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!!!

Favorites of 2014!!

Clarisonic Mia

This beauty has changed my skin! I get compliments daily on my complex. If you don't own one... You need to invest in one!

Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation 

Great coverage, light moussey feel. My go to foundation I grabbed for the warmer months. 

Anastasia Blonde Dip Brow

This little gem is worth all the hype it's been getting. It gives you a well defined eyebrow while still looking soft. It takes a little practice if your used to using a powder. I can't imagined life without it now!

Tarte smooth operator setting powder

This provided me shine free skin for hours. During the summer it saved my life! This and Boscia blotting papers, absorbed the greased feeling that comes with hummidity. 

Best primer aside from cover fx mattifying primer. Perfect pairing to the Amazonian clay foundation. Especially during the warmer months.

Tarte CC primer 

I use this to even out my skin when I don't want to do a full face of makeup. Just a quick swipe and I'm good to go. It's super light and soft on my skin.

Bare Minerals Original Foundation

Once it started getting colder, I had to switch over my foundation. The Tarte Amazonian clay was to drying on my combination skin. The creamy powder of bare minerals in the dry months of winter is perfect for my skin!

Glam Glow Powermud Dual Cleanse

Probably my favorite facial mask in existence. I have a huge obsession with skin oils to begin with... And this is a mud that transforms into an oil. My skin feels so soft after I use this. Good detox for your skin after a long week. 

Sephora orange pop blush

I pretty much used this blush every day 

Bare Minerals Ready Illuminator duo

When I wasn't using my Josie Maran Argan Illuminator... Was using this bad boy!

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum

Liquid gold... Also known as crack! I use this every single day! I can't say enough good things about this.

Kat Von D liquid lipstick in Bachelorette. All her liquid lipsticks are amazing... But this was my most used color of 2014

Sephora Mr.Lover

Neon fuschia... When paired with cherry lip liner from MAC is my fav!

Kat Von D Lovestruck

My favorite go to everyday lip

Too faced chocolate palette

Beautiful blend-ability and colors 

Smashbox Double Exposure

This palette was made for me 

Sephora cleansing wipes

EOS Blueberry Acai berry

The BEST flavor!!

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara and Tarte Lights Camera Flashes. Tarte first then the Too Faced. Best mascara combo you will ever try! Trust me!

The Tinkle Haircutter

Because of this thing, I haven't had to pay for a haircut. This keeps my pixie trimmed and shaped.

Can't Leave-in conditioner cream

This stuff has saved my hair. Because I bleach it, it drys my hair out so bad! This stuff is super cheap and gives my hair hydration without making it feel oily. 

Suave professionals macadamia conditioner

Ever since I've been blonde, I haven't needed shampoo. I just use a super hydrating conditioner. This one is very hydrating and very affordable! 

Vanilla Bean Noel Lotion

I love me some bath and body works. Country Chic, Pink Chiffon, White Citrus, Punpkin Pecan Waffles are just a few of my favorite scents... But vanilla bean Noel is my number 1 fav! 

Anita Blake series by Laurell K Hamilton

I'm not one for mystery or fantasy books. I usually like books where I learn something. Whether it's about organic farming, a US Navy Seal Sniper, The Dalai Lamas teachings of compassion or learning about vegetarian and vegan lifestyles. But this series got me hooked!!! I've never been so captured by a book before. I'm in the middle of the third one of the series. That is a big deal for me, considering I never have time to read. If you are a fan of the twilight movies and love a bad ass bitch taking charge... These books are for you!

Well..that's all I can come up with for my 2014 favorites! I hope everyone had s happy and healthy new year!!! 

Welcome 2015!

Purse Makeup Makover

Have you ever ran out of the house without makeup on? Only to decide that you actually wanted to look semi decent just in case you run into someone?! Well your in luck! I did a full face application by using only products I had in my little zip up makeup bag! Everything I used can easily found at sephora, and technically it's all free!

Stuff I used:

-Covet FX SPF primer (sample jar from sephora)

-Cover FX BB Gel (sample jar from sephora)

-Bare Minerals Skinny Dip Bronzer (part of a 500pt perk "beauty on the beach")

-Bare Minerals The Natural High blush(part of a 500pt perk "beauty on the beach")

-Bare Minerals Pure Radiance (part of a 500pt perk "beauty on the beach")

-Bare Minerals Mineral Veil (travel size that I got as an unwanted hand-me-down)

- Anastasia Blonde Dip Brow (scooped some of my own dip brow into a empty container)

-Urban Decay 24/7 liner travel size in smoke (came in a VIB bag of samples during a limited time offer with purchase)

-Bare Minerals Lash Domination (part of a 500pt perk "beauty on the beach")

-Bare Minerals Gloss in Party Starter (part of a 500pt perk "beauty on the beach")

- Mini Brush

- disposable lip gloss wands (used to fill in eyebrows)

I used these things to get the look below... It's pretty impressive what you can do with so little! Never under estimate your talent and small makeup bag! :)

My Current Go-To Products

Skincare is a top priority in my life. Being a makeup artist, I know that the key to a beautiful, and flawless makeup look, is to start with a good skincare routine. So you'll notice that most of my must have products are skincare related...

Algenist Gentle Rejuvinating Cleanser

This is my daily cleanser. I use it day and night. It's gentle for my sensitive skin but strong enough to remove all my makeup. Plus has anti aging benefits.

