April Favorites 2014

It's been awhile since I've posted a monthly favorites list, but that's because I've been trying to pare down my beauty products and search for more natural alternatives. I've been pretty successful, although I still tend to reach for some of my less natural products occasionally.

Nourish Organic Deeply Nourishing Coconut & Argan Body Wash
This is the most recent addition to my beauty routine. It doesn't smell as coconutty as I was hoping, but it still has a nice subtle scent. I wouldn't buy it for the scent, but the formula is great. It's made of organic products and is free from parabens and sulfates. It leaves my skin feeling smooth; sometimes I even skip my daily moisturizer.

Clif Kit's Organic Fruit and Nut Bar - Berry Almond
Clif recently came out with a new line of bars and if you know me then you know I'm all about the bars. Larabars are my favorite, but the Kit's Organic line is the same sort of idea. It is gluten-free, dairy-free, and paleo friendly. A must on my shopping list. I also really like the Lemon Chia flavor. I'm a chia girl and I'm not ashamed.

Crystal Body Deodorant Roll-On
This is a natural deodorant made with mineral salts which are supposed to help prevent body odor. I've been on a mission to find a natural deodorant for YEARS. I'm not kidding. This has been such a difficult task, but I've finally found something that somewhat works. I'm not saying this works miracles, but on a daily basis I can get away with this and not smell like sweat (what every girl dreams of, am I right?). I can't workout and expect this to be a magic odor blocker, but for everyday wear I can handle this. Also, since it's not scented it doesn't have to fight with whatever perfume I've decided to wear.

NYX Blush in Peach
I've heard about the NYX blushes for so long and have just had trouble finding them in any stores around me. I've seen them at Ulta before and just never picked them up when I had the chance. Lucky for me, my Target just started carrying NYX! I love this shade because it's a nice bright pink for spring and summer. I definitely wouldn't call it peach. It's more of a light pink, at least that's what I think. Peach shades are usually tougher for me to pull off because I'm so fair, but this one is just right.

SPRI Rolling Pin
I've been adding a bit more weight lifting back into my workout routine, and let me tell you, there have been some super sore days around here. This rolling pin has saved my hamstrings. It's my favorite accessory. I even traveled with it when I went home for Easter. It comes everywhere.

Go Primal Pucker Paste in Orange Creamsicle
I've heard about the Primal Pit Paste, but I haven't been able to find it in any stores. That's why I was surprised to see this lip balm by the Go Primal company at my local health food store. I absolutely love it. It's made with coconut oil (of course I had to buy it) and smells like the orange creamsicles I used to eat as a kid. It not only smells great, but it is my favorite lip balm and works wonders in such a short amount of time.

Revlon Brow Fantasy in Dark Blonde
I haven't been a brow girl for a super long time, but now that I'm converted I am never going back to bare brows. Before this brow pencil I didn't have great luck finding a color that was suitable for my blonde almost non-existent brows. This color is great as long as I blend it nicely. I rarely use the brow gel because I don't exactly have unruly brows and I don't like them feeling crunchy and unnatural, but I'll be using this color forever and have officially stopped looking for anything else in a brow product.

What have you been loving?

October Favorites 2013

October is done and there are so many products I've been loving. This month was wonderful and I got to spend a lot of time with my family (2 weekends in a row!). Even though it was crazy and full of all of the October fun I picked out my top 10 favorite things to share with you! I'm excited to see what November will bring, like eating turkey and pumpkin pie and playing in the leaves! 

Paleo Pumpkin Bread

I made this paleo pumpkin bread twice in October. Such a tasty treat and it made me feel so festive. I was skeptical about a paleo version of one of my favorite recipes because sometimes they can go terribly wrong. To my surprise, this was delicious and I posted about it here.

Bath and Body Works Pumpkin Cupcake Candle

I am a sucker for pumpkin candles and an even bigger sucker for the 2 for $22 candle sales at BBW. I picked up this candle to finish out the fall season because it smells like I'm baking actual cupcakes every time I light it. I know Leaves is a cult favorite (and a favorite of mine that I'm hoarding until November), but Pumpkin Cupcake is a close second.

Beast Mode Water Bottle from Blogilates

I got this water bottle back in September when I ordered my Pilates Power Ring from blogilates.com. I love that it comes with a shaker ball so I can break up my chia seed drinks with ease. I love the "Beast Mode" and I love the color. This bottle has come everywhere with me this month from the gym to class and all the way home to Wisconsin. It's a must have item for me. Also, it's a plus that I'm drinking more water because of it.

