Top 5 - August 2015

          I actually really looked forward to this post, last month I struggled to pick five products but this month was a totally different story. Most of these were actually all together on my desk already. I have two items from Ipsy, two new Clinique items and one rediscovery of an old favorite.

 Tarte Bronzer in Park Ave Princess

          This is an ipsy sample and I use this almost everyday. I am painfully pale, sickly even so bronzer is not something I really use as they are all far too dark for me. This one is a game changer, with a light hand I can actually do some contouring. I do not do a lot of contouring as I am not very good to be honest but I love using it to define the hollows of my cheeks and it makes me look a couple steps back from deaths door. At the bottom of this post I have a photo of the product open.

Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizer

           Another ipsy win. I use this every single day no matter what I am doing with my hair, I just spray it on my roots. When it is not too hot to use a blow dryer I get amazing volume from this spray and if I decide to air dry my hair/ am too lazy to go beyond brushing it there is something in it that makes my hair look less greasy and stringy. I am almost out and I will be buying this, I am pretty sure I can not live without it. I am excited to use it in the winter when I will actually be blow drying and styling my hair.

Clinique Acne Solutions All Over Acne Clearing Treatment

           I do not know what is going on with my skin lately, I have never had an issue with acne but it has been bad enough that I started using the whole Acne Solutions line from Clinique and it has made such a difference. For more information check out my full review here.

Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask

          Since I have oily skin I am very guilty of skipping moisturizer, especially in my morning routine. Terrible, I know. I was struggling with a couple dry patches and the creams I had on hand we not doing anything to help. I went looking for an intense moisture mask when I found this. I used it once overnight and once as a quick half hour treatment and the dry spots no other moisturizer could help were gone.I use this overnight and even after washing my face the next day my face feels moisturized without being greasy. With this overnight mask I can use a very light moisturizer under my make up and it is perfect, not dry, not going to make my makeup slide right off. It is quite an intense mask so I alternate between this and my Julep overnight cream.

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette 

          I got this palette for Christmas (shout out to my awesome Mommy) I had gotten away from it over the summer and recently pulled it out again. This is perfect for everyday looks and has a couple darker shades for something a little more smokey. I do not find the shadows are crazy pigmented but for everyday I prefer something buildable so I do not over do it. I would purchase another Naked palette but not the three again, I love it but I could do without the pinky shades. I also love how sturdy the packaging is, it can survive in a suitcase or overnight bag no problem.



Check out last months favorites

Thanks for reading!

A. 

@dirty_cupcake

Favorites #2

Alright let's get right back into it and start with some witchcraft:

Model in a Bottle

This is basically hair spray for your face. It will make your make up last all day, actually all day. My sister did the ice bucket challenge with this on and her makeup stayed flawless. Not a smudge. I love this on days where I spend a fair amount of time on my make up because it makes it last long enough that I feel my morning wasn't a giant waste of time. Also great if you have to go out after work, just add some powder on top, change your shoes and off you go. Spraying this directly on your face takes some work. Three things to remember: 1. Mascara must be dry 2. Do not squint 3. CLOSE YOUR MOUTH.

Nail Life Nail Revitalizer

Ok. Confession time. I have a terrible habit of picking off my gel polish when I am stressed or too impatient to soak it off like I should. This is a serious problem when you consider that I usually change my polish every week to week and a half. My nails were thin and flakey, so bad that my pinky nail started to disintegrate. I have been wearing this religiously for about two weeks now and my nails have already improved immensely; hey are stronger and smoother. I  wore it alone at first but also under polish, if you polish over it make sure it is totally completely dry or else your manicure takes forever to dry. This was about $11 at Sally Beauty and the bottle is huge. If I ever use it up I am going to repurchase.

Biotin

I know what you are thinking: "What the hell is this? I am not here for bullshit supplements" Stay with me. This is basically a Barbie vitamin. It is for hair, nails and skin. Who doesn't want to improve all of those? I gave this a try because I was tired of spending time on my nails only to have them break. After I started taking it regularly I went over a month without breaking a nail, I shit you not. My skin and hair improved but I feel the next product had something to do with my all my good hair days.

Renpure Solutions Cleansing Conditioner

Alright, go pee and get a drink this is going to be lengthy. I am going into great detail because even if no one else ever reads this blog I know my cousin will and Emily I want you to try this. I was having issues with buildup, lifelessness and greasy hair. I found this product while I was wondering around Target hoping to find something to fix my hair; I saw this for ten bucks and bought it not really understanding what it was to be honest. This is your shampoo, conditioner and treatment all in one. I bought the mint and repurchased because it made my head tingly and I loved the smell but they do have a sweet pomegranate as well. The first couple times you try it you will hate it, a lot. Keep with it. It will also take some time to find a shower routine that works for you.

My system:

• Pump two pumps for front hair line and massage in
• Two more pumps for each side, massage in
• Another couple pumps for underneath, massage away
• I flip my head up-side-down because it make it easier to massage it in. I add a few more pumps as I massage it in, making sure to scrub it into my roots for 5 minutes or more. I don't really bother with my ends at all, rinsing it takes care of them unless I used a lot of styling product. 
• Once I have really massaged it in (you may have to add a bit of water to give it some slip) I put my hair in a bun or pin it up for the rest of my shower. I do everything else I have to do, buff, scrub, shave etc.
• After at least ten minutes I add a bit of water and give it another quick scrub.
• Now to rinse, it takes forever. Once I think I have it rinsed out I rinse some more and then some more after that.

Once your hair adjusts to this product you will love it, it took about a week for me. The key is to stick to it, do not go back and forth between shampoo and the cleansing conditioner. I did have to use shampoo after Halloween to get rid of all the hairspray I used, using normal shampoo and conditioner didn't disrupt the cycle. Quite of the reviews I read online said they could go days without washing their hair, I am not there but my hair certainly does not get greasy as fast as it used to. I have not had a single day where I felt like my hair was weighed down since my hair adjusted and it has been about a month and a half. Apparently this is a great dupe for Wren but I wouldn't know as I will not pay $30+ for a small bottle. 

Thanks for reading! Comment, share and spread the word. 

A.