Beach SPFs: How I Protected my Skin on My Recent Beach Weekend

Developing melasma was both a blessing and a curse.  It was a blessing, because I am now supremely aware of the damaging effects of the sun.  I've been so diligent about my skin care and have seen such improvement in the past year or so that I don't want to undo all the bad I've undone by sun damage.  It was a curse, of course, because of it's appearance.

Here's how I saved my skin this past weekend at the beach:

San Diego Hat Company Ribbon Hat

I bought this hat about a year ago from my beloved Haute Look.  I have this exact hat, but in green, and it is fabulous.  While I prefer the look of straw hats a little more, I love this one because it is extremely packable and fold-able.  It also has a very high SPF, and the wide brim helps cover even my shoulders and stomach.  

Coppertone Sport SPF 50 Sunscreen 

This is the BEST sunscreen I have ever used.  While I do really love the sprays, I feel like they don't last very long for the price.  So, I go old school and have my hubby slather this stuff all over my back and shoulders.  We also used this baby for our Caribbean honeymoon and didn't get an ounce of burn.
DISCLAIMER:  I also tried Banana Boat sunscreen for this trip, and it was complete and total crap.  I got red almost immediately, so I tossed it right away.  I do NOT recommend Banana Boat sunscreens.

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment with SPF 15 in Rose

This stuff is hella expensive.  However, I've received tons of samples in both my Birchbox for this past month and for my Sephora Beauty Insiders Birthday Gift.  So, I brought this along with me to the beach, and it was amazing.  Chapped, sunburned lips are the worst, and this stuff completely prevented it.  It is extremely soft, so it needs to be kept in a cool place and not baking in the sun, but my lips looked smooth and soft by the end of the trip.  Winning!

What are your favorite SPF options for the sun?

My Thoughts on Dry Shampoos

I used to be a crazy hair washer.  I remember having a friend in college who wouldn't wash her hair but every 4 days or so, and I was disgusted!  Now, I can see how smart she was to not want to damage her colored hair further.  Not washing but every 4 days is a but excessive for me personally, but I have been longing to keep my now healthier hair (after a few inches trim and going darker a few weeks ago), and have tried to go an extra day without washing for the last few weeks.  It isn't as bad as I thought it would be thanks to dry shampoo.

There are TONS of dry shampoos out there.  Some are pricey, and some are not.  I have also heard of many home remedy-type dry shampoos including baby powder and corn starch, which I haven't tried.

I've written before about my beloved Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo.  It is insanely cheap and works very well.  Yes, it weighs your hair down a bit, and it comes out as a white powder.  However, the price easily justifies the few quirks that it has.

I've also tried the Tresemme Fresh Start Volumizing Dry Shampoo.  The price is comparable to the Suave one, but the results just aren't there for me.  It left my hair feeling dirtier than before, and didn't feel as light as the Suave.

I recently received a sample of some AMAZING dry shampoo from one of my Birchboxes.  The Lulu Organics Lavender and Clary Sage Hair Powder is incredible.  It makes my hair feel so clean and soft.  It is just powder like it says, and you have to shake it onto your hair.  So, the application process could use some tweaking (sometimes I end up with a bunch of white powder on my forehead if I have a heavy hand that morning), but it's wonderful otherwise.  The smell is fabulous, and I do really like that is organic (I've been slowly making the switch lately).  I don't quite think that I can justify the cost, though, especially since I love my cheap little can O' Suave.

Either way, though, I think dry shampoos are wonderful.  They can not only revive day-old hair, but they can also add lots of volume and body to thin and fine hair.

LUSH

I discovered Lush yesterday, and I think I'm going to be dangerously hooked.  After viewing a Makeup by Tiffany D Lush haul, I was intrigued.  Skeptical, I googled to see if there were any Lush stores in my area.  Lo and behold, there is actually a Lush stand in one of our local Macy's.  My mom and I were in the area, so we stopped in.  Oh my goodness, it was heavenly.  I could immediately smell the aroma steps away from the store.  It was intoxicating.

