review Archives | Stephie Estie

Native Deodorant Review!

January 30, 2018

Happy Tuesday everyone!

A while ago, I posted a poll on my Instagram stories, asking followers if they’d be interested in me reviewing my current favorite deodorant. A lot of people responded that they were interested so here we are. 🙂

First, a little backstory on why I choose to try this one out. For the most part, I was happy with the Dove Clinical Protection Antiperspirant, however, I always found that my underarms would get really itchy at times. I became really annoyed with this and while my experience with natural LAVNILLA deodorant didn’t work out, I had seen ads on Native so I decided to test it out.

Native Deodorant- Coconut and Vanilla

Described as, aluminum-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, and talc-free. We tested thousands of ingredients before finding a recipe that feels light and fresh under your arms, but provides you with effective protection against odor and wetness.”

Pros

Excellent variety of scented and unscented options

Aluminum-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, and talc-free

Effective odor protection- daily and through workouts

Smooth application

No need to reapply throughout the day

Doesn’t make my underarms itchy

Cons

A little pricey at $12

Doesn’t really help keep you dry

Can leave behind white residue marks if you’re not careful

Overall: This is my second time purchasing this deodorant so I’ve had ample opportunity to thoroughly test this out and I can say that I love it. It is pricier that some drugstore ones but just that fact that my underarms are no longer itchy, that alone is worth the investment. I was able to try this out before I got injured so I can say that it provides great coverage throughout workouts or for daily wear. I do find that you need to be careful about the residue if you apply too much or if you apply it right before applying a long sleeve shirt. Although it doesn’t really help keep me as dry as I would like, it’s not a deal breaker for me. What really piqued my interest, however, is the inclusion of probiotics. With the skincare industry recognizing the importance of the human microbiome, it’s interesting to me how companies are using probiotics for a variety of issues in an effort to help combat bacteria. I’m curious to see how this plays out.

Have you tried Native deodorants? What deodorant do you favor/recommend?

August Favorites 2017!

August 31, 2017

Hi everyone!

It’s the last day of August and I’m quickly sharing a few of my favorite items I couldn’t get enough of this month.

Let’s dive right in.

Rhonda Allison Cherry Jubilee Enzyme

I won this product in an Instagram away hosted by a fellow esthetician friend and just like the name implies, this smells (and feels!) like a tart cherry puree. What I love about this (aside from the scent) is that the natural polyphenols provide great antioxidant properties for your skin and the “potent pro-youth value that mimics the strength of lactic acid,” allows for gentle exfoliation. My face looks nice and glowy after using this.

m-61 SuperSoothe E Microdermabrasion Scrub

I found myself at a Bluemercury counter returning an item that unfortunately didn’t work out when this caught my eye. I liked the fact that this contained kaolin clay mixed with natural pumice to help exfoliate and clean pores and it worked well with the hot, humid weather we had. I applied a thin layer over my face, let it sit for about 2 minutes and then rinsed it off with circular motions. Although seaweed and goldenberry are added to provide some moisture, I found it a bit drying, so in my opinion, this is best used for combination/oily skin.

Glen Ivy Hot Springs Body Lotion Lavender Eucalyptus

Back in July, I went to Glen Ivy Hot Springs and had such a great experience! I’ll admit that it was a bit hard for me to just relax and not worry about anything but it’s kind of easy to do after a few minutes soaking in a hot spring. 🙂 Anywho, the lotion dispenser had a lavender scented cream and of course I had to buy the bottle. The calming scent of lavender with a burst of eucalyptus does not disappoint and I use this at the end of day to wind down.

Estee Lauder Pure Color Love Lipstick in Raw Sugar

As soon as I got wind that Estee Lauder was launching a new lipstick collection, you better believe I was busy ~~stalking~~ searching which stores would be the first to carry them. Hey, I’m a lippie addict, what do you expect? 😉 After finding them at Ulta, I ended up taking the shade Raw Sugar home with me. Guys, the packaging on these are gorgeously chic and the matte formula is comfortable to wear as long as your lips are smooth and not overly dry. Raw Sugar is a nude apricot shade (see swatch above) and is great for any day, anytime, anywhere. The applicator is a bit difficult to work with at first but it’s easier if you treat the edge like a lip liner and apply it that way.

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15

If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you know I’m a big fan of foundations that look more like second skin. This Bobbi Brown foundation does just that. A few drops of this water-based, oil-free formula is enough to cover up my redness and can be built up for medium coverage. My skin looks flawless and I receive a ton of compliments with this one.

