My Beauty Favorites: Highlights

When highlighting first emerged as a trend, I was rightfully reticent. After all, as an oily skinned person, I spent my entire teenage and adult life trying to look less shiny. So as matte-matte-matte skin disappeared and full-face glam became the norm, highlighting was a natural step forward. As makeup gurus contour their faces to perfection, highlighting is just a natural part of that. 

But still, it was a hard trend to hope on. I don't typically contour--and I definitely don't use cream contours. If I'm going out for the evening, I might use bronzer alongside blush, but that's about it. However, once I started using highlighter, I realized that I really, really like it... and that you don't necessarily have to do a full contour for it to look good. 

Highlighting brings attention, and dimension, to the high points of your face. Think your cheekbones, the tip of your nose, and your cupid's bow. By applying highlight to these places, you can make them more pronounced--and create cheekbones where you might not have great ones. I have a pretty round face with prominent, and full, cheeks, so highlighting my cheekbones is a daily must now. 

I narrowed down my highlighters to my four favorites. As a note, I definitely prefer a more subtle highlight--I don't like going crazy or playing with a lot of colors--but these are not the only highlights I use! 

1. Dirty Little Secret Baked Highlighter in Bellini

I received this highlight in last month's ipsy bag (review here) and, as I posted on Instagram recently, it's rapidly become my favorite highlight. It is a more cool-toned pale pink color and applies beautifully with a fan brush. It's pigmented enough that you could also use it as a blush or even an eyeshadow. For a daily, subtle glow, this one is perfect. (I'm also partial to the Bellisima color from DLS!) 

2. Ulta Beauty Duo Chrome Illuminator

I originally received this highlight from the 12 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar from Ulta. (You can read my full review here!) As I wrote then, I was unsure of what color this highlight actually was, as it's not labeled on the packaging. However, I think it is closest to either Mermaid or Fairy (although it looks like Fairy is no longer available). It is a duo chrome, which means it is not sparkly like some highlights, but shifts between white, pink, and lavender, with a hint of blue. It is absolutely not an everyday look, but for events, it can make a huge difference. 

3. Ulta Beauty Rainbow Highlighter

Rainbow highlights aren't everyone's cup of tea, but they sure are popular. There are rainbow highlighters available from not just Ulta Beauty, but tons of indie brands as well was Wet'n'Wild, TooFaced, Maybelline, Essence, and more. Again, this is not necessarily an everyday look, but can look great in photos or for more fun events. As well, you can use the separate rows on their own, or as eyeshadows. I personally love using the yellow and gold lines as solo highlights, as well as to highlight my inner corner. 

4. Ulta Beauty Liquid Illuminator in Northern Lights

Have you tried adding a few drops of liquid highlighter to your foundation? At first, I thought this did nothing... but let me say, once I started doing it, I was surprised at how it turned out! If you are looking for a lovely, subtle glowy look, add a few drops of this liquid illuminator (Northern Lights is a very light, pearly pink shade) to your foundation and it will change your entire look. 

My Beauty Favorites: Blushes

It feels like I didn't really start caring about blush until a few years ago. When I was in high school, I don't think anyone I know used blush. In the early 2000s, bronzer was a big deal; I remember my friends covering essentially their whole faces in bronzer. I never rocked that look (I'm way too pale), so I mostly just wore foundation, powder, and that was it. I took all the color out of my face with foundation... and didn't add any back in!  

The first blush I can remember buying, at least in the last 5 years, was Wet'n'Wild's Pearlescent Pearl (a very dead-on dupe for NARS Orgasm, if you're looking!) and while I love that blush, it's not one of my current favorites.

You see... blush is now one of my favorite items to buy, one of my favorite beauty items to put on, and something that I'm a little obsessed with. Most days, I wear foundation or concealer, powder, and blush, maybe some mascara if I'm feeling fancy. So most days, blush is the thing that really makes a huge difference in my look. 

So after a very taxing decision process, I picked out my top 3 favorite blushes. (And I'll also include my 2 favorite brushes for applying blush!) 

