What's In Her Bag? ~ Amy

I pride myself on having friends with a wide variety of personalities and tastes. And, It's important to surround yourself with people that help enhance your personality and enrich your life.... Basically, so that their good qualities rub off on you. My dear friend Amy is a hardworking medical professional, foodie and a loving dog mom. She has a busy schedule, so it's important that her makeup routine is quick, but will last all day.

Amy's morning makeup routine normally takes her between five and fifteen minutes. In that window of time, her priorities are to moisturize, conceal and fill in her brows. Anything else is just icing on the cake! To balance out her complexion, she applies Tarte's BB Tinted Primer in Light. To get a little more coverage, she applies a thin layer of Glo Minerals Pressed Base in Natural Medium. This combination can give light to full coverage and is great for sensitive skin types. Amy is a fan of simple, glittery washes of color across her eyelids. Some days it may be a subtle Champagne, like this E.L.F. eyeshadow in Celebrity, or if she's feeling a bit more bold, she'll reach for her Laura Mercier eyeshadow in Gilded Bronze. Either way, she always primes her lids with Urban Decay's Primer Potion in Sin, a soft pink, champagne tone. This keeps her eye look in place all day. I love how Amy has a mix of price points in her eye makeup collection. To help define her eyes and create a bit more drama at her lash line, she reaches for this Loreal Matte-Matic Eyeliner. Then she finishes her eye look with a few swipes of Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara for volume and length. Gorg!

When it's time to put a little color on her lippies, Amy's "go-to" nude is Urban Decay's Revolution lipstick in Naked. For a little more shine and moisture, she tops it with Buxom Lip Polish in Dolly. And when she wants to add a soft flush to her cheeks and a bronze glow to her complexion, she pairs the Beauty Counter blush in Tawny/ Whisper with the Beauty Counter Matte Bronzer. Thats complexion perfection that you don't have to feel bad about!

This is the always beautiful, Amy. 

Have you ever tried any of Amy's favorite products? She and I are trying to make our makeup bags more "Green". If you're trying to shift your makeup bag to a bit more natural ingredients, what are your favorite products or lines? Please let us know in the comments below. Until next time friends!

~ Shana 

May Favorites

Why, hello there, Old Friend! So, It's been a bit since we've chatted and I've shared the beauty and lifestyle goodies that I've been loving. The past few months have been kind of a blur, but even in that blur I've fallen in love with a few things that I have to share with you. 

For those of you that REALLY know me, you'll know that I'm a huge office supply and stationary nerd. After feeling overwhelmed with my "life notebook", a little notebook I always kept with me for notes, lists and rants, I finally gave in and got a proper bullet journal. Bullet Journaling is an analog system for organizing your thoughts and plans. This particular notebook features an index, numbered and dotted pages. Now I can keep track of all of my crazy thoughts....or at least try to.

To help set the mood for a bullet journaling session, I've really enjoyed burning this Velvet Moss & Jasmine candle from Capri Blue. I'm just kidding, I don't "set the mood" for bullet journaling. How much of a nerd do you think I am? Don't answer that. But, I'm in love with this fresh clean scent. It's not too overpowering, yet will fill the room. I suggest repurposing the beautiful mercury glass container as a vase, or a chic way to store spare change. I picked mine up at Raleigh's Blue Water Spa, they have several other yummy scents that I know you'll love.

Time to chat about beauty! I've said for a long time, that I don't see the point in spending a ton on mascara. I can honestly say that this "high/ low" combo has my heart. After forgetting to put on mascara one day, I picked up this NYX mascara at the drugstore. The Faux Lash formula contains fibers to add length and volume, but these fibers don't flake and create a mess on my face. I find it layers perfectly with this volumizing mascara from RMS Beauty. I've recently been exploring Green Beauty and RMS is a name I kept hearing about. And, there's a reason for it. I first do a coat, or two, of the RMS Volumizing Mascara then, to create a false lash effect, I layer on the NYX. The two combined create an extremely glamorous look to the lashes. That being said, the RMS is an amazing stand alone mascara. I love the buildable formula, the full brush, the wear of the product itself, and I love that I don't have to worry about the ingredients in the product at all. If you're interested in elevating your makeup from an ingredients standpoint, and not just by branding, try a few things from them. You'll love them, I know.

During the past few months, I've been playing with different textures of cheek and eye colors. I've been loving how products like Glossier's Cloud Paint and RMS Lip2Cheek meld into the skin. They both create a natural flush to the skin and last most of the day, even on my oily skin. When I want a pinky flush, I opt for the Lip2Cheek in Demure. This product is nice because its perfect to dab onto your lips for a fresh wash of color, I keep it in my handbag for touch ups throughout the day. When I want a little more of a peachy glow, I opt for Glossier's Cloud Paint in Beam. The texture of this cheek color is very thin, but easily buildable and blendable. A little goes a long way with these Cloud Paints, but don't be intimidated, they really are fool proof. Both of these products are perfect for the no fuss makeup girl. They both are formulated to be applied to the skin with your fingers, how easy is that? When I want a bit more "pop" on my cheeks, I top them with Colour Pop Smokin' Whistles Highlighter. This creamish textured product can be used for a subtle highlight or a more statement glow, if you know what I mean. 

After a year of loving my trusty Naked Concealer by Urban Decay, I felt it was time to try something new. I decided to pick up the Glo Minerals Oil-free Camouflage Concealer. This creamy concealer covers discoloration, and even covers dark under eye circles. This formulation lasts on oily skin, and is also perfect for more mature skin textures. Perfecto!

