Happy Thursday everyone! And also happy Fourth of July weekend to you all Americans! I will be spending this Independence Day at Wisconsin Dells, which is like America's biggest water park industry, with a couple of good friends and family. With that being said, there's gonna be a lot less makeup being put on so, here's a really simple and less dramatic makeup look for when you don't necessarily want to apply a huge amount of makeup while you're on vacation.
On trips anyway, I don't normally pack a ton of makeup; just the essentials like foundation, powder, some lip gloss... I only really use makeup on trips if I am going out to eat or when I know I can touch up later. Since it is summer, I tend to lose the liquid foundations and all the shiny stuff that I don't really need to use this time of year.
It comes with four, neutral, matte shades (from left to right): Call My Buff, Thanks A Latte, Gilt-y Pleasure, and Kiss Me I'm Tipsy. It also comes with a mini Stay Don't Stray eye shadow primer and a mini They're Real mascara. So really, all you need is your face stuff, this kit, and some lip gloss and you're good to go! Btw, I love the primer and the mascara so dearly. I bought the full sizes of each and I can't stop using them both. The primer makes the shadow stay in place ALL DAY. The mascara makes my lashes really voluminous, too.
Before I tackle my whole face situation, I always try to use primer. I never used it in the past, I didn't really know what it was, until I just started seeing a difference in my makeup after I tried it for the first time! The Laura Geller Spackle Under Makeup Primer is great when you need your face to not "move around" throughout the day of vacationing and what not. I also prefer to use primers that have SPF in them, especially during the summer but, this one does a great job at mattifying your face for a long time.
Like I said before, I'm not all about that liquid foundation life at all in the summer. On vacation, I need something that will fix my shine and keep me matte and pore-less for a few hours and that's that! I'll dab on a little Stila Stay All Day Concealer under my eyes to really brighten them up (you know because you might be jet lagged or just really tired all the time like me) and pat on some Laura Geller Balance N Brighten Powder to mattify my shiny face!
If you aren't going to be somewhere really warm and muggy, then this Pop Beauty Kajal Pen in Sotty Black is great for nights out when you want to add drama to your eye look. This is just an option but, I love smudging it out with the sponge tip side of the pencil. I was recently given this by a friend and have never heard of the brand before. I might have to check them out more because this is a really nice and easily blendable eyeliner.
Then, I finish off my look with Maybelline's Fit Me blush in Light Rose on the cheeks and a little bit of Laura Geller Color Luster Lip Gloss in Cookie Dough on my lips! The perfect touches of color for any simple, makeup look.
I hope you guys have a nice weekend for whatever you're celebrating! I will be off on vacation for the next couple of days but, will have posts up for sure next week. Do you guys wear a ton of makeup during the summer or take a couple things out of the routine? Let me know!
Xoxo, Nat
I feel like active-wear nowadays has stepped up to a whole new level. There are now more stores than ever dedicated to just simply all things active wear: Lululemon, Lucy, Athleta, Fabletics, and you know stores that have been around forever like Nike and Adidas. I'll walk into some of these stores and find like the cutest workout clothes and cringe at the price tag. However, I am all about buying workout clothes and shoes that are earth-friendly. Especially when they're made from old yoga mats!
I found these Sanuk Yoga Slinged Up Flip Flops at my local Nordstrom and fell completely in love with them. During the summer, all I wear are flip flops and sandals. I'll go through so many pairs and get them gross and beat up. I think that sandals are a great investment because you can pretty much wear them with anything and anywhere!
Sometimes flip flops, like the really cheap ones, can hurt your feet after a while or break and that's why these are the best and most comfortable/durable ones I have owned. They are incredibly cushiony and the awesome yoga sling strap makes a really cute and unique touch. It comes with a little card that shows different ways to tie the straps and I think that's a really nice detail.
I have worn these to yoga and they're so easy to just untie and slip off and get right back on after practice. My mom was worried that the straps wouldn't really hold my feet in but, I have had no trouble walking in them (or running in them if you're curious). There's no imprint of your feet like some flip flops leave and I haven't received any blisters or cuts from the straps, either. They have a pretty nice tread on the bottoms so you won't like slip everywhere, too!
