Current Makeup Favorites--Fall 2018

It's time for a current edition of makeup favorites!

E.L.F. Instant Lift Brow Pencil (Neutral Brown)
I ran out of my Perfect Brow Pencil by Anastasia.  While I love that brow pencil and will probably go back to it at some point, I wanted to try something that was a) cheaper and b) retractable.  Enter, E.L.F. Instant Lift Brow Pencil!  The shade neutral brown is perfect for me.  It's not too warm or too cool, but as the name suggests, it is perfectly neutral.  It is a great texture that is easy to work with; it's a bit softer in texture than the Anastasia pencil but not so soft that you go overboard with the first couple strokes.  It's easily accessible (find it at Target, WalMart, Ulta, wherever E.L.F. is sold), and the best part is the price... $2!!

MAC Shape and Shade Brow Tint (Spiked)
I have one more brow product to share.  I had never tried an eyebrow pen but was intrigued after hearing so much on YouTube about the Shape and Shade Brow Tint from MAC.  I have absolutely been LOVING this thing!  The shade spiked is a good one for me--it's a bit warmer than the neutral brown shade mentioned above, but it still works great for me.  It is so easy to get a quick and natural look with the brush tip, but it can also be built up for a more dramatic brow.  Sometimes I'll even start by filling in my brows with the E.L.F. pencil (brows are always my first step in makeup), and if I end up doing a more dramatic eye look than anticipated and need bolder brows, I'll intensify the look with the pen.  The product has the brush tip pen on one side and a powder on the other.  I haven't used the powder very often, as I have found that the pen has pretty good longevity and doesn't really need to be set.  But nevertheless, it's nice to have the option.

L-R: E.L.F. Instant Lift in Neutral Brown, MAC Shape and Shade in Spiked (the brush-tip pen), and MAC Shape and Shade in Spiked (the powder)

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick (N9 Copper Pink)
This lipstick (and shade) was the Sephora Beauty Insider birthday gift in 2014.  I absolutely loved the shade and used up the whole thing.  Earlier this year, I remembered how much I loved it and realized that I needed it back in my life!  The bummer about the Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick is that it is no longer sold in Sephora.  The only place I could find it was on Make Up For Ever's website, so I purchased it from there.  I'm so happy to have it again!  It's a gorgeous natural pink with a nice amount of shine.  The only other downside besides Sephora no longer carrying it is that it does have a bit of a scent that I don't really care for, but I'm willing to put up with it because the rest of it is awesome.

MUFE Rouge Artist Natural in N9 Copper Pink

ABH Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette
I tried not to buy this... I really did.  I have so many options for neutral eyeshadows and had no need for this, but I decided to get it during the recent Sephora sale.  I had never tried any of Anastasia's shadows but have heard consistently good reviews.  Her Soft Glam palette does not disappoint.  The shadows have a great texture and awesome pigmentation.  I love the warm neutral shades.  Most of all, I love that the palette includes everything I need: a brow bone/inner corner highlight, a transition color, and a black.  It also has a nice variety of brown shades and some beautiful pink/plum shades.  It also comes with a dual-ended brush, which is pretty decent.  There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube and swatches online (that would look better than mine) if you are looking for them!

Bare Minerals Original Foundation (Neutral Medium 15)
This has been a favorite on and off for many years.  I've noticed that a lot of YouTubers are re-incorporating Bare Minerals' Original Foundation into their makeup routines.  The shade Neutral Medium works perfectly for me when I have a tan in the summer.  I have had the wrong shade of this product in the past, so it hasn't always looked the best on me.  When you have it in the right shade, it looks so beautiful and natural on the skin.  It truly does look like your skin is perfect and not like you have makeup on.  One of my favorite traits about this foundation is that it's very lightweight and doesn't feel like makeup.  It's also not drying like some powder foundations can be.  If you've used this and haven't been impressed with it, make sure that you a) have the right shade and b) are using a good brush with it.  I've been using their Beautiful Finish Face Brush and love the way the foundation looks and applies with it.

Winged Eyeliner
My final favorite is winged liner in general.  I go through eyeliner and no eyeliner phases.  I mentioned my love for I Dream of Jeannie in my previous post, and my marathon of watching Jeannie episodes over the summer still has me in love with winged eyeliner.


Thank you for reading!  I hope your fall is going well so far, and please let me know what your current favorite products are!

xoxo,

Favorites: June 2016

Summer is officially here!  As the seasons change, so do my favorite things.  Here's a look into what I've been loving lately.