As a hairstylist, my hands are in water constantly. That makes it really hard to keep traditional nail polish on my nails. After hearing Kate, from The Small Things Blog, talk about the Essie Gel Couture polishes, I knew I had to try them. The texture of these polishes is a touch thicker than a traditional polish, and a lot thicker than a normal Essie polish. I recommend using your favorite base coat, then applying two coats of the Essie Gel Couture polish of your choice. I highly recommend letting each coat dry for three minutes before applying the next. Finish with your favorite top coat and you're good to go for days. These polishes are beautiful and durable, what more could a girl ask for? 

I hope that you've enjoyed this look into my favorites. What have you been enjoying? Leave a couple of your favorites in the comments below. Have you tried any green beauty products lately? Share your faves in the comments! I hope you have an amazing day!

~Shana

5 Must Have Products For Glowing Spring Makeup

Spring is the time of year when we get those glimpses of flowers blooming, birds chirping and the Sun shining. It's, also, the time of year when we are so excited to get outside and enjoy the warmth of the sun that we've missed for so many months! Most importantly, I love the fresh, easy makeup looks that feel so right during the Spring. As I was brainstorming for an upcoming makeup tutorial, I looked at which products I kept going back to. The products that I was, not only, excited to use but made me feel so excited for Spring.  These products are perfect for creating an easy, glowing Spring makeup look.

1. Glo Minerals Tinted Primer- This primer has a pinch of color, is available in 4 tones, and leaves the skin with a natural, demi- matte finish. It's great for layering, but can also be applied in a flash with your finger tips.

2. MAC Expensive Pink Eye Shadow- This shadow is the perfect blend of pink, copper and gold. It applies like silk, can easily be built up, and will make blue and green eyes pop!

3. Glo Minerals Blush in Sweet- This shimmering blush is a blend of pink and coral and brings life to the skin. I have a hard time not using it everyday, because I love the fresh glow that it gives the cheeks (I feel like you can tell that I love it because I'm all up in that pan!).

4. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfecter in Moonstone- This buttery- soft powder illuminates the face with even the most delicate application. It can be used as an inner eye corner highlight, brow bone highlight, and will make your cheek bones glisten! I find that it's perfect for fair to medium complexions.

5. Glo Minerals Revive Hydration Mist- This facial mist has been a favorite for years. You can mist it on clean skin to help add moisture and prepare the skin for foundation. But, you can also use it to set your makeup and add a natural glow. The scent is a delicate mix of peppermint, lavender and rosemary... Amazing!

To see how beautifully these products work together, check out our latest Spring tutorial!

A Few of My Favorite Things in October

The month of October is such a transitional month for North Carolinian's. It wasn't until the end of the month that it started feeling like Fall, at all. This month's favorites are a group of products that made me excited to get ready for my day on these crisp mornings that we've been having. So, let's dive it!

The Becca Ever-Matte Primer is a must for anyone who deals with excessive oil. As the month cooled off, I'd use it just in my T- zone. This is the key to my makeup lasting for a 10 hour workday. I, also, added the AG Hair Sterling Silver conditioner to my weekly shower routine. I shampoo my hair first in the shower and then let my conditioner soak in for the rest of my time. This hydrating conditioner also neutralizes out yellow, or golden, tones in blondes or light hair. It's an absolute must for any blonde, and would be amazing for you ladies rocking extreme grey tones in your hair as well. My favorite eyeliner this month was the Liquid Liner from Glo Minerals. Waterproof is an understatement with this liner, it will not budge once it has set. The thin, felt tip applicator makes it so easy to get a precise flick, or a dramatic wing. The color is a deep, opaque black with a subtle satin finish, gorgeous! This liner has found a permanent place in my professional kit and my personal makeup bag.

These next three products definitely took my classic look to the next level! I'm so bad for biting my lips and eating off my lipstick through the day. So, when it comes to lip color I need something that wears off naturally. That's why I'm loving this combination this month. Urban Decays Liar lipstick is my perfect brown nude shade. It's so creamy and moisturizing, but has a long wear time. This is actually my second tube of it, because I accidentally left my first one on set for Love It or List it. After months of missing it, I had to have it back in my life. I've been layering it under Marc Jacobs Lip gloss in Rebel Rebel, and it's a stellar combination. Rebel Rebel is a natural rose color with a violet undertone. You notice a subtle shimmer in the package, but I don't find that it transfers to the lips and gives you Glitta face. I also like pairing it with MAC Patisserie and Syrup. The packaging is sturdy and luxurious feeling, and the formula inside is a thicker, long wearing consistency. The icing on the cake is the soft minty scent of this gloss, it's an all around fabulous lip gloss! Now, I'm about to blow your mind. I fell in love with a highlighter this month...I know...I'm oily...What am I thinking? I originally looked into the Becca Highlighters for my kit to fill a few gaps that I had. I picked up Moonstone, and for a while I just stared at how beautiful it was. Then, I realized that I will always need more shimmer in my life so I started using it every day. And, I haven't stopped. On myself personally, this creamy powder applies smoothly to the skin and makes you instantly radiant. It's beautiful on the tops of the cheeks, cupids bow, or as an eye shadow. I love that when I use it I look purely glowy, it doesn't emphasis my natural oiliness at all.

A few months ago, I needed an updated business card holder. So, I happened to be perusing the Darling Magazine online store and saw this adorable case from Hawks & Doves. It went right into the cart and in a few weeks it was on my door step. I didn't realize until I got it in hand, that this sturdy black leather case was handmade in Raleigh, NC. I love that it's stylish and I get to support another local business.

I hope you enjoyed my favorites for this month. Let me know your thoughts on any of these gems if you've had a chance to try them in the comments below. See you soon!