Favorite Summer Drugstore Lip Products

Hello everyone! I wanted to share with you my lip products that I have been loving for summer. In the summer, I like to go for a lip that is either sparkly or brightly colored so it pops on my tan skin. Let’s go take a look at these products!

Maybelline BabyLips- I can’t stress enough how important it is to have and use a lip product that contains an SPF. BabyLips have an SPF of 20, which is really great for a chapstick! I have two BabyLips in “Quenched” which is the standard clear, and my other one is in the shade “Pink Punch” which is a bright pink. If I know I am going to be out in the sun, I always make sure to apply these because it makes it pretty much impossible for me to get a sunburn on my lips. Also, they smell like their name! Pink Punch honestly smells like fruit punch, and I think that it is so cool! What’s great about these is that they have them in tinted colors (like Pink Punch) so you can play up your lip color if you wanted while still getting an SPF.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss- This is my ultimate go-to summer lipgloss! These glosses also have an SPF of 15, so they are really great for the summer sun. Unfortunately, these don’t have a yummy smell, but these lipglosses come in a wide range of stunning colors so you can choose a color that is perfect for you! I have my gloss in the shade “Coral Reef”. This coral looks like a bright color in the tube, but when you put it on your lips it’s a bit more muted which makes it super wearable! I’ve been able to wear this gloss to school without getting “What the heck is she wearing on her lips?” stare. These glosses are rather inexpensive, and you can find them in any drugstore that sells Revlon!

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain- I’ve raved about this product in my June Favorites… you guys know how much I love them! In all seriousness though, this is a perfect summer lip stain. They are super moisturizing, and the color really does last a long time. Another thing about this product that I love is that there is SO much product! They are going to last you for a while. Not to mention they have a perfect minty smell! I have mine in “Sweetheart Valentine” which is your typical bright pink. This is awesome for the summer because it doesn’t melt off of your lips and gives your lips a color as opposed to other glosses/lipsticks, which paint your lips with color. These are relatively newer to Revlon, but I do know that they are sold at CVS for $6-$9.

These have been the lip products that I have been wearing for majority of the summer! I realize that this post only included three different products, but I don’t like to put on layers of glosses and lipsticks in the heat. In the comments below, tell me what your favorite summer lip products are and if you guys have any requests! Don’t forget…. Stay classy girlies!

-Landon

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Hi girls! Incase you didn't already see the picture on the top right of our website, we have made a Twitter account! You can tweet us pictures of looks and tips you got off of our blog, requests for new posts, or you can just say hello! Follow us @SparkleSecret and tweet us once you do! We love hearing from you :)

Crushing on Coral

Hello ladies! Summer 2012 is filled with bright colors, and to me one color that stands out is coral! There are so many coral beauty products this year, as well as statement jewelry, and clothing pieces. Coral is such a gorgeous color, and I am really glad that this summer coral has its time to shine! This post is going to explain to y'all how easy it is to incorporate this super shade into your everyday look. In this post, you will find some great Sparkly Little Secrets too. (:


Makeup/Beauty Products:
Don't believe me that there is a plethora of coral beauty products this summer? Go to Sephora.com and type in "coral" into the search box.... I dare you! As I am writing this post there are 156 beauty products that relate to coral. From lipsticks, to blushes, to glosses, nail polishes and even eyeshadows, there has to be some shade of coral that works for you. Sephora's Color of the Year for 2012 was tangerine- a more vibrant shade of coral!


If you are more daring, I would recommend a highly pigmented lipstick. Smashbox made a lipstick in the shade "Melondrama" that Kristen has and it is stunning! It's super super pigmented, so if you are "afraid" of color I wouldn't recommend this color for you. However; if you want to go for a lighter flush of the shade yet have the color last for a long time, I would absolutely recommend the Revlon Kissable Lip Balm Stain in Rendevous. I've mentioned this product in my June favorites and if you are looking for a lip product that gives you color with shine and lasts all day, this is totally for you!

MAC's "Something Special"

Coral cheeks to me is the definition of summer. A tan face with a coral flush of color is ah-mazing! If you want a lovely drugstore color I would check out any of the Nyx Cosmetics Blushes. I have a blush in Angel which is a more peachy-toned shade of coral, but it's absolutely perfect and I wear this every day in the summer. If you want to invest a bit more into a higher quality blush I would look at MAC blushes especially in the shades "Melba" (powder blush) and "Something Special" (cream blush). Also, I would take a look into Nars Cosmetics' blush in "Cactus Flower".  The last blush I am going to talk about is going to be Benefit's "Coralista". This blush is a cult favorite and so many people (except for me.... :/) have this blush in their collection! All of these blushes are on my wishlist, except for Angel, but I have swatched them all and I can tell you that all of these blushes will look great on anybody's skin tone!

