Author: Lindsay

Pre-Party Prep for a Festive Weekend

Anyone else planning for some festive fun this weekend? You can tell by my manicure above, I’m in the spirit (it is Essie Pretty Edgy). I am sure this will be a relatively boozy weekend with St. Patrick’s Day, wedding festivities and seeing old friends. So, with that in mind…

Just because we are partying doesn’t mean we don’t want to look our best, right? I’m sticking to these tips to ensure my skin looks its fresh and I can avoid feeling horrible after one too many.

Tonight (and every night), I am going to ensure my skin is super hydrated and nourished with Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturizer. It replinishes skin and is packed with Pro-Vitamin B5 known to help restore, soften and smooth.
I am going to shoot for alternating water with every “adult beverage”. This ensures you pace yourself and stay hydrated. Bonus points if you can hunt down lemon – it helps detoxify the liver and speed metabolism.
It is easy to get carried away and forget to reapply sunscreen while you are celebrating over brunch on a patio or at a backyard BBQ. I’m tossing Simple Skincare Protecting Light Moisturizer with SPF 15 in my purse for frequent reapplication. The lightweight formula is easy to wear with a non-greasy feel.
No excuses here – I keep Simple Skincare Cleansing Facial Wipes right by my bed so no matter how tired I am, that makeup is coming off. I also love the Simple Skincare Eye Make-Up Remover Pads for the delicate eye area.

This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Influencer in the Simple® Skincare Program. Visit www.facebook.com/SimpleSkincare to share your story on sensitive skin.

NARS Satin Lip Pencil

Remember this post about NARS Lip Pencils? I was distinguishing the Gloss and Matte Velvet Lip Pencils, which I both adore. But after this dry winter, my lips didn’t quite perform as well with thicker, drier formulas. I have been riding this trend of luscious, creamy lipsticks that are full of pigment like these and these.

So no surprise here, NARS is on their game. Their new Satin Lip Pencils have that creamy hydrating goodness with rich pigments that I have been wild about lately. The moisturizing formula glides right on my lips while the pencil format allows for a precise application. The vitamin packed shades have a glossy finish and layer well with other lip products.

I’ve been wearing three shades over the past couple days. (Check out my Instagram here for more swatches) Isola Belle is the perfect, wearable nude with just enough peach to give my lips a hint of color. Yu is my dream vibrant pink, and when I wear it, I am chanelling my inner 60’s mod girl. Lodhi is the sweetest coral that is just perfect for the arrival of spring.

Let me know which one you pick up!

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE WAS PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

What’s In My Shower These Days

You probably aren’t shocked to find out my shower is full to the brim with beauty goodies. Every day, I grab for something different. But there are those favorites that I keep buying again and again, using every bit to the very last drop. Here’s my current shower MVP list:

H2O Plus Sparkling Currant Shower & Bath Gel is doing a darn good job getting me ready for spring time. The fruity, invigorating scent reminds me of being at the beach in high school without any of the cloying sweetness. The Black Currant Extract and Fruit Enzymes improve skin tone and texture. The best part? The Vitamin E capsules – tiny, jelly like balls that burst with just a bit of pressure that add crazy softness to my skin.

Tokyo Milk Eiffel Tower Soap from Neiman Marcus are almost too pretty to use. But eventually, I couldn’t resist and ripped that pretty paper to reveal a heafty bar of delicious smelling soap. The triple milled soap is made from a pure vegetable base and scented with the finest perfume. I get great lather while Shea Butter provide moisture. The Eiffel Tower scent is a blend of Linden, Honeyed rose, Wisteria petals and White musk.

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel is my new go-to shower face cleanser. While it doesn’t have my beloved foaming action, I love the way it can remove every bit of makeup and dirt. It has a fairly strong floral, cucumber-like scent – sounds odd, but it is actually delightful. Papaya and Grapefruit Extracts are provide exfoliating Alpha Hydroxy Acids to deep clean pores. Love using this with my Clarisonic.

