Beauty

I'm a creature of habit. I find a product that I like and I stick with it through thick and thin, so for me to switch cleansers is a pretty big deal. But after trying Eve Lom Cleanser, I'm hooked.

I have combination skin but since using Retin-A my face tends to be more on the drier side, especially in the winter. After just a few nights of using Eve Lom Cleanser I can already see a difference in my skin. It's more hydrated, brighter, and just feels cleaner. I will say that the process is a bit time consuming, but totally worth it. You take just a drop of the cleansing balm and rub it all over your dry face. It literally melts your makeup off your skin! Then, you take the muslin cloth that comes with the cleanser, soak it in hot water, and then hold it on your skin for a few seconds. Repeat this step about three times and all your makeup, even your waterproof mascara, will be gone!

I only use it at night and still use my Clarisonic and Cerave Cleanser in the morning, and have honestly seen the biggest difference. And did I mention Vogue magazine named it the #1 cleanser in the world? With that said, it's may not be great for those with super sensitive skin because some of the ingredients could irritate your skin. But just like everything else, the only way you'll know is by trying it and I'm definitely glad I did!

By now you may have heard of the legendary Mason Pearson hairbrush and wondered, "Who in the WORLD would pay that much for a brush??" Well let me tell you.. it's worth EVERY penny. This is one of the very few items that actually live up to its hype.

If you only have one hair brush this should be it. Seriously. My dad (men love it too!) had one growing up and I'd always sneak in his bathroom and steal it. Needless to say, the day I moved out it "accidentally" ended up in one of my boxes and I've used it everyday since (I finally bought him a replacement last year for Christmas). If the fact that I've had my Mason Pearson brush for 15+ years doesn't tell you something, I don't know what will.

One of the things I love about it most is that it lets me go longer in between washing my hair. It redistributes the oil from your scalp through the shaft of your hair, making your roots less greasy and your ends more moisturized. If you like to blow dry your hair straight, I swear this will cut your work in half!

I know it's crazy expensive, but you'll have it for a lifetime. Ever since Ricki was little she called it the "no-ouch brush" since it's the only one that detangles without her running out of the room in tears. (*Sidenote- is there a kids game I don't know about that involves seeing who can get the most tangles in their hair? My kid has to win, for sure.) With all that said, if you're not ready to make the commitment, try the smaller pocket brush and see how you like it. I guarantee you'll be going back for the full size!

This title is a bit misleading, so I apologize to any of you who came here today expecting to hear about some crazy summer vacation I went on. It's actually about my favorite eyeshadow called "Nude Beach" from Bare Minerals which can be just as exciting. Ok, thats a stretch.. but it is really pretty!

Every time I do my eye makeup I start with this shadow as the base because it gives you sparkle without being glittery, if that makes any sense. During the day when I want a more natural look I'll wear this by itself and still get a beautiful sandy sparkle that brightens up my whole face. If you're looking for just a pop of color, you can wet your brush and apply a little to the inner corners. I suggest you use a primer, like Benefit Stay Don't Stray because it's a loose powder. Unlike many other eyeshadows I've tried, this one will last you all day!

What's your favorite eye shadow I need to try? Leave it in the comments!

DISCLAIMER:I know you all get upset when I post about expensive products and I hate to say it, but you're really going to hate me today. But seriously, I wouldn't recommend it if I didn't absolutely LOVE it and I try to post less expensive options when I can. So, I'm sorry to you and your bank accounts. Mine already hates me.

I think we can all agree that we hate drying our hair, right? Not only does it take me forever but it's never as pretty as when when they do it at the salon. However, my hair is stick straight and when I let it dry naturally it's a stringy mess. If you can relate to any of this, you need to try Oribe Royal Blowout Heat Spray. They sell it where I get my hair done and because I'm a product junkie I couldn't leave without having a bag of stuff that will sit under my sink until it expires. As you all know, I already fell in love with the Oribe Dry Spray because it's one of the few products that doesn't make my hair greasy and flat. My hairstylist showed me how to apply Royal Blowout and I've been using it religiously ever since. It cuts my hair dryer time in half and I swear my hair has never felt softer when I do it myself. I let my hair air dry as much as I can and then section it out, starting at the bottom. I spray one or two sprays of Royal Blowout per section, making sure I only apply it to the ends. If this makes my straight hair shinier and straighter, I can only imagine what it would do it to curly or wavy hair. It's also great for summer time because it helps tame frizzy flyaways! And I know it's crazy expensive, but you just use the tiniest bit so a bottle lasts you forever!

What's your favorite heat protectant spray?

Does anyone else remember being bored to tears during class and then deciding it would be a good idea to paint your nails with white-out? I don't know about yours, but mine never turned out quite like I had imagined in my head.

Who knew that one day the same girl that would paint her nails with white-out would go to a nail salon and actually pay money for someone else to do it? I went to Polished in South Park this week and got Essie "Blanc" on my nails with OPI Which is Witch on my ring fingers. I think it turned out pretty cute! What do you all think of the white nail polish trend?

There's no denying I'm a love all things summer and I'm definitely a warm weather girl, but the heat in Charlotte right now is next level. I'm trying to remind myself of all of those freezing cold mornings that I couldn't feel my fingers but it's becoming more challenging as it keeps getting hotter and hotter.

One of my biggest beauty challenges during the summer is trying to keep my face from being shiny but not layering on a ton of makeup. I could easily keep a powder in my pocketbook and touch up throughout the day, but by the time I look in the mirror my skin looks like a cakey mess. I've tried a lot of different products that I can take on the go and my favorite is the Mally Poreless Face Defender. The best way to describe it is if your powder and primer had a baby. I keep it in my pocketbook and if I'm starting to get shiny I just pat a little on my face with the sponge after I blot with a blotting paper. Any shine is gone without leaving behind the matte, ashy look of powder and it diffuses any fine lines I may have which is always a plus in my book!

Have any of you tried Mally Face Defender yet? What's your secret weapon for looking fresh despite the heat?

I bet you'd never guess that I used to be an extreme nail biter. Until one time I was in Hawaii and decided to get a manicure at the hotel we were staying at. Little did I know it would cost me an arm and a leg, so I vowed to make it last for as long as I could. Which surprisingly ended up with me no longer biting my nails ever since! So I always keep nail polish on my nails because subconsciously I feel like it will keep my from biting them!  Read More  >

Maybe it's the Southerner in me, but blush is my "instant pretty" and I have been known to go a little overboard with it from time to time. I've learned that less is more, especially if you have the right color for your skin tone.  Read More  >

As a girl who carries half of her life in her pocketbook, I can honestly say that I very rarely buy the same product twice unless I truly love it, especially when it comes to an easy, everyday lip color. Either it's too bright, too sticky, too hard to apply.. the list goes on and on. But lip color that I've re-bought more times than I can count is a color that promises to look good on everyone, so why in the world would I keep it to myself?  Read More  >

I don't know about you, but when I put my makeup on in the morning I expect it to last for the majority of the day. I don't think thats too much to ask. However, especially in the summer, I'll look in the mirror halfway through the day and its like I didn't even put any on. I've tried every kind of setting powder, spray, primer there is and haven't been all that impressed. I wish there was a way to Shellac your face like you can your nails. Kind of gross, but also kind of awesome. Could you imagine only having to do your makeup once a week??  Read More  >