Summer Essentials

Now that summer is finally here, it is time to take out those "must-have" products that will help us survive these next hot months.

I have five summer essentials that I always use. Whether I'm at home, at work, or on vacation, these five products keep me looking good during summer months.

Numero uno is sunscreen. I am ghostly pale, which means I turn into a lobster in the summer. Sunscreen keeps me from turning red, but also allows me to develop a natural tan. The one I have been loving lately is the Hawaiian tropic sunscreen. This stuff is on point! First off, it's in a spray bottle (need I say more?) and it has a wonderful scent that isn't too sunscreeny (if that is even a word). Two thumbs up from the Irish girl!

Along with sunscreen for the body, you need sunscreen for your lips! I can't tell you how many times I've neglected protecting my lips from the sun and then immediately regretted it. My favorite of the moment is the Coola LipLux in SPF 30. This stuff is crazy good. This product is 70% certified organic, hypoallergenic, UVA/UVB protection, filled with vitamins and antioxidants, water resistant and has no nano-sized particles. All of that means that this product is the bomb.com and you need it in your life ASAP.

My third necessity is deodorant. No one wants to be walking around during the summer smelling like a hot (literally) mess. The Secret Clinical Strength deodorant has worked wonders for me. This is the stress induced kind. It keeps me smelling delightful even during the hottest (or most stressful) situations.

This next product is an all year round, travel, holy grail product of mine. The Caudalie beauty elixir has a cult following and rightfully so. One spritz sends you to a spa-like haven. It's incredibly relaxing and soothing for those stressful days. It is also refreshing and awakening, which is great for the hot summer months when you need a little pick-me-up in the middle of the day. I use this before I put my makeup on just to add more moisture to my skin. I also bring this while traveling. It calms me down and gets me into "vacation-mode" that much faster!

Lastly, moisturizing is important all year round, but especially during those extreme weather months! Whether is summer or winter no one wants to go walking around with dry, flaky legs. My go-to moisturizer for the summer has been the Vaseline Spray and Go moisturizer. This stuff seriously works. It dries so fast, while at the same time keeping me super moisturized! Which is perfect for summer, because walking around sticky from lotion is not my idea of fun.


These next favorites are on my wish list! Check them out and let me know what you think. Also, what are your go-to, must-have, summer essentials! I'd love to know and even expand my collection!

*Wish List*
Sun hat, this one from J. Crew is divine!
Cute sandals, these gold ones from Jack Rogers are perfect with a nice summer glow!
Sunglasses, you can never go wrong with a classic Ray Ban, especially in tortoise.

xo
Sara Leslie

Friday Favorites

The lack of posts recently is due to the fact that I am testing out some new products! A few of which will be spoken about in today's post!

I think the idea of Friday Favorites is fantastic. It allows me to show all of you the things I have been loving lately! That way, you can test them out and determine for yourself or think about some of your own summer standbys. 

The first favorite of mine is, O.P.I in strawberry margarita. It is my go-to summer polish. It's bright but still wearable for all events (including work).

Next is the Body Shop body butter in satsuma. This scent is heavenly! If you love citrus, you'll love this body butter. It leaves you moisturized all day long as well as smelling delicious.

My third favorite is recent, as in two days ago. This world market mug is gorgeous! I love the summery color scheme. The intricate detail on the mug also helps its appeal as well. I use it for tea, but you could use it for anything! Even as a mini vase OR a holder for pens or make-up brushes!

My fourth favorite is the Rimmel match perfection concealer in fair 125. If you remember I used this in my summer bronzed make-up tutorial recently. I am still loving it! It has replaced all of my other concealers. It is creamy and very blendable. Plus it is so fast to use, perfect for those "no make-up" make-up days.

My last favorite this week is the Flower cosmetics lotus flower shine on lipgloss. I can't say enough good things about this gloss. I would definitely say this is my go-to "my lips but better" product. It is long wearing, the color is perfect for those no-fuss days and it goes with every look. And to think, it is a drugstore lipgloss! 

What are your summer favorites, i'd love to know! I'm always on the hunt to try something new!

Have a fantastic weekend!
xo
Sara Leslie

Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream review

For my first product review, I thought it would be nice to start with a face product that has been really hot this season - BB creams. BB creams have been around for a while. I have used ones from L'Oreal, Garnier, and the Dream Fresh BB Cream from Maybelline.

BB creams are great, because they give you the coverage of a foundation without feeling caky and heavy. They also create a dewy finish, which is perfect for summer!

This new BB cream from Maybelline; however, has an ingredient that most do not: salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is used to help prevent and diminish the appearance of acne.

According to Maybelline's website: The Dream Pure BB Cream is their first blemish fighting BB cream that helps to clear skin with 8 great skin benefits! It has 2% salicylic acid and it is geared towards those with combination and/or blemish-prone skin.

They claim this product will: clear acne, conceal imperfections, minimize the look of pores, reduce the appearance of redness, adjust to skin tone, hydrate and smooth the skin, enhance and clarify the skin, and is oil-free, with a lightweight feel.

I have used this product for about two weeks now, in the shade light, and I can definitely say that accomplished 6 out of the 8 claims listed.