SuperFeet Inserts

I can't believe it took me so long to buy proper inserts for my shoes. If you've read any of my previous posts, you'll know I have plantar fasciitis and without proper support in my shoes I'm not making it any easier on my feet. I'd previously ordered SuperFeet inserts for my hockey skates, but they have a special heel cup made for sports where you may be leaning forward. I needed to buy regular inserts that can fit into all of my shoes. I won't go anywhere without these now. I highly recommend them to anyone who has foot problems.

Korres Pomegranate Lip Balm

I'm pretty sure this has made it into multiple favorites posts from me, but there's a reason. It's so easy to apply, it smells pretty good, and the color is effortless and lasts quite a while for a balm. This is an every day product that sits on my desk because I always want it on hand. 

Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Honey

As we move into colder months, I've been trying to wear more lip products because I feel like summer is just my time to be free of complicated makeup application. Yes, to me, lip products are complicated. That being said, I love this color. It's a "my lips but better" shade and it has a pretty good staying power. The balm stains are not drying and last pretty well even through eating and drinking.

Pantene Hair BB Cream

I'd have to say this is my number one favorite out of anything I've chosen for this month. It's a miracle worker. It also smells amazing, like classic Pantene product smell. I try hard to not have to blow dry my hair every time I wash it, but sometimes a girl on the run needs to dry her hair quickly so it doesn't freeze when she walks outside. Unfortunately, when I do dry my hair, the front finer hairs get all frizzy. This product has solved that problem and my hair is shiny and soft all day long. Amazing. I love it.

Coconut Oil

Gotta love coconut oil. It's a triple threat! Makeup remover? Check. Moisturizer? Check. Serum? Check. Coconut oil is great for your skin and even has SPF properties. I wouldn't use it as a sunblock, but any bit can help. I use this morning and night as a moisturizer. And occasionally, I'll use it as a cleansing balm to remove eye and face makeup.

  

Twilight Woods Body Lotion from Bath and Body Works

I've used up two travel size Twilight Woods lotions this month. It takes me back to when I was reading the book Shiver by Maggie Steivater. I love the woodsy warm scent for fall.

Super Random Favorite:

Sriracha

What can I say? Who doesn't love Sriracha? I've been splashing it on everything recently. It's amazing and I don't think any pantry is complete without it.

Song

I haven't always been a Katy Perry fan, but her new album, Prism, just hit it out of the park for me. I absolutely love Roar. It's so empowering and fun. But my favorite is "This Moment." You can listen to it right here!

September Favorites 2013

September brought the official end to summer and the air has a crispness to it that can only mean fall is here. I can't believe it's already October because it seems like just yesterday I was starting classes and moving back into my apartment. Time always just flies by me, but I'm ok with that because if it moves quickly this semester, the sooner I'll be in Paris! Anyway, enough rambling. Here are my September Favorites.

Almay Color + Care Liquid Lip Balm - This stuff is amazing. I've posted about these balms recently and did a full review, but they needed a spotlight in my favorites post this month. They're creamy and smell like cotton candy and they provide moisture along with a hint of shine.

Revlon Raspberry Pie Lip Butter - I'm not usually one for dramatic lips, but I love Raspberry Pie for fall. I think this will be a staple for me in the coming months. In my Autumn Tag post, this was deemed my favorite fall lip color.

Pureology Sea Kissed Highlight Stylist Spray - I'm a big fan of salt sprays because of my lifeless flat hair so I find great pleasure in testing out new sprays. I'll always love my Catwalk by TIGI Beach Spray, but sometimes you need to branch out! This does wonders for my hair, and although my hair is not color treated, I think the highlights I developed over the summer will appreciate the more moisturizing salt spray rather than the grittier TIGI Beach Spray.

Philosophy Falling in Love Perfume - I didn't wear this fragrance too much over the summer, but the moment I pulled out my fall scarves I smelled this perfume left over from winter and spring. I immediately pulled it out and began wearing it daily. It smells like vanilla and berries and I love it.

Benefit Brow Zings - All summer I left my brows natural and didn't fill them in. I feel like summer is a time to let go of beauty regimes and just enjoy the weather and the sun. Once school started up I felt like my face was missing something. That something was brows! I have very light brows that are almost unnoticable without the Benefit Brow Zings. The colors in the duo are perfect and I switch off between using the brow wax and using solely the powder. Both are great and it really pulls together any look.

