to clarisonic or not to clarisonic?

The Clarisonic Mia Cleansing Brush is the best thing to happen to skincare. There are countless anti-aging serums, moisturizing creams and acne treatments, but the Clarisonic is the single product that women of all ages and skin types can and should use.

Regardless of your skin concern and type, this brush deep cleans which, last time I checked, is not a bad thing for anyone to do - perfect skin or not. The brush is so easy to use: it automatically vibrates for 60 seconds while you gently move it around your face, but the effects are amazing. Not only does it deep clean your pores, it preps skin for whichever skin treatment you choose to apply next AND gives your face a natural glow.

image from sephora.com

Shoutout to my sister for getting this for me for Christmas - you go girl! I personally use it three nights a week (overuse can be irritating), with regular face wash or an exfoliator, in order to really clean all the gunk out of my pores then apply my favorite face mask, night cream or nothing at all. I have been using it for only two months and have noticed a huge difference in my skin! It's more clear and radiant, and makes me feel super fresh and clean.

Whether you have dry skin, oily skin, acne-prone skin, wrinkled skin, sun-damaged skin, or flawless skin you would benefit from this brush! It has become a staple in my skincare routine because it is so much more effective than washing your face with your hands, and makes whichever skincare you choose to apply after work magically.

It's an investment, but definitely one you won't regret! If you hear buzzing from the bathroom, you know where to find me.

flushed

I have had my eye on Josie Maran's Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelée for a while now. I am a huge proponent of cheek stains because they are the easiest to apply and last the longest, compared to cream and powder blushes. I have had Benefit's Cha Cha Tint for almost two years now, and even though I love it I also love experimenting with makeup (if that isn't obvious).

Like any Sephora trip, I spent two hours trying on and experimenting with makeup even though I knew I wanted this blush all along. I read countless reviews on it so by the time I got there I already knew which shade I wanted - Poppy Paradise. I was so giddy with excitement when I found this Josie Maran cheek color then touched it because it FEELS LIKE HEAVEN. Seriously, Heaven. As soon as I dipped my finger in the pot I knew I was in love - it feels like silky, packed in jello-butter (I realize this doesn't sound like Heaven but it is pretty damn close).

Shade: Poppy Paradise

Besides the amazing texture, I love this blush because it looks so natural. There's no shimmer and it delivers an even layer of color that makes me look perfectly flushed. To make this cheek stain even more amazing, it lasts forever because it is waterproof. Literally - it lasts all day until you want to wash it off (which it does so easily). 

Barely there - just the way I like it.

Words cannot describe how much I am obsessed with this cheek color! The color, packaging and even the name are so chic and reminds me of a tropical island with endless coconut drinks and happiness. Overall, this cheek color is perfect for everyone from the makeup-shy to the makeup-obsessed and is too good to keep it a secret.

fake tan at your own risk

Jessica Alba is drop-dead gorgeous, BUT she has a major fake tan flop in this photo.

Her legs are significantly more tan than her face which makers her tan looks unnatural, aka the last thing you want your fake tan to look like.

image from google

If you're fake tanning at home don't neglect your face, plus dilute tanner on your legs by mixing it with lotion. Even though it is natural-looking for your face to be a couple shades lighter than the rest of your body, it should not be noticeable. 

Even celebrities mess up self-tanning every once in a while!

in-flight beauty

Ever thought you needed to bring beauty products with you on an airplane? Sounds silly, but it will make you feel and look a million times better once you land.

Flying, especially for an extended period of time, completely zaps all moisture from your skin due to the elevation and constant air conditioning blowing into your face. 

I make sure to pack a "beauty bag" (in a clear, ziplock bag with all products under 2 oz. of course) in my carry-on for every single flight I go on so I don't look like I got slapped with the ugly stick when I get off. Tomorrow I am flying to Amsterdam (!!!) and  want to make sure I can feel refreshed when arriving after a 10 hour red-eye flight.

