#moisture whip gloss stick

[millenniumfae]

Get Their Makeup Look! Ft. The Chocobros of Final Fantasy XV

Gladiolus Amiticia - Spicebomb Extreme eu de cologne by Viktor&Rolf, Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer (’23.5 Medium Amber’ - for warm undertones) by IT Cosmetics, Burt’s Bees ‘Rose’ Tinted Lip Balm, Josie Maran’s Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter

Ignis Scientia - Invictus Platinum Eau de Parfum by Paco Rabanne, Luminous Silk Foundation (‘4.5′ - light to medium, neutral) by Armani Beauty, ‘Rosewood’ Maximizer Plumping Gloss by Dior, ‘Taupe’ Brow Wiz® Pencil by Anastasia Beverly Hills

Noctis Lucis Caelum - Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme by Chanel, Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector (‘2W1 Natural’ - light warm) by Laura Mercier, ‘Rasperry’ Glow Oil by Dior, Ouai Finishing Crème

Prompto Argentum - Old Spice ‘Wolfthorn’ Stick Deodorant, Lock-It Concealer Crème (‘Light 13′ - light bisque with cool undertone) by KVD Beauty, Covergirl’s ‘Sassy Mauve’ Outlast Lip Stain, Bed Head Manipulator Texturizing Putty

Why these picks? Well, check out my explanation below!

Gladio almost never wears makeup or perfume. Most days, he’s the ‘take a shower, throw some random sport deodorant on’ sort of guy, and actual cosmetics are only in his possession for fancy, Crown-related events. If it wasn’t for his family putting their foot down on a teenage Gladio, he’d attend dress parties with not even a splash of aftershave.

He used to resent wearing any sort of makeup ‘cause he grew up sort of forced into it, but as he got older (and thanks to Iris’ passive influence), he re-discovered the magic of concealer and tinted lip balm. So now he’s got some products he falls back on, if he’s feeling it. Not all of them bought on his own dime, either; some were gifts from friends and family. You can tell which he bought himself, ‘cause he never does any research into brands and just randomly buys whatever salon/boutique product off the shelf whenever he stops by the mall Sephora after splurging at Fontana.

The Spicebomb Extreme eu de cologne by Viktor&Rolf was 100% a tongue-in-cheek gift by either Ignis, or a cousin. They took one look at the - frankly, ridiculous - grenade-shaped bottle and thought it was the perfectly “hhh manly” thing for his 20th birthday. (And they made sure to get the version with ‘Extreme’ in the name.) But scent-wise, it matches Gladio pretty well, with warm spices, lavender, and the grapefruit/vanilla lends it a surprising amount of sweetness. And it’s a strong scent, too, very long lasting, so if he spends all day swinging his sword, it’s still gonna stick.

His old tube of Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer (’23.5 Medium Amber’ - for warm undertones) by IT Cosmetics is one makeup item he bought himself, after a morning spent hemming and hawing over this huge zit until a 14-year-old Iris shut him up with some borrowed concealer. He was so impressed, he’s been using concealers ever since, if he wants to hide some blemishes or dark circles. He just grabbed the same brand Iris was using at the time, using the little square on the package to guesstimate the color match, and it took three years before a kind sales associate actually found a concealer with his exact skintone. But even still, he’s not particularly aware (or caring) that his summer/winter skintones don’t quite match the concealer either. He doesn’t use any tools, just haphazardly patting it on with his fingers, which sometimes makes it blotchy. But hey, it’s waterproof, which is a huge help to a sweaty guy like him.

As far as lips go, his family is one of those that grew up insisting their kids always moisturize. So he’s always been using lip balm, and if he wants to add a bit of color onto his lips to hide the greyness, he uses his Burt’s Bees ‘Rose’ Tinted Lip Balm which he not only thinks smells and feels really good, it does indeed swatches the perfect amount of pink. He grew up in a world where guys are wearing makeup all the time (fantasy Shinjuku-Tokyo), and there’s lots of lip tinting products geared for subtle pinks and reds, but he doesn’t want to wear a sticky lip gloss that doesn’t moisturize or provide SPF.