Bath and Body Works Sweet Clementine Hand Cream - This smells incredibly fresh and I love citrus scents for early fall when I'm not quite ready for pumpkin scents.

Blueberry Pumpkin Candle - Although, when I am looking for a pumpkin scent, this is it. A combination of my two favorite scents is heavenly. Just go smell it. Believe me it is amazing.

Almay Intense I-Color Eyeliner in Brown Topaz - I've had this eyeliner for so long, but it never gets old. I'm an eyeliner hoarder, so in my makeup collection eyeliners often get neglected and forgotten. Not this guy. The brown coppery shade has a beautiful shimmer to it and compliments my blue eyes.

Bare Minerals Round the Clock Waterproof Eyeliner in 5PM (Plum) - I recently purchased this dark purple eyeliner because I'd run out of my favorite CoverGirl purple shade. This matte waterproof liner is smudge resistant and is a nice departure from normal black and brown shades. I like the smooth application and the staying power.

From top to bottom: Almay Color + Care Liquid Lip Balm in Nudetrients, Almay Color + Care Liquid Lip Balm in Cantaloupe, Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie, Bare Minerals Round the Clock Waterproof Eyeliner in 5PM, Almay Intense I-Color Eyeliner in Brown Topaz

What are your September Favorites?

August Favorites 2013

August flew by in a rush of hurling, packing, and finishing my summer bucket list. Although I didn't get to check every item off the list I had the best summer with all of my favorite people. It's too bad I'm back at school now, but that means more time for blogging which I really have been ignoring too much these past few months. 

I didn't wear a ton of makeup in August, and I didn't try many new things I loved, so this month is pretty minimalistic. I just couldn't let these products miss their moment in the spotlight because I didn't have enough makeup!

Unfortunately, this month my beautiful West Elm cosmetic bag started to deteriorate from over-love. I used it for probably three years now and it was just getting too old to pack full of stuff every day. I decided to come up with a new storage system for my makeup which I'll share in a post very soon. For my everyday essentials I have been using this Vera Bradley cosmetic pouch. It's in a super fun print, although I don't know the name. I love it and it is the perfect size for my everyday makeup so I'm not lugging around fifty pounds of unused makeup whenever I need to go places.

I saw this Jonathan Adler White Whale Pencil Sharpener while wandering about Barnes and Noble and couldn't leave him there in the store. I've had an ongoing whale joke with Connor for years now and it's become sort of our little thing. We always send pictures if we see whale knick knacks or clothing. He even got me a card that said, "I whaley love you." How cute is that? So, that's where the whale obsession comes from. I don't even use pencils that I'd need to sharpen, but it's an adorable desk ornament and it makes me smile whenever I look at him. I just need to think of a name now.

Near the beginning of summer I purchased the Rio Glow Candle from Bath and Body Works and didn't burn it until August! I love the beachy scent. Since I'm horrid at describing scents I'll quote the bottom of the candle, "A tantalizing blend of mango, papaya, and guava as vibrant as Rio's Carnival! Samba till sunrise!" I love this and the candle will help me to handle the end of summer as the weather starts to cool down up here in Minnesota. I'd rather not rush to buy fall candles because it only makes the fleeting summer that much more depressing.

I received Carol's Daughter Monoi Repairing Split End Sealer in an Ipsy box awhile back and never really used it, but recently my hair has been kind of frizzy after blow drying (my ends need a trim). So this sealer helps to calm the frizz and smooths my hair back to normal. It's got a nice subtle scent and works wonders.

Another hair product I've been loving is the Umberto Blow Dry Lotion. I've also had this for a really long time, but was never sure if it did the job. I picked it up this month and don't know why I ever thought that. This product speeds up drying time, calms frizz, and gives sleek shine without weighing down my not-so-thick-and-voluminous hair. I highly recommend this product and would probably call it my super star of the month.

I had a coupon from Victoria's Secret to get a full size body spray for free so I obviously couldn't pass up that opportunity! I swiped up the Mango Temptation scent with the help of Connor, who just so happens to also love mango. He's not so helpful with much beauty stuff, but he does have a nose and an opinion to go with it. I love this scent and it's just a big bonus I got it for free!

What have you been loving?

July Favorites 2013

July is my favorite month of the entire year so writing about how it is the end of the month makes me extremely sad! I don't want summer to be over, but it's flying by me and I have so many things to do before I go back to school. I can't get too upset though because my best friend, Meghan,  who I haven't seen in months, comes home from Germany today! Without further ado, here are my July favorites!

