Beauty Favorites | March & April 2015

I cannot believe this year is almost half way over. It is insane the way time has been flying. I didn't have a ton of makeup products these past two months, with school and everything I keep it pretty simple on a day to day basis.That being said, there are always standout products each month. I hope you enjoy learning about all the goodies I've been loving in March and April!

1. St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub - I've been searching for a good exfoliant and I stumbled on this little guy when I was in Walgreens. I usually use the Clinique 7-day Scrub, but it's a little on the pricy side and I don't think it makes a drastic difference in my skin. Because of that  I went to drug store hunting for something similar, but more affordable. When I was little my mom used this scrub, but it wasn't formulated to be used on your face, it was solely a body scrub, so when I saw it I was immediately intrigued. It smells sooo good and the exfoliants are nice and rough. I hate exfoliants that don't really get in there and scrub the dead skin way. I have extremely dry skin, so I really appreciate a tough exfoliant that's going to help me get rid of any dry patches. It says it's formulated for sensitive skin, but if you have rosacea or issues with physical sensitivity, I would steer clear of this, and try something with gentler exfoliating beads. For under $8 I was really pleasantly surprised. It's definitely a product I'll repurchase.
2. Brow Bar to Go - This is an oldie but a goodie. Rarely do I wear a full face of makeup, but on the days where I've been going out with friends or on a date with G I've been using this to do my brows and warm up my crease (the darkest shade). It's simple and effective and that's something I really value in a product. It's a little on the pricy side, but considering that it can do more than one thing, I really think it's worth the price. I've also used this to contour my nose before, but let's be real, no one has time for that on a regular basis. Using a powder as opposed to a pencil or pomade in your brows makes it easier to work with. If you're just starting to experiment with makeup, I would definitely recommend starting with powder and trying other products as you become more comfortable.
3. Benefit Gimme Brow - Another oldie but goodie. I never pencil in my brows for class, but I ALWAYS use this. It's perfect for a no-makeup makeup look, which is what I usually go for. It doesn't look too heavy or strange with a semi-bare face, it just brings your brows forward and makes them look neater and more defined. The small fibers adhere to your natural brow hairs to fill in gaps the same way a powder or pomade would. Thunk of this as gel and pencil in one; it fill in gaps and keeps your hairs in place. I have gone threw probably 2 or 3 of these and will never stop buying it. I use the shade dark brown.
4. Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer - Hourglass is one of my all time favorite makeup brands. I think they have amazing quality products but they're pretty expensive. I've been hearing people rave about this primer for months, but really wasn't into spending $60 on it. I was super excited when I saw it as a 100 point perk at Sephora and immediately took the opportunity to try it out before committing to the full size. Let me just say - the hype is true, this is magic in a bottle. It's a somewhere between a silicone primer and a liquid primer. It doesn't leave the skin feeling sticky, which is something I really like. I don't have unusually large pores but I feel like this does a nice job of filling them in while also giving me a luminous glow - I'm all about channeling my inner JLO. If you're the kind of girl who loves to look lit from within, bite the bullet and get this. I have dry skin, and it works great for me, but I also know girls who are super oily and love it too.
5. OPI Mimosas for Mr. and Mrs. - Nude and neutral polishes are my thing. I am super boring when it comes to nails, and find myself staying within the same color family regardless of the season. This nude polish is to die for. It's the perfect mixture of pink and beige, and doesn't make my hands look washed out. OPI has an amazing color selection when it comes to neutrals, and really all colors. I love the formulation of the polish and find that unlike other lighter neutrals it doesn't look streaky or patchy. I of course follow this with my tried and true Seche Vite top coat.
6. Physicians Formula Bronzer - I picked this up on a whim one day while I was in CVS. I've heard really good things about Physicians Formula as a brand and wanted to try something from their line. I'm a huge fan of bronzers so naturally that was what I gravitated towards. This one was the perfect mixture of glow and shimmer. It didn't have glitter in it, which is something I was worried about, but it did give me a nice glowly sheen. I don't use this to contour, I use it strictly to bronze, and I have to say I like it just as much if not better than some of my high-end bronzers. It reminds me of M.A.C's refined golden bronzer, but it's a little lighter and more luminous. This bronzer apparently enhances your pheromones - I don't know how true that is, but I can say, it smells AMAZING. My roommates have commented on my face smelling good every time we've been getting ready to go anywhere. This has easily become a holy grail product for me and I'm looking forward to trying out other products by Physicians Formula.
