Products I Love - My Top 5 Favorite Lush Products

I'm a huge Lush fan. All-natural, hand-made, never tested on animals, amazing scents, real ingredients - what's not to love? I can honestly say I've never purchased something from Lush that I didn't like. Unfortunately, the closest Lush store to me isn't all that close, so every time I get a chance to pop into the store I pick up my old favorites and try out some new things as well. I have several Lush products that are a part of my regular routine, and some that I save for special occasions or pamper nights. 

On a regular basis, I use their Breath of Fresh Air Toner. Don't let the word "toner" throw you off - this is basically just a facial mist. It's not at all drying and doesn't have any alcohol in it like a lot of traditional toners. Facial mists are so refreshing; I love to use this during the summer when it's super hot outside. It's made with seawater, seaweed extract, & aloe vera so it's very soothing and moisturizing. I spritz this onto clean skin and then follow up with a moisturizer. 

Another favorite of mine is the Ocean Salt Face & Body Scrub. I keep this in my shower and use it weekly on my body. It's made with sea salt, lime, and vodka so it's refreshing and gives your skin a very deep clean, but it also has avocado and coconut to keep skin moisturized. When my face is feeling particularly dry, I use this as a facial scrub, too. I love the smell of this! Reminds me of the beach.

One of my favorite cleansers to use in the morning is Angels on Bare Skin. I have very dry skin, so while I remove my makeup and cleanse with a more heavy-duty cleanser at night, in the mornings, I like to use something gentle and moisturizing. I don't like to strip my skin of necessary oils in the morning. This cleanser doesn't really lather or foam up like some cleansers, and because of the ingredients and consistency, it gently exfoliates as well. 

My new favorite from Lush is the Ro's Argan Body Conditioner. I picked this up a few weeks ago and I have been obsessed with it since then. This is a shower lotion. Yes, a shower lotion. This is meant to be applied to damp skin while you're still in the shower and then rinsed off before getting out of the shower. This. Smells. So. Good. I could smell this all day. It's made with rose, cocoa butter, almond and Argan oils. I'm pretty lazy when it comes to moisturizing my skin after a shower and this becomes a bigger issue in the winter when my skin is much drier. Slathering this on in the shower and rinsing it off quickly is much easier and it leaves my skin so soft and hydrated. I have used this every other shower and I have not had any dryness at all. It was a little pricey at almost $35 for about 8 and a half ounces, but I will definitely be repurchasing this. It was totally worth the price to me - it feels so luxurious on the skin, smells amazing, and really works. Also, it doesn't take much to really moisturize a large portion. I still have more than half of the pot left and I've been using this for several weeks now. 

My last Lush staple is their Butter Ball Bath Bomb. I love to try out all their seasonal bath products, but this is one that I always pick up to use when I feel like a nice luxurious bath. It smells so good - like creamy vanilla and cocoa butter. This fizzes up as soon as you drop into your bath, makes the whole room smell like warm vanilla, and rehydrates skin that may have been dehydrated by a hot bath. I keep a few of these in my bathroom and they scent the entire room. 

I love making a trip to the Lush store to see what new bath bombs they have and any other products I need to try. Let me know what you can't live without from Lush!

Until next time! xoxo

October Favorites!

It's my favorite time of year! I love fall and the clothes, food & drink, decor, weather and everything else that comes with it. Unfortunately, we only had a few days of autumn weather in Texas, but towards the end of the month it finally started to cool down. I have several beauty and non-beauty favorites that I have been loving all through the month of October!

LUSH lip scrub - LUSH makes several different flavors of lip scrubs. This is their winter version - it's cola flavored and bright red. You apply this and gently scrub it into dry lips. It's made from castor sugar & coconut oil so you can lick it off and you're ready to apply your lip product. It has cherry & date extract, so it's a bright red and tastes like cherry cola. It will run you about $9 and I have had mine since last December, so it lasts quite a while.

Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover - This is a waterproof eye makeup remover from Sephora's own collection. I have the 4.2 oz bottle and a little bit goes a long way so this will last me a lifetime. I typically use this in the morning if I have any mascara or liners smudges around my lashes or under my eyes before I apply my moisturizer and makeup for the day. I also use this to clean the gel liner off of my angled liner brushes. You shake it to mix it up, and the bottle dispenses it drop-by-drop. The packaging hasn't ever leaked on me, so it would be a good travel makeup remover as well. I picked this up for $10.50 near the registers at Sephora. 

Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation - I have been loving this lately as a tinted moisturizer. I typically stay away from matte foundations because I have dry skin, but I wanted to give this a try since it was a mousse. The finish of this foundation depends on how I choose to apply it. I sometimes dab it on with my fingers quickly as a sheer "tinted moisturizer" just to smooth and slightly blur my skin. When I want a little more coverage, I use a damp beauty blender. I make sure to moisturize well before applying this and use a damp applicator so that it doesn't look cakey or dry on my skin. It matches my skin tone perfectly and it's lightweight and easy to throw on for a quick cover-up. I don't use this on a daily basis, but its a good product to swipe on if you're in a hurry but want to look put-together. I picked this up at Walgreens for around $6.