1. Pixi by Petra in Peach Honey

I received this blush in my first Ipsy bag and when I first reviewed it, I thought it was more of a highlighter than a blush. However, after applying it one day and getting to work, I realized the truth: my bathroom lighting just sucks! It's definitely a more subtle blush and being peachier than what I usually wear, it definitely falls into the category of being outside of my go-to. However, it has such a nice, natural effect that I think it's one of those blushes that looks good on everyone. 

2. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Paaarty

I (and almost everyone else) received this blush in the 2017 Sephora birthday gift. (If you chose the skincare gift, don't worry, you can purchase it solo.) I love this blush, even though the name is actually one of the worst ever; I never remember the correct number of "a"s. It is a perfect pink color: very traditional, very cute, and very perfect on nearly every skintone. 

3. Ulta Beauty Blush in Rose

I debated including this blush, even though it is my current "I wear this every single day" color because, well, I couldn't find it on Ulta's website! The problem sometimes with free gifts is that they don't always have everything for sale. However, this is the same shade as the Ulta Beauty Blush in Sweet Pea here; so if you want to buy it, that's a great option. This shade is a dusty, slightly mauve-y pink. I wear mauve lips almost every single day, so if I'm going for a monochromatic look, this is what I reach for. It's super pigmented, super blendable, and absolutely lovely. 

Bonus: My Favorite Brushes

I used to use my fingers to apply blush, then I would sweep it out with my powder brush (yikes). Now, I have two dedicated blush brushes (three actually, but that's neither here nor there) that I love using, depending on the formula and look I'm going for. 

1. Crown C141 Small Chisel Brush: this brush is great for blushes that are a little less pigmented and you need to concentrate to a specific area. (I also love this brush for packing on mattifying powder!) I use it specifically with my Pixi by Petra blush. 

2. F.A.R.A.H. 30F: this brush is angled, so it gives you a great sweeping look. If you're using a highly pigmented blush, this is the one you want to go for; being softer and fluffier, it blends out blush much easier. 

3 Things You Need to Know about Sulfate-Free Shampoo

I'll be totally honest: I've always been really disinterested in hair products. As someone who can buy 45 different versions of the same lipstick color (and argue with my husband to the death that they are actually very different colors, thank you very much), hair products are just beauty products that I feel I don't have space in my brain for. 

I've been pretty lucky to be blessed with hair that just kind of works. I have straight, really manageable hair. I could honestly wash it with dish soap and it would behave the exact same way. (And yes, I may have done this once or twice in college.) I don't heat treat my hair and I only dye my hair its natural shade to cover grays, so I don't experience a ton of damage to it. 

My hair, by nature, is very fine (though I have a lot of it, so my hair is also quite thick in terms of amount) and I've always been able to get away with washing it every 2-3 days before it looks bad. Unlike my face, I seemed to have a natural amount of oil on my scalp and it never bothered me. But about 4 months ago, I started really struggling with a dry scalp. 

I tried every tea tree oil shampoo I could find, convinced I wanted to go natural. When those did nothing, I switched to Head & Shoulders, angry that I had to go with an option that wasn't cruelty-free. And while Head & Shoulders made it marginally better, I still would get a dry, flaky, itchy scalp within a day of washing. I went to the dermatologist and was told I didn't have dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis; my scalp was just dry, so when my hair got even a little oily, the skin would lift. The dermatologist told me to just wash my hair every day. 

Which I did and it didn't really help. And my hair started getting quite limp from all the washing. 

While listening to a podcast recently, a guest mentioned that people with dry, flaky scalps should try going sulfate-free. I had tried a few sulfate-free shampoos and I wasn't totally impressed with them--but I was willing to give it a shot. Anything that allowed me to go more than 24 hours between washes without a flaky, itchy scalp! 

I started doing a lot of research on sulfate-free shampoos and came to conclusion that trying it would be absolutely worth it. I knew it might require me to stick with it for a while--not something I'm great at--but I really wanted to give it a try. 

All my research gave me the idea that I needed to share what I've learned about sulfate-free shampoos. 

1. Sulfates are what make shampoo sudsy--and they do not cause cancer. 

For the last few years, I've been seeing this scary meme floating around Facebook (especially in my mom groups) that sulfates in shampoo cause cancer. That's categorically false.

