Where do I even begin?!!
I’ve been a little extra obsessed with beauty products this summer. Not sure if it’s because I’ve been following more beauty bloggers or watching makeup tutorials before falling asleep every night… all I know is I wake up wanting to try a new product. A very fun but expensive hobby, I have gradually encountered this hobby the past three months, without realizing just how addicting it is.
Whether it’s the newest makeup product released, or a new face serum, I want to try it all, read all the reviews, and find the best product for each category of beauty. I have become one of those people who not only benefit from those reward programs at Sephora and Ulta, but now get a coupon almost every week because of my weekly visits to one or the other. They just keep adding to my obsession and it’s getting a little bit crazy how many sample size products I now have in my bathroom…
On a better note, I have probably purchased just about every #favorite beauty product from this summer so I thought why shouldn’t I share 🙂
Let’s start with skin care since that comes before your makeup routine!
Because I’ve ranked up on points at Sephora, I chose to use my points towards one of the kits they usually have displayed at the registers. Totally take advantage of this to try new products!!! The kit I chose was of the brand Fresh. In the kit was the Soy Face Cleanser, the Rose Floral Toner, and the Rose Face Mask. So far, I’ve been using the face cleanser and the toner and LOVE them! I’m afraid though, due to the fact that the regular size products are not the cheapest things, that I’ll want them after I run out of the samples, but the quality is just so good! I’ve found that my skin is in better condition then the beginning of the summer and I’ve really been focusing on finding those products to invest in. (If you haven’t already, check out my post on skin care here). If your skin is not in the best condition, your makeup will not apply to the fullest or look as good as it can look! Skin comes first and once you master that, your makeup will look flawless without caking it on everyday, I promise!
Another product that I wanted to find was a serum that wouldn’t break the bank but was still good quality. I decided to go to Ulta for this with my roommate (shout out to Sabs!). We both were looking for a good serum to minimize pores, hydrate the skin, and overall heal any imperfections such as blemishes, redness, and dryness. We asked one of the specialists to help guide us in the right direction and she was more than willing to show us products of all price ranges, and even supply samples of some (even the expensive ones)!!
I’ve been experimenting with two samples, both of which I really like, not finding a huge difference in the two, other than the price, and I plan on buying the regular size bottle after I finish the sample (since writing this post, I already went out and bought it)! Between the Lancome Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Serum and the Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate, I prefer Clinique’s only because of the price difference, much more affordable!
Now we are ready to talk makeup! This is where I’ve done the most research, to find the perfect product, for that specific need.
My most recent love is the Two Faced Hangover 3-In-1 Replenishing Primer & Setting Spray. It’s a coconut water-infused mist that primes, sets and refreshes makeup while it helps keep skin hydrated, what’s better than that?! It really does help keeps my makeup in place all day.
Then I’ve been using the classic Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil Easy Shape & Fill, in the color 4 medium. This was actually not what I used to use because I didn’t intiallty like it a few years ago. I then found that I was using the wrong color all along and that is why it didn’t look good! Easy fix. Brows are a new art form and if you’re using the wrong color it can do wonders…. find your shade and stick with it!
Next, of course a brow gel to get those eyebrows staying fabulous all day long! I’ve been loving the brow gel that was in the FabfitFun Fall 2016 box called The BrowGal Eyebrow Gel by Tonya Crooks. It acts almost as a hairspray for your brows.
Onto primer! Recently I purchased some great Benefit products, including their POREfessional Face Primer. Let’s just talk about the smell… it’s amazing. I’m into scents so I appreciate a good scented makeup product! It’s a translucent primer to set your makeup and minimize the appearance of your pores. So far, I’ve been liking this one.