If you are looking into a coral nailpolish, I have a few suggestions for you! Essie's "Camera", "Cute as a Button" and "California Coral" are the perfect coral colors. I own "Camera" and "Cute as a Button" and am looking to buy "California Coral"! I had my nails done in "California Coral" and absolutely loved it. These are all true shades of coral although they have different undertones.


Fashion/Accessories:
Nothing screams "summer" than whipping out your favorite coral wallet or wristlet! For Easter this year, I received a coral Nine West wallet that I absolutely adore. I was eyeing the wallet for a little time and kept fantasizing how amazing it would look for the summer. The silver details really makes the coral pop, and I love this! Kate Spade makes gorgeous bright colored wristlets and wallets so make sure to check those out. Sparkly Little Secret: look at designer items for inspiration and then take a look on to a website like Forever 21; you can't always buy the high priced product, but you can always get a close dupe!


Fashion wise, I think you can totally make coral work! Something like a coral blazer, or even a skirt can make your outfit look super summer-y. At first, I thought coral blazers would have way to much color to wear anywhere, but I found a super cute one on Forever21.com. Click here if you want to see it! It's a lighter shade of coral, so you can pair it with any fun, or neutral top. Sparkly Little Secret: With brighter colors like coral, you don't always know if they are going to be in style for a while. For me, if I want to get a clothing piece for a trend I always look at stores like Forever 21. I usually only splurge on fun basics rather then spring or fall trends, but I always, always, always start off my trend shopping at stores like Forever 21.

Who doesn't love a fun cocktail ring or a statement necklace? Coral jewelry is perfect for the summer! A necklace like this from Francesca's Collection is absolutely stunning, and will make a simple outfit pop.




Sundresses are one of my staples for the summer. I love a sundress that has coral in it because it gives the dress a fun feel. The picture of my sundress on the right is from J.Crew, which was about $40 or so... I don;t remember the exact price, sorry! This is my favorite coral dress! it hits mid-thigh and the ruffle detailing at the top is adorable! I did get this dress in March, so I would look around if you want to get a dress similar to this!


This concludes my post on coral! I really do love this color for the summer, it's just so bright and fun! I hope you've learned how easy it is to incorporate this color into your everyday look. Follow us on twitter @SparklySecret for updates on any new posts. Stay classy!


-Landon

What's in my Shower!

Hey girls! So last night I was watching a bunch of these videos on Youtube and I thought it would be fun to make a post on what I keep in my shower because I love watching/reading them so much! So let's get started!

The shower that I use in my house is just a stand up stall type shower, so it has no bottom faucet to take a bath in. On the ceiling there is a Rainmaker shower head and then on the wall we have a removable sprayer shower head. The floor has little river rocks that I love because it feels like a massage on my feet. On the little handle I keep my loofah and a hair tie in case I need it while fixing my hair.

Then there is a small ledge next to the shower door (we have a glass door on our shower) and on that I just keep my razor, shaving cream and yes, toothpaste and a toothbrush. I know it's weird but at night I brush my teeth while I'm in the shower. You should all try it because it's really fun and I feel like my mouth should be clean too after the shower. Like I said my comb was here in this picture but that's not its usual spot!

Next on the opposite wall of the shower there is a slew of items on a built in shelf. So I broke up the pictures.

First, there is a few random shampoo's and conditioner's that I don't use so they're basically just there when guests come. Next to that I have my Planet Spa Icelandic Mineral Water Invigorating Body Wash which I LOVE. I love using it if I have sunburn because it's very cooling and it has the most amazing clean almost minty smell to it.

Then I have some different face washes, I have a Lancome face wash that I HATE it is super oily but I leave it in the shower anyway. Then I have a Clean and Clear Deep Action Cream Cleanser which I use almost every night in the shower. On top of that I use BenzEFoam Emollient Foam which is a prescription foaming acne cleanser. Next there is my Bath and Body Works Be Enchanted body wash that I use with my loofah. I also have a Bath Junkie Body Dessert that I occasionally use in the scent Spring Fling and Rain.

In front of that I have my Lush Karma soap that I absolutely adore. I am a Lush lover but sadly, the Lush near me closed :( so this will have to last me until I find another one. I also have my Lush Buffy body butter, it's also known as Buffy the Backside Slayer because it has amazing chunks of walnut shells and exfoliates wonderfully. I actually take ths out of the shower while I'm in because it could melt from the heat and I use it after showering.

That is all that's in my shower and I share it with just my older sister so everything in here we both use so there's nothing I took out for the pictures. Leave any comments below and I'll talk to you guys soon!