For those who have no idea what kind of present Gladio would like, fancy lotions are your best bet. Especially after he got inked and the extensive aftercare involved careful moisturizing, Gladio got hooked on making sure all his skin is forever smooth and hydrated. In fact, he’s got so many moisturizers as gifts, he hasn’t had to buy any himself for a while. His Josie Maran’s Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter is one of his favorites, even if there’s not a lot in the pot; there’s a very light but clean scent, it dries fast but lends a lot of moisture, and it’s delicate enough for his face and hands, too. 

Ignis actually does make an effort to spend his hard-earned money on luxury cosmetics. And he owns more than I showed here - translucent powders, eyeliner pencils, contour kits, setting sprays, etc. And that’s not even getting into his skincare products. He had horrible acne as a teen (you can still see the icepick scars if you look closely), but being a pizza face doesn’t mean he could skip his retainer-in-training duties, so he’d coat his face with cheap drugstore foundation before heading to the Citadel. Little by little, he learned better cosmetic techniques, and before long, he was a true connoisseur just like me, hehe.

He doesn’t wear every product daily, but he won’t walk out the door without something on. He’s been wearing makeup for so long, people’d notice if he didn’t at least conceal his under-eye bags, or apply pore-minimizing powder. Unlike the other boys, he’s actually very ambivalent about how he looks with makeup, not any better nor worse than barefaced - when you wear makeup as long as Ignis has, especially with his uneven skin texture, wearing makeup tends to look like exactly what it is; creamy, powdery stuff. The Ignis we see in-game actually isn’t wearing makeup most of the time, ‘cause he doesn’t have to worry about representing the prince to nobles and council members.

Invictus Platinum Eau de Parfum by Paco Rabanne is ‘his’ cologne. He almost never wears anything else (aside from some unscented deodorant/aftershave), ‘cause 'professional adults’ don’t switch between perfumes every day. It’s minty and citrusy with a twist of absinthe, and an underbite of the lighter, more pine-adjacent cypress wood. He takes that extra step to ensure that all his bodily scents match this perfume, such as his hair pomade and moisturizer, so there’s no clashing. And at 14,000¥ for 100 ml, you bet he’s gonna make sure the cologne is what you’re smelling.

As any blemish-prone person will tell you, the right liquid foundation is a make-it-or-break-it deal. Luminous Silk Foundation (‘4.5′ - light to medium, neutral) by Armani Beauty is not the only foundation he owns (just his go-to), and definitely far from the only foundation he’s ever tried. A medium coverage - applied with a brush and sponge - is best for textured skin like his. Its natural finish means his skin’s not gonna look like linoleum after the powder and setting spray. The pump component means he can deposit product onto a clean brush to minimize contamination and therefore more acne breakouts. And its bougie brand means he feels dignified whenever he sees it on his bathroom counter.

‘Rosewood’ Maximizer Plumping Gloss by Dior is amongst the few makeup items he usually doesn’t wear. His lips are naturally pigmented and full, but if he wants to emphasize them even more, he’s gonna go all out with a very lightly tinted gloss that has just a tiniest bit of glitter, and that numbing effect that’ll swell your lips slightly. It’s also hydrating and contains very little agents that can harm sensitive skin. And when he does wear it, it’s only a minimal swathe and not the full gloss. You can catch him with it during fancy balls.

If I had to only choose four makeup items for Ignis, I had to skip over all his skincare stuff, hair care/styling products, his concealer, his powder, sprays, mascara, etc, and include his ‘Taupe’ Brow Wiz® Pencil by Anastasia Beverly Hills. In his firm belief, well-groomed eyebrows frame the entire face, making it all looked that much more manicured. With an eyebrow pencil, he can make the hair look darker, or change the general shape, or add the illusion of extra hairs for a fuller look. He also likes how the creamy texture of the product means he can use it on his lashline for a subtle eyeliner, too.

Noctis is more like Gladio; not gonna go out of his way to use makeup, but doesn’t hate it either. Most of the time, his makeup is done for him by the royal Citadel makeup artists for certain public events, or photoshoots, etc. Any makeup he does actually own are haphazardly kept in some dusty desk drawer, lightly leaking and possibly expired. He knows he looks especially good with makeup, he’s just a lazy boy who can’t be bothered unless it’s not him making the effort.

His makeup artists, in fact, cake a lot of makeup on him, ‘cause his skin can take tons of product without looking too artificial. On his own, though, he rarely throws on even a tinted moisturizer before going to hit the town. That’s not even getting into his skincare routine, which is to say, is nonexistent. He’s lucky for having good genes and slightly-oily skin, otherwise he’d be a pimply, ashy gremlin. But his makeup artists actually have influenced him a bit, he uses the correct tools and trusted brands ... when he decides to wear any at all.

Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme by Chanel is a cologne he keeps at his desk. His makeup artists usually just hand him a bottle of whatever in the middle of painting his face, and he’ll obediently spray it on without even looking at the bottle (if he accidentally sprays his clothes, he gets an earful from the wardrobe department). This bottle was just unceremoniously given to him by his lead makeup artist after it was discovered he didn’t have any proper perfume. He doesn’t even remember if he ever wore it, since, for some reason, the makeup artists seem to spray a different cologne every time they attend him. Despite its name and weird packaging, its a pretty generic, ‘luxury man’ scent, like if Abercrombie And Fitch was less headache-inducing.

Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector (‘2W1 Natural’ - light warm) by Laura Mercier is a sheer, protective liquid foundation he picked up on his own. He wanted something to use whenever he felt the urge to pursue that pretty ‘doll look’ his makeup artists aimed for, so the boutique clerks helped him find something casual, but full of protectorates 'cause no one wanted to be the sales associate that gave the prince a face full of whiteheads. And as said before, he applies it properly, with a stiffer-bristled brush to properly manipulate its lightweight, slightly oily consistency. Except he doesn’t clean his brushes ever, which is gross but hey, it’s Noctis, what did you expect.

If there’s any part of his face that shows his lackluster skincare, it’d be his ashy grey, chapped-as-all-hell lips. Like his cologne, his makeup artists one day kindly asked if he’d like a lip tint recommendation, and he just shrugged, so they handed over a ‘Raspberry’ Glow Oil by Dior. It’s not quite a sticky gloss, not an actual thin oil, it’s something in-between. There isn’t a whole lot of color (which was a smart move on the makeup artist’s part ‘cause you can’t trust a 17-year-old Noctis with lip color intensity) but its definitely moisturizing. He doesn’t usually wear this one not just ‘cause he’s lazy, but also because it has this really strong, minty-vanilla scent right under his nose all day.

Ouai Finishing Crème is the only hair product he’s ever bought, and he actually does like it a lot. Benefits of having access to a celebrity beauty team means he’s got a haircut that looks good no matter what, but adding this cream to his wet hair makes it look extra lively after it dries, and gets rid of all his minimal frizz. He’s got that Asian hair texture which requires different hair styling products, anything too wet or slick just weighs it down and makes it look even more like low-budget Sasuke. He also likes its strong, romantic, gardenia flower smell, which is so strong he claims he doesn’t need his fancy cologne if he’s wearing this.

Prompto’s a lower-middle class, paycheck-to-paycheck boy, so most of his makeup is from the drugstore. Even his boutique brands are on the cheaper side - instead of La Mer and Pat McGrath, he buys Makeup Forever and Colourpop for his splurges. The only non-drugstore items he buys are those he doesn’t particularly trust to be cheap - foundations and concealer. And even then, he feels guilty so he rations them out, sometimes mixing the product with a cheaper alternative to stretch it out.

He wears makeup more often than people might think, and more of it than you might assume. But because of its low quality, no matter how much finessing he does, he ends up looking no better afterwards. Which, if you ask those who know him, is because he’s darn cute already, but according to him its because he just sucks at applying it. His insecurities always pushes him to look his ‘best’, which means concealer for his eye bags. 

Despite its hardcore packaging and weird ‘Mountain Man’ name, Old Spice ‘Wolfthorn’ Stick Deodorant is actually a very sweet, tangeriney scent. Prompto enjoys cute things more than ‘manly’ things, and he actually likes how artificially sugary this deodorant is. He wears it religiously, ‘cause with how anxious he gets, without an antiperspirant he’ll quickly smell like an old taco truck. During the warmer, shorts-wearing seasons, he’ll apply it between his thighs just in case.

Lock-It Concealer Crème (‘Light 13′ - light bisque with cool undertone) by KVD Beauty is one of the cheaper boutique makeup brands, boasting high coverage without the luxury price. Prompto’s so pale, very few cheaper brands carry his skintone without looking orange, this being one of them. He’s got a drugstore-bought sponge to bounce it around his eyes and blemishes, ‘cause its so thick and matte, fingers only smudge it unevenly. You can tell if he’s wearing this if some of his freckles mysteriously disappear one morning. When he learned about the controversial drama surrounding KVD Beauty over Instagram, he had a dilemma over whether to try to find another cheap-but-has-pasty-white-skintone brand. When he finishes this tube, he’ll consider buying from Fenty instead.

