SPRING HAUL ✿ Walgreens, H&M, LUSH, Old Navy + ULTA

I am back with a new Spring Clothing and Makeup Haul! I was sick the past week and a total hot mess so needless to say it's been a while since I've uploaded/updated anything! But no worries I have quite a substantial Haul to share with you so with that being said, let's hop right in...

♥ Products Mentioned (in order of appearance):
 ✿ Walgreens ~
   ¤ Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation
     - 200 Soft Beige 
      ~ Retail Price: $5.49|Sale Price: $2.74|Savings: $2.75
   ¤ Rimmel London SunShimmer Maxi Bronzer
     - 003 Sun Queen
      ~ Retail Price: $5.99|Sale Price: $2.99|Savings: $3.00
   ¤ Rimmel London Scandaleyes Eye Shadow Stick
     - 007 Gossip Green
      ~ Retail Price: $4.49|Sale Price: $2.24|Savings: $2.25
   ¤ Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick
     - 642 Nude Delight
      ~ Retail Price: $7.49| they didn't give me the discount for some reason :(
   ¤ Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer
     - 500 Luna
     - 102 Nova 
       ~ Retail Price: $4.79|Sale Price: $2.39|Savings: $2.40 (each)
   ¤ Milani Baked Blush 
     - 10 Delizioso Pink 
       ~ Retail Price: $9.49|Sale Price: $6.99|Savings: $2.50
 ✿ H&M ~
   ¤ Navy Blue Jersey Tank Top 
       ~ Retail Price: $5.95 
   ¤ Cerise (pink) Jersey Tank Top
       ~ Retail Price: $12.95
   ¤ Rose Floral Blouse 
       ~ Retail Price: $14.95
   ¤ Ivory/Cream Lace Fancy Jersey
       ~ Retail Price: $12.95
   ¤ White Skull Jersey Tank Top 
       ~ Retail Price: $14.95
 ✿ LUSH ~
   ¤ Feeling Younger Skin Tint 
       ~ Retail Price: $18.95
 ✿ Old Navy ~
   ¤ Black + White Stripe Fitted Jersey Tank
       ~ Retail Price: $8.50|Sale Price: $2.00|Savings: $6.50
   ¤ Solid Black Fitted Jersey Tank
       ~ Retail Price: $8.50|Sale Price: $2.00|Savings: $6.50
   ¤ Solid Navy Fitted Jersey Tank
       ~ Retail Price: $8.50|Sale Price: $2.00|Savings: $6.50
   ¤ Solid Pink Fitted Jersey Tank
       ~ Retail Price: $8.50|Sale Price: $2.00|Savings: $6.50
   ¤ White + Coral Stripe Fitted Jersey Tank
       ~ Retail Price: $8.50|Sale Price: $2.00|Savings: $6.50
   ¤ White + Navy Stripe Fitted Jersey Tank
       ~ Retail Price: $8.50|Sale Price: $2.00|Savings: $6.50
   ¤ Solid White Fitted Jersey Tank
       ~ Retail Price: $8.50|Sale Price: $2.00|Savings: $6.50
   ¤ Lavender + White Stripe Perfect Tank 
       ~ Retail Price: $8.50|Sale Price: $5.00|Savings: $3.50
   ¤ Grey + White Stripe Perfect Tank
       ~ Retail Price: $8.50|Sale Price: $5.00|Savings: $3.50
   ¤ Sea Green + White Stripe Perfect Tank
       ~ Retail Price: $8.50|Sale Price: $5.00|Savings: $3.50
  ✿ ULTA ~
   ¤ Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush
    - Peach Beach
    - Candy Glow
       ~ Retail Price: $30.00|Sale Price: $15.00|Savings: $15.00 (each)

Thanks so much for stopping by and until next time, I hope that you have a beautiful day!

♥ Katie

Winter Skin Must Haves

Harsh winter conditions can definitely have an effect on our skin so, naturally, its very important to change up your skincare routine during the colder season. HSN Beauty Blogger Lara Ramos shared an awesome post on "6 Easy Tips To Help Your Skin Survive Winter" that inspired me to share my favorite skincare products to use during this time! In Lara's post she recommends products to use for the face, body, hands and nails and everything she suggested is amazing. I cannot say enough good things about the post and I encourage you to check it out! 

  Below I have listed my favorite skincare products based on Lara's "6 Easy Tips" and then decided to add a couple extra tips of my own! 

 ♥ Taking care of dry winter skin~

   Exfoliating is important not only for our skin, but for our face and lips as well. When exfoliating you are helping to unclog pores, soften and brighten the skin, allows the skin to absorb other skincare products better and most importantly to the winter months, gets rid of dry skin! 

  ¤ For the body: I recommend an Aromatherapy Body Scrub from Bath and Body Works. Adding a quick gentle scrubbing to your shower routine can greatly improve your skin's overall health. I love this product not only because of the Aromatherapy aspect, but also because of the essential oils and natural ingredients that leave my skin feeling soft. The 13oz jar retails for $16 and is sometimes on sale for $8! 

