InTruBeauty

August PopSugar Must Have Box!

2017-08-16T14:38:00.002-07:00

POPSUGAR sent me this Must Have Box to try. #MustHaveBox

Happy Birthday to PopSugar Must Have! This is their 5th year of doing their amazing Must Have boxes! To celebrate they are doing five weeks of giveaways. To be entered, just sign up before the end of August for a chance to win! More details will be provided below.

Use code PARTY (expires 8/31) to get $10 off your FIRST Must Have Box! Sign up here

What is PopSugar Must Have?
Each month, you will receive a box valued at over $100 for just $39.95 per month. If you sign up for a six month subscription, you can save up to $25!

Weekly Giveaway Details
All current Must Have subscribers are eligible for a chance to win! If your fanbase is not already signed up, they can simply sign up before the end of August for a chance to automatically win a *major* surprise each week from following brands:
Week 1: Limited # of lucky subscribers will win something from Pehr Designs
Week 2: Limited # of lucky subscribers will win something from First Aid Beauty
Week 3: Limited # of lucky subscribers will win something from Kendra Scott
Week 4: Limited # of lucky subscribers subscribers will win something from Tarte cosmetics
Week 5 (8/31): 5 Grand Prize! Limited # of subscribers something from Cambridge Satchel Co + 1 year Must Have

Final thoughts:
I love the fun theme this month to celebrate PopSugar's 5th birthday. All the items go together so beautifully and I feel like I'll get a lot of use out of the items and well the delicious cookies are already gone! The June and August boxes that I received have been a couple of my favorites and I feel like PopSugar has just been coming out with some excellent boxes. Don't forget to use the code PARTY to get $10 off your first box and if you subscribe before the end of August, you can win one of their weekly giveaways from some fantastic brands!

Did you get this box? Comment below on your favorite item, I'd love to hear from you!

Jessica

PopSugar June 2017 Must Have Box

2017-07-09T19:27:00.000-07:00

This box was sent to me by PopSugar. All opinions are my own. #MustHaveBox

This month includes a Billabong Trucker Hat, Captain Blakenship Mermaid Sea Salt Hair Spray, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Aloha Collection Pouch, NCLA So Rich Mermaid Tears, Belgian Boys Mini Cookies, Meri Meri Party straws and a Starbucks Frappuccino! Use code SHOP5 to get $5 off your first box HERE.

Use code SHOP5 to get $5 off your first box HERE.

I was super impressed with how carefully this was packaged! I love that PopSugar makes sure all your items arrive to you in such great shape with such attention to detail!

Use code SHOP5 to get $5 off your first box HERE.

My beachy waves with Captain Blakenship's Mermaid Sea Salt Spray

My thoughts:

For the month of June, PopSugar really outdid themselves! I love the beachy mermaid theme of this box! I already got a ton of use out of the Aloha pouch on a rainy day and some poolside days! I also wore the hat for the 4th of July and loved it! The Starbucks Frappucinos are some of my favorites so that did not last long at all! I love that when PopSugar includes treats like the Belgian Boys Mini Cookie Stash that they tend to be a little healthier treats with cleaner ingredients. I definitely won't feel bad eating these! I also love that they included a book. I can't wait to sit by the pool, relax with my new Billabong Aloha hat, beachy waves created with Captain Blakenship's Sea Salt Spray while munching on my cookies and drinking my Starbucks Frappucino from a Meri Meri straw! How perfect does that sound?!

Use code SHOP5 to get $5 off your first box HERE.

Jessica

Strengthen Hair with Suave's Biotin Infusion Line

2016-10-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® & Suave Professionals but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #SuaveBeliever #pmgSuave http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Strengthen Hair with Suave's Biotin Infusion Line

For more information on these products, click here.

My struggle with breakage:
I've always had a kind of love/hate relationship with my hair. Growing up, I was always told by others that I was so lucky to have curls, but I never really saw it that way. It was an annoyance to put the extra time and money into my hair and still not feel like I was getting the results that I wanted. I was always jealous of those with perfect straight hair. So back then, I decided to try a product that promised to give me that dream straight hair and then wash out in 7 washes. I figured what the heck, might as well try it, what's to lose?

Well, I didn't quite get the hair of my dreams. Instead, my curls were limp, dry and lifeless. I also noticed I started to have quite a lot of breakage and split ends. My split ends even had split ends and those split ends had baby split ends. It just seemed never ending. I spent a lot of time and money just trying to get my hair back to normal. I thought back to the days where I took my curls for granted and just longed to have my springy, bouncy, full head of curls back even if they could be unruly and frizzy at times

Thus started my quest for anything and everything that could help. Years, later I saw some thin patches fill in, some shine, bounce and health return to my hair. However, my hair still is not the same as it once was. This is why whenever I see a product that not only claims to help strengthen hair, reduce breakage and is salon proven, I'm all in. I was even more excited to learn that Suave, a trusted and affordable brand, has a line that can help me! Plus, these are conveniently located at Walmart! Since I know that you probably want great hair at a great value too, keep reading to learn more about the products!

Biotin benefits

B7 Biotin is a vitamin known for superior hair strengthening benefits
This luxurious range reduces breakage by 95% for dramatically less hair fall vs. non-conditioning shampoo.

How does Suave compare?

Many of Suave’s collections are "WAWA", meaning salon proven to “work as well as luxury brands.
The Biotin Infusion line is proven to strengthen as well as Pureology® Strength Cure®.
Retails for $4.98!

Suave Biotin Infusion Shampoo and Biotin Infusion Conditioner

System reduces breakage by 95% vs. non-conditioning shampoo for dramatically less hair fall and full, thick looking hair

Suave Biotin Infusion Anti-Breakage Serum

makes hair is 20x stronger vs. non-conditioning shampoo

I've been using the biotin shampoo, biotin conditioner and serum for about five days now, so I can't yet fully speak to how this has helped with breakage. However, I have noticed my hair to be really soft, full and manageable. I feel like my ends look really healthy right now despite being long overdue for a haircut! I also seem to have less hairfall when I'm brushing or conditioning my hair. I love the scent of these products and the anti-breakage serum adds a nice sheen to my hair. I'm really looking forward to using these in the upcoming months to add some much needed strength to my locks! This whole ordeal overall taught me to appreciate what I have and embrace my curls!

I especially love that anyone can get great hair for a great value. Suave Beauty's newest additions to their Gold line Collection has something to meet everyone's hair and budget needs. Visit your local Walmart to try out all of the new 2016 Suave Professionals collections: Coconut Oil Infusion, Coconut Milk Infusion and Biotin Infusion, while supplies last.

