Sephora Sale!

The Sephora VIB Spring Sale started today and runs through 4/24 for for VIB members (use code "VIBSPRING"), so I thought I'd share some of my favorites in case you want to pick anything up. This is one of my favorite sales because you get 15% off with no exclusions.

Eyes

1. Urban Decay Anti-Aging Eyeshadow Primer I never used to use eyeshadow primer. Who am I kidding, I never used to wear eyeshadow! Anyhow, this was the first primer I tried, and after trying several others I went back to it. It really makes a difference as far as keeping your eyeshadow in place and preventing creasing. I also like this primer, which you get free with the Smashbox Full Exposure Palette.

2. Smashbox Full Exposure Palette The perfect neutral palette. This palette is another favorite, but the Smashbox palette is more balanced in the number of matte and glitter shades.

3. Too Faced Sweet Peach Eye Shadow Palette This palette is perfect for spring and summer, and it smells so good!

4.Kat Von D Tattoo Liner This is my favorite liquid liner. You get the smoothest line, and it's so easy to create a winged look.

5. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara I still love this drugstore mascara (especially Step 1), but this mascara is a new favorite.

Face

1. Fresh Sugar Face Polish I love the way my skin looks and feels after using this!

 2. Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser I can't use this during the winter because it dries out my skin too much, but it's still one of my favorite cleansers. I don't have bad acne, but every once in awhile something pops up. With this cleanser that doesn't happen as often, and I love that it's anti-aging.

3. Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup I struggle with finding a foundation that will even out my skin tone and provide some coverage without looking heavy/caked on. I have tried several different brands and always end up going back to Clinique. This evens out my skin tone, but my freckles show through and I still look like me. I ordered this one for summer (SPF 40!).

 4. Nars Orgasm Blush Prettiest blush ever!

5. Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder Highlight My favorite highlighter!

Hair

1. CAVIAR Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Shampoo & 2. Conditioner I rotate between this shampoo & conditioner bundle and a few others. I tried their Repair RX bundle thinking I'd like it just as well, but it just wasn't just as good. I'm ordering this from the sale today.

3. CAVIAR CC Cream for Hair 10-in-1 This is right up there with the Living Proof PHD 5-in-1 Styling Treatment in terms of my favorite styling products. You can't go wrong with either one. If you want volume, go for the Living Proof.

4. Moroccanoil Glimmer Shine The best finishing spray!

5. GHD Platinum Professional Styler I purchased this when my Babyliss broke. It heats up really fast (like in less than 60 seconds) and straightens in one pass through my hair.

Fragrances

Chloe Love Story / YSL L'Homme / Tory Burch / 

Nirvana White / Nirvana Black / Sephora Perfume Sampler

If you're looking to buy a new fragrance, now is the perfect time to buy! I just ordered the Chloe Love Story Rollerball for myself and the YSL L'Homme Travel Spray for Michael. I love the idea of buying a rollerball or travel size to start because it allows you to try the fragrance before you commit to a bigger, more expensive, size. Sephora actually offers a fragrance sample kit that comes with a coupon for a free rollerball of your favorite! I'm sharing some of my favorite perfumes here. I'm still searching for the perfect cologne for Michael. My two favorites are the ones my dad wears, and I think it might be a little weird if my husband smells like my dad. Lol! What's your favorite men's cologne?

The sale starts tomorrow (4/20) for Beauty Insiders (use code "BISPRING") and lasts through 4/23. It's free to become a Beauty Insider, and it's definitely worth it just to get to shop the sale (did I mention 15% off?), so if you haven't joined, sign up here. 

I've somehow spent WAY too much money at Sephora over the past year and am VIB Rouge, so I placed an order yesterday (code "ROUGESPRING"). We are going to Hawaii in June, so I had a cart full of products for the trip, and I decided to take advantage of the 15% off and pick up a few things that I'm running low on. So yeah, my order was huge. Here is what I ordered:

What are your hair and beauty must haves? Happy shopping!

XOXO,

My Thoughts on Some Recent Purchases

Rather than doing a standard favorites post (though when they've been sporadic at best I don't know that I could call it "standard" anyhow) I decided to share my thoughts on some of the things I've purchased recently.