Essie Topless and Barefoot: I have been absolutely loving this shade on my nails this month. For some reason I've let it sit in my nail polish collection untouched all summer long. Fortunately I've picked it up and rekindled our love with just enough summer left to enjoy it. I think when I tried this before it was in the dead of winter and I didn't like the stark contrast between ghostly pale white and the nude nail polish. But, now I've got what I call a "summer glow" (if you know me, that's a joke) and I think it is my perfect nude shade.

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee in Poppy Paradise: I posted a haul with this blush and mentioned that I'd come back to post about how I was liking it. I obviously have not gotten around to a full review, but since this is a favorites post I think that says a lot about the product since it is included in here! Beautiful natural color that stays pretty much all day long.

Revlon Lash Potion Mascara: I'm not one to venture out to try new mascaras, but the packaging on this one got me. I love the formula and it doesn't clump. Not much else to say! It's great!

Psssst Dry Shampoo: I'm a dry shampoo fanatic lately because who has time to wash their hair in the summertime? Not me! I ran out of my Batiste Dry Shampoo and grabbed this at Walgreens. I'm in love. It's like every new dry shampoo I try is my new favorite. Maybe I'm on to something...

Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel: This is my everyday cleanser and it's basically an everyday all the time favorite so I felt like it needed a mention. This is a gentle cleanser that has never given me breakouts and I love the scent of herbs and freshness. This product was feeling left out of my blog so I needed to add it because I love it so much.

Caress Passionate Spell Body Wash: I ran out of this body wash in July and now I need to repurchase it because I love it that much. It's amazing. I suck at describing smells. Just go buy it. It's amazing.

What are your July favorites?

June Favorites 2013

So another month of summer has passed us by and it's time for my monthly favorites! I absolutely love reading favorites posts so I hope some of you enjoy reading them. It's always nice to know about new products out there, or old products that have become new favorites. Without further ado, my June 2013 favorites:

Blue Diamond Almonds - Blueberry (or Cinnamon!) - These are seriously scrumptious. I discovered them on an endcap at Target while roaming the food aisles and don't know why they're not featured in a stand all on their own. They're sweet and crunchy with the best blueberry taste which comes from real blueberry juice, not just some chemical flavoring. The cinnamon flavor is also amazing. I'm sure if you were to toast them in the oven for just a moment your whole house would smell like a summer festival where they sell the cinnamon nuts. YUM.

Essie's Sunday Funday - This nail polish was recently featured in my Cara Box Exchange post because my lovely new blog friend Samantha sent it to me. It's the perfect summer shade and I've already repainted my nails with this color about 8 times.

One Love Organics Morning Glory Serum - Although the scent of this is somewhat herbal and earthy smelling, the results I've experienced are quite impressive. It's a brightening serum/toner and I love how I feel refreshed after applying it. I don't have the full size because I bought a sample pack of the entire skincare regimen and will probably end up buying it once I finish the sample.

Nike SB Stefan Janoski Shoes - I purchased these in June because I work retail and have long hours of standing and walking to put clothes away. So I must say thank you to the kind girl at Zumiez who helped me find the right shoe with her smart suggestions. Retail girls have to stick together. But seriously, these are probably the most comfortable shoes I own aside from my Birkenstocks which I can't wear to work.

L'Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner - Smoothest, creamiest, longest lasting eyeliner ever. 'Nuff said.

Batiste Cool and Crisp Fresh Dry Shampoo - One question. Why did I not discover dry shampoo years ago? This would have made high school a breeze! Anyway, I've heard YouTube beauty gurus and beauty bloggers all over the world rave about Batiste dry shampoos so I jumped on the band wagon to see what it was all about. I'm in love. A lot of dry shampoos have a weird aerosol can scent that isn't what I want my hair to smell like, but Batiste dry shampoos have fun scents and the product itself does the job well.

What were your June favorites?

May Favorites 2013

I was extremely busy during the month of May with studying for finals, moving out of my apartment, starting hurling, and traveling a ton! So the things that ended up being my favorites were things that are my essentials!

The Korres Lip Butter in Pomegranate was constantly in my pocket and on my lips. I love how easy it is to swipe on my lips without looking in a mirror and *bonus* it's a great everyday pink shade!

I received the Osis Dust It hair powder in the Spring VoxBox from Influenster and was skeptical at first. I didn't like the way it made my hair feel and I thought it had a strange smell. Regardless of these first hesitations, I ended up using it every day in May. That is just testament to the fact that this product really works and I hope I don't run out any time soon!