I read online that the sponge like soles are not good near water. I would be careful at the pool or the beach, even in the rain. Rarely have I worn these on rainy days but, I have worn them to the pool and just took them off when I knew I was going to swim. I think they would just suck in a ton of water and probably mold and smell. I am also not sure about how much arch support they offer. They're super soft and comfy but, wouldn't be that great if you have severe foot issues.
Besides those couple things, these are really great sandals. They'll last you a really long time if the right care is given and are amazingly comfy. It literally feels like I'm on my yoga mat all day! I take yoga with me everywhere I go with these shoes. I hope you guys enjoyed this mini review! I am always scouting out for great sandals, and these are really great and cute for summer.
Do you have a favorite pair of sandals that you can't seem to stop wearing?
Xoxo, Nat
Okay, you know when you have like a ton of makeup that you really want to bring with you, but you just can't seem to either 1) fit it all in your small, compact makeup bag or 2) decide on which makeup item to even bring? Like mascara? I have so many mascaras and they're pretty big and bulky to just bring along sometimes. Mascara has to be one of my favorite makeup items; I can't leave the house without a couple swipes on my upper lashes. With that being said, here are some of my top recommended mascaras that you can try out if you are looking for a new, holy grail mascara, or just need one for travel!
Benefit Roller Lash- It really came down to deciding which Benefit mascara I liked the most, and to be honest, I love the Roller Lash just as much as I love They're Real. I would say that the Roller Lash does a really great job curling the lashes more than They're Real does. If you can't fit a lash curler into your travel bag, this is the one for you!
Benefit They're Real- This is a classic for many, and I love how much length this one gives compared to the Roller Lash. It does a great job spreading out my lashes, giving it a pretty butterfly effect.
Makeup Forever Smokey Extravagant- I also fell in love with the Makeup Forever Smokey Extravagant mascara because of the tear-dropped shaped applicator. It really helps get every single lash, especially since it's mini size! This one also does a great job with executing the perfect butterfly lashes!
MAC False Lashes- I'd like to say that this one gives the illusion of false lashes, and I think it rather enhances and lengthens your lashes instead of giving you a huge, dramatic, faux-looking lash. It's really great when you need extra volume to your lashes, though.
I decided to write this little, quick post because I was trying to start thinking of packing for a trip that I will be going on in the next week or so and didn't want to load my makeup bag with a ton of crap. I don't normally have three posts a week and I wasn't really planning on posting this, but I thought you guys might be interested in my go-to, mini mascaras. I mean, all of these are pretty amazing mascaras. There wasn't one that I didn't like! I hope you guys try these out if you are looking for new mascaras to try or need a new travel-size one to take on vacation!
Is there a mascara I should try next? Share Below!
Xoxo, Nat
Hi everybody! It's that time of year again. It's Bath and Body Work's Semi Annual Sale!! I always look forward to going to it in June and December because they have such amazing deals. I recently picked up a few (more than just a few) things that are fairly new at BBW with my mom and I would like to show you my haul! I also picked up some other products that were not on sale like the hand sanitizers because I just needed some more. You can never have enough PocketBacs, right? So, I believe that this sale is still going on so go out and get these awesome products while you can. I will try to link every product bought throughout this post but, many of the things I bought may or may not be available on the website because they are clearance items. I found some of the products on Amazon, too so bear with me! This sale has 50%-75% off items and it's great to stock up on necessary products like soaps, lotions, room sprays, and more!
I started off with getting some of the stuff I needed that were not on sale, like these two PocketBac hand sanitizers. I love using these fun Pocketbacs at school attached to a cute holder you can buy to go with it or just throwing it into my purse! You never know when you're gonna need to clean your hands, so these are great to carry around. I go through these so much and I don't know how many I have had in my lifetime! I wanted to try new flavors and picked up the Cherry Champagne Toast and the Check Moewt Pomegranate.
Then I also had to pick up some room sprays. My mom loves these for our home so we had to get a couple more while we were there! It's 2 for $11 and I guess we needed one extra. When we don't have the time to light a candle in our house, we just spray some room spray and it makes the place smell amazing! My mom bought these three: Watermelon lemonade, Georgia Peach and Coconut Vanilla. So yummy!