1. La Mer Crème de la Mer I have been really concerned with aging, so I gave in and purchased the La Mer Introductory Collection. The main reason I purchased it was to try the Crème de la Mer. I was surprised by how thick it was and felt like I had to use a lot of it to cover my face and neck. Because of this, I won't be repurchasing it. It's too expensive to repurchase every month or two. Instead I'll be going back to using the Clinique Moisture Surge Intense that I mentioned it in this post.

2. Fresh Sugar Face Polish I went to Sephora a few weeks ago to find a new foundation that gives me a little more coverage than my Vitazing. Unfortunately I ended up returning the foundation she recommended because it didn't give me enough coverage, but I ended up buying this exfoliator once I got home because the consultant told me that my nose was dry. I've never thought of my nose as dry, but I took her advice and ordered this when I got home. I've only used it a few times, but I've already noticed a different in how smooth my skin is. Love!

3. neuLash Serum Several bloggers I follow have raved about this eyelash serum, so I splurged on it to see if it lived up to the hype. I have only been using it a few weeks, but I feel like my lashes are thicker and longer ~ I'm not sure if it's because the serum is actually doing what it claims to do or it's just in my head, but so far I like what I'm seeing. You can probably achieve the same look by using this mascara, so I'm not sure it's worth the price tag, but if you want to try a lash serum I'd recommend this one.

4. L'Oréal Double Extend Lash Extension Effect Mascara This mascara reminds me of the Younique Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes, but it's less than $10! It adds so much length and volume to my lashes - they almost look fake! I think "Step 1" makes the biggest difference in adding length. I use it with the Too Faced mascara and it creates major drama (in a good way!). I also love that it doesn't run or come off. It's quickly become a beauty must-have.

5. Essie Fiji Polish This is the perfect pale pink nail polish. It's all I've been wearing since purchasing it a few weeks ago!

 6. Soludos Espadrilles I ordered these during the Shopbop sale that I blogged about in this post, and they have quickly become a new favorite! I ordered the tan and am considering ordering the black as well. They are incredibly comfortable and are so cute! I've seen mixed reviews as far as sizing - for me they fit true to size. They felt tight when they first arrived, but they have stretched with wear, so I'm glad I didn't size up.

7. BP. Mirrored Aviator Sunglasses I love these aviators! And the best part ~ they're $12! Yep, you read that right. BP. is a super affordable brand that is carried exclusively at Nordstrom. I have several BP. pieces, including my favorite long sleeved tees (on sale for less than $11!), and I have the Rose Gold aviators and love them! I'm the worst about throwing my sunglasses in my purse without a case, so the lenses are a little scratched, but since they were only $12 I can easily replace them when needed. Buy them!

8. Le Spec Rapture Bat Wing Sunglasses This sunglass brand is a little more of a splurge when you compare it to the BP. brand sunglasses, but at $59 I'd still consider it more of a save when compared to my dream sunglasses which I won't be purchasing anytime too soon. The "bat wing" is a fun take on the cat eye and it adds some interest to basic black sunnies.

If there is something specific you'd like to see on my blog, please share in the comments below! Happy shopping!

XOXO,

Friday Favorites: Random Edition

It's time for some more of my favorite things! This week's list is totally random, but I decided to just go with it.

Oral-B Pro-Health Pulsar Toothbrush Yes, a toothbrush. But this isn't just any toothbrush, it's an affordable alternative to an electric toothbrush. It has vibrating bristles! And did I mention it's less than $5? When I went to the dentist a few weeks ago the dental hygienist asked if I'd gotten a Sonicare because my teeth looked so good!

Olay Regenerist Luminous Brightening Cream Face Cleanser I just started using this again when I noticed that the Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser I normally used wasn't working well for me with the dryer weather. My forehead felt weird (the skin wasn't smooth anymore, it was bumpy and dry) and my face was red and dry in certain areas, so I decided to change my cleanser. 

Clarisonic Mia I was on the fence about this, but ended up ordering it during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. When I got it I used it a few times a week and liked it, but wasn't overly impressed. When I noticed how dry my skin was getting I started using it again, and that night I could already see a difference in the texture of my skin (remember the weird forehead issues?). The Mia comes with the sensitive brush head, so it's really gentle on your skin. I've been using it more frequently and my skin looks and feels so much better!

Origins VitaZing Lately I've gone back to a more natural makeup look, and I've been reloving my VitaZing tinted moisturizer. It's lightweight so I don't feel like I'm wearing any makeup, but it's tinted so it evens out my skintone and makes it look fresh and luminous.

