Kypris Beauty

I remember when my first ever Kypris product (Antioxidant Dew) arrived in the mail, it was like the heavens were singing. The packaging is that beautiful. For a little background on the brand before we dive into the reviews, Kypris is a high end, holistic, vegan brand who's products are organic, all-natural, locally made, and sustainably sourced. The products are all made in the US (Scottsdale Arizona to be precise), and use ingredients from small farmers which I think is incredible. Everything both looks and feels luxurious, and while a little pricey are totally worth the cost.

Just speaking on the packaging alone, they're all in gorgeous blue or brown bottles, or glass jars. They have the Kypris logotype, and the serums have beautiful illustrations on them. They all come in white boxes with the same gold-leaf illustrations. Just stunning, honestly, and the kind of boxes that I want to display on my shelf. Anyway, I was essentially in love with the brand from the first use, so when the Kyrpis team asked if I wanted to try some more products I said hell yes.

Like I said, the first product I tried was the Antioxidant Dew which I continue to use extremely regularly. It's a really lightweight, liquidy gel-serum. If I could describe it in one word I think I'd say quenching, it just feels so so lovely on the skin. Plus it works (alright, finally getting to the point). Antioxidant Dew promises to 'restore hydration, radiance, and vitality to the skin.' And that it does, my skin feels softer, suppler, and infinitely more hydrated since using this lil angel. And when I say hydration I mean like the deep-down kind of hydration that makes your skin feel bouncy. Lush. If you didn't catch the antioxidant part (are you okay?) that means it fights. free. freakin'. radicals. Can we get another hell yeah? Ferulic Acid, Vitamins C & E, and Superoxide Dismutase (which literally sounds like a superhero) fight free radicals by terminating their chain reaction.

My new fave is the Beauty Elixir II Healing Bouquet*. Unfortunately for my wallet because it's $200, ouch. But I guess you get what you pay for! The ingredient list is pretty stellar, including CoQ10 which is a major antioxidant and also aids pigmentation. Vitamin C-ester promotes collagen production, and essential fatty acids reinforce skin's barrier functions. It sinks into the skin fairly well, and smells absolutely delicious. I actually think the essential oil smells are helping me sleep better (??). Chase, the founder of Kypris recommends mixing the elixirs with the oil to create microemulsions (which is genius). This mixed with Antioxidant Dew (which is water-based) helps to pull the oil further into the skin so that the ingredients can work on a deeper level! While I really really love this product, I'm unsure about repurchasing it as soon as I run out due to the price. I think I'll be searching around for an alternative for a while, so I'll let you know if I find anything (fyi, I'm thinking Jordan Samuel Skin's Etoile is pretty close)!

Glow Philtre* is called a refining mask, which basically means it's meant to smooth and exfoliate your skin (essentially making it look fresh from a facial). This mask is super gentle unlike other 'refining' masks I've used which can tend to sting a bit. It contains pomegranate pith enzymes to gently exfoliate the skin and promote renewal. To hydrate, it uses sea fennel and algae which plump and brighten, and well as silver eared mushrooms. I hate mushrooms, but this lil powerhouse holds hundreds of times its weight in water to provide super-hydration to the skin (hyaluronic acid's twin!). This goes on like a jelly and then turns into an almost milky-foam when you rinse. This one has given me major results so far. Even only using it maybe 5-6 times in the month I've had it, my skin is immediately glower after use. I've also tried a sample of the Deep Forest Clay mask which let me tell you smells like actual heaven, and I think that's next on my purchase list.

Last but not least is the Moonlight Catalyst*, a product that's pretty famous for being a natural alternative to retinol. I'll start off by saying that I definitely haven't used this one enough yet to give it a proper review, so this will be more like a first impressions/info sesh. The Moonlight Catalyst is a serum full of pumpkin enzymes, biomimetic EGF (more on that in a mo), and hydrating extracts meant to increase cell turnover and leave your skin smooth and glowing. I personally adore products with pumpkin enzymes, I find that they are super effective and don't irritate my skin at all. The enzymes are similar to AHAs in that they chemically exfoliate the skin, making it super soft. This serum also contains Xylitylglucosides, which are the body's predecessor to hyaluronic acid, that really hydrate. Essential fatty acids from Rosehip Seed Oil are included, as well as Hawaiian Sea Algae which is antioxidant-rich. Okay so, Biomimetic Epidermal Growth Factor is a peptide which mimics skin's renewal process. This version is totally plant based. As far as my results go, I haven't seen any miracles, but I also haven't been able to use it consistently so I'll update you once I have!!