Xoxo

Audrey :)

"The only way to belong is to act like you belong. Or to not give a shit whether you belong or not." -Lauren Conrad

Coralista Fashionista

Hi all!,
So today I figured I would continue with this little trend we have going on the blog this week and talk about Benefit Cosmetics boxed blushes. I am absolutely OBSESSED with them. I only have 2 (Georgia and Coralista) but as my makeup addiction grows, I hope to have all of them in my collection! (Coralista is my all-time favorite though, Georgia is such a sheer blush that it doesn't really show up on me). I love the color pigmentation of all of the different shades, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the way all of the blushes smell. They each have a very different scent, each enjoyable in their own way. These blushes feel so silky smooth on my skin, I seriously cannot get enough.

First of all, I must thank Francesca because she was lovely enough to buy this for me for my birthday last year, and I have been using it CONSTANTLY ever since! The color of it looks great on my very fair skin, but it also looks nice on various other skin tones as well. It's a very versatile shade if I do say so myself. The packaging is BEYOND adorable, I love the burst of neon cheetah print behind the name. I also feel like the packaging of each blush represents the blush perfectly. Coralista has crazy packaging, and is a fun, bright coral blush. Dandelion has pretty, cute, simple packaging for its baby pink color. Benefit Cosmetics is really smart for doing that!

I'm not sure if my camera was able to pick up a swatch of the color very well...but here is a swatch of Coralista! It's very pigmented, but is very buildable when you apply thin layers. This picture isn't even doing it justice! I would go to a Sephora or Ulta nearest you to swatch for yourself to see how pigmented it is in real life. It's the PERFECT coral color. 

Here is what the color looks like once you open up the top. This picture isn't the best quality, but can you see how gorgeous this color is? It feels so velvety smooth on your skin too! This isn't a very sparkly blush, but, when caught in the right light, you can see some gold duo chrome in there. I love wearing this especially in the summer because it gives me a little bit of a golden-y bronze affect (when paired with bronzer of course). I also love how the cheetah print covers the inside of the box too, I think that's so cute! The only annoying thing about this is how deeply set the blush is in the box. The blush comes with its own brush which is nice, and I actually love using it to apply my blush, but the packaging accommodates the brush too, which pushes the blush further down into the bottom of the box. It's a little annoying to get the product out sometimes, but it doesn't bother me too much.  These boxed blushes retail for $28, which can be found on the benefit website, as well as sephora or ulta. I think the price is a little ridiculous....but completely worth it. These blushes are going to last you a long time, and the color payoff is amazing. Plus, they're completely adorable and would look great in any one's collection...so why wouldn't you want one?


What's your favorite benefit product? TWEET US ABOUT IT HERE! And feel free to leave any blog requests in the comments below! Have an amazing day everyone <3
xoxo,
Kristin :)                                                                                                                                                  

Get Your Sugar Fix!

Hello ladies! I apologize for the lack of posts, and this time school is not my excuse! My family and I have recently moved into our new home, and without cable, and the Internet going off and on for 7+ days…. I was going insane AND couldn’t write any posts. Anyways, I am back and I wanted to share with you a review on one of the most gorgeous blushes you could ever own… Sugarbomb by Benefit.

To start off, this packaging completely caught my eye. A gorgeous metallic pink-boxed blush! It simply couldn’t get any better! I love how it looks like a piece of candy and the font that spells out “Sugarbomb” looks perfect on this product. This little number looks stunning against all of my other packaging in my collection.

I never had owned any Benefit products prior to this blush, but I heard so many great reviews on this blush and I knew I had to have it in my collection!

The blush is made up of four individual colors, which makes this blush stand out from all of the other blushes on the market. It has a perfect peach, a perky plum, a radiant rose, and a punchy pink. When you swirl all of these colors together you get such a beautiful blush color! One thing that is absolutely fantastic about this blush is that it looks great on all skin tones! I have light skin and I love the color on my cheeks, and my older sister who is darker and more olive toned used this last week and loved it! She thought the color was so amazing she went out and bought it herself! This blush definitely pleases a wide variety of skin tones and almost converts itself to the perfect color.

I wanted to swatch this color for you,
but my camera didn't pick up
the true color! 

Unfortunately for myself, this blush breaks me out*. When I first started using it, I noticed a small breakout on the apples of my cheeks. The only thing I had changed in my face routine was the blush, and as soon as I stopped using it the breakout cleared. This color is so gorgeous that I use it only on special occasions when I don’t care as much if it breaks me out later. Obviously, this is a product that I love if I am risking to have a small breakout for the next day. Francesca has more sensitive skin and the Benefit boxed blushes/powders don’t break her out, so I think it’s just my skin. 

“Sugarbomb” retails for $28, and you can purchase this on Benefit.com, Ulta, and Sephora (as well as both Ulta.com and Sephora.com). This blush also comes with its own brush. I have never used this brush, but it is a denser brush and is nicely made.  Overall, this is a product that I would totally recommend. In the future, I would like to try more of the Benefit Boxed powders because I think they are absolutely gorgeous! If I can only wear them on special occasions… so be it. They are nicely made and have a fresh scent to them. The quality of this blush is literally amazing. The pigmentation and texture of “Sugarbomb” is something that stands out from all of my other blushes!