DV Jameson Bootie I have a pair of Dolce Vita booties that I got from Nordstrom a few years ago that I really like, so when I saw that Dolce Vita had partnered with Target I knew I had to check them out! I ended up getting a pair of these in cognac along with a pair of slip on booties in August and the cognac booties have been my most worn shoe all fall and winter (except for those few days when it got really cold). I liked them so much I decided to pick up the black ones in December. They're on sale right now for $19.99, so now is definitely the right time to buy! They run a little small (at least for me), so I'd recommend going up a half size.

Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Robe I got this robe as a birthday gift and I love it! It is so cozy and warm, and I love to wrap up in it while I get ready in the morning! I love it so much that I ended up asking for this blanket for Christmas!

Like I said last week, I have some fun posts planned, but if there is anything specific you'd like to see, let me know in the comments below. Talk to you soon!

XOXO,

Friday Favorites: Hair, Beauty, Boxes, & Books

I'm sorry I've been MIA for the past few months. I subbed a lot between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and then with the kids and Michael being home over the holidays we were just busy! I've got some fun posts coming up, though, so that's good.

I haven't done a favorites list in awhile, and another blogger I follow posts her "Friday Favorites," so I thought that would be a fun way to jump back into blogging. I can't promise it will be a weekly thing, but I'll do my best! 

Hair & Beauty Favorites

ALTERNA Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner Since I started using this shampoo and conditioner, my hair looks and feels healthier, and I think that it's growing faster! Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part, but it's definitely a duo I'll be repurchasing.

Moroccanoil Treatment My hair is silkier, and again, it looks and feels healthier. This is also great for all of those flyaways and baby hairs I used to tame with clear mascara (this works way better and my hair doesn't get crunchy).

Hot Tools Tourmaline IONIC Professional Dryer This is the most money I could justify spending on a hair dryer ($85), but as soon as I picked it up I knew I had to buy it - so light!

Trish McEvoy 'High Volume' Mascara This is the coolest mascara. It stays put during the day, and when you're ready to take it off you just wet a wash cloth with warm water and dampen the lashes. The mascara literally slides off your lashes!

L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream I have eczema and my hands get really dry during the winter months. I started using this at Christmas and, while my hands aren't perfect, they aren't cracking and bleeding like they normally are. There are a few dry patches, but I think with more use those will go away too.

Chanel Rouge Coco Baume Hydrating Conditioning Lip Balm I love how soft my lips are with this lip balm, and it's Chanel so that makes it feel a little fancy (I think that Chanel beauty products are the only things I'll ever be able to afford!).

Clinique 'Moisture Surge Intense' Skin Fortifying Hydrator Winter seems to be the time to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! My face was really dry, so I started using this gel moisturizer and it's amazing how silky smooth my skin has become. I use it in the morning before I put on my makeup and at night after cleansing. I was worried I might breakout due to the intense moisture, but that doesn't seem to be an issue.

Favorite Subscription Box

POPSUGAR sent me the December Must Have Box to try, and I have to say that I love it! I mean, who doesn't love getting presents? I love that all of the products are full-sized and that there is a mix of fashion, beauty, home, and more included in each box. Sophia and Carter were so excited when they came home from school today to fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, courtesy of Sisters' Gourmet! The Odeme Catchall + Ring Dish is perfect for holding my jewelry each night when I go to bed, and it looks so cute sitting on my mirrored nightstand!

Order your box here and use the code SHOP5 for $5 off!

Favorite New Author

The Husband's Secret / The Hypnotist's Love Story / Alice Forgot / Big Little Lies

The first Liane Moriarty book I read was The Husband's Secret. I loved it, so I immediately went out and bought another one of her books. At this point I've read four of her books and I've loved them all! I'm excited because Big Little Lies is actually going to be a limited series on HBO starting in February! I'm planning a book review post soon, so I'll share more details on all four books then, but I'd definitely recommend her books!

I hope that you had a very Merry Christmas and are having a great year so far! Talk to you soon!

XOXO,

August Favorites

I debated about whether or not I should do an August favorites post because several of the things listed are on repeat from previous favorites lists. I mean, do you really want to read about the same things over and over again? Probably not, but I decided to go ahead and do the post anyway because I think it says something about the product when it remains a favorite month after month. They must be good or I wouldn't still be talking about them!