Have you guys tried Kypris? Which products do you think are worth the $$$?
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EDIT EDIT EDIT!!!! KYPRIS JUST LAUNCHED A TRY-IT-SET FOR ONLY $45 HERE!!!


*Some of the products featured in this post have been sent to me for consideration. This post is not sponsored, and as always all opinions are my own.

Five Product Face (The I'm Running Late for Class Look)

I generally spend my mornings reading blogs or a book with a cup of tea, then suddenly look at the clock and panic because I need to leave in 15 minutes. So organized. Unfortunately, my school isn't organized either and it takes an hour of driving around to find a parking space. Just lovely. I guess it gives me extra time to listen to My Favourite Murder. Anyway I pretty much forget what time I have to go everyday and end up slapping on makeup (because I have to go straight to work), and running out the door! But I do need to look a liiiiittle put together, so these are the products to get the job done!

Thankfully my skin is behaving okay, so a bit of Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint is all I need! This helps even out my skin and conceals the redness I have in my cheeks. It blends absolutely seamlessly into the skin and makes it look a little plumper and more alive! I've been applying it with a flat-top brush lately instead of my fingers and it even gives it a bit more coverage. I love that I don't need to worry about streaks or lines not being blended in because it simply looks like skin (but a little bit more perfected). On my cheeks I've been reaching for this Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick in Moon Beach. Not only does it smell absolutely delicious, it acts as a highlight and a blush because of its gold sheen. It makes you look super healthy and flushed without being over the top. I also feel like it sort of smoothes the skin on my cheeks out? Perhaps it's just the colour reflecting light, but I swear it's also a bit skin-perfecting.

I don't think I could ever go to work without doing my brows, so I tend to quickly flick some of the Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil through them and then blend it out with the spoolie. If I have the time I'll apply some brow gel, but I prefer to make sure I define with the pencil first. I generally don't bother with mascara if I'm in a rush because it's inevitable that I'll get it all over my eyelid instead. But I do have to curl my lashes. I'm telling you guys, if you still haven't gotten on the lash-curling bandwagon you need to, it totally transforms your face. My favourites are the Bobbi Brown Gentle Lash Curlers. To really make it look like I made a bit of effort, I'll swipe one of the Glossier Generation Gs on. These are another super easy, super quick product that I don't need to worry about reapplying later. I really like Crush and Zip because they both kind of make this into a proper 'look'. I also just had the thought to mix them together which I think is absolute genius and I'll be doing that tomorrow.

What products do you guys rely on when you're in a rush?
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Staying Fresh With Secret

Deodorant isn't really something talked about too often in the blogosphere because talking about sweating isn't exactly pretty. But the fact is, we all do it and it's not the greatest. Especially during these horrible summer months, it's a pain to have to think so much about what you can and can't wear. I've been a long-time Secret user, so when they reached out to me to try their new product I jumped at the chance!

Secret's new Invisible Sprays* are perfect for me this time of year because they provide long-term protection and the spray makes it super easy for on the go (although honestly, you won't need a touch-up)! The semester has started up again, so I'm walking around campus in blistering heat all day, and then I have to drive straight to work! Not to mention having to get up and speak in front of people (the horror).  This is 100000% tmi but I'm not a "glisten" kinda person, I'm a sweat patches in a grey t-shirt (or any t-shirt, let's be real) kinda person. So I need a proper antiperspirant that'll actually work. Which is surprisingly hard to find! I generally like the roll-ons but they take forever to dry and often end up leaving faux-patches when it inevitably gets on your shirt before drying. Oh the joys! Secret Invisible Sprays prevent this, you just spray it on and go, no dry-time, no hassle, no worry.

The sprays come in four fresh scents, Boho Berry which smells of bright raspberries, Glam Grapefruit is citrusy and pepperminty, Cool Waterlily is a very clean lily, and Luxe Lavender feels very calming with lavender, lily, and freesia. All four are delicious, but my favourite so far is Luxe Lavender. The sprays have Fade Resistant Technology so you smell totally fresh all day. It's also activated by sweat, replacing that odor with the scent. I'm always a little wary of deodorants that claim to smell good all day, but I was pleasantly surprised to find these last through a full work and school day!

