Generation Beauty Recap + Swag Bag Haul

The goods

My favorites

Hello again! It's officially been one week since moving out West to California for the summer. Honestly, it seems like I have been here longer than a week. I'm coming off a great weekend and apparently I got a little excited when writing the recap and got a little carried away...so I will forewarn you this post is quite long. Those strictly interested in the swag bag haul might want to jump to the bottom. For those of you interested in my life story...read on :)

My sister and brother-in-law's home is spacious and comfortable (and well-decorated might I add. I'll give you a tour soon!) so I'm fitting right in. They have a small spare room where I keep my stuff, but it was used as a storage room before so it needs a little reorganizing. My decorating instincts are coming out so I'm already brainstorming organization ideas to save on space in the small room.

During the day I'm found working on the Powder Room app from home and running errands with my brother-in-law, Chris. I've already been to a few delicious restaurants and eat out more than I did in a whole month in Iowa. There are just so many good options and it's part of experiencing the city, right? Last Friday I had a job interview in San Francisco, but got lost for about an hour and walked up and down the same street looking for a nonexistent address. Turns out I was given the wrong address for the interview, but on the plus side I was able to see more of the city and came across some beautiful homes.

Friday night my sister and I flew to LA for the Generation Beauty event to promote Powder Room and meet bloggers. My sister, Ida, is the co-founder of Powder Room, and despite being ten years apart, we have similar tastes and interests so it's fun getting to work with her. The Powder Room website launched this weekend so be sure to check it out and sign up for updates so you can participate in beta testing when we are ready to launch!

Friday night my sister and I flew to LA for the Generation Beauty event to promote Powder Room and meet bloggers. My sister, Ida, is the co-founder of Powder Room, and despite being ten years apart, we have similar tastes and interests so it's fun getting to work with her. The Powder Room website launched this weekend so be sure to check it out and sign up for updates so you can participate in beta testing when we are ready to launch!

I wasn't sure exactly what to expect at Generation Beauty. I had never attended a beauty conference before, nor had I traveled to LA. When we arrived at the event that morning the whole place was buzzing with excitement. Music was blaring and hundreds of girls were beaming and dolled up, ready to chat about all things beauty. I'm aware of the YouTube phenomenon and have my favorite vloggers I turn to for beauty advice, but you can't fully understand the capacity of YouTubers until you experience it first hand. These are young women, some top vloggers as young as 14, that love makeup and managed to build a huge following by being honest, fun, and genuine in their videos. The event attendants in general skewed below the age of 21, and it's incredible to see how many impressionable teenagers are flocking to beauty. They certainly know way more about makeup than I did at that age. It's truly inspiring knowing the whole Generation Beauty event was created because of YouTube bloggers. In today's society more and more are turning to bloggers for advice on makeup and beauty, and turning less to brands and traditional marketing.

Throughout the two-day event we stood in lines, chatted with brands, got our hair braided, and tested some amazing, new products. We also had the chance to meet Josie Maran, the founder of Josie Maran Cosmetics. She had fantastic advice for budding entrepreneurs. She invited us to sit on the ground in a circle as she opened the floor to questions. You can't get any cooler than that, and now I'm coming away with more respect and maybe even a little biased towards her natural products. What can I say, her down-to-earth boho personality is contagious. We also met Michelle Phan (who we embarrassingly towered over), the most poised and respectful woman despite being hugely successful. Even after the line kept growing and growing, she never turned down fans during the meet and greet.

The event was inspiring to say the least after witnessing the power of video and how it's given people amazing opportunities to share their opinions with millions of viewers. Of course, I can't talk about Generation Beauty and not mention the swag bags. All of the brands at the event provided products for swag bags that were given at the end of both days. I've never seen so many girls make a mad dash like that before.

While I'm not a beauty blogger, I did want to share with you some of my favorite products from the swag bag. We received about 40 products and based on my first impressions, these are my favorites.
The EM Cosmetics lipsticks by Michelle Phan are super creamy and moisturizing. The Dirty Girl mask by Pur Minerals instantly made my skin clear and really soft the next morning. Cream blushes are huge lately, and while I'm still mastering the application, they have serious payout in color. So I don't make this post any longer than it already is, let me know if you have specific questions about products and I'll cover them in more detail.

