Summer Favorites Pt. 2: Hair Care, Beauty, & Skincare

Summer Favorites Pt. 2: Hair Care, Beauty, & Skincare

Friday, September 4, 2020

While Fall is right around the corner, I wanted to make sure I shared my FAVORITE beauty products from this summer. I have discovered a lot of new brands and products that I absolutely love and that really are game changers in my routine! 

Hair Care:

The Good Stuff: Volumizing & Hydrating Foam- I LOVE this stuff! I never feel like their is extra product in my hair, but yet I can feel a difference in my hairs health and texture.

The Good Stuff: No Rinse Color Hair Conditioner - Since I dye my hair I love using this to help my color last and it also smells amazing! 

Dove Dry Shampoo - I have been using this same dry shampoo since college and always go back to it because it works. It doesn't have a horrible white cast and it also leaves your hair fresh. 

T3 Wand - I know a lot of people use and talk about the T3 wand, and I can definitely say that it is worth the type (and the price). I love the shape of the barrel (and the fact that I can buy other sizes). My hair also lasts two days with these curls which is a double bonus! (plus, it doesn't make your hair smell fried)

Kristin Ess Detangler - This is my go to detangler because it is simple, fragrance free, and helps me feel more confident about brushing my hair without damaging it. 

CALA Detangling Hair Brush - While we are on the topic of tangled hair, I recently discovered the CALA detangling brush and it is absolutely amazing! I love that it is curved and contours to my head. Honestly I think this brush is better than the Wet brushes. 

Clairol 6R Light Auburn Hair Dye - This summer I have been trying out a new hair dye, and have been using the light auburn 6R shade from Clairol. I really like the natural shade of this color, but the only downside is the vibrancy in the color doesn't last as long as I would like. 

Skincare:

Cerave Foaming Face Wash - This face wash is all the hype on TikTok and Youtube and it definitely should be because it is such a great product. I used to use this in High School and only just started using it again this summer. I love that it is gentle and full of great ingredients that build up your skin. 

Cerave Moisturizing Cream - I always feel that my skin gets super dry with changes in the weather, so I have been living for Cerave's moisturizing cream. 

Ordinary Niacinamide & Zinc Serum - This is another one of those products that has blown up on the internet, but I actually first used it about a year ago and just picked it up again this summer. I love the ingredients in it that are great for breakout prone skin. 

Urban Skin RX: Clear Skin Cleansing Balm - This is quite a unique product that I have really been loving in helping keep my hormonal breakouts at bay. It has sulfur which helps with breakout prone skin, plus you can also use it as a mask. 

First Aid Beauty Sunscreen - This sunscreen is awesome! I have been consistently using it this summer and even use just this (no makeup) on some days. This sunscreen is mineral based also tinted. 

Beauty: 

Burts Bees Peppermint Lip Balm - This is my favorite lip balm of all time! I love the refreshing feel of pepermint and it always helps keep my lips unchapped. 

Glossier Stretch Concealer (G12) - I never thought I would be a glossier fan and then I tried it and they changed my mind! The stretch concealer is the main foundation I use, and just apply it to the areas I need a bit of coverage. My favorite makeup artist, Katie Jane Hughes uses this concealer all the time in her looks, and it really does work and give the best natural finish. 

Glossier Cloud Paint (Dawn) - I love a good cream paint and couldn't pass up trying Glossier's cloud paint in Dawn for the perfect peachy shade, and I absolutely love it! 

Florence by Mills Brow Gel (honey) - I have recently gotten into using brow gel for a more natural brow style and the Brow Gel from Florence by Mills brand at Ulta is one of the only red/auburn colors that I have found. 

Have you tried any of these products?

- Madison

Day to Night Makeup Routine

Day to Night Makeup Routine

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Have you ever wondered how you can take an everyday makeup look and "glam" it up for an evening? Today I am going to show you how to quickly achieve this with only 3 things. What are those you ask? You will just have to watch the video to find out:)

Below I listed and linked the products I used for my original "every day" makeup look as well as my 3 go to products to glam up my daily makeup look! 