Jessica

POPSUGAR Must Have Box September 2016

2016-09-30T11:27:00.003-07:00

POPSUGAR sent me this Must Have Box to try. #MustHaveBox

POPSUGAR Must Have Box is a subscription service that delivers an assortment of goodies to your door monthly. I really look forward to this box because the products inside aren't just from one category like beauty or fashion. I really like getting an assortment that includes household items, beauty, fashion and food. With other subscription boxes that I've had in the past, they tended to be just beauty items and I ended up with a ton of unused samples laying around. POPSUGAR Must Have is a more practical and exciting box for me since I know I can get more use out of the items and I'm always looking forward to see what surprises are in store for me each month.

Each month, you will receive a box valued at over $100 for just $39.95 per month. If you sign up for a six month subscription, you can save up to $25!

For more information, click here: http://bit.ly/2c2oEi1

This month's box contained the following:

Jack & Lucy Bicoastal Wide Brim Hat
NCLA MANI-ER Tool Kit
Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask
FLINT™ Lint Roller
Smith & Cult Lip Lacquer in The Warning
The Gluten Free Bites Dark Chocolate Coconut Bites

— Over a $145 value!

I think my favorite item this month was the Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask. I liked it so much that it's living in my shower and I forgot to include it in the above photo. Sorry! After just one use my hair felt so silky and soft and was really manageable. I really look forward to getting more use out it!

Want to try out PopSugar Must Have for yourself?

Enter code SHOP5 to get $5 off your first box. Better yet, this code never expires!

Beauty Blog Coalition $500 Fall Giveaway!

2016-09-09T11:21:00.000-07:00

With Fall quickly on its way, I’ve teamed up with some amazing bloggers for a $500 Fall Giveaway.

There will be two winners!
The first prize is a $500 gift card to either Target or Sephora (your choice)
The second prize is a $250 gift card to either Target or Sephora (your choice)

To win, simply enter the giveaway in the widget below. There are 150 chances to win total!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Recent Drugstore Picks

2016-08-23T10:32:00.003-07:00

Maybelline Fit Me Dewy + Smoth in 115, $5
I've been on an exhaustive hunt for the pefect natural looking foundation. Ideally, I'm looking for full to medium coverage that covers my redness, evens my skintone and looks very natural. I would say this foundation is light to medium coverage. It can be built up. There are a wide range of shades available and I found 115 to have the pefect pinky undertone that I needed. I find this foundation to be very creamy and very easy to apply and blend out. I also like the slighly dewy appearance on my skin. For $5 I am incredibly impressed with this foundation and it's been my go to favorite lately. The only complaint I would have about this is that it doesn't quite dry down or set completely and so if you touch your hands to your face during the day, some product will come off. This foundation lasts throughout a work day for me but doesn't have all day staying power.

e.l.f. Studio Illuminating Palette, $6
The last thing I needed was more highlighters, but I just couldn't help myself when I saw this. I've been wearing less and less sparkly highlight type products as I find that as I get older, they are not as flattering as they once were. However, the shades in this palette really spoke to me and they are very subtle when applied. The only complaint I would have is that a couple of the shades are similar to each other when swatched, however, at this price point it didn't really bother me especially for a highlight type of product.

L'oreal Infallible Pro-Matte, $13
I kept hearing about how great this line of foundation was and lately I've been on the hunt for the pefect foundation. Unfortunately, this was not it! I purchased this in 103 which was too dark and too yellow for me. I may try a shade lighter to see if I like it, although I wasn't wowed by the formula. I thought this looked just fine on my skin and I did like the semi matte finish. However, since my Maybelline Fit has worked out so well and is only $5, I will probably stick with that one as far as drugstore foundation goes.

Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Liquid Eye Chrome in Beige Shadow, $10
I love Maybelline's Color Tattoo's that come in the glass pots so I was excited to see this product in a different format. The colors looked really pretty as well. However, this was an epic fail on me. In the bottle, this shade appeared a little more pink to me but applied more brown. I could not get this to apply evenly or with much pigment. I tried to wear this shade alone and it applied sheer and patchy. I also noticed this creased almost immediately. I was so frustrated with it that I haven't tried it again, but maybe it would be okay on the center of the little to add a little shimmer to an existing shadow. The product promises: "Heavy metal hues saturate your lids in liquid chrome shine for up to 24 hours. Metallic intensity and high tenacity color." I did not find these claims to be remotely true. Definitely a drugstore purchase regret.
Note: I have read a review where some colors seem to perform better than others, so maybe I
would've had more luck with a different shade.

What are your recent drugstore favorites? Comment and let me know, I'd love to hear from you!

POPSUGAR July Must Have Box

2016-08-16T10:19:00.002-07:00

POPSUGAR sent me this Must Have Box to try. #Sponsored #MustHaveBox

It's so much fun to get monthly subscription boxes in the mail, however, you can also find yourself overwhelmed with samples that may not be the best fit for you. I use to subscribe to multiple beauty boxes but found I just had too many unused products laying around. That is one of the reasons I like PopSugar's Must Have Box. I find them to have a really great variety of items from fashion items to beauty to household. Check out what I got in my July Must Have Box! This retails for $39.95/month, or save $10 to $25 by purchasing the 3 or 6 month plan.

Find more information here: http://bit.ly/2a5VA3Z

Inspired by our favorite emoji and summery, retro vibes, this playful box is a splendid companion for your days by the water.

About this box:

Saccharin Hair in the Sun
House of Pom Emoji Cocktail Napkins
Michael Stars Porcelain Skinny Scarf
Pintrill Pineapple Pin
Sunnylife® Inflatable Swan Drink Holder
European Wax Center® Oh My Brow!™ Brow Highlighter in Pearl
Joe Chips Classic Sea Salt Retro Potato Chips

Have you tried the POPSUGAR Must Have Box? What are your thoughts? Comment below, I'd love to hear from you! If you aren't subscribed yet or want more information, click here.

June POPSUGAR Must Have Box

2016-07-01T15:52:00.005-07:00

POPSUGAR sent me this Must Have Box to try. #Sponsored #MustHaveBox

Let me just say, I love getting awesome packages in the mail! The one thing I love the most about subscription boxes is having something to look forward to opening when I get home. The one thing I love about POPSUGAR Must Have Box is that it provides a variety of items and it's not just the same ole same ole thing. I love that I get to test out a variety of items that I may not have otherwise known about or gotten in a different subscription box. I'm really loving the variety for June's month. This was definitely a treat to come home to! This box costs $39 and the box for June alone retailed for over $119 so it really is a great deal!

Click here for more information: http://bit.ly/1WNOO91

This box contains:

Hat Attack Neutral Diamonds-Printed Sarong
Sisters of Los Angeles "Cheers" Gold Bottle Opener
Wild and Wolf Ridley's Games Room "Who Am I?" Quiz
NCLA Born on the 4th Nail Lacquer
Knock Knock Are You Ready (For Your Close-Up?) Compact
Pacifica Underarm Deodorant Wipes
Pressels Sriracha

How cute are these?!