Natural Clay Mask

About a month ago I read a blog post on To Vogue or Bust about natural skincare, specifically natural clay. I was intrigued by her incredible results that claimed to banish breakouts after a few days. Alexandra went in great detail about the clay and different ways and benefits of using it. If you haven't read her post, I suggest you do if you are interested in natural skincare. It was incredibly interesting and she has some great tips and other product suggestions.

After hearing about all the benefits of clay bentonite and its claim to clear up and even out skin tone, I was sold. I ordered myself some clay bentonite that night and couldn't wait to give it a try. I have been using it for just under a month now for about 3-4 times a week and I love it! I have oily acne-prone skin and it's helped dry up my skin a lot and even out my skin tone as well. My skill feels softer and more healthy and I'm overall impressed. This stuff really works. The best part is that it's only $10 for a full jar!

I mix about a teaspoon of clay powder with a tablespoon of water. Stir with a plastic utensil (metal deactivates the clay's electric properties) until it forms a thick paste. I like to apply the mask all over my face and leave it on for about 15-20 minutes or until it dries.

Do you follow a natural skincare routine? What are your favorite skincare products?

Have a great weekend! I finished up dead week this past week which means finals starts on Monday. I fortunately only have two finals this year and then consider me an Iowa State alum :) I'm working on an amazing blog redesign which is super exciting, new post ideas, and I'm also taking a deep dive course on Wordpress (I'm switching over. If anyone has advice on how to handle the migration it's greatly appreciated :)) to learn all the ins and outs so the blog is a place that's organized and makes reading and following along easier for you! I hope to roll out the changes by June first, which sounds far away but is going to sneak up on us in no time! Which is a scary thought in itself.

As I'm making changes at H&H, keep pinning, liking, sharing, and commenting on your favorite blog posts so I know which ones you're loving and I'll be sure to plan more of them for the future!

Beauty Talk

Too Faced Sun Bunny / Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + / Josie Maran Pure Aragan Milk / MAC Pro Longwear Concealer

Hello! Today we're talking all about skincare and makeup. A topic I love, but I am always looking for recommendations so I hope we can all help each other out and make this a really fun discussion where we all spill our favorite products and secrets. Sounds fun, right?

But first, let's talk skin type. I have oily skin. Some call it combination skin since I am oily in my T-zone, but when choosing products I need something that won't be heavy or greasy so I tend to just consider myself oily. Oily skin also means I am breakout prone. Sweet. I've tried many different skincare products but I am always looking for new ways to improve my skin and switch up my regime until I find the perfect routine. Over the summer I buckled down and finally purchased a Clarisonic. I always thought they were a bit gimmicky and that no way could they make that big of a difference. But let me tell you, they do! I don't know what it is, but my skin looks more even, smoother and my makeup glides on better for an overall better look. They are costly, but definitely worth it. The past couple weeks I left my Clarisonic at my boyfriends and it's been torture not having it. I started breaking out a bit so I began using my Proactiv face wash again and now my skin is so dry. I'm dying to find a happy medium!

So while I am trying to find a good balance in my skincare routine, I'm also perfecting my "palette" per se. My favorite You Tube beauty blogger swears by Sigma brushes. I was using the cheap brushes from Target but wasn't happy with them so I just purchased my first Sigma brush. It's amazing! I got the F80 which is a flat kabuki brush for foundation and it is so much easier to apply foundation with a natural finish.

I love playing with makeup but it can get spendy trying lots of products so I usually stick with one thing at a time. I only have one mascara, one foundation, one brush, one bronzer…you get the idea. So all of my stuff is conveniently running out at the same time and it's time to refill my makeup stash! My friend always has perfect makeup and hair and is a self-confessed beauty addict so I have been asking her for her advice and recommendations on new products the past week. She knows her stuff. So you're looking at my beauty wish list…it's kind of scary to see how much just a few products can cost, but I have used many drugstore products (and still do!) but it is time to find something I really like. Put your best face forward, right?