Covergirl’s ‘Sassy Mauve’ Outlast Lip Stain is a water-based product that is truly a stain, unlike those named the same but are more like lip glosses or liquid lipsticks. It goes on slighty silky, but quickly mattes down to a more natural finish. Problem is, being water-based means it looks very natural, but it also smudges and fades very quickly from natural mouth moisture. Prompto thinks that’s why they made it taste so good, ‘cause you’re gonna be eating most of it within a couple hours. But as a stain, it’ll still deposit some more permanent color for the rest of the day. It gives him a cute, peony pout.

There’s a lot of hair gel in the world, but Bed Head Manipulator Texturizing Putty is Prompto’s go-to for shaping that scene-kid quiff. His fine blonde hair takes to putty-based formulas the best, and this one is the least sticky, oily, and sweat resistant for his dollar. It’s still not the best, it smells pretty bad (it’s supposed to be ‘tropical fruit’ but more like ‘expired rubber’) and it won’t last more than seven hours, god forbid its humid or raining. If any of his richer friends wanted to buy a cosmetic gift for him, the best choice wouldn’t be makeup but a proper hair putty. If he didn’t use so much in one sitting, Prompto’d be very willing to splurge on salon-quality hair putty. As of now, though, he’s got at least two pots in his bathroom at all times - and in his locker at the Glaive training wing, to use after showering.

[tunaroll7]

48 Low-cost Magnificence Products Which May Be Effing Superb [newline]50 Low Cost Magnificence Merchandise With Unimaginable Reviews On Amazon

An earlier model of this story implied there is no oversight within the labeling of organic products. The U.S. Department of Agriculture regulates the term natural on food labels. "The most idealistic which means of clear is defined by the consumer," Fu says. Had precisely the product I wished And got it to me very speedily, five days after I ordered, it was delivered to me in Colorado, USA. This conditioner—actually, every little thing from this line comes extremely really helpful on TikTok for its ability to revive your hair and provides life back to even probably the most broken strands. This superstar perfume and all of the TikToks comparing it to Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 actually made me get off my butt and go to an Ulta to odor it—and I don't even like those types of scents! With notes of whipped cream and musk, this perfume is certainly one of greatest perfumes on TikTok for these who need a sweeter dupe of the Baccarat Rouge. Honestly, Mikayla Nogueira could promote me something, but this highlighter, specifically, has me totally sold. the gaia's protocol blends easily, it's not glittery—it's basically everything the highlighter formulas of 2015 were not. Our pure makeup line consists of eye, lip and face products you’ll love, especially our fan favourite moisturizing lip gloss and juicy tinted lip balm. Consider our balm stick or our powder blush, available in the excellent shade to match your skin tone. From eye shadows to lipsticks, to foundation and mascara, our makeup merchandise are made with ingredients you may love at a price you'll love even more. Perfect for on-the-go, our beauty merchandise are straightforward to make use of and make a great addition to your make-up bag. AYou can remove a full face of waterproof make-up and oil-based skincare merchandise, like sunscreen, with The Face Shop’s Rice Water Bright cleaning oil. According to the brand, the cleanser's main ingredient, rice water, is an historic Korean magnificence secret for selling brighter, softer skin. It helps brighten skin and scale back signs of irritation utilizing pumpkin seed oil as its star ingredient. Pumpkin is naturally rich in fatty acids and vitamins C and E, so it can help battle skin-damaging free radicals while additionally promoting stronger, more hydrated skin. Additionally, the mask contains kaolin clay to clear pores of excess oil, as nicely as moisturizing elements like glycerin and shea butter to counteract any dryness. In the ten to fifteen minutes it takes to make use of this Eve Hansen face masks, your pores will be cleared and your pores and skin will be brighter, smoother, and softer. Kaolin and bentonite clays assist to absorb excess oil and draw out blackheads, whereas turmeric root powder promotes a more even-looking complexion.