First Aid Beauty Hello FAB Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer

I received this product in one of my Sephora boxes and I will definitely add this to my list of things to buy when the Sephora sale comes in November, if not sooner. Smells like coconut, does not irritate my skin, the texture is so light-weight and addicting, and it has a nice dewy finish that is not overwhelming. My makeup goes on smooth and although it doesn’t keep shine at bay per se, I’m not overly oily either. Very happy with this one.

Living Grace Podcast Episode

The last item that I loved, a non-beauty item, was my podcast interview I did with Kami Lingren from Living Grace Blog. In this episode, we talk about my life in the moments leading up to being diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis, the alternative method I discovered to treat IC and much more. If you missed it, you can read and listen to it here.

What did you love in August?

LAVANILLA The Healthy Deodorant Review!

April 13, 2017

Hi everyone!

While at Sephora a few weeks back, I saw the LAVANILLA deodorant by the checkout line and with rave reviews from many people, I decided to pick up the travel size.

Want to know if this worked for me? Keep reading!

LAVANILLA The Healthy Deodorant in Pure Vanilla

Described as, “an award-winning, aluminum-free deodorant that is 100 percent natural, safe, and effective. Get superior odor protection with this 100 percent natural, freshly scented deodorant. Soothing essential oils blend with beta-glucan technology fight odor effectively while soothing, conditioning, and nourishing the delicate underarm area. It goes on clean, with no sticky wetness, and delivers long-lasting, luxurious results.”

Pros

Good odor protection if you’re doing light errands

Smooth application

No white marks left on clothing

Travel-size options

Good array of scents

Cons

Expensive ($14 for full size)

Doesn’t keep you dry

Doesn’t effectively combat odor if you’re working out

Overall: I have mixed feelings about this deodorant. If you’re doing light errands and aren’t sweating much throughout the day, this deodorant does a good job keeping odor at bay and it smells great. I find that it doesn’t leave behind white marks and it feels like a cooling gel when applied. When it comes to my workouts though, that’s a different story. I do kickboxing 4 times a week and sometimes I do an hour of Zumba prior and unfortunately, I could smell my body odor by the end of my workout. I did reapply but it just smelled like vanilla mixed with BO. So. Not. Pretty. And quite frankly embarrassing. There isn’t any wetness protection either -at least not in my experience. While I wanted to love this deodorant, it just doesn’t cut it for me.

What’s your favorite deodorant to use?

Play! By Sephora Review March 2017!

March 30, 2017

Hi everyone!

It’s almost the end of March and I have a review for the Play! by Sephora box. In case you haven’t heard, this is a monthly $10 curated subscription box featuring samples of different brands available at Sephora. You also get a bag with your products inside that display cute catchy phrases.

The theme for this month was The Gleam Team, featuring products with “high-wattage shimmer to a natural gleam that redefine shine.” If you’re anything like me and you’ve visited the Sephora website recently, you’ll see that highlighting products are trending, making this bag a perfect fit.

Let’s take a look at how these products performed.

Benefit Cosmetics Watt’s Up! Cream to Powder Highlighter

This easy to apply cream-to-powder highlighter “dials up the radiance to any complexion”. The twist up format makes it perfect for on the go. I received this product a few years ago as part of the free Sephora birthday gift (I think?). It’s a champagne tinged highlighter that blends in nicely to skin but while I do like it, it’s not an absolute must have for me.

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Golden Pink

Super creamy and waterproof, Bobbi Brown’s eyeshadow stick is a shimmering peach pink shade that can be worn on the browbones and inner corners of your eyes for a hint of brilliance. It’s also said to be crease and flake-fee wear. Guys, they’re not joking when they say shimmering. This product doesn’t just have a sheen, it has full on shimmer particles that are visible a mile away. And that’s really not a bad thing with this type of product, especially if you want to brighten up your eyes. It’s a gorgeous shade and with a great primer, does not budge.

Top to Bottom: Benefit Watt’s Up Highlighter and Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow Stick Golden Pink

GlamGlow Glowstarter Mega Illuminating Moisturizer in Nude Glow

A two-in-one moisturizer and luminzer that hydrates, blurs, and enhances any complexion with a lit-from-within finish. It can be worn alone or layered under foundation. The first thing that stood out with this product is the scent. It has a very strong sweet scent that I personally don’t mind and I can’t smell it after I put it on. I tried using it as a stand alone product, but it’s way too sheer to cover up my redness. It works well under makeup and does give a beautiful glow, but $49 for the full-size is a bit steep and I have other similar products that do a similar job just fine.

