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Beauty

I recently had a pretty big trash bag full of makeup products- both empty, expired, or simply ones I didn’t care for. I thought it would be fun to list the things I’m tossing for whatever reason and tell ya’ll what I thought about them! I love trying new beauty products, so I think it’s definitely proof that something is awesome if I plan to buy it again.

Let me know if you have tried any of these products and if your verdict was the same as mine! (Links for everything is listed in the name of the product)

Will repurchase ASAP

Neutrogena SkinClearing concealer– Y’all, I adore this stuff. The color is a little dark for me, but I make it work because I love that this product allows me to cover my blemishes but still treat them with salicylic acid while wearing makeup! If you’ve ever used a spot treatment, you know makeup does not layer over it well. I adore this concealer and have used it for years.

Maybelline Dream Cushion foundation– Y’all. This foundation is the perfect light-coverage foundation for girls looking to get ready on the go, or those who want just a little bit of makeup for a natural day. I love this stuff and have used it as my “get up and run” makeup for as long as I’ve had it. I can pat this on in my car mirror with a sponge or with the little pad it comes with and throw on some mascara, and be ready to go.

Beauty products I'm keeping


Maybelline Fit Me concealer– While Shape Tape is my favorite concealer at the moment, Fit Me is my all time favorite. It’s definitely thinner than Shape Tape but you get great coverage and it is super hydrating without looking oily. I will buy this again and again and never look back.

Eco Tools makeup sponge– The ONLY dupe for a beauty blender that I use. This guy is the truth!

Maybelline Brow Precise Fiber Volumizer– I know there’s a lot of Maybelline on here, but for good reason. I always liked a pencil brow product until this guy— it’s like a fiber mascara for your brows! The color is perfect for me, and I love how thick my brows look with just a few swipes of this. The only thing with this product is that you’re not going to get a very neat, Instagram-looking brow, but if you’re okay with messy brows then this is for you.

Maybelline The Rocket mascara– My ride or die mascara since 2012, I don’t even want to know how many tubes of this I’ve gone through. It’s embarrassing. This is truly the best first-coat mascara on the planet and I will buy it until you bury me.

Won’t rush to repurchase

Rimmel Stay Matte powder– This stuff is fine for a powder when you’re doing your makeup, but it’s not awesome for touch ups later in the day. It works, but I think there are better powders that doesn’t make your skin look patchy and your makeup separated.

Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot primer– I heard several Youtubers rave about this product, but I never could make it work. Every time I use it, my pores look huge and my foundation slides off my face. Not a good look, but maybe this is better for someone with a different skin type.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint– I love the formula of this and I think it’s a great product. But the color doesn’t match my skin really well, especially when I am not self tanned. If you have a little deeper or more warm-toned skin than me and want a summery foundation, this is a great choice.

Beauty products that I'm throwing away

LA Girl Pro Powder in banana– Again, I heard people rave about this product. I have never been able to make yellow-toned powders work for me— again I think it’s my coloring, because they make my face look sallow and dull. Also, baking my under eye area is something that just doesn’t work at all for me! I know this is the main point of this powder, so I knew I should toss it because I will never use it again.

L’Oréal Infallible stick foundation– While I adore both liquid foundations in the Infallible line (and the powder) this stick formula didn’t work for me. I tried applying it so many different ways, but each time the finish was cakey and the product quickly separated in my T- Zone. Not for me.

This post was not sponsored; all opinions are my own

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Beauty

YA’LL. I’m married!

I took a little blogging break to focus on planning the final details of my wedding and to actually enjoy the wedding and all its festivities, but I’m back in the game and it’s already the holiday season! I have a bunch of fun holiday content planned, but for now, I’ll leave you with a little beauty advice about my favorite blushes for the cooler weather. And, they’re mostly drugstore!

Normally I am more of a peachy-toned blush kinda gal, but during the fall and into the winter I like to go a little lighter on the sun-kissed hues and try more mauve or deeper tones. And yes, you can do that as a fair-skinned girl!

Shop:

Wet N Wild Apri-cot in the Middle: Via Walmart, $3

Nars Outlaw: Via Ulta, $30

Milani Luminoso: Via Target, $7

Covergirl TruBlend Medium Rose: $8

 


This post was not sponsored; all opinions are my own. Some links may be affiliate links.

