Beauty Roundup - Drugstore Favorites

Earlier in the week my girlfriends and I were discussing beauty products and which ones were our absolute favorites. I loved hearing what everyone is using as I think they always look incredible and I am always game for trying something new. So while I have shared my favorite makeup products here, my top picks for dry skin solutions here and the best skincare regimen I have ever used {seriously buy this face oil if nothing else, I have not had any dry skin since using it}, I thought I would share some drugstore favorites that I am constantly replenishing and cannot live without.



This new Dove dry deodorant spray is my everything, not only is the scent divine, it has been so easy to apply, literally dry in seconds and hasn't gotten on my clothes.

Full fledge lipgloss addict here. When I am running low on my favorite gloss or just want a light makeup day i.e. going to the gym but don't want to look ghostly. I always line my lips with this lip stain then top with this tinted lip balm.

My new favorite way to remove makeup without burning my eyes or leaving behind any residue. The magic of micellar water and it's little magnets for removing makeup on your skin is the best product out there. Oh & my skin doesn't feel dry or stripped of moisture afterwards like so many other removers.

Winter time means major dry skin for me. I personally like keeping this body oil in the shower  I love to rub it in on damp skin before I towel dry and get a subtle sheen to my skin without feeling sticky. The scent is light and clean.

Biosilk saves my dry colored hair from looking fried. I put a dime size amount in my hands, rub together and work from the middle of my hair to the ends, avoiding the roots. It controls my fly-a-ways and tames my waves when they start becoming a bit unruly.

Ever since we moved this past summer into our new home I have been indulging in bubble baths at night. They are perfect after a long day and I love this bubble bath for it's relaxing scent before bedtime.

I have tried quite a few mascaras at all different price points but nothing tops this one in my book.

Since we are often on the go, I wanted some travel brushes that were compact and didn't cost a fortune, this set was perfect for me and comes with me on all our getaways.

The absolute best quick dry polish, especially needed for my favorite red manicure.

all the above items & more drugstore favorites can be found below

Beauty Round Up

Do you ever get a point where your entire beauty bag needs refreshing. Lately I have felt I run out everything all at the same time which is such a heavy hit to the wallet {which also begs the question - why is it totally impossible to walk into Sephora and only buy one thing?}. To make matters worse a lot of the products I was using had since been discontinued {insert sad face}, including my beloved perfume, which we all know is so hard to find one you love. So I asked around to my girlfriends what products they like to use, took their recommendations and went about starting a new daily beauty regimen for myself. For my skincare I have been so happy with these all natural products and these for my anti-aging care. First was finding a new scent. I luckily stocked up on a few bottles when I heard my beloved signature scent was being discontinued but decided to keep looking for a replacement and thankfully to some free samples I fell in love with Hermès Le Jardin de Monsieur Li and have been smelling my wrists non stop since my husband surprised me with a bottle. All my other beauty favorites are below. 

Smells Like Summer

Over the long holiday weekend my sister and I dropped in our favorite little island shop Dabney Lee {also located in DUMBO, Brooklyn for the city folk} for some fun summer goodies. While we both left with bags full of assorted treats one set of products really set itself apart from the rest and that was the handcrafted items from The Shore Soap Company. I have to admit that I am pretty picky when it comes to scents and when I tested out all of this companies line I was loving each and every thing they made. When I learned that they were handcrafted in my beloved Newport, RI and was made with quality natural ingredients I was completely sold. I picked up the coconut body butter which has a super velvety texture that moisturized my dry skin without feeling oily. I love that it quickly absorbed into my skin and even left me with a subtle summer glow, never mind you smell like a day at the beach after applying it. My other favorite was the solid perfume balm in the scent mermaid kisses. Not only is it adorable in it's petite container {perfect for throwing in your purse} but the fragrance is completely intoxicating. I kept smelling my wrist over and over after applying. It will definitely be my go to all summer long. I can't wait to visit their retail shop next month when we return to where it all happened to celebrate our fourth wedding anniversary. Check out some of my favorite products from this seaside brand, I mean, the nautical packaging alone is worth trying the brand. It's safe to say I am obsessed!

solid perfume // body butter // sugar scrub // bar soap // liquid soap // sea hair spray // bath bomb

Saving Face

As blizzard Juno is doing her business outside, I am reminded of how horrifically dry my skin has been this winter.  I have been increasing my daily water intake to work on my skin from the inside out yet I have yet to see an improvement. So I naturally turn to products striving for a quick fix to keep my face and body hydrated. After all, no one wants dry scaly skin, it's so not cute. Below are a few favorites for tending to dry skin head to toe.