Hair Products

I've talked about the Biosilk Silk Therapy and Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 in the past, but I haven't mentioned the Aquage Beyond Shine or my GHD straightener before. The straightener heats up in like 30 seconds and smooths my hair in one pass, and the Beyond Shine makes my hair nice and shiny. 

Makeup Brushes

I always used the applicators that came with the product, but three or four years ago I asked for a Sigma brush set for Christmas. Since then I've only added to my collection and my six favorite brushes are: Soft Angled Contour Brush (great for applying bronzer), E30 Pencil Brush (eyeshadow), E40 Tapered Blending Brush (eyeshadow brush - if you only buy one brush, this needs to be it), F50 Duo Fibre Brush (blush), F25 Tapered Face Brush (powder, blush, contour), and the F80 Flat Kabuki Brush (foundation, BB/CC Cream). Sigma is having a Labor Day sale and right now you can get 20% off individual brushes with the code "LABORDAY20." If you'd prefer to buy a kit, the Essential Kit - Mr. Bunny has several of the brushes I listed (or comparable) and some extras - plus it comes with brush holder that snaps closed and is great for travel (or just sitting on your counter!).

Face Products

I'm still loving my Clinique Acne Solutions BB Cream. I didn't buy it because it's part of the acne solutions line, I'd just heard good things about it and decided to give it a try. It's not drying at all like some acne products, so don't let that sway you from buying it. It works really well to even out my skintone while still showing my freckles (I know some people prefer to hide their freckles, but I don't feel like I look like myself when you can't see them). It's very liquidy and I worry I'm wasting a lot of product when too much comes out, so I've started using my Laura Mercier Silk Creme Oil Free Photo Edition Foundation more frequently. It gives me a little more coverage than the BB Cream, but my freckles still show! I am still loving the Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder (Highlight 01) and for my undereyes I've started using my Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser in the Brightener shade. 

Eyes

I'm still loving the Smashbox Full Exposure Palette as well as the 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer. For liner I've stuck with the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner. I have both the Trooper (black) and Mad Max Brown, but lately I've been using Trooper more often. For my lashes, I'm pretty much a Maybelline girl. I still love the Colossal Volume, but lately I've been using Volum'Express the Rocket and really like that as well.

Lips

Lately I've gone for a lighter lip and have been using my Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Celeste almost daily. Warning: it's a lip plumper so it does tingle on your lips. 

Those are my favorites for the month. What products have you been loving?

XOXO,

July Favorites

Most of my July favorites are things we took with us on our vacation to Cancun earlier this month. We went with Michael's parents and his sister and her husband to an all-inclusive that is part of the timeshare his parents belong to. Most of our time was spent in the pool, and the kids had an absolute blast (so did we!). I always look forward to our family vacations with them - I can't wait to see what next year holds!

We were so excited that Sophia & Carter are finally old enough
to sit together on the plane (which meant we could sit together!)

Most of our time was spent by the pool, so it makes sense that my first favorites are swimsuits and cover ups. I decided that I needed a good one piece, but just because I'm wearing a "mom" swimsuit doesn't mean it can't be cute! These three swimsuits fit the bill perfectly! I don't actually own the one from Anthro yet, but it's so similar to the Ella Moss one I'm planning on checking it out.

Doesn't everyone eat pizza by the pool? ;)

I ordered the Softspun Knit Racerback dress from Gap in several colors and have been living in them this summer! The material is soft and flowy and it's almost like I'm wearing pajamas when I wear them. I don't usually buy bold colors, but decided to order the dress in coral (I also have it in black and blue) and wear it as a swimsuit coverup. I love it because I can throw it on over my swimsuit and go to lunch, the store, etc and not feel self-conscious about being in my swimsuit. It's perfect for the Robin Piccone suit because the neckline is high enough that it doesn't show. I hesitated about ordering the crossback day dress from Anthro since I already had the Gap dresses, but stumbled upon it during a sale and fell in love. The material is buttery soft and lightweight. Love!

For the pool I stuck with my Reef Ginger Drift flip flops, but when we went to dinner I either wore my Sam Edelman Gigi sandals or my Tory Burch Miller sandals. All three are super slim so they're great for packing - they barely take up any room! I also threw in my Nikes just in case I was inspired to work out.

