The Travel Skincare Edit

Hi. I'm currently on a plane en route to England. What an appropriate time to tell you about the skin/haircare bits and bobs I've brought on my trip! I know this isn't really an edit as much as a "I'm literally brining everything" post, but I'm nothing if not extra.

I had tons of extra room in my suitcase so I decided to bring whatever I wanted even if it wasn't entirely necessary and I think I ended up doing alright (lol okay). I brought the entire Jordan Samuel Skin collection, because it has been working wonders for me. The Etoile Face Oil is a literal lifesaver.  It's incredibly hydrating and nourishing, perfect for slathering on after a long plane ride. I've also been using it in the morning before makeup if my skin is particularly dry. I'm planning on switching this out every other night with the Etoile Oil with Retinol as a gentle treatment. I'm also bringing the Hydrate Serum because it's full of aloe and cucumber to soother irritated skin. I think I'm going to use the Plie Cleanser as my first cleanse. The gel to oil formula feels really luxurious and removes makeup really easily. It doesn't leave my skin feeling suuuuper clean though, more just nourished so I obviously have to bring my Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser. I can't go a day without it. If I could only bring a carry-on, I'd depot some. It's the love of my life.

I gotta bring my other Glossier staples, the Priming Moisturizer Rich for night, Priming Moisturizer for day, Balm dot Com for literally everything (I think I brought three oops), and Super Pure for pesky redness and blemishes. You cannot forget sunscreen, especially when traveling as you're most likely outside all day. I had to choose my Glossier Invisible Shield, it's the easiest to use, leaves no white cast, and wears well under makeup. In addition to Priming Moisturizer, I also brought the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base in case I wanted to switch up the under-makeup moisturizer. I do love both of these pretty much equally, but BB is a little more rich. I also had to (obviously) bring my Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow for super even, super glowy holiday skin. I rarely go a day without this and picked up a full size while in the uk!

I of course brought my Pixi Glow Tonic (can't go without it), in both the liquid and glow pads (fyi if you shop this link you can get $5 off!). I also ended up bringing the Kate Somerville ExfoliKate as a treatment/mask. I really love this stuff, but honestly can't imagine spending that much money on it, so I'm keeping my eyes peeled for something similar. For a real boost of hydration I brought this tiny mini Estee Lauder Micro Essence. This feels like water going on, but it really makes a difference in hydration as well as how plump my skin looks/feels. Speaking of hydration, I made sure to keep this lil Nivea Creme in my bag at all times. I think this tin costs something like 98 cents, but it packs a serious punch. My skin (especially on my hands) gets really really dry when I travel and this rich cream tends to solve all problems. I received the Maya Water Facial Mist right before I left and decided to bring it with to test out! I've only used it once so far, but I love how fine the mist is.

For hair I brought the Ouai Wave Spray and R+Co Dry Shampoo Paste. I don't know if my recently chopped off hair will get along with these, but we shall see. Praying for good hair days, as I have absolutely no idea how to style this mess. Last but very not least, I have to bring my Ritual vitamins. I'm pretty good about remembering to take these, although I'm sure my vacay brain will forget. It's the thought that counts right?

Bon Voyage!
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*edit* In hindsight I needn't have bothered bringing 95% of these things. I basically only used Milky Jelly, Etoile Oil, Glow Tonic, and that's about it. But my skin looks absolutely fab so I'm just gonna continue with that routine. 

Lilah B. Giveaway!

 I'd just like you to stare at these compacts for a minute. At least. Like a full 60 seconds. Because have you ever seen something so beautiful? And if you really like them, they can be yours! Lilah B. were kind enough to offer to send me these products and to send them to one of you as well! I did receive these literally the day before I left, but I promise a first impressions is coming soon.

You can enter the giveaway on my Instagram, and just need to follow these rules:

01 Follow @ameliaasays and @lilahbeauty

02 Like the photo

03 Tag three friends in the comments (tell me what product you're most excited for)

04 Extra entry if you repost the photo! 

U.S only. Must be 18 years or older. Ends July 28, 2017 at 11:59PM EST.

Please note if you do not follow the above rules, your entry will not be counted.