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Beauty

Hey y’all! When I was in high school, I hoarded single eye shadows from Maybelline, MAC, and Covergirl. But, in the last 8 years or so, I feel like palettes have taken over the game.
Palettes have such pros and cons to me. The pros are the fact that you get a dozen or so shadows in a single compact, often for cheaper than you would get buying them all separately. Also you get an already curated group of colors you know will look good together in several different ways. But, on the flip side, sometimes you can’t spend $40-60 on a palette, or you’re only interested in one or two shades in the entire thing.
I get it. But I think overall, if you know how to navigate the insanely saturated world of eyeshadow palettes, you can wind up with a great collection you’ll go back to time and time again.
Here are my top 6 favorite palettes, both drugstore and high end. Happy blending!

Tartelette In Bloom by Tarte

Maybe my favorite palette ever! I love the shades in this palette and how they can be used for simple & clean looks for every day, but then you can use the dark burgundy or black to smoke things out a bit for night. Classic colors and such a great formula! This guy is totally worth your money, ten times over.

Buy it from Ulta here

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Paradise Enchanted by L’Oréal

Peach-scented eye shadow… are you skeptical? Because I was. But no joke, this palette is awesome. I love the colors, the shimmer shades are amazing, and the scent is actually really nice! There’s quite a bit of fallout, but I that’s not surprising with the price point and kind of odd packaging on this product (the shadows like sit on top of the plastic palette). I’m still loving it though, because the shades are so pigmented and blendable.

Buy it on Ulta’s website here

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Naked 3 by Urban Decay

Ah, you knew it was coming. Naked 3 is my old standby, and I can always reach for it when I want to do a quick look that I know will turn out well. I feel like I don’t branch out a lot into some of the colors into this palette, but I’m trying to give some of the glittery and deep shades a shot. But, regardless, this is a product I couldn’t live without.

Buy it from Ulta here

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Lovatics Demi by NYC

This palette is a sleeper for sure. It’s SO affordable, and I would definitely call it a dupe for the original Naked (which was a close runner-up in this post). These colors are surprisingly pigmented and the white shade is awesome to lay down before you get started building shadows. You can tell that the fallout is pretty heavy, but I don’t mind too much because the shadows are so buttery, you could blend it with your fingers.

Buy it on Amazon here

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Tarteist Pro by Tarte

I had an internal debate by including this, but hear me out. I don’t usually use solely this palette for a full look, but it has some undeniably amazing matte shades. The four shimmer shades aren’t my favorites (although the formula is great), but I love how the palette is designed to make things easy– each row is technically a “look,” which can make things super easy if you are being lazy or just don’t know what to do! I have a few staple colors in this palette that are totally worth the price tag. Plus, I love the huge mirror!

Buy it on Amazon here

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Flawless 3 by Makeup Revolution

Let’s start by saying I love Makeup Revolution products, and love their price tag even more. I was crushing hard on Naked Heat and the Tartlette Toasted palette, but wasn’t willing to shell out the money for either. So I found this guy, and it saved me so much money by giving me triple the shadows! They definitely aren’t the best quality eyeshadows and they take some layering, but I think this is a great dupe for some of the warmer-toned palettes out there. You get a ton more options, and the shimmers are great when used over a glitter glue or with a wet brush.

Buy it from Ulta here

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Hey ya’ll! I have gotten several requests on doing a how-to for applying undereye concealer. Well, ya came to the right place… I have some straight zombie dark circles, and I’ve tried just about everything at one point or another to combat and cover them!
Here’s a quick tutorial on how I do my undereye concealer, and the drugstore products I use. Yes, I said drugstore! You don’t have to pay a lot for good coverage. I will link all the products underneath the video.

Enjoy! 

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind in Brightener

Coty Airspun Translucent Powder

If you’re interested, the high end products I use sometimes are the Tarte Shape Tape and It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye. To combat eye dryness that can come with wearing makeup almost everyday, I use eye cream every night and sometimes under my makeup! Again, I think the drugstore has great options like the Cerave Eye Repair Cream.Follow

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Ya’ll know I love a full coverage foundation. That’s why I don’t want anyone to have a heart attack when I say in the past few months, all I’ve been wearing is light, sheer coverage.

