Summer Beauty

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Surprise Summer Pick: Schmidt’s Waves Natural Deodorant

Let’s be real about something for a minute. As much as I might like the concept of natural deodorants in theory, in reality I usually find them disappointing and, if I’m honest, ineffective. After a lifetime of using standard antiperspirants, I find the dampness that natural deodorants leave behind to be disconcerting. Not to mention the traces of B.O. that always seem to make their way through. Occasionally I’ll be drawn to some pretty packaging or rave reviews and will pick a new variety up to test, but I have never found a natural deodorant that tickles my fancy – until now.

I was drifting down the beauty aisles of TJ Maxx when my best friend pointed to an appealing blue and orange labeled tube of Schmidt’s Waves Natural Deodorant and told me it was her absolute favorite. As I trust her with all things beauty-related, I grabbed one and decide to give it a go. I put it in my medicine cabinet and forgot about its existence until I ran out of my usual antiperspirant and needed something to get me through. I swiped it on and hoped for the best.

First let me just say that this deodorant smells like a summer day. It has a coconut sunscreen type of scent that instantly puts me in a good mood. And somehow the scent gets better when it mixes with sweat! I don’t understand it but I will tell you this – this deodorant will have you feeling like a sexy sea nymph cruising the beach on a hot summer day. It hasn’t completely replaced my standard antiperspirant, but it is in my summer rotation. If you’re a natural deodorant skeptic like me, I urge you to give it a try.

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Summer Beauty Must Have: Facial Mists

If you’re currently dealing with the kind of sweltering summer heat that makes you want to fling yourself into the sea, please allow me to introduce you to my favorite summer skincare treat: the facial mist. Lovely, refreshing, and with just a hint of unnecessary self indulgence, I use these little beauties to keep me cool all summer long and here’s why you should, too.

Staying cool this summer with Boscia, Avene and Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Avene Thermal Spring Water is a fine thermal water spray for sensitive or irritated skin. It helps soothe a sunburn, calm redness after a workout, or simply refresh your skin whenever it’s hot or uncomfortable. I keep it in my beach bag so I can use it to cool and hydrate my face after a day of sunning and swimming.

I use Boscia Rosewater Mist with Witch Hazel on an almost daily basis, for three reasons. First, it has a light, pretty wild rose scent that makes me feel like a garden nymph whenever I spritz it on. Second, it has a toning and cooling effect that makes me feel refreshed and instantly more put together every time I use it. And third, the witch hazel makes it extremely effective at soothing brown tail moth rashes. If you don’t have brown tail moths where you live, consider yourself lucky. If you do, do yourself a favor and buy yourself a bottle of this mist!

We’re heading into another few days and nights of hot, humid weather here in my neck of the woods. If you need me, I’ll be chilling over here with my facial mists.

Eye Love Summer
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Eye Love Summer

I have a confession to make: I’ve become a little obsessed with eye treatments. I can’t stop using eye masks and I’m hooked on my new eye cream (more on that below). But here’s the thing: all this eye love seems to be working. When I look in the mirror I’m not seeing crazy dark circles and I’m no longer focusing on those little crinkles near my eyes. And these treatments aren’t just effective, they’re also quick and easy. Eye masks, for example, are generally very easy to apply and take about 10 minutes to work their magic. And since you can wear them while doing almost anything else, they’re a great way to take care of yourself when you’re feeling too busy to squeeze in anything extra.

Here’s a look at my new favorite eye treatments:

Context Vitamin C All Day Eye Cream: This product is actually a lightweight eye gel that glides right on to instantly brighten and smooth the under-eye area. I swear it makes fine lines disappear, and the second day I wore it my coworker mentioned that I looked especially bright eyed that day. I no longer leave home without applying a tiny dab under each eye.

Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Rose Gold Eye Masks: I kept seeing ads for these rose gold foiled eye masks and they looked so fun I had to try them. I ordered a box of them from Sephora (a box contains six pairs) and thoroughly enjoyed lounging on my couch watching the new season of Queer Eye with them on. They didn’t do a whole lot to reduce puffiness but they did brighten my eyes and I felt super glam with them on.

Sephora Cucumber Eye Masks: These claim to be soothing and they definitely are. I used them after work on a long, hot day and loved the cooling sensation of the serum. These masks were a little messy fresh out of the package but they stayed put and left me feeling refreshed.