Foundation – creates an even, uniform color to the complexion, and to cover flaws. You better find the best one for your skin people! Take the actual name of this type of makeup, FOUNDATION – an underlying basis or principle for something, such as the rest of your makeup. Along with the setting spray and primer, this sets your face up to look flawless! I’ve tried many, MANY versions, powder, liquid, cream, and I find what works for my skin type the best is a liquid foundation. I have a combination of both dry and oily skin, depending on the time of year, and I find that regardless, a powder version just dries me out and makes my face look cakey. The nice part about using a liquid is that you create a dewy look and sometimes that may look oily, but then you can layer it with the right bronzer powder to create a more subtle dewy, yet pressed finish. So for my newest find, I went drugstore brand. I know a lot of people would disagree with me and say to invest your money in a more expensive foundation, but for summer, I find that when I am tan, I don’t use the same shade all year round, therefore, why spend the money for three months, vs. another shade I would use for the other seven? That’s a better investment in my mind.
This summer, my newest fav is the L’ORÉAL True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Foundation. It’s a medium to full coverage liquid foundation, 40% pure water for all day hydration. Antioxidants vitamins C and E to improve clarity and skin tone. Love it!!
I then use a sponge to blend. This summer though, I heard that EcoTools came out with a duo-pack called the Perfecting Blender Duo, including a normal size blender and a smaller one, for under-the-eyes and detail work. Love these because they have a straight edge to get into those creases or tight corners around your nose and hair-line.
Onto the concealer of the year…. Tart Shape Tape to the rescue! This concealer has been used in every beauty bloggers makeup tutorial within the last 6 months on YouTube. Full coverage, lasts all day, and a million shades to choose from. An exclusive, only at Ulta!
Next, I use a translucent setting powder. I love this stuff. Not sure what I was doing before this, but I can expect ZERO shine, (unless of course I create it using a highlighter). The one I’ve been using and loving is actually a drug store find as well. NYX is my new-found love. Seeing bloggers brag about their translucent powder, I just had to try it!
The NYX Studio Finishing Powder Translucent Finish is great for “baking” under the eyes and around the t-zone areas. You don’t need to “bake” though when using this product. It’s light enough to loosely use all over the face if you wanted to!
Speaking of all over the face, I sort of have a heavy hand, so using a translucent loose powder all over scares me… So I found another great find, a translucent compact powder by It Cosmetics called Bye Bye Pores Pressed Anti-Aging Finishing Powder.
Personally, I am a bronzer gal, and I love having that natural, warm summer glow all year round. This is probably the one product that I am always buying more of only because sometimes I want shimmer, while other days I want a more matte finish. Right now, the two bronzers that I’ve been loving are the BECCA Sunlit Bronzer which has a shimmer undertone and the Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer, which is matte. I sometimes use both, and use the Hoola bronzer all over the face and then if I’m feeling a little bit of contouring, I’ll use the Sunlit bronzer for a slightly darker shade and shimmer look!
I’ve actually been using the same blush for a couple of years now. The Physicians Formula Argan Wear Blush. Yes, drugstore, but I wasn’t that big into the blush factor until recently. I think because I have naturally rosy cheeks, I never wanted to wear blush. But I have come to realize that if you don’t include some color other than a brown, you will look like a sun 🙂
I have found a new love though in the BECCA X Chrissy Teigen Glow Face Palette and have been using the blush in that as well! I also use this for highlighter too, when I want a more natural, everyday glow. This is actually my first ever contour palette I’ve ever purchased, which was in the beginning of June, so I’m pretty far behind in terms of my palettes, but hey, at least I got one! I only recently started getting into contouring, mainly because I didn’t know how. YouTube is amazing, let’s just say that!
When I am going out on the weekends or to a special occasion, I like using the palette, but mixing it with the original, and first highlighter I’ve ever purchased, the Two Faced Candlelight Glow Highlighting Powder Duo. I love this one because it is a little more pigmented than the palette, which allows for a more intense glow-look!