Because of the Invisible Spray, I don't have to sacrifice my wardrobe! I don't think a grey t-shirt will ever be my go-to (backpack back is a no-go), but I don't have to worry about wearing silk shirts to work. In the winter light-coloured turtlenecks won't be a worry either. Plus there's no white streaky stains left on your black clothing, and no residue left on your underarms! A win-win. Having one less thing to worry about is definitely keeping me a bit more stress-free this semester. With my thesis on a roll and a huge presentation at the end of the semester, I've got enough to sweat (but not literally)!

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*This post has been sponsored by Secret. As always, this in no way affects my thoughts or opinions towards the products and I am always one billion percent honest with you. Sponsored posts help me to put more resources back into our little space!

Detox Day

About once a week I have a biiiiig detox day. It's usually Sunday because I generally have the evening off and it's the perfect opportunity to get all of the week's gunk out of my pores. Thinking about how much crap gets stuck down in my pores makes me a little sick, and even though I double (sometimes triple) cleanse every night you know there's dirt deep down. SO, detox day is the day that I slap on hella skincare products, sit down with some tea and a book, and get it allllll out. (*note that I don't use all of these products at once, these are just a few things that I do use on detox day*)

I don't really stick to a routine on these days, I kind of just use whatever products I feel like. But there are a few things that I keep on rotation. I generally cleanse with the Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Clay Cleanser. This contains French Green clay and Moroccan rhassoul clay to help pull impurities out of the skin. I generally don't believe most claims from cleansers because they aren't on your skin long enough to do much, but I swear my skin feels and looks smoother after using this. I also really love the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Exfoliating Cleansing Powder, which is a water-activated powder cleanser. This one is pretty gentle and light, but buffs the skin and makes it feel super clean but not stripped. I love that it's customizable because you can mix in less water for a real scrub, or more water for a nice bubbly creamy cleanser. I'm honestly about to start using this every day, because my skin seems to really love it and looks beautiful after using.

Obviously the most important part of detox day is a mask. A good ol' purifying, digs deep mask. I'm usually not big into charcoal products in general, and charcoal masks are really not my jam because I find them to be quite drying. However, the Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Charcoal Mask... that is my jam. I'm not kidding, the first time I used this I was shocked at how incredible my skin looked afterwards. So clean and bright, I was thinking what tf was in my pores that made me look so dull?! This contains charcoal (obvs) to draw out impurities, and also mineral clays to soak up excess oil. But it also somehow doesn't dry me out at all? It's a miracle in my books honestly and I'll continue to purchase this forever. Speaking of, I need to repurchase the Complex Beauty The Godmother Enzyme Mask because I finally used up this baby jar. This stuff is a godsend. It's not really a traditional detox product, I guess, but it leaves my skin feeling soooo smooth and squeaky clean that it's a very very regular part of detox day. Pumpkin and Glycolic Acid exfoliate and dissolve dead skin (and also fight free-radicals wooo), while Vitamin C brightens, and Meadowfoam Seed Oil hydrates. It's like supermodel skin in a tub. No joke.

If I need products that are a little softer, but still get the job done, I'll reach for the Origins Original Skin Retexturizing Mask or the Glossier Mega Greens Galaxy Pack. Original Skin contains Mediterranean rose clay to deep clean, Canadian Willowherb to cleanse pores, and jojoba beads to exfoliate (without destroying your skin or the environment!!!). This is like my OG detox day mask so it's clearly pretty incredible if it's still hangin' around. It leaves the skin glowing and tight, but without that horrible dry feeling. Win! Glossier's Mega Greens is one that I reach for several times a week, not just on detox day. I've been through three pots of this stuff in the last year. Three. It is truly a juice cleanse for your face. It balances skin and helps reduce inflammation, but also detoxes and leaves my skin feeling incredibly clean. It's a clay mask, but doesn't crack and dries softly, almost sinking into the skin. Parsely, Spinach, Cress Sprout, and Kaolin White Clay help to clean and purify, while Avacado moisturises and Bitter Orange Peel gently exfoliates. Definitely one that I'll never be without, I think it's really transformed my skin (along with the Moisturizing Moon Mask).

Do you guys do a detox day? What are your favourite products to use?
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Fragrance Favourites

I just want to start off this post by saying that I suck at describing/talking about fragrances. So I'm not really sure why I'm attempting to write this post. But fair warning, alright? I've never really been a perfume person. When I was younger I used one up then bought another and so forth. Then I wore Elizabeth and James Black Nirvana for a few years and it became my scent. Which was really nice, if I changed it up people would be like oh you don't smell like you. I liked having a signature fragrance, but after finishing another bottle of that, I decided to branch out.