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How My Makeup Style Has Changed

My friend Elle and I were looking at old photos of us from adventures past (as we gear up for the big trip to England) and laughed our heads of at how different we look. Even pictures taken just two years ago on our New York trip. And I realized that it was because of our makeup. Not that we ever wore tons by any means, but the way we wore it was so different. Sure, we've had different hairstyles and wardrobes and that contributed, but I think we just looked so made up back then. I think in general the industry is making a big push towards more natural-looking makeup. I don't think the 'Instagram makeup' will ever really go away at this point, but in Sephora the buzzwords are 'fresh,' 'dewy,' and 'bushy brows' not 'sharp' or 'matte.' Not saying those things are gone because they obviously aren't, but I've seen a definitive shift away from them.

Back in the day everything had to be matte. I wore the Makeup Forever Mat Velvet + for years. I loved it at the time, and it is a good product, but it didn't suit my (at the time) dry skin at all. Then you piled on some harsh contour and didn't go anywhere near blush (cries). Eventually highlighters became popular which added a bit of definition to an otherwise flat face, but it was wayyyy more harsh. Speaking of, my eyebrows were harsh. I stenciled those things in man, a serious block brow that was then lined with concealer just to make sure they were sharp. I eventually figured out how to fade the front thank god, but they didn't look natural at all.

I also wore tons of eyeshadow back then. Which I did like, I just feel like on an everyday basis I didn't need to be wearing a bronzey smokey eye. Also explains why I have SO MANY EYESHADOWS. My god. And then the matte liquid lipstick. Yikes. We're still towards the end of this era, but I'm so glad it's starting to fade. I never wore lipstick daily (same as now), but those colourpop mattes just looked so bad after a few hours. Plus I'd wear dark/bright lips with tons of other makeup and it just looked heavy. I'm glad now brands have started coming out with even just slightly creamier liquid lipsticks. No one like a butthole lip okay?

Nowadays, skin is most important to me. I'f much rather have someone compliment my skin than my foundation. I stick to lighter coverage, glowy, more skin-like bases and then spot conceal where I need/want to. Glossier Stretch Concealer is my saving grace. It really covers up but looks just like skin. I do contour from time to time still, but super minimally and incredibly blended out. Blush is my bff. Honestly, I wear blush even if I'm wearing absolutely no other makeup. It instantly wakes you up and makes your skin look super healthy. For highlight I've moved away from 'blinding glow' to a more subtle, glowy sheen. Let be real, I still love to pile it on but I like to think it looks less crazy. Right?

I have clearly embraced the bushy brow. They're getting a little out of control long guys. I fill them in a tiny bit still, just to give some semblance of a shape, and then brush them up to the heavens with all of the Boy Brow I can. I also really like the clear Bobbi Brown Brow Gel to keep them in place. If I'm wearing eyeshadow, 99% of the time it's a cream and just a sheer wash of shimmery colour over my lid. If I want to amp it up, I use MAC Quite Natural or something similar all around my eyes in a blown-out smokey eye. Think bedroom eye, but lighter. And then hella mascara, of course. Will we ever give it up? I normally leave my lips bare, or maybe pat a little cream blush into the center. If I'm wearing a bright lip I keep everything else super fresh a la Violette. Especially with a red lip. If my skin is looking nice, I'll skin foundation altogether and only use concealer. I might wear a winged liner, but nine time out of ten I'll only wear mascara or nothing at all. This way the lip doesn't complete with other areas of my face.

Maybe this sounds boring to you, but I think the freshness is incredibly beautiful. I've definitely had quite a big shift in style, but I feel so much more comfortable in my skin now. I still love makeup and have enough for a small (or large) village, but perhaps wearing less is more.
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An Updated Highlighter Edit

I've realized lately that my makeup style has changed a lot (more on that later in the week). I am SO into dewy almost glossy skin, and so my go-to products have changed as well. I've always been one for an intense highlighter, but nowadays I want my entire face to glow. And since it's summer I totally feel like I can get away with looking a lil sweaty. But like in a chic way. Speaking of chic, this post is in collaboration with Sarah from Sarah Loves Makeup! I've been following Sarah forever, and she actually introduced me to Glossier several years back, so you have her to blame for me never shutting up. Make sure you check out her picks over on her blog & Instagram.

We all know that the Glossier Haloscopes are the ideal for that 'sweaty-sheen'. The solid-oil core in the middle makes your skin look super healthy and glowy. I've recently adopted the Kim Johnson (aka earth angel) method which includes wearing all three at once. We're talking Moonstone, Topaz, and Quartz. All over. I usually only wear Topaz on my eyes, and Moonstone very rarely (it's pretty icy) so I felt a little crazy but looked SO FAB. So Moonstone goes on the brow bone and bridge of the nose, this makes you look a lil glossy without looking like you put highlighter all over your nose. Quartz obviously all over the cheekbones, it's the perfect champagne and reflects light beautifully. I also use this on my temples for an extra glow. Then what I think may be the most magical step. Using Topaz as a bronzer/sunglasses tan. I would never in a million years think to use something so dewy/shiny for a bronzer, but I don't think my skin has ever looked healthier. I take this right under Quartz, so on my cheeks not in the hollows, and then connect it to my nose for that sunglasses tan look.

