Highlighter Line-Up

L-R: 'The Luminizer', 'Rose Pink', 'High Beam', 'Soft and Gentle'

When it comes to highlighters, I tend to stick to the well-known ones such as Benefit's 'High Beam' and Mac's 'Soft and Gentle'. This is probably because, compared to other face products, I do not have as much experience with highlighters. I love the dewy effect they create but a highlighter is not a staple in my every day make up routine. However, in the summer, I love to apply a bit of 'S&G' on the high points of my cheeks or mix in some 'High Beam' into my foundation to give myself that fresh glow. The first highlighter I ever bought was Sephora's 'Rose Pink' and I have to admit that I don't reach for it that often. 'Rose Pink' is a beautiful pink full of gold shimmer that looks beautiful against tanned skin. I really should start to wear it more because the formulation appears to be just as lovely as 'Soft and Gentle'. In fact, the only apparent difference between the two is that 'Soft and Gentle' is yellow toned. Another favorite highlighter is one I received in a Birchbox. The Balm's 'The Luminizer' is also a beloved highlighter among make up lovers. I must confess that I typically wear this as an eyeshadow because it reminds me of Stila's 'Kitten'. It does look wonderful as a highlighter as well but I think for now I will stick to using it on my eyes. What's your go to highlighter?

Sephora // Sun Safety Kit

For the last seven years, Sephora has come out with their 'Sun Safety Kit', a collection of products with high a SPF and self tanners that will transform you into a bronze queen. This year, the kit contains 18 deluxe samples, a brush, and a large makeup bag. Two thirds of the profits are donated to The Skin Cancer Foundation so not only are you receiving a number of products by very respectable brands, you are also supporting an amazing cause. I had trouble getting my hands on this set because they sold out quickly online and not all stores have them in stock. Fortunately, they are back in stock now and you can pick one up! I haven't yet had the chance to try all the products since there are so many but my favorites include the Too Faced 'Chocolate Soleil' bronzer and the Dr. Brandt BB Cream. However, I was hoping that some of the products would be a bit bigger. For example, the Smashbox primer in this kit is the same size I got free of charge when I had purchased something else from Sephora. I guess I cannot really complain because it truly is a wonderful collection of products for only $30. I will let you guys know if there are some stand out products as I make more use of this set of samples. If you would like a more detailed description of what this kit contains, click here! Let me know if you took advantage of this offer!

Nail Care

My nails are always able to illustrate the type of day I'm having. If the nail polish is all chipped off, that probably means it's finals week or I have a deadline looming over my head. If my nails are freshly manicured and polished, it may be Friday night and I'm about to go out or it's Sunday and I am relaxing before another stressful week. Taking care of my nails has become a ritual and the products I use are some of the most used beauty products in my collection. I begin washing and moisturizing my hands. I follow up with the Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover and push back my cuticles with a cuticle pusher. After removing the remaining product with a cotton ball, the actual painting begins. In the past year, I have begun to use a base coat and I have to say it has served me well. If you're an avid nail painter like me, I suggest getting some because it helps the polish stay on longer and protects your nails from severe staining. So far, my favorite base coat is the Revlon Quick Dry Base Coat. It dries in seconds so you don't have to wait long to begin applying your selected nail polish. Today, I used OPI's 'Read My Palm' which is a deep mint green. I then added my most loved top coat, the Revlon Colorstay Top Coat. It is so amazing that I am going to have to write a whole separate post on it. Be on the look out for that! What do you use to take care of your nails? 

My Go-To Travel Minis

'Read My Palm', 'What Aura Gonna Wear?', 'Leotard Optional' 

Traveling, specifically when it involves airplanes, can be stressful. When you factor in packing and flying restrictions you may have a mess on your hands. Over the years, I have learned to pack pretty lightly, if I do say so myself. For someone who is attached to their makeup collection and skincare items, packing for a trip is the time to pull out miniature versions of products and samples. For the plane, make sure you have moisturizer and cleansing water because air travel is harmful to your skin. Save smaller containers to refill them at home with the full-size product. That happens to be what I do with the Josie Maran Argan Oil. Instead of hauling around a large highlighter that may take up half your makeup bag, grab a liquid highlighter like Benefit's High Beam. When it comes to nail polish, I tend to overpack because they are my weakness. Many brands such as OPI, Essie, and Orly make miniature sets of their nail polishes so people can try them out before buying the full-size version. This also comes in handy when packing because I am able to cram about five of these in my already overpacked makeup bag. What are some of your tricks to packing light? 

Fresh // Citron de Vigne

Perfumes are the area of the beauty world that I rarely visit. I find most of them overpriced and way too potent. However, after watching one of Fleur's latest videos, I saw that she had bought a perfume while she was in the U.S. by the brand 'Fresh'. I immediately feel in love with the simple design of the bottle and the price tag of only forty dollars. I am quite picky when it comes to how I smell so I spent a while sniffing the various scents at Sephora. I finally settled on the citrus smelling 'Citron de Vigne' because I love me some oranges, so why not smell like one? The reviews I read on this perfume were mostly positive but many said that one has to reapply this quite often. I don't mind since the bottle is quite small so I can carry it in my bag. What perfume/body spray have you been wearing this spring?