My Pamper Routine

     Over the past month or so, I've been developing a weekly pamper routine. After trying many different products, I think I've finally found what's working the best for me. This little routine currently only involves my hair and face, but I do plan on adding to it to include the rest of my body as well. This routine focuses on my dry skin and hair. As the weather is getting colder, both of those things seem to be getting dryer. These are the things I've been using to help combat that dryness.

Before I start with my face, I like to start with my hair so it's able to soak up all of the conditioning goodness of the hair masque for a bit longer. This deep repair masque is packed with oils like macadamia, tea tree, and argan just to name a few. It works to reconstruct dry, damaged hair, which is exactly what I need. I like to leave this on my hair for at least thirty minutes, but preferably an hour. This conditioner does wonders with restoring the moisture and shine in my hair. It leaves my hair feeling incredibly smooth and silky. It's a bit pricey, but it's definitely worth the splurge. 

After I've washed out and rinsed the masque, I like to finish it off with the ECRU Acacia Protien BB Cream. This cream is full of oils and amino acids to help strengthen, protect, and restore the shine to your locks. 

     For my face, I've been sticking to more natural things. I made a trip to Lush earlier this month and I picked up a few things that have turned into forever staples. I start off with the Cupcake (Terra-madre) Fresh Face Mask to help with my hormonal chin acne. I've had a lot of flare ups this month so I needed something to help with that and the saleswoman recommended this to me. The Rhassoul mud helps to deeply clarify the skin. Best part? It smells like chocolate with a bit of a mint twist!
After I let this dry for about 20 minutes, I rinse off and follow up with Let The Good Times Roll cleanser. This also smells absolutely incredible! It's so sweet! The corn oil in this helps to deeply moisturize my dry skin. It's also exfoliating, which helps to remove all of the dead skin. The masque is a little harsh and can be a bit drying, so afterwards I could definitely use the help from this little beauty. After it's all done, I like to finish off with my Eau Roma Water Toner. I like to leave this in my fridge so it's even more refreshing. The rose water and lavender help to hydrate and even out skin tone.
 
     I like to do this routine on Sundays, to help cleanse everything from the week before and start the new week with freshly pampered skin and hair. Starting the week feeling beautiful is so important and this really does the trick for me, as far as appearances go. What special things to do you like to do to help out your skin and hair? Let me know!

 

July Favorites

  July was an incredibly busy month for me, and because of that it was rather simple in the makeup department. My husband was visiting home in Louisiana the first part of the month, we traveled to South Carolina for a bit, and then the last couple of weeks was spent getting everything packed and ready to move back to the good ol' Italy. 
  I realize I'm a bit late on posting my July favorites, but hey, better late than never! The few times that I have worn makeup/done my hair this month, I was trying out a few new products, instead of sticking to my old favorites. Most of these have squeezed their way into that position though. :)

       For makeup, I've been repeatedly picking up the same few items all month. I am currently dying over the Lorac Pro 2 (no, seriously, I'm dead.)  It's so beautiful and the shades are all super smooth, pigmented, and buttery. I can't stop using it! As far as my face goes, I've been pretty basic. I slap on a BB cream of some sort, my Maybelline Fit Me concealer, the Balm Down Boy blush, and the Balm Mary Lou-Manizer highlighter. The blush is a pale, natural pink shade that gives the perfect everyday flush of color. The Mary Lou-Manizer highlighter is a must for that summer glow, err, sparkle. I'm one who likes to be highlighted, and this definitely does the trick. If your goal is to look like a Cullen, this is the product for you. All jokes aside, it's a beautiful product! For eyes, I've fallen head over heels for the Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara. It really gives you the most va-va-voom lashes ever! The bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie lipgloss in Hypnotic has been my go to. Can you possibly get better than a holographic lipgloss? Didn't think so.
    This month I got a major haircut, which has put my hair in the best condition ever. To keep up my super soft locks, I've been using the Healthy Sexy Hair Argan Oil every day. It leaves my hair soft and shiny, without leaving any greasiness behind. I've also jumped on the Macadamia hair mask bandwagon. It's safe to say I'm never going back. No hair mask has ever left my hair feeling so heavenly in my life. This is definitely a forever staple for me! I was also lucky enough to pick this one up at Marshall's for $9.99! Score!
   I hope you enjoyed my favorites! What products could you not get enough of? Let me know!

Hair Envy

Recently, I have wanted nothing more than to chop off a good four-five inches of my hair. I just got a nice little dye job a few weeks ago after moving to Italy, but that wasn't enough of a "change" for me. 

I have TONS of hair. It's the most annoying thing ever. I seriously feel like I have the mane of a horse on top of my head. And something that doesn't help is the fact that my hair just doesn't grow. My hair gets to that awkward not shoulder-not mid back length, and then it just stops. This isn't something new, either. This has been for the past 19 years of my life. 

Since Spring is here, erm, kind of, I am really wanting to just chop it all off and give myself some bangs. I have some serious hair envy towards Olivia Wilde. It looks to me like we have the same hair texture/thickness and I really think I could pull this off. Maybe. My only concern is how round my face is. I'm not too sure how that would look. But then again, we almost have the same face shape, mine is just...fuller.

I would more than likely go with the cut on the left. I'm not sure if I'm brave enough to get rid of the extra 2 inches like the cut on the right. I don't know though. What do you think? Regardless, I'm doing this soon! 

XOXO, 

Megan