Josie Maran Surreal Skin Argan Finishing Balm

This makeup and skincare hybrid has a whipped formula that gives skin a, “soft-focus luminosity whether you use it as a primer or for a finishing touch.” I’ll admit when I first saw this product, I was hesitant to try it out as I have combination skin and the consistency appeared thick and heavy. As soon as I dabbed a bit on my finger, it had a silky texture and wasn’t thick like I had anticipated. Unfortunately, this didn’t do much in terms of providing a glow factor. Whether I wore foundation over it or applied it on top of my cheeekbones, the sheen disappeared as if I had not applied anything on.

Top to Bottom: GlamGlow Glowstarter Mega Illuminating Moisturizer in Nude Glow and Josie Maran Surreal Skin Argan Finishing Balm

Living Proof Full Dry Volume Blast

Living Proof Full Dry Volume Blast is a weightless spray that delivers, “long-lasting volume and texture for thicker, fuller-looking hair that is silky soft.” The spray can also double as a style refresher, thanks to an oil controlling blend of ultra-lightweight powders that absorb dirt and impurities. I have naturally curly hair that needs no extra volume thank you very much. However, when I straighten my hair, it usually looses some of the volume so products like this come in handy. I prefer to use this as a style refresher as it does a good job at absorbing oil and imparts a nice clean scent.

Chloe Fluer de Parfum

I was pretty happy to see a fragrance from Chloe as at first glance I thought it was Love Story. To my dismay, as soon as I spritzed it, I realized my mistake. This fragrance is a floral blend with notes of absolute verbena, freesia, rose, cherry blossom, bitter almond and amber. The dominant note here is rose and while I do love that scent, this was just way too overpowering for me when mixed with the other scents.

Overall, this was another great box from Sephora. I can’t wait for next month. 🙂

What are your favorite products to get your glow on or are you over the highlighting trend?

Play! By Sephora Unboxing February 2017!

March 9, 2017

Hi readers!

After a few months away, I’m back with a new post and a new look to my blog!

While I was away, I’ve been busy trying to work on my skincare business, working out, getting pelvic floor therapy to help manage my IC, taking a course at UCLA regarding skin, and of course, redesigning my blog. It’s been a bumpy road navigating a self-hosted site but I’ve learned a lot and while there will be a few more tweaks, I’ll roll those out slowly. 🙂

I know I’m late on this but I have a review for the February Play by Sephora box. In case you haven’t heard, this is a monthly $10 curated subscription box featuring samples of different brands available at Sephora. The theme for February was The Soft Side, with “muted, mellow shades and skin-perfecting formulas [that] are a never-sail way to show off your natural beauty.”

On to the reviews.

Sephora Collection Lashcraft Length and Volume Mascara

This mascara has a unique flat paddle-shaped wand to lift lashes while the nylon-infused glossy black pigment creates drama. Mascaras are always a hit or miss with me as my eyes are a bit sensitive and a great mascara for me means that my eyes won’t burn by the end of the day. This one is okay but not my favorite as it gives volume (due to the brush) but not much length. It irritated my eyes a bit as well. I’ll use this up but I won’t be purchasing a full size.

Nars Velvet Lip Glide in Bound

I have been wanting to try this product for a while so I was ecstatic to see it included in my box. It’s a dusty-rose liquid lipstick that is a infused with natural oils and feels weightless. I absolutely love the color-on me it’s reminiscent of the just bitten look- and it’s a very comfortable formula to wear as it’s not drying. However, because it’s a semi-matte finish, this entirely wears off with eating and drinking so if you’re looking for something that is long-lasting, this isn’t it. Still worth a try in my opinion though.

Too Faced Lip Injection Glossy in Milkshake

If you’ve read my review on the Too Faced Naughty Kisses and Sweet Cheeks, you know the Lip Injections are a favorite of mine. Milkshake is a nude shade lip that has an intense tingle factor but does in fact, plump my lips. It contains avocado and jojoba oil that helps soften them too, which I love.