Boscia Konjac Sponge

I have used the origional version of this sponge for months now, and just recently bought the bamboo charcoal one. It's such a nice gentle exfoliating sponge, and pairs with my cleanser, it's a perfect duo. I switched to the black sponge because it helps treat breakouts and minimizes pores, and detoxifies the skin. The reviews on sephora.com even say that people prefer this sponge over a clarisonic brush. I have to agree with those reviews. 

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster

If you take nothing else away from this post, you need to Atleast try this product if you havnt already. I'm am truly addictied to this product. I use one pump every morning after I cleanse and before I moisturize. With the vitamin c it's a nice pick-me-up for the morning. It lightens, tightens and brightens yours skin. So it takes care of fine lines, wrinkles, pores and dark spots. Within one week I noticed my acne scars pretty much were gone! I brush up from my jaw line and all over my face, to create a lifting motion. I feel if I continue to use this product for years to come, I'll have bright, tight healthy looking skin well into my older years.

Sephora 8hr Mattifying moisturizer sunscreen 

I have combination skin, so I use different products on certain parts of my face. Along my t-zone, forehead and cheeks (where I break out most)... I use this moisturizer. It absorbs oil and controls shine, but I still get the moisture I need. Plus sun protection with the SPF. This is my favorite moisturizer to use during the warm summer months.

Dr.Jart Ceramidin kit

This kit is a limited edition kit. Including the liquid serum and then the cream. They are originally both sold separately in bigger sizes. The kit has been available at sephora since Christmas, so I'm not quite sure how long it will be available. You can use the serum and/or the cream on it's own... But I like duo and how it makes my skin feel, so I better stock up! I get super dry patchy skin on my chin. In the summer it almost looks scaly! Gross! This is the only product that can touch my dry skin and actually make a difference. At night I pair this with argan oil, for extra hydration... Which will be discussed later in this post.

Cover FX protection primer

When I'm ready for makeup application I start with this primer. Because my makeup doesn't contain SPF, I like using a primer that has the sun protection I need. It contains an organic sunscreen, which I love! I can't say enough good things about Cover FX! They are my new favorite makeup brand. They are vegan, gluten free, paraben free, talc free, mineral oil free... Among other things. The maker of MAC Cosmetics actually is the same creator of Cover FX. This primer makes for a very smooth makeup application, weather powder or liquid.

Cover FX BB Gel

This product is brand new from cover fx. It's mattifying, light weight and contains ingredients to nourish your skin as well as treat blemishes. I am a mineral powder girl, but this stuff actually feels lighter than a powder. It's perfect for summer! I fell in love with this product the moment I tried it. It gives lightweight med-full coverage. It's almost a cream to powder finish. You need to try it yourself in order to see the amazingness of this product. The thing about all cover fx products is that the periodic use of them actually improves your skins health and appearance. There I go again just gushing over the brand. There is just so much to love! When picking out your shade, go for a shade darker than what you normally would wear. It lightens up when you apply DVD blend it in. I am typically a fair/light skintone... N30 in the cover fx world. In this BB Gel I'm an N-Medium. This is must have foundation for hot summer months. 

Cover FX pressed Mineral powder

I use this when I want to

Throw some makeup on that's light weight, gives me coverage and Brens out my skin tone. I like it better than bare minerals powder foundation because it feels lighter and doesn't make my skin feel grimey like the bare minerals did at the end of the day. 

Bare Minerals Ready Illuminizer Duo

This is a very very pretty highlighter I use when I want that dewy glow on the go! It's quick and gives me the look I desire. I usually use the Josie Maran Argan Illuminizer when I'm going all out with my makeup look.

Josie Maran Argan Illuminizer 

Aruba Bronzer by Sephora

This is the perfect bronzer for my fair skintone... I use it to contour. It also is paraben free and contains argan oil! Added bonus!!

Bare Minerals Mineral Veil with SPF

I just take a light dusting of this on my t-zone to control oil and shine. It just gives me that touch of security with my makeup.

Ole Henriksen invigorating night gel

I use the stuff every night. It smooths out the texture of my skin while combatting traces of fine lines, wrinkles and blemishes. AHA promotes cell turnover while the vitamins C and E nourish the skin. It also gives me hydration throughout the night, waking up with a bright and hydrated complexion. 

Josie Maran 100% pure organic argan oil

I pair this with my other moisturizing treatments at night, on the really dry parts of my skin. I natural, nourishing, gentle and healing. I'm in love with this stuff!!!

Philosophy microdelivery exfoliating wash

I use this once a week. Just to give my skin the extra exfoliating treatment. Renew my cells, and improve the texture of my skin. 

Smashbox Lash Primer

I recommend using an eyelash primer before any mascara... I strongly believe they make your lashes stronger and healthier.

Dior Show Blackout 

Blackest of the black mascara! Builds length and volume

Too Faced Better than Sex Mascara

I layer this on top of the Dior show blackout... The way the brush is formulated, it adds volume and helps curl them.

You can find all these products at your local sephora. If you want to try a product but are unsure you want to spend the money without knowing how the product works for you, just ask for a smart sample!

Good luck fellow skincare gurus!!!

❤️ Renée Ann

Summer Orange Lip

Urban Decay Lip Liner in "bang"

Too Faced melted Lipstick in "melted coral"