Skincare Essentials

I've shared some of my go-to cosmetics here and here, and now here are my skincare essentials: 

1. Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash ($28 on Amazon) - This is a miracle face wash. My BFF has naturally oily skin and I have naturally dry skin and it miraculously works great for both of us. It's sort of like the traveling pants of face washes. Bonus: it's foamy and smells great!
2. Josie Maran Argan Oil ($48 at Sephora) - This is expensive but it will last you forever! Since my skin can be so dry, I put this on before my makeup routine to give myself a little extra glow throughout the day. 
3. Bioderma Creáline ($35 online) - This is the best water-based makeup remover I've ever used. I loaded up when I was in Paris this summer, but you can buy it online too. It removes eyeliner and mascara like nobody's business.
4. Fresh Eye and Night Creams ($17 to $$40 at Sephora) - I use the face cream as my night cream and occasionally the eye cream too. It's super creamy, and my skin soaks it up after I wash my face.
5. Origins GinZing Eye Cream ($30 at Sephora) - I've mentioned this one before, but it's so essential for me that it's worth bringing up again. Dark circles come naturally to me, but this is a nice brightening eye cream. It's pretty thick, so I usually wear this cream at night along with my Fresh face cream. :)

xo

French Pharmacy Beauty Products

French women are known for their classic style and beautiful skin, and it's totally true. There are so many chic women that wear very little makeup but somehow have glowing skin. In trying to crack the secret to French beauty, I asked a few chic co-workers what their go-to beauty products are, and surprisingly most of them can be picked up at the pharmacy, not Sephora (which is a Parisian store, of course). My mom also sent me this interesting read about French pharmacy buys. Apparently City Pharma in St. Germain is the largest drugstore and go-to place to shop for beauty products in Paris. We swung by last weekend and it was absolutely hectic - the store was packed with tons of Parisians and tourists alike. Here are a few of the products I picked up:

1. Bioderma Créaline - a gentle water-based makeup cleanser that is popular amongst models (well on my way, y'all). A huge bottle is around 10 Euros. Let me tell you, this is hands down the most gentle makeup remover I've ever used. It's water-based, so it's not greasy like other removers I've used. My skin has been super dry from traveling, so I've actually been using this in lieu of washing my face at night and it still feels really clean. 

2. Klorane Dry Shampoo - the most popular brand of dry shampoo in France. I received a travel version in my Birchbox a few months ago, but I wanted to give it another go. The jury is still out for me with this product. I am pretty fond of my Batiste Dry Shampoo and the smell of Klorane is pretty strong. I can smell it throughout the day, which I don't love. I'll use it throughout the rest of my time in Europe and see if I change my mind.

3. Embryolisse - a thick moisturizer that you can apply day and night. This comes in a few different sizes but the largest tube will run you about 16 Euros. From what I can tell, it will last you several months. I love this product. Again, my skin is on the dryer side, and Embryolisse is super moisturizing and my skin soaks it up. It was hesitant at first, because it sort of smells like an old lady lotion, but the smell doesn't stick around for long. Will be stockpiling this before leaving!

4. Eau Thermale Avène - water spray/mist to keep your skin hydrated during the day. I really like this product so far - it's really soothing. Also, I have red cheeks and it reduces the flare ups, so I try to apply it first thing when I get out of the shower before I moisturize. 

I'm looking forward to trying a few more products before leaving and bringing them back with me! :)

[Source of Marion Cotillard photo here].

Favorite Beauty Products: Version 2

Someone recently told me that they took my beauty product advice to heart and now they use some of these products on a daily basis. Well, that totally made my week, so I decided to share a few more of my favorite Sephora/drug store favorite products.

1. Too Faced Brow Envy Kit ($35 at Sephora) - anyone who knows me well knows that I'm obsessed with eyebrows. I've always dreamed of having Lily Collins eyebrows, but it's just not in the cards for me so I fake it 'til I make it (never). I've tried pretty much every eyebrow product on the market. For me, powder works better than a pencil. I recommend going one shade lighter than your natural brow color for the best results. This Too Faced eyebrow kit allows you to mix and match shades and comes with the best brushes and tweezers. I don't use the stuff in the drawer, but it is a cute little compartment, which I'm obviously a fan of. Pros: really awesome powder and tools and lasts forever. Cons: sort of bulky and takes up a lot of room in my makeup case.

2. Benefit Lemon-Aid ($20 at Sephora) - this is technically an eyelid primer, but I use it under my eyes as well. I have really bad dark circles and this is one of the only correcting creams that works. It covers up all discoloration on my eyelids and under my eyes. Highly recommended. 

3. Anastacia Beverly Hills Brow Gel ($22 at Nordstrom) - once you've colored in your brows, this gel helps secure and define them a bit more. Keeps brows in place all day. I've tried the tinted ones and the clear ones, and I think the clear is the way to go (unless you want to look like Frank n furter). I love this stuff! 

4. Eos Lip Balm ($3 at Target) - great basic lip balm. It makes my lips feel really smooth and provides an SPF coverage for beach days. Highly recommended for a basic balm. 

5. NARS The Multiple in Copacabana ($39 at Sephora) - for the same reason I love Benefit High Beam, I love this highlighting stick from NARS. It gives some much needed shine to my t-zone but goes on really light. 

