Beauty

October 10, 2018

September Beauty Hits and Misses

I think I set myself up for failure last month in my August beauty hits and misses. I totally started bragging on myself for getting my post up right as the beginning of the month hit, and this month… not so much. Things have been extra busy throughout September, so I guess I should just be happy I put this together at all! I didn’t even try too many new products in September, but the ones that I did have quickly become new favorites of mine.

September Beauty Hits:

You may remember a few months ago when I worked with Whole Foods Market and shared my natural makeup favorites. I had never heard of Dr. Hauschka until then. I was really impressed with their makeup products, so when they reached out and sent me a few skincare products to try I was so excited. My skin has been breaking out a little bit more than usual over the last month or so. I think it’s mainly just added stress, but regardless it’s driving me crazy.

Dr. Hauschka sent over their Soothing Cleansing Milk and Facial Toner at the perfect time. One night my breakouts were especially terrible, and I decided to give both products a try. I don’t usually like to try new products in the middle of a breakout, but I figured why not. SO glad that I did! Both products smell amazing, and left my skin feeling so soft and refreshed.

After using both Dr. Hauschka products, I used the Rodial Beauty Collagen Drops (c/o) as a serum before moisturizer. These drops are definitely pricey, and if I had not received them for a post, I probably would have never tried them. The next morning, my skin felt tighter and was visibly clearer. I am excited to continue to use this trio and see what a difference they make for my skin.

September Beauty Misses:

Are you sick of me saying every month that the misses weren’t true misses? I’m not typically a glass half full type of person, but I truly didn’t complete dislike either product. The Pixi Glowy highlighter duo (c/o) just wasn’t anything special for me. I have a bunch of other highlighters that I prefer, and some that are much less expensive. Both shades in this duo were a bit dull on my skin, and may be better suited for someone with a darker complexion.

Don’t kill me on this one. I am not in love with the Urban Decay Primer Potion.It didn’t feel like anything special to me, and I really am not a fan of the applicator wand. I actually much prefer the way cheaper CoverGirl version (I’ll share that one next month!) It isn’t a miss only because of the formula, but also the price. Usually Urban Decay can do no wrong, but this primer is not something I would purchase again.

Shop my September Beauty Hits and Misses:

September 19, 2018

How to Achieve Natural Looking Brows with Physicians Formula

This post has been sponsored by Physicians Formula. All opinions are my own.When it comes to my eyebrows, I definitely have a love-hate relationship. I was one of those girls who over plucked them when I was in high school because I thought that thin eyebrows were the way to go. Throughout college and grad school, the shape of them really didn’t bother me. I actually never filled my eyebrows in until a few years ago! Finally I had had it with my thin brows, and was frustrated that they didn’t seem to grow back or fill in from years of plucking.

About a year and a half ago, I decided to have my eyebrows microbladed (you can read all about my experience here). I was extremely happy with the results, so much so that I had them touched up again earlier this year. While microblading has generally given my brows a better shape, the color tends to fade really fast for me. You can see in some of my photos below that the color now looks like it has a red-ish tint to them that does not match my brow color. Because of this, I now need to fill in my brows each day to ensure a more even color and shape.

How to Achieve Natural Looking Brows

For the past few weeks I have been using Brow Last Longwearing Brow Gel by Physicians Formula in the shade ‘light brown’. I originally tried the shade ‘blonde’, but found it to be a little too light for me. Prior to using this product, I typically gravitated toward using some type of brow pomade to fill them in with a brush. I have tried pencils before, however the final result often made my brows look too defined and un-natural.

It took me a few tries to get used to the Brow Last gel, but once I got it down, I fell in love! First, I use the gel applicator to outline the shape. I trace where my brows were microbladed. Then I make a few quick swipes to fill the inside in. Finally, I use the spoolie on other end of the applicator to blend the gel in. This last step is crucial to creating a natural looking brow.

One of the best things about this brow product is that it is under $11 and can be purchased online at Walmart.com. You really don’t need a lot of gel to achieve natural looking brows, therefore the product will last quite awhile before you have to purchase again. I’ve linked all of the Physicians Formula products I used for today’s look below. I included a before and after of my brows so you can see the difference Brow Last makes!

Products Used:

Physicians Formula Brow Last (Wearing the shade ‘light brown’)

Killer Curves Mascara

Eye Definer Felt Tip Eye Marker

Butter Highlighter in Champagne

The Healthy Lip Liquid Lipstick

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September 4, 2018

August Beauty Hits and Misses

I’m pretty proud of myself for getting up my picks from August within the first few days of September. If you read my previous hits and misses, you may know it was taking me a little longer than I wanted to get them up. Now I’m not saying I’m going to be able to do this every month, but here’s hoping!

August Beauty Hits:

This month I had the chance to try the Purlisse Watermelon Energizing Aqua Balm (c/o) and it was love at first try! I wasn’t sure if it should be used in place of a serum or a moisturizer, so I used it as both. I have only used this product at night, and love it in place of a serum or moisturizer, since it does serve the purpose as both. My skin instantly felt brighter and more clear. The formula is lightweight and smells just like watermelon!