Skincare
I've been loving Cetaphil's Oil Control Moisturizer SPF 30.  I still get a bit oily after several hours, but it's much less greasy than the CeraVe moisturizer with SPF I had been using previously.  I always have blotting sheets in my purse, so any excess oil is easily taken care of.  It's a bit pricey for drugstore skincare, but it's the best daily moisturizer I've found yet.  And it comes highly recommended by dermatologists.

Makeup
Bare Minerals Original Foundation is the only foundation I've worn all summer.  I have purchased several of these over the last 10 years and have used it on and off.  Every time I start using it again, I forget why I stopped.  It just does something for my skin that no other foundation does.  It's completely undetectable and gives the illusion of "I have perfect skin" rather than "I'm wearing foundation."  I wear the shade Medium Tan.  It feels great on my skin.  It's pretty.  It works.  It also makes me a little bit nostalgic--every time I use it, I think back to my freshman year of college when I first discovered it.  Good times.

Lipstick-wise, I've been really into MAC's Lipstick in Please Me and Anastasia's Liquid Lipstick in Crush.  We all know that MAC lipsticks are fantastic, Please Me is (in my opinion) the perfect pink.  Crush is the first of Anastasia's liquid lipsticks I've tried, and I'm impressed.  I certainly did not need another pinky nude; however, I didn't have any in my collection that were in liquid format.  The color is beautiful, and it lasts all day through eating and drinking.

Left: ABH Liquid Lipstick in Crush
Right: MAC Lipstick in Please Me

I rediscovered a blush that I hadn't used in a while--ELF's Studio Blush in Pink Passion.  It's one of those blushes that might scare you at first glance, but it's much more wearable than it appears in the pan.  It gives the prettiest, freshest glow.  I wore it on my wedding day, so it is obviously a favorite of mine.  And like all ELF products, it's super affordable!

Perfume
I've found a combination I love--Victoria's Secret Coconut Passion Fragrance Mist combined with Bobbi Brown's Beach Perfume is dynamite.  It takes me to a happy place of being on a beach in Kauai.  I love both of these scents on their own, but they are even more of a delight when mixed together.


What have you been loving this summer?  Thanks so much for reading!

A Few Of My Favorite Things: February 2016

Here's a little peak at what I've been loving lately:

Eyeshadow Base
MAC's Pro Longwear Paint Pot in the color Layin' Low is my new favorite in this category.  I have tried so many different primers, and I've even tried using concealer as a base.  Nothing is a better match to my skin tone than this product.  It is perfect under eyeshadow or alone.

Winged Eyeliner
I change my eyeliner often.  For weeks or months I'll be into no wing.  Recently, though, I've been wingin' it.  My current favorite eyeliner pens are L'Oreal's Infallible Super Slim and Physicians Formula's Eye Booster 2-in-1.  Both are liquid liner pens.  The L'Oreal pen has a stiff felt tip.  Physicians Formula's pen has a flexible brush tip.  They are both awesome for creating a little wing.

Mascara
This one surprised me.  It's a mascara I never would have thought to try had it not been for my friend, Julie, bringing it to my attention.  Maybelline's Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara has worked surprisingly well for me.  It has a smaller curved brush, and I like how the formula is on the drier side.  It's not the most dramatic mascara but gives nice definition.  It also works well over Benefit's new lash primer.  Thank you, Julie, for recommending this to me!

Falsies
Ardell's 120 Demi lashes are perfect.  They're fluttery and not too long, so they look great with both heavy eye makeup or no eye makeup at all.  These are the lashes I wore on my wedding day.  They also fit my eye perfectly, and I don't need to trim them.

Blush
ELF's Studio Blush in the color Mellow Mauve is my go-to fall/winter blush.  The large dent I've put in this pan speaks for itself.  It's a gorgeous blush that flatters all skin tones.  And it's cheap!

Lipstick
MAC's Lipstick in the color Blankety is a stunning nude that works well on all skin tones.  Its finish is categorized as amplified--it's very creamy and pigmented and leaves a nice sheen on the lips.

I would love to know what your current favorites are.  Thank you for reading!