I have really fair skin and am concerned about signs of aging, so I almost always wear a hat when I'm at the pool (except for that one day when I didn't and I ended up with a serious sunburn on my scalp - ouch! And then my head started peeling, not good). While on our trip, I rotated between a large straw sun hat from JCrew and my favorite trucker hat. I love the straw hat, but sometimes it's easier when I'm playing with Sophia and Carter to have a baseball hat on. I love wearing a trucker hat because the back is mesh so I can easily lay back in the water and get my hair wet to cool off.

While cute, the sun hat just doesn't work for "play" -
this was taken right after Michael threw me into the pool!

As far as sunscreen, I did a lot of research before buying sunscreen (did you know that Consumer Reports reviews sunscreen?) and found that the Trader Joe's Nourish Spray Sunscreen SPF 50 was one of the top reviewed so I stocked up on that for the trip. And at $5.99/bottle it's a really good deal! I have to say that the one thing the Trader Joe's sunscreen doesn't have is a good smell (it's more of an alcohol smell), so I picked up some Sun Bum SPF 30 lotion and a lip balm for the yummy smell! I linked the Sun Bum and some of the other top rated sunscreens below.

Since most of our time was spent at the pool, I didn't wear much makeup. However, I did wear my Clinique Acne Solutions BB Cream (SPF 40) and my Maybelline Colossal Waterproof Mascara everyday. At night I'd do a simple eyeshadow look and add some blush and eyeliner and I was good to go.

It took me awhile, but I finally gave up on doing my hair and trying to keep it dry when at the pool (it never works!). Instead, I wash my hair and then smooth on the Biosilk Original Serum before french braiding it around my head and finishing with a low messy side bun. It's an easy and worry free hairstyle.

I finally found a shampoo and conditioner bundle that almost compares to the test bundle I tried. I started using the It's a 10 bundle after we got back from Cancun and so far I love it! Definitely worth trying if you're looking for a new bundle!

That's about it for this month!

XOXO,

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Part 2

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale officially started today, so I thought I'd share some more favorites!

Tops

I realized that I left out a very important category in yesterday's post. You can't go running around topless, so here are some cute options.

A must with any outfit is a good fitting bra! If possible, go to Nordstrom today and have one of their bra fitters measure you. This is a must do! Even if you've been measured in the past at Victoria's Secret, you still need to have it done at Nordstrom! I was measured once at VS....they told me I was a 32B. After the shock wore off at how inaccurate her measurements were, I asked her to get me a 32B so I could show her how wrong she was. Let's just say I was busting out of it and leave it at that. After that I decided to go to Nordstrom and get fitted there. You definitely have to check your modesty at the door because not only do they measure you (with your current bra on), but they come in the fitting room after you try on each bra to determine what fits best. They bring you several options, and keep them coming until they find the perfect fit. For me that was the Le Mystere Dream Tisha Underwire T-Shirt Bra which is on part of the #NSale! It's usually $69 and is on sale for $45.90 during the sale! If you are a bigger busted girl, this is the perfect bra for you! It's comfortable and, even though it's a full-coverage bra, it's still attractive on. I think that it may have even been one of Oprah's Favorite Things! 

Le Mystere Dream Tisha

Shoes

I shared some options for boots and athletic shoes in my first post, but I forgot to include flats and heels. I love my Tory Burch ballet flats and now they have a pair named after me! And they're on sale! It's like it's meant to be! :)

Men's Sale

Don't forget about the men in your life when shopping!

Home

There are a lot of fun and unique home decor items included in the sale as well, so definitely check them out!

I went ahead and ordered the Clarisonic before it sold out. I'm still on the fence about whether I need it or not, but one of the things I love about Nordstrom is that they make returns so easy - if you don't absolutely love it, you just fill out the return slip and send it back for free! What are you ordering from the #NSale?

XOXO,

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is one of my favorite sales of the year because you can find brand new items on sale! This is the perfect time to stock up for fall and winter! The sale begins July 22nd and lasts through August 7th, so plan on checking it out. I promise that you won't be disappointed!

I've ordered a few things which are included below, but just for fun I thought I'd share some suggestions with you!

Jeans

During the cooler months I live in my jeans, and a great pair of jeans can last years, so I feel like I can justify spending a little more on them. Here are some of my favorites from the sale.

Dresses 

 You can't go wrong with a flirty dress. Here are some steals from the sale.

Boots

I don't know about you, but I live in my skinny jeans and boots in the fall/winter, so any time I can find a great pair of boots on sale I'm all over it! Here are some of my favorites from the sale.