Hopefully this post has persuaded you to purchase “Sugarbomb”. For myself, I had experienced some of the “cons” of this blush but I am excited to try out another one! If you have any questions, comments, or requests leave them in the comments below or tweet them to us @SparklySecret. Don’t forget.. Stay classy!

-Landon

*I don’t want you guys to get the wrong impression of my breakout. It wasn’t hard-core acne or anything, but there were noticeable bumps on my cheeks.

P.S make sure to follow us on twitter! xoxo

My Everyday Face Routine

Hi Everyone!,
Today's post is all about skincare. Skincare is something every teenage girl seems to fuss over (Including myself!). Having healthy skin is one of the greatest ways to feel confident and look beautiful inside AND out. Nobody likes having blemishes covering their face *I know I don't...* and as harsh as it sounds, no one really wants to look at blemishes either. I know they're uncontrollable, mother nature tends to pop out of nowhere and put dozens of zits all over your face and you're like 'why me?' but with the correct skincare routine, clean, beautiful skin is possible!


For me, I have very problematic skin. I do have acne, and I do get dry skin and blotchy skin throughout the year. I know you are probably thinking-oh dear lord this girl must be a monster-but I'm not I promise! But lately I've gotten into a specific routine that has made my skin remotely clearer then ever before! The sparkly secret is to wash your face more than 2 times a day. I wash my face right when I get up, when I'm in the shower, and again before I go to bed.  And sometimes even more frequently then that! Especially in the summer when it's so hot and sticky out. It seems like a lot, but washing your face multiple times will get all of the dead skin off of your face, and will get rid of any gross bacteria that starts accumulating throughout the day!


Does washing your face upwards of 3 times a day seem like too much? Some may say yes, but in my opinion I think it's fine!

The first thing I do when I get up is go into the bathroom and wash my face. I like using the Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash because it gives me a fresh burst of energy and cleans my skin, without being too harsh. It doesn't have any beads of color that make it a facial "scrub". I feel scrubs are too harsh to put on your face right when you get up. This one is gentle, and it leaves my face feeling smooth and clean, and also gets off any makeup I might not have been able to get off the night before. I would definitely recommend this product and I will be repurchasing in the future!

At night, it's a different story. This cleanser, also from Neutrogena, has a thicker consistency and is more like a scrub. You can feel it taking off the dead skin and any dirt or germs you may have. It leaves your face feeling a little raw, but it isn't harsh. It feel clean and cool. I like using this in the shower and I put this on before my shampoo, then once I rinse out my shampoo I wash off my face so it stays on there for a little before I wash it off. This really gives it a chance to sink into my skin. Another thing that I like about this product is that it's oil free. Almost all of my products are. I have very weird, combination skin so oil-free is a MUST! Plus I really trust Neutrogena and all of its formulas, it WORKS for my skin, and I can't get enough of it! I know some people have certain allergic reactions to different products, but Neutrogena has a lot of gentle products that do its job, without harming the skin.

This last step is CRUCIAL...makeup remover wipes. This is a beauty blog. All of us on here wear makeup every day and if we don't take it off, it will clog our pores which is one of the easiest ways to get acne. If I decide to take a shower the next morning and not at night like i normally do, this step is even more important. I love these Biore makeup remover wipes because they really get everything off of my face. It doesn't leave my skin feeling tight, or uncomfortable either. Normally after I take off my makeup with my makeup remover wipes, I would go back in with my Neutrogena wash i like to use in the mornings and use that again too. *Because sometimes just one makeup wipe isn't enough :)* 




Skincare is SUCH an important step in ANY beauty guru's life. Beauty isn't all about looking beautiful, it's about FEELING beautiful too! And what better way to do that then to put your best face forward with gorgeous, glowing skin. Let me know what your favorite skin products are down in the comments below! I am always looking for new products to try out. :) You guys are the best, love you all!
xoxo,
Kristin :)

My Everyday Hair Routine!

Hey girls! Today I wanted to make a post about my everyday hair routine and just basically what I do to keep it healthy every day.

Let's start with taking a shower, I shower every day in the hot months and about every other day in the cooler months. In the shower I use the Tresemme Split Remedy Shampoo and Conditioner and I am so in love with it. I have very dry, wavy unmanageable hair and this makes it silky smooth and reduces my split ends and breakage! While shampooing I comb out any tangles with a wide tooth shower comb and then rinse my hair. Then I apply the conditioner and comb it through and leave it on for about 3-5 minutes and rinse. It's important to leave it on for a few minutes so it can soak in and nourish your hair. If you have oily hair you should not put conditioner directly in your roots, but I do because like I said, my hair is extremely dry. Now, I love taking cold showers in the Summer but I'm going to let you in on a sparkly little secret, rinsing your hair with cold water closes the cuticle which makes the hair stronger and prevents dirt from accumulating on your scalp. So it's essentially keeping your hair cleaner for longer. It also stimulates the nerves in your scalp which aids hair growth! Once a week I deep condition my hair using Matrix Biolage Deep Conditioner. You apply this to your hair for about 7 minutes and it really helps hydrate your hair.