Current Favorites: Fall 2015

It's about time for another favorites post!  I can't believe it's already November--it seems like just yesterday that I was rounding up my summer favorites.  Anyway, the name of the game for me this fall has been minimal makeup.  With my casual lifestyle, there are plenty of days where I don't wear any makeup, and there are lots of days where I'll just fill in my brows, curl my lashes, and call it good.  For a more pulled together but still effortless look, this is what I've been loving:

Garnier Ultra-Lift Transformer
I professed my love for this product a few months ago, so I won't spend too much time on it today. This is perfect for the whole minimal makeup thing.  If I just want a little bit of evening out, this Garnier product is my current go-to.  In the summer, I can get away with using this as my moisturizer.  Now that we're headed into winter, I use this on top of my daily face moisturizer from CeraVe.  If you missed my in-depth review on this product, you can find it here: http://idreamofmakeup.blogspot.com/2015/07/new-favorite-tinted-moisturizer.html.

Maybelline Mascaras: Full N Soft and Pumped Up Colossal, Both in Waterproof
Maybelline Full N Soft has been around forever; it's an oldie but a goodie.  Even the waterproof version makes your lashes feel relatively soft, yet it holds a curl well.  It's a very pretty and fluttery-looking mascara.  If you haven't tried it, I'd highly recommend it.  It's a bit on the natural side but builds well for more volume.

I ended up trying the Pumped Up Colossal mascara on a whim and was very impressed, even from first application.  It's a little more dramatic than the Full N Soft, and it also builds well.  It provides nice volume, length, and decent separation.  This mascara really surprised me--I didn't expect to like it as much as I do.

Wet N Wild Eyeshadow Trio in Walking on Eggshells 
This is one of those cult classic makeup products.  Like all Wet N Wild products, it's extremely cheap.  It's also great quality!  The shadows are so soft and pigmented.  You will get some fall-out, so be mindful of that.  My favorite shade is the middle "crease" shade.  It's such a beautiful bronze shade that looks great on its own on the lid and in the crease.  This is a quick way to add some color to your eyes without trying too hard.  It's one of those shades that looks multi-dimensional, so even if it's the only eyeshadow you use, it'll look like you took the time to add a different color to your crease for more depth.

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Bronze
I know I've mentioned this beauty a time or two on my blog.  I use this almost every day, and it just does something that makes my skin look alive and healthy.  It's great to use on those natural days, and it also works well as a blush topper or highlighter to finish off a full face of makeup.  It can also be used as an eyeshadow.  I don't usually like to spend this much on one product, but this stuff is outstanding.  It's every bit as good as people say it is!

NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Sugar Pie 
This is a gorgeous nude gloss that is said to be a dupe of MAC's Boy Bait.  I love the way it looks alone, but it would also look great on top of any shade of lipstick.  I'm a big fan of NYX lip products in general, and I also have their Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Beige.  Both have pretty good pigmentation for a gloss.  This line of lip glosses smells like cherry cough syrup/cherry sweet tarts.  I don't particularly love the scent but can get past it for how great the products themselves are.  They are not overly sticky and provide nice shine.

Non-Makeup Favorites
My first non-makeup favorite is the front-back style earring.  You can find these all over now, and I picked up this pair at Target for around $8.  I am a stud earring girl 95% of the time, and these still have that stud feel but add something extra and fun.  I will definitely be getting more of these!

My second non-makeup favorite is a perfume, Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle.  It smells incredible, and I always receive a lot of compliments when I wear it.  This is one of my go-to scents for fall and winter.

Wearing everything mentioned above except the Pumped Up Colossal mascara.  Mascara in this picture is Full N Soft. 

I hope you are having a good fall and that this post gave you some ideas if you're looking for something new to try.  Please comment below and share your fall favorites with me!

Current Hair Favorites/New(ish) Hair Cut

One of my favorite things about hair is versatility.  Between cutting, coloring, texturizing, and styling, there are so many fun ways to change up your look with your hair.  I hadn't had short hair since 2010, and I decided it was time for a change and that I was tired of it taking so long to wash, dry, and style my hair.  About a month ago, I chopped it off.  I was inspired by one of my favorite YouTubers, Michele1218, who cut her hair over the summer.  She described her cut as a blunt cut with no layers.  I thought it looked so adorable and fun yet so grown up and sexy at the same time.  I don't even know how many inches my stylist took off--I just showed her a picture of Michele and asked her to duplicate it.  Because my hair is so thick, we altered it just a bit by adding a couple blunt layers and making it basically a long A-line bob (longer in front with a couple shorter blunt layers in the back).  It ended up being a little  longer than shoulder length, and I was (and still am!) very happy with it.  She didn't touch the color, and I still have a little bit of balayage left at the ends.