I go back and forth on wearing eyeliner for an everyday look, but when I choose to, I always go for a blue liner. I have dark brown features, so using a black or even a dark brown makes my eyes look small and heavier. Blue is a color known to compliment brown feature. I was using the Make Up For Ever Kohl Pencil for literally forever! Then my mom recommended a new, and lighter blue liner to try, which got some great reviews due to its easy-to-wear application! The Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner is the perfect, soft pencil, that lasts all day long and doesn’t smudge or run! Love this so much 🙂
My next favorite and would never leave the house without it… MASCARA! Probably my favorite product in makeup to wear. And the most difficult to find, might I add. I did find a great one that I still would use, but I found it’s long lost (younger) sister, which works just as good! I used to use the Two Faced Better Than Sex Mascara which is AMAZING, don’t get me wrong. But I recently found some bloggers comparing it to the newest L’ORÉAL Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara. At a $13 difference, this new mascara looks and feels just like the Two Faced one, lucky me!
Depending on my day, a typical eye look will consist of a little liner, mascara, and then some eye primer and a light shadow color. Nothing too intense, especially for my day time look.
The eye primer is an oldie but a goodie. I think I’ve had the same one since high school… but that shows you that a little goes a long way. The Urban Decay Sin Eyeshadow Primer Potion is a shimmer primer that can either act as a shadow on its own or keeps eye shadow from creasing during the day. Some days I use the primer as is or I use the Urban Decay Naked Basics. A great combination of everyday matte colors, this little palette includes all the basics you’d ever need!
My lip gloss would be poppin’ if I wore lip gloss, but I’m more of a lipstick kind of girl! My favorite lipsticks are hydrating ones, which believe it or not, are hard to find. I have found that the company Bite Beauty has high-impact lipsticks with extreme moisture, soft texture, and a creamy wear. It’s called the Amuse Bouche Lipstick.
I also enjoy using just a hydrating colored lip balm like the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Sunscreen SPF 15. I got this in a gift set early June and love it!
I really have enjoyed using all these products the last couple of months. I have found a new love for makeup and just like searching for that perfect ballet flat, finding the perfect beauty product is just as challenging yet rewarding! I have recently found so much pleasure in learning more and more about the application process and following beauty bloggers that I decided to take on my own “beauty journey” and signed myself up for two awesome beauty subscriptions.
The first is by the company Ipsy, which you receive a Glam Bag every month for only $10 and with that, you get five new products to try, in all different categories of beauty/skin care, and the best part? The glam bag is a different cosmetic bag every month, to carry all your new products in! Such a great concept!
The second is Play! by Sephora. Also a monthly subscription for only $10, this one is guaranteed five deluxe samples (plus a fragrance bonus) all in a collectible bag!
For an investment of $20, I get these two shipments monthly, full of beauty samples to try! This is a great way to test out new products, along with maybe trying something you’d never consider on your own. Good sizes for traveling, and also a perfect gift to sign up someone else to get!
But wait, that’s not all…. I also am still subscribed for the seasonal FabFitFun boxes! This subscription is ultimately my favorite due to the pure fact that everything comes in full-size bottles and there’s always something I can’t live without, go figure?! 
All of these subscription are great with their personal touches. Each website has thorough beauty/lifestyle quizzes for your personal preferences and taste. This makes you feel that you are going to receive the best choices for your personal lifestyle. I love that about these.
So that’s my rant on this summer’s favs! Keep a look out for more of Rae’s Favs, a monthly blog post consisting of whatever I’m feeling like writing about that month!
Like always, please leave any comments and/or questions and I will gladly respond within 24 hours! I love hearing from you all and sharing my personal favs!
Stay beautiful! XOXO Rae
Until next time ❤
This book of family drama takes place in Manhattan. Of course this book wouldn’t be called “The Vacationers” though, if they only stayed in one place… So the Post family, Jim, Franny, and 18-year-old Sylvia jet set to the beautiful Spanish island of Mallorca for a two-week vacation. Staying in a large rental house, they meet up with their older son, 28-year-old Bobby, his girlfriend Carmen, Franny’s best friend Charles, and Charles’s husband Lawrence. Sylvia is a short time away from leaving home for Brown University and Jim as recently lost his job of thirty years at a local magazine.
