Mommy Beauty, an updated routine

I've been back at work now for two weeks and that means I've had to get up and look presentable at 6:30 am every morning.  I don't need to be glamorous for my job but I do need to look neat and put together. However, I also have to get my daughter ready for daycare, my pump bag ready for work, pack my lunch, make a breakfast - its much more work than before baby.  I've cut down my routine dramatically - I do try to pack as much of my meal as I can the night before and I try to shower / blow dry my hair at night to help save time.

A few makeup items have really helped me

This routine takes 6-7 minutes.  Tarte BB cream is awesome, it blurs any redness and brightens my face.  It also works as a mattifier, though I usually have to use face lotion underneath it.  Benefit Boi-ing concealer is the best at hiding my undereye circles and I tend to use Tarte bronzer all over my face and neck...because I'm paper white and need a bit of color.  Bobbi Brown Pale Pink blush and Bobbi Brown Sandwashed Pink add color...and since I have limited mommy room in my diaper bag, this lipstick and one chapstick are the only two beauty products that made the cut. I don't always have time for eyeshadow but usually I reach for foolproof neutral colors like Bootycall and Foxy from the Naked 2 palette. I have to do my brows with Anastasia brow powder and a swipe of Tarte mascara finishes the look.  It's quick, it's easy, and I don't even have to think about it.

Now for hair.  I just don't have time to fix it every day.  A ponytail, a top knot, or a bun are my choices.  I can leave it with natural curl but I will need a cut soon to get it layered.  I don't care to put the effort in to curl it everyday...especially with NC humidity fighting my hard work.  I'm due for a trim and color in the upcoming weeks and I'm seriously thinking about getting a mommy chop.  Isn't it a terrible idea to get a haircut after a big life event...like, giving birth?  I have such a hard time making decisions like this, I've had too many "bad" haircuts in my life.  Oh and this week my hair has started falling out, I was warned it would happen but it is alarming when you see clumps of hair fall out.  It is actually a good thing for me though, my hair is so thick right now that I have difficulty styling it.  Anyway, I've pinned some hair inspiration for a possibly mom cut...

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via Google images

I'll be making a decision in the next two weeks.

Beauty Wishlist

Because sometimes it's fun to try new things...

Beauty Wishlist by carolinabelle84 featuring hourglass cosmetics

1.  I'm finally getting bored of my Naked 2 palette.  I've used it regularly for almost two years and it's time for a change.  This palette is the stuff of dreams.  

2.  I will need foundation in the next month or so and I'm looking for something new.  I've heard great things about the Hourglass Immaculate foundation, since I have oily / combo skin, I'm definitely interested in it's claims to control shine.  

3.  Speaking of Tarte, the lipsurgence pencil in Amused could be the best summer berry color for my skin tone.  

4.  Not sure if I'd feel comfortable spending this kind of change on blush but I've heard the best things about Hourglass ambient powders and the Diffused Heat is so beautiful.

5.  As soon as my Nars bronzer is finished I'm going to try this one from Tarte.  

Recent Skin Care Routine

Morning: Aveeno Positively Radiant Moisturizer, Clinique Turnaround Serum, Murad Acne Clarifying Cleanser

Evening: Clinique Acne Solutions 3 step skin care (but I don't care much for the lotion), Philosophy Help Me Retinol Lotion, Philosophy Miracle Worker Eye Repair, EOS lip balm

Once per week: Philosophy Microdelivery Peel and Origins Active Charcoal Mask

For reference I have combination, sensitive skin that breaks out easily - a rather fun challenge. I recently got over a huge breakout bout and I've finally found a combination of products that work well together.  I don't want to rock the boat so I will continue this routine for a while.  It looks like quite a lot of steps but it's relatively quick except for the mask that I use once a week for about 30 minutes each time.  It wasn't planned to use all of this together...I was finishing up on some products when I bought new ones and I liked the result so much that I had to repurchase.  If I had to pick three favorites from the group it would be the Murad cleanser, the Clinique step 2 toner, and the Philosophy retinol night cream.  For now, I'm thrilled with the results!

