, I just put what I love on the list for the next post. Everything I share here is always items I truly, and honestly use and enjoy, whether they're items I've bought on my own or were gifted to me for consideration. If it's not something I love, I'm either going to give it an honest review letting you know to skip it altogether, or I simply won't share it. You can always know that my posts are a 100% reflection of my true feelings.   So let's get started!

My Favorite MAC Lipsticks

As a self-proclaimed beauty junkie, my two areas of weakness are eyeshadows and lipsticks. I’ve been buying a ton of lipstick lately and during a late night nursing sesh I’ve found two more I just have to add to my collection- MAC Pure Zen and Crème D'nude. Late at night when I can’t sleep, I love to browse shops, Instagrams, and Pinterest and always seem to find more beauty items to check out. I have an ongoing list in my phone’s notes of specific products and colors I want to see in person and that list is just ongoing and revolving.

I recently tried and attempted to clean out my makeup drawer and purse and every time I do that, I’m amazed at just how many lipsticks I own. How could I ever use all of them completely? How could I ever rationalize buying another one? Do I really need another pink lipstick? Yes. The answer is always yes. So, to justify buying those two I found during the late night sesh, I’ve challenged myself to wear a new lipstick every day during my work week. It’s been an easy challenge to do and I’ve loved re-discovering some old favorites. Hello MAC Pink Nouveau, why haven’t I been living in your sweet pink glory??? There were even a few I just didn’t love anymore and tossed out or put aside for Back to MAC. I thought it would be fun to share my favorites, starting with MAC and will do a future post with my drugstore favorites.

Here are my absolute, favorite MAC ones, left to right:

Angel (the lipglass is also my fave!), Creme Cup, Snob, Pink Nouveau, Hue, Silly, Brave, Long Legged & Fabulous, and Lickable

What are your favorite colors? After cleaning out my drawer, I've realized I'm in need of a true nude and a great red. Any suggestions?

Fall Beauty Faves and Purchases

I've found some new beauty products and rediscovered some older ones and wanted to share what I've been using and loving lately. I have something for nearly every part of the face- eyes, lips, nails, face, I have it all covered!

Peekaboo Neutral // Stockholm // Istanbul

NYX is quickly becoming one of my favorite beauty brands, they have a ton of products, they're a great price, and they have a ton of dupes for higher end brands. I picked up their Matte Lip Cream in Stockholm and I'm loving it for fall. It's a great shade, really neutral, and super easy to wear. I liked it so much, I went back and bought Istanbul too, although I don't think this shade looks as great on it's own, I think it needs a gloss or some balm over it. It's definitely harder to pull off matte lip color with lighter shades (at least in my humble opinion and experience).  I also scooped up their lip liner in Peekaboo Neutral which according to this and this pin is a dupe for MAC's Boldly Bare. I'm absolutely liking this shade, it's so blendable and works great with a number of lipsticks and glosses I have.

Lorac Skinny Palette from Nordstrom Sale, similar here

This palette is amazing! I've been using it a ton the last 2-3 weeks, nearly everyday and it pairs perfectly with my favorite MAC shadows (All That Glitters, Naked Lunch, and Satin Taupe). I really like that this palette is small enough to carry in my makeup bag and has such versatile shades. I mostly use the far left ones, and only the second one over has shimmer in so I love to use one of my MAC shades in the crease or the middle of my lid. These shadows last all day, have amazing pigment, and I totally have my eye on their Pro Palette next! 

Highlighting Concealer in Nude

This concealer has been sitting in my makeup drawer unused for months, months!! I'm not sure why I brought it out because I initially wasn't that impressed with it, but I'm so glad I did. It really helps to cover up and brighten my under eye area a ton. My biggest complaint is that you don't get a whole lot of product like you do with my HG Maybelline Age Rewind, but I think this definitely brightens up the area more. I'm going to do some more comparisons, but I'm happy enough with this concealer to buy it again, but this time I bought a shade lighter (Ivory) since we're heading into the cooler months.

Pore Eraser // Primer Spray

It may be November, but until this week, we've had blazing heat and I have to keep my makeup from melting off and disappearing. On days where I need my makeup to last all day and into the night, I've been using the primer spray first, then the pore eraser on top and my makeup has lasted like whoa. WHOA! My sister got married at the end of September and it was ridiculously hot and crazy humid and this combo really helped my makeup to stay spackled onto my face.