Sulfates are simply an ingredient in shampoo that makes it sudsy; they also are a type of surfacant, which means they attract oil and water to themselves. This allows oil and debris to be removed from your scalp--but it can also strip natural oils from your hair too, making it dry and brittle. If you struggle with a dry scalp or dry hair, you may be particularly sensitive to sulfates--and so switching to sulfate-free shampoo would be a good things to try. 

2. Sulfate-free shampoo makes hair color last longer. 

If you dye your hair, and notice that your color is fading quite quickly, switching to sulfate-free shampoo can make a major difference. I primarily used eSalon's shampoo for a long time--but as I started struggling with my dry scalp, I had to switch to harsher shampoos that I felt stripped my color. Since I've switched to the Kristen Ess sulfate-free shampoo, I've definitely noticed that my color is not fading nearly as fast. 

3. Going sulfate-free is most beneficial for certain hair types. 

There are some who will benefit from going sulfate-free and some who won't. If you have relatively easy hair, and a scalp that never gets itchy or too oily, then sulfates are the easiest way to clean your hair. Going sulfate-free means you spend a little bit more time manually cleaning your scalp. 

Those with dry and/or frizzy hair can benefit from sulfate-free shampoos, especially those that use coconut extracts instead of sulfates. As well, anyone who struggles with eczema or other skin conditions might benefit from going sulfate-free too, as it can help alleviate dry skin and itchiness. 

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I'm two weeks into using Kristen Ess's The One Signature Shampoo; I'll update this blog post when I know exactly how it has helped my scalp. I've definitely seen a reduction in flakiness and I've been much less itchy since I started using it, but I want to give myself a little bit more time! 

Do you use sulfate-free shampoo? What's your favorite kind? Have you seen it help your scalp or hair? 

Beauty Review: My 3 Favorite Pacifica Items

I often get messages from my friends asking me the best drugstore products. Not everyone has the money to go to Sephora or even Ulta and splurge on the best skincare out there. For most people, that's not just out of their budget, but it's more time than they have to spend. Most of the people I know are working long hours, volunteering, taking care of kids or houses or both... they don't really have time to research skincare products, order from indie websites, or drive somewhere other than their usual grocery store. 

My recommendations are usually based on what I myself use... and one of my favorite brands out there right now is Pacifica. I've been seeing them at Target for a long time, but it wasn't until about 6 months ago that I started  buying from Pacifica. 

Here's why I love them: they are cruelty-free; they are affordable; and they have tons of options. Oh and their packaging is super cute. I thought I'd share my top 3 favorite items from Pacifica. All of these products are available at your local Target or Whole Foods. 

1. Kale Luxe Oil-Free Multi Cream

I recently ran out of this moisturizer and it was a really rough day! A tube lasted me about 3 months, which is pretty cost effective. (I'm using a sample tube of this Pacifica moisturizer right now; I'll write more once I know how my skin reacts to it!) I love this moisturizer because it's perfectly light and doesn't leave me feeling grimy afterwards (which is usually my issue with moisturizers). It also smells like kale, which makes me feel like it really does have a lot of kale in it! The smell is a little difficult to get over at first, but after a while I started to associate it with my evening routine. 

2. Sea Foam Complete Face Wash

I am a dedicated fan of the Body Shop's Tea Tree face wash; however, recently on vacation I forgot my travel size bottle of it and I bought this face wash at Target in a pinch. And honestly, I might have to make the switch or start using it half-time. Because I really love it! It smells like coconut and sea salt, it foams up so nice, and it leaves my skin feeling super soft. If you're acne prone and looking for a face wash that leaves you feeling refreshed and not at all dry, this is the perfect one. 

3. Rose + Tea Aromapower Mineral Bath Salts

As a bubble bath fiend, I've been trying to reduce my use of bath bombs; as much as I like them, they stain my tub! A friend got me these bath salts to try and honestly, I may never go back. The scent is super light, yet very girly and refreshing, without staining my tub or leaving me feeling like I was coated in glitter. These are the perfect relaxing treat at the end of the day! 