Next, my mom and I got a bit carried away with the lotions. We bought 6 full size body creams because my family and I use them almost every single day! I bought the Agave Papaya Sunset, Hibiscus Guava Fresca, and Iced Pear Margarita body creams and gosh do they sound amazing? I swear these flavors sound so incredibly delicious sometimes. All of these full size body creams were only $3.75 each!
I also happened to pick up Mango Mandarin, Brown Sugar and Fig, and Dark Kiss, which are some oldies but, still goodies from their collection! They call them "Flashback Fragrances". They're very nice smelling for summer and super moisturizing. I love to use all of these after I shower so I smell good and my skin is very smooth. I love how these are more thicker than your normal lotions and are infused with Shea butter for the ultimate "24 hour moisture"!
I was interested in trying one of their mini hand creams to also just pop in my purse and I picked up this Southern Lemon Chiffon Hand Cream. It smells so sweet and fresh! I can take it with me wherever I go, which is a must during the summer.
I needed a new mini shower gel to take with me on my next trip soon so, I picked up this Warm Vanilla Sugar one! It smells just like a Cinnamon Roll. I love these mini shower gels because they save so much space during travel!
My mom is obsessed with glitter and shimmer sprays so she had to (obviously) purchase one during the sale. The Lush Pink Dragon Fruit Diamond Shimmer Mist is a perfume that you wouldn't like if glitter isn't your thing. My mom loves how it reflects off the sun in the summer and she like douses herself in it whenever she goes out. It smells really tropical, though!
I always want more body sprays around to have in case I run out. Having mini body sprays are even better like this Beautiful Day Travel Size Mist. It smells like fresh, crisp, apples and reminds me of all things summer! I have already been using it as you can see from the little amount missing in the picture. I just couldn't wait to use it!
I had to save best for last! Candles are pretty much the only reason I truly look forward to this sale. They are all half priced and I always need to stock up when I can! These candles usually last me throughout the whole summer. I had to make some tough decisions about the scents I really wanted for my room. So I ended up buying the Beautiful Day candle just because I absolutely adore the body mist so much. I needed my whole room to smell that way, too!
I also picked up the Lemon Mint Leaf candle; I've had it before and really loved how citrusy and fresh it made my room smell. I'm not one to love overwhelming scents so I always gravitate towards the subtle, crisp and fruity ones instead. I usually get sick when I have really strong floral scents around and I don't want a smell to really stay a while either. These scents are perfect for any of you guys who feel the same way.
Finally, I have been eyeing this little guy ever since they came out with these amazingly adorable candles. They were just way too expensive to buy at the time and now they're on sale! This little Georgia Peach Medium Candle was one out of like 5 others I had to make a decision out of. I just love peach scents a lot and decided this was the perfect one for my room! I love the little container it came in and couldn't leave it behind.
I love reading about hauls and watching haul videos so much because I love knowing what's in and what's out! I hope you guys enjoyed this huge haul that I did. Bath and Body Work's Semi Annual Sale is a sale not worth missing. They have amazing discounts and deals on all of their famous products! Is there a signature scent you love by them? Tell me if you've gone to the sale in the comments below!
Xoxo, Nat
Hey friends! Happy International Yoga Day! I just looked at my Facebook notifications and completely forgot that today is the day to celebrate and do a ton of yoga! This post is inspired by not only International Yoga Day, but also this company called Cotopaxi. Cotopaxi is a foundation driven to help people "do good". Their mission is to sell fitness wear, hiking gear, or as they call it, "good gear", like their famous hiking backpacks, in order to give back to communities in poverty and also help fund or grant organizations that also give back and create jobs and opportunities in third world countries. As a benefit organization, they strive to promote wellness and livelihood wherever and however they can by donating a percentage of their profits and contacting passionate influencers like me!