I still haven't pulled the trigger...

This post was random and has a little bit of everything, but I hope it's helpful! What are your beauty tips? Do you use drugstore makeup? Which are your favorites?

As if this post wasn't random (or long enough!), I am doing the 5 day 5 sunglasses at-home trial with Warby Parker and you guys have to try it! Pick 5 of your favorite pairs of glasses or sunglasses, try them out for 5 days and send them back all for free! They have a huge selection it was hard only choosing 5! I'm picky when it comes to sunglasses (I only own one pair) so I love the at-home option since the closest store is in Chicago. You can sign up for your own free 5 day trial here. If you're curious, I chose this, this, this, this, and this to try.

Hair and other Things

via

Happy weekend! The week has been a bitter cold one to say the least. These frigid temps are making my ten minute walk to class unbearable. I'm ready to forget the winter coat and break out pretty spring blouses, you know? But I am mostly ready for spring hair and makeup. When I'm not wearing hats and my skin isn't extra dry. If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen I am sporting a new 'do.  I was in need of a fresh look and cut off a few inches. My stylist used this product and I am obsessed and must get myself a bottle. It works as a dry shampoo to absorb oil and it smells a bit tea tree which I love. Remember last year when I went real short? It was actually my favorite hair cut! I just might go back to it….thoughts? I will be spending my weekend showering my niece with hugs and kisses and snapping one month old photos. Can't wait. What are you up to?

A Girl and Her Pouches

I love pouches. Any kind, any size. I don't know what it is about them -- maybe it's because I feel extra organized? Traveling with them is essential and a complete dream. All of my jewelry, make up, lip gloss, hair accessories, trinkets, and anything else I need quick access to but I don't want floating around my suitcase, go in pouches. Do you do that too? There are so many cute pouches to choose from, which doesn't hurt my little addiction either.

I had way too much fun putting this post together, you guys. I already had lots of pouches pinned and favorited in Etsy, but now I found even more I want! Etsy alone has a huge selection of pouches. A couple of my favorites are Zana, handmade in South Africa, and Pamela Barsky Shop which have hilarious sayings. Another great brand is Truffle, which have multiple sizes with a clear front so you can see what's inside!

Ooh La La, Snakeskin, Gold, Clear, Clear red, Anchor print, Ta-da!, Important things

What I Bought in October

I had such a great time this past weekend. My sister and her husband visited from Oakland for the weekend and we always have a blast. We caught up, discussed our favorite beauty products, and shared Instagram followers. Pure bliss.

Did you take advantage of DST? My sleep schedule has been a little off the past week and the extra hour was amazing. October was such a whirlwind since I was busy with some kind of event every weekend. Now that November is here that means I only have 6 weeks left until the end of the semester...and then it's Christmas. And then it's spring semester. And then I graduate in May. Whoa.

Well, October was not an exciting month purchase-wise. I kept it to a minimum because I wanted to be able to pay rent. Smart, I know. Being a student definitely has its downfalls at times. 

The baseball cap with a faux leather bill is from Target for $6.99. Leopard flats also from Target. Last month I purchased a different pair of leopard flats and ending up returning them since they didn't fit right and were giving me blisters. Gold elastic clasp waist belt was found in my Mom's closet. 

Since October's purchases aren't very cool to look at, I included a fun photo from this weekend. Taken by the wonderful Chris, our paparazzi. You mean 3 sisters walking around campus in trenches isn't normal? 

What I Bought in June

Happy July! Usually I do my monthly roundup blog posts on the last day of every month, but yesterday was Sunday and life kind of happened... so here it is one day late. My apologies! With only a week and a half left of classes, I am busy finishing group projects and writing papers along with working on a couple side projects coming up. 