What do you think of the POPSUGAR Must Have Box for June? Are you subscribed?

Memorial Day Weekend Essentials

2016-05-04T10:46:00.001-07:00

1. For skin that’s fresh and luminous in all your weekend photos, cleanse your face with Biore Baking Soda Pore Cleanser for a deep clean and gentle exfoliation. This daily liquid cleanser gives you a deep exfoliating clean without being rough on dry spots. Ideal for combination skin, the oil-free formula contains cleansing ingredients that excavate grime and oil from pores so you end up with skin that’s fresh, silky-soft and luminous. ($7.99, Drugstores and Mass Retailers)

2. Keep skin protected all day long with Lavanila Laboratories The Healthy Sunscreen for Face SPF 40. This SPF uses a new generation of mineral sunscreens for broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection. Our 100% Natural SPF 40 Face Cream uses a new generation of mineral sunscreens for broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection. Infused with youth-promoting antioxidants, botanicals and amino acids, this ultra sheer formula delivers daily protection and nourishment. ($28; Lavanila.com)

3. Soothe itchy, irritated skin when your outdoors in an instant with Curél Itch Defense Instant Soothing Moisturizing Spray! Uniquely soothing, this formula delivers a mix of light yet potent hydrators — including a proprietary ceramide complex, allantoin and panthenol — to ease parched, itchy skin right where you need it. The Proprietary Cooling Complex feels soothing like a cold compress, lending you instant relief. ($8.99; Drug and mass merchants)

4. Ban Roll-On Deodorant covers up embarrassing sweat all day while you’re in the sun! Ban’s breakthrough technology specifically targets and virtually eliminates odor that other antiperspirant/deodorants may leave behind, providing an outstanding 24 hours of invisible protection against odor wetness! ($4.99, Drug and Mass Retailers)

5. Make sure you have smooth, sandal ready feet with Look Beauty! PediSpa by Look Beauty Gentle Exfoliating Foot Mask is your non-traditional masque that contains a foot exfoliate plus treatment filled in a pair of wearable socks. Key ingredients like chamomile and natural botanical fruit extracts help control callus build-up for visibly smooth feet within two weeks. ($9.99 for one complete pair; Exclusively at Target Stores in the Foot Care Aisle and Target.com)

6. After all your fun in the sun, be sure to keep KORRES Greek Yoghurt After-Sun Cooling Gel close by! This is an ultra-cooling cream-gel that provides long-lasting freshness and comfort to the face and body. Ideal for after sun exposure, yogurt hydrates the skin, instantly relieving excessive heat and stinging. ($26; Sephora.com)

March Beauty Favorites

2016-04-06T16:14:00.001-07:00

I was just looking at my last post which was my lust list for Ulta's 21 days of beauty and I realized I ended up purchasing about half of the items on that list! Whoops! :) There have just been so many great products out lately that it's been hard to resist. Here is a list of my March Beauty Favorites!

NYX Avante Pop is a versatile palette that has a good mix of shimmery and matte shades. I've been keeping this on the bathroom counter and have used it several times each week. I'm loving that you can get such a great palette at a drugstore price!

it Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores was from a set I ordered from a QVC Today's Special Value. I knew I shouldn't have clicked over when I saw it Cosmetcis was on QVC, but I ended up being glad that I did. In this set came a Bye Bye Pores powder, blush, powder brush, concealer and makeup remover. I've really fallen in love with everything but the concealer so far. But hopefully I like it more as I get more use out of it.

Too Faced Peanut Butter and Jelly Palette is everything! I was so excited for this palette to come out that I just had to snatch it up. I love these palettes that come in the tins and I feel they are a good value for what you get. It's so much easier to buy something in the $30 range and justify it than in the $50+ range. I'm absolutely loving this palette and the different looks I can get with it. My life truly felt complete once I had this in my hands!

tarte Double Duty Eye & Cheek Palette just had me at first sight. This retails for only $28 and comes in sturdy perfect travel packaging. I love all the colors in this and I've been getting lots of use out of it. Also, the packing is super cute so of course I had to get it! :)

bite beauty Amuse Bouche lipstick in Sweet Cream is a muted peach shade that I know I will get a lot of use out of. I was a huge fan of bite's last lipstick formula so I was a little disappointed to see it replaced. This formula doesn't seem as creamy but is suppose to be longer lasting.

Benefit Cosmetics Dandelion Dew Baby-Pink Liquid Blush was a must have for me. The Dandelion boxed powder is one of my all time favorite boxed powders by Benefit. When I swatched this on my hand at Sephora, I knew I was a goner! I've definitely been reaching for more subtle natural looking products lately and this definitely hit the spot! This is a nice sweet baby pink that is really easy to apply and blend.

NYX Cosmetics Ombre Blush in Mavue Me is a gorgeous color. I wish the ombre effect was a little more gradual however. It basically appears as if there are two shades in this and not a gradual effect. I did have a little trouble blending this out but given that I've fallen in love with the shade, I'm definitely going to give it some more tries!

So how about you? What are some of your recent beauty loves? Sephora's VIB sale is coming up soon in April so I'm looking forward to picking up a few more items!

Ulta 21 Days of Beauty Lust List

2016-03-15T09:02:00.001-07:00

I kind of have an obsession with new releases and I tend to stay on top of what's new pretty well. However, Ulta still had some surprises for me when I stopped by yesterday. It's so fun to shop at one of your favorite stores and just be surprised and delighted by all of the new products. They also have their 21 days of beauty going on so there are some great daily deals. They also have some awesome sets right now and gift with purchases. I picked up some stuff that I probably should've but I still left wanting more. Here are my top picks, including some purchases of mine and some things that will just have to remain on my lust list.

Too Faced Peanut Butter & Jelly Palette ($36). This is just perfection. When I first left the store with my new purchase in hand, I could feel that my life is now complete! I love the shade selection and of course this smells amazing!

Urban Decay Urban Essentials Eye Kit ($48). I definitely had to stop and check this one out when I saw it in store. What got me is the value of this with 3 full size eyeliners and 3 full size eye shadows for $48. I would probably only get a lot of use out of 1/2 of this since I have a lot of similar items but if you're looking to try out some Urban Decay products and don't want to cough up the money for individually priced items, this is a great place to start!

Best Of Becca Blushed Radiance ($32.50). I have a hard time ever justifying buying a full size blush or highlight (it doesn't stop me though!) so I always keep an eye out for value sets with minis. I've been wanting to try one of Becca's cream poured highlights and blushes so I may just have to pick this one up!

Benefit Dandelion Dew Liquid Blush. Dandelion is one of my favorite boxed powders from Benefit so I was so happy to see this in a liquid form. They've also come out with a Dandelion Shy Beam which I'm dying to try!