My personal mission is to give you guys some helpful health hacks that can benefit your guys' wellness and increase the interest in self improvement and hopefully your overall being! I know that trying to eat and act "healthy" can make people think of going on diets and strange fitness regimes—all that phony stuff that you should not pay attention to. I want people to know that making small, smart choices will overtime help them achieve their personal goals without making the wrong, unhealthy choices like over exercising and "dieting". I am no expert but, I do believe that there are many different ways (depending on who you are) that can impact your future well being. I hope my advice can help at least one person looking for some help or a reminder (because I know I don't always follow this advice myself). Here are things that I think some people need to hear:
1. Embrace Who You Are & Stop Comparing Yourself
A lot of people (including myself) tend to sometimes compare our features to these "praised", media celebrities on magazines, television, ads, and the internet. It can be hard to ignore them because of the technology based society we live in, so I understand how it feels when you see tons of posters and billboards that try to shape our standards of beauty. I think everybody has insecurities that are fueled by these photo shopped and overly-contoured men and women we see all over. I wanted to stress this issue because I believe that the first step to self improvement is self love.
Accepting who you are can be hard. We always think of someone better than us, someone who has more than us, someone who is something that we tell ourselves we have to be. And we shouldn't. That person probably thinks or envies another person the same way! We all have flaws so why not embrace the differences we all have and love who you are? It takes strength to see what other people see in you. Many people strive to be something they're not so, seeing the best in yourself can better your own self improvement and help you understand how amazing you actually are!
2. Surround Yourself With Positive People
Friends change and sometimes it's for the better to move on from people that don't make your life a positive one. I never want someone who is going to bring in bad energy to my life; it could be someone you can't seem to ever trust or someone who talks about you behind your back. I think that life is not about having those kind of people around at all. If someone is making you unhappy—what's the point of having them around? Be with people who make you laugh, happy, and let you be your awesome self!
I feel good around people who let me be weird and "derpy", as my sister and friends would say. I can't hide underneath a shell my whole life and not let my humorous self go sometimes! That's just who I am. If someone can't accept who you are for some crazy reason, then they shouldn't have the privilege to be your friend, in my opinion. Living a healthy life also means living with people who make you feel happy and comfortable.
3. Find a Workout or Activity That You Love Doing
Not everybody is a pro, self proclaimed, athlete. You don't have to do like a P90X workout just because the internet told you to do so. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to workouts and physical activity. You don't want to push it too hard when it comes to exerting all of your energy on something that might not even benefit the parts you need improving on. We all have our own body types and I think it's important to find a physical activity that gets your body moving and (hopefully) outdoors.
Whether it is riding a bike, running, hiking, dancing, playing sports, swimming, or even doing yoga, these are all great ways to burn the "cals" and get your heart rate up (without being really boring). After my home league soccer and softball days, I wanted to continue exercising and being active. I found that yoga was my favorite way to do this because I hate running and I really wanted to do an exercise that wouldn't just help me physically but, mentally too! I found an activity that I can do anywhere, anytime. I have been doing yoga for over a year and have seen tremendous improvement on my body and have done things that I never thought I could have done if I didn't just try it. Find something that you're passionate about and stick with it! The results will be amazing if you do the things you love doing.
4. Moderate Your Indulgences
I don't believe in diets. Going on a diet is a straight road to Hell if you ask me. You are physically and mentally constrained from pretty much everything. "Oh, I'm going on a no carb diet", said everyone who didn't know what else to do to be healthier. I believe that in order to control your body weight, you have to have a balance (considering the food you eat and the exercise you do).
Eating like 20 salads a week is probably not going to do much at all. If you really want to come out of a bad eating habit, you need to realize the food that you already put into your body rather than the food you are going to put into your body. Once you understand what you normally eat, then you can manage what you need to take out and what you need more of. If you end up having like a couple glasses of beer a week and you eat a ton of processed foods, you'll need to make a few changes. Making healthier choices each day by substituting a Poptart for like an apple is a great way to start changing your diet! My Dad has always told me to eat sweets and fast food in moderation, which is going to make more of a difference than drastically changing your whole eating system.
Here are some great substitutes and tips to think about when eating or making food:
- Drink water instead of soda or juice
- Trade out white bread for whole grains
- Instead of candy, try fruit
- Lean meats like chicken and turkey have less fat compared to beef and pork
- Eat snacks in between meals so you aren't going back for more when you have meals
- Eat a healthy breakfast so you have the energy you need during the day
- Alcohol like beer has a ton of unnecessary carbs and calories that your body doesn't need
- Treat yourself once and a while so you don't go crazy!
