Beauty Essentials

One of the reasons (one of many) I started this blog is because I felt like I was getting asked questions all the time like, "what makeup do you recommend?' "What hair products do you use?" "How often do you wash your hair?" "Are there any skin care products you SWEAR by?" So I guess I figured if I got asked those questions on a regular basis and had some decent answers then other women were perhaps wondering the same things - so fast forward to Market and Modish and in this particular case, Market and Modish's take on Beauty Essentials.

Every Spring since I can remember, I have LOVED getting the InStyle edition that summarizes all their favorite beauty products from hair products to lipstick to the best round brushes on the market. The Spring edition has always inspired me and made me do a yearly check in of the products I use and/or don't use. And not to mention, in my mind, Spring arrives when that particular InStyle issue hits my mailbox so therefore I wait with baited breath every year for that puppy to slip into my mailbox. Good bye snow, cold, ice and all the Winter gear and hello pops of color, fresh products and Spring motivation. With that said, I decided to do my own take and round up and summarize all my tried and true holy grail beauty essentials. And you also now know I've been working on this post since April, so therefore it is thorough and I have not let one item go unsaid.

Starting from the top:

Hair: My mom says there are less things you can control about aging bodies, but hair is one thing you can control. I could not agree more and this rings more and more true with every passing year. So for starters, I typically wash my hair with Kerastase products. I switch up my shampoo and conditioner fairly regularly and am inclined to go with whatever my hairdresser thinks I need at the time, but Kerastase is my brand. I also use Unite mousse and LOVE it. I use it whenever I wash my hair, which is typically every other day. And I recently bought this round brush that I've quickly become obsessed with. It does not break your hair and leaves a smooth shiny finish. I love this curling iron for making beach waves and I have used this hair brush ever since it was gifted to me years ago for my birthday. And I was recently introduced to this dry shampoo (thank goodness I didn't actually post this in April, huh?) and have quickly become a big fan. It smells awesome and it leaves your hair looking fresh all day.

Skin: The number one reason your face/skin ages faster than it should is due to sun exposure. So if you protect your skin from the sun you're doing the number one thing to keep yourself from aging. I really love Beauty Counter sun protection products and use them for me and the kids routinely. I am also OBSESSED with this tinted moisturizer and have used it for YEARS. It has built in SPF and the coverage is just enough and it does not leave my skin feeling greasy even after a long day. I have recently started seeing some more prominent wrinkles and fine lines so I have invested in this daily vitamin C serum, which I love, but I think I'm aging faster than this serum can keep up, so I plan to add this Retinol to my regimen this Fall. Skin Ceuticals is the H O L Y G R A I L of the skin world, which is why I use their cleanser, exfoliator, and one of their moisturizers. And this eye cream is 100. Perfect combination of moisture plus ability to fade fine lines. A keeper for sure. But, my overall thoughts are: daily SPF application, a facial serum and a good eye cream are the three keys to success.

Makeup: I recently discovered Beauty Counter's eye shadow pallet in "romantic" and I've become rather hooked. I swear by this mascara - it involves zero chance of racoon eyes and completely comes off with soap and water, which saves you from buying makeup remover. I already mentioned I'm obsessed with this tinted moisturizer. I do not leave home without applying this under eye concealer. It makes me look like I got all the sleep I didn't. ;) I love a little dash of this bronzer to brighten things up, especially in the Winter months. And this blush has made my cheeks pop for years - I've seriously worn this blush since college (or maybe before). And I'm not a huge lipstick fan. I can't stand when the wind blows and my hair gets caught in my lipstick and I also cringe when I try to drink water and my lipstick is stuck to the cup or bottle - totally grosses me out. But I will wear a tinted lip moisturizer and these two (this and this ) are by far my faves. I will wear a lip color when the opportunity presents itself - date night, a GNO, a fancy soiree, etc. But as a rule, I do not apply lipstick every single day. I will also say, I take breaks from makeup. I've taken an extended break due to this quarantine, but I typically do not wear make up at least one or two days per week. I let my skin breathe as is. It's amazing. Hopefully ya'll have been trying it. ;)

So that's it. You now know all my beauty secrets, must haves, things I can't live without, and items I'm hoping to try. My parting piece of wisdom would be to wear sunscreen - that is my number one beauty advice. I was asked last Summer at a Cubs game (remember when we could go to games and stuff?) what I did to my skin by a few cool gals in their 20's and without a doubt I said SUNSCREEN. I wear it every day, I apply extra when I'm in the direct sun and I now wear a sun hat. The rest will fall into place if you wear sunscreen. Believe me!

Happy Summer!

AFK

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