ORIGINAL LOOK:

FOUNDATION: Tarte Amazonian Clay "Fairly Light Beige" 

CONCEALER: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer 01

BROWS: Christie Brinkley Take a Bow Brow Defining Pencil "Brunette"

MASCARA: Maybelline Total Temptation 

CHEEKS & EYESHADOW: Christie Brinkley Cheek Chic Color and Contour Powder Blush "Thrill" 

GLAM STEPS:

EYESHADOW: Stila Glitter and Glow Liquid Eyeshadow "Smoldering Satin"

LASHES: ESQIDO LASHES "Little Black Lash"

LIPSTICK: Revlon Ultra HD Matt Lipstick "Passion" 

How do you GLAM up a look?

Are you a fan of false lashes?

- Madison 

How I keep my hair healthy between trims

How I keep my hair healthy between trims

Monday, September 4, 2017

I think we can all agree that being a "shampoo snob" or "hair snob" comes naturally to many of us. We love to find shampoo and conditioner that smells amazing while also making our hair feel great. However, hair care doesn't end with shampoo and conditioner, nor does it start with frequent trims. What happens between trims is honestly one of the most important steps in how we treat our hair and keep it healthy. 

I don't get my hair trimmed as often as I should, probably only about twice a year. Nevertheless, I am still very focused on keeping my hair healthy, smooth, and unbroken. My typical hair routine every morning is to curl or straighten it if I am going out, so you can imagine how dry and broken my hair can become. If you didn't know, I actually used to have REALLY long hair...like almost to my waist long hair! However, I somehow decided that I wanted a change and chopped it all off  to shoulder length and then almost a bob. Needless to say I am ready for long hair again, so keeping my hair healthy is a top priority. 

When it comes to hair care in between trims there are two things I focus on: hair serums or hair oil and masks. My two go to products are Suave's Biotin Infusion Anti-Breakage Serum and Briogeo's Don't Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Mask. Suave's anti-breakage serum is amazing and has really helped my hair become stronger and unbroken amidst heat from straighteners and wands. I use just a few pumps of the biotin serum every night and gently rub it through the tips of my damp hair. Apart from the serum, I just recently received the Briogeo deep conditioning hair mask complementary of Influenster and OH MY GOSH I have NEVER met a hair mask this amazing! After just one use my hair felt like it just got a fresh trim, is amazingly soft and easy to brush. What I love most is that Briogeo's products don't contain sulfates, parabens, silicone's, or artificial colors. The secret to it's charm is the unique blend of avocado, sweet almond & argan oils as well as essential hair vitamins and biotin that repair damaged hair, enhance shine, and reduce breakage by up to 81%! 

**This post is not sponsored, although I received Briogeo's mask free from Influenster. All opinions are my own from experience**

What are your go to hair treatments?

-Madison

Summer Makeup Tutorial

Summer Makeup Tutorial

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Happy Wednesday lovelies! I thought I would change things up a bit today and share a tutorial with you all.....actually its a summer makeup tutorial! Now, I know you all are itching for fall to arrive just as much as I am, but knowing the weather here in Texas I will probably have to endure at lease another month of summer type weather. Therefore, if you ever wondered what my go to is in the hot months and sunshine days this is the tutorial for you!

To be honest this summer my makeup routine was GREATLY influenced by Linda (pictured below) from the movie My All American. Not only do I love the styles of the movie #1960's, and totally incorporated that era into my summer wardrobe, but I also loved the light, natural, and peachy tones that Linda always wore. 

Here is a list of the products that I used:

Primer: Rimmel London "Fix & Perfect Pro"
Base Foundation: COVERGIRL "tru BLEND" in shade i1
Conceiler: COVERGIRL "Ready Set Gorgious" in fair
Highlighter: MAYBELLINE "Fit Me" in Porcelain 110
Loose Powder: CLINIQUE blended face powder in 08 Transparencey neutral
Blush: e.l.f. "Candid Coral"
Eye Shadow: e.l.f. gold compact in "Enchanted"
White Highlight Shadow: MAYBELLINE white compact
Brows: MAYBELLINE "BROWprecise" micro crayon in light brown
Mascara: REVLON "Volume + Length" magnified in Blackened Brown

Lipstick: Rimmel London "Lasting Finish Katie" in shade 12

Granted, my hair is not done in this video so if I wasn't filming a hair tutorial (HERE) right after this makeup tutorial that day, than I would have TOTALLY done a 1960's style to go along with this look. However, total transparency is that my hair is in a messy bun when I wake up in the morning and usually stays that way till my makeup is done! 