[fuckyeahnostalgicbeauty]

Maybelline Moisture Whip gloss stick print ad

[goshyesvintageads]

Maybelline Co, 1982

[uncloseted]

Do you have any tinted lip gloss or lip stain recommendations? My lips have a lot of 'wrinkles' and lipstick just settles into the cracks no matter how much I moisturize them. I want to add colour to my lips so Im thinking a tinted gloss would be better. I want a my lips but better colour, nothing super obvious that it looks like I have something on. tysm

My first recommendation would be to focus on skincare for your lips. It may help to regularly use a lip balm or overnight lip conditioning treatment and to exfoliate your lips. If you have a lipstick you already like but that's a little drying, you can put a lip balm over the top to prevent it from giving that wrinkled, cracked look.

In terms of tinted, moisturizing products, try:

Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm

Kari Gran Lip Whip

NYX Butter Lipsticks

Fresh Sugar Lip Balm

Clinique Chubby Sticks

It Cosmetics Pillow Lips Solid Serum Lip Gloss

ELF Tinted Lip Balm

Chapstick Tinted Lip Balm

Maybelline Baby Lips

[cassettecute]

Maybelline- moisture whip gloss stick 1994

[shaekingshitup]

Stay Grounded (Grindin Pt 2)

A/N: Writing this was a battle but I learned some things so it’s cool. Definitely don’t plan on anymore stories with these two. I don’t think I like Reader Inserts rn. But hey, he came back! If I told you I’d tag you and I didn’t I’m sorry. Idk a good method of actually keeping a taglist yet. D: This has been chillin in my drafts. Hopefully, you like it. Honestly, just thanks for reading! 💕

Word Count: 3.8k-ish but I swear it feels like 500 plot wise

Part 1

“Thanks Paul. I’ll see you next week,” you said as you placed one of your favorite regular’s drink on the counter.

“Bye Y/N” he called out on his way towards the exit. You checked in with your staff to make sure that they were doing okay. You weren’t an overbearing owner. You trained employees whom were competent and that you trusted to carry on your business when you weren’t there. But, you did your best to make yourself available to stop in when you knew your crew would be busiest. Plus, Grindin was your baby. You could never stay away for too long.

GRINDIN chimed out as another patron came in. You looked up to greet whomever it was with a smile.

“Michaela! Hey girl. Long time no see.” you greeted

“I know. I was honeymooning with my baaa-by,” she sang moving her goddess braids so that they were behind her back and making sure her diamond ring was on full display.

“YAS! Girl, I am so happy for you and Jon. I hope you two had a wonderful time. I see you over there Mrs. Kirk. Are you getting your usual today?” you asked.

“Girl, you don’t know the HALF of it. My boss paid for da baby and me to go on an all expenses trip to Bahamas,” you widened your eyes at this. You can’t even remember your last real vacation.  “Originally we were just going to spend a weekend away in San Diego. But, he surprised us with a week long paid vacation to the one place Jon and I truly wanted to visit. I can’t quit smiling.” she sighed with one of the brightest smiles you’d ever seen on someone. You couldn’t help but smile back. “But anywho, I’m not here for the usual actually. My boss just got back to the country from some away business as well and I guess his time away switched up his tastebuds. He’s going to take a large Brew Thang and I’ll stick with my usual small, hot Bad n Brewjie with whipped cream.”

“Absolutely girl. Comin’ right up,” Michaela handed over the business card to pay and afterwards you transitioned over to the bar to start on the drinks.It was clear that Michaela had more to say. You could see it in her body language that she was holding on to something that she needed to spill.

“Somethin’ on your mind sis? Gone ahead and spit it out.” you assured her.

“What’re you doing tonight?” she asked out of the blue.

“I’ve got a lil date tonight. Why do you ask?”

“Wait. Sis, you got a nigga?” Michaela whispered quite loudly as she raised her left eyebrow. That got you a few glances from some people working at the countertop. You were certain that the one with headphones in had heard her loud ass too. She could be really nosey sometimes but you still appreciated her presence and her business whenever she stopped in.

“Hahaha. Not at the moment.  It’s a date with myself because I deserve to eat well and be treated right -even if I’m the only one treating. Why? What’s happening tonight?” you asked trying not to reveal too much of your intrigue. Sure you had plans but if the offer was right, you could bend em.

