Summer 2019 Beauty Must Haves

Hello Everyone!

I mentioned this in my last post, but it's soooooo hot outside. It's supposed to be 100 degrees this weekend, so I can imagine what the Summer is going to feel like this year.

For today's post I'll be sharing a few of my must have beauty products for the upcoming Summer. I didn't include highlighters since I just shared my highlighter collection. You can view that post HERE

Skincare Must Haves

My skin acts up during the Summer. Typically I have oily skin, so I have to use face products that helps reduce oil. Overall my skin starts feeling dry during extreme heat. It's been in the 90's here lately so I've already experienced dry skin lol. That's partly my fault since I skipped lotion lol. No time like the present to rectify a potential problem. Here are a few of my current skincare product I've been using to prepare my skin for the Summer.

Since my skin is oily during the Summer, I'll probably use these Clinique cleansers for my face. For the days my face needs hydration I like to use the hydrating jelly. This is good to use as a primer before you apply your makeup. The towelettes work amazing for makeup removal and the towelettes are good to use when you want to refresh your face.

I went back to CVS to get the Dove Mousse for free. I had CVS Extra Care Bucks and a coupon that I used.  Argan Oil is good for your skin and it smells really nice. I like to use Cetaphil for my elbows to restore hydration I mentioned in numerous posts that I have eczema on my elbows. Thankfully it's not that problematic, but I do have dryness. I wanted to switch up my deodorant, so I switched back to Dove. This is my first time trying the advanced care deodorant. I don't have sweating issues under my arms. I just really like the scent lol.

During the Summer I typically only use body sprays.  I love wearing perfume, but body sprays are so lightweight. Boardwalk Marshmallow Clouds body care smells so good! I've been using Derma E Psorzema Cream and Lubiderma for over a year, and my skin feels  and looks so healthy. I forgot to show this Qtica Nail Treatment, but my nails grow and strengthen when I used this product.

Makeup Must Haves

As much as I love makeup, I try to keep my makeup looks simple as possible when it's hot. Heavy makeup in the Summer is a no for me, not to mention heat and heavy makeup can cause clogged pores and breakouts. Here are a few of my favorites that I plan on using for the upcoming months.

I know I ranted about the Naked Heat should've been a Fall release, but It is a beautiful palette to use during the Summer. I love wearing bright colors, and the James Charles Palette is perfect to create fun, bold, colorful looks. Morphe is one of my favorite drugstore brands and the quality of their palettes are great. I don't know where I'll be going this Summer, but my UD Born to Run Palette will make a great travel palette. I did get Tarte's Icy Betch Palette. Is Summer really Summer without beautiful shades of blue?!

Red and Nude lipsticks are my go to colors for Spring and Summer. I also threw in pink shade from Pixi. To keep my makeup in tact, I use my holy grail setting sprays from Urban Decay. I've been using the UD setting Sprays for a few years and they're life changing! Seriously you need these setting sprays. 

I recently updated my foundation, concealer, and face powders. I like to use more lightweight natural looking makeup in the Summer since it's so hot and humid in South Carolina. I love wearing a dewy foundation in the Summer as well.


What are your favorite beauty products for the Summer?



May 2019 Posts

Hello May

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Clinique Skincare and Makeup 

A Mother's Day Message For My Mom

Zoya Barefoot Collection: Summer 2019

Life Lessons

Highlighter Collection

Highlighter Collection

Hello Everyone!

It's a little surprising to me that I'm writing a makeup related post when it's currently in the 90's and it's also very humid outside. Where did Spring go?! I wanted to get a jump start on a few posts since I plan on creating Summer Makeup Looks soon. Today I want to share my highlighter collection.

First Row:

- Urban Decay Naked Cherry Highlight & Blush Palette

- Morphe

Second Row Across:

- Pixi Glow Cake PinkChampagne Glow

- Milani Instant Glow Powder: Sunglow/Luminescence (03)

- Milani Stellar Lights Highlighter Palette: Holographic Beams (02)

Third Row Across:

- Pixi Glow Cake GildedBare Glow


- Milani Stellar Lights Highlighter Palette: Rose Glow (03)

- Milani Instant Glow Powder: Dayglow/Luminescence (02)

Fourth Row:

- Pixi Glow-y Gossamer Duo in Delicate Dew

Summer is all about glowy skin. I love wearing pretty highlighters and eyeshadows that give my makeup a bronze and glowy finish.

What are you favorite glowy makeup products to wear during the Summer?