Bath & Body Works Gold Hydrogel Under Eye Mask with Caffeine: By far my favorite of the eye masks, this pair of rubbery gold masks was easy to apply, fun to wear, and drastically reduced my eye puffiness – caffeine is the key. Next time I’m near a Bath & Body Works I intend to stock up on these little gems!

What are your favorite eye products this summer?

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Summer Must-have: Fresh #SportYourSugar Lip Kit

I have always been a sucker for cute packaging. Three summer-ready lip balms? Neat. Three summer-ready lip balms in a sporty little zipper pouch? Where do I get mine??

The answer is Sephora, and I have to say the Fresh #SportYourSugar Lip Kit is the best beauty purchase I’ve made in a long time. It comes with minis of the brand’s popular Sugar Tinted Lip Treatments in Rose and Honey. I’ve loved the Rose variety for a long time but this is my first experience with Honey and I’m hooked. The flattering warm nude is my new go-to summer lip color. Both of these tinted balms feature SPF 15 as well as the smooth texture and long lasting moisture Fresh is known for.

The real stand out in this kit, however, is the Sugar Sport Treatment. This SPF 30 sunscreen stick provides protection for your eyes, lips and face. My sister and I put this sporty orange tube to the test last week while we vacationed in Disney World. With temperatures in the 90s and hours spent out in the sun, we really got to see what this stick could do. And we’re impressed. We applied it regularly to our lips and were thrilled that it didn’t rub off on our teeth like so many sport balms do. We also swiped the stick around our eyes (no stinging or burning!) and pressed the waxy sunscreen along our parts to avoid the dreaded sunburned scalp. I could not believe how well this stuff held up! After a full day of sweating, Splash Mountain and swimming, the Sugar Sport Treatment was still in place. The best part? Smudging the product into my hair didn’t leave it looking greasy or flat, but it did protect my skin all day. No sun burns for either of us!

My summer beauty routine tends to be fairly minimal but this kit has definitely earned a spot in my beauty bag this season. If you plan on spending any time in the sun this summer, do yourself a favor and buy this!

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Summer Lip Picks

I tend to switch up my go-to beauty products alongside the changes in season, so it’s no surprise that I recently placed an epic Sephora order looking for some new summer favorites. Luckily I was rewarded with not one but two new lip products that I’m sure I’ll be wearing all season long. 

  On really hot, humid days, I’m not willing to put more than sunscreen, a tinted moisturizer and tinted lip balm on my face. These days that lip balm will definitely be Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Quench Lip Recue in Cherry. Though it looks really red in the tube, it’s more of a sheer berry on the lips, and it feels amazing. It features a light minty scent and pleasant cooling sensation, perfect for hot summer days. It’s also ultra moisturizing. I call that a summer win. Quench Lip Rescue comes in a variety of other sheer shades that you can find here. 

  On cooler days, or when I’m looking for something a bit more glam, I’ll be turning to Nars Lipstick in Orgasm. In case you haven’t heard, Nars finally turned their cult favorite peachy pink looks-good-on-everyone blush into a lipstick. While I find the lipstick to be more pink-brown than peach-pink, it’s still a lovely, flattering neutral with a bit of shimmer. For those with an aversion to gritty shimmer particles, fear not – the lipstick has a nice smooth texture. It’s long lasting and light, but it does highlight little lip imperfections, so I’d recommend applying some sort of lip primer first. You can find it online here. 

What lip colors are you wearing this summer?

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August 2015 Empties

Happy Labor Day beauties! The end of summer is painfully close, but today is a beautiful day and I intend to spend it soaking up some delicious late summer rays. Before we say hello to fall, let’s celebrate the holiday with a look back at some of the products that helped me through this season:
August 2015 Empties
Caudalie Make-Up Remover Cleansing Water: I wrote about this new skincare favorite here. I still love it. A perfect summer cleanser.

Gillette Fusion Hydra Gel: This technically belonged to my husband, but I’m pretty sure I used more of this shave gel than he did. With aloe and cocoa butter, it left my skin super soft and allowed for a really close shave.

R & Co Atlantis Moisturizing Shampoo & Conditioner: I took this little duo on a road trip to a beach wedding on a hot summer day. It left my hair feeling clean, smelling fresh, and miraculously free of frizz. I was very impressed.