I feel like the major struggle that comes with being more fit is continuously keeping up with these healthy choices that you are making. We all get caught up with life and we become a little too busy than we hoped sometimes. Life's distractions shouldn't be the reason you have to go get Burger King for lunch but, I understand completely. Its happened to me. It happens to everyone!
Self improvement takes time and you need to build the strength to keep up with it and I think that's the hardest thing you could ever do. Staying motivated to exercise or eat healthier is hard. Accepting that feat and being patient and persistent with it will show miraculous results in the end. Take it day by day and keep up the good work! You won't have rock hard abs overnight.
If you thought this was going to be some sort of, "Ways to lose weight", type post then you are completely in the wrong place because 1) You should have read the title and 2) You are perfectly beautiful just the way you are. Making these choices and using these tips I made should only make you all more confident in yourselves about who you want to initially become. If some of this advice helped or sparked some sort of revelation, please let me know! I am more than happy to hear your guys' thoughts on creating better ways to stay healthy and to be happy with who you are. If you have any tips for me, please share! I could be missing a ton of other important things, too. In the meantime, "do good", and inspire others like Cotopaxi inspired me! Oh , and happy International Yoga Day everyone!
If you thought this was going to be some sort of, "Ways to lose weight", type post then you are completely in the wrong place because 1) You should have read the title and 2) You are perfectly beautiful just the way you are. Making these choices and using these tips I made should only make you all more confident in yourselves about who you want to initially become. If some of this advice helped or sparked some sort of revelation, please let me know! I am more than happy to hear your guys' thoughts on creating better ways to stay healthy and to be happy with who you are. If you have any tips for me, please share! I could be missing a ton of other important things, too. In the meantime, "do good", and inspire others like Cotopaxi inspired me! Oh , and happy International Yoga Day everyone!
Xoxo, Nat
Hey! So, today I was feeling a fashion post was needed and I have compiled a few of my favorite pieces that I have been loving this season for you all. I feel like my sense of style gets a bit worn down when summer comes because I think that fashion is so limited due to the heat—but, it's not! I sometimes get in the habit of wearing like running shorts or jean shorts all the time and my inspiration honestly struggles during this time of year. I'm working and going on trips so, the last thing I usually think about are my outfits (scary to say but, so true). Every now and then when I go out with friends I like to dress up and think of something cute to wear, however, it's not always easy figuring them all out.
Another trend that has been showing up in my town are these really flashy, cork, sandals. Birkenstocks, everyone. Or "Birks" as all the cool people call them. I felt at first as though that these chunky sandals should have stayed in the 70s! I was not a fan of them once they first made their way back as a popular trend. I mean, style never goes out of style I guess! Besides the nice arch support they give, the ones I have don't look too flashy right? They kind of look like normal sandals if yuh ask me! I always slide them on now when I have no idea what else to wear. Sure it's a bit of a statement and not everybody agrees with them but, hey, try something new for once maybe?
I have always loved statement sunglasses. I feel like everyone has their own type of sunglasses that they never stop repurchasing! Aviators are my kind of shades. I have a round face so these glasses really shape my jaw line and cheek bones very well! I bought these at an H&M once for like 5 bucks on clearance (and I haven't stopped wearing them since). I love reflective sunglasses so much and I always have mine in my purse or just laying on my head during the summer!
I don't always carry a purse around and that's because I'm just too lazy to carry a huge bag of crap around to... like the super market or something. I love purses, don't get me wrong but, I also don't like huge amounts of stuff to carry around like the next person. I have been enjoying this awesome little wristlet from Fossil. I can fit all my cards, cash, change, and my phone in it, too! It's really nice to just bring along and not have to lug a huge bag around. I can also attach my keys onto the loop which is also really nice!
I'm not one to wear scarves during the hotter months, however, isn't this one so adorable? I might be starting a new trend with scarves in the summer! Maybe bring out my inner Audrey Hepburn by turning this into a cute, retro head scarf (to protect my non-existent hair treatment)? LOL. Maybe you're going out late at night and need a little something to keep you warm or you're on an exotic beach with some "Fabio of a man" and you just want to play flirty for a night? Anyway, I thought that scarves shouldn't stay in winter! I think a light and fun, colored one could be perfect for this season. You can do a lot with scarves: wrap it around your neck, tie it around your hair like a headband, use it as a cute shawl over a sundress, or even tie it to your purse. Not many people ever think to wear them during spring or summer—start a new trend maybe?