Essie Polish

Looking for the perfect red polish? Run over and pick up Essie's Shall We Chalet?, it's great for all the upcoming holidays. Red can be such a hard shade to find that works for you (especially lipstick!) and this one is a bright true red without any hint of pink. This is such a fun color and I only had to use one coat (with their gel topper).

Brave

On my first night out without the babies, my girlfriend and I headed to the mall and stopped in at the MAC counter to pick up some lipstick. I really had to hold myself back from buying several, and even took pics of my lipstick stash at home before heading out to remind myself to not go crazy. I'm using "crazy" as a very loose term, I totally bought the girls some Christmas outfits while we were shopping. Anyways, I tested so many lipsticks and kept picking up shades I already freaking owned (which I promptly dug out of my lipstick drawer and put them into my overflowing makeup bag) and then was torn between Syrup and Brave, which I mulled over for way too long. I ended up getting Brave and I'm super happy with it. It's pretty similar to Stockholm above in being a deeper neutral shade that pretty much goes with everything. Brave also goes great with the Peekaboo Neutral liner too!

So that's my recent beauty purchases and favorites lately. I have a few things on my wishlist that I'm going to wait on for Black Friday shopping and Christmas. What are you ladies loving lately? Have you added anything new to your makeup bags that you're loving? Rediscovered a long lost product?

Fall Beauty Inspirations

MAC Rebel // MAC Pure Zen

MAC Richly Revered // MAC Softly Lit

MAC Beauty Marked // MAC All That Glitters

MAC Purple Times Nine // MAC Amber Times Nine

MAC Stubborn // MAC Stay By Me

Every season calls for a shift in your makeup, a small change that can make a big impact. In the summer, I tend to wear less makeup and need a little more in the cooler months. One of my favorite colors to incorporate into my beauty routine each fall is a rich plum or wine. It's a beautiful color that's great for day or night and can be so easy to wear. A bold lip, some color in the crease of your eyelid, a darker blush, etc.

Neutral is always good to wear all day, any day, year round. Even with neutrals, I love trying new shades as the seasons change; rich golds, hints of pink, or soft camels. Nothing groundbreaking, but something new to wear. In today's post, I've included items that are all on my wish list (except All That Glitters, that's my Holy Grail eye shadow) and plan to check out this season. I've been wanting some new lip sticks and blushes this year I think I'm gonna save the palettes for my Christmas list!

Do you change your makeup with the seasons? What are you looking to try this season?

Product Review: Maybelline Color Sensational The Buffs Lipstick

Maybelline Color Sensational The Buffs Lip Color in Blushing Beige

It’s not a secret that I have an arsenal of makeup, most of which fall into similar color categories. For instance my lipsticks are mostly soft pinks and nudes and nearly all of my blushes are varying shades of pink. It's almost embarrassing...almost. However, on a whim and a Target run while on my lunch break I picked up the prettiest nude lipstick I’ve ever used.

While in the makeup aisles, I rarely check out Maybelline. They used to be my go-to for foundation, but I haven’t used them for items outside of mascara in what feels like a lifetime. Target had a couple of displays for Maybelline up and it caught my attention so I checked out their section. One thing that caught my eye was their new lip color line of nudes (I guess it’s not actually new- it came out in spring). I’m all for bright lips, but everyday nudes are so much easier for me to wear. I checked out the two lightest shades, Bare All and Blushing Beige and the first one was too light for me. I think I’d look like a walking corpse, but Blushing Beige was beautiful and really complimented my skin tone. Which is why I immediately added it to my cart without looking back.

Blushing Beige is a gorgeous nude with a pink undertone. It’s definitely different from some of my other nude lipsticks with its color- it leans more towards nude rather than pink and is warmer in tone. The majority of my other lip colors are pink-nude and I love that this one is more nude. Yes, I understand how crazy that sounds to anyone who doesn’t have a makeup addiction.

What I wanted to really share about this product review is the option of colors. If you’ve had a hard time finding a good nude lipstick, go check out this collection! There’s ten shades to choose from and depending on your skin tone, more than one shade could work for you. I’ve worn my lipstick almost everyday since I bought it, I think it really compliments my tone and looks very pretty. I wear it both alone and layered under gloss (my favorite pairing with it is Urban Decay’s Walk of Shame) and always get asked about it. My only complaint with the lipstick is the same complaint I have with all Maybelline lipsticks- there’s a slight smell I don’t care for and it can be drying.