  ¤ For the face: I have sensitive skin so my favorite exfoliating product to use is the Smoothing Facial Scrub from Simple Sensitive Skin Experts. This product is great because of how gentle it is. Over exfoliating is good for no one, so using gentle products especially on the face is vital! This facial scrub contains rice granules to gently remove dead skin cells and it also contains Pro-Vitamin B5 and Vitamin E to improve the skin's condition.
 ¤ For the lips: Let's face it, nothing ruins a good makeup day like dry, chapped lips. Not only do they hurt, chapped lips can cause creases on our lips where we don't want them especially when wearing lipstick! Not to fear, LUSH'S MINT JULIPS LIP SCRUB is here!!! In all seriousness, if you haven' tried this lip scrub you are definitely missing out. It has a sweet peppermint flavor that leaves a "just brushed my teeth" clean feeling and a yummy aftertaste on the lips. Plus, its a handmade, all-natural product so you really can't beat that.

 ♥ Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize~
  Once the skin has been exfoliated its crucial to re-hydrate the skin by moisturizing. Moisturizers have been proven to treat dry, damaged skin by locking in moisture (water) in the outermost layer of the skin and since we just exfoliated this is the perfect opportunity to moisturize! In all honesty, a good moisturizer really depends on your skin type. As I previously mentioned, I have sensitive skin so keep in mind that what works for me may not necessarily work for you. 

  ¤ For the body: For the tougher parts of my skin like my elbows and heels I like to use a body butter, specifically the Be Enchanted Body Butter from Bath and Body Works. This is an intense, thick lotion that is perfect for the really dry parts of the body. In other areas I like to use something lighter and with a lighter scent like the Dream Cream Body Cream from LUSH. This product is perfect for those of us who have sensitive skin because of its calming properties and is effective in aiding dry or chapped skin. 
  ¤ For the face: Simple Sensitive Skin Experts does it again with the Protecting Light Moisturizer that's perfect to use in the mornings. It's a lightweight formula that not only has skin loving ingredients, but also suncare protection with SPF15. In the evening I like to hydrate my skin with a heavier moisturizer like Elizabeth Arden Good Night's Sleep Restoring Cream. This in an intensely moisturizing cream so a little goes a long way! 


  ¤ For the lips: Nothing feels better on chapped lips than a really great lip balm and although there are tons available on the market not all of them are actually moisturizing! One of my recent favorite lip moisturizers, Rose Salve, is by a brand called C.O. Bigelow that I found at Bath and Body Works. If you didn't know C.O. Bigelow is the oldest apothecary in America, established in 1836 and they offer a wide variety of products! The Rose Salve conditions dry and chapped skin and can be used on the lips, face, cuticles, elbows and knees! 

 ♥ Not so squeaky clean~ 
  Although cleansing the skin is an important step to any beauty regime its important not to overly cleanse the skin during the winter months because as Lara mentioned, we don't want to strip and irritate the skin. For this, gentle and calming products are always suggested. 
  ¤ For the body: Honey I Washed The Kids bar soap from LUSH is my favorite soap to use during the winter. It smells delicious and contains honey water and aloe to soften and moisturize. 
  ¤ For the face: It should come at no surprise that I love the Simple Sensitive Skin Experts Line and I have another great product to recommend, the Moisturizing Facial Wash. This gentle moisturizing cleanser leaves the skin feeling clean without over-drying and it also nourishes the skin by adding pure ingredients with added vitamins. 

 ♥ Don't over-dry it~ 
 Winter does a fantastic job of drying out your skin, trust me-Mother Nature doesn't need any help in that department, so make sure that the products you are using aren't over drying you! Above I mentioned great non-drying cleansers and moisturizers, but another great step to add to your skin care routine is toner! I usually only use toners on my face, but they can also be used on the body (if you feel like it, why not). Although Simple Skin Care does offer an outstanding facial toner, my personal favorites are actually by LUSH. The Eau Roma Water and Breath of Fresh Air are two gentle, refreshing toners that actually help in locking in moisture and helps prep the skin for moisturizers. 

 ♥ Can't get enough hydration~ 
  Toning and moisturizing are both important steps to hydrate the skin, but why not add even more moisture? I recommend using a moisturizing facial mask once or twice a week to really up your skin care routine. Oatifix fresh face mask by LUSH is perfect for sensitive, dry skin to help keep skin feeling nourished and soft, and it smells really good too! 

 ♥ Hands and nails protection~ 

 The cold weather effects my hands the most and I can't stand having that over-dry feeling, it hurts! Bath and Body Works has a huge collection of hand creams, my favorite being the Pink Chiffon Nourishing Hand Cream that contains Shea Butter and Vitamin E. It comes in a 2.0oz container which is perfect for throwing in my purse making it easily accessible whenever I need it.
 For the cuticles, I like to give a little extra attention during winter so for that I use Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream. Its an intensive care cuticle cream that takes care of dry or brittle cuticles, but is gentle enough to use daily and nightly. 