May 2019 Posts

Hello May

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Clinique Skincare and Makeup

A Mother's Day Message For My Mom 

Zoya Barefoot Collection: Summer 2019

Life Lessons

Life Lessons

Hello Everyone!

I had a different post scheduled for today, but I wanted to write a Life Lessons aka Things I've Learned post instead. I haven't written one of these in a long time. Let's get started.

- Everyone has a certain amount of drama

Whether you create it or life happens, everyone has a certain amount of drama in their life at some point.  How you handle drama makes all the difference.

- Moderation and balance

Moderation is something that I struggle within the area of stress in my life. I've gotten a little better with dealing with stress, but I have to keep working at it.
Life is about partly about balance. It's important that I have balance in my life because when my life becomes unbalanced I have major anxiety. Sometimes I have to take a step back and just breathe.

- It's a possibility that you'll face the same test in your life more than once

Honestly I really dislike this aspect of life. I can't count the times that I've been in this situation. When things are going well and then suddenly I'm confronted with a life test that I thought I was done with ages ago. The bright side is I know I'm not going to make the same mistake twice. If you remember same script, different cast it will make your decision making easier.

- You can't get over hurt unless you allow yourself to grieve

Instead of bottling up my feelings about something bad, I've learned to let myself grieve. You shouldn't wallow in self pity, but allow yourself time to grieve.

- You don't always miss the person, but you miss the memories. 

There are people that I actually miss, but for the most part I miss the memories and the bonds I once had with some people.

- God will use your trials to test your faith 

I feel like the last few months my faith has been constantly tested. I strongly emphasize the word constantly. When I don't have the answers or understand why I go though some of the things I've gone through I turn to God and pray. You may have noticed that I talk about God more. As always I'm not forcing my beliefs on anyone. I'm just talking about my relationship with God.

Karma is real

If you're out here doing wrong and mistreating people, stop it. Trust and believe Karma is real. I've seen karma happen to many people.



May 2019 Posts

Hello May

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Clinique Skincare and Makeup

A Mother's Day Message For My Mom  

Zoya Barefoot Collection: Summer 2019

Zoya Barefoot Collection: Summer 2019

Hello Everyone!

* Disclaimer: This post contains PR Samples provided by Zoya for review purposes. I would like to thank  Zoya for sending these products. All opinions are 100% my own. Product information is courtesy of zoya.com 

Summer is quickly approaching and what better way to start Summer next month than with beautiful bright manicures and pedicures?! I love wearing nail polish especially during the Summer. I live in the South, so sandals are must for me. Since I'll be showing off my toes, I like to keep my toenails manicured. I like to keep a my nails manicured during the Summer as well. Side Note: I made a tropical themed backdrop to go along with my photos. I thought a tropical theme would go well with the displays and upcoming Summer.

Product Description

Say hello to BAREFOOT, the newest collection by Zoya for Summer 2019 featuring an assortment of bright, cheerful shades to subdued shimmering neutrals - plus, an exciting new topper. Reminiscent of easy, laid back summer days, Barefoot brings effortless colors to life, so there is something for everyone.

Zoya Barefoot Collection: Summer 2019

Here are the first 6 of  shades from the Barefoot Collection. I really like the vibrancy of these shades. There are beautiful cream polishes and polishes with shimmer throughout the formula

Joey - Zoya in Joey can best be described as a lovely, warm light pink cream.

Tessa – Zoya in Tessa can best be described as a soft peach toned salmon with a warm gold and coral micro-shimmer running throughout.

Keira –  Zoya in Keira can best be described as a medium sandy taupe with a light copper shimmer running throughout.

Marcy – Zoya in Marcy can best be described as a shimmering bright, hot coral.

Liza – Zoya in Liza can best be described as a rich, cardinal red cream.

Robbie – Zoya in Robbie can best be described as a fizzy raspberry punch with a gold fleck.

Barefoot Collection Sampler A

Here is the second part of the Barefoot Collection. The last 6 polishes. These colors are so bright and fun. These bright colors are perfect for Summer. I love how the shade Dallas will look gorgeous on top all these polishes. Glitter nails are one of my favorite manicures to wear.

Dacey – Zoya in Dacey can best be described as a classic hot pink cream, the perfect pedicure color.

Rie – Zoya in Rie can best be described as a cool-toned magnolia purple cream.

Walker – Zoya in Walker can best be described as a deep ocean blue cream.

Eleni – Zoya in Eleni can best be described as a light seafoam blue cream.