Tarte Double Duty Beauty Day/Night Eye & Cheek Palette ($28). This one got me at first sight. I was definitely not planning on going in to purchase this, but I just couldn't resist. The shades were calling my name! I love how sturdy the packaging is and I can already tell this is going to be a travel favorite of mine.

NYX Avant Pop! ($16.99). NYX is Buy 1 Get 1 50% off so I got an Ombre Blush too! Emily of Beauty Broadcast was raving about these shadow palettes so I just had to pick one up.

Honorable Mentions:

Not every new product made it to my lust list. There were a few that looked intriguing but I just couldn't quite pull the trigger. They will have to remain in my thoughts for now!

Too Faced has just come out with their La Matte Color Drenched Matte Lipstick. Although I was digging the black packaging and some of the shades, but I just didn't need another matte lippie right now.
I normally hate double ended lip products. I'm not much of a gloss person so I'd just end up paying for half of a product that I won't use. However, tarte's new Double Duty Beauty The Lip Sculptor Double Ended Lipstick & Gloss have some gorgeous looking lipstick shades so it may be worth the splurge just this one time :) I would also love to test out tarte's Double Duty Beauty Empowered Hybrid Gel Foundation. Just playing with shades and swatching them in store made a big mess. I did like the feel of the product however!
Also, big news, Buxom has also now come to Ulta!!

Be sure to check online or your flyer for gift with purchase details. There are a ton going on right now and Ulta employees aren't always great about remembering that. When I checked out however the clerk did remember thankfully and I got a mini tarte blush and a too faced gift set with a mini mascara, blush and primer. It always makes my purchases feel a little bit more practical when I can get a "freebie" with! :)

What are you going to pick up during Ulta's 21 Days of Beauty?

Comment and let me know, I'd love to hear from you!

Daily Makeup Bag

2016-02-23T11:48:00.004-08:00

Even though I own a ton of makeup, way more than anyone should really own, I always seem to end up with some staples that I use over and over again. Right now I keep a makeup bag on my bathroom counter which contains the makeup I use the most on a daily basis. I also try to challenge myself on days where I have some extra time to "shop my stash" and use products that haven't been getting much love lately. Today however, I wanted to share with you some of those favorites that I reach for almost on the daily!

PUR HydraFluid Water Serum Foundation, $39

This foundation comes in 5 shade selections. My shade is light and it blends in perfectly with my skin. I'm anticipating that for summer, medium may be a a good shade for me. This product is described as having an encapsulated water complex which delivers Swiss Alps-sourced water to hydrate the skin for lasting radiance while providing silky, medium coverage. I do love, especially in winter, products that have some extra hydration to them. I use my Real Techniques makeup sponge to apply this to my skin and it really is an effortless application. I've truly fallen in love with the natural look of this product. The only downside is I've found I need 2-3 times more product than the directions indicate, regardless of my application method. At this price point, this makes this a pricey love for me!

elf cosmetics eyeshadow primer, $3

I can use this on it's own just to even out some discoloration on my lids when I'm short on time. I usually do use this as an eyeshadow primer though. I've found this holds up to the pricey brands and even though I own too faced and urban decay and lorac and others, this is the one I've repurchased time after time and keep in my daily makeup bag.

e.l.f. Makeup Mist & Set, $3

Before I discovered this product, I used Urban Decay's All Nighter which is still a product that I love, but I find this one from elf to work just as well and it only costs $3! I think I've purchased this about 3 or 4 times now. It has been a little harder to find in stores lately, but when I do spot it, I'm sure to pick up a spare!

Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner, $20

I have a bunch of these but currently I keep about 3 in my makeup bag that are quickly becoming short little stubs. I typically reach for a brown (Underground) or a purple (Rockstar) to soften up my eye look a bit. These pencils last a long time even when I'm using them daily. They glide on when I apply them and stay in place.

Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder, $5

This is one of the few products that I've ever hit pan on. It adds that nice finishing touch to my foundation and helps to blend and even out any areas. It also does have a matte appearance and seems to have good lasting power.

tartlette tease, $21

This mini palette contains six eyeshadows that pair just perfectly together. This is such a perfect to go palette or palette to keep easily accessible for a quick makeup look. I've used this a ton already and have always loved the looks I've gotten. You can create a quick and simple look or a more sultry smoky look. I love the colors they've included and I love the light vanilla scent this has. This palette is on par with the quality of tarte shadows and I've had no problems with creasing, staying power, pigmentation etc.

CoverGirl The Super Sizer Mascara, $7

I purchased this because my favorite beauty vlogger, Emily of Beauty Broadcast, highly recommended it. I'm including it in this list because it is in my daily makeup bag, however, it's not quite to love status. I typically am not a fan of small rubber bristle brushes, but I had high hopes for this mascara. I would say it works just okay on me. Some days, I seem to have better luck with it than others. Some mascaras in the past I haven't liked much initially and then they become a favorite, so I'm not quite ready to give up on this one yet!

What are some of your daily favorites? Comment and let me know, I'd love to hear from you!

Happy Valentine's Day from InTruBeauty

2016-02-13T22:58:00.001-08:00

I just wanted to write a quick post to wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day! When I was single it wasn't really a day I would look forward to but I tried to look at the positives and celebrate the love I did have in my life. Thankfully I'm lucky to have family and friends who would let me know they care and would make the day special for me with a card or a little gift or flowers.

This Valentine's Day I'm still thinking of all the family and friends and love that I have in my life. I'm fortunate to also be able to celebrate it with a great man. Roses, cupcakes and Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons Palette was part of the celebration this year!

There is a new gourmet cupcake shop that opened across the street from my office so I knew I'd be in trouble with the daily temptation. Of course I had to splurge for Valentine's Day though! I've also been lusting after the Bon Bons palette and it was a nice surprise to get. Of course the little heart eye shadows make it even more perfect for this "holiday". Roses of course were a more than welcome surprise as well!

So whether you have a romantic love in your life right now or not, be sure to take some time to appreciate those who are close to you and let them know you love them! Happy Valentine's Day!

Smashbox Art. Love. Color. {Review}

2016-01-16T12:36:00.002-08:00

When you're a makeup junkie like me you tend to end up with a lot of similar products. One because you just have so much stuff but two because you are drawn to the same colors and finishes over and over. This holiday season I've really tried to go out of my comfort zone a little bit and not end up with more of the same. I was drawn to the Smashbox Art. Love. Color. set after I saw Emily of Beauty Broadcast talk about it on her YouTube channel. She is one of my most trusted youtubers and so I figured I'd put it on my Christmas list and see! My sister in law ended up purchasing this for me and I'm definitely glad that she did!

I definitely was drawn to the packaging of Smashbox's holiday collection. The designs are from Yago Hortal and it definitely adds a special touch to this collection. I also like that it's different than what you'd typically expect to see from a holiday collection. Each individual palette comes in a cardboard sleeve but once you take it off it is just a classic timeless black palette. Each sleeve has a "To" and "From" on the back so if you wanted to split this into individual gifts you easily can. I also loved that each palette has its own mirror with it. These seem pretty sturdy and are definitely travel friendly.