♥ Under eye area~ 
 Eye creams are, in my opinion, essential additions to your skincare routine. That under eye area is extremely sensitive so its important to remember to take care during this harsh season. I recommend using a lighter eye cream for the daytime like, the Simple Soothing Eye Balm from Simple Sensitive Skin Experts. This eye balm is a lightweight formula that soothes the delicate eye area. It also contains Vitamin E for moisture and Shea Butter and Jajoba oils to replenish. 
 In the evening, I love to use Elizabeth Arden Millenium Eye Renewal Cream. This is a thicker formula than the Simple eye balm, that moisturizes and helps to ease the look of dryness and fine lines. 

 I hope that you enjoyed my Winter Skin Must Haves, be sure to check out Lara's post here and let me know in the comment section what your favorite products are to use during winter! Thanks so much for taking the time to read my post and until next time, I hope that you have a beautiful day.

♥ Katie

B&BW, LUSH, MAC + VS HAUL ♥

I did some after-the-new-year shopping and wanted to share what I got with you! So with that being said, It's HAUL time! 

♥ Products shown:
~ BathandBodyWorks ~
 ¤ 3-Wick Candles
  - Tuscan Herbs
  - Dolce 
  - London Calling Tea & Lemon
  - Villa Bergamot 
 ¤ Anti-Bacterial Gentle Foaming Hand Soap
  - Sicilian Lemon
 ¤ Creamy Body Wash
  - Pink Chiffon
  - White Citrus 
  - Paris Amour
 ¤ Shimmer Bomb
  - Japanese Cherry Blossom
 ¤ Eau De Toilette 
  - Pink Chiffon

~ LUSH ~
 ¤ Eau Roma Toner Water
 ¤ Breath of Fresh Air Toner Water
 ¤ Mask of Magnaminty
 ¤ Lovely Jubblies 
 ¤ Snow Globe soap 

~ MAC ~ 
¤ Prep + Prime Highlighter in Light Boost
¤ 217 Blending Brush

~ Victoria Secret ~
¤ 4- Pocket PeaCoat in Ink Blot  

If you have any questions on any of the products I mentioned or if you'd like to see a review on the products, leave me a comment here or on my video!! Thanks so much for stopping by and until next time, I hope that you have a beautiful day!

♥ Katie

My Summer Essentials ♥ Mirrors Magazine

August is almost over, but it's still HOT HOT HOT where I live. So today I'm going to be sharing My Summer Essentials with you. Enjoy:

♥ Products Shown:
¤   Hawaiian Tropic Shimmer Effect Lotion Sunscreen UVB/SPF 20
¤   Kiss My Face Sunscreen Sun Spray Oil SPF 30
¤   Coopertone Sport Ultra Sweatproof SPF 50
¤   Hawaiian Tropic Shimmer Effect After Sun Moisturizer
¤   NIVEA Sun-Kissed Radiant Skin Gradual Tanner & Daily Lotion
¤   ULTA Self-Tanning Applicator Mitt
¤   Neutrogena Pre-Sunless Scrub Exfoliating Tan-Prep
¤   LUSH Eau Roma Water Toner Water
¤   LUSH Mint Julips Lip Scrub
¤   EOS Lip Balm in Watermelon
¤   Laura Mercier Foundation Primer in Radiance
¤   SEPHORA Anti-Shine Foundation Primer
¤   Urban Decay De Slick Oil-Control Makeup Setting Spray
¤   Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Setting Spray
¤   Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfecteor B.B. Cream in Light/Medium SPF15
¤   Tarte Maracuja Miracle Foundation in Fair SPF 15
¤   Physicians Formula Healthy Wear SPF 50 Bronzer in Light
¤   NARS Laguna Bronzer
¤   Milani Baked Bronzer in Luminoso
¤   Sleek Makeup Blush By 3 Lace Palette
¤   Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in Ivory
¤   LORAC Perfectly Lit in Spotlight
¤   MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Redhead
¤   Benefit Cosmetics High Beam
¤   Urban Decay Naked Palette
¤   NYX Slide On, Glide On, Stay On & Definitely A Turn On Waterproof Eye liner in Azure & Esmeralda
¤   e.l.f. Matte Lip Color in Coral
¤   Coastal Scents Smacks in Coral Funk
¤   Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butters in Creme Brulee and Juicy Papaya
¤   Maybelline Colorsensational Vivids Lipstick in Shocking Coral
¤   China Glaze Nail Lacquer in Shocking Pink (neon), Champagne Kisses, and Flip Flop Fantasy

   

My First LUSH HAUL ♥

Happy Friday everyone! 

I'm really excited to share this video with you guys! I went into LUSH the other day for the very first time and immediately fell in love. I'll have to admit that it was pretty hard to contain myself from purchasing the entire store, but I did manage to get some really great items! Check out what I bought on my first visit to LUSH: 

♥ Products shown: 

¤ Honey I Washed The Kids soap

¤ Demon In The Dark soap 

¤ Ice Blue soap

¤ Mint Julips Lip Scrub

¤ Eau Roma Toner Water

If you have any favorite LUSH products, please share them with me here! I'd love to know what you like to buy when you go to Lush! I really hope that you enjoyed today's post, thanks so much for stopping by and until next time I hope that you have a beautiful day! 

♥ Katie