I KNOW. I KNOW.

But before you have the reaction I would have six months ago, let me make my case.

I started having skin issues about two or three months ago, when I realized my thick Tarte Shape Tape concealer that I swear by was beginning to really dry out my undereye area. Since I was wearing it every day during the week, I think my face just really needed a break. I tried every moisturizer on the market, but nothing helped. So, I stopped wearing concealer.

At this point, I figured 1) full foundation without concealer to cover up my zombie eyes is going to look ridiculous on me, and 2) my whole face probably needed a break.

I went on the hunt for a good face sunscreen, and landed on the IT Cosmetics SPF 50 CC Cream.

This is where everything changed.

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Since it’s humid and hot where I live, makeup in the summer doesn’t ever work very well, anyway. I started wearing the CC cream with a little of my Loreal Magic Lumi Highlighter underneath my eyes for a little pop, and then using my normal blush and bronzer on top.

And I liked it better than ever.

In the past 2 months or so of wearing this combo, my skin has changed. My face is so much clearer and I have less redness in my cheeks than ever before! Because of that, my freckles really stand out and the CC cream lets them show through. I really like being able to show off my skin, accentuating my features while covering what I really need to and adding sun protection (which if you know me, I am a huge advocate of!)

When I want a little more of a full makeup look, I’ve still been wearing the CC cream, but mixing in the Loreal True Match Lumi Foundation. The Lumi foundation keeps the dewy, natural look going— but gives you a little more coverage and a more even, smooth finish. I sometimes use the Lumi on its own, too. It’s got SPF, and its similar enough to the IT Cosmetics to interchange.

It’s no secret I don’t own a lot go high-end makeup, but the IT Cosmetics cream is a new must for me. It costs $38 at Ulta, but you can usually find a coupon to take a little off. I have not been able to find a dupe for this product, and I have tried about every CC/BB cream at the drugstore! And the Lumi line, which I obviously love, is already at the drugstore. Score!

If you’re a full coverage girl, give this a shot. If you don’t want to shell out your money for the CC Cream, run to Walgreens and pick up the Lumi. You will be glad you did!

Are ya’ll interested in seeing a video or photo step-by-step on how I do this light-coverage routine? Just let me know! I would love to share! 

Xoxo

Ivana

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I’ve recently picked up some new makeup, both from Walgreens and Ulta, that I am absolutely loving for summer! Here are some of my top new (and just new to me) makeup picks for the season.

Southern Style Diaries, Ivana Hrynkiw

1. L’Oreal True Match Lumi foundation

No lie, I bought this because of the royal wedding. After that beautiful day, I went on the hunt for what makeup products Meghan Markle uses. I found out that she really likes the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation— but let’s be real, your girl doesn’t have $60 to drop on a foundation! But, I’m about to rock your world. Armani, YSL, and L’Oreal makeup products are made in the same factory. Yes, the high-end, expensive products are made side-by-side with the drugstore versions, because L’Oreal owns Armani. After a little research, I learned that the Loreal True Match Lumi foundation and the Armani Luminous Silk are super similar in ingredients.

I had to try this, and after a little swatch work, I picked shade W1-2 (the lightest I could find, but maybe still a little dark for fair-skinned girls). I’ve been loving this! I’ve been applying this with a wet sponge— EcoTools right now is my favorite— and it gives the perfect coverage without covering my freckles… which is another tip I got from Princess Meghan. And, it has SPF! Perfect for summer date nights or outdoor weddings.

2. IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream

I’m picky about BB/CC creams, and I initially was on the fence about this one. I actually meant to buy the new IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation, but I didn’t realize until after I first used it that I had actually bought the CC cream on accident. This stuff has SPF 50 which is amazing for people like me who constantly burn in the summer. I love that this CC Cream is good for your skin, but gives you just enough coverage to hide blemishes without being cake or heavy. This also blends great with the brand’s Bye Bye Under Eye concealer that I swear by! Warning, it does have a citrus like scent when you first pump it out of the tube.