“ Okay. So, my boss actually asked me to invite you to dinner tonight at The Liftoff because-“

“The Liftoff? Wait, who the hell is your boss? fucking President Barack Obama?” you damn near yelped as you stared at her with your eyebrows reaching the ceiling. In order to get into The Liftoff you had to have money. Not just a lil cheddar. But BIG BANK! More than that you had to have clout.  If you didn’t have someone invite you, you were never getting in. Many people hadn’t even heard of it- you happened to have a few wealthy and loyal customers stop in every now and then and had overheard them discussing it once.

“His name is Erik. I’m not sure if you remember him but I guess he was in here a few weeks ago,”

2 weeks and 3 days ago sis. But hey, who’s counting? You thought.

“That was when I was out for my wedding. I guess it was a good thing too.”

Aloud, you feigned delayed recognition “Oh yeaahhh. Yeah, I remember him stopping in”

“He was planning on picking you up tonight at six to go to dinner and finish up where y’all left off..” she trailed and left the floor for you. She was not so subtly implying that you two had started something and she was all ears.

“Well, sis. You can let Mr. Erik know that I’m unavailable for the evening. And if he wants to see me, Imma need him to come in here and ask me himself,” you said placing both drinks on the countertop.

“You playing hard to get sis?” she countered.

“I’m not playing anything. I have standards and I know my worth through and through. If he can’t come ask me face to face himself, then the answer will forever be no.”  

Michaela was shocked by your response but managed to get out “I’ll be certain to relay the message.” As she made her exit, she turned back to you. “I respect you sis. A lot of females see a nigga like him and are ready to hop over the counter at one of his slick ass lines. You’re bout to give him a run for his money- and he got plenty!” she cackled.  With that she left and left you alone with your thoughts.

————————

When you made it back to your place, it was time for a shower. The smell of coffee was one of your personal tell-tales signs of how long you’d spent at your shop to make sure everything was in order. Right now, the scent was permeating around you. It had been stated on more than one occasion that you were a workaholic. You simply cared about your baby and wanted to make sure that you gave the best back to the city that raised you. So, it was always hard to establish boundaries for when you had to tend to yourself rather than Grindin. But today was your day.

The second you opened the door, you started shedding your clothes as if they were contaminated. You loved walking around your condo bare ass naked- without a care in the world as to who did or did not see you in all your glory. You adjusted your A/C to a crisp 68 degrees and headed to your bathroom to start your water. Grabbing your phone, you put on a fun playlist to dance to a little. Kiana Ledé’s “Bouncin” started playing out of your waterproof speaker and you hopped in to wash the morning away and bounce a little yourself. The rest of the day was going to be a self-care day. You had it all planned out. First, shower. Next, nap. Then, you planned on putting on a little makeup, serving looks with your latest fit, doing some shopping and then you’d take yourself to dinner. You made sure to do this at least once a month with yourself. Sometimes people would see you dressed to impressed and they’d take pity on you for being alone. But that wasn’t how you saw it at all and you let them know it. Whenever anyone gave you sad eyes or took it upon themselves to join you on your night out, you let them know that this was your intended personal time and that you weren’t crumbled or broken by not having someone to sit across from you.

Obviously, there were times you really wished that someone would take it upon themselves to treat you so you didn’t have to do it yourself. But, on these nights you made sure to be appreciative of who you were whether there was an admirer to acknowledge this or not. Your mind drifted over these things as you hopped out the shower and moisturized your body from head to toe.

Shower ✅

You re-entered your room and buried yourself beneath your covers. The silk sheets had been calling out your name since you’d step foot inside and you were done denying them their request. It was time for that nap. 💤💤😴

——————————————

FRESH OUT THE BOX

STOP, LOCK AND WATCH

READY YET, GET SET

IT’S AALL THAT!

called out from your bedside dresser as you stretched out your limbs and tried to reach out for the phone.

OHHHHHH, OH, OHHHHHHHHHHHHH

THIS IS ALL THAT!

THIS IS ALLL THAT!

“Fuck it,” you said as you hopped out the bed and began your performance. You grabbed your phone and used it as your mic as your bedroom became your stage.

Check it, check it, check it

Now this is just an introduction

Before I blow your mind

The show is All of That and yes we do it all the time

So sit your booty on the floor or in a chair

Ground or in the air

Just don’t go no-where!

You gave it all you had for the full 1 minute and 6 seconds only ceasing when the alarm tune was starting over from the top. Dancing was one of your favorite ways to wake up. It made you feel more alive and ready to conquer the rest of your day.