Here's it on my lips, love this combo!

When wearing nude lip colors, you have to definitely exfoliate your lips to create the best look. I find that wearing either a chapstick under or a gloss on top help with application. I seriously love this lipstick so much and I'm thinking about buying a second one in case they ever discontinue it. I'm also thinking about checking out the next shade darker as well. I love that these lipsticks are more nude in color, they help create that gorgeous glamorous natural look I love so much.

What color lipstick do you prefer to wear? What's your everyday shade?

Beauty Buys + First Thoughts

e.l.f. Essential Smudge Pot - Aint That Sweet? // e.l.f. Studio HD Blush - Headliner // e.l.f. Studio Blush Palette - Light // e.l.f. Studio Baked Blush - Rich Rose // e.l.f. Studio Mineral Powder Brush // Maybelline One By One Mascara // NYX Matte Bronzer in Medium

So I randomly ordered some items from e.l.f recently. I kind of gave up on their products, but seeing some blog reviews (like Meg's!) and using some of my older purchases from them I bought a few more products. I haven't tried any of these out yet, but kind of tested them on my hand when they were delivered. I got the smudge pot to use as kind of a primer like MAC's paint pots, so we'll see how it goes. I keep hearing about the HD Blush so I hope it lives up to the hype. The color is really nice, it's a soft natural looking pink and I'm excited to try it. The Baked Blush is really pretty and I thought it would look nice over some pink or coral blushes for some summer shimmer. I saw the blush palette in my People StyleWatch so I thought I would give it a try. The top left and bottom right colors look like blushes they sell individually and that I own  (Pink Passion  and Pink), but I really like the two top colors so far (in my swipe). 

The Maybelline mascara I got on a whim before trying my beloved Younique (best mascara ever!), and I freaking hate it. I guess it's been discontinued and I totally get why. It does absolutely positively NOTHING for my lashes. I'm just gonna dump it. 

The NYX bronzer is a repeat buy, this is my 5th one I think? I was looking around Ulta to maybe try a different brand, I almost bought Benefit's Hoola, but when I was swiping colors and brand these two were identical? I had to do a few swipes to know which one was which!

Conair Volume and Styling Comb: I really like this comb a lot! It teases really well, almost too well even. It's great for getting a good tease that builds up a pouf- perfect for updos!
L'Oreal Boost It Blow Out Heat Spray: I've been looking for a new heat spray and I figured I'd try this one, I also have the other Boost It products, so I figured they would work well together. The smell of this line is delicious and the spray is nice. It's light weight and doesn't weigh down my hair or builds up product with use. I haven't used it enough to know if it really works, but I've enjoyed it so far.
Suave Keratin Infusion Color Care Dry Shampoo: Holy Grail status! This is so much better than their basic one I've been using (and loving). The smell is great, it adds a ton of texture and volume. I absolutely love this dry shampoo! Get yourself one asap!

MAC Tinted Lipglass- Angel: When I went shopping with my SIL a few weekends ago, I came across this gloss and fell in love with it. I have the lipstick, and I somehow had NO IDEA they also made it in a gloss. Turns out, they made a bunch of their top lipsticks into glosses! How I missed the memo I have no clue. Of course, they were out of it then, but I picked it up the weekend after. It's such a great summer shade and is pretty opaque but with some color in it.
NYX Butter Gloss - Creme Brulee: I keep hearing about this shade and NYX's Butter Glosses so I finally bit the bullet and bought it. I really love the consistency and color. It's gorgeous on its own and I love pairing it with MAC Creme Cup.
Maybelline Vivids- Fuchsia Flash: I bought this one because it's a total dupe for MAC's Candy Yum Yum and I didn't know if I would really love the color so I didn't want to spend the extra $$ for a lipstick shade I may not wear all the time. It's really pretty and a lot of fun to wear. I don't know if I'll be wearing it all the time so I'm happy with this price point and purchase.
Maybelline Baby Lips- Pink: I love the Baby Lips products to wear as a quick chapstick with a wash of color. This pink is great and very natural, the scent is medicated and a bit strong, but doesn't bother me too much.