My typical comfort zone is purples, taupes, pinks and neutrals. This set has a nice variety of colors that I really don't have a lot of in my collection. Each palette has two trios of eyeshadows and one blush. The pairings work really well for you to be able to complete a total eye look and there is a nice mixture of finishes. The shadows to me at first looked like they would be a little dry or chalky, but in application they are anything but! Application was a breeze. A $223 value, retails for $39.

Palette #1: Marzipan (light beige), Nude (soft caramel), Java (deep burnt brown), Flirt (pink beige with silver flecks), Bittersweet (deep brown with gold flecks), Dark Cocoa (dark chocolate)

Palette #2: Luster (shimmery tan), Oxidize (soft metallic copper red), Chianti (deep wine with large burgundy pearl), Nectar (soft matte peach), Cinnamon Toast (soft shimmer bronze), Roasted (reddish brown with gold flecks)

Palette#3: Babycakes (shimmery pink), Drizzle (midtone matte purple), Royal (deep matte purple), Lavender (soft purple), Orchid (shimmery purple), Ultamarine (navy with light shimmer)
3 Blushes in Flush (nude pink), Sunset (terrocatta with gold pearl), Passion (cool-toned pink)

Overall, I think this set really provides a lot of value for the price and for me it added some much needed variety to my collection. These are also perfect for traveling and the quality of the shadows is really nice! What is an unexpected beauty love of yours? Comment and let me know, I'd love to hear from you!

bareMinerals The Regal Wardrobe {Review}

2015-12-27T11:37:00.001-08:00

I have to admit that the first time I saw this in store and the first time I saw it swatched on Temptalia I thought mewh, boring! Then I spotted it again at Sephora and actually swatched it and I was an instant convert. I'm embarrassed to have thought so poorly of this set upon first glance. It has quickly become one of my favorite holiday beauty purchases so far! Basically what I love most about this is that the quality of the eyeshadows is superb, there is a nice mixture of colors and finishes, the face products are flattering and easy to use and it is incredibly travel friendly.

About: Instantly elevate your wardrobe with this ethereally elegant palette, featuring an expertly coordinated assortment of eye and cheek colors. Choose one of the two included looks, or mix and match for year-round glamour.

Regal (velvet plum), Treasure Hunt (shimmering taupe), Natural (light buttery peach), Cognac (gilded bronze), Namaste (sandy brown), 500 Thread Count (airy pink), Romp (iridescent lilac), and Flash (matte purple clay)

The Skinny Dip (light tan), The Love Letter (warm mauve), and The Summer Fling (creamy peach), bareMinerals READY Luminizer The Brilliant Sunset (array of light)

What was your unexpected favorite this holiday season? Comment and let me know, I'd love to hear form you!

Tarte Cosmetics Greatest Glitz

2015-12-20T10:30:00.000-08:00

I am in disbelief that the holidays are almost upon us and if you're a last minute shopper like me, you've still got plenty of people left on your list to buy for. I love gift ideas that in my opinion if you gave it to someone, they couldn't help but love it! For me that's exactly what Tarte's Greatest Glitz is. If you've got a woman on your list who loves makeup and loves glitz, then this is for sure a winner!

Press Sample

One of my favorite things about this set is the reusable gift box that it comes in. This is a good sized box to use for something like jewelry or to keep your favorite makeup items handy. Personally I love all things girly and so of course I loved the lid with all the sequins on it. Housed inside is three makeup palettes. Each contains 8 eyeshadows and one blush. The product sizes are more than adequate and I love how handy these are for traveling. Another great feature is a huge mirror on the inside once opened. This would be the perfect box to have on your vanity to help while you're getting ready in the morning.

Product Description:

Fall in love with 3 removable eye and cheek palettes in neutral, rose gold and smokey eye pairings to seamlessly sweep, blend and define anywhere, from workday to soiree. Finish with Tarte's best-selling mascara and a "flashy" new shade of the supremely silky LipSurgence Lip Crème, and you'll be flashing a smile all through the holidaze.

Dermatologist tested. Formulated without parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate, triclosan, synthetic fragrances and gluten.

Retails $49, Ulta.com

Another great feature is the pull out drawer in the gift box. Inside it is a mini lipsurgence and lights, camera, lashes mascara. This is one of my all time favorite mascaras so I'm always happy to see it included in sets. The lipsurgence flasy is a really wearable warm pink as well. The gift box and palettes alone are well worth the price tag in my opinion so I really see these as two awesome little extras!

Note: this drawer does pull out fully, it can just be a little more difficult to pull out while the plastic insert is inside.

Palette 1 Shades:

Toasted Marshmallow Shadow (matte)
Vixen Shadow (shimmer)
Chestnuts Roasting Shadow (matte)
Spiked Cider Shadow (shimmer)
Cookie Swap Shadow (matte)
Twinkle Lights Shadow (shimmer)
Vio-Let It Go Shadow (shimmer)
Dipped in Chocolate Shadow (matte)
Warmhearted Blush (matte watermelon)

Palette 2 Shades

Joy To The Pearl Shadow (shimmer)
Glitzy Blitzen Shadow (shimmer)
Waltz Of The Flowers Shadow (shimmer)
Rose Such A Clatter Shadow (matte)
Blush Stilettos Shadow (matte)
Sparkling Punch Shadow (shimmer)
Rose Golden Rings Shadow (shimmer)
Evening Affair Shadow (matte)
Impress Blush (matte peachy pink)

Palette 3 Shades

Cheers Shadow (matte)
Slate Bells Ring Shadow (shimmer)
Mint Sprig Shadow (shimmer)
Smoke & Mirrors Shadow (matte)
Jingle All The Grey Shadow (matte)
Platinum Bling Shadow (shimmer)
Bedazzled Spruce Shadow (shimmer)
Black Tie Beauty Shadow (matte)
Bubbly Blush (shimmer apricot)

So, what do you think of this set? What has your favorite holiday set been so far this season? Comment and let me know, I'd love to hear from you!

Holiday Gifts from L'Occitane

2015-12-13T12:21:00.000-08:00

There are some brands for me that I just trust and love so much that I just know my friends and family are going to love them as well. L'Occitane is one of those brands! I've been using L'Occitane products for years now and it is extremely rare there is any product I don't love. For someone sensitive to scents and perfumes, it's refreshing to have a brand that has perfumes and scented products that I can actually wear without sneezing! A lot of their holiday sets just make me think of great gifts for friends, in-laws and sisters. One thing I love is that they make it holiday shopping so easy! They have some great gift sets that are ready to go for you and contain some L'Occitane favorites. I also love that their packaging is always beautiful and it can save you some wrapping as well!