I don't want to let my summertime diminish my fashion inspiration at all! I hope these pieces help you guys stay inspired to try out some new trends and possibly bring back old ones. I wish everybody a great rest of their week and please share your favorite fashion pieces to wear in the summer below!
Xoxo, Nat
Hello friends! We all have daily tasks and routines and sometimes they're things that we aren't really motivated to do. Especially during the summer, not all of us are off on vacation. No matter your age, I think everyone is entitled to some responsibilities that are more or less "fun" and "exciting" to do (even during the summer); paying your bills, doing laundry, studying for summer school, cleaning your house, running errands, mowing the lawn, things that we have to do but, don't really want to do. It can be hard to do some of these things when the effort is not there. Sometimes we forget about the main goal of these little, tedious, tasks and I think we all could use a reminder as to why we do them even though we don't want to. Here are some tips on how to tackle these "unbearable" but, very important tasks:
1. Remember the Main End Result or Goal
If it's something like doing those last minute errands or maybe it's just getting all of your household chores done, remind yourself of how awesome it will feel after you've finished everything! If it makes it any easier, make a checklist of the things you need to get done. I love to cross out all of the things I have completed so it makes my mind a bit less stressed out. It also makes me more motivated to keep going.
If this is something long term like studying for finals, remember what you really want to achieve like two weeks before the exam. If you want the A, you need to put in the effort and time into studying for your tests!
2. Don't Procrastinate and Always Prioritize
Telling yourself that you can just do it all on Sunday is not going to help the issue. Procrastinating all of your chores will only add to all of the stress and probably make you even less motivated to do anything because you'll be rushed to get it all done in one day. Prioritize the time you have a make sure you get the most important tasks done first so you don't have to worry about the "big stuff" later.
3. Wake Up Early and Manage Your Time
Sleeping in a few hours on chore day won't give you the energy or the time you need to do all of the things you have to get done. Manage the time you have by waking up a little bit early so you won't have to be up later in the day still doing chores! Even if it isn't chore day, being productive means getting a good nights sleep! About 8 hours should give you enough energy to do everything you have to do the next day.
4. Pay Your Dues
Nobody likes paying bills, taking out loans, working late, budgeting for things we will need in the future like college but, it's something that we are all gonna have to do at some point and I think it's only necessary for us to make sure we pay our dues to the things that matter most. If you pay your bills on time or save and put off money every time your paycheck comes, it will relieve some tension financially and you won't have to worry about it later. I know that I can't relate to paying bills but, I am starting to save money for college and that's a pretty hard task in itself. Every time I get paid, I save a fraction of it and put it away in my savings account. Penny by penny will really help in the long run!
If you would like some financial assistance on student credit cards, you can visit this website at Creditcardinsider.com, I found it very helpful for figuring out how to manage your student credit card and all things student loans for college!
5. Make a Schedule to Plan
I have this sticky note, weekly calendar that you can tear off once your done with the week and I find it so helpful to use to plan out all of the events that are happening. It's so satisfying to tear off the week and start fresh after you've done everything!
I actually like doing chores--I am probably the 10% of people that actually don't mind doing chores and errands and that's totally okay if you are that 10%, too! Join the club :) I think people get too caught up in our daily tasks and "struggles" and don't realize how important they are sometimes. We're all human and we all have things that we need to do that we don't sometimes want to do. It's only a matter of motivation and effort that will help you succeed when doing these things.
I hope these tips have helped any of you struggling with chores and are feeling a bit "laggy" when it comes to daily responsibilities. Not everyone likes doing chores but, always remember the end result and what you are initially trying to achieve: a clean house, a good grade on a test, good credit, and so on. No matter the chore or task, or even your age, everyone has some things they need to check off the to-do list. Don't let any task discourage you from getting it done and finished so you can relax and be stress free later!
What are some things you do to keep you motivated to tackle your daily responsibilities and chores? I hope everybody has a great week!