What beauty products have you purchased lately? Have you tried any of these? What was your experience?

Recent Beauty Items

I’ve recently got a bunch of beauty items and wanted to review them on the blog. Some are new to me and others are just re-purchases. I love to see what products other people continually re-purchase and I don’t think I post about it enough and honestly don’t remember the last time I posted about a re-purchase of a beauty product so I figured I could include it today. If people are buying beauty products over and over again, they gotta be must-haves for them right? I like to see what works for people on a regular basis, their everyday products, etc. I’ve bought a ton of make-up over the years that I initially loved, but never used it up completely or bought it again. Was it a bad product? Not necessarily, but not good enough to keep on hand. Today’s products include items I’ve used for years and have posted about them before, but like years ago.

MAC Eyeshadow Satin Taupe
This was the first MAC shadow I ever purchased and I used it all through college, but when I ran out I didn’t buy it again because I had so many other colors that were similar I haven’t used this shade in years. My SIL uses it regularly and when I was with her one day I used her make-up and fell in love with the color all over again. I’m so glad I tried it again because it’s a really beautiful shade.

MAC Eyeshadow All That Glitters
The first time I used this shadow was for my Bridal Shower back in 2011 when I had my make-up done and have been using it ever since. It’s a great neutral, a soft shimmer pink/beige that’s great to layer and I wear it almost daily.

MAC Eyshadow Naked Lunch
This is another great find I found when using my SIL’s make-up. She uses it daily and has for years, and I just had to have it for myself after using it. It’s very similar to All That Glitters, a soft shimmery pink color. It’s a little lighter shade though.

MAC Mineral Blush Warm Soul
This was a re-purchase for me (see my review here), this is my every day blush and I put it on my Secret Santa list with like three stars because I was out of it for so long and nearly scraping my blush brush to get some in the mornings. Don’t you hate when you run low on a favorite item and you’re scraping the sides of the jar to get more use out of it while you’re waiting to get a new one? You can see my initial review of this blush here, and it’s a total holy grail blush for me. I use it consistently and sometimes even use it as eyeshadow! It’s a beautiful color and so versatile, it really works for any skin tone and hair color.

Urban Decay Naked Palette 3
When I heard that Urban Decay was coming out with another palette, I freaked out. The first two palettes get a lot of use and I couldn’t wait to see what the third would hold (see my review of 1 here and 2 here). The third palette is lots of rose-hued shades and I wasn’t sure if I wanted it right away because I don’t wear a lot of those shades, but I put it on my Christmas list for my Secret Santa. That’s what those lists are there for right? For items you want, but maybe won’t buy yourself? Well, Santa came through and completed my UD Palette collection and I have been wearing the colors almost every day. They are really soft and pretty, I don’t think that the palette is as versatile as the first two versions so I wouldn’t consider this one a must-have or a holy grail product, but I would definitely check it out. I’m very happy with mine, but I don’t think I’ll get as much mileage out of this one as I do the first two.

Revlon Fuschia Shock
We all know my love of Revlon lip products right now, they are just the best and at such a great price point. I’ve been wanting a bright pink for a while and Ulta had all Revlon products buy 1 get one 50% off so when I went in I snatched up this pretty shade with a red one. I’ve only worn it a few times so far, but really love the bright color. It’s fun, has a warm tone, and lasts throughout the day.

Revlon Really Red
Red is such a fun color to wear and there’s so many shades and tones of red, it’s easy to fall in love with several of them. For the holidays, I wanted a bright, true red shade and after some inspiration from Julie at Gal Meets Glam, I went with Really Red. It was the perfect shade for Christmas and I’ve worn it several times since then.

Revlon Black Cherry
I’ve posted previously about wanting a dark shade to wear this winter and I was on a hunt all over for this Black Cherry shade, it was sold out at every Target, Ulta, Walgreens, and Rite-Aid I went to, I nearly gave up hope! Then I got the sweetest email ever from Sam who found the lipstick for me and wanted to mail it. I was absolutely floored by her generosity, people are so good and kind and her email and gesture meant to much to me. I was humbled and felt all warm and fuzzy that someone who reads this blog would reach out to me. I love getting emails from readers about fashion, beauty, parenthood, etc and I love that this has given me a platform to create so many friendships. Thank you again Sam!