one - we may not have a tub in Boston but here in NYC I have been indulging in endless bubble baths, this foaming gel is also epsom salt which is so great for the skin, drawing out toxins, healing bruises and sore muscles.
two - this is by far my favorite drugstore beauty find, I can't live without them. I switched from the nighttime formula to the hydrating one and love the moisturized feel my skin has after removing my daily makeup.
three - instead of using an abrasive scrub, I have been using this gentle peeling gel to remove all dead skin from my face to my neck, it's really incredible what it removes. I use it along with the entire anti aging set from the same brand, it's the bees knees.
four - Remember my favorite lip gloss? Well she also makes an incredible clear gloss for the softest lips.
five - It's a tad embarrassing to admit but my heels get incredibly dry and painful. I use this product at night and then put on socks to trap the moisture in. It's amazing how it can work it's magic overnight. I have also heard good things about this foot peel but have yet to try them.
six - This tasty scrub leaves lips smooth and supple.
seven - Remember this instagram? Well I am now totally addicted to these masks. After I removed the "scary mask" my skin felt incredibly hydrated, firm and youthful.
eight - I am usually a big fan of this daily moisturizer but I also like to change things up every now and then to reboot my skin. I was especially keen on it with it's anti-aging formula. Not shown is my  body moisturizer which was recommended by my dermatologist.

You can shop the post with the links above or any the images below!

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Glossy

Sorry for the late post today, Internet was down here and just came back up! Do you ever feel like you run out of all your beauty products all at once? Come the new year I was dangeloursly low on all my daily makeup which resulted in spending an entire pay check at Sephora. My favorite item by far,  has to be lip gloss, so while I restocked up on my everyday pink gloss I thought I would try out some new colors to mix up my everyday regimen. These three combinations were by far my most loved combinations. Nars velvet matte lip pencil is definitely the best long lasting base color for any gloss. I love its smooth finish and opaque color which let's the top coat gloss do it's thing.

one - Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in "Sex Machine" //  Sara Happ in "Pink Slip"
two - Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in "Never Say Never" // Laura Mercier Gloss in "Tulip"
three - Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in "Dragon Girl" // YSL gloss in "Classic Cool Red" - {use the gloss sparingly with the red, you do not want a super glossy red lip like worn in the 80's, I like only a tiny bit in the center of the lip to keep the look moisturized}

Holiday Gift Guide - Beauty Gifts

Let's face it, we all need a little bit of help from beauty products in our life. I do not know a single woman who doesn't at least wear lip gloss {this one is my favorite combined with thisin "nude beach" as the base color} or use some sort of tinted moisturizer to help brighten their skin. Even men have become a significant market in the beauty industry with launches of new shaving products and skin care regimens. I personally can find myself playing for hours in Sephora and have a very long beauty wish list that I may have sent to Santa. So I pulled together a few of my favorites for gifting to your beauty obsessed people. Everything from getting the perfect beach wavy hair to a bright white smile {even something for the fellas} is in a little gift guide below. Happy Shopping!

one // two {perfect for New Years day hangover} // three // four // five // six {guys version} // seven {my husbands favorite} // eight // nine // ten // eleven {own & LOVE} // twelve 

Get Your Glow On

I don't know about you but come cooler temps, my skin becomes severely dehydrated. I'm sure I don't drink enough water but I swear the weather is really the significant contributor to making my skin look dull and feel coarse. So I have been testing out a slew of products to create my perfect glowing skin. You know, that dewy summer glow that we all wish we could achieve year round. The most important element I found was trying to avoid looking shiny, no one wants to look like a sweaty mess...it's not cute. Radiance was the goal and I feel like with the help of five products I finally feel I have a little round up of products that have helped me moisturize my skin but also providing coverage without feeling like a heavy veil of makeup is caked on my face each day.


one // two // three // four // five

On top of my anti-aging regimen that I do daily, I apply moisturizer with my hands all over my face and neck. You will really want to let this soak in before proceeding as it's the all so important base to making the other products work. Some people like a mist or a facial oil but I have to try either thus far. I then go to my trusty concealer. The combination of bb cream and concealer provides a perfectly creamy concealer to cover my under eye area. After the concealer is evenly blended in I go to one of my all time favorite products, Borghese splendor which gives me the healthy glow I so desperately need. You only a need a little and I apply it with my beauty blender in small dots around my face. Finally for a little color, the beauty balm in vanilla glow is my top layer to pull together the entire look. What are your favorite beauty products for getting your skin glowing???

