Summer Morning Routine!

Hey Gorgeous Readers!

 Even though it's Summer I'm still pretty busy so I keep my morning routine quick and simple. Depending on the day's schedule though I tend to sleep in a little. :)

Of course the first thing is coffee. I love Starbucks even at home so I make one of their dark roasts. I typically go for Italian or French.

Then Lady needs to go for her walk! As cute as she is, she refuses to heel so this usually means she takes me for a walk (or run). After this is breakfast, if Josh makes it (otherwise I drink more coffee and wait a few hours for lunch). And its always too good so I forget to take a photo lol. 

I've started using Victoria's Secret Bronzer this summer. It looks really dark and orange in the tube, but it's really just a gradual bronze. I only use it about once a week, but I only do it in the morning or an afternoon because I don't want it on my sheets. The little shimmer is really pretty too. 

During the summer I don't straighten my hair as often. It's kind of a combination of it being too hot out so I don't want 400 degrees anywhere near my hair, laziness, and the fact that the heat and humidity turn my straight hair to a lion's mane of curls and frizz within 1-5 minutes of being outside anyway. Because of the frizz though I brush my Mastey Oil treatment through my natural curls/waves. It's a mix of argan and olive oil, grapeseed extract and vitamin E so there's a ton of great things to protect your hair, strengthen it, and prevent split ends. I've never colour treated my hair, but it also says it's good for protecting colour. I received it in a gift bag at Fashion Week, but when it runs out (a little goes a long way) I will totally buy another bottle. 

Before I get started on makeup I brush my teeth. Not very exciting lol, but I do this before my makeup regardless of my finishing powder or spray because I still think it washes off my foundation.

Also before my makeup I wash my face with Ursa Major's fantastic face wash (that's actually the name, but I agree). It smells amazing and I love that's it's like an oil consistency, but doesn't make my skin feel oily. And then I moisturize either with my Beyond Belief moisturizer or Lancôme Bienefait Multi-Vital sunscreen cream. I think my Garnier Skin Renew Instant Smoother has reminded me to moisturize more. And that's my last step before I get started on my makeup. I still love it since my First Impressions post.

With a little inspiration from one of my style icons Lauren Conrad ♥ I've been doing a simple bronze-y look lately.

I finish by setting my makeup with my Urban Decay All Nighter spray or Guerlain Météorites powder. Some deodorant, a perfume or body spray, and some lotion and I'm ready for the day! I've been in love with Bath&Body Works Bourbon Strawberry&Vanilla fragrance lately (I got the soufflé, body wash, and body spray)

Stay Fabulous,

xoxo Aimee ♥♥

First Impressions | Garnier Skin Renew 5 Sec Blur

Hey Gorgeous Readers!

Today I came across this product, Garnier Skin Renew Instant Smoother 5 Sec Blur, in a drugstore beauty haul video on YouTube. While it was only a haul and not review it sounded pretty interesting so I went out and bought it.

And since I had no idea what to really expect from this product I thought it would be a fun idea to share my very first impressions of it. 

Packaging: I like the bright pink shiny box and the tube itself was sleek and just a bit smaller than a toothpaste tube. Amid all the consumer evaluation survey results, info about their light-reflecting technology, and long list of benefits they were very clear that this is to be used after moisturizer. 

I had already used my Ursa Major face wash in the morning, but wanted to make sure all of my makeup was completely off and applied my Beyond Belief Refresh and Refine moisturizer.

Application: It didn't come out of the tube was smoothly as I thought it would. I had to blend it in more than I expected. To compare I think it came out a little slower and much less liquid-y as Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

Instant Results?: I did notice effects fast, like a medium coverage face primer. It seemed to be a little similar to my Urban Decay green tinted primer in terms of combating my redness areas. I have recently broken out more so the primer did seem to cover well especially because of its matte finish. I think this will be great as it gets hotter this summer because I feel it will help my liquid foundation stay throughout the day.

Verdict: At about $17, I would buy it as a primer again. I do think it had a smooth finish and hid pores. I really can't vouch for its promise to fill lines and wrinkles though (few more years maybe lol).

Stay Fabulous,
xoxo Aimee ♥♥

Colour Correcting Primers | What do they do?

Hey Gorgeous Readers!

We use primer to make makeup easier to apply and stay longer. When you walk into a Sephora or Elf though there are so many different colours to choose from. 

Green? Beige? Yellow? Lavender?? 

What do they mean and what should you buy? That's exactly what I was thinking when I delved into the world of colour correcting primers.

Guerlain Météorites in clair

Using my Guerlain finishing powder as an example, because it includes all of the common primer colours- 

White/Clear: Probably your first primer. When I bought my first green primer the beauty consultant said you can mix this with other primers. Or you use your tinted primers in your targeted areas (like acne or dark spots) and the clear in the other areas of your face. 