Sephora MicroSmooth Baked Luminizer  - I have this in the shade "Stardust." It's a highlight powder with a gold shimmer to it. It doesn't have glitter or any chunky sparkle to it - it's so smooth and flawless and adds a beautiful highlight to cheek bones. I use this on my cheek bones, brow bones, and even as an eye shadow sometimes. It's versatile and compact and never looks chalky on the skin. This is a good highlight for fair skin but I think it will work for so many other complexions as well. It costs $14 at Sephora. 

Stardust

If you've been reading my posts, you already know how much I love Benefit Hervana blush. If you haven't, you can read about it here. It has been my go-to blush during the month of October.

MAC pigment in naked - I've rediscovered this! I bought this years ago and forgot about it until recently. It's slightly shimmery and it's the perfect nude. I sweep it all over the lid & crease and pop on some mascara and go. Love it. MAC pigments run around $21, which is only slightly more than the basic shadows, and you get a ton of product.

Naked

Vince Camuto Perfume - I have actually been wearing this all year round, but it's especially perfect for fall and winter. This is a slightly floral, vanilla scent but it has more musky notes like leather, patchouli, and amber. The floral notes are rose and jasmine. I always get compliments when I wear this and I can't get enough of this scent. Besides the lovely fragrance, the bottle is so pretty and looks really nice on display on a vanity or dressing table.

Glade room sprays in Pumpkin Pie & Red Apple - These smell SO good and make me really feel like it's fall. The scents linger for days and when I use these, guests always say the house smells amazing and so much like fall. The pumpkin scent smells like pumpkin spice, and the red apple is a crisp and fresh apple scent. I also bought the Glade plug-ins in the Red Apple scent as well. Glade always comes out with really amazing fall and winter scents and I always go crazy buying them up. They have recently released their holiday/winter scents and they sound amazing. Can't wait to check them out!

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte & Oprah Chai Tea Latte - I always anxiously await the arrival of the PSL, and this year it was released early. We had a few cold & rainy days early in October and I quickly made a Starbucks run to have my first PSL of the season. I'm not a huge coffee drinker, I typically prefer tea, but I'm not a big fan of to-go hot teas at Starbucks. My standard Starbucks order is usually a soy chai tea latte and I switch to the frappuccino in the summer. I waited quite a while before I gave the Oprah Chai a shot and I'm sorry I did because I love it! It isn't drastically different than the original chai, but it is a bit bolder and the flavors seem more pronounced. Also, a portion of proceeds go to Oprah's education foundation. I'm currently sipping a chai tea latte and loving that they've brought out the festive red cups!

What were your favorites this past month? What are your favorite fall staples? Happy fall everyone!

Nighttime Skincare Routine

Removing your makeup at the end of the day is one of the most important aspects of skincare. I can't remember the last time I slept in my makeup but I do admit I'm not always diligent with my nighttime skincare routine. Give yourself plenty of time to remove your makeup properly and cleanse your skin. My nighttime routine is much longer than my morning routine so I can make sure I'm taking care of my skin and putting back what the day took away. 

My first step is to remove my makeup. I use this Garnier Cleansing Oil and massage it into my face and eyes to remove even waterproof mascara. It feels a little odd at first to put oil on top of your makeup, but this cleansing oil melts away all the makeup on your skin so you can wipe it away with a warm towel. 

My next step is to cleanse. I use the Philosophy Purity cleanser to clean my skin now that there's no makeup there. Purity will also remove any remaining makeup (even eye makeup) and it gently and naturally cleanses the skin without being too drying. This keeps my skin clear without irritation. 

If my skin is particularly dry, I use a scrub. I choose between the LUSH Ocean Salt Scrub and The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion to smooth my skin.

A few nights of the week, I use a face mask. I choose a mask depending on what issues I'm experiencing at that time. If I'm dry, I use The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Mask. If I'm experiencing a break out, I use The Body Shop Tea Tree Mask. If I'm feeling oily or I suspect a breakout coming, I use one of the Formula 10.0.6 Mud Masks - I get these at Ulta and I LOVE them. They're under $10 for a large tube of the mask and it lasts forever. These smell so amazing and they use really good and natural ingredients. Since these are mud masks, they dry out my skin a little so I have to moisturize heavily after I use them.

Next, I use two essential oils on my skin. I use Tea Tree Oil and dab it on any spots or areas prone to breakouts. It always clears up my skin quickly. I also use Lemon Oil on my skin. Lemon oil helps keep skin clear and bright. Lemon oil can reduce scarring from breakouts as well. I do not use lemon oil if I have used a scrub or exfoliator because it can burn. 2-3 drops is plenty. 