Nap ✅

You meander over to the kitchen to grab a banana and some cranberry juice before tossing on an oversized t-shirt and sitting in front of your vanity. Next on your list was makeup. You synched your phone’s bluetooth to your mirror and played your Self Love playlist to sing along to. You planned on applying a light beat and wanted to make sure you did so without getting any makeup on your body.  Makeup was not your forté by any means but you loved to play a little and were able to copy all the simple tutorials. Today that mean browns all around. You dabbed on some foundation and two brown eye shadows, one that was subtle and another with more shimmer to compliment your natural glow. A little black eyeliner, mascara and nude lip gloss to bring it all together.

Makeup ✅

The fit for the evening was on point if you did say so yourself. A little casual but alluring nevertheless. 

Jade green bottoms which accentuated your curves with a cream colored long sleeve shirt that had a very deep v cut. You were really playin into your sexy side for the evening and it made you feel bold and dangerous.

You went with rose gold accessories to compliment your brown skin and eyes. Your watch and lock necklace were simple but altogether the look had you feelin like you were an 11/10 and that was the goal. You always wanted to remember that you were desired-even if only by yourself. You removed your phone from the charger, responding to a quick text from Lu about your plans for the evening and when you’d be available, disconnected your music from the bluetooth mirror and headed to your front door to put on your heels.

Serve these fuckin looks ✅

———

You were on your fourth store and your Gummy Bear smoothie was all but gone. Thus far nothing was really speaking to you. You’d purchased some accessories and  saw a lot of cute clothing items but nothing that was significant enough to bring home. Your shopping rule was : “If you don’t love it in the store, you won’t love it at home,”. You exited the boutique and made your way to the escalator ascending to the second level where you parked your car. You reached for your phone as it vibrated in your back pocket. Glancing at the screen you saw that it was Ray who was reaching out.

“Hey Ray J!” you laughed at the nickname he despised. His one wish was that you would stop calling him that.

“Y/N where are you?” he sounded concerned. He hadn’t even yelled at you for using the nickname that he couldn’t stand.

“I’m leaving the mall. What’s wrong?”

“Jaime had a family emergency and can’t close tonight. Eve is there but she’s still new you know. He had to leave and no one else is available to come in for him and close,” he said.

“Really? No Sherell, Chris or Rico?”

“No. None of them can make it. I would go in but I’m in Frisco right now. I know it’s your date night and I hate to do this. But, do you think you can close up?”

“Yeah.” you sighed, “Yeah, I can make it. It’s almost quitting time anyways. Plus I’m hella closer than you are. But just know you owe me! If you took your ass across the bridge on a whim, the dick better be good! ”

“Trust me boo it will be and I got you next time!”

“Yeah, whatever.” You hung up and wondered why the hell Ray decided to go to San Francisco on a whim when he was scheduled to be back up in case anything went awry for the evening. That was the whole purpose of the schedule that the two of you created. This was a perfect example of something unexpected occurring and yet he was M.I.A. You pondered these thoughts as you headed to your car and headed back towards your shop. You made sure to call and cancel your dinner reservation because that definitely wasn’t happening anymore.

Thank God I always keep a change of clothes at work you thought, cringing about how awkward it would be to slang coffee with your titties on full display considering you’d forgone a bra for the evening.

When you pulled up it was 6:30. The shop closed at 8 tonight so you had half an hour before you began pre-close. You walked in and scurried to the back to change into a merch sweater which read “Stay Grounded and some black leggings.

Eve was holding it down as best as she could. But it was evident that she was stressed.

“Hey, I’ll take the bar. You go ahead and ring em up, okay?” you offered.

She sighed and released a lot of the tension in her shoulders. “Okay.”

There were already 4 drinks waiting to be made. So, you got to work.

“Sorry your first night shift has been a bit of a whirlwind,” you told her once it had slowed down a bit. It was 6:58 and you didn’t anticipate there being too much of a let up. “Do you have your pre-close list with you?”

“Yeah. I was going to do the final bathroom check.”

“Great! Go ahead and get started. I’ll do most of the behind the counter stuff tonight. You focus on the customer areas. I may call you if orders get crazy,”

“Sounds like a plan boss!”

“Y/N!” you corrected.