After the shower I towel dry my hair and apply Tresemme Split Remedy Leave in Conditioner. I comb that through because using a wide tooth comb on wet hair is much better than a brush as the brush will cause more breakage to the wet hair. I also will sometimes apply my Moroccan Oil Treatment and Styling Cream, but I typically use that in the winter when my hair is dryer. Then I put it into 2 regular braids and sleep with them in.

In the morning I undo the braids and spray in Ouidad Botanical Boost spray to wake up my hair and make it feel fresh. If I didn't wash my hair the night before I will spray some dry shampoo into my roots, I use Got 2b Rockin' It Encore Fresh Dry Shampoo. Then I comb it and either leave it natural or style it.
That is all that I do for my hair and every step is important to me, or else my hair will be a frizzy mess! Thank you for reading and leave any comments below!




Xoxo
Audrey
“We're so used to seeing beauty outside all around us here. I want everyone to come in and see the beauty inside these artists' souls.” -Bobbi Brown

Perfect Red Lip

Hello Ladies!

I'm sure many of you have seen these types of blog posts before. It's one of the most common, classic makeup styles out there: Red Lips. They are worn by thousands of smiling beauty queens daily and it really is easier to pull off then you would think! And in this tutorial, I don't even use a lip liner! Now I know the quality of this picture isn't the greatest...but my camera broke, so I had to use my phone I apologize! I also apologize for my face...I kind of look like a pig with a very large snout...but that's ok. My nose isn't actually that large ;). The lighting isn't the best, but I made do with what I had. 


So for this tutorial I used only 2 things. My Bloom lipstick in Song and Dance and my Dream Matte Powder from Maybelline. Now you may be wondering....why would she need a pressed powder for a lip tutorial...well, THAT'S the sparkly little secret! After you apply a layer of lipstick, use any small eyeshadow brush and apply a thin layer of powder before applying the next layer. It makes your lipstick stay on longer, and makes it harder to smear! In the picture above I have on 3 coats of lipstick, with 2 coats of powder in-between. It made my lipstick stay on for HOURS! It didn't leave my lips feeling sticky at all and it actually added a little bit of a matte effect to my very shiny lipstick, which I liked. Before applying the lipstick freehand though, I did use a lip brush to outline my lips and make sure I stayed in the lines. You can still create a clean, crisp lip without using a lipliner. 


Enjoyed this look? Leave a picture down below on your take of this sparkly little secret, or any requests for upcoming blog posts! You guys are the best!


xoxo,
Kristin :)

What's In My Beach Bag!

Hey girls! Today's post is going to be a peak inside my beach bag! I'll admit that I'm a pretty nosy person so I love these kinds of posts. With Summer beginning I figured now was the best time to make my own! Fortunately, we live in a place where the beach is not very far, so we can go pretty frequently! I have this straw beach bag from target that is adorable because it has little sequins on it! It's the right size and big enough to fit everything I need. So now here is what I keep inside of it!

Banana Boat Kids SPF 50 Sunscreen: This is a must for me. I have extremely sensitive skin and most sunscreens sting my face after a short period of wear, but this is the only one so far that doesn't do that! I can't leave the house without it.

Tanning Oil: Okay, now I know it's not good for you and gives barely any protection to your skin, but I use it. I love to be tan, but would never go into a bed or get a spray tan. I also don't burn easily at all, I get very tan in the Summer and I don't know why, but the only time my skin burns is if I have nothing at all on. I use Banana Boat Deep Tanning Oil with SPF 8.


A lip balm with SPF: This is so important, yet the thing people most commonly forget. The skin on your lips is soft and delicate and can burn easily, so it's important to wear a lip balm that includes SPF. My favorite right now is the Hawaiian Tropic SPF 45+ Vanilla Mint Lip Balm. It feels nice and cool on your lips and is super protective! I even used it on vacation last year where it was way sunnier and it still totally protected my lips! Sorry, but I couldn't find it for a picture!


Sun In: I have used Sun In in the past and I love it, I use it at the beach or just hanging in my pool. I definitely don't recommend it if you have dark hair (it will turn your hair orange) but I'm naturally dirty blonde so it helps lighten up my hair. Check back soon for a review!


Sunscreen with 30+ SPF: Like I said, I don't burn easily on the majority of my body, but my shoulders will burn like crazy, I know it's weird! So I only apply this to my shoulders and upper back! Also make sure it's waterproof so it doesn't come off in the ocean or if you're sweating!