On another note, what do you think of the new purchase history layout? Last month I told you I wanted to find a better way to display my purchases so you guys could actually see what they were and this was my first solution It's a big improvement from draping them on the floor, but I'm still not completely satisfied. 

I can finally reveal my Anthropologie finds I blogged about here! 

Starting in the top left corner going left to right: Printed tee from Antrhopologie. // Black and white striped tank top from Anthropologie. Now on sale! I have already worn this several times and absolutely love the square neck. It is quite flattering actually. // Navy and white striped v-neck tee from Target by Converse. // Embroidered tank top from a boutique in Omaha. When I walked in the store I saw one of the employees wearing this. I instantly had to have it and luckily found it in the same boutique she was working! // Printed dress. In August I have an upcoming wedding and spotted this at the same Omaha boutique on sale for only $30! Paired with a blazer and some strappy heels and it's the perfect ensemble for a summery wedding. // Printed floral crops from Antrhopologie. // Studded black boots from Target. Aren't these super cool? // Gold hammered hoops from Antrhopologie and Essie nail polish in Haute as Hello.

A couple of days ago I also posted on Instagram my beauty buys for the month so be sure to follow me @amandarisius to check them out! So far I am absolutely loving the concealer and primer. 

Wednesday's Wish List 6.4

You might have noticed the blog got a little facelift this morning and I am thrilled with the results! The layout and organization  was a bit of a mess before so I am happy to have things in good order thanks to Carrie Loves Design! She was great to work with and super speedy at implementing it! I placed my order last night and it was set to go this morning. What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the new blog design so leave your comments.

It's funny how your peers totally influence what you currently wear/want.  Have you noticed that? Now that I've been working at ULTA and chatting with the girls (and Bare Minerals boy) about products, I can't help but want to try all of their favorites myself. I have my own skincare and makeup routine but after talking about primers and foundations all day I get the urge to want to try new products, new brands. The Napoleon Auto Pilot Primer is one of them. Currently I'm not using a daily primer but after our conversation and learning the effects this one has on calming the skin and making your foundation stay wayyy longer, I think I might have to give it a shot, even if it means adding one more step.

Concealer can be tricky. Finding the perfect one that won't crease or look cakey is quite a fete. Just wait until you see the Fakeup Concealer by Benefit. The actual concealer part is surrounded by a moisturizer. I can't wait to give it a try!

This Hatteras Bracelet is handmade by the duo at Anna Croswell. Isn't that stone just gorgeous? 

A different take on the standard maxi skirt. Moon Rise Stripe Maxi Skirt

Can you believe I don't have a chambray shirt yet? Slightly embarrassing. For years I've been meaning to purchase one but I've found that the right shade of denim and soft feel is hard to come by. I like the small print on this one. Geo Chambray Shirt

Happy Wednesday, friends!

Beauty Scoop {Eyebrows}

In medium brown

Anytime I discover a new, good product, I can't wait to share it with you guys. After using the Tarte Amazonian Clay Brow Mousse once, it was no exception.

 First, I should inform you that I have very light brows. They are a blonde-ish color and hardly noticeable. I kind of just ignored them and figured they were supposed to be that light. If I was feeling spontaneous, I would fill them in a little with a pencil. My friend and fellow blogger, Carrie, has mastered the art of good brows and I always envied her perfectly shaped arches. With my light eyebrows I figured it just wasn't in the books for me. 

Last week I asked one of the girls at work what she used on her eyebrows and she said she swears by Tarte Amazonian Clay Brow Mousse. Since she is considered "the brow girl" at work, I trusted her decision and she went ahead and tested it out on me (because that's what we do at ULTA.) Magic happened. I had brows! You could actually see the shape of my eyebrows and the product still looked natural and not too thick. 

Naturally,  I bought the product that day. It even comes with it's own brush which is super convenient and easy to apply. Beware, a little goes a long way. I am loving the product and it's incredibly long wearing. You won't find any unpleasant smudging going on. 

Well groomed brows work wonders -- they frame your face and pull everything together for a sophisticated look. Often times they are left neglected, which is a big mistake! I am so happy I finally found a good product that works. 