I also purchased the Essy Eyelash Growth Serum in August and after only a week I noticed a difference in my lashes. I am now going on week 4 and am hooked. When I purchased it, there was a flash sale on Amazon for $19.99. It is still under $30 and worth every penny.

The last product I tried and loved this month was the Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer (c/o). I always come across this product on beauty blogs, and now I know why. I’m not sure why it took so long for me to try it, but I’m glad I finally did! It has a faint coconut smell, and blends really nicely on the skin. This bronzer gives a natural glow, and makes contouring a breeze!

August Beauty Misses:

I feel like I have been saying this every month, but the products in my misses category were not total fails. Dermalogicia Precleanse (c/o) was my favorite in the ‘misses’ category, and I’ll tell you why it wound up in this one. The price. I actually do love the earthy smell, and it does a good job of removing my makeup, however it’s really pricey. It works similarly to other products I’ve used that are a quarter of the price.

I received a fun PR package from COVERGIRL in August, and was excited to try out their latest mascara, Flourish by Lash Blast. As soon as I took the wand out of the packaging, I had a feeling it might be a miss. The brush is really thin, and unfortunately did not provide any length or extra volume to my lashes. Even when paired with the Covergirl Lash Blast Primer (c/o). The primer is a bit more of a hit, but still doesn’t compare to my favorite L’Oreal Voluminous primer.

Shop my August Beauty Hits and Misses:

August 7, 2018

July Beauty Hits and Misses

It’s hard to believe that we are already into the first week of August, but that means it’s time for me to share my beauty hits and misses from the previous month. Last month I began this new series where I shared a few of the products I tried in June that I either liked or disliked. It seemed to be a big hit with you all, so here we are again!

July Beauty Hits:

The first big hit for me in July was the COVERGIRL truBlend Matte Made Foundation. I had actually received a box of 40 shades of this foundation a few months ago, and finally got around to giving it a try. Not sure why I waited so long! I did have some trouble finding the correct shade, but once I did I was sold! This foundation is a great medium coverage, and I really love the matte finish. I didn’t find it too drying, and really love the natural finish it gives. The shade L80 is the one I wound up sticking with.

I have realized that I pretty much love everything that Dermae makes. They sent over this Rosehip & Almond hand and cuticle cream, which I immediately fell in love with. A few years ago I began trying to phase out all things Bath&Body Works in my life, but had yet to find the perfect travel size hand cream. I really like the scent of this one, and the travel size is perfect to carry around in my purse.

The third beauty hit in July was the Urban Decay Complexion Primer with SPF 30. Another brand that is starting to feel like it can do no wrong. This primer is super lightweight, and dries almost instantly. It doesn’t leave behind a sticky residue, and I love that there is added SPF in it. I have been wearing this under my foundation daily, and definitely notice a longer lasting wear throughout the day.

July Beauty Misses:

I’m not sure it’s fair to call either of these a true miss this month. They weren’t total hits for me, which is the only reason the fell into the misses category. First up is the Ren Skincare Evercalm Ultra Comforting Rescue Mask. I have used this mask a few times now, and don’t actually notice anything different with my skin. The first time it did feel refreshed, but that was about it. I don’t dislike this mask by any means, but was hoping for a bit more with it.

The second miss for me in July was the Buxom Mascara. I had high hopes for this one because I fell in love with the wand as soon as I opened up the package. The first time I used it, I didn’t layer it with a primer. As a result, my lashes didn’t seem to stand out at all. I figured not using a primer was the problem, so I tried it again a few more times with a primer underneath. Despite the thick brush, it doesn’t seem to give my lashes much volume or length. It does, however, help separate my lashes, which I do enjoy. Lately I have been layering it with my Ciate Wonderwand Mascara and it seems to be better in combination with another mascara!

Shop my July Beauty Hits and Misses:

July 23, 2018

How to Minimize Your Beauty Bag for Summer Travel

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Olay. The opinions and text are all mine.

When it comes to traveling, I have a horrible habit of overpacking. Raise your hand if you’re with me on this! Not only do I bring way too many outfits, I tend to bring more makeup and beauty products than I need. I have quite a few trips coming up beginning in August, so I figured it was time to start downsizing my beauty bag for travel. When I am packing, I always make sure to bring products that I know and love. Travel is not the best time to try out something new in my experience!

You all know that my love for Olay products is strong, so I always make sure their products are in my beauty bag when I’m going out of town. I recently started using the new Olay Whip Regenerist with SPF 25 that I picked up at CVS, and am in love with yet another Olay product. This one is truly the unicorn of moisturizers! I’m always on the lookout for beauty products that can make minimizing my beauty bag easier. I’m excited to share with you some tips I’ve learned along the way.

