Beauty

May 8, 2018

Clean Beauty Favorites: Natural Haircare Products from Whole Foods Market

This post is sponsored by Whole Foods Market. All thoughts and opinions are my own.Happy Tuesday! I am excited to share a few more of my favorite products from my friends at Whole Foods Market with you today. I recently shared some clean makeup products that I have been loving here. Today’s post is all about natural haircare products. If you’ve been a reader of Middle of Somewhere for some time, you probably know that I prefer to find beauty products that are free of harsh chemicals. I’ve tried quite a few natural haircare products at this point, and they often fall short because of the type of hair that I have.

My hair is naturally very fine and straight. It has taken years, and a lot of trial and error, to figure out what works for my hair. I know that technically I should not be washing my hair every day, but this is something that I’ve learned I need to do to manage it and help it stay looking fresh. Since I wash it so frequently, it’s really important that I find products that are not harsh and won’t be damaging to my already color-treated hair.

After using them just a few times, I fell completely in love with every product I tried from Giovanni. The Ultra-Volume shampoo and conditioner smell amazing! I didn’t notice any build up or greasy feeling after use, which is hard to come by with natural shampoos. After washing, I add two pumps of the Giovanni Natural Mousse, which really helps add an extra boost of volume. I then dry my hair and curl my hair, followed by a few spritz of the Andalou Naturals Thickening Spray. I like to use a hair mask about once a week, and really enjoy the added moisture and hydration my hair gets from the Giovanni Ultra-Revive Intensive Hair Mask!If you’re interested in any of the products I’ve shared today, you’ll be able to snag them for 25% off soon! Whole Foods Market will be having a huge sale from May 11-13. You can get 25% off of all bodycare, hair care, sunscreen, face care, and lip balm. This is the perfect time to stock up on all of your favorite products! I know that I will probably be making another trip or two to take advantage of this amazing sale!

Natural Haircare Products:

Giovanni 2Chic Ultra-Volume Shampoo

Giovanni 2Chic Ultra-Volume Conditioner

Andalou Naturals Thickening Spray

Giovanni Natural Mousse

Giovanni Ultra-Revive Intensive Hair Mask

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May 2, 2018

Easy Tips to Protect Your Skin for Summer with Olay

This post is sponsored by Olay. All thoughts and opinions are my own.When it comes to wearing sunscreen or products with SPF on a daily basis, I have often fallen short. Typical sunscreen products tend to feel greasy and heavy. While I am pretty good about using sunscreen on my body, I have struggled to find one that I don’t mind putting on my face. You all probably know by now that I am really prone to break outs, so the thought of layering sunscreen with moisturizer and foundation can be a bit daunting.

I recently started using the Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer with SPF 15 and am really enjoying the lightweight formula. I actually used to use this moisturizer back in high school and am not really sure why I stopped. It’s non-comedogenic and oil-free, so I have not had to worry about breaking out! The formula is not greasy, and blends in easily, making layering makeup on top a breeze. I would consider my skin to be pretty temperamental, so the sensitive formula is perfect for me. This moisturizer contains SPF 15 and provides both UVA and UVA protection.

In addition to adding the Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer into your daily routine, here are a few more easy tips to protect your skin for summer:

Always wear sunglasses while you’re outside! I prefer an oversized pair that not only protects my eyes, but also the skin around them.
Find a cute hat that is versatile and can be worn with any outfit. I personally love the look of a panama hat
To help give your skin that sun kissed glow, without exposing it to too much sun, find a good bronzer. I love to add a little extra all around my face where the sun would naturally hit in the spring and summer months.

Be sure to head to your local Walgreens or click on this link to purchase!

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

April 24, 2018

The Best Mascaras For Every Budget

I’ve been wanting to share some of my picks for the best mascaras for every budget for awhile now, and finally made myself do it. A few of these products have been shared before, and for good reason. While I typically try to keep my wardrobe picks budget friendly, makeup is often the area where I am willing to splurge if, and only if, I know it’ll be worth it. This is where my favorite beauty bloggers, Pinterest, and YouTube come in handy. I’m always reading reviews on beauty products before buying, unless I’ve received a recommendation from a friend.