What are  your favorite brow products? Do you have any eyebrow horror stories (shaved eyebrow, plucked too thin...?)

Wednesday's Wish List 6.2

Summer is almost half over so I hope you are enjoying it! Crazy, huh? I have not enjoyed the weather as much as I'd like to so that is slightly disappointing. Lately the sky is filled with clouds and rain so there have been few opportunities. Today, the sun decided to bless us with its presence so I am soaking it in as we speak (or type, whichever you prefer).

Essie Colors // I go in streaks when it comes to painting my nails. Sometimes I want perfectly manicured nails with fun colors and other times the sound of painting my nails every few days (chipped nails aren't so hot) turns me off. For some reason spending the half hour painting my nails sounds tortuous. If I only had to do it, say once a week, I feel like I wouldn't dread it as much. I've been experimenting with products lately to help prolong the paint wear and once I perfect it, I will let you know :) Have you ever checked out all of the Essie colors available on their website? Holy moly. Denim Dress // There is something about the summer heat that makes throwing on a dress sound soo nice. I like the relaxed look of this one that makes it appropriate for errands. Throw on your Converse and head out the door. Calendar // 2014 may seem like months away and to be honest, it can stay far away. But this colorful little calendar is the perfect daily dose of happiness. It even has templates on the back to use the old months as cards or gift boxes. With this calendar 2014 is pretty much guaranteed a success. Yasmin Dress // If this dress doesn't scream summer I don't know what does. Comfy and back cutout perfection. Yes, please. Alterna Texture Mist // My hair is naturally wavy --not the air-dry-and-go wavy that looks cute without effort. Spending time straightening it in the morning only to have the lovely Iowa humidity bring out the wave is useless. I'm hoping a texture spray will give my hair the control it needs. Do you have a favorite beachy waves spray I should try?

Enjoy the rest of your week, friends and thank you for reading!

Upkeep

It's about that time again. Hair time that is. Every 3 months I try and get my hair trimmed and my hair colored every 4-5 months. If I could get my hair cut and colored every month I totally would. There are so many different styles I'd like to try, but my hair doesn't grow that fast and color is very damaging. So, I stick to a less frequent schedule (probably for the better.)

A quick search on Pinterest brings up oodles of haircuts and highlights. This is where I usually go for hair inspiration. My favorite searches are "carmel highlights" and "chin length hair."

This time around I'm sticking with a trim. Since my hair is already above my shoulders there isn't a whole lot I can do different, but a trim really freshens up the look. The pictures above look short, right? In February I took the plunge and chopped my shoulder length hair to about chin length (similar to the photos above). My friends were even nervous for me! My stylist is great and everyone loved the results! Actually it is my favorite hairstyle yet. Looking back on old photos of when I had long hair just makes me cringe. It definitely wasn't for me. 

I've had auburn, blonde, dark (almost black) hair and everything in between. Not proud. None of them lasted too long and probably none of them should have even been attempted. Although, blonde hair was fun for while. I'm sticking to my roots this time and asking for carmel highlights to brighten things up for summer. I can't wait! Going to the salon is always a fun, relaxing experience.

What's your hair maintenance routine like? Where do you find your inspiration? 

That Cut

You know those people that live for Hollywood Gossip, stand at the check-out line at the drugstore and read the latest headlines on People Magazine, and watch E!News daily? Call me guilty. I wouldn't call myself obsessive and I definitely don't believe all of the Hollywood stories that hit the mags, I just enjoy knowing the where-abouts of my favorite celebs. The Kardashian family being one of them. I have watched almost every season of Keeping Up with the Kardashians (I spent a summer watching the old seasons on Netflix before I fell asleep each night). My friends always joke and say they can be talking about a story they heard on the news about Kim Kardashian and I will chime in from the other room with all of the details. I know, I know, it's all completely useless knowledge (if you can even call it that), but it's not like I'm spending hours researching this stuff, it kind of just comes naturally. 