Bee – Zoya in Bee can best be described as a bright and uplifting pale yellow with a warm undertone in our traditional cream formula.

Dallas – Zoya in Dallas can best be described as having a clear base - with silver glitter, large white hexagonal glitter, and small white glitter running throughout. Wear this fun sparkling polish as a topper with any of your favorite shades to add dimension to your look. Like a clear, starry summer night.

Barefoot Collection Sampler B

Zoya is currently running a special for their limited edition Barefoot Summer Box 2019. The Summer Box includes:

· The Full 12-piece Barefoot collection

·  12 Z-Wide Brushes

·  Remove+ Big Flipper

· Zoya lipstick shade in Wren

· Zoya lipstick shade in Izzy

· Hydrate and Heal Retail Kit  

Zoya Barefoot Summer Box 2019

What are your favorite shades from the Zoya Barefoot Collection?

May 2019 Posts

Hello May 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Clinique Skincare and Makeup

A Mother's Day Message For My Mom

A Mother's Day Message For My Mom

Hello Everyone!

A yellow frosted cupcake for my mom. She loves the color yellow

Today's post is dedicated to my mother. Since Mother's Day is this upcoming Sunday, I thought it was a perfect time to post this dedication. I always put God first in my life, and next comes my mom. I'm a mama's girl, and my mom is my best friend. No mother daughter relationship is perfect, but for the most part I'm very close to my mother. It's kind of funny because a lot of people think my mom is my sister (my mom had me 20 exactly two weeks to the date before her 21st birthday. I look a lot like her, and she looks young).

Throwback picture of my beautiful mom from 2008

She has truly been a rock of support throughout my whole life. She has wiped away many of my tears, calmed my fears, celebrated my accomplishments, encouraged me throughout my failures and so on. My mom has been my biggest inspiration since I was a little girl, and I admire her very much. I don't have any children of my own yet, but I can only hope that I will be a great mother to my own children one day, as my mom is a great mother to me.

I remember specifically 2010 my Senior year second semester in college I started freaking out about everything. I had no job lined up after graduation in my field, I was ending a friendship with my best friend at the time, I wasn't sleeping well, I was forgetting to eat and I called my mom at 3 in the morning in complete hysterics meltdown mode. She calmly told me that everything was going to be alright and that she loved me. Sometimes you just want your Mom. I went to college in my hometown. For the few times a call wasn't enough my mom was there knocking on my dorm room to make sure I was okay.

Last year's Mother's Day gifts for my mom

Having depression for half of my life, and having anxiety the past 10 years has been very challenging. My mom has always been the one to remind me that I'm much more than my mental health issues. Sometimes even now I need to be reminded of that. She has told me that no matter what life throws at me, I can get through it.

Mother's Day Weekend 2018 when my mom cut her hair

My mom taught me at an early age that in life nothing is just handed to you, and life doesn't owe you anything.  You have to work hard for the things you want to accomplish in life.  She taught me to be independent, but if I need help it's okay to ask for it.
Honestly I'm glad my mom instilled these values of life within in me because it prepared me for the real world. When I need to hear the truth whether I ask for it or not, my mom is always going to be 100% honest. Even with some of the fears I have as an adult she always says I can do anything through Christ that strengthens me. Give my fears to God, pray about it, and go to sleep. It's very humbling to have Christ in my heart. It's also very humbling to knowing that my mom loves me unconditionally.

As Mother Day approaches, Mama I want you to know I celebrate you on Mother's Day and everyday of the year. I cherish all the happy moments, I push through the tough moments, and throughout it all you're always there showing love and support. I strive to continue to make you proud as your daughter. Your love, hugs, sacrifices, and strength throughout the years are greatly appreciated. Thank you mama for everything that you do. Words can't express how much you mean to me. You are a beautiful person inside and out. I love you so much 💛💛

Wishing my mother, and all mother's and mother figures etc. a wonderful day. Enjoy your upcoming day ladies!


May 2019 Posts

Hello May

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Clinique Skincare and Makeup

Clinique Skincare and Makeup

Hello Everyone!

Clinique is one of my favorite high end skincare and makeup brands.I have a long history with this brand! Depending on what you're buying Clinique can be a little pricey, but for the most part I've been able to save money with Clinique recently sending a few products and discount/rewards at Ulta. All the Clinique Links below are from Ulta's website.  

Clinique Skincare

I remember using a few of my mama's Clinique products when I was a teenager. I may have even snuck a few of my mom's Clinique skincare products when I went off to college lol. The skincare products below in asterisks were sent to me from Clinique except for one of the of the towelettes.