Xoxo, Nat
Hi everyone! I am currently outside writing this and it is such a lovely day. I am falling in love with Chicago's weather right now and writing outdoors never felt so good! Doing what I love in the place that I love always creates inspiration and I can't get enough of it. So since it is the beginning of summer and many people are starting to travel, I have gathered a few of my must have products for travelling this season!
Everybody needs something to do on the plane or in the car. That's why I love picking up a magazine in one of the bookstores at the airport or bringing one from home! I have really been obsessed with Seventeen Magazine lately and I can't seem to put it down. I love reading magazines but, I also love reading a good book every once and a while when I am on a long and pretty boring trip.
If you are travelling to a very tropical place or your hotel might have a swimming pool, packing a swim suit is always a must! The Stitched Fabulous Bikini from Victoria's Secret is probably my favorite bathing suit that I have ever owned. I love buying my swimsuits from Victoria's Secret because you can shop your actual cup size and not just small or medium and so on. The color is also amazing and the detailing on the top itself is really cute! They have this exact swimsuit in blue and you can mix and match the bottoms that go with it as well!
If you are going to be out and about, like at the beach, then sunscreen is also a must! I love the Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 55 by Neutrogena which is great for people with very sensitive and acne prone skin. It is oil-free and does not clog your pores while it protects your skin from the sun; a necessity during summer travel.
Another thing that I think is important to travel with is a great mini mascara! You can throw it in your purse or makeup bag and not have to worry about wasted space and added weight. I love this Benefit Roller Lash mascara. It gives so much volume and lift to your lashes. Plus, it's so cute and mini!
Something that I recently purchased from Old Navy were these Braided Gladiator Sandals that I think are very cute and easy to wear when you need to make sure your shoes are secure on your feet when you need to travel and are easy to take off for airport security. I also think they add a nice touch to a cute sundress that you might wear on the beach once you get to your destination!
I happened to pick up a pack of the Yes To Cleansing Wipes at my Target for the San Francisco trip and I used the whole pack there! I know it's kind of naughty to just use wipes on a trip to clean off your makeup but, they are really helpful when you need wipes on the plane or in the car and are super easy to carry on.
I love bringing BB creams and tinted moisturizers on trips because I am usually outside all the time when I am travelling and it's nice to have a light cover up that also protects my skin from the sun. The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Nude is an awesome foundation to take on trips! With an SPF 20, it's really great to use this time of year.
I recently talked about this lipstick in my May Favorites post and I am really starting to like nude lips this summer. Covergirl lipsticks are awesome and I always forget that because I am exploring other brands! This one is so matte and I just love the look of it.
A really nice way to bring pigments and shadows along on trips is in a palette. Instead of bringing like an eyeliner and a bunch of separate shadows, bringing a small quad palette like this Bohemian Bronze palette by Lorac would do the trick! You have nice base and crease shades. You can also use the black shade to either smoke out your look or use it as eyeliner. This palette is very versatile and compact for travel!
Sometimes there is no way to avoid bringing full-size products with you during travel so occasionally you have to make amends and decide what products you really want to use. I like to bring my Benefit Hoola Bronzer pretty much everywhere on vacation. It just gives such a nice tan and warmth to the face. It has a little brush that is also handy when travelling!
Where ever you go this summer, I hope that I have helped or inspired some of you with these products that I like to take on adventures with me that make my travelling a bit easier and less stressful. Worrying about space and what to take can be overwhelming and I think this could help some of you guys!
What's your travel essential?
Xoxo, Nat
Hello! A beauty post is needed on my blog lately as it has been all lifestyle and travelling! Summer just started and I'm already going off on adventures. I want to be sure to take in every minute of it and capture as much as I can. Over the past month I have compiled a couple oldies and newbies to my makeup collection. I am always finding myself reaching back for these few, classic products and experimenting with new finds while chucking them into my travel makeup bag because they are just so good!
I always forget what I like or enjoyed using and it was time for me to use up a lot of older makeup that I have. These products were just ignored and stashed behind all of the newer products I had and I was going through my collection the other day and realized how much I enjoyed a couple of these products! I made sure to put them into my basket on my vanity in easy reach for my daily makeup routine.