After watching Silver Linings Playbook on Friday, the movie with Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, I think I have a new favorite celeb. Although the movie was a little different than I had expected, I liked it. Jennifer Lawrence was so great and captured her raw, sarcastic character perfectly. As she came to fame from her role in the Hunger Games, the world has caught a glimpse of her likable, cool self. On red carpet appearances and during interviews she never seemed to take herself too seriously and isn't afraid to joke around, even if it's making fun of herself. Oh, the things you learn while watching E! News...

Since I never finished watching The Hunger Games (I fell asleep about halfway through), I never actually saw the talent until I watched Silver Linings Playbook. Well, as if an Oscar nomination doesn't say enough, she's got it. 

I'm kind of jealous of her hair right now. That short tousled cut is making me want to grow my hair out a little, though that might take a few more months. 

Have any of you seen the movie Silver Linings Playbook? What'd you think? Jordon and I were literally laughing out loud during some scenes! 

Have a splendid Sunday all :)

Images via

What I Bought In April

Whoa. Another month has flown by. As fast as each month comes and goes, I am glad to say April, March, and February are behind us! Bring on the warm weather and summer nights. 

So here it is, April in review. I scored some major deals that I am pretty excited about :)

White cropped skinnies with side zippers. Last summer I ogled at the J.Crew version with zippers and decided I better not. These are from the new line Joe Fresh at JCPenny.

A simple and relaxed white tee by MNG by Mango at JCPenny. I have already worn this top at least 3 times.

Blue Splendid top. Super easy to wear with leggings, skinnies, flats, sandals, boots... On sale at Dillard's.

White (wrinkly due to being in the hamper) linen blend Willow Clay moto jacket. It's very lightweight for summer which is unusual in moto jackets. On sale at Dillard's. 

Black and white long striped tee. This is long enough to wear as a dress with a denim jacket thrown over top and some beaded sandals or suede booties. $7 at Dillard's.

Swimsuit from Target.


Moving on...

Shoe #1: Brown caged Jessica Simpson wedge. On Sale at Dillard's. I wore them this past weekend to the Jason Aldean concert and loved them. By the way, Jason Aldean was AMAZING in concert! Probably the most fun concert I've been to yet. Thomas Rhett and Jake Owen opened for him and they both were so good! Kelly Clarkson even did a surprise appearance for one song, "Don't You Wanna Stay", the duet with Jason Aldean. Perfect Saturday. 

Shoe #2: Neon heel by Prabal Gurung on sale at Target. This wouldn't be the first shoe I normaly pick out, but I like the style and they add a touch of fun to an outfit. I'd wear them with rolled boyfriend jeans or skinnies and keep everything else neutral. 

Shoe #3: I was initially looking for a plain brown wedge for summer, but when I saw these in Target I thought they were even more versatile since they have some black as well. They were only $15, but I still might return them.

Remember when I asked for your help looking for a new fragrance? I finally found one! I was in Anthropologie a couple weeks ago and because the perfumes were so pretty, I was determined to find one I liked. After spraying every perfume in the store and smelling like 10 different perfumes, I decided on Tocca Florence. It's so pretty and not too strong (when worn by itself), and is wearable day and night. 

I finally got my "A" mug!

After last week's Wednesday's Wish List Post I ordered a few things from J.Crew. They arrived in the mail just in time! The jean shorts and the coral button up fit great. As for the collared tee, I am a little worried if I'll be able to pull it off without looking too...prim. 

I almost forgot about the Seven For All Mankind Dojos I purchased on Poshmark so I threw them in with my J.Crew stuff. It was my first purchase on the nifty little app and I have to say I was impressed with the ease of checking out. 

Hope you all enjoyed the cold and in some cases, snowy, April! :)

{Splurge vs. Save} When is it Worth It?

Being the bargain shopper that I am, it takes a lot for me to buy something over $50, or full price for that matter. Part of the fun is the challenge of finding a discounted price on the same item, you know? However, there are certain things that I feel are worth it, despite the daunting price tag. 