Sunglasses: I lose sunglasses like it's no body's business. I don't even know what happens to them they just vanish...well, I usually leave them places, so I've never purchased a super expensive pair because I know I will lose them. Just make sure you have a pair with you to protect your eyes from harmful rays!

A small makeup bag: In this I usually keep concealer, mascara, lip balm, blotting papers and deodorant! I don't wear makeup to the beach (sometimes waterproof mascara) but I keep this in case I'm going out to dinner or somewhere else afterwards and want to freshen up!

Something to read: I'm usually not a big reader at the beach so I'll bring either a magazine or a light reading book. I always make sure to have something just in case I get bored.

A water bottle: It is super important to stay hydrated, especially when you're sitting in the sun! I usually bring a few disposable bottles or one big reusable one.

A towel: For obvious reasons! I am a big ocean girl, I don't just lay on my towel the whole time, I like to swim in the ocean! I could stay in the ocean all day, plus the salt water is good for your skin and you get a better tan in the ocean!

A comb: When I go in the ocean, I usually throw my hair up in a messy bun, so after it gets wet it's a knotty mess! It's a necessity for me to have a comb to brush out tangles before it dries and gets matted.

Leave in Conditioner: I bring this in my beach bag to avoid the terrible tangles I just spoke about. If this is in my hair ahead of time it helps to stop from tangling and I spray it in while combing through to help me.

A wallet: I like to carry a wallet with some money in case I need an extra drink or any food at the beach. Also a lot of times we go to the boardwalk afterwards so I can use it to purchase something that I find there!

That's pretty much all that I carry with me in my beach bag, I hope you enjoyed this post. Love you all!

Xoxo
Audrey <3

"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Summer Outfit of the Day!

Hello! Today I wanted to do a quick post on what I wore today, July 11. It was about 88 degrees today, so I figured it would be a perfect time to wear the new summer scarf that I picked up for myself last week!

I wanted to keep this outfit super simple, yet have it make my tan pop! Wearing white and brighter/neon colors really shows off your tan. My sparkly little secret for back to school is to always try to wear white! It definitely makes it look like you are a lot more tan than you really are!

My white tank top is from Forever 21, and was $2.80 (such a steal, right??). The neon pink scarf (which is super light weight by the way!) is from a local shop in my mall and was around $10. The denim shorts I am wearing are from Abercrombie & Fitch which were about $39.50 or so. To finish the outfit off I added a brown leather belt from the Gap, but I received this for Christmas so I don't know the price... sorry! 

For my accessories, I am wearing four bracelets that I typically wear everyday. The two light pink pearl bracelets are from Forever 21, the teal string-pearl bracelet was from a local boutique, and the silver one was designed by my older sister who gave it to me as my birthday gift! I am also wearing my "Return to Tiffany" heart necklace, pearl/diamond earrings (first and second hole) and my silver bean ring. The ring is the same one that was featured in Kristin's recent post!

I left my hair natural, and wore my neutral colored sandals from Target. 

Hope you enjoyed today's quick little post. Please leave in the comments any requests you guys have and remember, stay classy!

-Landon

Put a Ring On It!

Hi Ladies!,


Today's post is about one of my favorite pieces of jewelry of all time: rings! I can't recall the last time I haven't worn at least one ring on my hand every day. It's a simple and easy way to make a very cute yet classy fashion statement! Whether the ring you are bearing is a promise to love your significant other forever, or a bright pop of color to add to your outfit, these sparkly suckers are a must have in every girls collection! Now over the past 2 years I started to become obsessed with rings. Do any of you guys have that? You go through those little phases where you are obsessed with one thing so you buy that thing in every design, shape, size and color imaginable? Well that was the case with me and my rings. I LOVED them! Especially the daintier ones which I will show you later on. :)  Since I have very tiny, bony looking hands the daintier rings look a little prettier on my hands then a statement cocktail ring..but never fear....I have quite a few of those to show you as well! So, Let's get started!

The 3 rings on the left are my favorite statement cocktail rings. Ironically enough, they are all flower rings, but cocktail rings come in all different shapes and sizes. I love these because they're obnoxiously large and brightly colored which are perfect for a night on the town! If I wear a statement ring though, that is usually the only piece of jewelry I would wear. The ring itself is the statement piece and any other piece of jewelry added would overwhelm my outfit. 

First as a little disclaimer...let's not talk about my nails in this picture. I got them done at a salon near my aunt's house and the nail lady put this design on my nail without my approval...I don't hate it I just think it's so bizarre that with a light pinky-coral color she put black and yellow designs all over it...but WHATEVER! :) So this ring on the right I actually found in my local antique shop! I love how it looks kind of old fashioned, and I like wearing it on my thumb the most. It fits my thumb perfectly which is weird because my thumb is VERY tiny. But I love this ring and I think I got it for like $8 which is such a steal, I couldn't say no!