 While it was a very small store, my mom and I spent a lot of time browsing through just about everything.  I knew I wanted to try the bath fizz bombs and bubble bars as well as a massage bar.  I also picked up a deliciously smelling bubblegum lip scrub that was near the register (darn impulse items).

I tried my Butterball Bath Bomb last night, and it was incredible.  I cut it in half, because I felt like the entire bomb would be wasteful, and it was perfect for my normal sized bath tub.  My skin felt so incredibly soft; it was amazing!  The smell was also intoxicating, but not too strong.  I kept smelling my skin all night; I couldn't get enough of it.

Before bed, I also tried my Bubblegum Lip Scrub.  Oh my.  It is incredible.  I am an attractive mouth breather when I sleep, so my lips tend to get extremely dry.  This scrub not only made my lips super soft, but it tasted and smelled incredible.  I wouldn't go and eat an entire jar of this stuff, but it definitely comforts me to know that my lip scrub is non-toxic. 

I can't wait to try my other items and review them soon!

Beauty Balm Review

I've been wanting to try a beauty balm for a while now (or a BB as it is labeled most of the time), and finally grabbed one a few weeks ago.  I was hesitant, because I didn't know what to expect, and my skin can be very fickle at times.  I ended up having a few coupons plus my amazing Target Red Card Debit Card where you get 5% back on everything you buy, so I picked up the Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream in Light/Medium.

I absolutely LOVE it.  It may be a little greasy for people who have acneic, super oily skin.  It has made such a difference in the radiance of my skin.  It is similar to a tinted moisturizer, but thicker, and has slight concealing properties.  I still apply my beloved Elta Sunscreen over it, but it truly is a wonderful product.  It is also one of the cheaper BB Creams that I have seen, and I love my some drugstore beauty products, so that is an added bonus.  Even my beloved Real Simple Magazine recommends it.

Do you have any experiences with BB Creams?

It's That Time of Year Again...Anthropologie's Semi Annual Sale

It's that time of year again....semi annual sales time!!  My beloved Anthropologie's semi-annual tag sale started yesterday, so, naturally, I headed over there asap to ogle over their sales.  As of late, I have actually been pretty unimpressed with Anthro.  Even with my birthday discount, I only purchased a few items.  I was pleasantly surprised at both the selection and price of what they had on sale.  Here's what I purchased:

Two Tone Drops in Turquoise

I have been wanting some turquoise and gold Ippolita-esque earrings for a LONG time now, and they are extremely hard to find.  These babies have been on my Anthro wish list for a while now, and finally my store got them.  I purchased them at full price, and they are worth every penny.

Magnetic Fields Tee

I was a bit iffy about this top, but it fits SO well, and is super flattering.  I can picture wearing it during the summer with jeans or shorts with some cute sandals.  I also need to start incorporating more prints into my wardrobe, so I got it.

Do Sul Mug

I recently painted an old craft table we had a gloss white, and it is fabulous.  It's going to be my new craft table/desk.  To go with the makeover, I decided to purchase this and it's matching plate (below) to put on my desk to corral pens and other things.  I LOVE the print and colors.

Do Sul Salad Plate

Drop Waist Mini Dress

I had been eying this dress for a while, and had heard amazing reviews about it.  They had it on sale at my store for a mere $30 in my size, so I snatched it up.  I really love it.  It's pretty short, so it definitely needs tights or leggings for me to feel fully comfortable, but for that price point, I'll happily add something to the outfit to complete it.

Winnowed Lines Tank

I have been wanting this top forever!  Several months ago, I pinned this top and stated, "I WILL have this for my honeymoon."  Well, we got back from our honeymoon over a year ago, and still no top.  It was, however, on sale in my size today, and I snatched it up!

Ribbed and Striped Scoopneck

I've been trying to 'up the ante' in regards to my lounge style lately.  For some reason, I just don't think it's very attractive to my husband for his wife to be lounging around the house in paint-stained college t-shirts.  This top was a great price, and it's super comfortable and very long.  I imagine myself wearing this top with a pair of black leggings on our overnight flight to London in September. 