* Clinique Take the Day Off Micellar Cleansing Towelettes for Face & Eyes

* Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover For Lids, Lashes & Lips

* Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly 1.7 oz Tube 

In speaking of the towelettes, they're really good to use to remove makeup or to refresh your face. These are going to be good to use during the Summer. I also like these towelettes don't leave my face feeling dry. I do think the towelettes are a little pricey ($14.50), but they're worth it.

I absolutely love the makeup remover! If you use liquid lipstick or lipstick that stains this will makeup remover will take it off easily.
I've been using the samples of the hydrating jelly and my skin feels so hydrated. I'm glad this product lives up to it's claims. You can use this before you put on your makeup, but I typically like to use this at night or in the morning after I cleanse my face.

Clinique Clarifying Lotion 1- Very Dry to Dry 6.7 oz

Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2- Dry Combination 6.7 oz

Clinique Clarifying Lotion 3- Combination Oily 6.7 oz

Clinique Clarifying Lotion 4 - For Oily Skin 6.7 oz


In my opinion to have flawless makeup you should have a skincare routine. Using a good cleanser helps decrease oil and bacteria. I usually have combination skin, but I think it's good to have all four clarifying lotions. When my skin is oily, the cleanser reduces oil without making my skin feel dry. When my skin is dry the cleanser replenishes hydration.

Clinique Makeup

Clinique Even Better Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 15 (WN 98 Cream Caramel: medium, warm-neutral undertones)

Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer (Cream Caramel: medium, warm-neutral undertones)

Clinique Stay Matte Sheer Pressed Powder (04 Stay Honey)

A few months ago I was looking for a few new foundations and makeup powders to try. When I went to Ulta, I asked for a few samples for two different Clinique foundations. After using each foundation sample for about a week, I went back to get the full sized bottles. I love how Clinique's foundation feels and looks natural on my face. Since it's already hot and humid here, these lightweight foundations will be good to using during the Summer.

What are your favorite Clinique Products?



May 2019 Posts 

Hello May

May is Mental Health Awareness Month 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Hello Everyone!

Did you know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month? I was going to write about this topic last year, but if you remember in one of my recent posts I mentioned this time last year I was an emotional mess. Everytime I would start typing I would start to cry. I guess I was crying because I was letting depression and anxiety get the best of me. Thankfully I don't feel like that now.

Strength and Wisdom

I actually had a counseling appointment yesterday morning with my new counselor. It was best I switched counselors because my last counselor wasn't beneficial to my treatment. He was very negative and somewhat rude. I've been in counseling throughout college so I know how it goes. Some counselors will work for you, and others will not, and that's okay. I mentioned last year that I felt hopeful at my first session, and I did, but just not with my old counselor's method of treatment.

New fish tank in the waiting room at the doctor's office

I've only had one session with my new counselor, but for the first time since last Summer I feel like I truly can express my feelings and talk about my thoughts.

A butterfly represents many things such as endurance, change, hope, and life.

Examples of things you shouldn't say to someone with mental health issues

You're so dramatic...

You'll get over it...

There are people who have real problems...

Just shake it off...

You don't look like you have anxiety or depression...

Speaking from personal experience these are some of the things that I've heard from people over the years. If you're wondering I no longer associate with those people. Having mental health issues can be sensitive topic for some people to discuss, so please think about the things you say to someone.

I find it troubling that in 2019 that mental health is still considered taboo. I don't understand why there is such a stigma about mental health. This is a topic that should be discussed more. Education and awareness about mental health is so important.

Life happens and sometimes you need help to cope. There are days I feel great and there are days I don't feel so great. Over the years I've learned to keep my emotions in perspective and not lash out when people don't understand depression and anxiety.  Kindness, patience, and understanding can make all the difference in helping someone with mental health issues and helping yourself with mental health issues.

I'm glad there is a month to focus on mental health in the community, but this is a topic that needs attention in general. Please educate yourself about mental illness. Check on your loved ones, friends, etc.
If you're struggling with mental illness there is treatment. You don't have to suffer in silence or struggle alone.


Here are a few of my motivational/mental health etc. Related posts

Counseling

Surviving Domestic Violence (2017)
Surviving Domestic Violence: One Year Later (2018)

Reflections 2018/Almost 33 Years Old

Planning and Goals 2019

What is Love

A Different Direction

April is Stress Awareness Month

Courage Believe Inspire

Rediscovery

Soak up the Sun


May 2019 Post

Hello May