Favorite Beauty Buys

I have been meaning to share some beauty favorites for the longest time but keep getting distracted. Believe it or not, product photos actually take more effort than the usual outfit!  But I know I’m fortunate enough to be able to try so many great products, so I will be better at sharing my favorites with you all on a more regular basis. 

Today, I want to talk about my go-to products I’ve been using all summer and will continue through Fall!  There are cult favorites like Kate Somerville to new brands like Vita Liberata, these have all found permanent places in my beauty cabinet!

First, I want to preface that my skin is combination – not too oily, not to dry and not sensitive either.  So I can use a range of skincare products with little effect.  When I notice differences, and hopefully positive ones, I know its a good product!

I was curious to try Goat’s Milk products since I heard the proteins here help are great for deep hydration.  I was initially worried this would be too heavy!  But I love the Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisterizer it feels like a light formula but keep my skin dewy under makeup.  I actually prefer this product for morning use because of its light texture.  It doesn’t make my finished makeup routine look built up or cakey.  While I’m sure this product is great for evenings as well, I prefer a heavier creme texture while I sleep.  I love EVERYTHING Kate Somerville (have you guys tried the ExfoliKate?  It’s amazing!), so I’ll just add this to the roster! 🙂

I use Honest products for Jaxson and around the home, so I couldn’t wait to try Honest Beauty!  I especially love all the makeup. My favorites?  The creme blushes and the Lumininzing Powder (I use the Peach shade) are AMAZING!  I’ve have actually gone through two Luminizing compacts already!  I love that it gives me a subtle glow.  On most days when I don’t have time to put on a full dace, I dab on a couple brush strokes after my tinted moisturizer so I have that no makeup dewy look.   As for the Creme Blush, I use shades in Truly Thrilling and Truly Daring.  The pink and darker berry color are perfect complements for any look I’m trying to accomplish.  The cremes have a great pigment so a little goes a long way.  It is buildable and goes well on top of foundation or powder.  I apply it for a BeautyBlender for a more even application.  

I try to look for SPF or anti-aging benefits in all my products.  And I had heard so much about It Cosmetics and never rushed to try since I was happy with my current foundation and powder.  But wow….I am bummed I waited so long!  The Your Skin But Better CC+ cream is so good!  I love that its a one stop, all the good stuff in one formula.  When I need to look like I put some effort into my face and like a presentable human, I just use this CC+, add blush, mascara and go!  The high SPF makes me feel at ease if I’m going out in the sun, and the coverage is great!  I have the powder compact version in my makeup pouch for touch ups or on-the-go application.  Seriously you guys, if you haven’t tried It Cosmetics…run, down walk!

I hate going out in the sun.  Hence why I live so close to the beach, but NEVER go!  But I do love a golden glow.  So naturally I rushed out to get the Vita Liberata self tan Dry Oil.  Best part – it has SPF!  Not sure if I should mention SPF more in this post. ha!  Anyway, I love it.  It gives an instant bronze to my skin and after about 6 uses, I saw a more lasting glow.  Since its technically an oil, it moisturized my skin too but without the oily feeling.  I love multi-tasking products!  The only thing to be aware, it does have a scent.  I wasn’t really bothered by it, but you will notice a copper smell.  

I am a lip color kind of girl.  In my lip drawer, there are about 56 (to be exact) lipstick, glosses and stains.  I think it is the easier way to feel good about yourself through a single product.  What girl doesn’t look at themselves in the mirror with a cheerful red lip and automatically feel a boost of confidence!  These are the current lip products I never leave home without: Lush Fruit Lip gloss by Bite (in Rambutan), a Lip Chisel stick but Manna Kadar (in Girls Night Out), and Pro Sculpting Lip by Makeup Forever (in Rust)!

And lastly, a cleanser!  I actually switch cleansers pretty often to keep my skin guessing.  And I go back and forth between the dual cleansing routine so favored K-Beauty followers.  Depends on how much time I have, I guess.  But this Crystal Cleansing cleanser by Belif has become a favorite.  It is a gel foaming cleanser that leaves my skin feeling very fresh and clean.  I love the clean feeling especially in the morning to provide a clean palette for makeup.  Some cleansers leave a film or gooey feeling and that drives me nuts! Even when I have a ton of make up on, it removes all the dirt and impurities better than so many brands I’ve tried.  This tube costs $26 and last a couple months!  Belif is a Korean skincare brand that makes so many raved about products.  I want to try the True Cream Moisturizing Bomb next!

Let me know what products you’re loving!  

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xo, Lydia