Current Face Routine

current face routine by carolinabelle84 featuring a murad face wash

Ole Henriksen anti aging skincare / Bobbi Brown Cosmetics cream skin care / Philosophy face peel mask, $94 / Murad face wash, $54 / Murad face wash / Fresh lip treatment / ORIGINS Clear Improvement active charcoal mask 50ml, $16

I've broken out quite a bit over the past couple of months and I'm just now getting back some control over my skin.  I wanted to list the key players that are keeping my acne at bay.

Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Foaming Facewash.  I use this at night and I think it does a surprisingly good job of cleaning off my makeup.  I'm not attached to it and I'm willing to try other products but it's been reliable and I'll likely come back to it from time to time.

Fresh Sugar lip balm.  It's amazing, I use it every night after I brush my teeth and it moisturizes my lips over night so my lip product goes on smoothly in the morning.

Philosophy Microdelivery Peel.  I use this ever Sunday night and I scrub for a solid minute with each product.  I will never be without this product!  My skin not only looks better but feels so much better after I use it.  It's really helping with a few lingering sun spots.

Ole Henriksen Three Little Wonders.  I've used this for over two years and it's great.  I use both the gel and the cream at night and the serum in the am.

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask.  I use this on Wednesday nights and it helps to remove any lingering gunk.  It's pretty fantastic and my skin feels great after I use it.  I think it helps with redness too.

Bobbi Brown Eye Repair.  Nothing super fancy about it, the cream is rich and it hydrates the skin around my eyes so my concealer goes on smoothly.  Its not cheap but it lasts a long time.

Murad AHA and BHA Exfoliating Cleanser.  I use this in the am before the acne cleanser.  The scrub is very gentle and I feel that it makes the acne step in my morning routine more effective.

Murad Acne Clarifying Cleanser.  Ah, my favorite part of my morning getting ready routine.  It smells like tea tree oil and is refreshing.  I love the tingle.

There it is....it may seem like a lot of products but I have sensitive, combination, acne prone skin and during cold weather months add lovely dry patches to the list.  It's a challenge finding a routine that fits all of my requirements and for now, this is doing the trick.

Current Drugstore Favorites

I have been wanting to post an updated list of my favorite drugstore products for a while.  Apparently a few other bloggers beat me to the punch because I've seen a lot of these in the past week.  The L'Oreal Shampoo and Conditioner is a regular alternate in my shower.  I'm still loving my summer nail colors - Essie Turquoise and Caicos makes for a beautiful pedi.  The L'Oreal False Fiber Lash Mascara is perfect for dramatic eyes - I love Clinique High Impact mascara and this gives a very similar look for less money.  I use the two Neutrogena products at night to combat blemishes (be sure to sleep on white pillowcases and towels because it will bleach the color out of nice linens). The Aveeno lotion and the Garnier BB cream are morning makeup bag staples.  Sally Hansen's cuticle pen works miracles on dry nail beds - mine take a beating at work from all the hand sanitizer I have to use.  Most of these items have been repurchased several times and I'd recommend them to anyone.

Summer Skin ...

This summer I have nailed an easy beauty regimen for my skin.  Of course I'm still cleansing and moisturizing but beyond that I'm not wearing a lot of heavy makeup.  Unlike years past when I would fiddle with tinted moisturizers and not really care for the coverage, always relapsing back to conventional foundation.  I really wanted to simplify and I'm so glad I found these new favorites...

 I purchase these usually at Target or Ulta and I always get the medium natural tan despite the fact that I am naturally as white as a sheet of paper.  One towelette covers my whole body and face and I typically use two wipes per week to keep a healthy glow.  For a friend's wedding recently I used three the week before and I was beautifully golden by the big day.  I have been using these since February and I'm not sure I'd go back to messy gels, mousse, or lotions.  They are perfect for travel too!

 Wow. I took the BB cream plunge and I hate that it took me so long.  I spend $35 and up usually on quality foundation (MUFE, Bobbi Brown, etc) so I'm thrilled that I found a drugstore product that offers exceptional coverage.  I wear light/medium in the oily skin formula and I purchased it from Target on sale.  The tube is huge!  I've been wearing it for two months and I've not dented the bottle.  Garnier makes a lot of claims about the skin care qualities - I can't really say I've seen any change in the tone of my skin but this is a decent tinted moisturizer that covers hormonal and acne redness.  There are only two shade selections so it may not work for everyone but it is worth a try if you buy from a place with a return policy.