Maybelline's Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation- If you have read my blog before, I have written about this foundation and raved about it. I did ignore it during the winter months since I didn't need a matte foundation because my skin becomes so dry. I love this foundation when I know that I am going to be outside all day in the heat. I wore it on vacation in San Francisco (post about my trip here) and my face was shine free! A little goes a very long way and this foundation has so many colors to choose from.
Milani Baked Blush in Berry Amore- This blush has come back into my makeup regimen for good! I did a review of this in my top blushers and bronzers post, here. I have fallen in love with the "gold-goddess" look and the subtle sparkles of gold really compliment a nice, summer tan! With a small bit of pigment to your cheeks and a touch of sparkle, it can make any look a hundred times more glowy and very sultry.
Covergirl Katy Kat Matte Lipstick in Sphynx- Now I have just recently gotten into nude lips and I have to say that I'm really loving it. Especially for this time of year, I think it makes your look fresh and very natural. This lipstick was a new find and I don't know what made me love it more! Either the shade or the very cute, cat aestheticism that went along with it. The packaging is unbelievably cute and minimalist at the same time with the black and white. The lipstick itself is very nice and smooth while leaving your lips matte and crack-free. I might have to go purchase a brighter color!
Stila Eyes Are The Window Shadow Palette in Soul- Love, love, love this palette. I did a more in depth review of it, here. It has the best shades for a bright and summery makeup look. During this time of year, I am reaching for the lighter shades like the creams and taupes as well as the light browns and golds. This palette has the best colors for summer and they are amazingly long wearing and do not crease whatsoever. I have been using this pretty much every day now and I am still obsessed.
Laura Geller Balance-n-Brighten Baked Correcting Foundation Powder in Medium- I have always preferred to wear powder foundations over liquids. Especially when it's hot and humid out, packing on a ton of makeup can drag my face down overtime. This Laura Geller powder foundation gives just the right amount of coverage without leaving your face looking and feeling really cakey!
Benefit Stay Don't Stray Eye Shadow Primer- When I used makeup in the past, I never thought that there had to be something you need or should at least apply before your actual makeup so that it lasts a long time. Now that I wear makeup on a pretty constant basis, I need something to really help my makeup, like my eye makeup most importantly, stay in place and on my face all day long. I have tried all the different types of primers and I just can't "stray away" from this Benefit one! It's easy to blend and is super moisturizing so it doesn't clump underneath my eye makeup and stays for an incredibly awesome amount of time. The longest I had it on without creasing was like eight hours!
Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara- Mascara is one of those staples in my makeup collection and I can't seem to get through a single tube because I own way too many. However, this new addition was well worth it! If you are looking for volume and length then this is the mascara for you! I love the shape of the brush because it is really easy to get all of your lashes curled and coated! Only a couple strokes does the trick!
Wet n Wild Coloricon Kohl Liner in Baby's Got Black- If you are on a really low budget and are looking for a classic, black eye liner, this is the one for you! I have been using this liner ever since I was in middle school. It's smooth application helps for anyone who is beginning with eyeliner. I love to use this as a way to smoke out my look by actually using it in my crease and blending it out. The best thing about it is that it is only one dollar!
I'm sorry if this post was a little bit too late, but I just thought that many of you would have enjoyed my favorite products of this past month anyway. Sometimes going back and re-using old products can bring back new inspiration and spark more interest in the things that were actually really great and you just forgot about! I love trying new products but, I also know what I love and what works best for me. Makeup is a continual learning process and I can't wait to see what comes next!
What has been your past favorite or holy grail product for a while? Is there one specific makeup item that you always seem to keep on buying? Let me know and maybe it will become one of mine!
Xoxo, Nat
Hello everybody! I have a very awesome post to share with you all today. I would like to share my trip to San Francisco, California that I took over this past Memorial Day weekend with my family! I had an amazing time experiencing all things San Fran and I lived my dream of being in Full House (an American TV show that takes place here). I only had a couple of days to explore as much of the beautiful city as I could; we had great weather and it was surprisingly colder than Chicago!
I have a travel journal type post so I won't be giving a full paragraph for everything but, I will explain some of the pictures along the way; the things I did, saw, ate, etc. I hope you enjoy this little adventure that I went on and it inspires you all to go visit San Francisco yourselves!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Social Icons