April 2014 Favorites

The time has come..the month of April is over and I'm starting a new tradition of monthly favorites! I'm hoping to do this every month to give you all some insight into the products I've been loving this month. Lets get started!

1. Clinique Pop Blushes- I already expressed my love for these blushes in my Top Spring Blushes blogpost. Buuuut they are seriously so amazing they deserve endless praise! I have two of the colors (Peach Pop & Plum Pop) and they are both so beautiful and creamy!

2. Bath and Body Works Aromatherapy Sleep Bubble Bath & Lotion- This has been my go-to bubble bath for years now. It's basically the only one I use because I love the smell and it is so relaxing! I recently started using the body lotion after my baths and it is amazing going to bed smelling like lavender and vanilla. ♡

3. Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream- This was definitely an impulse buy at the drug store. I didn't know much about this line, but I knew that I was in need of a BB Cream or tinted moisturizer for the days that I don't need a full coverage foundation. I've used this quite a bit throughout the past month and it is just what I was looking for. It has a light coverage, is super moisturizing, and it smells amazing! 

4. L'Oreal True Match Foundation- My most used foundation of the month has been L'oreal's True Match. (I also sometimes mix it with Revlon Colorstay, mostly because my True Match is too light, but I also love that foundation.) I love this foundation because it has medium coverage and looks very natural on the skin. It works well for a full face of make up as well as a work day that I don't need a ton of makeup. Another bonus is the wide variety of color selections in this line. I guess that's probably what they were going for with "True Match"...

5. Makeup Geek Eye Shadows- You may have seen my post on Instagram when I showed my new Z Palette and the Makeup Geek Eyeshadows I purchased. If not, follow me @mbeautyspot :) These shadows are very affordable ($5.99 for a pan) and there is a great color selection to choose from. All the colors I have are super pigmented and very creamy and blendable. If you haven't tried these yet I highly recommend them!

6. Josie Maran Argan Illuminizer- I've had this product for about a year now, but I broke it back out this month to get that coveted spring glow. My favorite way to use it is to mix it in with my foundation to make a dewy, glowing finish.  I ♡ this illuminizer!!

7. Sephora + Pantone Universe Cheek Sweep- This little love bug was an impulse buy on a trip to Sephora. It's part of their Radiant Orchid collection, and I literally gasped when I swatched these in the store! It comes with two blushes and a highlight shade, and they are sooo creamy and just glide on the skin! The blushes also have a shimmer to them so they are absolutely perfect for spring and summer. 

8. Buxom Full-On Lip Cream in White Russian- This lipgloss is a cult favorite in the makeup world- and for good reason. It is a beautiful sheer nude color that goes over any nude or pink lipstick beautifully, and it also looks great on its own! I've recently been using it on top of a Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in 'Blushing Beige'. It's the perfect combination for a nude lip on us fair-skinned girls!

9. Boscia Super-Charge Overnight Moisture- I love to use a deeper moisturizer at night to make sure my skin stays nice and soft. This one by Boscia is great for any skin type because it is moisturizing without being greasy. I have combination/oily skin and I think this product is absolutely perfect.

10. Laura Mercier Mineral Pressed Powder- I was in the market last month for a new pressed powder because my Bare Minerals Ready Translucent powder is just about gone. I looked around Sephora at all my options and ended up picking up the Laura Mercier Pressed Powder. It's perfect for every day wear because it sets my foundation in place and mattifies without making my skin look chalky.

11. The Body Shop Tea Tree Face Mask- Disclaimer: this product will make you look like a swamp monster. Fortunately, the 10-15 minutes of scariness is well worth it.  I mentioned this in my skin care routine post a few months ago, but I've recently been using it a lot. This is one of my favorite masks because it pulls out the impurities and makes your skin feel squeaky clean. I like to use this when my face is broken out or my pores seem clogged, and I notice a difference in my skin as soon as I wash it off.

I hope you enjoyed reading my first monthly favorites! What were your favorites for this month?? Let me know what you have been loving down below in the comments! Also please follow me on Instagram @mbeautyspot for daily posts about products I love! ♡

XOXO,

Meredith

Top 5 Blushes for Spring

Hello on this beautiful Spring day!

Blushes are one of my favorite makeup items. I love to play up a bright cheek color and add a beautiful highlighter on the cheekbone. It's especially fun to play with blushes this time of year when it's time to start breaking out the bright colors! Today I'm going to share with you my top 5 favorite blushes for Spring!

1. Clinique Cheek Pop in “Plum Pop”- This is my current obsession. I picked up two of the cheek pop blushes a few weeks ago, and I think I've used Plum Pop 90% of the days since then! It is such a beautiful Spring pink, and it has a very gentle sheen that brightens up your cheeks.

2. Milani Baked Blush in “Luminoso”- This blush has been a staple in my go-to makeup look since I've had it. It's a very easy shade to use on a day that you want a simple face, but you can also intensify the color by layering it on top of a peach color like MAC's Peaches.

3. Smart Bomb Cosmetics Cheek Highlighter in “Hollywood Glow”-This is a brand that I discovered in college (Ashland University- a small school in Ohio), which was created by a makeup artist who wanted to create her own line of cosmetics with more natural ingredients. I only have a few products from the line, but this blush definitely makes the cut of my top favorites! It has a beautiful rosy color and shimmer, so you don't need a highlighter. Here is a link to the Smart Bomb website if you want to check out the products! http://smartbombcosmetics.com

4. MAC Sheertone Blush in “Peaches”-I have to thank Jaclyn Hill for this one! (PS- if you don't watch Jaclyn on YouTube you are missing out!!). I think the name describes it perfect..it is a peach blush. It's perfect for spring and looks beautiful with a bit of a tan!

5. Tarte Airblush in “Shimmering Poppy”- I'm not usually a huge fan of cream blushes, but I swatched this blush at Ulta last summer and immediately threw it in my bag. It's a very light consistency and glides on the skin beautifully. This color is a lovely rosy, peach color with a slight shimmer. 

BONUS- Sephora + Pantone Universe Rush Luster Cheek Sweep-Since I've only had this a few weeks and haven't used it a ton, I don't want to say its a favorite. BUT the colors in this trio are so gorgeous and I love love looove the highlighter as well. I definitely recommend checking this trio out if you want to add some Radiant Orchid into your makeup collection.

Thanks for reading everyone! I hope you all have a great week!

XOXO,

Meredith