My Everyday Makeup Routine

        Hi all! I'm here today to finally share with you all my current everyday makeup routine. When I say "everyday" I really mean the days that I do wear makeup. As a college student, sometimes makeup just doesn't happen for me, but on most days this is what I wear. I do enjoy makeup and applying it so I do wear full coverage foundation, concealer etc. With that being said, all these products feel super light weigh on my face so it doesn't feel heavy/caky at all. 

       Although I am a bit of a makeup junky I encourage you all to go bare faced sometimes to give your skin a break and a chance to really breathe. Makeup was an amazing invention to accentuate some of your features, but you should never feel like you're completely trying to change yourself. There really is nothing more important than being comfortable in your own skin. There's really no way to word all of that without sounding extremely corny (I tried!). Just thought it was an important thought to add in to this post.  

Before! #barefaced

I always feel so glamorous when I get ready in this robe! "Early bird" may be a bit of exaggeration when it comes to describing me in the morning, but it certainly motivates me!

1. Prime- This is one step that I actually skipped for a really long time. Over time I have learned the importance of primer. Not only does my makeup go on so much smoother, but it also stays on a lot longer. I apply this all over my face and depending on what I'm doing that day I'll use a different one. I really like the Marc Jacobs one for everyday wear and when I'm trying to me more matte I'll go for the Benefit pore-fessional. I'm also on the hunt for a great drugstore primer. If you know of any or have one that you use, let me know!

2. Foundation- LISTEN UP! This is my favorite product I will talk about in this post... Clinique foundation. I freakin' love this stuff so much and I've got so many people in my life hooked on it as well. It has amazing coverage and blends so so well. Prior to using this I never used high end foundation because that seemed like such an investment to me. While it definitely comes at a higher price point, it really does last me longer than any drug store foundation I've used. Since it's so full coverage I don't need to use a lot of it to get smooth looking skin. Right now I'm using it in the color "ivory."

3. Blend: I blend both my foundation and concealer with a Beauty Blender, which I finds gives the most flawless finish. I alternate between using an actual Beauty Blender and the Real Techniques sponge. I'm currently using a beauty blender in my routine because I was recently gifted one, but usually I strictly use the Real Techniques sponge. Another reason to go for the cheaper option is becuase I regularly replace them. If you use the same sponge for a long time it can get pretty gross and cause you to break out.

4. Conceal: Just like so many other makeup lovers, I use the Tarte Shape Tape for my concealer. This has pretty much the same exact applicator as the foundation I use! This is bigger than almost all of other concealers I've aquired and it lasts me a long time.

5. Blend: Just blendin' some more!

6. Set: To make sure everything I've used so far is staying in place and not creasing I use my Urban Decay Velevtizer translucent powder. This powder tops the Laura Mercier powder by far and I've been obsessed with it ever since I saw Casey Holmes talk about it in one of her videos.

7. Bronze: If my foundation doesn't match me perfectly then I usually use a larger fluffy brush to put some bronzer on my neck so I don't have any foundation lines. It also is just the perfect color to give you a little healthy glow since we're all so pale around this time of year.

8. Contour: I use the same bronzer (Benefit Hula Bronzer) to contour my cheekbones. This isn't a step that gets done every single day but if I'm not in a rush then it's just a nice touch. I used to always find this step such a pain, but ever since I got this Nars brush contouring is so much easier. It allows you to be super exact with where you apply the powder, while it allows blends out the product really well if you applied too much.

9. Blush: This is the first makeup product I ever used! Just like I said with the bronzer, us Northeasterners are so pale this time of year and we could all use some color on our face. My favorite blushes are the Tarte amazonian clay blush and Milani. I always feel like I look ten times more awake after this step since it really wakes my face up.

10. Brows: I remember watching a Youtube video a couple of years ago where the Youtuber was talking about how she can't leave the house without doing her brows and I thought she was just crazy.  I don't use a pencil to fill them in on a daily basis because that makes the look a little to dramatic for my liking, but I do love a good tinted brow gel. My eyebrows can look a little crazy when I wake up in the morning so this just adds a nice tint and gets them all going in the same direction.

11. Mascara: Let me tell you, it is impossible to get a good picture of yourself while putting on mascara (you should all be thankful I didn't use the ones where my mouth was open and I was making the classic mascara face!). I always go back to the Benefit They're real mascara after trying any new mascara. This is one of the few I've tried that doesn't make it look like I have raccoon eyes by the end of the day. Additionally, it gives really nice length to my lashes while never making them look clumpy or spidery.

12. Lipstick: There are days when I just throw on some lip balm and that's good enough for me. On days I go for the full look 99% of the time it is liquid lipstick that I have on. Honestly, it's a bit crazy to think of a time I didn't wear liquid lipstick and only have lip gloss and traditional lipstick. I never really carry makeup in my backpack or purse to touch it up during the day so liquid lipstick is the way to go when it comes to long wear. The drugstore has been killing it with liquid lipstick lately and I really love the Wet n' Wild ones. If you want to spend a little extra I really like the ones by Stila and Anastasia.