Athletic Shoes

When I'm not wearing boots, I'm usually in my sneakers. I used to call every pair of sneakers "tennis shoes," but after marrying a man who played tennis in high school I learned that you only call them tennis shoes if you wear them to play tennis. Well, technically every pair of athletic shoes I've ever owned has been worn to play tennis, so I guess it's okay for me to call them that. ;) Anyhow, I digress. Here are some of my favorites from the sale. I'm debating whether or not I should order a pair because I already have three.....

Handbags & Accessories

A great handbag and some cute accessories can really take your outfit up a notch, and there are some great options in the #NSale.

Beauty 

This is a great time to pick up a new fragrance or beauty products. Many of my favorites are featured in the sale! There are some things that I've been wanting to try that are featured in the sale. The first is the Clarisonic. I've been pretty blessed with good skin, though I do have small acne flareups every once in awhile. I'm 37....when will they stop?! I may not be worried about acne, but I am worried about signs of aging, and I'm wondering if a Clarisonic would help. If you have one, please comment below and tell me what you think about it! I'd also love to try either the Beachwaver or the Drybar 'Beach in a Box.' I have a NuMe hair wand with several different attachments, but I've never really been able to make it work for my hair, so I'm not sure it's the right tool for me. Several of my friends and I had a hair party a little over a year ago - I'm thinking we need to have another one so I can learn how to use my hair wand (or I could just buy the Beachwaver or Drybar Collection). 

Do you have your eye on anything in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale? I've already ordered a few things, but after writing this post I'm thinking I may need to place another order! I'll post an update when the items I already ordered arrive!

XOXO,

June Favorites

I can't believe the last time I posted was over two months ago! Sorry for the extended absence. I'd love to say that I was doing something glamorous and exciting, but it's just been life as usual. I decided to pick back up by sharing my June favorites!

I'll start with my new (old) favorite hair serum! Several years ago I used Biosilk Silk Therapy and for whatever reason I just stopped buying it. For the past several months I have been taking part in a hair product trial with L'Oréal (if you're interested in joining the panel, check out their website). There was one shampoo and conditioner bundle that I absolutely LOVED! My hair had shine, was silky smooth, and had just the right amount of lift at the roots ~ it looked amazing! Unfortunately I used up all of the product and my hair was back to looking dull and lifeless. Even my old shampoo and conditioner bundle wasn't cutting it, so I decided to repurchase the Biosilk serum in hopes that it would help add silky shine back to my hair. It totally did! I usually use about a dime sized amount prior to blow drying my hair and then after I straighten it I use a little more. It's also a great moisturizer for the skin, so I rub the excess on my arms.

Another product I've been reloving this month is the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper. I still like the ink liner, but the tattoo liner glides on so much easier. 

This truly has been a month for rediscovering old favorites because I also switched back to my Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser. I have been pretty blessed with good skin, but the past few months I'd been having more breakouts than I'm used to, so I decided it was time to switch my cleanser. I keep it in the shower, so this is what I use every morning. I still will occasionally use the Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Clay Cleanser at night, but the Murad is my favorite of the two.

I also went back to my Clinique Acne Solutions BB Cream. I just pour a little onto my fingertips (it's really liquidy) and spread it over my face before using a foundation brush to blend it out. I love it because it's SPF 40, so I feel like I have a pretty good layer of sun protection on my face when I'm outside.

My daughter loves doing my makeup. Because of this, and because I've always been a little embarrassed by the name, I decided that I wouldn't buy one of my favorite blushes ever again. You know the one....Nars Orgasm. I mean, why do cosmetics companies insist upon giving products names that make you blush (no pun intended)? Anyhow, I did really well for about a year, but after trying countless blushes and never finding one that I really loved, I broke down and ordered it this month. It truly is the most beautiful blush with the most unfortunate name. ;)

After I purchased the UD Gwen Stefani Palette (love, and on sale!), I told myself that I was done buying eyeshadow palettes. And then I saw the Smashbox Full Exposure Palette. It's full of neutral colors that look good on anyone. There is a good mix of both matte and metallic shades that blend beautifully. During the summer I prefer more of a neutral eye, so to me this is the perfect summer palette!

That's it, a lot of old (and one new) favorites. I'm still searching for the perfect shampoo and conditioner bundle since I have no idea if/when the test bundle I loved will be in stores. I'd love to hear your favorite bundle and why! Share in the comments below!

XOXO,