This ring is not one that i typically wear a lot, but it has a lot of sentimental value so I thought I would share it with you. My grandma gave this ring to me a few years back and although it's hard to see in the picture, it's actually carved out from a shell. There are 2 hearts in the center that overlap each other and when she gave it to me she said that just like on this ring, our hearts will always remain close together. I always thought that was the cutest thing. So even though it doesn't match a lot of things, and is a little bit too big for me, I like to wear it around the house just as a reminder that she is always going to be there for me. Whenever I put it on it reminds me of the day she gave it to me and it always brings a smile to my face.

Again I apologize for the slight blurriness of this picture, but these next 2 rings are some of my favorites!  The one on the left is an Amethyst ring I got at the beach one year and the one on the right I wear literally every single day. It's a bean shaped heart in sterling silver that literally matches everything I own. Both of these rings are so dainty and don't take away from the rest of my outfit. I don't necessarily wear them together, but I have worn one on each hand in the same outfit together before. What's special about the heart ring is that Landon actually bought the same one with me when we were shopping at a fair in our town this past spring. She recently moved away and I know I speak for all of us when I say we miss her so much, but this ring is even more special to me knowing that every day she wears the same one too! :) It makes me feel like she's a little bit closer to home each time i wear it even though she's hundreds of miles away. I think this ring is going to be one of my favorites for a while. :)


So this is just a few of my favorite rings that I have accumulated over the past couple of years. There really are no style tricks on how to wear certain rings or rules about the number of rings you can wear at a time. It's whatever you feel is right. I hope you liked my little collection, and let me know in the comments below what your favorite ring was and why! Thanks for reading and have a great day!


xoxo,


Kristin :)

Mini Ulta Haul!

Hey girls! Yesterday I was out and about with my older sister running errands for the later half of the day. She wanted to go to the bookstore and we have an Ulta right in the same shopping center as Barnes & Noble so while she was there I decided to run over just to "look" and somehow ended up spending over $100 at Ulta. I seriously have a problem that needs to be taken care of.

The first thing that I did was pick up a gift for Kristin! She's going to be Elle in a performance of Legally Blonde this Summer and I know I speak for all of us when I say that we are super proud of our little actress/singer/amazing-at-everything-friend! We were browsing the Benefit website and practically obsessing over the new Ultra Plush Lip Glosses. We told each other a few of our favorite colors and I got the gist of what would be the best for her. I picked up the Dandelion color to give to her after her show! Don't worry she already knows so I'm not spoiling it! When I swatched it, it was absolutely gorgeous and the smoothest lip gloss I've ever felt; a review of that will definitely be coming up soon from Kristin!

Then I was browsing the Benfit Box O' Powder's and there were a few I was really in love with, I narrowed my finalists down (me buying makeup is like a competition of the best products) and chose between Coralista, Bella Bamba, and Hervana. The winner for me was Bella Bamba! It's a gorgeous watermelon pink, "3D brightening pink face powder" and it stood out to me the most.




The next thing I purchased was one of those see it then realize you NEED it things. I spotted the Urban Decay Primer Potion out of the corner of my eye and thought "Oh I need a new one!" so I added one in the Original color to my bag. Not very exciting, but an important product nonetheless!

Now, I know I am a little late on this bandwagon, but I finally caved. I was trying to avoid even going near it, I was looking at Too Faced, Stila, Bare Minerals, perfumes, anything to stop me from seeing it. Then, suddenly, it crossed my path. Just a random display smack dab in the middle of the aisle. There it was, mocking me, staring me down. What was it you ask? None other than the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette. To waste more time avoiding it I swatched both the First and Second palette and a lovely saleslady, named Samantha helped me out. She said that the colors in the Naked 2 would compliment my skin tone more and that she personally prefers it. So like I said, I caved, and I bought it. I am officially a part of the Naked 2 Club. Kristin's ever persuasive post also helped convince me, as well. Surprisingly enough though, I don't regret it one bit. I feel that display and I were meant to cross paths, and the makeup powers put it there for me to see. Well, either way I cannot wait to use this baby!

That's all that I picked up at Ulta yesterday, but today I made a quick stop at my local Harmon's with my older stepsister.While I was there I picked up some makeup remover wipes(I like them much better than actual remover) and 2 Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain's in Rendezvous and Sweetheart/Valentine! I can't wait to try out everything I purchased!





Xoxo
Audrey
"As far as I can remember every dime I ever owned went to something extravagant. I would rather spend more, buy fewer items, and have them forever."-Rachel Zoe

June Favorites

Hey everyone! During the month of June, I bought and tried out a lot of new products! June was also my birthday month and some lovely ladies from this blog gave me some really cute (beauty related) gifts that i fell in love with!