Fresh out of the salon.  This was a little over a month ago, and you will see from the more recent pictures below that my hair has gotten a bit longer since then. 

Styling       
As I mentioned above, I love the cut; however, learning how to style it to my liking took a little bit of time.  I thought I would need a smaller wand to curl it since it was shorter, but when I tried that, it ended up looking way too curled (too "done" and not effortless enough) and a bit poofy.  I believe the bluntness of the cut is what took me so long to get used to, as that is what caused the poofiness with the smaller wand.  I was also having trouble getting the curls to lay right and found that some pieces at the back stuck out and looked kind of funky.  After many trials and tribulations, I finally figured out the best way to curl it was with the same tool I used with my longer hair, a clipless, tapered wand with a barrel width of 3/4" to 1 1/4".  The one I have is the Conair You Curl Styling Wand XL.  I was pretty good at curling my long hair with it and never needed to use the protective glove.  With my shorter hair, I always use the glove because I wrap more of the ends around it than I did with longer hair.  Also, with less hair, it's a bit harder to control, and there's more room for error (ie: it's easier to burn your hand).

Straightening my hair is easy and didn't really take any getting used to--I pretty much do it exactly the same as I did with long hair.  The iron I have is the Ultra Chi 1" Ceramic Flat Iron.  I've had this for a few years, and I love it.  I had a Chi before this one that died.  Hopefully it won't, but if this one dies, I think I want to try a GHD iron.

Freshly washed and straightened

One day old curled hair

Two day old curled hai

With this hair cut, I like wearing it curled and straightened equally.  The curled look is a little more fun/messy, whereas the straight look is a lot more polished and sleek.  It just depends on what I'm in the mood for.  Curling it also stays looking good longer--I almost like it more a day or two after washing and styling it.

Products   

I've been loving Living Proof's Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1.  I use it from roots to ends in damp hair right before I blow dry.  It smells good, and I actually think it does extend my style.  I only wash my hair twice a week, and using this product keeps it looking good basically up until it's time to wash again.  It doesn't weigh my hair down and adds a little volume.

Another new favorite is Garnier's Texture Tease Spray.  I had been wanting to try Bumble & Bumle's Thickening Dryspun Spray, but it's pricey, and I couldn't bring myself to purchase it without researching dupes first.  I dug around and found that the Garnier texture spray was a good dupe for about one tenth of the price.  I'm happy I found this!  It smells great like all Garnier products.  After I wash and style my hair, I like to lift up my roots and spray it all over my crown, then I lightly massage it in.  I also use it through the lengths of my hair.  My hair is naturally very smooth and silky, and I need some texture to make it look and behave the way I want it to.  This product helps me  to achieve my desired texture.  It doesn't soak up oil like a dry shampoo, but I use it between shampoos to make sure my hair has some grittiness to it--this is especially useful when putting my hair in a messy bun.

Speaking of dry shampoo, you will never find me without one in my arsenal.  Over the years, I have tried many different brands and am completely dependent on the stuff.  The trick with dry shampoo is to make sure you let it sit in your hair before you massage it in--this is what allows it to do its job and soak up excess oil.  I let mine sit anywhere from five to 10 minutes before working it in with my hands.  A lot of brunettes are afraid of dry shampoos that leave white casts (and most do), but if you rub it in well enough, it won't be a problem.  I have found several dry shampoos I like.  Right now, I have Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Dry Shampoo, and I really like it.  It does a good job of absorbing oils and has a nice citrusy smell.  If you have ever used Batiste's Original Dry Shampoo, it smells and feels almost the exact same.  Dry shampoo is great for adding texture as well, and before I discovered the above mentioned Garnier product, I would use dry shampoo as my texturizer.  I would even use it on freshly washed hair.  If you only want to have one product between this and a texturizing spray, opt for the dry shampoo.

I hope this post inspires you to do something new and fun with your hair.  Thanks for reading!

My Favorite Beauty Hacks

Hello Everyone!

My post today is a random hodgepodge of tips and tricks that I find helpful and use all the time.  I have probably mentioned some of these in past blog posts, but they are worth mentioning again.

*I love using bronzer as an eye shadow.  This is a quick and easy way to add some dimension to your eyes without looking overdone.  Often times, especially if I'm rushing to get ready, I will just throw some bronzer into the crease and call it good as far as shadows are concerned, but this trick also works well as a transition shade with heavier eye shadow looks.  I like to use a Sedona Lace EB 09 or a Sedona Lace Tapered Blending Brush to apply it.  Also, when you use the same bronzer on your eyes and your face, it helps to make everything look pulled together nicely!

