August 3, 2017

What I'm Pinning: Summertime Influences

One of the many ugly truths about adulthood is that summer doesn't equal vacation-- it's just a season experienced annually. And while I haven't taken any type of vacation, I've been having some really distinct summer vibes this year. Here's what's currently lighting up my inspiration center.










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August 1, 2017

July Favorites


In true Tuesday Afternoon fashion, I'm bidding July goodbye with a list (of course) of my favorite beauty products of the month. These are all tried and true to me, so if you notice products missing that I've been talking about on Twitter or Instagram lately, they'll probably be making their appearance in the August Favorites post at the end of this month. I like to have used a product to  the extent of being comfortable enough recommending it. Let's go!

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Pixi Book of Beauty - Touch of Blush 

I stumbled upon this accidentally while "just browsing." I was already a Pixi fan, so decided to give it a shot. Not only are these the perfect shade for my olive skin tone, but I actually use them all. I have a bad habit of buying palettes for one or two shades, but mixing colors is so easy, they all get used. The formula is so soft and smooth and perfectly pigmented. You won't go bare faced to clown school reject unless you really pack your brush. All you have to do is touch your brush and you have a good deal of product that'll last all day.  I'm even able to use the darkest shade as a contour when I'm too lazy to reach for multiple palettes. 

Mario Badescu Facial Spray


Let's take a second to talk about this stuff's performance. I have sort-of-normal, sort-of-oily skin depending on the day. Adding something that's supposed to bring moisture wasn't a priority. And I'm not going to lie, for the first couple of minutes after applying this, my face felt weirdly damp, sort of sticky. But give it just a few more and you're left with soft, supple, hydrated skin. What really bumped this onto this list is twofold: this won't disturb makeup which means I can just spray away throughout my day (I actually keep this 8oz bottle in my bag) and it can be used on hair. Unlike my face, my hair gets very oily very quickly. I thought spritzing this would only accelerate the rate at which my hair turned me into a greaser. Nope. If anything, this somehow extended the life of my presentable hair. And finally, rosewater. Need I say more? Is there a more divine scent? No, there is not. 

MAC lipstick in Velvet Teddy

The Beauty Crop PBJ Smoothie Stick in Saucy Marsala

Lip colors are probably the most fun to shop for. You can change them throughout the day without having to redo your entire face. That being said, finding a shade that you can wear every day, with any number of looks isn't the easiest feat. These both went above and beyond this month. They were both new to me, and both impressed the heck out of me. Both their formulas are hydrating and long lasting, and the pigmentation is on point. Like I said before, these look equally great when I'm doing a natural look for the day as well as a full face look.

Ofra Body Illuminizer in Charmer
The most surprising thing that made it onto this list was the Ofra Body Illuminzier. The tube notes that it's not a self-tanning product, but it definitely leaves a beautiful, subtle, shimmery tint. My skin is already a bit tan on its own, but this doesn't overkill it. It's easy to blend evenly and won't transfer onto clothing or bedsheets (I nap a lot). This has quickly become my go-to for the heinous summer months when shorts and dresses are all you can bear to wear. As someone who is incapable of tanning, but who also doesn't want to be full on leather, this stuff is a godsend. 

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This is not a sponsored post. All items were purchased by me. All opinions expressed are my own.