4 Essential Items for Spring Travel

It's Spring Break! At least for my husband, Danny. We always look forward to spring break because we spend it either visiting his parents or relaxing. This year, his parents are coming to us. 

I try not to turn trips into excuses to buy a whole bunch of new stuff. But there is something very exciting about treating yourself to a few little things for your trip, whether it's just a new makeup bag or an outfit. I put together a list of 4 great essential items to treat yourself to this year. Whether you're leaving tomorrow or in a few weeks, these will be perfect to take along. 

1. Wet'n'Wild 10-Pan Palette in "Nude Awakening", $4.99

I know what you're thinking: a $5 Wet'n'Wild eyeshadow palette? Listen, I thought the same thing when I first bought one of these palettes (they have them in 4 different color stories). But these shadows are really, really good. The Rose in the Air one is a dupe for Modern Renaissance. This palette is perfect for every kind of look: simple day looks, single shadow looks, and smoky, dramatic night looks. And for only $5, it's a total steal. 

2. ASOS Mix'n'Match Star Print Dress, $23

This dress is so cute: long enough without being fussy. And no weird cut outs. (Trust me, I checked.) I love the mix of star prints, as well as the shape; with the nipped in waist, it flatters every body type, but isn't so cinched that you'll be uncomfortable. 

3. Unique Vintage Hello Sunshine Sun Hat, $32

A sun hat, especially if you're traveling somewhere very warm, is an absolute must. Protecting your skin will keep you looking flawless. (So don't forget SPF either and if you tan, you're still damaging your skin!) I love this one from Unique Vintage; it's almost like it was made for cute Instagram photos. While it's a little spendy for $32, it's very sturdy and will hold up to just about everything. 

4. ModCloth Swan for the Books Make Up Bag, $14.99

Going on a trip means you need a new makeup bag, right? This one from ModCloth is so cute--and sturdy. I love the swan print; it's cute without being "too much." It's the perfect size for carrying everything you need for a short trip. Plus, it's on sale right now! 

Beauty Review: My March Ipsy Bag

Last month's Ipsy bag was such a winner, I knew it was going to be hard to follow up. And true to form, I found myself a little disappointed (as Danny said, dis-ipsy-pointed) this month. It's not a bad bag, though! (To read my past Ipsy reviews, click here.) 

1. Doucce Freematic eyeshadow mono in Lola, $10

If you watch my Instagram story, you saw my surprise when I popped these eyeshadow out of the little pouch and... it's just a pan. These is nothing to hold it in! I personally do not like buying eyeshadow singles for this exact reason, so I'm of the opinion that if I get sent a sample of an eyeshadow... it should come in some kind of component that makes it easier for me to store! Thankfully, I've been considering de-panning my Power of Beauty palette (the TooFaced/Nikkietutorials one), so I'm buying a magnetic palette anyway. 

This eyeshadow is really smooth and the design is very cute. The color I received is a mauvey pink, kind of cool toned. I'm not really a pink eyeshadow person; it makes me look a little like I have pink eye. But this is a really pretty, shimmery shade. 

2. Royal + Langnickel Prismatic Ombre Fan Brush, estimated $6 value

I've been wanting to get a fan brush for so long, but I haven't been willing to spend money on one (the story of my life), so I was really excited to see this in my bag this month. It helps that it's a super pretty brush anyway; prismatic, metallic, and rainbow colored! I'm really happy with how it applies highlight too; I'm a little "over" highlight and I think a fan brush applies a much lighter layer than a brush that "packs it on," so to speak. 

Note on estimated value: I could only find this brush in a set that came with a small bag and 2 other brushes. It cost $20, so I estimated that a single fan brush is valued at approximately $6. 

3. Dirty Little Secret Cosmetics Baked Highlighter in Bellini, $14

This is the second baked highlighter I've received in 2 months--and funny enough, it's in the exact same component as the highlighter I received last month. Exact same component, exact same shape of highlighter, really close in color. This one is a more peachy pink tone than lavender and while it's quite pretty, I'm kind of at my limit for highlighters (I have so many at this point). However, it's really gorgeous and not like any other highlighter I own, so I can't really complain! 