How to Minimize Your Beauty Bag for Summer Travel:

1. Pack a skincare/beauty product that serves multiple functions:

The best thing about Olay Regenerist Whip with broad spectrum SPF 25 is that is can be used as sunscreen, moisturizer, and primer in one. That means downsizing from three beauty products to one in your travel bag. I usually only use this in the mornings since it has SPF in it, but in service of trying to minimize, you could totally use this one both morning and night. You may remember that I shared how I incorporated Total Effects Whips into my winter beauty routine. Now that it’s summer, it’s important for me (and my skin!) to switch things up a bit and add SPF. The Regenerist formula is truly my favorite of all Olay products I’ve tried. Nothing compares to its anti-aging formula that reduces fine lines and wrinkles.

2. Find a makeup palette that can be used on multiple areas of the face:

Finding a palette that is both travel friendly and functional can be a challenge. Once you find the right one, it is magical! The one I am using today can be used as eyeshadow, blush, bronzer, and a highlighter, all in one small compact. I also make sure to pack a good waterproof eyeliner and mascara, as well as concealer, foundation, and a setting spray. Since you’re going on vacation, throwing in a fun bold lipstick is always a good idea.

3. Try to carry as many travel sized products as possible:

This one may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s sometimes trickier than you’d think. I find myself collecting travel sized products throughout the year that I receive as samples. A lot of the samples, however, are not products I would typically use. As I mentioned earlier, trying out new products on a trip has never works out, so I stick to products I trust. Thankfully now a lot of the products I use are sold in travel sizes, which always makes packing my beauty bag a lot less cluttered. I try to limit my packing of full sized items to 2-3 products. I no longer dread trying to pack my beauty bag, and am really looking forward to my upcoming trips! Be sure to stop by your local CVS to pick up Olay Regenerist Whip with SPF 25 to help minimize your beauty bag and make packing for your upcoming trips stress free!

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July 10, 2018

June Beauty Hits and Misses

This post has been in the works for a few weeks already, and I’m excited to finally be sharing it! If you follow my Instagram stories (@lindsayrutland), you may have seen that I accidentally deleted all of the photos I took for this post two weeks ago. Well time was on my side this past weekend, so thankfully I was able to give the pictures another shot. I do realize that I am sharing June favorites on the 10th of July. My hope is to make this into a monthly series that I will share at the beginning of each month! After taking a poll on Instagram, it seems like this is something everyone was interested in, and I’d love your feedback now that it’s finally live! So without further ado, here are my June beauty hits and misses.

June Beauty Hits:

Purlisse Sheet Masks are my absolute favorite, so they needed to be first on this list! This product is not new to me, but is so good I had to share. I have tried a few different masks, and the green tea & vitamin C ones are the best. I always wash off my makeup and cleanse my skin before applying. After leaving the mask on for about 15 minutes, I remove it and make sure to pat the remaining serum into my skin. I actually don’t apply anything else but a nighttime moisturizer after this mask, and I really think the serum does a great job of brightening and softening my skin.

The Derma-E Vitamin C Micellar Cleansing Water is another great new skincare product that I have been incorporating into my nightly routine. I don’t know why it took me so long to start using micellar water, but now that I have been using it I can’t turn back. I typically like to alternate between micellar water, Pacifica cleansing cloths, and a cleansing oil each night when taking off my makeup. Now that I have found this version from Derma-E, I may not be alternating as much. This product is so refreshing!The Glo Skin Beauty Contour/Highlight brush and the contour kit were a complete hit for me! I was sent this product a few months back, and finally gave it try. The shimmer highlight has been my go-to highlighter lately. I am really looking forward to being able to bring this palette on some upcoming trips I have planned. The contour shades blend really well, and all of the shades apply very naturally. I have been using the fair to light kit, but it also comes in medium to dark.

The last hit of the month is the Urban Decay Chill setting spray. I’ll be honest, this one wasn’t an immediate hit. It is supposed to be cooling, however I don’t really notice any type of cooling sensation when I apply. I am, however, extremely impressed with it’s power to help makeup stay put! This product is truly worth every penny, especially in the hot summer months when makeup has a tendency to melt off easily.

June Beauty Misses:

I am so sad that the Kristin Ess Rose Gold Tint Spray made the miss list. The first time I tried it was for Harper’s mermaid birthday party, where I actually used it on both her hair and mine. I had stalked Kristin’s Instagram, and was so in love with all of the gorgeous photos of girls rocking their pink hair. Mine didn’t even look like I had used the product at all. I have even tried spraying it on almost dry hair, and still no luck! According to the directions, the drier the hair, the more vibrant the color is supposed to be. This didn’t seem to make a difference for me. I will probably give it a few more tries, but as of now it’s a major miss.

COVERGIRL truBLEND Base Business Face Primer is my second miss of the month. Another product I really wanted to love, especially since it’s supposed to minimize the appearance of pores. Unfortunately I didn’t love this primer. I don’t feel like it helps my makeup stay put, and I did notice a few breakouts in the days following its use.