Current Beauty Staples & Recent Buys

My beauty routine changes ever so slightly on the weekends, but regardless of what I'm wearing on my lips, cheeks, and eyes, I always gravitate to these key basics seven days a week. These "current" favorites have been my staples for the entirety of Summer, and I don't see them changing anytime soon regardless of Fall being around the corner. These are all tried and true, and I recommend each and every one.

I linked to the products I could find online

    1) M.A.C. Fix + : I dampen my beauty blender sponge with this spray and then use it to blend my foundation into my skin. I find that it creates a seamless, perfectly blended canvas. The fact that it smells divine is an added bonus. I don't set my foundation with it, as I still swear by the Urban Decay All Nighter Spray, but I love Fix + as an all around refresher.

   2) NYX eyeshadow in Champagne (you can find this at Ulta): This beautiful golden brown is what I wear on my lids Monday through Thursday as an all-over color. On the weekends when I have more time to play with other shadows, I still like to layer it on the center of the lids for a pretty yet subtle pop of shine. I just find that it really brings out the golden flecks in my eyes, and the consistency is very creamy. 

  3) M.A.C. Extra Dimension eyeshadow in Sweet Heat: I feel guilty for mentioning this product because it was limited edition but I know they come out with these every few months now in new collections. I actually don't use this on my eyes - I use it as a cheekbone highlight! It's the perfect amount of sheen that makes my skin glow and it helps my face look more tan. It's just a gorgeous highlight and if you ever spot it in a CCO, grab it. 

  4) Urban Decay Brow Box in Brown Sugar: I often used pencils to lightly fill in sparse areas but then my friend told me that powders tend to look a bit more natural. I'm all about natural, so I picked this one up and it's been my go-to ever since. My brows look much more even and fuller than they used to, and while I would love to grow out even more, this powder conceals any bald spots. 

  5) Benefit Eye Bright: I love putting this on my brow bones as a natural highlight, but I also dot some in the inner corners of my eyes to brighten them up and make me look more awake! I have Veronika to thank for her recommendation. It's a great product. 

  6) Origins GinZing: This brightening eye cream (notice a trend) helps to depuff my under eyes and although I still miss my Khiels avocado eye cream, I have really grown to love this. I wear it underneath my concealer and I've noticed a difference in how the concealer applies and the overall look and finish. 

Now here are some recent buys that I have yet to try (I literally just received my NARS order last night). I'll keep you posted on my thoughts, but I can already say that I'm dying to dig in to these gorgeous shadows and liquid illuminator. I hope to wear them for my 30th birthday party and definitely had that event in mind when I bought them. 

Maybelline "The Nudes" shadow palette,  

NARS Dual Intensity Eyeshadow in Dione

NARS BLKR Illuminator

If you have any questions, let me know! 

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Labor Day Weekend {Outfits}

Wearing // Express sleeveless portofino shirt

Loft skirt, love this one!

Sole Society sandals

Kate Spade bag

Anthro pearl necklace

Gorjana cuff

Wearing // Express cami

Rebecca Minkoff mini mac bag

Loft curvy skinny jeans

Steve Madden sandals (old)

Random beaded bracelets

Happy September ladies! I'm going to make this quick today because the long weekend and short work week has really thrown me off my whole blogging schedule. If you follow me on Instagram, you will see that hubby and I went camping at the beach last Thursday. We borrowed his parent's trailer and spent two glorious days with our toes in the sand. It was perfect weather, actually pretty hot for the beach. Then Saturday, we went to a Jack Johnson concert in San Diego. The rest of the weekend was kind of a blur, mainly because we didn't do a lot aside from sleeping! I'm still trying to catch up on everything, including your blogs. It feels great to unplug from social media for a bit, but then I feel guilty for doing so. Does anyone else experience this? 

I'll leave you with my favorite photos from our mini vacation //

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Tea Time & Girlfriends

Wearing //

Express dress, last year. Love this for Fall

Sole Society pumps, similar. Love these

Kate Spade bag, on sale!

Fossil watch

One of my friends is getting married in October, and this is what I wore to her tea themed bridal shower. She's the last in my close circle to be tying the knot, and I am honored to be a part of her wedding just as she was in mine. It's a funny thing, really. I mean, this whole getting older thing. Just a few short years ago, my girlfriends and I were all either single or in horribly awkward, dead-end relationships. We would go out every night and have way too much to drink. We would commiserate together, share laughs together, and more often than not, we would cry together. Fast forward to today and we still do many of these same things. Some of us have children, some like myself still don't. But we have all managed to stick by each other, even if we live miles apart and have more responsibilities that take us away from one another. My husband is my most intimate friend, but I still need my girlfriends and they still need me. There's a huge comfort in knowing that, especially when times are tough. I hope you, reading this, have the same experience with your girlfriends. 

I just wanted to get that out there. 

my beautiful friend and bride to be

Happy Wednesday! Hubby and I are camping for the next two days and guess what? It's on the beach where we got married last year. We are also seeing Jack Johnson on Saturday, so we are both looking forward to a relaxing 5 day weekend! Have a great Labor day and I'll see you soon :)

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