Sarah and I have both been loving the Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick in Moon Beach lately. It gives you a gorgeous peachy golden blush and is basically the perfect summer blush. If I'm feeling the glow without the dew, especially for long work days, I usually reach for the NARS Copacabana Multiple or the treStiQue Highlight Stick in Maldives Luminescent. Both are super long wearing and give you a beautiful sheen to the skin that kind of mimics looking glossy. If I really want to go for the Haloscope look, but need it to last, I'll dust it with a bit of the Charlotte Tilbury Bronze & Glow Palette. This formula is super buttery and creamy, but the shade is slightly more golden. It's not quite as intense as others I own, but provides the most natural looking lit-from-within glow. Obsessed. Last but not least is probably my new favourite product ever. The NOTO Botanics Hydra Highlight. I have several of these, and for a while I forgot how incredible it is. I find it works best for me on no-foundation or minimal makeup days because it really makes your skin glow. I'm talking I just came from the best facial of my life and I'm definitely not wearing highlighter glow.

What are your favourite summer highlighters? Anything I need to pick up?
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New Jewelry Additions

I am one hundred thousand percent a minimal jewelry person. I wear the same few pieces every day, in fact I literally never take them off (I sleep and shower in them). So quality is definitely important to me when it comes to my staple jewelry. But lately I've been seeing so many fun statement pieces that I want to try out, but don't want to commit to buying pricier pieces. Hello Forever 21! They have some awesome stuff right now, so I picked a few bits and bobs up to show you! Plus I have a couple of forever pieces to talk to you about so I thought I'd just whack up a blog post!

Starting off with those forever pieces, I get a million questions about where I get my midi rings from. Most are custom made by a local artist, but a few are ones that she sells at craft fairs. She also just told me she has an Etsy page so you guys can get these gorgeous rings too!! They are super well made, and last so so well (and are extremely inexpensive). My oldest ring I've been wearing for 5 years and have actually never taken it off, through showers, chlorinated pool water, chemical peels, still looks brand new! She has a ton of incredible pieces and I have my eyes on some earrings. 

My newest ring addition is the Dual ring from my friend Tamira Jarrel's Mejuri collection. I've been reading Tamira's blog for years, and am lucky to call her a friend now, so I knew I had to pick up a piece. Of course the entire collection is stunning, but I needed the Dual ring. Mejuri's pieces are obviously pricier, but made with incredible materials and less than half the cost of what you would pay at a jewelry store. Plus the designs are stunningly beautiful. Dual is a solid 14k gold band set with a white opal and diamond. It's probably my favourite piece that I own. You can also get the ring with the black diamond, or the gorgeous stud earrings from Tamira's collection!

Okay, onto the funkier pieces. Forever 21 isn't the highest quality in anyone's mind, but it is fun to try out trends without breaking the bank. Plus I managed to find all three pairs online, so you can still get them if you can't find them in the mess that is in-store. You're welcome. I was on the hunt for a pair of tassel earrings, and these Fringe Duster Earrings fit the bill perfectly. I love the addition of the woven knot at the top, I think it makes them look much more expensive. And I personally think they look super high quality, I'll probably be going back for the red. Speaking of, I spotted these Red Bauble Earrings and had to have them. They're super fun, and I love how much they stand out against my dark hair. I also got these Disk Drop Earrings on my way out because they were only $4. I wasn't totally sure about them, but I wore them yesterday and I'm actually in love. So now I'm on the hunt for a higher quality pair that are similar! Any ideas? I've got my eye on several others, so I think an order will be happening soon, oops. 

What kind of jewelry do you guys tend to buy? High quality, trendy, or a mix of both?
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Chanel Le Volume De Chanel Mascara

Okay, please don't hate me. I KNOW this is expensive, and usually I'm a drugstore mascara person through and through. I don't think I've ever spent more than $15 on mascara, and even then I cringed. But this stuff is incredible. And $32. But incredible. This "stuff" is the Chanel Le Volume Mascara. 