3 & 6. Wet n Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder in “Precious Petals” and ColorIcon Baked Blush in “Don’t Flutter Yourself”

I bought these new WnW products at CVS and I haven’t seen them anywhere else yet. They’re part of the line’s new summer product launch. And the colors are all very sparkly and bright. “Precious Petals” is a light, bronzey gold highlight that really reminds me of the highlight in Chrissy Tiger’s Becca palette! But, 10x less expensive and I think it actually applies smoother. To be honest, it’s probably not the best shade for me… but I still love it! “Don’t Flutter Yourself” is a very light, glittery pink color that I actually like to use as a topper over my more peachy blushes, like Milani Luminoso. If you like the way light pinks look on you though (I do not) I think you will die over this! And at just $5, you should.

4. NYX Bright Idea Illuminating Stick in “Maui Suntan”

I know these are technically highlighting sticks, but I’ve been using mine as a cream bronzer. Hear me out— I’m not usually a big cream product person, but I saw @theblondemeatball post a picture talking about this product and it looked absolutely stunning on her. I was intrigued, and had to pick it up at ULTA! I use it by drawing a 3 on each side of my face— along the sides of my forehead, in the hollow of my cheek, and under my jaw— and blend out either using a wet makeup sponge or a small stippling brush. The Maui Suntan illuminating stick looks so beautiful and glowy for summertime! It also looks so natural and like you just got home from a beach vacation (without harming your skin!)

5. L’Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Lumi Highlighter

This was another one of my royal wedding makeup impulse purchases, but I’m pretty sure I had this at some point years and years ago. I bought this thinking it had a little more coverage like a concealer, but the “coverage” is actually really minimal. It’s more like a brightener and it gives a really beautiful, lit-from-within glow instead of being a chunky, glittery highlighter. I think on no-makeup days, this Magic Lumi Highlighter will be gorgeous with my tinted moisturizer under my eyes and on the high points of my face!

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I realized I haven’t updated ya’ll recently on my full face makeup routine!

If you don’t know, I love makeup. I don’t wear makeup every day, and most days to work I wear a CC cream instead of foundation. I love that the CC cream is lighter and gives me SPF for summer days, too!

But, I wanted to show you my full face look that I constantly go to for dinner dates, or going out on the town with my friends. I’m going to give you a step-by-step list of how I do my full face makeup, and show you a complete product lineup, too!

I was inspired to show you all the products together in one picture by one of my favorite bloggers, Glitter & Gingham. She did a similar post that made me want to pull out my products and show them off, too! If you don’t follow her, you definitely should.

Let’s get started!

Foundation & Concealer

1) Foundation! Again, I don’t reach for a full coverage foundation during the week, but if I’m trying to have my full face on then I always go for a good medium coverage, buildable, liquid foundation. My tried and true favorite is the Covergirl 3-in-1 foundation, but lately I have been trying out the Maybelline Super Stay foundation and I’ve been loving it! 

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I always mix in a little of my Maybelline Infallible Pro Glow on the back of my hand— the Pro Glow is lighter and more hydrating, so it thins out the other one a little. Actually, I do that with almost all my more full-coverage foundations! 

I go back and forth between a beauty sponge and a brush. My favorite sponge right now is the Eco Tools one that has a flat edge; my favorite brush is the flat top kabuki from Makeup Geek.

2) After I blend out my foundation, its time for brightener and concealer. I put these two in one step, because depending on the day I might do one or the other, or both. This day my zombie under eye circles were in full force, so I used both. First I put a little dab of this Maybelline Eraser in the brightener shade underneath my eyes in the dark spots. I do this pretty haphazardly, so don’t freak out about being messy. Then, I put my It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye on top and blend it out towards my cheekbones with a tapered kabuki brush from Makeup Geek. You can use a sponge too!

Just looking at this picture against the previous one, it’s insane how much concealer can transform your face as apposed to just foundation by itself!

3) Next, I like to brighten the high points of my face with a little more concealer. If I use Tarte Shape Tape under my eyes, I just use that for this step. When I use Bye Bye Undereye, I like to swap it out for the Maybelline Fit Me concealer for the rest of my face. I put a little on my chin, down my nose, and on my forehead just above the spot between my eyebrows. I use the same brush from the last step, or sponge, to blend that out.

4) Set it all down! You don’t have to do this step if you have dry skin, but I have pretty normal skin that sometimes gets shiny in the t-zone. I use the Coty Airspun powder to set the products under my eye and where I put concealer throughout my face. You can set your whole face if you feel like you need it! As I have gotten older, my skin’s gotten a lot less oily and I don’t always set my entire face.