After!

The Perfect Outfit For A Busy Gal

         I'm learning pretty quickly that this time of year for college students is extremely hectic and I feel like I have a huge paper or test in every class every week (Anyone want to assist in writing a couple of research papers? No? Didn't think so). Along with school work I've been applying for scholarships, internships and summer jobs. All of this has led to a lot of running around and outfits I know I'll be comfortable in. This look has absolutely fallen into this category and I wore this exact outfit this past Saturday. This may be hard to believe because of the heels I'm wearing, but I swear these are so comfortable. I am not a heels person in the least bit, you can normally find me in ballet flats or loafers. But, these honestly don't hurt my feet at all and the wider heel makes it really easy to walk.
        For the past three years I've pretty much exclusively been using my tan Longchamp purse with all my outfits, but lately, I've been trying to spice things up a little bit. This mint green clutch (my second favorite color!) caught my eye from afar in the Banana Republic store. When I got closer to it and noticed it also had scallops, so I was sold. The clutch has a little zipper pocket in the center of it, two open pockets on each side and a magnetic closure to make sure nothing is coming out. I really liked the magnetic closure because I was able to just throw some things into it and not worry about them falling out.

     
   

        Remember these shoes? I wore these so much this past fall and they felt like the perfect transition shoe for springtime too! And if we're being brutally honest, they also forced me to finally fix my pedicure from god knows how long ago after having my feet hidden in boots for the past couple of months. Yay for fresh pedicures!

        This trench coat is one of my all-time favorite things I have in my closet for a couple of reasons. 1. I bought this when the J. Crew Mercantile store in my town first opened up and I got it for $30! Yes, you read that correctly! They were having some crazy sales to attract new people to the store and I was able to combine so many discounts. 2. I feel so put together when I have this on and I feel like it elevates anything that I'm wearing. 3. It's my favorite type of thing to buy! What is my favorite type of thing to buy you ask? I love buying things that I know I will have and use for A LOT of years in the future. As I've mentioned briefly in some of my past blog posts I'm really trying to lower the number of fast fashion pieces I'm buying.

        If you want to mix things up with this shirt, you can tie it a couple of different ways!

          These dark wash jeans and all my other everyday jeans are from J. Crew Factory because I find they fit me really well. These jeans are perfect for me because I don't find they're too stretchy nor too tight. I know a lot of people are really into jeggings or just jeans that have a little more give to them, but when I wear those I find that just by the end of the day they're stretched out and I'm pulling them up every five minutes. I usually wear my jeans a couple of times before I wash them (they're clean, don't worry!). So if you're looking for budget-friendly and comfortable jeans, these would be perfect for you!

Favorite Bathing Suits Under $45

      I think it's safe to say I spend about 90% of my summer in a lifeguard bathing suit, so spending a pretty penny on a new bathing suit that I hardly get to where just isn't practical for me. I'd say $45 is the usual cut off I have in my mind while shopping for new bathing suits because I find I usually still get good quality within this range and a good amount of options. After doing a little poll on my Instagram story it seemed like this was what you all wanted to read this week, so I hope you all enjoy!

 Pro tip: Check to see if there is a promo code that could make some of these even less expensive.

Off The Shoulder For Spring

     
       Hi there! With some warm weather approaching the North East somewhat soon I thought it would be the perfect time to share this dress for springtime. I felt like especially in high school, once warm weather hits I need dresses like this for so many events I have going on. The fact that this dress was navy and white, and off the shoulder was enough to sell me. Also, it makes you want to twirl the second you put it on is just an added bonus (photo proof below)! Once summer arrives I love wearing super bright colored dresses that make your tan look ah-mazing, but for now, these colors are perfect for this time of year!
       I can't share this outfit with Y'all without talking about this crossbody! Just by looking at the outside of it, it appears to just be a normal purse, but when you open it it's actually a wallet! The straps of the purse are detachable if you want to just use it on its own as a clutch. Originally I bought it because I wanted a purse that was a fun color to wear with bland outfits, but I actually find myself using this all the time now!

Wanna know how to make your own fun gif like this? I use the animation feature on google photos, which allows you to select any pictures you want and then puts them together for you!

5 Tips For Growing Out Your Hair

   

 

 I think we've all been here, where we just wish out hair could grow five inches over night so it could finally be the length we want. Whether you chopped you hair and want your old hair back, want to grow it out so you can donate, or just want some change, I've rounded up some of my best tips for growing out your locks. Of course this process requires quite a lot of patience, all five of these tips are things I've personally used in my own life and have seen positive results with. I'd love to hear from you all, if you've ever tried any of these tips out or if you're going to start now! At the bottom of this post I have every product linked that I talked about for you to check out.