7. Ole Henriksen Truth Serum - This was another product I had heard being raved about but wasn't into spending the money without at least trying it before. I was lucky enough to get a sample of it from Sephora. I made a rather large purchase and the lovely lady at the cashier just threw it in the bag. I think it may have been another 100 point perk, but I'm not positive. I haven't tried any other Ole Henriksen products but after this I'm definitely going to. Anyone who knows me knows I hate sugary, sweet smells. I don't want to smell like a cupcake or cotton candy ever - but this smells like an orange creamsicle in the best way. It's a fresh but sweet scent that isn't too over powering. I noticed a HUGE improvement in the elasticity of my skin, in particular the little lines around my eyes. Skin care is something I have no problem splurging on and I will definitely repurchase this in the full size. It would be perfect for someone who is wanting to get into a skin care regimen but doesn't want anything too intense.
8. Cold Pressed Castor Oil - Recently I got a hair cut because I hadn't had one in close to 8 months - I know I'm the worst - BUT I've really been wanting to grow my hair out so I've been on the hunt for tips & tricks to make it grow faster. I did a ton of research online and was looking for ways that were natural and wouldn't cost a fortune. In comes cold pressed castor oil. This stuff is no joke. My hair has easily grown 2 inches a month since I've been using it. I warm it up and mix it with some coconut oil once a week and focus it on my scalp. I always end up putting it through my whole hair, but the idea is to really get it into the roots of your hair. Castor oil is a natural humectant, which means it increases circulation, which aids in air growth. I mix it with coconut oil because the castor oil is really thick and sticky and I felt like it pulled at my hair when I used it alone. The results have been outstanding and if you've been struggling to get your hair to grow I HIGHLY recommend this. I got a huge bottle from Whole foods for less that $10 and I'm not even a quarter of the way through. Make sure if you pick it up that you're getting organic cold-pressed castor oil. You can also put this on your lashes and brows, which I've done before, and it has the same spectacular results.
9. Indian Healing Clay Mask - G got me this for Valentine's day because I not so subtly sent him the amazon link to it   I had seen one of the beauty gurus I follow on Youtube mention it, and she compared it to the GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment, which I really liked, but didn't repurchase since it was super expensive. This mask is INTENSE. The canister says you'll feel your face pulsate and it isn't lying. I mix 1 1/2 tsp. of the powder with a little bit of apple cider vinegar, and I'm not going to lie, it smells pretty bad. You can also mix yours with water, but the apple cider vinegar will help kill bacteria and brighten your complexion. Within 5 minutes I feel my skin get super tight and after 15 minutes, I sometimes worry my forehead will fall off. I know this description isn't the most appealing, but I've never seen my skin look as clear as it has since I've started using this. I use it once a week, and follow it by lathering my face with a facial oil or moisturizing mask. If you have sensitive skin, please don't try this, it will probably be a very painful experience. But if you're interested in a having an intense clearing treatment - go for it. The tub I got is huge and was under $11, so it's definitely a steal.
10. Purlisse Pūr-Protect Daily Moisturizer - I'm really strict about keeping my skin protected from the sun. I love being tan, but I really don't want to damage my skin or get premature wrinkles. I wear sunscreen on my face year round, which may seem strange to some people but I highly recommend it. I got this moisturizer in a subscription box, and I got a full size, which was really exciting. I had never heard of Purlisse or tried any of their products, but this sunscreen/moisturizer is a game changer. I absolutely cannot stand the smell of sunscreen or the oily finish that most of them leave on my skin. This moisturizer leaves my skin feeling clean and doesn't have a harsh sunscreen smell, despite being SPF 30. I do add my normal Clinique moisturizer on top, just because I do have really dry skin, but if you're oily or normal, you could easily just use this and be good to go. I don't notice any difference with how my makeup sits on top of this and have never had a problem with white casts in photos.
11. Guerlain Maxi Lash Mascara - I went ahead and picked this guy up during Nordstrom's Mascara Madness this previous summer, but didn't get around to opening it until now. I've never heard anyone talk about it, but I've been a huge fan of the Guerlain products I've tried in the past and was curious so I went ahead and splurged. This is easily one of my all time favorite mascaras. The packaging is gorgeous, and it gives my lashes the most amazing length and volume. The brush looks pretty standard and I didn't expect much when I opened it, but this product is seriously amazing. It does have a perfume scent going on, but it isn't something that bothers me or that lingers. I would definitely repurchase this even though its $30. I usually stick to drugstore mascara just because I feel like there are tons of great ones to chose from, but if you're wanting to treat yourself, definitely try this out.