So I wore this color to work, and I was kind of hesitant because it’s such a dark shade, I didn’t know if I could wear it during the day, but I figured you only live once, so why not? Wowza, I have never received so many compliments on a lipstick in my life. Now, I have no qualms about wearing it anytime I feel like it. It’s such a gorgeous, deep red, it’s like a nice merlot color. I absolutely love this lipstick and am so happy to add it to my collection. Don’t be afraid to try new shades! I’m so glad I have ventured out of my nude lip rut. Up until 2 years ago, I never wore anything but nude/soft pinks and recently I’ve been wearing brighter colors on a regular basis.

NYX Lip Liner Auburn
When I wore Black Cherry for the first time, I didn't have a liner to wear with it so I improvised and used a brown eyeliner and blended like crazy to keep from looking like a chola. I bought this color to go with the shade and it's a great match.

NYX Lip Liner Hot Red
With all the red shades of lipstick I have, for some reason I didn't own a red liner! I think liner is a must when wearing red because it can get so messy. This is a great match to my Really Red and some other red shades I have as well. Win!

Essie Wicked
I’m pretty sure this is a holy grail for a dark shade for every girl. I had a mini- version of it (I think) from some multi-pack I bought and I couldn’t find it so I bought the full size and haven’t taken it off. I like the dark vampy color (especially paired with the Revlon Black Cherry lipstick), it’s a deep maroon that’s almost black and I just love the shade. If you’re looking for a new dark I would definitely recommend this color. Another favorite is OPI Lincoln Park After Dark.

Sally Hansen Rapid Red
Again, with the red, I know. I’ve been looking for a bright red polish and was stuck because there are so many shades to choose from. I’ve always been happy with Sally Hansen polishes, they’re true to color, dry quickly, are part of the 3 free (?) of chemicals, and are a great price point. I finally decided on ___ and have been happy with the bright shade. It’s a true red, but a little lighter, without losing its redness. Does that make sense? You know how reds can be pink/red, orange/red, blue/red, or coral/red? I wanted red/red and think I found the shade I was looking for. I was afraid of finding the perfect shade only to have it not be true to the bottle or need several layers to gain the desired shade. This color is the perfect berry red, great to wear year round and I’ve had it on and off my fingers since I bought it. Finding time to do my nails since having Ellie has been tough! How do you mamas do it? She is not a sleeper and any extra time I get to myself, doing my nails falls short on my priority list.

What beauty items have you recently bought? Anything I need to have? What are some of your products that you keep re-buying continually?

Favorite Drug-Store Finds

Recently, I’ve started using more drug-store beauty supplies than I have in the past. The majority of my makeup has been Sephora and MAC, but recently I just don’t have the time to swing by the mall to pick up items. Luckily, I’ve found some great alternatives that have worked fabulously for me. I’m including only items I’ve used for months and have re-purchased. I’ve recently bought some items that I’ve been using and really like, but am not including them in here only because they haven’t withstood the test of time. Sometimes an item is great for a month or so and then crashes and burns. So these are my tried and tested, true blue items I love and recommend. By the way, why is it true blue? Why can’t it be true pink or orange? Anyways, here’s my favorites:

L’Oreal True Match Foundation
I love this stuff! I’m on my 3rd bottle and I don’t think I would ever switch. The formula is lightweight and provides plenty of coverage. There’s no smell, lasts all day long, blends easily, and doesn’t leave a film or “sit” on top of your skin. It comes in a variety of shades and tones so it’s easy to find a great match. I wear Nude Beige W3.

L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara
Once I tried L’Oreal’s mascara, I never looked back. This stuff is legit. It’s dark, creamy, doesn’t smudge, and most importantly to me- it doesn’t flake! I had such a hard time finding a mascara that didn’t flake and leave a trail all down my face by the end of the day. Their mascaras also leave my lashes looking both long and lush- both a must-have in my book.