I purchased this product because I was breaking out excessively and a lot of my foundations were only making the acne worse, so I decided to look for something that would actually help the acne. This product definitely fit that category. After the second time using this product, my acne was cleared! I was shocked!

Although it does help with the breakouts; it is very lightweight and it has light coverage, which means that it does not conceal very well, unless you build it up. You also should use a primer to help with the pores, because even though it does adjust to your skin tone and smooth things out, throughout the day your pores will become more noticeable; however, a primer helps with that.

I had high hopes for this product and it exceeded all of my hopes and expectations. This BB cream is the perfect summer-time make-up essential. It is light enough to wear when you want something quick and easy, but also can be layered to the point where it is a full coverage BB cream that could be on a summer night out.

Everyone will be asking you about your radiant skin and dewy glow, I can assure you!

xo
Sara Leslie

Summer Night Out

Since it is the first day of June, I thought it was appropriate to create a summery bronzed glowing look for last Friday when I went out. It is a very easy look to recreate and will definitely last through out the summer night!

*Disclaimer* The picture quality is not that good, I am still learning and adapting, so please be patient with me :)

OK, here we go!

Bronzed Summer Glow

Step one: Eyes

1. I started off by priming my eyes with the L'oreal magic decrease eye primer.
2. I then used a combination of the Naked Basics palette and the Naked palette.
    -Naked Basics
      -Foxy all over the lid and up to the brow bone, as a highlight.
    -Naked Palette
      -Naked in the crease
      -Halfbaked all over the lid, and also in the inner corner of the eye and on the lower lash line. Then I blended the shadow into naked like a crazy woman.
      -Smog in the outer "v" of the eye, and blend.
      -Finally, Darkhorse in the very outer corner for some depth and to create some dimension. I also cut-crease with this color as well to open up my eye a little more.
3. After blending the heck out of the eye shadows, I used the Jordana 12 hour made to last black eyeliner on the tightline and the waterline and smudged the eyeliner in with halfbaked on the lower lash-line.
4. I then curled my lashes using the Revlon eyelash curler and used one coat of the Covergirl clump crusher mascara in very black. I also placed this on my lower lashes as well.
5. I decided to go all out for that night, so I used fake lashes (if I don't use lashes then I normally use the Diorshow max eyelash primer--As shown in the picture above). The lashes I used were the Ardell Natural Demi lashes in 120 with the Duo glue in clear. Personally, I think these are perfect for a night out, they are a statement but still wearable.
6. Lastly, I wanted to cover the glue (a little of it was peeking out) so I used the Jordana fabuliner in black. I created a very thin band that went from the inner corner to the outer corner of my eye.

Step two: Face

1. For the face, I wanted to go fresh and dewy, but first I moisturized my lips with the Nivea lip butter in the vanilla macadamia nut scent. Then I used the Porefessional primer by Benefit on my T-zone and lightly on the rest of my face. This really helps with my oily skin and the lasting power of my makeup base.
2. I then used the NEW Maybelline Pure Dream BB cream. This stuff is perfect for summer! This product has salicylic acid in it to help with acne *A product review will be up this coming week!*
3. I then used the Instant Age Rewind concealer from Maybelline in the shade light for under my eyes and for any blemishes that were visible.
4. After that, I used a cream highlighter from Rimmel called the Magic Perfection. Guys, this stuff is spectacular! I am in the shade 125 light. I put this in a "v" under my eyes, on my chin, cupids bow, bridge of the nose, and a little on the forehead. It really gives a natural glow and just lightens up the face a touch.
5. To stick with the cream products, I used the NYX cream blush in Glow. A little goes a long way with this product, so be light handed! It really does give a gorgeous dewy glow to the face, though.
6. I then set everything with the Coty Airspun powder in translucent.
7. To create a longer lasting look, I set my blush with the Tarte 12 hour Amazonian Clay blush in frisky.
8. I then lightly contoured using the Rimmel Natural Bronzer in 021 Sun Light. I did this by focusing on the hollows of my cheeks, my temples of the forehead, on the sides of my nose, and along my jaw line down to my neck.
9. And If I didn't have enough of a glow already, I used the MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle on the tops of my cheekbones into a "c" above my brow bone, then down the bridge of my nose, on my cupids bow, and a little on my chin.
10. For my brows, I used the Milani Brow Fix and just filled them in, nothing too extreme here. I'm still in the beginning stages of the "bold brows" trend.
11. Finally, the lips. I didn't wanted to do anything bold, because the eyes were enough, so I opted for the L'oreal Color Riche Balm in caring coral.

This will definitely be my go-to summer look this year. Hope you all enjoyed my first make-up look! I look forward to more!

xo
Sara Leslie

The Return

And so I'm back.

It has been a hot minute since I have written a blog post.

The hiatus has been good to me. I finished my undergraduate degree and am now currently in a masters program with one year left.

Although, during that time I have to admit I did miss blogging. That time also created a passion for the use of beauty products and the techniques that follow. I have also begun to do freelance work for friends and others for special occasions. 

All of that has lead to the return of a new and improved blog. One that will focus on things I love, such as: beauty, health, baking, and life: the good and the bad.

I hope as the years progress so will my blog and the audience that follows it.

So here's a HUGE thank you to all my readers in advance!

Let the fun begin!
xo