Nars Velvet Lip Glide in Bound and Too Faced Lip Injection Glossy in Milkshake

Clinique Prep-Start Hydroblur Moisturizer

An innovative product, this moisturizer can be used as a primer or as a quick fix throughout the day to control shine or add hydration. I used this both as a regular moisturizer and primer and I feel that it worked better as a primer. This product has a thick, almost silicone texture that feels silky when applied. To me, it provided a mattifying effect but my face didn’t feel as tight as it does with most oil-control primers. Although my skin doesn’t feel dry, it didn’t necessarily feel hydrated either. My makeup applies smoothly with this and doesn’t cling to dry patches. Bottom line: this works better as a primer.

Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream

This luminous eye cream contains coffee bean, ginseng, and magnolia extract to visibly brighten and depuff the undereye area. Ginseng gives a subtle glow to skin while the coffee beans work to energize tired skin. Although I can’t attest to the depuffing aspects, the eye cream has a pink pearl-like color that helps to brighten my undereye area. This works well under concealer and is similar to the Caudalie one, which I really love.

Marc Jacobs Divine Decadence

Effervescent floral and bright, this sparkling champagne doused scent embodies luxury and glamour. Notes in this earthy and woody fragrance include orange blossom, bergamot, gardenia, amber vanilla and saffron. Surprisingly, I actually like this fragrance. It’s more on the sweet side but the woodsy scents balance it out perfectly.

Overall, I’m content with this box, especially with the inclusion of the Nars Velvet Lip Glide and the Too Faced Lip Injection Glossy.

What do you think of this box? Any products you’d like to try?

October 2016 Favorites!

October 27, 2016

Happy Thursday everyone!

October is coming to a rapid end so here’s some products that have gotten me through with stellar results. Take a look!

L’Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion in C3

Words can’t express how much I really love this cushion BB cream. It provides a natural “my skin but better” look and leaves behind a nice glow that is not overwhelming. One of my go-to products for practically any given day.

Too Faced Lip Injection Glossy in Milkshake

Included in the Too Faced Naughty Kisses and Sweet Cheeks holiday set, I’m pretty obsessed with these lip glosses. With just the right amount of shine, I love the plumping effect of this gloss and they last a pretty good while.

It’s a 10 Miracle Shampoo plus Keratin

Pretty much my holy grail shampoo at the moment! Finding a shampoo that does not make my scalp or skin itchy is painstakingly difficult. This sulfate free, sodium chloride free, paraben free, keratin protein infused shampoo lathers nicely, cleans my hair without feeling harsh, smoothes my curly and often times unruly hair and the best part? No irritation.

Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask

Basically the only worthy product included in my Birchbox box this month, I like using this mask in the shower to gently exfoliate my skin. Although it’s compared to a traditional peel, I disagree. I can’t see the levels of willow bark and pomegranate enzymes these have but it doesn’t appear to be too concentrated as I felt no activity once I placed it on. I like this for cooler weather at the moment because it provides hydration without feeling heavy.

Clinique Nude Pop Cheek Pop Blush

This blush is one of my favorites for a reason. It provides both a natural look and finish and is perfect when you want to look put together in a jiffy. It blends seamlessly onto skin.

Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel

Look no further than this product when you need to groom and define your eyebrows stat! Since this has a spoolie like application, a few quick strokes helps fill in sparse gaps and brush them at the same time to save you time.

What are your favorites this month?

Stephanie

Play! By Sephora Unboxing October 2016!

October 25, 2016

Hi everyone!

I have a look into the October Play! By Sephora box. In case you don’t know, this is a monthly $10 curated subscription box featuring samples of different brands available at Sephora. The theme for this month is The Cool Cut, with products that truly stand out from the crowd and destined to become mainstream with breakthrough formulas.

How cute is this Lipstix and Chill bag?!

Let’s get into the rest of the contents!

Skin Inc Pure Revival Peel

An advanced, non-abrasive peel that is supposed to gently exfoliate skin to reveal a bright and renewed complexion. The active ingredient is AC-11, which is derived from cat’s claw and helps gently exfoliate. As an esthetician, I have a different expectation for a peel. Personally, I didn’t see a difference with this at all and it actually left behind a sticky feel and residue. Not impressed at all.

Christophe Robin Regenerating Mask with Rare Prickly Pear Seed Oil

A conditioning hair mask that strengthens strands while enhancing color and shine. The unique ingredient in this is prickly pear oil that comes from the seeds and contains over 80% fatty acids that provides an unparalleled amount of deep nurturing oils to hair. This mask it quite thick and has an interesting smell. When I used this mask, I found that it did leave hair shiny but it didn’t have a conditioning effect as I assumed it would. It does not state that it’s supposed to condition hair so it’s best to mix in your own conditioner with this mask to get knots out.

Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick in Driver’s Seat

This matte liquid lipstick claims to last 8 hours and have a water-resistant, non-feathering formula. Jojoba, apricot and sunflower oils are included to provide a non-drying finish. The shade I received was Driver’s Seat which is described as a warm pink however I kind of find it to be a terracotta-red type shade. The shade is gorgeous and it is highly pigmented. This does come off when drinking and eating food and I do find this formula drying to lips. If you’re looking for a true matte liquid lipstick, then definitely check this one out.

Blinc Mascara Amplified

What makes this mascara special is the innovative “tube technology” that coats lashes with easy-to-remove, tiny water-resistant tubes that won’t run, smudge or flake. Removing this mascara is simple as you only need warm water and a cotton round or ball to remove. I’ve used this mascara before as part of my simple makeup routine and I love it for a natural look. I find that it doesn’t provide much volume though.

Belief The True Cream Aqua Bomb

This South Korean skincare brand is made with Scottish botanicals and based on the research of Duncan Napier, a Victorian botanist from Edinburgh. This lightweight gel-cream is meant to tighten the look of skin and sink in for a smooth, supple feel. It can also be used as a mask and tissued off after 5 minutes. I love the feel of this cream and it does feel very lightweight and refreshing when applied. However, I did notice that as I was using this, my face started to breakout. I’ve discontinued use and will try again to see if this was the source of my breakouts.

Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris

Inspired by a love for the sophistication and allure of Paris, this scent layers fruity and floral notes over a musky base. It contains notes of bergamot, pear, raspberry jasmine, musk and patchouli. My sense of smell hasn’t been the best so I haven’t tried this one yet but I will update this once I’ve had a chance to give it a fair try.

Overall, I’m happy with this month’s box and look forward to receiving November’s.

What did you get in your box this month?

Stephanie

Bite Beauty Multistick Review in Almond and Praline!

October 20, 2016

Happy Thursday everyone! I have a review on two shades of Bite Beauty’s new Multistick product. Since these are a hot commodity, I had to check them out for myself.

Curious to see what I thought? Keep reading!

Bite Beauty Multistick in Almond and Praline

Described as, “a multistick that applies like a cream and wears like a powder for weightless color application—just apply with your finger or a brush on the eyes, lips, and cheeks. With 35 percent powder in each Multistick bullet, this silicone-free formula creates a soft focus finish that’s blendable, breathable, and buildable. It features universal shades for the eyes, lips, and cheeks that compliment all skintones and are formulated to use anywhere on the face.”

Pros

Highly pigmented

Long-lasting

Excellent array of shades

Great as a base for eyeshadow

Magnetic cap

Cons

A bit pricey at $24 a bullet

A little on the drier side

Can accentuate dry patches

Takes a bit of effort to blend

Overall: I like these, however I prefer them as lipsticks first. They are a bit on the drier side and I find that they tend to drag a bit. If lips are properly exfoliated and prepped, then it’s not that much of an issue as they stay on matte. It is a little hard to blend these so using them as blush requires some effort. I’m sure that the neutral shades would work better as blush on my fair skin tone. As eyeshadows, these work best either as a liner or a base and most definitely need a primer to last. The colors and pigmentation on these are gorgeous. Praline is a burnt orange shade while Almond is a reddish brown- both excellent color choices for fall. It’s also nice that this cap is magnetic so it ensures that the cap doesn’t open up in your purse.

Here’s swatches of Almond (top) and Praline (bottom).

Top-Bottom: Almond and Praline

Top-Bottom: Birkin Brown and Almond

I actually found a dupe for the shade Almond. The Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Birkin Brown is a spot on dupe for Almond. In terms of application, Birkin Brown applies a bit more smoother but shade wise, they are pretty much identical.

Have you tried these? What are your favorite shades?

Stephanie

Too Faced Naughty Kisses and Sweet Cheeks Review and Swatches!

October 13, 2016

Happy Thursday everyone!

I’m excited to bring you a review on one of Too Faced’s Holiday 2016 sets. First off, can anyone beat the Christmas in New York theme? Call me crazy but it’s my dream to travel to NYC during the holiday season. Something about it just fascinates me but until that happens, I’ll gladly enjoy dreaming about it.