4. Tarte Cosmetics Sex Kitten Eyeliner, estimated $10 value

So, I received a pencil eyeliner in my January bag and I expressed my dismay then that I find pencil liners very dated. (No offense if you love pencil eyeliner, but my gosh, 2004 called, they want their tightlining back.) I even told this to Ipsy. And yet they sent me another one. Which I won't use. I put this right in my "donate" bin, unfortunately. 

Note on estimated value: this sample eyeliner is half the size of the full size (and only has one tip). Therefore, I estimated it is worth about half the original price. 

5. Goldfaden MD Facial Detox Mask, estimated $26 value

This mask... truly, it's the best part of this bag! I love it. It felt so good when I put it on and smelled like eucalyptus and tea tree oil, which is one of my favorite smells. I was in heaven! When I rinsed it, my skin felt so soft and smooth--even the next morning, after a night of jojoba oil, my skin felt much smoother than usual. It was a nice treat. However, a full size of this mask costs $65! That's a lot of money to spend on one single thing, but you know, it might be worth it. 

Note on estimated value: the full size Facial Detox Mask costs $65 for 50 ml; the sample I received is 20 ml, so the full size is 2.5 times it's size. I used the $65 to estimated that this sample tube would be worth about $26. 

Final thoughts

The total value of this bag is $66, which isn't bad. The bag itself came with markers to color, which is very fun. However, I know from experience that even permanent markers run on fabric unless you soak it in vinegar after coloring--and no way am I dunking this bag in vinegar! I colored a few bits of the bag, but not much... I don't want to risk it getting wet and ending up with pink and lime green everywhere!

This bag was a bit of a disappointment; there was one miss (the eyeliner) and just a little bit of fatigue regarding the eyeshadow and highlighter. But one of the things i love about ipsy is that it helps me build up my collection of brushes, and try products that I would never before. It's not enough of a dud to make me cancel. If you'd like to try ipsy, click here to use my affiliate code; I do receive a small points kickback for you signing up! 

6 Months Later: An Update on Quitting Dairy

It's been 6 months since I wrote my post about quitting dairy. It feels like a long time ago, but yep, only 6 months. 

Even though I wanted to be completely dairy free by now, I'm still not. My biggest struggle has been replacing butter; I don't like butter substitutes because while butter isn't the healthiest substance in the world, it's void of hydrogenated oils, which are actually worse for you than trans fat. As well, coconut oil, the preferred vegan cooking replacement, is hydrogenated and actually 82% saturated fat; one tablespoon is 11 grams of saturated fat, and the limit suggested by the American Heart Association is 12g of saturated fat per day. (To read more about how fitness blogs and fake health experts have mislead most of the public about coconut oil, click here.)

The other preferred substitute are basically margarine, most of which contain soy. One brand makes a soy-free version that I would describe as being like eating solid oil. It's not good. 

I've started using olive oil again in cooking (ugh, the most expensive mistress!) and most of the week I use avocado or peanut butter on my toast. But every Sunday, I treat myself to buttered toast (my favorite food in the entire world). 

I haven't had milk in my coffee, not even from Starbucks or Dutch Bros, since around October. That's been a big one for me; I love a creamy Starbucks frappucino and i really worried that the almond milk version wouldn't be as good. But gosh, I was wrong. (Also, Starbucks had a toasted toffee almond milk hot chocolate at Christmas that was truly heavenly.) 

The big question I get is, has quitting dairy helped my skin at all? As I wrote in my blog post on my acne journey, I saw a lot of good results with jojoba oil. (I have noticed a lot of texture on my face recently from my super simplified skin routine, so I've added an extra exfoliation during the week; just something to remember if you want to try jojoba oil!) I still get a little bit of acne related to my cycle, but nothing like I used to experience. 

I've also noticed that if I eat something with dairy (like cheese or a lot of sour cream), I tend to break out almost immediately. Like, within hours. Obviously, this is only anecdotal, but it has definitely scared me from "treating myself." (A few times, I've run out of almond milk and had to use Forrest's 2% milk in my coffee; I regretted it every time!) 