NYX Matte Bronzer
I absolutely love this bronzer! Just like with the L’Oreal True Match Foundation, I’m also on my third one- I’ve even already bought the 4th one because I’m almost out. I was looking for what seemed like forever for a bronzer that was matte and couldn’t believe how hard it was to find one. It comes in Light, Medium, and Dark and doesn’t leave you looking orange whatsoever. Usually bronzers don’t have many shade options and I liked that NYX offered three. I used Medium for my first purchase and was happy with it, but have since used Light.

e.l.f. Studio Cream Liner
I’ve been using a liquid liner since middle school and didn’t think to try anything new, but I kept hearing over and over again about this liner from so many people and some of my favorite bloggers (like Meg O on the Go) so I bit the bullet and spent the $3 to try this out. Best $3 I ever spent on beauty. This liner doesn’t smudge, smear, or fade and lasts all day and into the night (to be honest- even into the next day if you don’t wash it off). There’s no reason to ever buy any gel liner or spend anything extra on one when this liner is amaze balls. I wear black nearly every day, but will also wear their Coffee shade as well for a more natural and softer look.

Revlon Lipstick and Gloss
These are one of the products where you want to buy every single color. I haven’t been disappointed in any lipstick or gloss I’ve bought from this brand- they have all been beautiful colors, long-lasting, and moisturizing. I’ve used several high end brand lip products and they just don’t deliver as well as Revlon or Revlon is equal in quality so why pay more for a product? Revlon also offers a wide variety of colors to fit the different seasons and skin tones. I could spend hours checking out their lipsticks at Ulta. My current favorites (my favorites vary depending on the season) are Pink Snow in their gloss and Kiss Me Coral in lipstick (it also has a matching gloss).

Maybelline Age Rewind
This has to be the best under eye concealer in the entire world. I use this every single day and it keeps me looking bright eyed and bushy tailed. From the outside, you would never guess I was a mom to a newborn girl running on sometimes only a few hours of sleep that was broken up during the night. I have to go as far as saying that this is one of my Holy Grail products, you know- the ones you would take on a deserted island. I use the Brightener 160 shade.

What are your favorite drug store brands? What shades are your must-have?

My Fave Lip Products + Monthly Must-Reads

Fresh Sugar Lip Balm

Revlon Lipstick (any color!) shown in Kiss Me Coral

MAC Cremesheen Glass in Boy Bait

Bath and Body Works Mentha Lip Shine in Vanilla Mint

Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Pink Snow (Review here)

MAC Lipstick in Hue

MAC Dazzleglass in Baby Sparks

Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm in Peach Kiss (review)

NYX Lipgloss in Sugar Pie

Burt's Bees Lip Balm

This month's question is so great! I'm a total sucker for beauty products, especially lip ones. Wearing a new shade or trying a new product can make such a difference in how your lips feel and how your overall look comes together. I had a ton of fun gathering my top 10 favorites, it was harder than I thought it would be to narrow them down. When looking over all of my products I thought about which ones make my lips feel the best, is the easiest to wear, and what ones I've bought over and over again. Some items I love any color, it's the product that's what's great and other items I prefer a specific color of a product or have a stand out favorite shade. I also couldn't help but notice that nearly all of my lip products fall into the pink/nude category. It's what I'm always drawn to since those shades are so easy to wear.

What are your favorite lip products? What shade(s) do you buy most often?

Question of the month from Mehreen: "What are your top 10 lip products (balms/glosses/lipsticks etc)."

• Alison*Elle - Alison is obsessed with embellished dresses for summer weddings
• Beautygirl24 - Noelle attended her beautiful bridal shower
• Ella Pretty - Ella's picked up some wardrobe staples and designer dupes
• Lindsay J Everyday - Lindsay can't get enough of these recipes
• Love, Lipstick & Pearls - Kristen shared her Recent Purchases from those late night feedings!
• Schnelle Couture -  Danielle talks about all of her favorite summer beauty products.
• Sequins and Stilettos - Skylette does black and white in a cotton skirt
• The Currently Obsessed - Mehreen is having a blog sale! Tiffany, Michael Kors and Sydney Evans oh my!

Recent Purcases + Obsessions

Since having Ellie, I haven't really been shopping that much. A few things here and there, but no big purchases really. One thing all you preggers need to be aware of is how easy it is to shop online using your phone for those middle of the night feedings. Sometimes after you nurse you're kind of awake (who am I kidding, sometimes I shop to stay awake during these sessions) so you check stores and shops out and next thing you know you get jewelry and clothes you barely remember ordering in your mailbox. Let's just hope they're all winners right? It's so much easier to shop online then toting your baby in your stroller around and in fitting rooms. Trust me. Then some sites keep all your info on hand making it even easier to buy because you just need to "add to cart" and you're done! There no second guessing your choices while you dig around for your card info. It's a heaven sent and the devil at the same time. So here's some of my recent buys and some extras I wanted to share with everyone.