The Wet n Wild ColorIcon Bronzer in Reserve Your Cabana doesn't quite look like a bronzer, so I've been using it as a highlighter. You'd think with how fair my skin is I'd be able to use this bronzer correctly, but I love it as a highlighter. It is just an easy glow for a lovely summer day.

Pantene Aqua Light shampoo has been my recent shampoo obsession. Who knew that the tried and true Pantene could still impress me? It doesn't weigh down my hair, and I love the pleasant scent. This shampoo leaves my hair voluminous and ready for styling.

I can honestly say I used the Pink Vibrant and Beachy body splash every single day in May. I carried it with me back and forth from Minnesota to Wisconsin while traveling between home and school and I couldn't leave it out of my May favorites.

This cute little notebook I purchased from Target last summer has become my Fitness Journal. I've been recording my daily workouts so I can track my progress and training. I grew accustomed to recording my workouts during the half-marathon training and thought it would help me to stay on a schedule. Up until last October I played hockey like a mad woman on a very structured schedule. If I schedule my workouts I will make time for it. This is one of my top fitness tips to anyone who is looking to start a fitness program or trying to get back in shape.

Last, but certainly not least, is the Baby Lips from Maybelline in Quenched. This is just the plain scented lip balm and I use it on a daily basis. I've mentioned the Neutrogena Hand Cream in previous posts as my all time favorite lip balm, but while I was traveling it was easier to carry a lip balm in my pocket than a bottle of hand cream. I highly recommend this lip balm.

My favorite song of the month was definitely "Mexico" by Dave Moisan. I'm pretty sure I played it over a zillion times already.

Can't wait for what products June will bring me!

April Favorites 2013

Well I'm going to sound like such a girl right now and say that this month went by so quickly. I'm not joking. It feels like just yesterday I was on my way back home for the half-marathon that took place the first weekend in April! Here in Minnesota it didn't start feeling like April until last Friday, so I am very happy that spring has decided to come out of hiding! Here are a few things I've been loving the past month!

I talked about the Pink Fresh and Clean body spray in my collection post, but the lotion is equally as amazing. I love that when you pair fragrances with the matching lotion the staying power is tripled! This is a great lotion and I've used it for years. I only recently started using it again as a daily lotion and I'm so happy I did!

If you've already read my post raving about the Neutrogena Hand Cream then it wont be a surprise to you that it is showing up in my favorites! I love that this is a multi-use cream and it is the best chapstick replacement ever. I don't think I'll ever buy chapstick again.

I bought this Boots Expert Sensitive Gentle Refreshing Toner awhile back because I had forgotten my Bioderma at my house in Wisconsin and needed something gentle to take off makeup and refresh my skin. I definitely believe this is a dupe for Bioderma and if you've ever purchased Bioderma in the states you'll appreciate the $4.00 price tag on the Boots version. I still love my Bioderma as a number one product, but since it's so expensive I've been happy using this as a substitute.

In my Bursting with Blushes post I mentioned the Revlon PhotoReady Coral Reef Blush and ever since that post I have been wearing this blush everyday. I'm so glad I found a coral/orangey blush I can pull off.

This Revlon Fearless nail polish is a perfect bright spring red. I don't usually go for reds in spring time, but I wore this for a week and a half and almost wanted to repaint my nails the same color because I loved it that much. I paired it with my new Essie Strength base coat and was very impressed with how long it lasted.

The Essie Fiji nail polish is the perfect baby girl pink. I think of a baby shower when I wear it because it is so creamy and cute. It does need two coats to be opaque, but I don't mind an extra coat for a perfect pink.

I've had the L'Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner in Brown for a long time and it lasts forever! I love that it is a creamy eyeliner that just glides right on. It doesn't drag my eye and you can smudge it easily to get that "smokey" eyeliner look. I've been wearing it only on my bottom lash line to create a darker look

Now for some Non-Beauty favorites of the month:

For the first part of April there was still snow on the ground here in Minnesota, but once the sun came out I finally got to test out my new Birkenstocks in the style Gizeh. I purchased them because of my plantar fasciitis and they have been amazing. I will be living in these shoes this summer. I won't need anything else. Ever.

My favorite song of the month has been "I Do Adore" by Mindy Gledhill. I love the ukulele and the happy upbeat lyrics. It feels like summer and I love to belt it out when I'm in the shower.

What are some of your favorites from this month?