I think Bobbi Brown Beach was the first thing I started wearing after that phase. This is a serious love or hate fragrance, but I adore it. It's probably my number one favourite. Their site says it's a blend of sand jasmine, sea spray, and mandarin but it basically smells like the beach (shocker). It's a little sunscreen-y which is where the hate comes from, but I think it smells super fresh and clean and divine. I also adore Bobbi's Almost Bare, which I bought because someone told me it smells like almond. I am 100000% obsessed with my almond scented cleansers and I needed a perfume. Long story short this doesn't smell like almonds at all, but I still love it! It's also super fresh (you'll see a theme here), but freesia florally with a bit of kick from bergamot and amber.

My first 'real' fragrance purchase was the Chanel No. 5 L'Eau. Not gonna lie, it kinda crushed my soul to pay for the tiny bottle. I'm not sure how people spend hundreds on fragrance. Anyway, my grandmother has no sense of smell anymore, so has always worn the original Chanel No. 5 because she knows it smells good. So it's a scent I've grown up with and associate with her. It is pretty strong, and while I love it not an everyday fragrance for me. The more modern L'Eau is reminiscent of the original, but much fresher. It has tons of notes, so I'm just going to list them out for you straight from the Sephora site (lol): top notes of lemon, mandarin, and orange, heart notes of rose, jasmine, and ylang ylang, more modern than ever. And then base notes of cedar, and soft and cottony musk notes. Basically it's my heaven and I'd love to spray it everywhere always. But I try to conserve it at least a little.

When I went to New York earlier in the year on my Glossier trip, my babe Miran gave me this lil Byredo Gypsy Water sample and I fell in love. I know it's the basic Byredo scent but it is for a reason. It has top notes of bergamot, lemon, pepper, and juniper berries, heart notes of incense, pine needles, and orris,  and base notes of amber, vanilla, and sandalwood. I love peppery scents (like EJ Black Nirvana), but the combination of lemon and juniper berries makes it feel really light and airy. This one is in the books for purchase, but I think Lou Lou has convinced me to try Mojave Ghost first, or maybe Black Saffron (if only I could afford all three!). My most recent fragrance purchase is the beautiful Blackberry & Bay from Jo Malone, which I bought at their flagship store in London! Another basic-girl fragrance, but I freakin' love this one. The blackberry comes through pretty strong, with a hint of citrus, and smells fresh but not too fruity. I will say that I go nose-blind to this one really quickly which makes me want to cry, so I probably won't buy the full size (maybe a candle?).

What are your favourite fragrances?
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Dynamic Duos

I've realized lately that when doing my makeup I tend to reach for little coupled-up product duos. It's not that I don't use these things separately, it's just that they're better together.

This post has been on the to-do list for a while, but tbh I was waiting for Glossier to two their buy-two-save-$6 Cloud Paint deal again. And wa-la! Ask and you shall receive, the deal is back! And this time you don't even need to use a code, just go here, add two cloud paints of choice to your cart, and they'll be on their way to you! Plus free shipping! What a win! Too many exclamation points in a row! Okay. But really, Beam and Dusk... you gotta have them. Cloud Paints in general are basically like watercolour for your face. They blend effortlessly, are sheer enough to not look like makeup, but make you look super healthy. Beam is my all time favourite, it's a coral-orange that really warms up the skin. Dusk is beautiful on the cheeks or as a bronzer, it's a gorgeous almost pinky brown. These two together scream healthy summer skin and I haven't put them down! They're also incredible mixed together, in fact any of the Cloud Paints mixed together are amazing so you should probably get them all.

I realize these are mostly cheek products, so let's just continue with that theme. I picked up the Topshop Glow while I was in England expecting to adore it, but I was a little meh. Two years ago, I would've loved it, but it just seems a little too icy not enough glowy. However, if combined with the MAC Cream Colour Base in Hush, we're talking maximum glossy glowy goodness. Sometimes Hush can be a tiny bit too warm on my pale skin, so the two together are super dreamy. Speaking of glowy goodness, I couldn't leave the dream team out of this post. I've loved the Charlotte Tilbury Bronze & Glow Palette from afar the past few years, but I thought it couldn't possibly be worth all the money. I bought it back at the start of the summer and I have never been more wrong. It is heavenly. The powder is the the finest I've ever felt in a bronzer, and the highlight is soooo smooth it looks like a cream on the skin. I honestly don't think I'll ever be without this, but I do kind of wish they sold refills because I think I'll run out of the bronzer first. I've never in my life found such a perfect bronzer. This sounds kind of crazy, but it's kind of sheer? Like you can see my freckles and my skin through it, but it makes your skin look beautifully bronzed. True love honestly.