Pretty Please

image via

My girlfriends and I used to joke around that getting to name nail polish's for a living could quite possibly be the most fun of career's. Being an aunt to four beautiful little nieces who inspire me all the time, I even at one point wanted to create an all natural nail lacquer line that would have fun names designed for a younger audience. So when I cam across Pretty Please a site that allows you to create your own custom nail polish along with it's name, I was very excited to get started. It will make a great stocking stuff come the holiday season, fun for bachelorette's or even a fabulous favor for a bridal shower or birthday party for any gal at any age. I personally love how they use a real hand display of how their twenty five colors will look and the interactive label maker so you see how your custom name will appear not he bottle. For fun I played around with a few and my favorites so far are "Red-y For Love" for polish #4, "Everything but the kitchen pink" and "Pa-stellar Pink" for polish #12 and finally "Indecent Purple-osal" for #25. What would you name your color?

images via their Facebook

Portable Perfume

Last week while in NYC I had forgotten to pack my favorite frangrances. I was totally bummed but didn't want to splurge on replacing two bottles when I knew I had them back in Boston. So I popped by Sephora and checked out their portable perfume's that are perfect for throwing in your purse when you are on the go. I specifically fell in love with Viktor & Rolf's "Flowerbomb" and it's cute rollerball  applicator and perfume refill set but there was a serious selection for trying to help find the scent that works best for you, the best part is they cost so much less then investing in a full bottle. A perfect way to test drive a new fragrance without having commitment.



one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight // nine // ten

Turning Back The Clock

Confession, I have only recently become a beauty product addict. In my twenties, I pretty much washed my face with whatever soap was in the shower. However as I am in my mid thirties now I am well aware of how important it is to take care of your skin. So about three years ago I started using some anti-aging products, specifically by Peter Thomas Roth.  I'd like to start with a full disclosure that I haven't received any of these items for free {although I wish I had}, my review is strictly based on my own trial and error of numerous products and what I find to have the best results. I first started my regimen by using the "unwrinkle pads" at night. However since then I have added almost his entire anti-aging line to my daily routine and I have to say for the first time I am seeing big time results. The lines on my face are finer, the dark circles under my eyes are lighter/less puffy and overall my skin just feels smoother and well taken care of. So while I admit, I find the whole process of having to do this every evening a bit tedious, the prize of a good complexion is well worth it. Some of my absolute favorites from the line are below.



unwrinkle kit {great value for giving the products a test drive} // "to die for" nighttime lash serum // "to die for" mascara // mineral powder // concealer // cc cream {makeup line is great for quick touch ups & throwing in purse when your on the go} // glycolic acid peel pads

Beauty Roundup

Ever get tired of every single product you own? I do. While I am definitely loyal to a few tried and true beauty items i.e. mixing Calypso Vanille & Lavende for my signature scent & my beloved drugstore mascara, I was pretty much done with everything else that I was using. While there was nothing wrong with my previous products it was fun to revamp my cosmetic case with some new products in new hues for Spring. Some of my new favorites are below with notes below on how I wear them. I'd love to know what is your favorite beauty product?



When I walked into Bloomingdales for my new products my goal was a dewey natural sun kissed glow. Yes that is a whole lot of adjectives to pretty much describe that I wanted to avoid looking tired and dry from this horrible New England weather. I decided to not spend all my money at one counter and visited a few different brands for some favorite products I knew and loved as well as some new ones to help me achieve the best version of myself. Let's start with the face. My skin is dry, like sahara dry...so I need a great moisturizer stat! While I use this lotion after cleansing before bedtime with my "unwrinkle pads" {that I use on my face, neck & hands}, I decided for my everyday desired "glow" the MAC Strobe Cream would be a great morning lotion to help soften my skin before the application of makeup. I then apply my tinted beauty balm {in vanilla glow} with my favorite applicator for even distribution. On top of that I use bb cream concealer {in light} to hide the dark circles that take residence under my eyes. Then I apply a soft coating of bronzer {in laguna} all over and a bit of blush {in dame} on my cheek bones. Once the face is complete I move to my eyes. I am not sure if this is the right way but I then apply mascara {in black noir}. Followed up with a layer of MAC pro longwear paint pot {in painterly} as a base. Another soft swipe of shadow {in naked lunch}. I then line my eyes with a plum pencil {in boredeauxline} topped with another soft swipe of shadow just over the liner part {in beautiful iris} a hue that I believe works with for eye color. Finally, the lips and my most favorite. I personally never find a single color that is just right so I always like to mix of a few. I first start with Nars Matte Lip Pencil {in sex machine} then a soft coat of Lipstick Queen {in crime} for an added pop of pink pigment. For touch ups I turn to my favorite gloss {in the pink} for a sheen and softening element. 