My first trip to the pool this year I wore sunscreen and had a terrible breakout in the week following.   I wanted a more natural sunscreen so I purchased a whole line of this - the tube for face, tube for body, and the spray formula (it isn't an aerosol).  So far I've been happy with it, after many hours outside I've not experienced a sunburn yet and I've not noticed a serious breakout after using it.  This costs a few more dollars than the other product I was using but worth the expense.

Wedding Skincare

Current Skincare by carolinabelle84 featuring murad

New Sephora Goodies

My recent Sephora purchases...

 Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Rose.  A very pigmented pink shade that looks almost red but less harsh.  The formula is great...long lasting and not sticky.  I have another Laura Mercier gloss and it's my favorite consistency of any gloss I've ever tried.

I've wanted to try Living Proof products for a while.  I'm in a hair rut since I'm growing it out for the wedding.  I've also been getting less layers (on purpose) and even though I'm going for regular trims I'm still getting some frizz and flyaways.  This little sampler box seemed like a great way to try them out.  I'm also interested in the volumizing products but for the first round I think this is a great set for the price.  It comes with a shampoo, conditioner, styling cream, and a small sample of leave it conditioner.

And just for fun I used a code for a vinyl sephora makeup bag full of deluxe products.  I chose the "classic look" bag that included:

• Lancome Bi-Facial Double Action Eye Makeup Remover
• Stila "in the light" eye shadow palette
• Cartier Baiser Vole Eau de Parfum
• LILY by Stella McCartney Eau de Parfum
• Nars Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in New Lover
• MUFE HD Powder
• Murad Clarifying Cleanser
• Sephora Foundation Primer
• Lancome Hypnose Star in Noir Midnight

For reference the Nars product in the swatch on top and my new Laura Mercier gloss is on the bottom.  I can't wait to try out all these goodies.  I've already paired my new Nars lip pencil with my laura mercier gloss and found the perfect, glossy cranberry lip to wear throughout the holidays!

Ready for my closeup...

I know y'all have been on pins and needles wanting my "bridal portrait" experience play by play.  I have been looking forward to this for years months. And it just flew by...but not without several mishaps.

Wednesday evening I went for my nail appointment at a local spa and salon.  I chose gel polish because I wanted something that was anti-chip.  During my appointment I asked about their other services and decided I would get my brows waxed their too....

bad idea

I have never had a reaction in my life to any kind of wax or post wax product but whatever she used to wipe down my skin after the wax caused my face to swell and puff immediately.  Oh and it itched like crazy.  After many MANY curse words I found the common sense to go to the pharmacy and pick up benedryl and ointment.

I seriously looked like Quasimodo without the hump for about 2 hours.

I decided take my swollen eyebrows to the tanning salon...logical decision right?  I was prepared to go through with my portrait appointment through hell or high water.  I tried the VersaSpa on a level 1 bronze.  Ahhhh....It looked awesome.  I would like one of these standing pods for Christmas!  My tan is so even and  the perfect shade of "laid up on the Outer Banks all summer".  Be prepared to stand there and freeze though...that mist is cold, I was actually terrified that all my goose bumps would cause a splotchy tan.

For $40 it's a pricey treatment but for a special occasion it's quick and the results are awesome.

The day of my portraits I had a hair appointment at nine.  Mom and I left with plenty of time to get there, except we were stuck in traffic on the interstate for 45 minutes behind a wreck.  The accident wasn't even on our side of the median which is weird but traffic was completely at a stand still so I'm not sure if it was an issue with the emergency vehicles or if people were stopping to see the accident ( I call it rubber-necking). I arrived to the salon LATE which I was not happy about and clearly neither was the stylist but she had blocked off two hours for our appointment and we were done on time even with the late start.  She used Oribe products on my hair and I think I have a new love.  Yay more Christmas wish list items!

After my do'  it was time for makeup, which I was brazen enough to attempt myself.  Not too shabby either. I decided to wear falsies.