Bronzer & Blush

5) Now the fun stuff comes. I didn’t contour with this look— but to be honest, I don’t contour very often. If I’m going to a black-tie event or a wedding, sure. But to go to Buffalo Wild Wings with my fiance? Nah. That’s why I use a really neutral bronzer like the Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer to bronze my face in the same areas you would contour. 

I follow the 3 rule, and bronze the sides of my forehead, the hollows of my cheek, and down onto my jaw (it looks like you’re moving your brush in a 3). Sometimes I take a little down my nose to give a sun kissed effect.

6) Blush is one of my favorite products, and I often feel like I overdo it. I don’t hate that look, though… Anyways, one of my longtime holy grail blushes is the Wet & Wild Ombre Blush in the Princess Daiquiris. It’s the best color for summer because it has both a light pink and a peachy tone, with subtle glitter. It’s pigmented, but it’s not like you’re going to do one brush stroke and put too much on. 

7) Highlighter is what makes us all feel Kardashian on the inside. The Makeup Revolution Vivid Baked Highlighters is a current favorite, but I also love the elf Illuminating palette, too. I use a small, Sonia Kashuk brush to buff a little bit on my cheekbones, above the arch of my eyebrow, and lightly down the bridge of my nose and on the tip. You can use it wet if you want a more vibrant look, but I like this subtle look for everyday wear.

Eyes & Brows

8) Time to look alive with a little mascara! I’m a firm believer in drugstore mascara, because I don’t think you need to spend big bucks for something that is essentially the same formula for half the price (or less). I always always start with Maybelline The Rocket mascara on top and bottom, because it has been my ride or die for a million years. It never lets me down! Sometimes I stop there, but sometimes I’ll add another coat or two of L’oreal Lash Paradise or Essence Lash Princess.

9) Brows are final! (other than lipstick, which I forgot to include in this tutorial so…) One of my favorite brow products is the Benefit Goof Proof pencil. I use the angled pencil to fill in my brows and underneath the arches, because I have some really noticeable bald spots. Then, I use the spoolie on the other side of the pencil and brush them through. If I’m feeling extra sassy, I’ll go in with the Soap And Glory Archery brow gel on top to make them look a little more fluffy.

10) And, for every day of my life, I end with some tinted chapstick. This is the pomegranate flavor from Burt’s Bees, and it has just a hint of color so your lips don’t look white. I usually don’t put on my lipstick until I get to where I’m going, so I don’t get it all over my water bottle or coffee cup… so I completely forgot to include that here. But, some days, the chapstick is all I wear.

Here are my favorite products at the moment that I mentioned, and you can tell they are are very well loved! 

I hope ya’ll enjoyed this tutorial! Let me know if you want to see more like it. Make sure to comment if you follow my routine and if it works for you!

This post is not sponsored; all opinions are my own.

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Ya’ll know I’m a drugstore girl at heart. While I have some pricey-er items in my makeup collection, the majority of it is from the drugstore! There’s so many great, affordable options, that it doesn’t make sense to shell out your hard-earned money for things that just have a popular brand name.

With all that being said, I try a lot of drugstore makeup… and occasionally, I try some not-so-great products. Keep in mind that what doesn’t work for me may very well work for you, but these are items that just didn’t work with my skin and with my normal makeup routine. No offense to any of these brands either, because I own things I love from these lines!

Have you tried any affordable makeup products that just didn’t work for you?

Happy drugstore shopping!

makeup, beauty, Ivana Hrynkiw, Southern Style Diaries

L’Oreal Paris Visible Lift Radiance Booster

I wanted to like this product so bad! I love the way it feels, and I love the way it makes my bare skin look. It feels so hydrating, yet not over-greasy on my oily skin. The problem is that any makeup I put over it— trust me, I’ve tried every foundation I have— falls apart! Foundation that normally looks amazing just totally crumbles on top of this and slides off my face. It also moves around when you try to put powders on top, which is annoying. I tired everything to make this guy work but sadly, I just don’t think it’s meant to be for us. I’m tossing!