In-flight beauty bag essentials:

travel-sized goodies

1. Moisturizer: This one contains Vitamin E so it's super-moisturizing so it's perfect for flying. I'll try to reapply before sleeping and before landing to put moisture back in my skin.

Lip/Cheek Stain: How cute is this mini benetint?! A stain can give your face life after a flight, so I'll dab some on my cheeks and lips before landing. It's a game-changer.

Concealer: This concealer also contains Vitamin E and also Marula Oil so it's packed with moisture. I love this creamy concealer for under-eye bags, and I'll also put some on my eyelids and under my noise to cover-up redness as well.

Deodorant: Do I need to explain?

Hand Cream: Yep, moisture again. This Hemp Hand Cream is insane - it makes even the driest hands feel smooth.

Face Wipe: I usually get travel-sized cleansing wipes, but I got this free Puffs one so I'm going to give it a try.

Lip Balm: I prefer Vaseline, but it is a personal preference. It's really important to keep your lips moisturized while flying, especially after drinking/eating/sleeping!

Comb: Unless you naturally have perfect bed-head hair, I recommend running at least your fingers through your hair before landing.

Not pictured: mini perfume and toothbrush/toothpaste.

There's nothing worse than seeing yourself in the airport bathroom after a long flight and having to scramble to make yourself look like you didn't just sit in an airplane for hours. So splash some water on your face in the plane bathroom, use the right products, and arrive looking and feeling tip-top!

so catty

I've been missing out for years. 

For the past four years, I've been using e.l.f.'s black liquid liner, and it's fine, but I got Stila's Stay All Day Liquid Liner and it is AMAZING BEYOND WORDS. It is the god of all liquid eyeliner gods!

It's the best because it is so easy (no, seriously) to apply, is super pigmented so you only need one layer, and stays on literally all day and all night long. I'm a harsh critic of eyeliners because my eyelids tend to get oily so most liners don't stay on, especially liquid ones.

Perfectly black 

Overall, this is by far the best eyeliner I've ever used, and I plan on only using this one until someone is able to pry it from my eyeliner-stained fingers.

sick therapy

Despite trying to be a responsible college student by getting the flu shot this year, I spent the entirety of this past weekend on the couch. With the flu.

For three and a half days I did not go outside at all (pathetic and true), so I had zero motivation to put any effort into my appearance. Even if you aren't lucky enough to stay at home when you're sick, you still shouldn't worry about putting on makeup because chances are it'll make you look worse rather than better.

My three sick beauty musts are:

1. Sleep. Sleep!!! Beauty sleep is a thing, people. This will not only make you look better but feel better, too. Sleep as much as possible.

2. Water. This will also make you look and feel better -- your skin gets dehydrated when you're sick and can turn dull quickly. Drinking water, and splashing a bit on your face before bed, will help prevent your skin from looking as lackluster and sickly.

In sickness and in health, I love this stuff. Sorry for the bad joke.

3. Moisture. Yep, the dehydration issue again... It's super important to continue to apply moisturizer on your face and lips, especially if you're constantly blowing your nose and irritating your skin.

These were the only things I was concerned with in terms of my beauty routine for the past five days. Staying bare-faced while sick plus resting and hydrating is the absolute best thing you can do for yourself besides watching hours of TLC and eating soup by the pound (no, really). 

how to: more luscious lips

I was totally obsessed with E's Eric and Jessie show this season and stumbled upon Jessie's Sex Kitten Makeup Tutorial while googling her. She explains how she makes her lips appear larger by over-lining them with a nude lip liner. Naturally, I had to try it.

I have small lips and often express my envy of my boyfriend's luscious lips much to his annoyance. I have had a nude lip liner from The Body Shop forever but have never had the desire to line my lips before. I used this lip liner, in Beech, and over lined my lips then applied lip balm. It's difficult to capture the transformation via selfies at work in the bathroom, but I enjoyed the subtle difference whether or not anyone else noticed!

before

after