Press Samples

The set retails for $60 and contains hand cream plus a magic key to get every drop out, hand scrub, cuticle oil.

For fragrance lovers, there are two amazing new scents. One is Pamplemousse-Rhubarbe and the other is Jasmin-Immortelle-Neroli. Each retails for $62 and is 2.5 fl oz. Both fragrances come in the same type of perfume bottle. The grapefruit one has a slight pinkish orange tint while the jasmine one appears more yellow.

Pamplemousse Rhubarbe Eau de Toilette

A spicy fragrance imagined by pastry chef Pierre Hermé, combining the scents of Grapefruit and Rhubarb. The grapefruit includes the slightly bitter, white inner skin – its character underlined by the green and crisp aromas of Rhubarb. This beautifully balanced note is soon ruffled at its heart by sensual, piquant spices. In this original composition, woody notes of Cedar conjure up the sensation of mischievous Grapefruit cutting through the tartness of Rhubarb stalks.

Jasmin-Immortelle Neroli Eau de Toilette

Floral and absolutely feminine,the jasmine scented fragrance of pastry chef Pierre Hermé balances the white notes of gardens at dawn with the gold of a flower that still flourishes throughout the Corsican maquis.

What is your go to never fail brand for holiday gifts? Comment and let me know, I'd love to hear from you!

Too Faced Le Grand Chateau

2015-12-01T13:54:00.000-08:00

Once holiday beauty sets start coming around, I'm almost obsessive about checking on all the new releases until I can narrow down my holiday list to a few special things I just can't live without! One of the collections that really caught my eye this year was Too Faced's Holiday Collection. Too Faced always has adorable holiday packaging, but I thought they just hit it out of the park this year with the Christmas in Paris theme.

Purchased by me

About:
This adorable (and oh-so-chic) little château opens to reveal three separate palettes with 18 gorgeous shadows, two blushes, one bronzer, and a deluxe size of our bestselling Better Than Sex Mascara. A romantic evening in St. Tropez; a sunny day in Côte d'Azur; a stroll along the Seine at night—there’s a palette for every party, mood, or taste. It’s the perfect gift for any mademoiselle—or gift each palette separately to spread the love! Retails $49. Available at Toofaced.com, Sephora, Ulta, HSN.

I'm absolutely in love with the doll house in this set! It has a magnetized front and is perfect for any little girl to play with while you're enjoying your gorgeous makeup palettes! I thought this was a pretty good value for $49 as it contains 3 small to medium sized palettes with 6 eyeshadows, a blush/bronzer product and a mini Better than Sex mascara.

I did a lot of researching on the Too Faced Holiday collection this year as there were 3 sets that contained palettes and I knew I couldn't buy them all. I wanted to narrow it down and pick one (maybe two!) that I just love. The reviews for this one were mixed from my go to sources (Temptalia and Beauty Broadcast) but based on customer reviews on sites like Sephora, this seems to be a hit. Their biggest holiday set this year is Le Grand Palais and although it is the most expensive at $58.00, it seems to have gotten the worst reviews for the trio. I did look at Le Grand Palais which is exclusive to Sephora and the shades seemed too sparkly for me and looked like they had a lot of fall out, so that was an easy pass for me. Plus, I'd rather have 3 smaller palettes that are easier to travel with than one larger one.

Upon first glance, this palette above was my least favorite of the three included but I'm pleasantly surprised with how much use I'm going to get out of this. The bronzer is a great color for my fair skintone and I like that I can create a softer look with this.

These are the types of colors that just speak to me, so this one is my favorite of the bunch!

I'm loving this blush in here. It creates such a nice soft natural look!

Also included is a mini Better than Sex mascara. This isn't my favorite mascara formula out there, but it is something I find to be decent so I'm glad there was another little goodie in here.

The last of the holiday palettes from Too Faced is La Petite Maison which is $39 and is exclusive to Ulta. I'm still debating getting this one or not. It contains 12 eyeshadows and cute as can be packaging. I'm so happy with the Le Grand Chateau that I may not splurge for another set from Too Faced, but who knows!

Did you purchase any of these from Too Faced this year? Which one is your favorite? Comment and let me know, I'd love to hear from you!

Ulta & Sephora My Black Friday Picks!

2015-11-25T12:37:00.003-08:00

This is the time I year I feel like I just go crazy with makeup and beauty deals. There are so many amazing gift sets and deals out there that's it's hard to resist. Pretty much on a daily basis, I'm checking Ulta, Sephora, emails etc. to find the latest and greatest. I don't want to miss out on that perfect set at that perfect price!! I'm breaking it down and showcasing my favorite deals for Black Friday from Ulta and Sephora! Hopefully this helps make it easier for you to narrow down your search and for you to also find that perfect gift at that perfect price.

ULTA BLACK FRIDAY DEALS:

SEPHORA $10 BLACK FRIDAY DEALS:

Any deals you're going to be rushing out there to get? Comment and let me know, I'd love to hear about it! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

PUR Cosmetics Cameo Contour Dual-Ended Contour Stick

2015-11-24T13:34:00.000-08:00

Contouring is huge so I'm sure you've already heard about it and know what it is. Typically, I'm drawn more to powder type products but I'm always up for trying out something new! PUR Cosmetics has recently come out with a dual ended cream contour stick. Also included with this is a pink blending sponge!

Press Samples

About:

Meet the final word in flawless contouring. PÜR's dual-ended contour stick adds closeup-worthy depth and dimension to your natural features with a creamy, oil-free formula that sets to a picture perfect powder finish. Using light-reflective microspheres, this 2-in-1 complexion innovation emphasizes your face's natural highlights and lowlights while simultaneously blurring the look of imperfections, such as dark spots and fine lines. As you apply and blend one or both shades with the pro blending sponge, your skin also drinks in the skin-perfecting benefits of PÜR's own Ceretin Complex - a proprietary blend of hydrating ceramides and age-defying vitamin A! Available at Ulta & Kohl's, PUR's website.

Light, Medium, Tan, Dark, Deep

Areas to use highlight:

Center of the forehead
Under brow bone
Down the bridge of the nose
Under eye
Center of chin

Areas to use contour:

Around forehead hairline
Sides of nose
Under cheekbone
Under jawline

Key Ingredients:

Light-Reflective Microspheres: Spotlight the skin's natural highlights while blurring the look of imperfections like dark spots and fine lines
Ceretin Complex: Nourish a more youthful radiance with a proprietary blend of mega-moisturizing ceramides and gently renewing vitamin A
Sodium hyaluronate: Draws moisture to the skin's surface for a naturally plumper, smoother and softer look and feel

Final thoughts:

I like that they offer a variety of colors for different skintones. I found the directions easy to follow.
For me the best color matches were light and medium. I had good luck with the lighter shade in both the light and medium and found that it blended well with my skintone. I didn't have as much luck with the darker shade. The shades seemed to be a little more cool toned and they were more noticeable on my fair skin even after blended.
For the price point, I would like to see more product included but I did like that they did include a high quality blending sponge. I had better luck using the sponge wet. You can use it either wet or dry.
The only other issue I had was that the stick was a little too wide when trying to use it around my nose. It was a little trickier to get more precision in that area, but it worked well for the rest of my face.