6. Origins GinZing Eye Cream ($30 at Sephora) - I originally got this eye cream as a free sample from Sephora, and damn you Sephora, I loved it. I wear it every night to fight the bags, puffiness, and under eye circles and I always wake up feeling like my eyes look a bit more moisturized. Maybe it's a placebo affect, but I like it!

There you have it! xoxo

Favorite Beauty Products

I've officially reached VIB status at Sephora...also known as: Very Important Beauty Insider, y'all. It's sort of a big deal because I'll now get 20% off during their mega sale at the end of the year and more importantly they acknowledge what a beauty genius I am. You can all expect gifts of makeup for Christmas. :) To celebrate my new A-list status, I wanted to share a few of my go-to beauty products. Here goes:

1. Dr. Jart+ BB Cream ($39 at Sephora) - I try not to leave the house without this on. It's not only super moisturizing, but it also has SPF 45 for everyday sun protection. It's sheer and light but covers my dark circles and redness...important. It does all of this and also provides anti-aging benefits, which I'm sure I will thank myself for one day. Can you tell that I love it? This stuff is the best!

2. FRESH Sugar Lip Treatment ($22.50 at Sephora) - I have this in a few different colors, but the Rosé is my default! It smells good, provides just enough color for everyday use, and is super soft. I'd love to be one of those girls that can sport matte red lipstick on a daily basis, but I just can't. I look super intense and it inevitably ends up outside the lines by noon. These Sugar balms provide just a hint of color, which is perfect for me and my unadventurous lips.

3. Smashbox Blush ($24 at Sephora) - This blush provides just a hint of shine and really gorgeous color for the cheeks. There is a built in grinder, so you just twist off as much as you need. Plus, using the grinder is super fun, and I need a little fun when I'm getting ready for work in the morning. Unlike a few other blushes I've tried, this Smashbox blush lasts all day.

4. NARS Pressed Powder ($33 at Sephora) - This powder gives a very sheer, basic amount of coverage without making my skin look too matte. If you have dry skin but want to use just enough powder to secure your makeup without it looking cakey, I recommend NARS.

5. Covergirl Eyeliner ($5 at Target) - You can't go wrong with this drugstore liner. It goes on smoothly and I love the smudging tool at the end (when I draw the line crooked pretty much everyday...).

6. Smith's Rosebud Salve ($6 at Sephora) - I've been using this stuff for years, and I never stop loving it. It's cheap, lasts forever, and is great for moisturizing hands and lips. Do yourself a favor and buy this immediately.

7. Benefit High Beam - I have pretty dry skin, so I love this stuff to add just a bit of shine to my t-zone.

8. Makeup Forever Aqua Cream ($23 at Sephora) - This is hands down the best eye shadow I've ever used. It goes on creamy and then dries quickly, but unlike other cream shadows I've used, this doesn't gather in the creases of my eyelid. The colors are sheer but add just enough coverage and oomph for everyday use. Can't recommend this product enough! I regularly wear #12 and #13, but they all seem great.

9. Covergirl Mascara ($4 at Target) - I've been using this mascara since middle school and it's the best. I've tried more expensive brands, but I always come back to this one. 

What am I missing? What are your favorite beauty products? xoxo

Shellac Manicure

Have you ever gotten a gel or shellac mani? I love having my nails painted, but they always seem to chip right after I get them done. Shellac manicures dry instantly (think, no sitting still for an hour while it dries!) and last for 14+ days without chipping. I got one last week, and so far, it's still in perfect shape. I'm officially a convert. Have you ever gotten a gel manicure?

Favorite Foundation

This Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm isn't actually a foundation at all. Rather, it is more of a tinted moisturizer and acts as a four-in-one primer, moisturizer, sunscreen, and treatment serum. I love it because it feels so light, evens out my skin tone, and it offers anti-aging benefits. It has a whopping SPF 45+ but doesn't have that suncreen-y smell like so many other products. Two thumbs up!

DIY Ombré Glitter Nails

This weekend, my BFF, Kristina, came to visit me in San Francisco. While she was here, we painted our nails in this ombré glitter look. Below is the step-by-step tutorial, if you'd like to try it.

What you'll need: 
-A base color (you can use any color but we used Tickle My France-y by OPI)
-A sparkly, metallic color (we used Glitzerland by OPI)
-A glitter polish (we used an older polish, but this Grow Up Already by OPI seems really similar)
-A top coat

{PS - those of you who know Kristina will appreciate Punschka, who is featured in this picture!}

How to accomplish this look:
-Paint two coats of your base color and let it dry completely.
-Paint a swipe of the sparkly, metallic color at the top of each nail and let it dry completely.
-Starting at the top of each nail, take the glitter color and brush downwards. Be sure to ease up on your brushstroke towards the middle of each nail. It might look a little thick at first, but the top coat will help to smooth it all out.
-Paint a top coat and let it dry completely.
-If you'd like, paint a 2nd top coat (I did mine the next day!) to smooth it out even more.

That's all there is to it! We chose this nude and gold ombré combination, but I think it would be adorable in other colors too. 

Our sparkly nails were perfect for our girls weekend in San Francisco. 

PS - here is one other take on ombré nails that I'd love to try soon. Happy Labor Day everyone! XO

Found: New Favorite Lip Balm!

I recently received this Sugar Rosé Lip Treatment by fresh in my Birchbox. It adds just a hint of color to my lips and really is the softest lip balm I've ever tried. Bonus: it also smells amazing! I highly recommend it.