NYX Gotcha Covered Waterproof Concealer

Ya’ll know how much I love NYX, and I was so excited to try this. It seemed at first glance like it could be a dupe for IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye…. sadly, it is not. I have the shade Ivory, and it still isn’t as light as I would like it to be for under my eyes. The consistency and texture is similar to BBU, but the coverage and staying power is not. You definitely can still see my dark circles through this, and you have to seriously powder to make the product set. Then, just several hours later its breaking apart. While usually NYX makes my holy grail products, this is going in the trash.

Maybelline Total Temptation Mascara

Eh, this isn’t necessarily trash… but it’s not something you need to spend your money on when there are SO many great mascaras right now at the drugstore! I was really excited for this product after one of my favorite YouTubers raved about it, but I’ve just been disappointed in the results. It’s not awful, but I don’t think it does anything for my lashes compared to other inexpensive options like Lash Paradise and Rocket Lash. The brush is also really big, and I somehow always get it all over my lid. I am going to finish the tube, but won’t be repurchasing.

Wet N Wild Eyeshadow Primer

I swear, this used to be so good! I used to use this all the time, and within the last several months I bought a new tube and it’s terrible. It comes out ok and goes on nicely, but it dries like glue and gives all shadows you put on top a really chalky finish. It also makes a very distinct line for where you have primer on, versus where you don’t… it’s hard to explain, but there’s no way to get clean lines for your crease color or your inner corner highlight! Not that I go super crazy with my eye shadow looks, but it’s still annoying to me. It’s also incredibly hard to take off, and I don’t need that in my life. I’ve already tossed in place of my Maybelline Fit Me concealer that I use as a primer.

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Some things never change, including beauty products. The things I have found that are my all-time favorites are things I use daily, and that I never have the urge to change. I often switch foundations, eye makeup, etc… but, some things are too good to stop using.

That’s what I wanted to talk about today and share with ya’ll– the products I use every single day, ones I KNOW live up to the hype, and I can definitely say I cannot stop using!

Do you have an all-time beauty favorite? Have you tried any of mine? Let me know! 

Coty Airspun Translucent Powder

This powder is amazing, and is truly a beauty staple. It’s been around since the beginning of time, and it works better than any product I have ever tried. I reach for it over my Laura Mercier Undereye Brightening Powder! A little goes a long way with this powder— just take a little bit in the cap on a stippling brush and dab it under your eyes, and your concealer is totally set. I like to use a little on my nose, chin, and forehead too to keep the shine away.

Some people are turned off by the smell (its like your grandma, seriously) but I strangely adore it. Also, one jar of this powder will probably last you until you die… so that’s a plus.

 

Find this in WalMart or drugstores, or order it on Amazon for $6.99

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer

Y’all know I am hopelessly addicted to this product. It’s about as full coverage as a concealer can get, minus slapping paint on your face (and there have been days where I wanted to do just that). A little goes a long way, so a few swipes under your eye can brighten your whole face… and your the tube lasts much longer than concealers you have to cake on. This stuff covers all my dark, purple-ish circles, doesn’t noticeably crease, and blends so well. There is literally nothing wrong with it, hence why I’ve used it every day for a year. Why fix what’s not broken, am I right?

 

Shape Tape is an Ulta exclusive. Buy it here for $27

Wet n Wild Makeup Brushes

I know I mention these all the time, but they are so good and so affordable! I have all of the Wet n’ Wild brushes that came out a little over a year ago, and I use them all. My face favorites are the small stippling brush and the blush brush; my eye favorites are the crease brush and the large flat brush. These brushes hold their shape— even after washing— and evenly distribute product without being streaky, like a lot of drugstore brushes can be. I will admit to you, I stocked up on these and have several backups in case they ever stop making them…

You can check out the full collection here, but you can find most all of the brushes in drugstores like Walgreens and CVS. And they start at 99 cents!

Ponds Cold Cream Cleanser

I first started using this after I saw it featured on the Today show as one of the oldest beauty products still being sold— and actually still being used by millions. I figured if it’s been around that long, it had to be good… I wasn’t wrong. This cleanser is AMAZING!

In the morning, I wash my face with a scrub. At night I use this to take off my makeup, cleanse, and moisturize my skin. It makes my nighttime routine so much easier by using this one product, instead of reaching for three, and it allows me to hop into bed so much faster! This cream has made a visible difference in the texture and feel of my skin since I started using it— my skin looks so much more hydrated and healthy! Bonus… it’s just about $8 for the big jar.

