June 2015 makeup favorites reminded me why I love shopping for cosmetics so much. It took me back to a time before Google, YouTube and online reviews. A time where I would go to the drugstore with my mom, we would simply pick out products based on the packaging claims; bring them home hoping to find a diamond in the rough.
(Clockwise, top L to R: Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover, Sally Hansen Triple Shine Nail Color, Peach Party, L’Oreal Paris Cosmetics Voluminous Miss Manga Rock Waterproof Mascara, First Aid Beauty Eye Duty Triple Remedy, Too Faced – Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder)
Sally Hansen Cuticle Remover // Recently, I had been noticing my nail cuticles looking pretty gnarly and I kept feeling like I needed a professional manicure constantly. Even the nail technicians were saying lovely comments such as, “Wow, you have a lot of cuticle! Maybe you should come weekly just to trim them?” Um, ain’t nobody got time for that. I started doing some research and I learned that my cuticles may have been acting up due to all the pure acetone nail polish remover I love. It’s just too strong and was drying out my nails and cuticles. Additionally, I started to understand the damage of cutting/trimming the cuticle. Yes, it looks great when you leave the manicurist’s chair, but over time it just grows back in an unhealthy way. I decided to start DIYing my own manis – slathering my nails in cuticle oil multiple times a day, nixed the acetone polish remover and picked up this handy Sally Hansen cuticle remover to push back the overgrown monster cuticles and put them back where they belong. This stuff is amazing! I’ve tried cuticle removers before and just felt like they were slimy grossness that really did nothing. This product truly lifts the cuticle skin and makes it super easy to push back or trim stragglers. It also helps clean up the nail bed and enhance your polish application.
Sally Hansen Triple Shine 125 Peach Party // Along with this newfound nail education, I cleaned out my polish stash and realized I am severely lacking variety. I seem to love shades of pink, nude and blue but could use some color in my life. Luckily, I found this little bottle of summer joy on sale at CVS for $2.49! Maybe it was on clearance. It’s just the prettiest shade of milky, opaque pure peach and is super flattering on my skin tone. I also love those wider brushes for ease of application. You can never go wrong with any of Sally Hansen’s products, in my opinion.
L’Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga Rock Waterproof // OK. This is major. Major announcement here. I have been on the deep hunt for a mascara that does not smudge below my brows in the heat and humidity of Texas for over a year now. I have tried everything from Chanel, Dior, Blinc, Maybelline, CoverGirl, Revlon, other L’oreal formulas… you name it, I have tried it. I just thought it was time to succumb to lash extensions because nothing was holding up. On a whim, I was at Walmart picking up a few random mascaras I hadn’t tried before but didn’t have much hope. I cracked this baby open on a day where I spent almost three hours waiting outside in Texas June heat for BBQ (don’t ask), and then went to the boardwalk and got completely soaked riding a speedboat in the bay at 40+ MPH. This mascara delivered. It’s dramatic – volumizing and lengthening, so be warned. But if you need something to get you through beach or pool days (or just daily life like me), get this right now. It’s the first mascara in my LIFE that I have purchased back ups of (in case of the apocalypse).
First Aid Beauty Eye Duty Triple Remedy // The joys of turning 30 are a short month away for me, and with that comes the need for MOARRRR MOISTURE. I have been a faithful user of nighttime eye creams since I turned 25, but never felt a need for a daytime one until lately. I do use Retin A, but never used it around my eyes. My facialist told me that as long as I mixed it thoroughly with my standard nighttime moisturizer, Retin A can actually help soften any fine lines and prevent future wrinkles. However; it would take a few weeks to get over that dry, flaking stage that Retin A always makes one go through (yuck). To help combat the dryness, I found that this lightweight, brightening eye cream does the job perfectly. It’s not too pricey and it has a light salmon tone which counteracts darkness and allows me to use less concealer under my delightful dark circles. It’s not makeup, so don’t expect miracles, but it’s doing its job.
TooFaced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer // This bronzer has made a favorites appearance before, and I’m certain will in the future. It’s just SO GOOD. I tried to stray and tried out something else in it’s place, but just had to go back to this. It’s not too dark, not too light, not too orange and not too cool/ashy. And it smells like real chocolate. If you’re a girl with a more warm/golden complexion, ashy/cool toned bronzers/contour powders do not work for us. It just looks dirty/dead. We need that warmth because that’s the shade our skin turns when we truly are sunkissed or tan. Don’t get me wrong, I still lurvvvv my Mac Refined Golden from last favorites, but I love the TooFaced for a more natural bronze. You can’t go wrong with either.
I hope you found this helpful and maybe can try out some new things based on my recommendations. I love hearing from my friends and followers about products I have tried that you also have loved – so definitely keep me posted if you have luck, too! Even better, let me know if you’ve tried something recently that you’re loving. If you know me, you know how much I can’t resist researching and trying new things 🙂
Happy 4th of July to my U.S.A. loves!
-Steffanie
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