BEAUTY FAVORITES

Essie's "Camera" Nail Polish- Perfect bright coral color for the summer! Currently, I have this polish on my toes, and it looks amazing! I even received a complement on the color while I was shopping! This is definitely going to be my "go-to" bright nail polish. It gives the preppy feel because it's a gorgeous coral, yet it is such a fun color for summer. I would definitely purchase this color if you see it! Also, a big thanks to Francesca for getting me this polish for my birthday!


Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Lip Balm Stain- I was on the hunt for this product as soon as I heard about it! I was at the drugstore and I saw them and HAD to get one! The color I have is in "Sweetheart/Valentine" and it is gorgeous. It's a bright, mid-toned pink with a beautiful shine. There are so many things I love about this product! Firstly, it gives you a shine when you first apply it, but as the shine fades it still stains your lips with the color! That is such a win I can't even begin to tell you. A perfect pink lip product that stains your lips for a sufficient amount of time! Secondly, this product is super moisturizing. I've been applying this product every day and I am always reaching for it because it almost acts like a chapstick. It's definitely not drying at all, and makes your lips feel great. Thirdly, the smell is amazing. Amazing. It is a light minty smell and I ADORE mint, so it's pretty much a perfect product!


Maybelline's Volum' Express Mega Plush Mascara- I adore trying out new mascaras, and after watching some beauty guru's hauls on youtube featuring this product, I knew I had to try it! I heard mixed reviews about it, but let me tell you-- I LOVE IT. The formula of this mascara is great and the amount of volume it gives your lashes is priceless! Haha, but seriously if you are accessible to this mascara I would definitely get it! If you would like a longer review leave a comment down below.


Bath & Body Works Triple Moisture Body Cream- Audrey gave this to me as part of my birthday present in the scent 'Sweet Pea"- a cult favorite! This body cream leaves your skin feeling silky, soft, and smooth. I think it's important to moisturize your skin all year round, but especially in the winter and summer. While you are laying out soaking in all of that vitamin D, your skin can become a bit dry because it is so dehydrated. As soon as I get out of the shower, I apply this body cream all over and it rehydrates my skin! Definitely a product I will be repurchasing.


Deborah Lippmann's "Sweet Dreams" Nail Polish- A beautiful glittery hot pink! I had this on my nails about a week ago and I really loved it! It looks really nice on in the summertime with tan skin (I know because of my sister....I am not tan yet! :/ ) The glitters reflect the light really nicely and I cannot wait to wear it again....maybe next time I will use it as an accent nail color with the rest of the nails being a light pink?? Hmmm....tell me in the comments what you guys think I should do! Thanks a bunch to Kristin for this polish!

Hawaiian Tropics Sheer Touch Clear Spray Sunscreen- I am a huge sun protection freak! Even though I love getting a gorgeous tan, I know that it's waaaaaay more important to protect your skin for the harmful rays! This particular sunscreen is available in SPF 30 and 50, and I have mine in SPF 50, but honestly as long as you have at least SPF 30 you will be fine! This sunscreen has an amazing smell-- think of coconut and tropical fruity air. It's wonderful! One thing that I absolutely love about this product is that it is a clear spray that sprays evenly!! So many spray sunscreens distribute unevenly leaving you with weird burn lines, but this one doesn't. It keeps me protected perfectly whether I am at the pool, lake, or the beach!

NON-BEAUTY FAVORITES

Favorite Song- I've really been loving ""Both of Us" by B.O.B and Taylor Swift, "The Fighter" by Gym Class Heroes ft. Ryan Tedder, "Good Girl" by Carrie Underwood and "Drops of Jupiter" by Train. "Both of Us" is a super up beat song and in my opinion is perfect to listen to while you are tanning! "The Fighter" has definitely been on my top played songs. I listen to this song all the time, and it is always playing on my iPod. "Good Girl" is just one of those songs you fall in love with! It's perfect for going on a run or laying out by the pool....clearly a summer song! Finally, "Drops of Jupiter" an oldie but a goodie! This song has always been one of my most loved songs, but I've really been playing it during the month of June! ".....best soy latte that you ever had and me" will never get old!

TV Show- I'm obsessed with TV now I swear. School is out and I have had so much more time to catch up on my TV shows. Dance Moms will always be one of my favorites, as well as Pretty Little Liars! (You guys don't know how much I have missed that show!) Also, I just started watching The Bachelorette. I know, I am super late on that trend but I LOVE IT!! I am so glad that i started watching this show and I love Sean. #TeamSean all the way.


Snack- Gala Apples. I love them! They taste the best to me, and are super refreshing. I could seriously eat like 5 a day!


These are all of my favorites for the month of June! Leave in the comments below what your favorite products from the month of June have been, and don't forget... stay classy!

-Landon