Try it out and you won’t regret it! Just $7.99 on Amazon Prime!

The Ordinary “Buffet” Multi-Technology Peptide Serum

I was never really into skincare (like I should be) until this product. This changed the game for me! Everything in this beauty line is so affordable, I had a hard time choosing which serum to go with. A super helpful employee at Ricky’s in NYC recommended this one to me, and I’m hooked!

Named the “buffet” because it’s got a little of everything, this little guy contains 11 skin-friendly amino acids and multiple hyaluronic acid complexes. Its perfect for a skincare newbie, and gets you a head start on anti-aging, too! Since I started using this, my skin has been so much more even, my pores a little smaller, and overall tighter. Must have!

Sephora now carries The Ordinary! Buy it here for $14.80

This post was not sponsored; all opinions are my own.

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Beauty

I have been meaning to try the new-ish Wet N Wild Photo Focus Foundation for a few months, but it wasn’t carried at my Walgreens. Recently, I found it at another Walgreens not too far from me, and I knew I had to try it.

I got 2 colors: Porcelain (the lightest shade) and Shell Ivory. Word to the wise- buy lighter/ warmer, than you think you need! I swatched Shell Ivory at the store and thought it looked great. After I purchased it and got in the car, I looked at my hand and it had turned PINK. Like, straight pink. I like my foundations to have a pink undertone- because that’s what my skin looks like naturally- but this was on another level.

I went back and bought Porcelain, which looked way too light but oxidized to a decent match. In the end, I used mostly Porcelain on my face with a few drops of Shell Ivory. The funny thing is, it turned out to be the perfect match.

According to Wet N Wild’s website, the product is tested in 7 lighting conditions to make sure it doesn’t give your face a white cast in flash photos. It says, “Your skin, only better. Our new high-performing, skin-perfecting foundation underwent major road testing under seven different photo lighting conditions to deliver flawless camera-ready makeup every time. Specially made with a matte, light-diffusing complex to give your skin #nofilter perfection.”

Applying the PhotoFocus Foundation

I took pictures of my face right after I finished my makeup, so you can see what the finished look is like immediately. For reference, I applied with a sponge.  No, my pictures didn’t have flash because I’m dumb and didn’t think about that until right now.

Southern Style Diaries, Ivana Hrynkiw, Photo Focus foundation Photo Focus foundation

My first impression was that I LOVED the Photo Focus foundation. It has a beautiful, satin finish and blends so easily with my concealer and other powders. While it was work to find the perfect shade, I ended up with probably the best foundation match I have ever had.

(Yes, my neck looks darker in these pictures, but I went a little hard with the self tanner the night before!)

Photo Focus foundation Photo Focus foundation

Throughout the day, my skin looked amazing. I didn’t use a shine sheet or any powders because I wanted to show ya’ll a true wear test, and honestly I never really felt like I needed to! I would have liked to around 2 p.m., but it wasn’t a dire situation or anything.

12.5 hours later…

I had a crazy day, which made for a really good test for the foundation’s staying power. I went to work, had several interviews, ate three meals, went to the grocery store, and tidied up my house… and at 7 p.m. (approximately 12.5 hours after applying in the morning) it still looked pretty good.

While I wouldn’t say my foundation didn’t budge, it was probably only something I would notice or you would have to be close to see. It settled into lines around my mouth and nose, which ended up moving around and rubbing off a little– but 90 percent of my makeup was still in place.

To be fair, I applied this with a sponge– I usually prefer applying my foundations with a brush, but I wanted to try a sponge for my first impression here. I find if it looks good with a sponge, it will look even better with a brush! Most foundations on my skin tend to have a better staying power with a brush.

Overall, the Photo Focus foundation did amazing things for me. It is a medium coverage, matte but not spackle on your face, insanely affordable product… I’m sold. I could go on about how much I loved it, but I’m trying to be brief here. I will say, I think the website’s description is spot on.

Basically, I’m in love with Wet N Wild’s Photo Focus Foundation and I think it has already made its way into my every day rotation. The foundation is $5.99 online and in Walgreens stores, so it won’t break your break… and you may just fall in love like I did.

Buy it here on Amazon

This post was not sponsored; all opinions are my own

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