I love sharing my current favorite beauty products on Instagram, so you have probably seen me talk about the majority of my best mascaras for every budget picks. My current obsession, and hands down favorite mascara, is the Ciate Wonderwand mascara. Worn by itself or layered with the L’Oreal Voluminous Base Primer, this mascara is just incredible. I am not exaggerating when I say that it doesn’t flake or clump at all! My lashes look longer than they ever have and I am so glad I happened to get a sample of this mascara to give it a try.

Next to the Ciate Wonderwand mascara, my second favorite is the most budget friendly in the bunch at under $10 – the L’Oreal Lash Paradise mascara. The formula is similar to Ciate, but is half the price. If you’re looking for a clean mascara, the Mineral Fusion lengthening mascara is the best natural product I have tried. Finally, an oldie but a goodie for me is Lash Domination from Bare Minerals. I love that I can just run into Ulta and pick it up, and they usually have great sales on Bare Minerals products!

What is your favorite mascara?

Best Mascaras for Every Budget:

L’Oreal Lash Paradise

Mineral Fusion Lengthening Mascara

Bare Minerals Lash Domination

Ciate Wonderand Mascara

L’Oreal Voluminous Base Primer

Shiseido Eyelash Curler

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April 9, 2018

Get Glowing Skin for Spring with Olay Cleansing Infusions

This post is sponsored by Olay. All thoughts and opinions are my own.Glowing skin for spring always a goal of mine. Springtime for me usually means ditching my heavy layers and showing a little more skin in my favorite tank tops and dresses. Since spring is right around the corner, I’ve started to re-evaluate what I’m putting into and onto my body. The dry climate I live in always takes a toll on my skin, so I love to try to find body and facial care products that are both exfoliating and hydrating. I recently had the chance to try Olay Cleansing Infusions, and I’ve found that these products do just that!

Get Glowing Skin for Spring

If you follow along on Instagram, you may know that I try hard to eat pretty clean. When Harper was about a year old, I realized it was time to ‘adult’ a little more and improve my diet. Toward the end of last year I started to get into some bad habits. This year I am really trying to focus on consistently eating healthier. When I eat more whole foods, I immediately notice a huge difference in my skin. I also started taking collagen peptides a few months ago. They have drastically improved the texture of my skin! I truly believe that healthy skin starts from the inside, however it’s equally as important for me to focus on what I am putting on the outside as well.

This is where Olay Cleansing Infusions have come into play. Not only am I trying to #GlowUp from the inside, but I’m making sure I’m using products that are as hydrating as possible. In just a few uses of the Cleansing Infusion body wash and facial cleanser, my skin looks more polished. My body feels like it has a natural glow, thanks to the lightly exfoliating nature of the micro-scrubbing body wash. The Crushed Ginger and Citrus scent is so fresh and invigorating, perfect for any spring morning! There is also a Deep Sea Kelp scent that gives an amazing lather.I definitely plan to continue to incorporate Olay Cleansing Infusions into my daily routine. I’m also looking forward to checking in in a few weeks on social media to let you know what I think. Be sure to follow along on Instagram and Facebook so you don’t miss a post!

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

March 27, 2018

Non-Toxic Hair Products for Fine & Color Treated Hair

Sharing my current favorite non-toxic hair products has been long overdue! I know I’ve shared some of my all time top hair care products in the past, but thought I should do a little updated post. I’ve tried a ton of different products since my last post! While I still love (and use) all of the ones I shared previously, I found a few new favorites to put on rotation. Finding non-toxic hair products that don’t weigh down my fine and straight hair can be a challenge, so if you have a similar hair type, this blog post is for you!

