Summer Lovin' - FOTD

It FINALLY feels like summer here in Minnesota - kind of sad, considering it's July 21... but we've just been graced with some 80+ degree weather for the last few days and I am absolutely loving it. All this sunshine and warm weather had me feeling so good that I decided to sport some dressed up eyes just for the heck of it. Here's how you get the look:

On my face, I began by moisturizing. See my current skincare routine for the products I use to do just that. For foundation, I used a cosmetic sponge to apply the Revlon ColorStay foundation; I'm the lightest shade, #110 Ivory. I set it using my go-to Rimmel Stay Matte powder. For a pop of color on my cheeks, I used a blush that's been featured many times on this blog, Physician's Formula Multi-Colored Blush in Blushing Nude. 

I filled in and set my eyebrows using the Wet n Wild eyebrow pencil in Taupe and the Maybelline Great Lash in clear. On my lips I'm wearing a NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in the shade Nude Peach Fuzz, an awesome pigmented cream that is more like a liquid lipstick. Because this look is more dramatic for me than normal, a nude lip color is a nice choice so the attention stays on the eyes.

For my eyes, I started by using the Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin, a shimmering champagne color. To define the crease, I used my all-time favorite NYX single in True Taupe with a fluffy blending brush. Any matte brown that is just a couple shades darker than your skin tone will do. 

I then pulled out my Sephora Primal Instincts palette seen above to do the real work. Using the lighter shimmery purple shade called Tea Rose (top, right) I filled in the outside of my crease and then pulled it in along my lid. To really define the outside of the crease, I then used the jewel-toned shimmery purple called Plum. I pulled this slightly around the top of the lid for a bit of definition. To brighten up the middle and inner corner of my lid, I used a rosy champagne color (top, left) called Apricot. And wa-lah! That's all for the eyeshadow.

Because my eyes always need a pop of eyeliner to look complete, I used a brown liquid Covergirl liner (unnamed) and went over it with the Sigma eyeshadow base in Strike, a shimmery burgundy brick color. To complete the look I used a couple coats of Eyeko's Black Magic mascara. 


This look is super easy to replicate, and you definitely don't need to use the exact same colors I did to achieve something awfully similar. If you recreate this look, send me a link! I'd love to see!

August Favorites

It's that time for August Favorites, ya'll! Here comes the obligatory (albeit very true) statement: I can't believe that August is over and here we are in September already! Time is just flying by! Anyway, let's dive right in to the products I loved all month long...

• L'Oreal Vive Pro Hydra Gloss Moisturizing Conditioner - I am obsessed with this conditioner and I used it religiously in August. My hair has been very dry these last couple months, and this conditioner brought it back to life. It makes my hair so soft, but it doesn't weigh it down. An excellent buy at just $4.99!

• Maybelline Lash Stiletto Voluptuous in Brownish Black - Click the link to see the funky brush this thing is sporting (mine doesn't look quite as funky as the one in the picture). I bought this on a whim just to try it, and I have to say I'm impressed! It lengthens my lashes like crazy and adds a good bit of volume, too. If ever you thought you couldn't find a good drugstore mascara, think again. This retails for around $8.95. 

• Sonia Kashuk All Covered Up Concealer in Porcelain - Holy cow, do I ever love this stuff! If you need a concealer that covers blemishes or redness like no other, go grab you some of this stuff! It's super creamy and light, but it packs a punch in the color department. My only gripe is that it's a bit darker than my natural skin tone, and this is the lightest color they offer. You can grab this concealer at Target, and it runs around $9.99.

• Vaseline Lip Therapy in Original - First of all, how cute is this packaging? It's a mini vaseline tub! AH! I'm such a sucker for things with great packaging. This is just basic ol' Vaseline, but it does the trick for hydrating dried out lips. I keep this in my purse to use on the go. This Lip Therapy also comes in Cocoa Butter scent if you're not a fan of regular Vaseline. You can get these at any drugstore for around $2 or $3. 

• NYX Blush in Angel - I got this NYX blush in my August Ipsy bag and since I received it I reach for it constantly! It is so gorgeous. The NYX website describes it as a matte pink, which is so far from correct that I'm almost wondering if this is packaged wrong (it looks more like the NYX blush in Terracotta). This is a peachy rose gold with shimmer - it's seriously the perfect neutral summer blush. It makes your skin look amazingly dewy and fresh. And if you haven't heard you can get NYX at select Target stores now! Click here to see if your Target is one of the lucky ones!

• Essence Silky Touch Blush in Sweetheart - I picked this up just for fun at Ulta the other week and it has exceeded my expectations! This little gem cost me just $2.99 and it is fab-o! The consistency is really buttery and soft and the color is the perfect "my cheeks but better" pink. I definitely want to grab more of these next time I'm at Ulta.

• Boscia BB Cream - I got this little sample in one of my previous Birchboxes and let it sit and sit in my pile of samples until one lazy Sunday I decided to try it out. I typically have NO luck with BB Creams, but this one  is awesome! It claims to help diminish the look of pores and fine lines, while balancing uneven skin tones and concealing imperfections... and you know what? It does all of that. You might need just a touch of concealer to cover any blemishes completely, but this does start the cover up process. It's a self-adjusting shade, which is awesome because most BB creams I've tried are way too orange on my skin - this one fits my skin just right. I just might have to get a full-size of this next summer!

• Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Milk Chocolate - Ohhhh my gosh, girls. This stuff is made with real cocoa, and it SMELLS like chocolate! I could go on and on about how awesome this is, but I'll spare you and just give you the nitty gritty: it's matte, and it is so buttery and soft. It's great for us fair-skinned gals for contouring the face or just warming it up a little. I found mine on sale at Nordstrom Rack, but typically this bronzer is on the pricier side, retailing at $30. You can find it at Ulta or Sephora.

• Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki Brush - This is my holy grail foundation brush. It trumps absolutely everything I've ever used. It is extremely soft, super dense, and applies foundation like a dream. If you clean it often and take good care of it, this brush should last you forever. And fellow Minnesotans, you can feel good about buying Sigma brushes because it's a Minnesota company! This sells for $18 and you can buy it online at SigmaBeauty.com.

• Sigma F05 Small Contour Brush - Another great Sigma brush that I used all of August! This F05 brush works exceptionally well for contouring the face (obviously...). It's small enough to use for bronzing under the cheek bones and also great for bronzing wherever you need it on the face. This sells for $16, and you can get it at SigmaBeauty.com. 

Those are my monthly favorites! What did you love this past month? Let me know in the comments below!