Green: This reduces redness and hides blotchy skin tones.

Beige/Peach: This hides dark spots and evens out your skin tone. It also brightens.

Yellow: Like the green primer it hides redness and great especially for under eye area.

Purple/Lavender: Brightens and evens out skin tone. 

Pink: Brightens like the lavender and also adds a glow or blush.

Personally I use an ELF mineral green tinted primer under my makeup and now that I have the above finishing powder, that over everything. 

ELF is my new favourite because compared to any other brand it's a bargain and works just as well. Their mineral infused primer comes in clear, green, lavender, and beige/peach.

Smashbox also does a green and peach. They have lavender listed in the product description at sephora, but I can't find it listed even as out of stock or anywhere on Smashbox's website.

I haven't personally tried the following, but Bobbi Brown's corrector line in an array of pink to dark beiges has rave reviews. For a splurge Dior has a pink peach primer with a brush applicator. Koh Gen Do and bareMinerals both have yellow based primers. For an eye primer Benefit has a nice yellow one too.

Stay Fabulous,

xoxo Aimee ♥

Travel in Style | Makeup and. Beauty Essentials

Hey Gorgeous Readers!

2014 was the year of travel for me. I went from rarely flying to flying a couple times a month and I just spent the past two weeks hopping from New York to Wisconsin to Florida back to Wisconsin only to return to New York soon.

I'm exhausted just writing that sentence. In 2015 I'm hoping all that experience will help me travel a little less stressed and way more stylishly with just some essentials.

Hair: I only use Oscar Blandi pronto Dry Shampoo. It smells amazing and we all know dry shampoo is a life saver.

For volume I really like Mane Boost Amplifying Cream (it's out on Amazon, but check your local Sallys Beauty) that my sister introduced me to. It doesn't feel greasy or heavy, but noticeably adds volume.

Skin: I always need hand lotion with me so my two favourites are still Aveda hand relief moisturizing creme and a new favourite Bliss high intensity hand cream.

I also have a new favourite face mask. Skin of Norway Detoxifying Hydration Mask- "Combats the effects of air pollution, smog, and ozone. Especially effective after air travel" Everything about it is perfect for New York. The pump is a bit weird so I suggest apply with cotton pads. 

Makeup: Elf mineral face primer in green. This primer is a huge savings from anything at Sephora and I think it works just as well as Urban Decay's primer. I also really like the pump over a squirt bottle.

The Balm Bahama Mama bronzer. Noticeable contouring is so 2014, but this bronzer is subtle enough  and still defines your cheekbones. 

Even after many brands, I can't stop using Sephora Collection's colourful blush. I really liked No8 rose petal, but No9 healthy rose is nice too.

Another Elf fave is their HD Lifting Concealer.

And I'm a mascara junkie, but my essentials are BareMinerals Flawless Definition and Makeup For Ever.

What are your beauty and makeup essentials for 2015?

Stay Fabulous,

xoxo Aimee ♥

Catching Up | November Fave Beauty Products

Hey Gorgeous  Readers!

It's been far too long so let's catch up!

I've been shopping quite a lot at Sephora now so here's my November ♥ List- Beauty Edition...

*NOT Sponsored, just obsessed with Sephora at the moment*

1. Urban Decay Vice 2 Palette. 
2. & Naked Palette. My Naked Palette isn't super new (can not wait for Naked 3!), but I've been using it with my Vice 2 Palette a lot. I couldn't imagine doing my makeup without Naked's classic light base colours. And the bright blues and greens in the Vice 2 palette are gorgeously bold. 
3. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. I thought I fell in love when I got Sephora's Outrageous Volume Mascara, but then I got this one... Beyond beautiful voluminous and long lashes after two coats (though I usually do more).
4. Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in 'Debbie' (coral pink)
5. & Dolly's Opening Act set. I immediately loved the sketched pin-ups of each of the 'characters' on the lip polishes' packaging. These tingle a little.. but they're supposed to. They make lips look totally plump and shiny. I like the pinker shades and started with the Debbie, but I've been falling for the darker plum colours now too. If you go into a Sephora ask one of the girls their advice- they're fantastic, but otherwise Sephora.com explained, "Dolly is a cult favorite, but if you love pinks, go with Katie and Sugar. For a plum obsession, go with Brandi or Gabby. Orange-lovers will gravitate toward Amber and Debbie. Add a splash of sparkle with Clair, Starr, and April." Though really, you'll just want them all (and now you kind of can with their Shimmer and Shake Show-Stopping Collection)
6. 8 HR Wear Perfect Cover Concealer. If I only wore one thing from my makeup kit every day this would be it. It does exactly what it says, long lasting, perfect coverage.
7. And finally the genius and fabulous Sephora girls at the one I visit way too often. They've helped me find almost all of these products. And I so want their job haha.

Stay Fabulous,

xoxo Aimee ♥