On a whim while at Ulta, I decided to pick up the Juiced Up shampoo and condition from Pacifica. I have tried a bunch of Pacificia’s skincare products before, but never anything for hair. All of their products are not only vegan and cruelty free, but they are super affordable! From the first day I used the shampoo and conditioner, I was hooked. My hair felt clean and smelled great, and I didn’t notice any build up. Often when I have tried natural shampoos, my hair tends to look weighed down and greasy, as if I didn’t even wash it. Another option I love is the Mer-mane duo from Captain Blankenship. It has an orange smell to it (amazing!), and is great to throw into the mix if I want a little more texture. A fair warning, however, is that my hair has to be pretty clean already before using this shampoo. If it isn’t, my fine hair does not tolerate this formula and will not feel or look very clean.

The last two non-toxic hair products I am loving are the Derma E hair protection serum and the Shea Moisture mousse. I actually shared the mousse in my previous hair post, and have not stopped using it since! I put a few pumps into my hair and rub into my hair before blowdrying for a little added volume. The Derma E 3-in-1 hair serum is great to throw on once a week. When I have used it, I apply it to clean, damp hair and let it air dry. I usually use this one on the weekend, so my hair can soak in all of the strengthening goodness.

I’ll link all of the products at the end of the post, and if you have any more non-toxic, clean hair product recommendations be sure to send them my way! Also, be sure to check out some of my recent natural beauty/makeup finds here.

Non-Toxic Hair Products:

Pacifica Super Kale Juiced Up Shampoo

Pacifica Super Kale Juiced Up Conditioner

Captain Blankenship Mer-mane Shampoo c/o

Captain Blankenship Mer-mane Conditioner c/o

Shea Moisture Hair Mousse

Derma E 3-in-1 Hair Protecting Serum c/o

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March 12, 2018

Clean Beauty Favorites: Natural Makeup from Whole Foods Market

Thank you to Whole Foods Market for sponsoring today’s post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.Clean beauty favorites are sometimes hard to come by. I’ve tried a ton of different beauty products, and I’ll be honest, a lot of them have been a fail for me. Natural hair products often leave my hair greasy, some skincare products just don’t really feel like they “work”, and the makeup products I’ve tried just don’t match up to their competitors. I’ve shared a few posts before regarding my preference to try to find beauty products that are clean, natural, and non-toxic. Finding quality makeup products that are naturally derived (and of course look great!) is something I’ve been on the hunt for, and I think I’ve finally hit the jackpot!

I recently had the chance to stop by my local Whole Foods Market to check out their amazing selection of beauty products. I often shop for groceries at Whole Foods Market, but had never shopped in their beauty section before. Man, have I been missing out! Of the 5 products I tried, my absolute favorite is the Mineral Fusion Lengthening Mascara. I am really picky when it comes to mascara, and this product truly beats out anything else I’ve tried. It does not flake, lasts all day, and truly does make my lashes look longer. Another product that definitely helps with lengthening my lashes are the Vital Proteins Beauty Collagen. You may already know if you follow me on Instagram that I swear by taking collagen every day. The Vital Proteins collagen is a great option if you prefer to mix something into water versus a hot drink.

I also really love the Zuzu Luxe liquid eyeliner. I almost picked it up in black, but then decided to have a little bit of fun and went for this gorgeous emerald shade. The liner goes on very easily, thanks to the applicator brush, and lasts all day! I love how it looks paired with a light pink lip too. I am really enjoying the formula of the Dr. Hauschka lipstick, and know I will be rocking this shade throughout the spring and summer. Everything I am sharing today will be included in a huge sale that will be starting soon at Whole Foods Market. From March 21-27, you can get 25% off all skincare, makeup, haircare, and lip balm. All Dr. Hauschka products are already on sale, so you will be able to get an additional 25% off the already reduced price. Vital Proteins will not be included in this sale, but will be on sale as well! Pre-sale starts on March 14th, so you can stop in and pre-shop! If you’re looking to make the switch to cleaner beauty products, this is the perfect time. You can read more about Whole Foods Market body care quality standards here.