*I like to apply my eye makeup first because I smudge my mascara all the time, and it's much easier to clean up if you haven't done your face makeup yet.  If you do smudge your mascara...

*No worries--it's easy to clean up!  If it's regular, non-waterproof mascara, give it at least 60 seconds to dry on your skin without touching it.  Once it's dry, all you have to do is wipe it off with a dry q-tip.  Seriously, it comes right off!  It's a bit more difficult to clean up waterproof mascara, but it can still be done.  First, let it dry.  You'll need a q-tip and some eye makeup remover.  I like to use Neutrogena Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover (it says oil free, but it definitely has something oily in it) or any of the other types that have two layers that you shake up.  Note: I've tried the Target and Walmart brands, and they both work great.  Anyway, shake up the eye makeup remover and dip end of the q-tip into it.  Before you touch your face with it, absorb the extra makeup remover by pressing the q-tip into a tissue.  Clean up the smudge on your face, then take the other end of the q-tip and moisten it with a little water.  Go over the areas you cleaned up with the eye makeup remover, and you are good to go!  Alternatively, the ELF Studio Makeup Remover Pen works wonders and is a little faster than using the eye makeup remover and q-tip.  It's a great thing to keep on hand, and I have one in my makeup kit for freelance jobs.

*I use a razor on my face!  I love the Tinkle Eyebrow Razors, but other brands make them and sell them at drugstores.  I use these on my upper lip and to clean up the tops of my eyebrows.  There are videos on YouTube that demonstrate how to use them.  Sometimes, I even use them all over my face to remove the peach fuzz.  It makes my foundation go on so much smoother!  They don't hurt, they're cheap, and they stay sharp for a long time.  I used to use cream hair removers on my upper lip and have saved a lot of money by switching over to these!

*I used to think lip liner was too high maintenance, but now I can't get enough of it.  While you can line your lips and fill them in before applying lipstick, I most commonly use lip liner after lipstick.  I find that lining (not filling in) my lips after I've applied lipstick helps to clean up the edges and fix any mistakes I might have made.

*If you're going to wear a matte or long-wear lipstick, exfoliating your lips beforehand is a must!  The ELF Studio Lip Exfoliator is awesome and costs $3.  Exfoliate and follow up with moisturizing balm.  Let the balm sink in as you do your makeup, and when you're ready for lipstick, wipe off the extra balm.

*Multi-tasking brushes are great when you're in a rush, when you're traveling, or if you're on a budget.  My favorite for the face is the Real Techniques Blush Brush.  It works so perfectly for setting powder, bronzer, and blush.  While it's not the ideal brush to apply cheek highlighter, it can work.  My favorite multi-purpose eye brush is the above referenced Sedona Lace EB 09 (which is basically the same as a MAC 217 or Sigma E25).  It's great for applying color to the lid and the crease.

I hope these hacks were helpful!  Let me know if you try any of these or if you have any good tricks of your own.

Current Loves: Summer 2015

We all know I love to experiment with makeup and change up the products I use within my collection frequently.  While I have been playing around with various combinations, there is a certain look I've been going for pretty consistently over the last month or so.

Light Pink Lips

Maybelline Color Whisper in Lust for Blush

I've always been partial to light pink lips--I think they look great on a variety of skin tones.  The lipstick I've been wearing almost every day lately is the Maybelline Color Whisper  in the shade Lust for Blush.  It's so beautiful!  It is a light, neutral pink that looks good with a full face of makeup or no makeup at all.  I loved this color so much that I used up the whole tube!  It's a bit darker than but very similar to MAC Lipstick in the shade Creme Cup, which  also own and love.  It's thinner than the MAC lipstick, but both are fairly moisturizing.  The Maybelline lipstick is also similar to the Revlon Lip Butters, which are hydrating and tend to fall in between the consistency of the Maybelline and MAC lipsticks.