What do you think of this product? Have you tried it? Do you prefer cream or powder contours? Comment and let me know, I'd love to hear from you!

How to Coordinate Your Holiday Gift Giving

2015-11-23T13:24:00.001-08:00

I can hardly believe that Thanksgiving is this week and Christmas is right around the corner! I seriously don't know where the time goes! I'm usually a last minute Christmas shopper, but this year I'm trying to get a lot of my shopping done in advance. I hope to beat the rush, find some great deals and have everything wrapped and ready to go well in advance of Christmas! Fingers crossed! When I'm looking for a gift for someone and may not have any specific ideas in mind, I try to find one thing that reminds me of that person. It could be something as simple as the color blue. I then work off that idea to coordinate a special gift for them.

Press Samples

One easy idea is finding that person's favorite color in a nail polish and pairing it with a coordinating watch. Both are useful gifts that most women would love. Plus, I'm just loving the designs from Q&Q. Each watch retails at $40. There are 16 different color selections available in the Smile Solar Series on their website so you can find the perfect design for anyone in your life! They also have other collections available, so be sure to check out their website!

These watches are powered by light and can run for 3.5 months after they are fully charged and are made from recycled materials!

When you purchase a Q&Q SmileSolar watch, a portion of the proceeds is donated to TABLE FOR TWO to deliver school meals to children in Africa and Asia.

More about TABLE FOR TWO:

In our world of 7 billion, 1 billion suffer fom malnutrition, while another 1 billion suffer from obesity. TABLE FOR TWO rights this imbalance by simultaneously addressing the two opposing problems through a unique "calorie transfer" program. By partnering with over 600 corporations, universities, restaurants, and organizations implementing our program in their establishments and products. TFT has served over 50 million healthy meals to both sides of the "table". On one side people are eating healthier meals, and on the other children are receiving nutritious school meals.

Holiday Wish List: Palettes & Sets

2015-10-23T12:00:00.001-07:00

Around this time of year I'm always keeping an eye out for holiday palettes. This is one of my favorite times in the beauty world! Holiday palettes to me means great deals on products, lots of gift ideas for friends and family and super cute packaging. What's not to love!? I'm compiled an early list of my top favorite sets out there so far! Comment and let me know if there's another must have I should add to my list!*

Smashbox ART. LOVE. COLOR. Master Class, $65
A set of 40 Smashbox must-haves for cheeks and eyes in packaging inspired by groundbreaking artist Yago Hortal.

MAKE UP FOR EVER15 Artist Shadow Palette, $59
A limited edition, collectible eye palette featuring MAKE UP FOR EVER’s coveted Artist Shadows. This 15-shade palette featuring the breakthrough Artist Shadow formula lets you create endless eye looks with infinite combinations

Too Faced Le Grand Chateau, $49
A set with three giftable eye shadow, blush, and bronzer palettes with a deluxe-size mascara in a limited-edition dollhouse box. Le Grand Chateau features an adorable and chic chateau that opens to reveal three separate palettes with 18 high-impact eye shadows, two blushes, one bronzer, and a deluxe size of Too Faced’s bestselling Better Than Sex Mascara. It includes three step-by-step glamour guides for each palette, and each one celebrates a romantic evening in St. Tropez, a sunny day in Côte d'Azur, and a stroll along the Seine at night.

Bite Beauty Best Bite Rewind, $25
Best Bite Rewind features a universal and festive, hydrating, lip crayon collection in four matte finishes. Premium triple-milled pigments provide powdery light, highly pigmented payoff, while naturally derived orange peel wax naturally protects and seals in moisture

Too Faced Melted Kisses & Sweet Cheeks, $36
This holiday set features three deluxe Melted Lipsticks and three coordinating deluxe Love Flush Long Lasting 16 Hour Blushes.

Too Faced Beautifully Blushed & Bronzed Set, $25 (travel sized)
Beautifully Blushed & Bronzed Set has all the essentials you need for a glowing makeup look. Featuring two bronzers and now introducing new long-wearing, high-impact blushes. The collection includes two pigment-rich shades of Love Flush Blush for a 16-hour flush. With two bronzers in deluxe sizes—including the Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in a matte/deep matte and Sun Bunny Bronzer in Natural—they’re sure to give you a natural-looking, allover glow

Josie Maran Whimsical Wonder Argan Oil Color Essentials, $34
A five piece collection of Josie’s Argan-infused color essentials—housed in a whimsical, pop-up style box for the holiday season. Every product in this Whimsical Wonder Argan Oil Color Essentials collection is infused with multitasking Argan oil.

Smashbox #SHAPEMATTERS PALETTE, $65
A three-palettes-in-one kit with 16 bestselling shades and a double-ended brush to contour the brows, face, and eyes. The palette is a chic, portable go-to for sculpting your cheekbones, perfecting your nose, creating an arched brow, and enhancing your eyes with each stroke of alluring color and-richly pigmented line.

Conair Infiniti Pro Argan Oil Treatment Strip Brush {Review}

2015-09-16T13:31:00.000-07:00

About the Conair Infiniti Pro Argan Oil Treatment Strip Finishing Brush:

Detangle and gloss at the same time with this non-greasy hair brush containing pure argan oil and which deposits it every time you brush!The replaceable argan oil treatment strip adds maximum conditioning and protection for revitalized, healthy-looking results and brilliant shine.

My thoughts:

I'm not sure if there are other brushes out there like this one that have an oil strip within the brush, but I sure haven't seen anything like this. I was definitely impressed with the concept when I received this brush. I've used a lot of argan oil products in the past and have had really good results with it so I was super excited to test out a brush that had an oil strip built right in. This is super easy too as the oil strip comes separately with the brush and it is every easy to place the strip right in in the middle of the brush. This strip lasts for multiple brushings and is replaceable.

In order to see if this really worked, I straightened all of my hair. I then parted it in the middle and used the brush on only half of my hair and compared to the half of my hair I had not used the brush on. I definitely noticed the half of my hair I did use the brush on was noticeably softer, smoother and had less frizz. Frizz is something I'm constantly battling and trying to get my hair as smooth and soft as possible is an ongoing battle. I always think too that a product really works when your boyfriend actually notices the difference in your hair. He has actually mentioned this brush since I first used it. If a man notices a difference in your hair, I consider the product a major success! :)

This is affordable as it retails at $12.99. There is one strip included with the brush. I've found that I've gotten the best results as the strip was newer, but I've probably used it around 6-7 times and still feel I am getting some noticeable results from it. Also be sure to place the plastic cover over the argan strip after use to keep it free of debris and to make it last longer.

