#OOTD

March 2015 favorites

Beauty blender: beats applying a foundation with a brush any day!

EOS Acai Blueberry: smells so yummy

Peter Thomas Roth Irish Moor Mud Mask: minimizes pores and blemishes without drying 

Glam Glow Power Mud Mask: favorite glam glow mask! Detoxes and leaves skin so soft!

Pro Contour Brush #79: perfect contour brush 

Josie Maran Argan Illuminizer: most perfect higlighter for a Dewey glow 

Too Faced Natural Matte Palette: I'm loving matte shadow palettes. This one is my favorite right now.

Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black: my signature scent 

Too Faced Better Than Sex Macara: favorite mascara 

Sephora 2015 Summer Obsessions Kit: best kit in a long time 

Kat Von D Shade and Light Eye Palette: great matte shades for light, medium and dark skin tones 

Urban Decay Naked Skin: light full, mefium coverage, semi matte finish 

Urban Decay Naked Skin Powder: can't wait to wear this in the summer for my foundation. Great finish and coverage.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Concealer: no creasing. Super lightweight, perfect highlighter shade 

Bare Minerals Pop of Passion lip oil balm: I have been looking for this for a long time. I wanted a pop of color, where it looked like I just ate a red Popsicle. Perfect for summer. 

Sephora Bronzer Aruba: sephora bronzers are my favorite 

Sephora Mineral Blush in Tangerine: I perfect peaches over pinks on my skin tone. Has a bit of a gold shimmer.

Smashbox Pore Minimizing Primer

Philosophy renewed hope in a jar moisturizer 

Soap and Glory Peaches and Clean Milk Cleanser

Pink Chiffon lotion and Body wash: most amazing smell and it sticks around 

Nails Inc Gel spring/summer collection: perfect spring summer nail colors 

Call it spring nautical tote bag from JCP

Makeup bag (Sephora Summer obsessions 2015)

Mix it up spring watch from JCP

New Year... New Skin Routine

Well since the new year is upon us and holiday shopping is finally over, I need to buckle down and save money if I ever want to move down to Nashville, TN and broaden my makeup career. So with that being said, I took a look at my skincare routine. I LOVE my skincare, some people may say I'm obsessed. I get all giddy and excited about taking care of my skin, and well I would like to think it shows. Good skincare doesn't come cheap... Or so I thought! Not only is my new skincare routine a fraction of the cost that I was paying for my high end name brand stuff... But it's also all organic! Which is even better for my skin and my wallet. Some of the stuff I found are almost identical dupes to my former beloved products and some are just new finds! You can find these products at any wegmans, feel rite or whole foods store.

Take a look!

It was pretty hard to part with my algenist   cleanser. We had a long standing romance. But this new find (thanks to my coworker Anna)... Is almost an exact dupe! The ingredients aren't identical, but they have the same benefits and properties as my beloved Algenist cleanser.  It's the DermaE Glycolic facial Cleanser. I don't want just any old face wash, I want anti aging benefits and this has it! It doesn't foam or lather like a typical face wash... But it cleans my skin and doesn't leave it dry.

(Update! Face wash made me break out. I'm not currently using Soap and Glorys Peaches and Clean Milk Cleanser)

Avalon Organics vitality facial serum. I know... I can't even believe it myself. But a dupe to my holy grail of serums... The ole henriksen truth serum. I have not used this new one yet... Due to the fact that I was pretty back stocked on the Ole Serum... So stayed tuned for reviews. At first glance, it has everything I would be getting from the big name brand serum. Fingers crossed. 

DermaE moisturizing day cream. I have used a variety of day moisturizers. One being the Murad Hydro Dynamic ultimate moisture cream. These two creams really compare. The key ingredient what sold me was the hyaluronic acid. Not only does it help retain moisture by creating a barrier and adjusting with hummidity, but it also helps plump the skin in aiding against fine lines and wrinkles.

For the night I've been using a cleansing oil. The benefits of oils on your skin are truly fascinating! They not only melt away makeup but they also pull out impurities, hydrate, provide healing and anti aging properties and so much more! You can make your own "oil cocktail" that is just as good, if not better than a big brand oil cleanser. Each oil has its own benefits. I use the ones pictured above. Just mix equal parts of each oil in a bottle. Then shake before using. Your skin will thank you!

Jojoba oil: all skin types/acne prone 

Castor oil: natural astringent 

Avocado: anti aging/dry skin 

Sunflower seed oil: all skin types

Grape-seed oil: balances oily skin

Sweet Almond Oil: all skin types/oily skin 

Argan oil... Plain and simple. But if you buy non name brand ones... You get twice the amount for half the cost! Great deal!

DermaE evenly radiant brightening night crème. Pretty much an exact dupe for half the cost!

Avalon Organics revitalizing eye cream. I'm not huge on eye creams, but I do like to use one considering your eyes age six times faster than the rest of your face. This was a steal at over half the price. Anything with Vitamin C will lighten, tighten and brighten the skin. 

Since I saved a lot, A LOT of money with my new routine, and realized I was lacking a night serum. I picked this one up! It's great in winter and smells really good!

DermaE microdermabrasion scrub with Dead Sea salt. I exfoliate daily with my clarisonic, but once a week I like to use a scrub on my face. I just feel better and my skin is noticeably different after I use one.

I hope you guys liked this post, and inspired you to try new products. Also to realize that you can still take really good care of your skin without spending a fortune. I'm saving so much money by taking this step! I'll be in Nashville, TN in no time!!!