It gets easier to go without dairy as time goes on. I don't miss cheese and milk as much as I thought I would; finding replacements for things (like sour cream) has been pretty exciting. I do occasionally still have a yogurt, as I find it doesn't aggravate my skin as bad as other dairy products.

I'm really happy with my decision to quit dairy. I'm going to give it a full year before I decide if it's something I want to do for the rest of my life, or just try to limit for the time being. 

Beauty Review: My February Ipsy Bag

Another month, another Ipsy bag! I'm quite excited about this one. If you remember, last month's bag was a bit of a let down... so this month needed to be big or I was going to be over it. 

Well, Ipsy seems to know when they are starting to make me mad and this bag was truly my favorite in a long time! Don't forget to read my past Ipsy reviews to get an idea of how I review these and determine the value of each item. 

Let's jump into what I received!

1. F.A.R.A.H Angled Contour Brush 30F, $13

F.A.R.A.H actually sells these brushes in a variety of colors, but I received "Your Majesty" (purple). These are vegan brushes, which us always a plus, and quite soft for synthetic bristles. This brush is designed specifically for contour, bronzer, and blush. I am a little bit of a brush fanatic and I already have a preferred brush for my blush and contour. However, I do like this one for blush just a little bit more, although I find that the bristles are almost a little too soft. It's not a huge flaw, however, and it's nice to have a second option when it comes to blending blush! 

2. Ofra Cosmetics Liquid Lipstick in Ipsy Unzipped, $20

This is a dark pink color--not mauve-y, for once! When I first saw I was receiving it, I was a little frustrated because I have a ton of mauve-y pinks. However, this one definitely falls more into the "berry" family--making it ideal since I don't have a ton of light berry shades! I've never used Ofra before so I was really excited to try this liquid lip. I found the formula quite soft and comfortable, and very matte without being dry. However, I did find that it transferred and faded a lot, very quickly. Not a huge downside because it's such a pretty color and so comfortable, but something to be aware of! 

3. Estate Cosmetics Dew Me Baked Highlighter in Afterglow, $10

Estate Cosmetics is a brand known for making highlighters in unique, pretty shades. This one, Afterglow, is a iridescent lavender color; it's very pigmented, without being like a blush, and gives a nice highlight. Just be sure to go easy; when I first applied it, I realized I went a little too hard and looked a little like an Easter egg until I did some blending! The formula is very smooth and easy to use and the packaging is so cute. Millennial pink, baby! 

4. Biobelle Perfecting Primer Facial Mask, $9.98

I love getting face masks in my Ipsy bags! Seriously, if I get a mask, it's a good bag. These ones from Biobelle feature masks made of botanic fibers, which means they biodegrade (really cool!) These masks promise to boost texture, minimize pores, and even skin tone, making them ideal for wearing before you put on your make up. They contain tea tree oil, rosehips extract, vitamin C, and niacinamide, ingredients that are known to be good for the skin. However, I don't know about you, but I rarely have time to wear a mask for 10-15 minutes before I put on my make up! Not with a toddler, that's for sure. I wore these at night and definitely felt like my skin felt amazing afterwards. At $4.99 a piece, for valuation, I just doubled it--since I received 2! That means, this weekend, I'll be able to test this out before I put on my makeup. 

5. IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye in Light, $24

I literally just bought Shape Tape, so at first I was a little disappointed to receive a concealer in my bag. However, this concealer really blew me away. In terms of coverage, it covers everything. Seriously, everything. It is extremely thick and sticky, making it ideal for not just undereyes, but blemishes and more. And even though it's $24 for a tube that is barely bigger than a lipstick, a little goes a long way. I used a half-pea-sized amount on my entire face basically! I will say: the shade range is extremely disappointing with only 6 shades and only 2 of those shades being appropriate for people of color. I do my best to amplify brands that are diverse in terms of their offerings; it sucks that IT Cosmetics makes such an amazing product that most of the population simply can't use. 

Final Thoughts

Overall, this bag is valued at $76.98. That's pretty good for a bag that I love everything in (despite my disappointment in the late of IT Cosmetics shade range). Considering I did not love my bag last month, this felt like a nice breath of fresh air and I am really happy with everything I received. If you'd like to try out Ipsy, click here to use my referral link.