All in all, I hope you all enjoyed the video:)

Are you a fan of natural peachy makeup pallets? 

Have you ever used any of these products?

-Madison

4 Easy Short Hairstyles

4 Easy Short Hairstyles

Friday, April 22, 2016

I thought it was high time I did another hairstyle idea post. Quite honestly it makes me chuckle thinking about how these hairstyle posts come to life because it usually involves me running around my room 20 minutes before class and snapping pictures!! This time my hair is about three inches shorter than it was in the last hairstyle post so here are 4 easy hairstyles for all of you who have short hair (though these can easily go either way). 

 First up is "The Flip" and it is everything it sounds like....just take a curling iron or straightener and curl the ends of your hair up, by doing this you get a flip! I used to wear this style ALL the time when I was growing up and now that I have short hair again it works quite nicely and offers a different look and feel than simply curled hair. 

Number two is a style that I honestly don't wear enough but after putting it together for this post I fell in love with how simple and different this ponytail was. It isn't your typical ponytail however, because not only does it have wispy little hairs in the front framing your face, but it also incorporates a classic and girly ribon which completely reminds me of the hairstyles that Rebecca from A Clothes Horse would wear. After fitting in this shoot on Tuesday morning I ended up wearing this hairstyle for the rest of the day!

Number three is easy peasy as all you need is a headband! Granted, you might have slightly unruly hair that threatens to spread out in every way and thus you have to tame it down, but even after you quickly do that you just throw in a quick headband of your choice. This particular headband is a gathered cotton headband I picked up at Forever 21 while back and I simply LOVE the blue color. With this style and variations of it (depending on the headband) I have come to realize how easy short hair is when you just use a headband. 

Last but not least, and a style that takes me back to my own pigtail running around days is this cute and quick style:) I have always loved how pigtails look and how they take you back to your youth, but I never wear them enough. However, when putting together these styles for the post I quickly discovered how easy this style was for my short hair and how much I liked it! Pretty sure this will be a recurring style this summer.

There are two weeks left of school....I can't believe this semester is almost over! When I reach the last day I might just have to have an impromptu dance party in my room complete with crazy dance moves and a brush microphone....whose with me?
For any of you wondering "Madison, why didn't you talk about what you are wearing?" As much as I could easily talk about what I am wearing in these pictures I figured I would make you all wait:) Have no fear dear readers, this look, dungarees and all will be getting photographed this weekend and will hit the blog sometime next week!!

For now I am off for a full weekend of blogging "stuff" complete with multiple photo shoots and maybe even a thrift video of I have some time:)

Do you have short hair like me?
Would you or have you ever used one of these styles?
What will you do at the end of your semester?

-Madison

4 Lazy Day Styles

4 Lazy Day Styles

Friday, January 15, 2016

Lets start with a story shall we......it all started this cheery Friday morning as I sat up in bed. I looked at my clock and realized i had slept past my alarm (turns out the volume was down). Then I started planning out what I would get done before I had class....thinking that class wasn't until 2:00 pm. Then it dawned on me....class was at 10:00 am and it was almost 9:00 am!!! My mind immediately jumped into "get ready as fast as you can without looking like you just got out of bed" mode and I started scrambling around my room!!! 

Needless to say I ended up going to class wearing a comfy oversized sweater (yesterdays Goodwill find), skinny jeans, combat boots, red lipstick, and a felt hat to top it off since I didn't have time to do my hair. However, that got me thinking about what I can easily do with my hair in a short amount of time or when in a rush and I came up with these four choices: 

pin it, spout it, knot it, or top it. 