Neutrogena Shampoo, Anti-Residue Formula is a relatively new addition and I constantly scratch my head why the classic formula didn’t make its way into my shower sooner. My hair was looking a little dull – no excuse for that – I never color it and always use this heat defense serum. Well, the problem was residue. Used once a week, this shampoo and remove all that gunk from shampoos, conditioners and styling products.

St. Ives Revitalizing Pear & Soy Body Wash, another bargain hit from St. Ives that really works. Soy and Pear not only make this formula smell great, but also moisturize skin. Like H2O Plus Sparkling Currant Shower & Bath Gel, the fragrance is getting me in the Spring mood. The soap lathers but without leaving that dry, tight feeling. And around $3, you can beat the price.

Anastasia Brow Wiz

I was sold for a long time on this brow product. And I loved it… I really did. But so many of my fellow bloggers were talking about Anastasia Brow Wiz. I just had to pick one up and see what the fuss was about.

Clearly, I was missing out. This thin little pencil wormed its way into my heart. The ultra-slim design allows for sharp brush strokes, mimicking the actual look of a brow hairs. The precise end also allows for a polished and detailed look.

Medium Ash is a magic shade for me. Often, we are tempted to go darker than our actual shade. But Medium Ash is light enough to look natural, but dark enough to fill in sparse areas. (Brow Wiz also comes in Brunette, Ebony, Ash Blond and Caramel.)

I use short strokes to fill in sparse areas and give volume to my thinning outer corners. Then use the attached brow brush to blend for a natural look. Honestly, I can’t imagine not having this little guy on my vanity in the future – it is that good.

Spring Beauty Picks in Prairie Hive Magazine

I was thrilled to be featured in a favorite local publication this week. Prairie Hive was founded by a group of creative women, sharing inspiration on design, lifestyle, travel and entertaining. These designers, photographers, writers elequently and beautifully show us a little peek into talented and fashionable locals. And it was an honor to share my favorite beauty products for Spring including:

Maybelline Color Whisper – These gel-based lipsticks are super nourishing and provide just a wash of color making them so easy to wear.
Marni Eau de Parfum – This new fragrance is the first by the fashion house and has the freshness for spring but with a little darker twist making it unique (and I can’t get over the adorable packaging!).
bareMinerals READY Foundation – This mineral compact foundation has the radiant finish of liquids but portability of powder making it perfect for spring skin that isn’t as dry and more prone to breakouts.
Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 in Lemon and Chamomile – One to steal from the guys, this lip balm has the best scent, offers SPF for the warming days and heals those dry winter lips in no time.
Urban Decay Naked Skin Beauty Balm Broad Spectrum SPF 20 – This new BB Cream is ultra-lightweight and sheer, perfect for by the pool or for a radiant base under your regular makeup for a dewy, fresh look.
Kate Somerville D-Scar Diminishing Serum – Anticipating baring more skin in our spring and summer wardrobes, I’ve been working to improve the appearance of scars with this new serum from one of my favorite skin care lines – I’ve had crazy dramatic results using this goodie.
Mario Badescu Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 30 – I am an SPF fanatic and this affordable version packs in great coverage, is very lightweight and works beautifully under makeup.

Make sure to check out the full Spring issue here.

Dr. Jart Water Fuse Smart Gel BB

I was already smitten with this BB Cream from Dr. Jart. But since I had fallen hard for everything from his Water Fuse line, including this and this, I knew I had to give Dr. Jart Water Fuse Smart Gel BB a whirl. My dry skin responds so well to these hydration packed formulas, leaving my face feeling radiant and plump.

Right off the bat, you will notice the jelly texture of the formula, inspired by memory foam mattresses. I can just visualize all that moisturizing goodness ready to impart bouncy hydration. After scooping out product, a little deformed space will slowly return to an even layer in the jar. It also does this on your face, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and enlarged pores.

Unlike so many BB Creams, you get fairly good coverage with some building. The two available shades have a radiant finish, glow-y but totally even. In this way, it reminds me of this tinted moisturizer. The SPF 30, antiaging and anti-inflammatory ingredients all work to improve the appearance of your skin long-term while you wear it. I can totally see myself throwing this on for a little coverage during the day during the warm summer months (and likely most days before then too!).

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE WAS PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.