July 2015 Favorites!

Hey guys!

It feels like it's been forever since I actually sat down and did a blog post!  Thanks for hanging with me and continuing to stop by and support me.  It's just been a hectic Summer and I haven't really had the time or opportunity to blog like I normally do.  But, today I definitely wanted to sit down and do my favorites of the month because I definitely had several.  Without further adieu let's start with nails!

NAILS

Everybody has to have at least one talent in this world, and I think my only one is I can grow some crazy long hair and nails, lol.  For the past year or so I have kept them longer than what I am used to. So, this past month I just went ahead and cut them short and I have been LOVING it.  Short, natural nails just look so neat and clean to me, I have always been a fan of it.  I have to cut my nails every few days to keep them at a short length, and I have to use toenail clippers.  I think I could be one of those people in the Guinness Book of World Records, lol.  As always I filed them off square.

As far as nail polish favorites this was SUPER easy.  The first one is definitely Swan Street by Nails Inc.  It's a so-light-it's-almost-white pale green.  Such a special and unique polish, I absolutely adore this.  I ordered mine from the Nails Inc. website for $14.  If you are interested in picking this up then I would do it quick, I think this is limited edition.

My other nail polish favorite for the month is Chillato by Essie.  It's a super pale yellow/pistachio cream and it is absolutely lovely.  It is from their Summer 2015 collection.  When I took this picture this polish had been on my nails for one week!  Stays on like you wouldn't believe (with a coat of Seche Vite top coat, of course).

MAKEUP

When highlight and contour palettes first became all the craze I bought a high end one that I actually ended up returning.  I hardly ever return makeup, but it was something that I paid quite a bit for and just did not use.  It's not that it was a bad product, I just really preferred using my regular bronzers and highlights in my collection over it.  So, I have been hesitant to buy anymore, as I really try not to give into fads and thinking I have to own everything coming and going.  (A problem I used to really struggle with).  So, needless to say, I was leery about picking up another contour/highlight palette.  I purchased the NYX Contour Palette at the beginning of the month, and it is seriously all I have used when I have worn makeup.  I have a use for literally every pan in the palette.  It has super good pigmentation and I couldn't be happier with it!  Most of the other palettes like this on the market have 3-6 pans of product, this one has 8 and it's only $25.  Can't beat it.

I have had 2 favorite blushes this month, the beautiful matte Peaches blush by MAC and Bombshell by Hard Candy.  Peaches is literally the most universally flattering blush on the planet - everyone looks good with a great, matte peach blush.  Peaches wakes you up and gives life to your face like no other, plus it is great for aging skin as the matte formula doesn't settle into fine lines and pores.  SO beautiful.  I love wearing the Bombshell blush whenever I do a red lip (or similar).  This blush swatches very similarly to MAC's Sunbasque and it is soooo pretty.

While everybody else on the planet is on the Champagne Pop train (which is $38 for 0.28oz), I'm over here crazy in love with Wet n Wild's Shimmer Palette in Hollywood Boulevard.  It's a gorgeous golden highlight and it's only $5.62 for 0.4oz.  Gorgeous and so pocket friendly.

My favorite EOS lip balm has always been the Lemon Drop one, and I have been using the heck out of mine this month.  In case you didn't know, the Lemon Drop lip balm has an SPF 15 in it, so it's perfect this time of year.  Great to throw in your beach bag or to keep by you out at the pool.

I received this deluxe sized sample of the Coola Makeup Setting Spray in my last Birchbox, and I have absolutely LOVED it.  It has an SPF 30 and it sets your makeup and mattifies, all ideal for Summer.  I would DEFINITELY purchase this in the future!

SKINCARE

I don't remember where exactly I got this, but I have used the Avène Thermal Spring Water facial mist SO much this Summer.  I did a lot of flying in the month of June and this was the best thing in the world to use on flights.  It's the most hydrating/quenching facial water I have ever used, it's like a big drink of water for your face.  I tend to always enjoy any French skincare, and this is one of my favorite things I've ever used.  Head on over to their website to read more about it, but basically this water originates as rain and has went thru a 40 year journey thru the Cevennes Mountain aquifer to achieve a perfectly balanced mineral composition to soothe, soften, and restore skin's natural balance.              

Whatever it is, it's heavenly!

As far as daytime moisturizers go, I have fell in love with the Simple ones from Walmart.  Simple is a brand from the UK and I am pretty sure the only line we get here in the States is the Kind To Skin line in the green and white packaging (they have several other formulas in the UK).  I picked up 2 different moisturizers this month, the Protecting one with SPF 15, and the Hydrating Light Moisturiser with no SPF (I actually ordered this one from the UK online).  These moisturizers are perfect for me during the day, as they are super light and don't make my oily skin greasy.  They soak right in and are sooooo hydrating.  Super gentle, no scent whatsoever, no chemicals, no artificial perfume or dyes, this stuff is probably the mildest moisturizer you could find.  Perfect for me to wear under my makeup or alone, I basically use the one with SPF if I'm not wearing makeup or if I am wearing makeup and my foundation doesn't contain sunscreen.  These basically work the same for me, the only difference being one has sunscreen and one doesn't, although the Hydrating Light Moisturiser is just a hair more hydrating.  If you're looking for a great, lightweight, hydrating moisturizer to wear under your makeup and you have oily skin like me, this might be your new best friend.

