I’ve done some ‘favorites’ posts in the past, but not quite like this. I’m going be doing two posts each month (usually earlier in the month), one that covers Beauty/Fashion and a separate post for Home/Food/Fitness/Books, etc. This is not a sponsored post, I purchased everything with my own money. I simply love reading and watching these types of posts/videos because I always learn about new things, and I wanted to share some of my favorite items with you guys. If this type of post is not your cup of tea…no prob…the next post is not beauty related. I have some Decor/DIY posts that will be up soon.
I want to hear about your favorites too. So if you have a favorites post, or any items you recommend, leave them in the comment section!
Makeup Favorites
Kiehl’s Scented Lip Balm – Mango
I’m a lip balm kind of girl. I don’t wear lipstick very often because it makes me feel very made up…it’s just not a comfortable feeling for me. But I ALWAYS have lip balm on and I love Kiehl’s #1 balm. It’s moisturizing, with just enough shine to work for me as a gloss. Mango is my favorite so far, but I’ve also enjoyed the Cranberry scent. I hear they have Coconut and Pear…can’t wait to try those. They run $9 a tube, but lately I’ve been able to buy them on sale at Nordstrom’s Rack.
L’Oreal Infalliable Gel Lacquer Liner 24 Hour
Since I don’t wear lipstick, I always put the focus on my eye makeup. By far my favorite style is lightly winged eyeliner, and I can’t get the cleanest line using a pencil. I also prefer to use a brush, so I tend to avoid the pen style liquid liners. In the past I was using the Smashbox cream liner, but I have a new favorite (for so much cheaper!). I picked up the L’Oreal Gel Lacquer Liner at Target a few weeks back and have since picked up 2 other colors. It’s incredibly easy to apply and lasts all day on me. I don’t know about 24 hours, but 12 hours have been no problem. I also love that it’s easy to remove with regular eye makeup remover. I have Espresso, Dark Slate, and Navy…and each package comes with it’s own little brush! They run about $9, but they often go Buy One, Get one 50% off at Walgreen, CVS, and even ULTA.
Elf Studio Endless Mini Eye Shadow Palette
I’m such a chicken when it comes to wearing colored eye shadows. I usually stick with my basic browns with maybe a grey thrown in from time to time. But I’m trying to step outside my comfort zone a bit, so I picked up this ELF palette at Target last month. It only cost $6, and has 32 different colors. I haven’t been brave enough to try those bright purples, but I’ve played around with the greens, pinks, and blues. The colors are pretty sheer so they are easy for me to use without feeling too crazy. Surprisingly my favorite color is the brightest pink in the palette. I never thought I would wear pink on my eyes, but it’s such a sheer wash of color that I find it so easy to wear.
Skincare Favorites
Fresh Rose Marigold Floral Water
Growing up I had Combination Oily skin, but over the past few years my skin has shifted to Normal/Dry/Very Dry. I use the Rose water morning and night, any time I need some added moisture to my skin. I always apply this before toners or lotions. It smells so good and it’s a big bottle which has lasted me a long time. It’s a very refreshing way to start and end the day.
Clinique All About Eyes Serum
I’ve been a loyal All About Eyes customer for years, the regular product is great. I use it at night, but this roller ball serum version is perfect for mornings. It has a metal roller ball applicator which does a great job at ‘de-puffing’ the eyes and the formula is very light. I go through it really quickly, so anytime it’s at the Cosmetic’s Company Outlet (CCO), I stock up.
Pacifica Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes
I’ve tried a lot of facial wipes to remove makeup. I had the Pond’s brand recently, but the smell was so overpowering that I ended up throwing them out. On a whim, I picked up the Pacifica brand at Target because I’m sold on anything with coconut. I’m almost out of the package pictured and already have a new package on hand. The smell is a subtle coconut scent, not too sweet, and the wipes are very gentle. There is no exfoliating side, so if you like that texture, you’ll want to try something else. This is a gentle wipe that has worked great for me at taking off makeup before I wash my face.
Nail Favorites
OPI Original Nail Envy
If I had to pick one overall favorite (of all time), it would be Nail Envy. I know there are a lot of reviews out there on this product, and it’s not anything new, but I only tried it recently. I’m a lifelong nail biter so my nails were naturally thin and very damaged. Without the nail envy they are nearly flat and break VERY easily. I wear this under everything except a gel manicure. It’s truly the only product that I’ve found that has actually transformed my nails.