Before moisturizing, I spritz a little bit of this LUSH toner water to help my moisturizers sink in.

On my eyes, I use the Origins A Perfect World for Eyes and just dab this around my eye area and the delicate skin underneath. I love the smell of this whole range. It has white tea in it and vitamin A to firm the skin. 

My last step is to moisturize. Typically, I use my trusty Boots No 7 Beautiful Skin Hydration mask. I've talked about this before, so I won't go on too much about it, but I use a light layer of this as a nighttime moisturizer to moisturize my dry skin. 

Just before bed I dab a little of this Yu Be skin cream onto my lips so I can wake up in the morning with smooth and moisturized lips. I love this stuff!

What products are in your nighttime routine? Share them below so I can try them out!

Wintertime Dryness

It's officially fall (or Autumn, depending on where you live) and although it doesn't feel like it in Texas, cold weather is approaching. This is both good and bad news for me; good because I love cold weather, and bad because I have dry skin. When I say dry, I mean really dry. If I'm not on top of my moisturization routine, it's not a good situation. When dealing with dryness, flakiness, and peeling, there are a few steps you can take to ensure moisturized skin. These are my go-to products for dry skin care:

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

This is my everyday moisturizer. I put it on before applying makeup and I use it at night after my skincare routine. A little goes a long way so I think it's priced fairly. I keep a travel-sized tube of this in my nightstand and I use the large pump for my everyday use. They make a different version that's a "gel" for other skin types. 

Boots No 7 Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask

I rarely use this as a mask, but as a deep moisturizer. I apply a thin layer to my skin (in lieu of my regular moisturizer) and go to sleep. It's a little greasy so it wouldn't do well under makeup but its perfect overnight. When I was reading the reviews, a lot of users reported that they didn't like the smell, however, I don't mind it. It does have a clean/plastic smell to it but it isn't too strong so it doesn't bother me. I imagine if a thicker layer is applied as a mask, the smell would be stronger but I don't find the smell offensive. My skin drinks this up and it really helps moisturize my skin when I'm having a particularly dry day, or if I've just used a drying skincare product. 

LUSH Oatifix Fresh Face Mask

I love LUSH products and this face mask is one of my all time favorites. It's made with oatmeal, bananas, and vanilla, so it smells amazing! It's fresh and all natural so it needs to be refrigerated and it has an expiration date. I take it out of the fridge for about 10 minutes before I apply it so it's easier to spread. I apply a generous layer and leave it on for about 10-15 minutes. Then, I use a warm cloth to remove it and follow up with moisturizer. It's just over $6 and lasts for several applications. 

Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream

This stuff means business. I use this on my lips when they're dry and cracked, my feet and any rough skin patches, and any severely dry areas on my face during winter. The smell is similar to Vicks, so it's not great but this moisturizer absorbs SO quickly that you won't even have time to be bothered by the smell. It's formulated specifically to absorb effectively into your skin and it definitely works. I keep a small tube in my nightstand to put on my lips before bed. When I've had this on all night, I wake up with super soft lips that have been totally restored. I also have the 2.5 oz. tub in my bathroom for feet, rough patches, cuticles, etc. It's perfect for anyone because it's non-greasy, absorbs quickly, and moisturizes deeply. I'm interested to try other products by Yu-Be. You can find this at Sephora. 

LUSH Breath of Fresh Air Toner

I usually run in the opposite direction of a toner. In my mind, a toner is an astringent and it usually dries my skin terribly. But, when I was in the LUSH store and tested out Breath of Fresh Air, I was hooked. It's a cross between a moisturizer primer and a refreshing spray. It contains rose and aloe, so it helps to soothe and moisturize skin. I spray this onto my face after cleansing, and immediately follow up with moisturizer while my skin is still damp. It's also nice in the summer, on a plane, or any other time you need a cool refresher. The huge bottle lasts forever and is reasonably priced. 

Vaseline Spray & Go Total Moisture

This is a body lotion in a spray bottle, that applies as a fine mist. Genius. You still have to rub it in, but it takes seconds and it's much more convenient than conventional lotion. I wasn't convinced that this could be moisturizing because it feels very thin and it's not at all greasy, but this moisturizes SO well that I can feel its effects for days after applying. I like the smell and my favorite part about it is that it disappears quickly with absolutely no greasy residue. You can apply this after a shower and hop right into bed without sticking to everything. The spray is continuous and it can be sprayed upside down, so it's convenient for the entire body.

Last, but not least: water. If you're dehydrated, you can bet your skin is, too. I can tell immediately when I'm dehydrated from my lips, and later, from my skin. It's important to drink plenty of water for many reasons, but dry skin is one of them. If you struggle with dry skin, try upping your water intake and see how your skin improves. 

I'm always trying moisturizing products, so leave your favorites below so I can try them, too!