J.Crew Inspired Crystal Brulee Necklace from Simple Addiction

Designer Inspired Mint Crystal Bee Necklace from Very Jane, the seller was Fancy Frills Boutique

J.Crew Inspired Crystal Vine Statement Necklace from Very Jane, the seller was Apple of My Eye Jewelry

Distressed Denim Cut Offs from Forever 21

Special Number Bracelet from GroopDealz, the seller was Erica B Studios 

Aldo Barbara Sandals

Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Kiss Me Coral

Floral Print Leggings from Very Jane, the seller was White Plum Boutique 

I've obviously been on a jewelry kick lately. It's an easy way to dress up the clothes I already have and I don't have to worry about how they fit me. I've lost all the weight I gained from being pregnant, but everything fits so different now. Jewelry fits just fine though! For the number bracelets, I bought Ellie's birth date- I thought these were so cute! I can't wait to get all of the jewelry pieces in. 

Here's a close up of the shorts, I love the little stud details it has. I didn't even realize they had the studs right away! I love fun surprises and details like that.

These Aldo shoes are my favorite sandals. They are so comfortable, I can wear them all day long and they go with everything. My sweet cousin and his girlfriend got them for me when I was home from the hospital. They figured I had everything I needed for Eleanor, but deserved a little something special for myself. Isn't that so sweet? I have the best family.

After raving about the Revlon Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss (review here), I had to get another color. It's the best lipgloss EVER. Hands down. It's so soft and creamy, I want every shade. Instead of buying 3 or 5 of them, I  just wanted one and was torn between the Super Natural, Kiss Me Coral, and Pango Peach. I chose the Kiss Me Coral because it has a matching lipstick I already own of the same name- Kiss Me Coral (review here) which is one of my favorite colors- especially for summer!

Clothes wise I haven't bought Ellie anything in a while. She's fitting into her 3 month clothes pretty well. She's so long some of our 0-3 month footless pjs are shorts on her (some of her leggings too)! Plus, we are over flowing with summer clothes so if I do buy anything for her I get it in a size she can wear next summer. When I saw these shorts at Target, I couldn't pass them up! How cute are they?

Also, I pay so much more attention to articles that are easy for diaper changing. I bought the prettiest pj set from Nordstrom the day before our scheduled c/s and couldn't wait for Ellie to wear them, but they are a nightmare for diaper changes. You pretty much have to take it almost completely off, which is a hassle in itself because of the snap placements, and I'm not doing that at 2am. So she's worn those pjs for maybe 2 hours and that's all. I'll probably dress her in them once more just to snap a pic so they're not a complete waste.

Finally, my latest obsessions. These Lipton Tea & Honeys are delicious! I love all of these three flavors and honestly can't choose a favorite. Right now I'm loving the Dragonfruit Peach, but last week I was all about the Coconut Passionfruit. They do have caffeine- 10 mg, but that's less than a third of most sodas I figured it's no big deal. I'm very affected by caffeine because I never eat/drink it (besides chocolate) and a can of Coke can give me the shakes and raise my anxiety levels if had on an empty stomach, so I just steer clear of it altogether mostly. These teas don't affect me at all though, so I'm happy to drink them. I've never been a big water drinker, but these help gulp down an extra bottle everyday. 

Have you tried these Talenti Gelatos? OHMYHEAVENS. It's the pure joyfulness of running through sprinklers on a hot day as a child in a jar. It's so soft, it has chocolate caramel truffles, and it's delicious. My husband and I had to bought two- his and hers- on our last Target trip and want to get more. It's the best ice cream (well gelato if you want to get technical) I've ever had in my life. Run out and buy some people!

What have you been loving lately? What have you bought this summer?

Product Review: Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss

 Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss

I was at the store with my SIL and of course was checking out the make-up aisles (like I need another anything) when I found the mother of all lip glosses.  I always check out Revlon lip products, in my opinion, they are hands down the best of any brand, above MAC and everything else. I find that their glosses and lipstick have so much more pigment, last longer, offer so many shades, and they're completely affordable. 