 Blush with Highlighting Qualities

NARS Blush in Orgasm

 My favorite in this category is the ever so famous NARS Orgasm Blush.  I bought this blush for the first time in March.  The verdict?  I do think it's worth all the hype.  It's such a universally flattering peachy pink color with a golden sheen.  I have to be careful with shimmery blushes accentuating my pores, but this one doesn't do that--it just makes your cheeks look flawless.  It's just... so beautiful!  Since it has a sheen, I don't feel the need to use a highlighter on the tops of my cheekbones when I use this blush, which makes it a great product to use when you're on a time crunch.  This blush has been in my day-to-day makeup bag since March, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

 Eyeshadow That Highlights My Eye Color
My eyes look brown to most people, but they are hazel to me.  In the right lighting and up close, you can see specks of green and even blue in my eyes.  I love to enhance the lightness and the green in them by using certain colors.  Purple is a great color for highlighting green eyes, but I've been more into neutral shades.  My favorite combinations have been:

MAC Patina on the lid and MAC Mulch on the outer corner, crease, and lower lashline.

Left: Patina
Right: Mulch

Makeup Geek Shimma Shimma on inner half to two thirds and Makeup Geek Cocoa Bear on
the outer portion, crease, and lower lashline.

Left: Shimma Shimma
Right: Cocoa Bear (matte shade)

For a quick, all-matte eye, I use Makeup Geek Creme Brulee all over the lid and crease and go right over that color with Makeup Geek Latte.  I also like Latte on the lower lashline.

Left: Creme Brulee
Right: Latte

Balayage Hair
For the first time since high school, I have highlights in my hair!  I didn't want the to start at the roots--I wanted a gradual fade, so I opted for a balayage ombre.  I'm so happy with it! I think it looks better with some wave or curl in it, but it looks nice straight as well.  Since the color doesn't start at the roots, it will be lower maintenance than full highlights, and I'll be able to go longer without touching it up.  My hair has been all one color for so long that I wanted something different and exciting.  It's the perfect accessory to every look!

Left: Curled with a Hot Tools 1.25" curling iron
Right:  Blown out with a round brush at the salon

Here's the finished look using the above referenced blush, lipstick, and MAC Patina/Mulch combo:

Thanks for reading; I hope you enjoyed learning about some of my current favorites!

Current Loves: June 2014

Hello!  It's been a while since I've blogged.  I figured this would be a good time to do an updated "things I've been loving" post.

1. Fast, easy makeup:
I love makeup as much as anyone, but I go in phases where I sometimes don't want to spend a lot of time on my face.  Bold eyeshadow is stunning, but there's just something I find so beautiful about minimal or even no makeup.  I love seeing natural beauty shine through, and I think part of what makes it so appealing to me is that feeling comfortable without much makeup shows confidence, and confidence is beautiful!  My version of this natural look is to fill in my brows, curl my lashes, and throw on some peach lipstick or a tinted lip balm.  If I want to look a little more put together, I'll add a natural looking foundation (been loving Neutrogena Healthy Skin and Bobbi Brown BB Cream), blush, mascara, and sometimes a bit of eyeliner.

It doesn't get any easier than this!  All I did was fill in my eyebrows, curl my eyelashes, and throw on the lipstick mentioned below. 

2.  Peach lips:
I've been wearing Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Peachy Scene almost every day lately.  It's so pretty for summer!  It's also great with a full face of makeup or no makeup at all.

3.  The famous Fix+:
I can't say enough good things about MAC Fix Plus.  There's a reason this stuff is so hyped up.  I love using it as a setting spray or on my bare face, and it just makes everything look so much more glowy, blended, and skin-like!  I notice that when I don't use it, my makeup doesn't look as good.  You can also use it under makeup to give your skin a boost of hydration.  This stuff is seriously magic.  It feels is good to spritz it on.  Oh, it smells ice too.

4.  Lots of arm candy:
In the fall and winter, I was all about chunky necklaces and/or layering many necklaces.  I still love that look, but recently, I've been going for more dainty necklaces and going heavy on the bracelets.  I love wearing these Goody Ribbon Elastics (many other brands make them too) as bracelets.  Here's today's combo:

5.  Smelling like the beach
At this time last year, I was on my honeymoon in Kauai.  I'm so nostalgic for those amazing 10 days in paradise!  All I can do is smell like the beach and pretend like I'm there.  I do that by layering Bath and Body Works Aruba Coconut Lotion with Bobbi Brown Beach Perfume.  If you like tropical, summery scents, I'd recommend checking both of these out.  The Bobbi Brown perfume may not be for everyone--it smells exactly like Coppertone sunscreen, which some people probably hate.  I just happen to love it (mostly because it makes me think of the beach).

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll try not to be gone so long next time :).