Er, not these.

Yes!

I loved the drama they added, especially to the full length photos that were taken from a distance.  I posed, I smiled, I draped myself over a chair, and I laid on a couch on my belly - - - for two hours.    My photos were taken at the beautiful Oaks at Salem at Apex NC.

Oh my gosh, this bridal suite was beautiful!  I wish I had taken my own photos of her house!

 My face still hurts from all that bright eyed happy smiling.  I don't think I'm all that photogenic honestly, I'm expressive in reality but in photos I seem to have two looks, BIG cheesy grin or totally pissed off.  As soon as I informed the photographer she started looking through the photos and laughed in agreement.  I'll be happy if she can give me one photo that will look great framed above my mama's mantel.  

We left just in time to make a 3 pm cake tasting.  We missed lunch while taking the photos and went into complete sugar coma for about an hour during the tasting.  I found three flavors that I thought would be crowd pleasers and the baker was wonderful to work with.  She loves her job and she is very professional...however we still have to interview two other bakers before we make our decision.  

The last wedding related task for today....I ORDERED MY INVITATIONS!  Holy.............

I still can't believe it.  Ordering the invites was the most nerve-racking experience of my life.  I quadruple checked the wording since I ordered online I didn't have a specialist helping me.  I will get a digital proof before they actually print them so I can have other people check behind me.  I think the one we chose was the perfect blend of elegant but not completely formal.  I also decided against inner envelopes (GASP!) which I know will surprise some on my list, R and I wanted to do a colored envelope liner instead and I'm happy with the decision so far.  Again I thought this added an elegant and surprising touch without the formality.  Blah, this is such wedding talk - I never say this kind of thing in real life.

One last non wedding related update.  I received my invitation to my 10 year high school reunion!  I still can't believe this.  They went with online invitations to help with cost but honestly I love the one they chose through Punchbowl, it wasn't cheesy at all.  The committee set our event for a local winery in mid November and the tickets are reasonable for a night of food, wine, and music  (and bonding with old friends!)  I'm really looking forward to this and I see it as another opportunity to hop into the VersaSpa.

The Seven Deadly Sins (beauty edition)

 I saw this going around on several blogs a few weeks ago and I wanted to participate.  I thought it was so much more creative than some of the ones I've answered in the past. 

1.  GREED: What is your most expensive beauty item?

Ole Henrikson Three Little Miracles

What is your most inexpensive? 

Covergirl lash blast

2.       WRATH: What beauty products do you have a love/hate relationship with?

L'Oreal Lineur Intense is a great liquid liner and I love the look of it on my eyes but it takes longer to apply and a much steadier hand than my cream or pencil liners.

3.       GLUTTONY: What are your most delicious beauty products?

 Avalon Organics Vitamin C Cleansing Gel - smells like orange juice!

Essie Watermelon is a great color for toes.

4.       SLOTH: What beauty product do you neglect, due to laziness?

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Pink Quartz is the best highlighter for my skintone but most days I can not be bothered with it.  I wear it for special occasions and nights out but definitely not for day to day wear.

5.       PRIDE: What beauty product gives you the most self confidence?

  Coco Mademoiselle is my favorite perfume.  It's too strong to wear to the clinic every day and it's a little too heavy for summer so I'm only wearing it in the evenings for now.  The scent is so long lasting and I get a ton of compliments on it!

6.       LUST: What attributes do you find most attractive in the opposite sex?

Brown Eyes and a beautiful smile - lucky for me R has both!  In the photo below he is a proud uncle showing off his sweet nephew.

      7. ENVY: What items would you most like to receive as a gift?

 I have the Daisy roller ball for my purse and I enjoy the fragrance so much I'd like to have a full bottle.  It's perfect for working at the clinic because it's a light scent.

 I love Tocca fragrances, the candles are so scented that you only need to light them for 20 minutes for long a lasting scent for a whole room.

 Tocca hand cream in Cleopatra - this is the lotion I keep in my handbag.  It's a great formula and the scent is clean and very adult.

This isn't a beauty product but I've been eyeing this silver elephant ring holder for a while.  It would be the perfect addition to our bathroom!