There are tons of products out there. From the drugstore to department stores, prices range from $5 all the way up to the hundreds. It can be hard to justify paying $60 for a moistrizer when you know you can pick one up at the drugstore for $10. 

If you can get past the steep price, there are a few things that are worth the splurge.

A good skin cream can go a long ways. If you find one that really does work miracles like it claims, it can be a life saver. Improved texture? Clearer skin? Brighter? Firmer? The Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Gel that I dedicated an entire blog post to is worth the $45 in my book. Good skin is the base for pretty and natural make up. 

Every person owns at least 1 pair of jeans. Skinny, flare, dark wash, acid wash -- no matter what your style, they are probably well worn. An item that receives so much loving should be a a pair you actually love. Investing in a well fitting pair of jeans is definitely worth the splurge. After you divide the price by the number of times you wear them, they quickly pay for themselves. If you spend $50 on 3 pairs of jeans that don't fit great and you don't love, you end up spending more than if you buckled down, spent the $100 on one pair you will love for years. I wear my AG jeans probably 90% of the time. I paid about $90 for them on HauteLook (a STEAL for AG!) and they have been worth every penny.

Like a good skin care product, a great foundation does wonders. I have been using the Kat Von D Lock-It foundation and noticed a huge difference after switching over from the Revlon ColorStay foundation. The coverage and smoothness is much better in the Kat Von D. I recommend trying samples of different foundations to try out more expensive versions instead of buying the whole bottle and later finding out you don't like it. Not all foundations will work for you, but once you find one that does, it's a game changer. 

A great haircut is like having a good hair day every day. Okay, maybe that is going a little too far, but a haircut that flatters your face shape and consists of a style you can manage makes your morning hair routine seem like a breeze. My last haircut cost about $20 more than I usually pay. Not only is it my favorite haircut and style yet, but it has cut my hair routine in half. 

On the other hand, there are definitely products I think are worth saving.

Shampoo and conditioner are areas I like to save money and buy from the drugstore. Don't get me wrong, I love the Biolage shampoo just as much as the next person, but there are definitely other versions that are just as good. 

My absolute favorite hairspray is John Frieda Frizz-Ease Moisture Barrier that cost $6 at the drugstore.

Shoes can be a tricky subject. I tend to buy cheaper, trendy shoes I wear a few times and invest in some comfortable pairs I'll have for years. 

I think the same goes for jewelry. Purchasing cheaper costume jewelry that you wear on occasion makes more sense than spending hundreds on a collar necklace that you will wear only a handful of times. 

What do you think? What items do you splurge on? 

Secret Weapon

I have combination/oily skin so that means I have to use a matifying powder of some sort to try and keep shininess  at bay throughout the day. I had been using Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil for a while and I really liked it, but when I ran out  a few months ago I didn't find myself going to repurchase. There had to be an alternative that worked just as well.

 A little while later while I was browsing on Pinterest, I saw a pin that was full of beauty tips using household items. One tip claimed cornstarch keeps you shine free for an entire day. Wait. What?! 

Next time I was in the grocery store I picked up some cornstarch. It was about $3 and I thought what can I lose? If it doesn't work I have a lot of cornstarch on hand, and if it does...well then I have cheap replacement for the Mineral Veil. 

Before you shake your heads with disgust and think cornstarch can't possibly work, hear me out on this one :)

The first day when I dipped my brush in the cornstarch it looked so white I thought, this is going to be a disaster. It looked like I was about to apply a bright white powder to my face and result in a completely pale face. Not something I was exactly going for. I tested a bit on my arm and surprisingly it was completely translucent. There was not any white or paleness visible. I mustered up enough courage and tried a little on my chin. No sign of white. I put a little on my forehead, still  no sign of white. I put a light dusting on my remaining T-zone area and headed out for the day.

Let's just say I was completely surprised and amazed by the results! It kept me shine free and felt so lightweight on my face. It doesn't even feel like I put on powder. And the best part? It's $3 for a huge tub that will last forever! I'll take that any day. 

Do you have any beauty tips you'd like to share? 

Enjoy your weekend friends! XO