I call this "pin it" and it is easy peasy and looks great for most any occasion. All you have to do is pin a small section of hair back on each side. This style is very similar to a half-up but looks a lot more put together. I have been wearing this style quite frequently the last couple of weeks and love how it lets me wear my hair down straight, natural, or curly without it being in my face. 

This style is what I call "spout it" as it looks quite like a whale spout! Now, I will admit that I don't wear this style as often as I do others, but for those of you who like something a little more modern and edgy this would be perfect! Just pull a small section of hair on top of your head and secure it with a hair tie. After you have secured it with the hair tie make sure to pull your hair tight and give the "spout" some volume . 

Number 3 is what we all know as the "top knot." This style is my go to on lazy days when I don't want to do anything with my hair. Oddly though, while top knots often looks easy to secure, it often takes me at least five tries and a few bobby pins to get it right. However, I will say that since my hair is shorter now I have found it much easier to execute. 

Lastly, we have the easiest and my current favorite Lazy Day style...."top it" off with a hat! We always see people who throw on a ball cap when they are having a bad hair day or don't have time to do their hair, but throwing on a felt hat is extra Chic! I will say that this look is a current trend in fashion and style throughout the magazines.....I don't see it as often on campus (more ball caps), but when your ensemble consists of something a little more trendy than a tshirt and jeans than a felt hat is the way to go:)

Therefore, the next time you find yourself crunched for time or only having 45 minutes to get ready for class these are 4 easy options that will work with most hair type and length for a quick, easy, and chic hairstyle. 

Are any of these styles ones you have tried before?

Which one would you wear most?

-Madison

//Beauty Parlor// 30's-40's Updo

//Beauty Parlor// 30's-40's Updo

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Maybe it's the summer or maybe it's me, but I have been obsessed with donning and creating new vintage hairstyles to wear. I used to do simple and easy things with my hair but now my outlook is "Go big or go home" (in a totally not proud way). I guess its just that hair is such an important part of a vintage ensemble? If you wear a perfectly vintage outfit but just wear your hair in a ponytail or straight, it takes away from the uniqueness of wearing vintage. Therefore, if you really want to feel like you stepped out of time than by all means throw your hair up into something fabulous!! 

Evidently you have already studied the header for this post and discovered that I have a new Blog Series that will be hitting the blog every once and awhile...YAY!!! This series is all about the "Beauty Parlor" so I will  focus on hair, maybe a little makeup, nails, and possibly a few facials here and there! I am sooo excited to share this series with you all, so without further ado lets get started.....

The backbone to every vintage hairstyle are the basic tools of course. Then there is the "Oh so important" hairspray! Now, I have had my fair share of going through different hairsprays so in  the above picture are my Top 3 picks in order of their abilities and performance. If you find a good hairspray that does what you want it to, your hairstyle is bound to hold and stay longer. Then of course you need bobby pins, a brush, and a teasing comb to get volume and hold. 

The hairstyle featured today is what I would assume to be a mid 30's to early 40's updo. I tend to think of the 30's when I see this hairstyle, however I have also seen it used in the 40's. Interestingly, this hairstyle was the result of a failed attempt to pin curl my hair (lets just say I need practice). Nonetheless, the slightly curly hair did not go to waste as I decided to try re-pin curling it on top of my head! I started with putting my hair in a high pony tail and left my long curly bangs out in front. Then I re-pin curled my hair around my pony tail as well as my bangs on the very top of my head. I was thoroughly surprised with the results:) I added a flower to the style and headed off to work, mind you I felt like I had truly stepped out of a different time (that is what a good hairstyle will do for you). 

 

Will I attempt this hairstyle again? Most definitely, but only if my hair is curly. It definitely took more time than other styles but the results were worth it. If I wanted to, I could have even left it in till the next day and then taken it down to have curls? I do however need to work on my fly away's, but I think I can fix those by using setting lotion. 

I hope you lovely readers enjoyed this Beauty Parlor post and wish to see more like them! 

Cheerio until next week!!!

Have you ever attempted a hairstyle similar to this?

How do you manage fly away's and frizz?

Do you want to see more Beauty Parlor posts?