We all know how much I adore the Glossier Stretch Concealer, it's probably the product I would choose to use if I had to one use one thing. It's the bomb. But sometimes I just need a lil something extra. I do like the NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer, it can just look a bit dry and the colour is somehow a bit light for me. So usually I'll put some of the NARS down first to cover up really pesky blemishes, and then layer Glossier's on top to even out and make the concealer look more skin-like. Last but not least on my dynamic duos list is the Glossier Boy Brow and Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil. I do switch my brow pencil up quite a lot (but I love the Benefit), but I'm in a steady relationship with Boy Brow. I have kind of sparse brows, so I like to fill them in with pencil first and then reaaaally fluff them up. I feel like not keeping them really straight and precise tricks people into thinking they're my natural brows, which I will never complain about.

Do you guys have any products you like to use together?
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Lip Liner Favourites

Do you guys remember a few years ago when no one touched lip liner? It was like an old lady thing, and I think we were all scarred by the dark liner light lipstick trend from the 90s. But obviously in recent years lip liner has gotten big. I'm not an overdraw your lips kind of person, but I do love them for an added bit of definition or to create a crisp line when wearing a darker lip. I don't really talk about them very often, so I thought I'd get up a post talking about my favourites!

MAC's Lip Pencils have been a long time fave for me. I have a ton in my collection, the formula is pretty perfect. They're quite hard, so it's easy to get a super clean line, but not too hard that they don't go on. I have a lottttt of shades but some of my favourites are Soar, Whirl, Stripdown, and Nightmoth. I'm also big into the Bobbi Brown Lip Pencil which are much pricier, but sort of similar. I probably wouldn't buy these over the MAC unless you find them at a Cosmetics Co Store. I love Beige and Pale Mauve, but my favourite is Red aka the most perfect red liner ever. These are like a velvety finish, so they're actually pretty nice to fill in the whole lip!

On a more regular basis, I really like the Estee Edit The Barest Lip Pencil and I'm bummed the line is being discontinued! It's a super soft texture that makes it really easy to define and then blend out to just add a little something extra to the lip. Does anyone know of any pencils similar? I like the feel of the Rimmel ones, but they're much more pigmented. Good news is, they're only $10 at Sephora right now so if you can find them grab them! The newest addition to my collection is one of the new-ish Bite Lip Pencils. I have the shade 012, which they describe as a plum taupe but I think it turns out much lighter. This is a great every day one for just a bit of definition! The formula of these is super nice, they're softer than the MAC and Bobbi Brown, but not quite as soft as the Estee. They have a pretty huge colour selection so I'm itching to pick some more up (but don't need to buy anything at all).

Are you guys lip liner fans? Which are your favourites?
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Best Target Beauty Buys

I don't know about you guys but I spend a majority of my free time in Target. That's such a basic-girl thing to say, but there you go. I'm basic. Anywho, I just love strolling around adding things I don't really need to my cart and spending all my money! Yay! Target's beauty section has grown a ton in the last few years and it's a really great place to find things that aren't super expensive.

Obviously my favourite brand at Target is Pixi. I love them to death. I would say about 98% of their products are stars and I use them super regularly if not every day. The Skin Treats line specifically has some real gems. I have a post up here about all of my favourite from them so I won't go on too long, but I love the Peel & Polish, Glow Tonic, Milky Hydrating Mist, and the Glow-y Powders. Another long time fave from Target is elf Cosmetics, one of my first forays into the makeup addiction I'm now wallowing in. Everything was so cheap I'd just buy all of it. Definitely over that now, but they still have some great products. I've been loving the Matte Lip Pencils, because they're pretty similar to the NARS Lip Pencils but in my opinion more comfortable (not as pigmented or as matte, but not necessarily a bad thing).

They've also added a ton of newer brands recently, including La Roche Posay and Honest Beauty, both of which I'm very excited about. I haven't explored either very much, but I have tried a few products that I'm loving so far! Specifically the Magic Balm and Toleraine Ultra Nuit (look out for both in an upcoming post). I'm glad to have such easy access to these brands now as I really want to try them out more. I think Target has had a small Soap & Glory line for a while, but they definitely expanded it recently and I loooove their body products. I picked up the scrub as a 3-for-2 in Boots while in the UK, but being able to get a replacement from Target is super convenient!