Anyways, I saw they had a new lip gloss out, their Super Lustrous Lip Gloss. Their Snow Pink really stood out to me, it's a soft nude pink with some shimmer. I went back and forth about buying it since I have so much gloss already, but just popped it in the cart and forgot about it. A few days later I remembered I bought it and busted it out. I fell in LOVE! I've been having all my friends/sisters try mine because I keep telling them they have to run and buy it.

The gloss is really soft on your lips (it's the first word that comes to mind when applied), not sticky or slick at all. It lasts several hours and is pretty shiny. It made my lips feel soft and creamy and I didn't have to reapply several times over and over. I found it to be really moisturizing too which surprised me for a gloss. This particular shade is pretty clear with a pink tint and lots of shimmer. It looks really natural on. I've found to be reaching for it on my minimal makeup and full on makeup days (which happen less now with little Ellie).  It comes in 12 shades and I think I'll pick up another more vibrant color on my next outing.

The Kiki La'Rue Winner has been chosen! Head here to see if it's you!

Product Review: Maybelline Baby Lips

I bought Peach Kiss on a whim a while ago and really liked the soft color hint of shimmer it has. It’s an easy chapstick to wear that gives you some color without having to worry about the color transferring or fading. On a recent Target trip I picked up a limited edition color- Melon Mania for a Baby Lips with some color. I thought the fun pinkish red tint would be great for summer. They are so affordable and are so easy to wear.

Pros:
- Inexpensive ($2.99)
- Sheer color (you can build a little color with application)
- Moisturizing
- SPF 20
- Fun packaging
- 6 permanent shades with limited edition shades
- They are scented based on their shade, but it’s not a strong scent
- Gives a light gloss
- Widely available

Cons:
- Doesn’t last long
- Wears off easily
- Good as an everyday chapstick, I don’t recommend this for really chapped lips
- Has a slick feeling, but is not greasy or thick

Overall, I like these products, but they're not a Holy Grail, run out and buy right now (like the elf cream liner), must own every color, lip stuff. I'm lazy about reapplying lipstick so I like that these add some color and fade/wear off without leaving behind a stain so they're easy to wear. Just like in the cons section, if you have chapped lips already, these will not heal them. They're moisturizing for already moisturized lips and won't dry them out. If you were hoping for a healing chapstick with a boost of color I'd suggest a Burt's Bees or Neutrogena chapstick instead. 

What are your favorite tinted lip balms? What colors do you like best?

InstaLately Link Up 17

So the way people read blogs has changed, I am on Bloglovin and you can follow me here!

My breakfast this weekend: mango, strawberries, and kiwi. I love fruit so much and can't wait for all the summer fruits to come into season! 

This is my favorite salad right now; mixed greens, cut strawberries, and Ken's Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette dressing. It's delicious! 

My Mother came by and dropped off these gorgeous flowers, they've all bloomed and I've really enjoyed them all week long. 

When she came over, she brought along my Grandmother and my Mother-in-Law joined us as well and we made bows for my shower this weekend. What she has planned for them, I don't know, but I can't wait to see! 

I'm in the homestretch! I reached my 3rd trimester and can't wait to meet our little bunny. 

The view of my feet are getting smaller and smaller each day. 

I saw this shirt on Pinterest and couldn't stop laughing. Oh how I'm easily amused! 

On my drive to work, I saw a car that had "I speak reindeer" plastered all over, then when I passed him I saw this large man, with a full white beard, dressed in a red jacket. I couldn't believe it! What a fun surprise! I should have passed him my wish list! 

My two favorite lip products: NYX Sugar Pie (the perfect gloss! It was also a part of my Beauty Wishlist) and Maybelline Baby Lips Peach Kiss. Both are great alone or layered together. 

Some pretties I picked up this weekend, some statement earrings for my baby showers and I finally found Essie's Go Ginza! I featured this color in my Beauty Wishlist post and have searched for this for a few weeks and I love the color! It's the perfect balance between pink and lilac. 

I'm heading back to blonde and started with some highlights. The color is lighter in person than in the shot, I'll try and get some better pics. I'm really happy with the outcome and can't wait to get to full blown blonde!

Be sure link up and share your IG pics!