Overall, it was a great shopping day.  I could have easily gotten more items, but I reined myself in.

a new gamechanger face scrub

I've been receiving Birchbox for a few months now, and for the most part really enjoy it.  In my last box, I received some samples of a face scrub.  Since I've been on Retin A, my face has been insanely dry and peeling (which is what it's supposed to do), and my Vivite scrub just wasn't cutting it anymore.  I have also found that my skin is actually starting to change and become dryer overall.

Here is what came in my Birchbox:

It is Befine Exfoliating Cleanser with Brown Sugar, Sweet Almond, and Oats.  The first thing I liked when I opened it was the scent.  Oh my gosh, it smells like fall, and I want to eat it.  It's fabulous.  The scrub is also super thick and luxurious.  It has a feel and texture that I've never experienced from a scrub before.  And like it says, it's also a cleanser, so it foams.  I LOVE it.  I immediately ordered it and have been using it every morning to slough off the dryness from the night before.  It was changed my skin texture to incredibly soft and smooth.  My face looks more radiant than ever, and I am forever changed.

I may be a little dramatic, but when I find a new product that I absolutely love, I can't wait to share it!  I purchased mine from Birchbox, but you can also find this scrub on Amazon.  Enjoy!!!

eye makeup faves

My makeup routine is ever-changing, and is always dynamic.  However, I have a few beauty items that I have continually used throughout the years, and that I will probably continue to use until they (gasp!) stop making the item.

First of all, the Urban Decay Naked Palette is so special, so amazing, that it will get it's own post (to come).

ELF Angled Eyeliner Brush:  I purchased this brush at Target for $1!!!  It is literally my favorite eyeliner brush that I have ever used.  The tip of the brush is angled so that you can actually see the line that you are drawing on your eye.  It is also very fine and small, so you can easily control the thickness of your eyeliner line.  It is also fine enough to be able to 'wing' your liner.  

Diorshow Extreme Iconic Waterproof Mascara in Black:  This stuff is fabulous for a waterproof mascara.  I still have it from my wedding day, and it will be my go-to mascara in the future.  It goes on so smoothly and defines each and every one of my teeny tiny eyelashes.

Covergirl Lash Blast Volume in Black:  I have this mascara because I stupidly forgot my mascara at home during my honeymoon.  With only a Walgreens near us in San Juan, I decided to give this stuff a try.  I have a severe love-hate relationship with this stuff, and I had tried several variations many times before.  My problem is that this stuff lasts about 5 minutes (the tube dries out quickly) and that it clumps like crazy.  However, it gives me the volume that I want in a mascara.  After I got home from our honeymoon, I had an epiphany:  LAYERING!  So, I layered this mascara under my beloved Diorshow and viola: perfect, voluminous lashes without the clumping.

Bobbi Brown Longwear Eyeliner Gel in Black Ink:  Black eyeliners and mascaras always look better on my eyes.  Brown tends to look too red and brings out any broken capillaries and/or redness in my allergy-prone eyes.  If you purchase ONE thing off this blog review, it should be this.  It is a bit pricey, but lasts forever.  I've had my pot for about two years now, and it still has lots left over, without any drying out.  This gel is truly long wearing, and super blendable, which I love.  It doesn't dry as soon as you apply it, so you have some time to smudge/blend if desired.  (And yes, I've tried the Maybelline one, and it just doesn't compare).

 Japonesque Eyelash Curler:  I bought this teeny tiny little curler off of Amazon, and am glad I did.  It gives me that awake look that I so desperately need in a lash curler without any pinching and tugging.

Clinique Soft Brown Brow Shaper Powder:  This stuff is AMAZING!  I have pretty sparse eyebrows, and this does a wonderful job of filling them in without looking too penciled on.  This stuff also lasts FOREVER.  I've had this one for ten years now (no joke), and I just was the brush it comes with and so far, so good.  I still have about half of it left, too.

What are your eye makeup favorites??