Obviously you can get all the normal drugstore brands, I love just perusing the aisles looking for new launches. This is how I discovered the Maybelline Dream Wonder Foundation way back when, which became one of my absolute favourites. Target is also where I finally found the L'Oreal Lash Paradise mascara after searching forever. I usually buy my Essie polishes from Target (or TJ Maxx tbh) because they have the huuuuuge selection of pretty much all the colours! I also usually get Nivea products from Target, not sure why but I feel like it's really cheap there? I always grab this little tin to carry in my purse, it's only 94 cents!

My most recent discovery (read: obsession) is the Kristin Ess haircare line. This stuff is the bomb. I'm slowly but surely buying up everything because it is so good. I'm definitely going to do a full post on these babies but the current faves are the Texture Loose Styling Powder and Reconstructive Moisture Mask.

Are you guys Target obsesses?
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Sticking to a Routine

Sometimes during the summer, with no routine set in place, the days just kind of slip away without having done anything. And then you suddenly get slammed back into a semester with a huge course load and immediately fall behind. Can't wait. So in an attempt to prepare myself for this, I've been trying to stick to beauty and lifestyle routines to get me going.

The biggest thing I've started doing recently is reading before bed. I've always been a huge bookworm and generally read books anyway. But, I know we're all guilty of staring at our phones in the darkness before we go to sleep. So instead of frying my brain, I've been trying to leave my laptop and phone on my desk and night and falling asleep to a good book. I light a nice candle next to my bed and almost immediately get sleepy (and then I obviously blow the candle out, not tryna set fire to my house). Honestly, I don't think I've slept so well in a long long time. I'm also finding that settling into this routine is starting to make my body realize it's time for bed and I fall asleep much faster. I've just finished Graham Norton's Holding which was pretty weird not gonna lie, and am starting The Muse by Jessie Burton. Book recommendations please!

Now, in the morning I've been setting my alarm for 8. Probably doesn't seem super early for most of you, but I used to be a sleep till 10 everyday kinda person and I hated it. With my phone across the room I actually have to get up and turn my alarm off. And then I go make a cup of tea. Being able to relax in the morning instead of getting up and rushing around to get ready for work has made me feel so much more stress-free. Another morning ritual is applying sunscreen. I've always been a sunscreen wearer, but now I apply it every single day. Especially since using the Glossier Invisible Shield, which is so easy there's no excuse not to use it. I know in the future I'll be thanking my self for taking care of my skin, so I try to be really diligent about it (even on rainy days like today). On the other hand, I've never really been a big perfume-wearer. For some reason recently, my brain decided that a spritz of perfume on the way out the door makes me feel more put together. Maybe this is my brain trying to convince me that I can buy expensive perfumes if it's something I use all the time (amirite?).

In more makeup related routines, I've come to the realization that I have for too many lipsticks for someone who rarely wears lipsticks. So, I decided this week to start wearing some form of lipstick every day. Whether it be a Glossier Gen G sheer tint or a bright-ass red. Every day. I know I'll never use them all up, but it makes me feel slightly less guilty about owning so many. Last but not least on the list is taking care of my hair. Ever since the chop, I've been trying to use less heat-tools, and just letting my hair do its thing. This means controlling the wild frizz, so I've started using haircare products (who am I?). Usually I'm the shampoo and condition and that's it girl, but I've recently started using the Kristin Ess Leave-In Conditioner and my hair loves it. Next on the list are the serum and moisture mask, hello perfect locks!

I really need to add applying body lotion every day to this list (my poor unloved limbs), what routines do you try to stick to?

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Face Mists

I use face mists quite a lot (and have a lot of them), but I realized that I don't really talk about the step in my routine very much here! So I thought I'd just do an entire post about them. To me, there are two separate categories of mist: skincare and makeup. Skincare mists are ones I generally use on bare skin, makeup mists are ones I obviously use over makeup! I think mists are great because they can wake you up, or provide a boost of hydration, or tone, all without needing to touch your face!

S  K  I  N

My first mist loves are and always will be the Pixi Skin Mists. These beauts are all targeted for different concerns, and my most used is definitely the Hydrating Milky Mist. This one has hyaluronic acid to attract water, as well as black oat, vitamin A, and linoleic acid. I generally use this as a layer underneath serums and moisturizers. The other from the range that I consider a skin mist is the Vitamin Wakeup Mist. This one is lovely to use in the morning as it's really refreshing and smells delicious. It has an orange-blossom water base and citrus fruit extracts to hydrate and awaken skin. 