Switch it Up: Summer to Fall Beauty

2015-08-24T16:07:00.002-07:00

I can hardly believe that Fall is right around the corner. My allergies are kicking up in high gear so that's usually the first sign for me! Seriously though, where did the summer go?! I've been loving my low maintenance summer beauty looks, but it's time to trade some of my summer favorites in for some new fall products. Keep reading below to find which favorite products I'll be turning to for fall!

Foundations: Switch out your BB and CC creams for more coverage

Tarte CC Primer has been a long time favorite of mine. Although I'm sure I will still use it time to time, I find with cooler weather I'm reaching more for my Smashbox Liquid Halo HD Foundation. Now that my skin has a little bit of a summer tan, my Smasbox foundation is the absolute perfect shade for my skin-tone and it just blends in flawlessly for some nice medium coverage.

Lipsticks: Switch out your neutral and "my lips but better" shades for berry shades

One of my favorite "my lip but better" shades is Bite Beauty's Heather which is a dusty rose. Although this will still get some wear, I'm going to be reaching more for some bright and some deep berry shades. A new recent fave of mine is Bite Beauty's Juniper.

Bronzer: Switch out your shimmers for mattes

For Bronzer's I'm going to turn more to some medium matte browns like Tarte's Park Avenue Princess instead of some of my more shimmery products like Too Faced's Pink Leopard. For summer I really tried to keep my lids and lips more neutral and simple and in return I liked to go for it more with bronzers and highlighters to accentuate my sun kissed summer skin. Now that fall is right around the corner and I'm going to amp up some of my eye and lip looks, I'm going to tone it down a little bit on the shimmery bronzer and reach for more matte shades.

Nails: Switch out your summer corals for fall cabernet

I really played it safe this summer and mainly wore bare nails which is pretty unusaal for me. When I did have paint on my nails, I usually wore a peach like Lauren B. Nail Color in Sunset Blvd or a classic bright pink. I'm ready to switch it up a bit and include some deep cabernet colors like Lauren B. Nail Color in The Chateau.

This doesn't mean you have to toss away your summer favorites, just incorporate some new products into your routine. I really did enjoy easy neutral lids and lips with a healthy summer glow from shimmery highlights and bronzers. However, I'm also looking forward to mixing it up a bit and incorporating some wow me products into my daily fall routine. These certainly aren't steadfast rules, these are just some of the ways that I'm enjoying switching things up.

Happy Fall Shopping!

Summer Favorites

2015-08-14T08:20:00.000-07:00

Don't get me wrong, I do love summer, but sometimes the high temperatures and humidity are just a little much for me. This is why I really try to keep it simple makeup wise in the summer months. There's no worse feeling than having heavy makeup and foundation on and feeling like your pores can't breathe and your makeup is just sweating off your face. I figure I'm not the only one that has that problem so today I'm bringing you some of my summer favorites for an easy care free summer look.

Buxom's Dolly's Wild Side, $40

A refillable, six-shade eye palette with expertly curated, primer-infused, neutral to mauve shades. I was looking at some of the new Buxom shades and customizable refillable palettes they just came out with. A lot of the colors I was reaching for were already in the Dolly's Wild Side palette so I figured I'd just pick up this one since I already loved the shades. Plus, if I ever want to change it up I can buy an individual shade and switch it out. These soft shades have been perfect for creating summer looks plus if I want to kick it up a notch I just use "Wild Nights" which is a deep shimmery plum.

Dolly's Wild Ride Shades: 6 x 0.05 oz Eye Shadow in Silk Sheets (chai luster), Champagne Buzz (shimmering pearl), Lingerie Lover (matte mauve), Mink Magnet (metallic bronze), Spoiled Sexy (matte deep mauve), Wild Nights (shimmering sugar plum)

Colour Pop In Bloom Set, $39

This was a birthday present from my boyfriend and I was so excited to finally try Colour Pop after how many great things I've been hearing. I figured this set was a perfect chance to test out some of the lippie stix and blushes together and I already loved all of the colors. There really isn't a dud in the bunch. The blushes have a unique creamy texture that is really fun to touch and play around with. The pigmentation on these lippies are absolutely fantastic and they last hours and hours. I'd say you're good for about 5-6 hours. I love that they put in 2 bold colors as well as a more neutral everyday color that will still be flattering for most.. Even after a meal my lipstick still looks perfect and after they leave a really nice stain. The blushes I like but I haven't quite fell in love with them as much as the lippie stix. I also like the highlight shade but it is very subtle on my skin and I have fair skin. If you sign up for newsletters on their site right now, you will get a $5 off coupon plus free shipping over $30. I love this brand so much I've already put in 2 more orders since my birthday!

Color Pop In Bloom. Cheeks: Tongue Tied– (Bright warm coral/Matte finish), Double Dip– (Soft peach with subtle highlights/Satin Pearl Finish), Hysterical– (Cool-toned plum pink/Matte Finish)

Lips: Freshman– ( Deep hot pink/Cream Finish), Sweet-Thing– (Cool-toned medium true pink/Cream Finish), , Frenemie– (Electric warm-toned coral/ Cream Finish)

Philosophy's The Supernatural Poreless SPF 15 Tinted Primer ($30, 1.6 oz)

This tinted free oil free formula contains SPF 15 to shield your skin from the sun's rays as it smoothes fine lines and wrinkles. What I love about this product is that it is a light peachy color which blends flawlessly into my skin and smooths out imperfections. I've basically been wearing this as my foundation even though the coverage would be extremely light. I figure let my skin breathe and my freckles shine through!

bare Minerals 5 in 1 BB Cream Eyeshadows, $18 each

Creamy and long-wearing color meets BB skincare benefits and SPF protection. I have two colors, Sweet Spice and Blushing Pink. Sweet Spice is a light taupe color and blushing pink is a light pink color. They do have some sparkle to them which is noticeable when you swatch it on your hand but no so much when it is applied to the eye. I alternate these depending on the day and have colors that I pair with each. For the Sweet Spice color I tend to top it with LORAC Pro's Mauve Shade and for Blushing Pink I top it with Buxom's Dolly's Wild Side shades Lingerie Lover (matte mauve) and Spoiled Sexy (matte deep mauve). You can also easily wear these shades alone. I love how simple and easy these are to use and they provide a great long wearing base. Love, love, love. My only complaint is I wish they would come out with even more colors and some brighter and deeper shades.

I hope that helps you narrow down your summer beauty list. I've been seriously using most of these products daily and it's really been helping me create a simple and natural look that isn't boring. What are some of your summer favorites? Comment and let me know, I'd love to hear from you!