Okay, back to the review. I tried the Too Faced Lip Injection and instantly knew I had to get it. So I went on the hunt for this one and wouldn’t you know that all the stores I checked didn’t have these in stock. So, the next best thing was this set as it had 3 of the lip plumpers and matching blushes. Was it worth it? Keep reading!

Too Faced Naughty Kisses and Sweet Cheeks

Described as: This fabulously festive set comes with three deluxe Lip Injection Glossy Lip Glosses and three coordinating Love Flush Blushes, all wrapped up in one pretty package. Give as one present or spread the love (and kisses) by gifting each pair separately.

I love how these come ready to gift in case you choose to do so!

This set includes: Mini Lip Injection Glossy Original (clear) and Love Flush Crazy in Love (bright pink); Mini Lip Injection Glossy Milkshake (nude) and Love Flush Baby Love (nude peach); and Mini Lip Injection Glossy Like a Boss (orchid) and Love Flush Dream Lover (lilac).

Pros

Great value set ($36)

Unique/variety of shades

Can be gifted

Blushes are nicely pigmented

Good lasting power

Cons

Blushes are smaller than I’d like

Colors may be too sheer for darker skin tones

Overall: I’m very happy with this set. Considering that a deluxe size of the Lip Injection costs $14, receiving 3 of these plus the blushes makes it a good value. You can keep all 3 or gift them and they come imprinted with a gift tag, ready for you to personalize it. I was a bit skeptical to try the lilac blush and lip plumper but it’s actually a very flattering shade and it sheers out a bit more pink on my cheeks. Both the blushes and lipglosses have good lasting power, with the blush lasting almost all day and the gloss a solid 3 hours. The lip plumpers do tingle for about a minute or so but it does deliver a pouty, fuller lip. My only complaints would be that the blushes are on the small side and it takes a few swipes for my brush to pick up product; also, some of the shades might be too sheer for darker skin tones. Other than that, Too Faced did a great job with this set!

Here is a swatch of the blushes. Top-Bottom: Dream Lover, Crazy in Love and Baby Love

And a swatch of the lip plumpers. Top-Bottom: Original, Like a Boss and Milkshake

I’d love to know, what holiday sets are you looking to buy?

Stephanie

September 2016 Favorites!

October 4, 2016

Hi everyone! I apologize for being MIA mid last week but I had some unexpected things to take care of. Originally, my review and swatches of the Morphe 35O palette should have been up last Thursday but I’ll have it up this coming Thursday so stay tuned for that.

In the meantime, we’re in October so let’s get started with a few of my favorite items I have been using.

PCA Skin Nutrient Toner

Pumpkin spice is everywhere and it’s found its way into my skincare regimen too! Comprised of pumpkin wine, lactic acid and vitamins, this toner leaves my skin soft with a nice glow. The amazing scent also helps me get my pumpkin fix without adding any calories. 😉

Eminence Pink Grapefruit-C Gel

I picked up this up at ICES last month as I was looking for something that would calm my skin down. This light-weight gel is rich in vitamin C and contains peppermint to clear and heal skin while helping to prevent the appearance of blemishes. I’ve definitely noticed that my skin looks more clearer and though this contains peppermint, it doesn’t sting my skin. I use it during the day underneath my moisturizer and it absorbs fairly quickly.

Sweet Treat Lashes in Cake

I received these lashes courtesy of the Peachy Queen boutique and I love them. From the chic casing to the luxe feel, these tapered and layered silk lashes are soft, easy to apply and look glamorous. With 10 different ‘flavors’, you’re sure to find a style that suits you. Bonus perk, the owner, Aimee, is super nice and helpful.

BH Cosmetics Illuminate by Ashley Tisdale Cream Cheek and Lip Tint in Cabana

Part of my birthday haul a few months back, I’ve been using this blush almost every single day for a quick and effortless look. It’s a gorgeous pink shade that has major lasting power and doesn’t compete with your other makeup shades.

Kat Von D Tatto Liner in Trooper

Included in last month’s Sephora box, this liquid liner has become an HG status along with the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Jet Black. It has great pigmentation, glides on smoothly and is long-lasting. *Note: I always wear eye primer.

Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation

We’ve had some extremely warm weather here in So Cal so this light-weight moisturizer was perfect for those days. I used this moisturizer with my foundation to create my own custom made tinted moisturizer.

Here’s a picture of me using the lashes in Cake and the blush in Cabana.

What are some of your favorite items?

Stephanie