At night I really like to use toning mists like the Kani Rose Tonic, Terra Luna Floral Mist, and MUN Anarose Toner. All three are rosewater-based toners that help to balance skins pH after cleansing. I love all three of these equally, but they are slightly different. The Kani contains aloe to calm, MUN's has hyaluronic acid, and Terra Luna's uses ylang ylang and jasmine oils as well as witch hazel. I mainly use the NOTO Basil Yarrow Mist on my body in the summer when it's incredibly hot out as a refresher. It also has a rosewater base, but contains calming basil oil, ylang ylang, and chamomile as well. I've had the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic forever, so I don't use it anymore. But it is a really nice mix of cucumber, canlendula, and chamomile that is super refreshing. The Sangre de Fruta Jasmine de Nuit Botanical Tonic has a pretty strong scent, so I generally use this one as a linen spray instead of on my face!

M  A  K  E  U  P

Makeup mists are ones I use to set or refresh my makeup. Most of these you can also use on bare skin, but I just personally prefer they way they work over makeup. I will say first up, the MAYA Water Facial Mists are ones I use allll the time, whether on bare skin or not. I'm including them here because the mist is so incredibly find that it doesn't disturb makeup at all. Maya water mists are spring-sourced thermal water mists that are infused with antioxidants to actually help your skin as well as refresh it. 

Right, onto more makeup-setting type mists! The MAC Fix + is obviously hugely popular and remains one of my favourites. I really can't get on board with those facial sprays that make your makeup not budge even a smidge. I prefer a lived-in look and honestly find that my makeup looks better as the day goes on. So, the Fix + is a staple for me! I think I have three bottles at the moment, and I tend to reach for it pretty often! I love that the mist is really fine, I think it really helps powders to mesh into you skin. I don't know that it specifically prolongs the wear of my makeup, I just like the way my makeup looks after using it. 

My favourite proper setting mist is probably the Pixi Makeup Fixing Mist. I'm currently on my second bottle of the stuff and I really love it. It's a rosewater and aloe base, so I find that it soothes my skin, but I also definitely notice a difference in the longevity of my makeup when using this. It just looks nicer for longer, and it doesn't add too much extra glow like some of my other faves. Speaking of, I think you guys already know of my love for the Pixi Glow Mist. This is probably my third bottle of this magic potion. I get how this makes my skin super glowy, it's full of 13 natural oils, aloe vera, and fruit extracts. What I don't understand is how this also makes my makeup look perfect and glowy all day. You'd think it'd break your makeup down over time, but it just makes you glowwww.

The newest additions to my collection are the Complex Beauty Afterglow Complexion Mist and Lilah B Aglow Face Mist (which I'm now realizing have very similar names lol). I had originally assumed the Complex Beauty mist was only a setting spray, but I'm glad I read the ingredients because it's actually also for your bare skin! It contains oleic and glycolic acid, as well as lavender water and aloe vera to soothe. CB say that you can use this over makeup as well to give you a glow. I haven't used it enough to properly review, but I'm putting it into my routine now so thoughts are to come! I received Lilah B's offering right before I left for England, so I've only used it a few times but it is a really beautiful product. It's full of botanical extracts like lavender, fig, and dandelion (!) which are all soothing and rejuvenating plus have antioxidant properties (my fave). It really hydrates the skin and makes your makeup look lit from within!

Do you guys use face mists in your routine? What are your faves?

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An Everyday Makeup Edit

Have you ever seen products of mine that look so beat up? That poor Boy Brow (lol), and my CT palette could use a good scrub. Not gonna lie, I tried to photoshop all the smudges and scratches off of my mascara. But that just proves that I use the heck out of them! I've been sticking to this makeup for a few weeks now and have had a lot of questions about what I've been using, so here's the low-down.

I don't really do much as far as skincare goes in the morning. I'll usually just use a bit of Pixi Glow Tonic and of course my Glossier Invisible Shield. But I've been using the Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow under my makeup every day for several months now. It's basically glowing skin in a bottle. The 'soft-focus' claim is pretty accurate, I feel like it blurs and evens the skin and perfectly primes it for makeup. My foundation of choice lately has been the matching Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Foundation. This stuff might actually be magic. It covers my redness and any imperfections I need, looks super skin like and dewy, but actually lasts really well. The liquidy formula I find works best with a brush or my fingers, a beauty blender sheers it out too much. I just actually can't explain how smoothing this is though, I feel like it makes my skin look silky. Absolute love.