1. Be gentle while bruhsing your hair- The unfortaunte reality of having long hair is that the longer it gets, the more tangled it can become. A lot of times when I wake up in the morning my hair has become super knotted right at the back of my neck and it takes some time and patience to get it untangled without just ripping my hair all out. If I just really roughly brush my hair so I can get ready quick, a ton of my hair breaks and over time it make my ends really gross and stringy. I find that if I use my wet brush (I swear by this thing) and start at my ends and the work my way up I get the least amount of breakage, while also not brushing my hair for ten minutes straight. Also, I love to use moroccan oil, leave in conditioner or knot spray after I shower which leaves my hair a lot softer and eaiser to manage.

2. Goodbye cotton pillow case- I'm sure the majority of you all reading this all use a cotton pillow case, which I did for a long time myself. The friction of your hair rubbing up against this as you sleep can actually cause a lot of breakage and split ends, which is obviously the opposite of what you want if you are trying to grow out your hair. I remember having a conversaton with my hairdresserw where I explained I probably use heat on my hair once every two weeks, yet i still find I have tons of split ends. She told me that when you have long hair you can get split ends and some breakage just from your hair rubbing against your clothes and pillows. We are clearly all not going to go buy a whole new wardrobe that is softer for our hair, but a new pillowcase is a great way to start. You can find a silk or satin pillowcase for a lot cheaper then I ever thought and it will really make a difference in the long run.

3. Wash your hair less- DO NOT confuse this tip with me saying shower less, please shower everyday! But, you do not need to wash your hair every time you shower or even every other day. if you can stretch it to three or even four days that's amazing and it'll give your hair a break. If you wash your hair every day you strip your hair of its natural oils and it over compensates by producing even more oil. Think of it the same way as why people with oily skin still need to moisturize. In between washes I always use some dry shampoo to help with oil, freshen up, and get some great volume for styling. My favorite dry shampoos are DryBar, Batiste, and Living Proof. Now, if you want to go the extra mile I would recommend using a deep conditioning treatment once a week. By doing this you'll really nourish your hair and it will help to make your hair stronger, so you'll get less split ends from using heat.

4. Cut down on the heat and use heat protectant- I know, I know, we've all heard this one a million times, but I really couldn't leave it out. The more split ends you get from using heat on your hair, the more trims you'll need to keep getting which will make your hair getting to the length you desire a much longer process. I'm sure I'm not the only one who completely fried their hair in middle school, we're talking straightening it practically every single day. When I look back on those cringe worthy photos now the thing that always shocks me is how awful my hair looks. I used heat on it every single day becuase I thought I had to in order to look good, but in reality I was doing the exact opposite. My hair started to really grow the best when I finally came to terms with my natural hair as I got older. Now I'm not saying I never use heat on my hair, I do, but I try to use it for special occasions or if I know I'm going to be taking a lot of pictures. So just remember, heat protectant and a lower heat on your flat iron or curling iron will be very beneficial to you.

5. Hair viatmins- I left this one for last becuase I think this is probably the most contraversial one on my list. I know some people think these vitamins do absoultely nothing for your hair, but I have to say when I use them I feel like my hair is at least a lot stronger and helps it grow a little bit faster. I'm not promoting those bear gummies the Kardashian's all have ads for all over there Instagram's, you don't need to spend $30 a month for these! I really like Nature's Bounty which is just $12 for about two months. These types of things will work a bit differently on every person since it also has to do with your diet, but for just $12 I think it is worth a shot.

Yellow Gingham For Spring

      Spring has sprung! I'm usually one to just admire the beauty of all the clothes at Anthropologie because it's a little out of my comfort zone and price range! But, when I saw this gingham sweater it felt like it was so me. The combination of the bright yellow and scalloped edges was just perfect. My favorite type of transitional outfit for spring is something that will still keep me warm (since it's still very cold in Upstate NY), but is bright in color. Also, my slight obsession with statement earrings is continuing with this new pair I snagged while at Lord and Taylor. Most of my statement earrings are dangly earrings, however those can be a bit much for just for an everyday outfit for class.
      Now let's talk about these shoes... I partnered with Eastland Shoe for an Instagram post and I've been wearing them so much now. Most shoes in this style give me blisters or are just super stiff/ uncomfortable the first handful of times I wear them, but these have been immensely comfortable. Additionally, for just $80 they without a doubt beat out a lot of loafers that are even twice the money. I think this is just proving that you don't also have to spend and arm and a leg to get great quality!

Athleisure

      For those of you still going strong with your new years resolution, this post is for you! I was doing so good with working out until I got the flu two weeks ago and it was a bit of a slow recovery, but I'm ready to get back into it all now. The best part of working out (or not!) is being able to wear a cute and comfortable outfit. This outfit combines all of my favorite athleisure pieces in one outfit that I've worn to class, working out and even just doing some errands.