July Favorites

My day to day makeup routine hasn't changed much since June. I'm still wearing minimal makeup because it's hot.  So this month  thought I'd share a few products that I use every day that are sort of my unsung heroes.

Estee Lauder Powder Brush I got this from my mom years ago who got it as a GWP.  I love this brush for  applying powder. The bristles are soft and don't shed. I've been using this for years.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light. This is a little pricey at $29.  I've had this for a couple of years but didn't start using it every day until this year. So it should last for a while. I use this to set my foundation or BB.

Smith's Rosebud Salve I keep this beside my bed and apply to my lips before going to bed. It does a great job of keeping my lips hydrated throughout the night. I sometimes use this on my elbow as well. I have a tendency to prop my left elbow up on my desk and rest my chin in my hand. This makes the skin on my elbow rough. :(  I need to start using this for my cuticles more.

NYX Pin Up Tease Mascara This is my new favorite mascara. If you haven't read my review you can check it out here.

Day of the Dead Hot/Cold Soothing Pad My sister made this for me when I was having my gall bladder removed. Then I would microwave it for a few minutes and put it on my shoulders to alleviate the pain of the gases from the laproscopic surgery leaving my body. I rolled my ankle really bad a few weeks ago and I've been keeping this in the freezer so I can prop up and ice my ankle. Thanks Weaz!

What's in My Travel Bag?

I just got back from a four day/three night business trip to Burbank, CA. My makeup collection and skincare routine have changed drastically since I last traveled for business in September. I decided that I didn't want to deal with the hassle of checking my luggage so this was all in my carry on luggage. It was really difficult for me to decide what would stay and what would go and I was really trying to pack light.

Makeup Remover Wipes, 3-1-1 Liquids Bag, Cosmetics Bag

The makeup remover wipes and my cosmetic bag were in my carry on suitcase and I wasn't required to pull them out for inspection.  I was able to fit a lot of products in my one quart sized bag for liquids.  I also took a full sized bottle of contact solution which doesn't count as part of your liquids. So don't waste valuable real estate in your liquids bag on those small bottles of contact solution. In the US this is considered a medication, you have to pull it out to be scanned with the rest of your liquids but it doesn't have to be 3oz. When I left Vegas, they pulled me aside and did an additional scan on my contact solution to confirm it wasn't anything dangerous. When I went through security at Burbank, they didn't care. 

Contents of my 3-1-1 liquids bag

I got all of this in my bag of liquids and had a little bit of room to spare. Oh thank you subscription services! 

• Crest Toothpaste
• UD Lip Junkie Lip Gloss in Wallflower (free w/purchase)
• NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in Buttery Nude reviewed here
• Lorac Lip Gloss in Rich Garnet reviewed here
• Maybelline Dream Lumi Concealer in Ivory
• Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara in Extreme Black (free w/purchase)
• Kerastase Elixir hair serum (Birchbox)
• UD Primer Potion in Original 
• Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation in Buff 4C (free sample from Ulta)
• Harvey Prince Yogini Perfume (Birchbox)
• Inglot YSM Foundation in 41  (free w/purchase)
• Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (free sample from Ulta)
• Regenepure DR Shampoo (My scalp is super sensitive so no using the hotel shampoo for me)
• Regenpure NT Conditioner
• Boscia Cleansing Gel (Sample Society)
• Mac Fix+
• Ahava Essential Day Moisturizer (Birchbox)
• Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner in Charcoal 

Cosmetics bag contents

• UD 24/7 Eyeliner in Whiskey
• UD 24/7 Eyeliner in Peversion
• Almay brown eyeliner (I use this to dip in my gel liner to apply to the waterline)
• My Inglot Neutral palette ( #353, 341, 337)
• My Inglot Smokey eye palette (# 324M, AMC #36, 387M, 348M, 391)
• Milani Baked Blush Luminoso
• Dermalogica Microfoliant (Sample Society)
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Light
• Cover Girl Powder Natural Ivory
• compact mirror

Travel Tools

This case is the one the e.l.f. 11 piece Studio Set comes in. I like it because it's super flat and fits easily in a suitcase.

• Estee Lauder Powder Brush
• e.l.f. Powder Brush
• e.l.f.. Blush Brush
• e.l.f Fan Brush
• e.l.f Mineral Concealer Brush (free w/purchase)
• MAC 217
• MAC 239SE
• e.l.f. Contour Brush
• MAC 219SE
• e.l.f Small Smudge Brush
• Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge

So that's pretty much what I can't leave home without for a few days. I could do a nice neutral day look or a dramatic smokey eye for evening. What can't you leave home without?

Tinted Moisturizer

Since I've been recuperating, I haven't wanted to bother with putting my full face on.  If you're on the go or just not used to wearing a lot of makeup, give a tinted moisturizer a try.

All you need is a tinted moisturizer you like and a tinted lip balm or lip gloss and you are set! You will look more polished without looking too "made up".  It also doesn't require much effort. I know for us desert dwelling women, moisturizer and lip balm are a daily must have! So you're really not adding anything to your daily routine.

In addition to a lip gloss or a lip balm you can add some blush or mascara but this is completely optional. I add a little blush because I'm so pale. It's nice to get a little color back in the cheeks. If you have combination or oily skin you may want to apply powder to the T zone area.

I have my favorite tinted moisturizer but I'm always on the look out for a new one.My favorite is the MAC Studio Tint.  I also tried the e.l.f Studio Tinted Moisturizer and the Cover Girl Aqua Smoothers Tinted Moisturizer.

 

Cover Girl Aqua Smoothers Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 ($6-8) In Fair to Light is extremely sheer. It works OK as a moisturizer but did not have nearly the pigmentation or the coverage I expect from a tinted moisturizer. The texture was that of a thin liquid. Bat's Rating: 4 (only because it does actually moisturize)

e.l.f Studio Tinted Moisturizer  SPF 20 ($3) In Porcelain Works well as a moisturizer. The coverage was fairly good. If your skin is pretty even toned this may work for you.  The color of this was too dark and too yellow for me. The texture is similar to a foundation but it wears very light.  Bat's Rating: 6.5


 MAC Studio Tint  SPF 15 ($30) In  Light  Works well as a moisturizer. Full coverage without feeling heavy on the skin. Texture is similar to the e.l.f.. It's firm but it applies easily.  It is the most expensive but this is one of those times, I feel you get what you pay for. One tube goes a long way as well.  Bat's Rating: 9

MAC Studio Tint, e.l.f Studio Tint, and CG Aqua Smoothers is the shiny line to right of the e.l.f

You can see in the above picture just how sheer the Cover Girl is. No coverage at all. It was a big disappointment.. Here I am with the MAC Studio Tint and Estee Lauder Lip Gloss in Berry.

Trying not to sneeze!

The day I shot this video I picked up Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Hibiscus for $7. I love it! If you're a fan of Burt's Bees you'll like this product. It glides on smoothly and doesn't feel heavy or sticky on the lips. It lasts about two hours.