For any additional concealing I'm forever using my Glossier Stretch Concealer. This stuff is the love of my life and I'm very nearly at the end of my pot. I obviously already have a backup, but this is the first time I've finished a makeup product completely in a long time so that's saying something. To keep it all locked in during the hellish summer weather, I've been using the new Glossier Wowder. I kind of love/am annoyed by this. It really blurs the skin, cuts shine, and doesn't look at all like powder. Which is incredible. But the trampoline mesh is a pain in my butt. I think it's genius because powder doesn't spill everywhere, but I do have to work a little too hard to get product out. Obviously I'm willing to do this because I really like the product, but just a lil heads up!

On my cheeks, I cannot be without the Glossier Cloud Paints. I honestly love all of the shades, but my pick of the moment is Beam. This just looks so fresh and summery and kinda sunburn-y. I love it. The formula of these is almost gel-stain like. They blend effortlessly and do not look like makeup at all. Almost like a watercolour paint, and they last all day on my skin (which is some kinda miracle). I'm skipping the icy highlights at the moment and am favoring more of a bronzey glow. MAC's Hush Cream Colour Base has been my recent go-to. It's kind of like a peachy-gold sheen that pairs perfectly with Beam. I'll probably never stop using the Charlotte Tilbury Bronze & Glow palette. This bronzer is literally my perfect shade. The formula is so dreamy, it sort of creates a bronzed veil that still lets your skin show through. So beautiful. For my lips I'm a little too lazy to wear anything most days, so the Birthday Balm Dot Com is perfect for a little added shimmer.

I'll obviously always be into brows, but lately I'm leaving them a bit wilder. Instead of properly filling them in, I just use Boy Brow to shape and thicken them up a bit. And then this Kat von D Tattoo Brow. I never thought I'd like something like this, but the tip is so so fine that I can literally draw individual brow hairs on. So the still look full, but fluffy and natural instead of filled in. I found this one at TJ Maxx so definitely be on the lookout! For lashes I've switched back over to the L'Oreal Lash Paradise most days. This one has taken the internet by storm, and for good reason. I'm seeing a lot of people out there applying this really heavily and comparing it to the Too Faced Better Than Sex, but I find that makes it super clumpy. I hated BTS because it flaked so badly on my, but the L'Oreal doesn't budge at all. I apply a light layer which volumizes the lashes and makes them look suuuuuuuper long.

And that's about it! I haven't really worn eyeshadow in a while, I've just been very skin-focused which I love. What have you guys been reaching for lately?
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Click here to see the video I filmed of this look!

A Wardrobe Wishlist

the rue collective 

 I recently donated probably 75 percent of my clothes. And honestly I could probably do more. I've found that I don't wear most of my clothes any more and instead stick to key pieces. Obviously I'm a girl on a budget and don't buy the best quality clothes, so they wear out a little too quickly. So this time around I'm really trying to focus on getting high quality pieces that I'll wear forever and get a lot of use out of.

vanja milicevic

the 5th // death by elocution // vanessa jackaman

unknown 

On my list for the next few months of wardrobe building are:

01 A grey coat. This is somehow missing from my collection of coats currently. And I need one (right?). I'm basically planning on replacing a lot of my coats anyway because they're getting a bit old, but this grey twill looks beautiful.
02 Oversized scarves. I love oversized scarves, but for some reason all of mine are patterned? Which is absolutely not my style, so I'm on the lookout for some more basic options!
03 The perfect oversized blazer. This is the most elusive item. It's so hard to find a boyfriend blazer that doesn't look like it's swallowing you whole. I'm on the lookout for something in a lighter material that isn't too stiff.
04 The perfect white shirt. Another elusive item. White shirts are always either too stuffy or too casual. My eye is on this one from J Crew, but I'll have to try it on before I decide.
05 A pop of red. I've noticed a lot of people wearing monochromatic outfits with a pop of red in their bag or shoes which I think is so fun! I'd love to find a deep red pair of pointed flats, super chic.
06 An oversized coat. I love my structured coats and trenches, but sometimes I think in the depths of winter I'd like to have a super cozy oversized camel coat. That still looks chic of course. I do have one sort of similar to this though, so maybe I can make it work.

Do you guys keep wardrobe wish lists? A bit of a different post for me, but I thought it'd be nice to keep it documented here with pictures instead of just in my notebook!
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