Suave Tropical Coconut Shampoo: I seem to return to this cheapo shampoo every summer. The light coconut scent is just what I’m looking for in the warmer months, and it’s great cleanser.

Dove Go Fresh Cool Moisture Body Bar: I wrote about this last month, too. Still a fine choice for a summer soap. In other news, I’ve finally used up my soap stash! Hooray!

Whish Three Whishes Almond Body Butter: This thick body lotion left my skin feeling soft, but I don’t think it’s moisturizing enough for the cooler, dryer months. The almond scent was a bit too strong at first but became much more pleasant as the day wore on. It makes a really nice hand cream.

Benefit Bad Gal Lash: When this mascara was first released, I tried it, loved it, and then promptly swore it off because it burned my eyes in the most painful way. Years later, I received this mini and decided to give it another go. I’m so glad that I did! Benefit must have tweaked their formula; it didn’t bother my eyes at all! It did make my lashes look full and gorgeous, though. Bad Gal Lash for the win!

Dr. Jart Dermaclear Micro Water: Another waterless cleanser, this product claims to remove makeup and impurities while toning and brightening skin. While I don’t think it worked as well as the Caudalie cleanser, it did help remove makeup and keep oil in check.

Beauty Protector Protect & Oil: If you’ve ever used products from this brand, you’ve probably noticed the sugary sweet scent they usually have. I’m happy to report that this hair oil had a very mild, hardly noticeable scent. It also kept frizz at bay and protected my hair from being fried this summer, without any greasiness. A great summer hair product.

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Let’s Flirt: Doll 10 HydraGel Cream Blush

Doll 10 HydraGel Cream Blush in FlirtI’m a big fan of blush. Done right, it can really finish a look, adding some pretty polish to your beauty routine. Done wrong, though, it can leave you looking a streaky, clownish mess. It doesn’t matter how natural the color looks in the compact, or, for that matter, how crazy and unnatural it may appear. With blush, it all comes down to texture. That’s why Doll 10 HydraGel Cream Blush is my latest obsession. Its name is very fitting – it has the sheer finish of a gel but the smooth, easy-to-apply texture of a cream, making it super easy to apply and blend. Flirt, a neutral peachy pink shade, leaves a healthy, natural glow, so my cheekbones are accentuated but I don’t look made up. It’s perfect for embracing a little end-of-summer color.

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Inside Influenster’s #SunshineVoxBox

voxbox-blogimageThis has been a lovely summer, filled with all the things that make this season so wonderful: weddings, barbecues, days at the beach, nights out with friends and lots of time spent outside, soaking up as much sun and beautiful scenery as I can before the summer comes to a close. The fun continued when I learned I was selected to receive Influenster’s summer-themed Sunshine VoxBox, filled with tasty treats and warm weather beauty essentials. I’ve spent the last few weeks tasting and testing to my heart’s content. Here’s the scoop:
SunshineVoxBox
Infusium 23 Moisture Replenisher Leave-in Smoothing Crème Enhanced with Avocado and Olive Oil (#Infusium23Smooth): This is definitely one of my favorite products in the Sunshine box, and it has quickly become a beach bag staple. This leave-in conditioner works best if you air dry your hair. It keeps frizz at bay and leaves your hair smelling amazing. I tried using it as part of my everyday styling routine and wasn’t blown away, but when I brought it with me for a day at my favorite swimming spot, everything changed. I applied it generously to my wet, gnarly strands and used my fingers to comb it through. My hair instantly looked and felt better, and within minutes it started to dry in the prettiest, beachiest waves – with no frizz to be found!

Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel Refreshingly Clean Cleansing Cloths (#SelfieReadySkin): I’m usually a big fan of cleansing cloths, and from what I can tell these were non-drying and did a fine job of removing makeup and oil without irritating my skin. However, I could barely stomach the smell of them. I’m not sure what it is, but it made me a little queasy. I was only able to use them a couple of times. If you’re sensitive to scents of any kind, I would avoid these.

Blue Diamond Sriracha Almonds (#BlueDiamondAlmonds): I was worried that these spicy almonds might be too hot for me, but I was happily mistaken! The chili-garlic flavor combo is addictively delicious with just the right amount of kick. I’d recommend them as a tasty and healthy way to satisfy a chip craving.

barkTHINS (#breakupwithboring): The Sunshine box came with a coupon for a free bag of another tasty treat, barkTHINS snacking chocolate. I chose the dark chocolate, almond and sea salt variety, and thought it was really good. The bark was filled with crunchy almond bits and the chocolate was good and dark, not too sweet. My only complaint? I wish there was just a little more salt – I could barely taste it.