If you follow my blog then you seen in my last Empties post that I just finished some makeup removing wipes that I absolutely hated.  It's not that they were all that terrible, but once you get used to these LOVELY ones, it's hard to use anything else.  The Pond's Luminous Clean Wet Cleansing Towelettes have been my favorite makeup removing wipe for a couple of years now.  I will never buy any other again, no matter how cheap and affordable.  I love these too much and miss them when I use something else.  The only exception to this will be when I travel, as I use the individually sealed La Fresh makeup wipes in my travel toiletry bag.  But for home use this is all I will ever buy again, it doesn't get any better for me.  The cloths themselves are very clothlike - thicker and nicer than your average standard wipe.  It is important to note these are heavily fragranced, which may turn some people off, but it doesn't bother me at all.  I have the world's most sensitive eyes (I can't even use the Neutrogena gentle ones), and these don't bother me whatsoever.  My ride or die, Holy Grail makeup remover wipes PERIOD.

I purchased a 3 piece skincare kit from Ole Henriksen a couple of months ago, and I have been absolutely LOVING the eye cream that came in it.  The Total Truth Eye Crème SPF 15 feels so good when you put it on!  I have purchased several eye creams from this line, and I have to say, I love them.  This one is thick and white, so it's kind of brightening when you put it on.  And even though it's nice and thick, it really absorbs and sinks in rather quickly.  This is absolutely perfect to wear under makeup, and I think the fact it has SPF in it is genius.  The one area of my body that I would like to never see the light of day again would have to be my under eyes, lol.  Will definitely repurchase!

While I'm not crazy about pot-style products that you have to dip into to get the product out, I haven't really minded this one.  I just use a Q-tip to get the product out, to keep from contaminating it with my fingers.

And the last thing I want to mention as far as skincare goes is my Hello Konjac Cleansing Sponge that I received in my Summer FFFVIP box.  It's a Korean sponge made from Konjac vegetable fibers that naturally restores the skin and balances your face's pH level.  You don't even have to use a cleanser or soap with this.  As it dries it hardens, so to use it you just run it under the faucet till it softens up and then use it to gently exfoliate your skin.  I don't know if I have used my Clarisonic at all since I received this!

HAIR

I have really been trying to use up some of the Shampoo and Conditioner I have hoarded up and the Suave Natural Infusion Macadamia Oil & White Orchid line is actually really good.  I like almost all of the Natural Infusion shampoos and conditioners, but this is by far my favorite.  This makes my hair super silky and soft, and I have way less tangles when I get out of the shower if I use these.  Great, solid, affordable haircare you can get at the drugstore.

CLOTHING

I had to mention this, as it has been a definite favorite of mine this month!  My mom gave me a nightgown that she had before me and my brother were born (my brother is 38, so this gown is approximately 40 years old!!!)  There's something so glamorous about this long, silky, flowy number. One of the most comfortable things I have ever slept in.

(from the post I did on Instagram about the gown)

CANDLE

I tried to link this candle for you from Bath and Body Works, but it is not currently on their site.  That doesn't mean a whole lot, a lot of times their candles kind of reappear from time to time, so if you are interested in getting it just keep an eye out for it.  This Summer I have been burning SO many fruity and beachy scents, and this was the PERFECT scent to kind of change things up a bit.  Food type scents are my favorite, but this one is a great Summer take on that type of candle.  Creamy and delicious without the Fall-ish smell of cinnamon or pumpkin.  YUM.

FOOD

I'm on kind of a lemon kick.  These Fiber One Lemon Bars are SO good!  The only bad thing I can say about them is they are not too big (boo), but other than that honey these are grrrrreat.  The lemon flavor is spot on, great if you're needing something sweet after dinner.

And for a less healthy option, I have also enjoyed this Limoncello Pound Cake mix I found at Sam's Club.  You get 3 mixes in this box and this cake is soooooooo good.  Granted, if you're not a lemon fan you might not like this, but if you are then definitely try this!  This is super easy to make, you just melt some butter and stir in the dry cake mix, pour in a pan and bake it.  For the glaze you just mix water or Limoncello with the dry glaze mix and pour over the cake when it's cooled.  I am not much for really thick cake icing, I much prefer something along these lines.  Delicious.

And the last thing to mention is this yogurt/granola combo I've been noshing on.  My sweet tooth REALLY kicks in at night, and I have been trying to reach for healthier stuff than like a candy bar or ice cream.  This really hits the spot and takes care of my cravings, plus it fills you up and leaves you satisfied as well.  The yogurt is just the vanilla flavored Activia and the granola is Viki's Granola in the maple cranberry flavor.  It is slap dab full of yummy walnuts which is probably why I love it so much.  I find this at my local grocery store here in Kentucky (Food City).

Alright guys, that's my standout favorites for the month.  Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

<3