Glossaholic

I am a serious glossaholic. It's a problem. I am always on the hunt for the perfect pink lip gloss and my arsenal of unsuccessful colors unfortunately outnumbers the ones that are flattering. So many are too bubble-gummy or barely show up on my fair skin. That was until I came across the "Lip Slip" by Sara Happ. This super moisturizing soft blush color gloss is my new favorite shade. After one application it not only kept it's color for hours but also the silky texture stayed intact making my lips feel super moisturized. I love this new to me brand so much I felt deserved it's own post. I can't wait to try some of her other products like the ones below. 

one // two // three // four // five 

Beauty Round Up

Morning friends, hope you all had a great weekend! I am sharing a few of my favorite beauty products below. I know I can't live without mascara or lip gloss, I never leave the house without them but I have to say I generally need a lot more then those two products to get me through the day without looking like an old lady. Check out my must haves and do tell me your favorites, I love trying new products!

Lips - I am a full fledged lip gloss addict. I can't get enough of the stuff. I must put it on at lease one thousand times a day and new shades of gloss & lipsticks are my all time favorite to shop for. While my everyday color is a velvety nude shade {aka the color "sex machine"} from Nars topped with a MAC creamy gloss in "Right Image". I love the Trish McEvoy Sweet Berry pencil for going out at night, as seen on my fb cover photo, my nighttime lip care is always with L'Occitane's moisturizing lip balm.

Eyes - I am not huge on wearing a lot of eye make up everyday. I however cannot walk out of the house without my favorite black mascara. I usually save the eyeliner in a dark purple shade and a neutral eyeshadow palette for evenings out or special occasions. 

Skin - Aging is a bitch, these "unwrinkle" pads help me feel better about those pesky lines. I use them every night before bed and moisturize with this afterwards {not shown}. Neutrogena's make up remover pads are seriously the tops. I can't live without them, they remove my make up and give my skin a dewy glow. Before I start any of my make up a good concealer and tinted moisturizer act as my base. For my everyday bronzer, I fell in love with Victoria's Secret baked bronzer, I go with the lightest shade and love the little bit of shimmery gold it has in it. My blush hasn't changed in years, "dame" from MAC is mine forever. 

Tools - The beauty blender is seriously my favorite tool. I use it to blend the tinted moisturizer and avoid any creases or lines along the jaw line. Everyone needs one of these little nuggets. While the blender takes care of the wet make up applications, bronzers and blushes are applied with this little set. I store all my favorite products in a cute pouch for easy packing and throwing in my everyday handbag.

Day to Date

I love Sephora as much as the next girl but I have already confessed that I am not a complete product junkie when I did my five favorites for him & her. However, when I recently emptied out my make up bag on my desk at work to touch up for an impromptu date night with my husband, I noticed I have quite the mini makeup bag filled with my favorite products lip gloss and lots of other touching up goodies. So while I do love when I get these spontaneous surprises, I also usually like to plan ahead. On nights you are going out apres work, you usually can plan an outfit that you actually thought out that morning instead of the mangled mess you  usually throw together. If you are like me you are growling through the crack of dawn and do a   half ass make up job you did with one eye open. I was so thankful that I had created a mini beauty bag after a Sephora Christmas gift card so I could touch up and enjoy the evening without looking like a hot mess. Below is what I keep on me to get ready in a flash {most items are a travel size portion} - what are your beauty essentials that you have to have on you at all times???

perfume // mascara // tinted moisturizer // concealer // bronzer // blush // lip stick // lip gloss // eye shadow

I have to admit these are not the same products I use every morning getting ready for the daily 9-5 routine. I mostly purchased these items because I am sucker for anything miniature and if it came in a stylish small package that fit in the purse sized make up bag and most importantly didn't make me look like a tranny it was meant to be mine. I have however fallen hard for a lot of these products, here are some notes on each that might be helpful.

Erase Paste - BEST INVENTION EVER!!! This product seriously conceals luggage under the eyes like no ones biz, blemishes too.
 Lipstick - I am obsessed with lip products {especially the Sephora brand}, it's my one beauty product obsession. The price is right, and a great selection of colors. I love mixing the shades to get the right color for my skin tone.
Mascara - DO NOT BUY expensive mascara, it's so not worth it! I have been using Voluminous since I was a wee one and it's seriously the best. I will never ever cheat on it. The curved brush helps create a soft bed in my lashes without having to use the treacherous eyelash curler.
Tinted Moisturizer - perfect in a pinch for a touch up going out the door, you need a tiny bit to get a big result, giving your skin a clean healthy glow.
Perfume - I always tend to go to vanilla, coconut, gardenia flavored scents, this new spritz I bought on Shelter Island is my favorite, it's super light and every time I wear someone asks about it.  Comes in a ton of different scents - try it!

Stay tune for part two featuring a day to date look for your wardrobe!!!