Honestly it's against every fiber in my being to tell you I like this. It's pricy AND it's a plastic brush. I usually cannot stand plastic brushes, I'm a bristle person all the way. So the only explanation is that this mascara is actually magical. It's one of those triple threats that delivers volume, length, and separation without looking clumpy or separating. It's jet black and somehow doesn't transfer, smudge, or flake. All. Day. If you follow me on instagram you probably know that I've been suffering from some serious mascara smudging lately so its a godsend that this stays put (even the non-waterproof version). You'd think this means it's a pain to get off but it's honestly even easier to get off than any of my other mascaras! 

The brush as described as a "snowflake" wand, aka a combination of short and slighter longer spiky bristles made up of stacked plates (seems very complicated to me). It definitely grabs onto every single lash, meaning tons and tons of length and separation. Because the bristles are this snowflake design the lashes are kind of grabbed on all sides so the product builds up super quickly, giving you incredibly dramatic lashes in just one coat. Because of this, it's not really going to be the one for you if you like sort-of natural looking lashes. This basically looks like you've been using a lash serum and you have the most fab lashes ever (a win in my book). The formula itself is fairly wet. I know a lot of people really like this, but I prefer dry formulas in general so I'm thinking this means I'll just grow to love it more as time goes on! I've been using it for about a week so far, and it's already become my favourite mascara ever and my wallet hates me.

I'm sorry to enable you to buy a $30 mascara, believe me, but it's bloody brilliant. So go buy it so I don't feel so bad about it, thank you.

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Top Picks : June 2017

I haven't done a favourites post in a while because honestly I've been using the same products over and over again so it'd be a bit boring. Plus, if I'm using anything new you've probably seen it on Instagram and I try not to be super repetitive. But a couple of you have asked for a proper favourites this month and I can't say no to my people!

As far as foundations go this month, you definitely know about the ones I've been using because they're all over my posts and Insta, so I won't bore you. But underneath I've been wearing the Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow every single day. This makes lackluster skin look super radiant and I basically can't get enough of it. Will definitely be picking up a full size when I'm in the uk. I have switched up my blush quite a lot this month and am actually using my extensive collection! But a few people have been talking about this Cloud Paint combo and I can't get enough. Dusk and Haze together make the most gooooorgeous mauvey colour. Maybe more autumn appropriate but the colour is perfect. If you haven't tried any cloud paints yet, do yourself a favour and pick them up. They are life-changing.

I'm back onto cream highlights again after my slight obsession with the CT Bronze & Glow, and the NARS Multiple in Copacabana has been my go-to. The formula of this is incredible, it's obviously a cream stick but it goes on and sets like a powder. The colour is a beautiful silvery-champagne. This is going to sound suuuuuuper lame but it's the colour I'd imagine patronuses would be (LOL loser). If I want more of a sweaty, dewy shine I've been slathering myself in the NOTO Botanics Hydra Highlight. This is some serious 'no-makeup' makeup, it gives you a subtle sheen that looks like your skin is just ethereal. It's undetectable. I think it may actually be magic but I'll let you decide on that one. It's also 1000000% natural which is awesome.

I know I don't need another moisturizer, I know. But I missed the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream so much. It's honestly the only daytime moisturizer I'll ever need. It's super quenching, but really light and wear perfectly under makeup. Basically a dream. If you've never tried this shame on you (you're missing out, seriously). I do have a lot of new skincare products on rotation right now, and I think my skin is rebelling a bit. So I've been using the Complex Beauty The Godmother Face Mask pretty often because it leaves you with soft glowing skin. I have this tiny sample but am definitely going to purchase a full size. Pumpkin Enzymes and Glycolic Acid exfoliate the skin, and also provide antibacterial protection (win). Pumpkin is one of those super ingredients that basically does it all, including fighting free-radical damage.

I've been loving using the Recherche Beaute Aura Cleanse Cashmere Cleansing Balm as my second cleanse. It's super rich and luxurious, hydrating and softening. They say you can use it to remove makeup, but I prefer to remove makeup and cleanse first, then use this. Last but certainly not least is the French Girl Organics Sea Spray. If you can't tell by the half empty bottle I've really been loving this. It adds the perfect amount of body and texture to my hair. If you follow me on Instagram you probably know that my hair was chopped off up to my chin (depsite my request for jus-above-the-shoulder I'm still dying). I'm still trying to figure out how to style it, but in the meantime I've been loading it up with this for some volume.

That's it for my favourites this month! They always end up being longer than I expect (mostly because I never shut up). What have you guys been in to?
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