Beach bag beauty essentials from Influenster's #SunshineVoxBox

Beach bag beauty essentials from Influenster’s #SunshineVoxBox


SinfulColors Nail Polish (#ColorOutsideTheLines): I received a bottle of polish from the SinfulColors Silk collection, a sheer turquoise called Real Teal. Unfortunately, it was a real dud. The polish seemed cheap from the get-go; the brush deposited color unevenly, making the sheer shade almost imperceptible in some spots and dark and blobby in others. Also, the combination of it being a super sheer, matte blue polish left me looking less like I’d just given myself a manicure and more like I’d just been pulled from the deep freeze. The whole experience was a mess.

Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Soothe Spray Moisturizer (#VaselineSprays): I’ve been wanting to try one of these spray lotions for a while, and I was not disappointed when I did. This aloe spray is perfect for summer, leaving skin cool and refreshed, especially after a day spent in the sun. Plus, it allows you to moisturize your entire body in ten seconds – so convenient. It’s very lightweight, surprisingly hydrating, and smells fresh and clean. It’s a perfect daily lotion for summer.

I received these products free for testing purposes. All opinions are my own.

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Birchbox Best: Key West Aloe Save A Tan After Sun Moisturizer

  My July Birchbox was full of fun stuff, but the only product that really knocked my socks off was this mini bottle of Key West Aloe Save A Tan After Sun Moisturizer. With 80% pure aloe, it’s extremely hydrating and soothing. It left my sun kissed skin soft and healthy. My favorite part? It has a rich coconut scent that smells like a tropical vacation. If you’re spending any time soaking up sun this summer, you’ll want to add this to your stash. 

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July 2015 Empties

July was filled with lots of fresh-smelling summer beauty products. I used up a lot of drugstore staples and found a couple of new favorites. Here’s what I finished last month:
July 2015 Empties
Not Your Mother’s Deja Vu ‘Do Style Extender: Thanks to Influenster, I received this little tube in a VoxBox. I already wrote about it here, but to recap: it smells magnificent and adds nice, lightweight volume, but I can’t say that it extended my style any.

Dove Go Fresh Cool Moisture Beauty Bar with Cucumber and Green Tea Scent: Believe it or not, I am still using up bars of soap that were in my stash when I started my beauty ban back in January 2014. This is one of them. It’s a decent cleanser, featuring the classic Dove hydrating lotion, and the cucumber/green tea scent feels fresh on a hot summer day.

Colgate MaxClean SmartFoam Toothpaste: I really like the way this toothpaste foams up and leaves my mouth feeling extra clean. It claims to be a whitening toothpaste, but I wish it was more effective in that regard. Although, to be fair, I do drink a lot of coffee.

Suave Naturals Juicy Green Apple Shampoo: I can’t say enough good things about this shampoo, which cost me 97 cents. It smells amazingly good – a lot like old school Herbal Essences shampoo – and it left my hair and scalp clean and moisturized. I will definitely buy this again. A summer favorite for sure.

Rite Aid Renewal Aloe Vera Body Lotion: I purchased this after I got way too much sun early in the summer. As far as aloe is concerned, I don’t think it has much, because it didn’t do much to soothe my burned skin. As a daily body lotion, however, it’s a great summer pick. It’s lightly moisturizing, non-greasy, and has a mild, clean scent.

Dove Go Fresh Cool Essentials Cucumber & Green Tea Scent Anti-Perspirant Deodorant: Apparently I was drawn to cucumber and green tea last month! Again, it has a fresh, clean scent that really works this time of year. However, I wasn’t wowed by it as an anti-perspirant. I didn’t feel like it really lasted all day, particularly on warmer or more active days. I don’t know that I’d repurchase this.

Supergoop Everyday Face & Body Lotion and Everyday Sunscreen: I received the tube of SPF 50 sunscreen in a Birchbox and fell in love with it, which prompted me to dig out the packet of SPF 30 lotion for a subsequent beach day. They are both fabulous. This sunscreen is very effective and doesn’t feel sticky or greasy on the skin. It lasts through hours of sweating and swimming, and didn’t make me break out. It’s pricey, but totally worth it.