Essie Apricot Oil
As a nail biter, my cuticles were also a mess, so I started keeping cuticle oil at my desk. I’ve used others, but I like Essie’s best right now. It smells pretty good, not quite like Apricot, but I like that the scent is light and doesn’t linger for too long. I also really like this oil because it soaks in quickly. I find that a lot of oils feel greasy for a long time, and can be messy. Not so with this one. I keep it at my desk and put it on a few times a day. I go back to typing immediately and I haven’t found it messy at all.
FoodScience Biotin
So this isn’t really a ‘Nail’ item, but I feel like taking this supplement has made a massive difference to my nails. My regular multi-vitamin does has Biotin, so this is in addition for me. Of course you’d want to research any supplement that you choose to use, but this works great for me. I like that the FoodScience brand doesn’t have all those crappy additives that you find in other supplement brands. This one also has Calcium and Vitamin C so those are an added bonus. I’ve only found them at Vitamin Shoppe so far, and a 30 day bottle costs about $10.
Hair Care Favorites
Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
I purchase my coconut oil from Trader Joe’s and I use it for a ton of things, but my favorite use is on my hair. Several times a week, I coat my hair in coconut oil before I work out. It acts as a deep conditioner mask during my workout, and washes away clean when I shower. There is NO greasy/oily residue and it makes my hair incredibly soft. After using it for several months, my hair looks so much healthier, and doesn’t break nearly as easily as it used to. Granted, the biotin probably has something to do with that as well, but the feeling is amazing after using the coconut oil.
Clairol Natural Instincts Hair Color [Egyptian Plum & Medium Brown]
I used to get my hair colored in a salon, but my colorist is about 90 minutes away and super expensive. So about a year ago I stopped going and just let me natural color grow back in. Since it’s still growing out, the bottom was a bit brassy, and I was starting to see some grays that needs to go away. I didn’t want to commit to the upkeep of a permanent color, so I picked up Natural Instincts at Target. It’s a demi-permanent so it will wash out in about 28 shampoos. I mix two colors [Egyptian Plum and Medium Brown] and I’ve been thrilled with the results. It’s a little darker than my natural color, but it has the great plum/burgundy highlights that you can see when I’m out in the sun. Bonus…I don’t have to worry about the brassy grow out since it will just fade in a few weeks. Love this stuff!
Dove Invigorating Dry Shampoo
I love this dry shampoo for a few reasons. One, I’m totally brand loyal to Dove, I’ve been using it for years. Two, the smell! It smells great, not too strong or perfumy. I also don’t have any problem blending it into my hair. Some dry shampoos have left a white cast on my dark hair, but this has worked great for me. Extra bonus…it’s CHEAP! I think I paid with a coupon and scored a few cans for about $2 each.
Fashion Favorites
Gapfit GFlex Pants
I workout 6 days a week since I’m trying to lose weight. Ok…let’s be honest…I wear these around the house even if I’m not working out. They are thicker and hold you in all over, but are so comfortable…not ‘spanx like’. I also love that they come in the long length which is perfect for me. I’m 5’7, so not that tall, but I fall right between the regular and long length in GAP pants. Most workout pants are just too short for me, but these are perfect. I have a couple of pairs, and pretty much live in them.
Twin Buckle Handbag (Burnt Orange)
I feel like I should be using this in Autumn, a rust color bag feels a bit out of place right now. Oh well…I love it! It’s big, so it can hold all my stuff…and I have A LOT of stuff that I carry around. I never thought I would have an orange bag, but it works surprisingly well as a neutral color. I picked this bag up at Daily Look on sale, but it’s fairly inexpensive even when not on super sale.
Roxy Women’s Pier-Fur Slip-On
Slippers!! I buy new slippers every year and Roxy is always my first choice. They usually have a few styles that look more like shoes, and I love that style. This version has a thicker sole so I can actually wear them outside. In fact, I don’t think they sell these as slippers, they promote them as ‘fur’ lined shoes. I don’t wear them as ‘shoes’, but it’s nice that they hold up if I want to wear them to put out the trash or grab the mail on a cold (and lazy) day.
*Please note that several of the links contained within this post are Amazon affiliate links. The items were purchased by me and the opinions are 100% my own.
which I originally found in a single serve packet at Sprouts. You only need 3 Tablespoons per loaf of bread, so the packet has more than enough. Be sure to check out Janet’s blog post for great step by step pictures. 
Changing My Destiny 