Customers trickled in throughout the last hour. But when 7:45 came around and they saw that you were already cleaning up shop, most of them started to pack up their things and go. By 7:56 you were ecstatic. Everyone was gone. You just had to lock the door and then you could count money and tips, do a final sweep and mop and head out the shop. At least that was the plan, until you heard GRINDIN chime throughout the store at 7:58 P.M. You rolled your eyes. Unfortunately, this was no new occurrence to you. Customers were notorious for getting their final fix in the last few minutes before you closed up. Most of the time it didn’t bother you. But tonight, you were hungry and jaded that your plans for the evening had changed.

“Welcome! I just want to let you know that we will be closing in just a couple minutes here,” you called out without looking up as you wiped down the counter, “Let me know if you have any questions.”

“Yeah I got one.” the timber of his voice compelled you to stop and give him your full attention. You looked up to see Erik, dressed in a slightly less formal ensemble than when you’d first met. 

He adorned a pair of dark trousers, a white button up shirt with polka dots and suede loafers. But, he still looked so..

“Delicious?” he asked.

Hol’ up. First he’s Barack and now he reads minds too?

“I’m sorry” you say trying and failing to hide your flustered nature. “What was that?”

He smirked. “It’s okay baby girl. I’m sure you got a lot to take in with your day and all,” he stated as he took a few steps forward which didn’t help to alleviate your confused state at all. “I said since you took the time to introduce me to something new. I haven’t been able to get you off my mind. How about tonight it’s my turn to show you something delicious?”

Your reaction came as if you were on auto-pilot.

“I would love to but I’m barely closing up shop. By the time I count the drawer and we find a restaurant and actually place an order it’ll be pretty late. You shouldn’t hold off on dinner on account of me,” you said.

Erik kissed his teeth. “Yo workaholic ass don’t know how to say ‘no’ to anyone who wanna show you a good time, do you?” It must have been a rhetorical question because he went on, “Gone ahead and finish up closing your shop. When you done, meet me in the back.”

“Hold on. I

“Aht- aht- aht. This is no longer an option. This is the game plan. Close up, freshen up into some non-coffee gear and meet me out back. I’ll be there.” he said sternly and with that, he left.

Eve came out from the back of the shop with a broom in hand. You stood there frozen for a moment.

Did this negro just boss me around? In my own damn shop?? You thought.

Yes. Yes. He did sis. And you liked it so shut up and close up!

You locked the front door to bar anyone else from coming in and started counting the drawer. By the time you were done, Eve had swept, mopped the front and turned on the fans to help the floor dry quickly.

“Great job tonight Eve! I’m sure in the future it won’t be as.. disruptive. Either way, you killed it.”

“Thanks Y/N did you need me to stay or-?”

“Uh-uh. Go ahead sis!”. The second you locked the door behind her. You dashed to the restroom to freshen up and put on your clothes from earlier in the day. You rolled on some perfume and reapplied your gloss before you hit all the lights, locked the door, set the alarm and circled around the back of the shop.

When you got there, you came to a full stop and your jaw dropped. It was gorgeous. The back lot of the shop was decorated in lights throughout the trees. In the center there was a table for two, a whole ass waiter and was that music? You glanced around to find that tucked away in the corner there was indeed a harpist playing beautiful melodies.

“Damn girl and I thought I was going to surprise you with my view,” Erik said as you turned around to face him. He was holding a single purple daisy- which just happened to be your favorite flower. He placed it in your hands and pulled out your chair for you to have a seat.

“How? How did you do all of this and how did you know this was my favorite flower?” you asked with an expression of bewilderment taking over your features.

“I promise I’ll explain alldat baby girl. But first, I need to say I’m sorry”. This surprised you. You’d spent less than an hour in this man’s presence but he already didn’t strike you as the apologetic type.You placed your flower on the table and gave a nod of your head for him to go on. “When I met you a few weeks back. I meant to ask yo fine ass out right then and there. Unfortunately, that call that I got was urgent and it needed me to leave the country immediately,”. He finished.

“Oh my. Is everything alright?” you asked

“It is now. I handled it as I always do,” he stated with a conceited grin, “That’s why I came back to ask you out. I don’t leave anything unfinished.”

“Last time I checked this wasn’t an option. You didn’t ask nothin” He chuckled at that. The waiter came over at that moment to introduce himself, present the menu and fill up your water. He didn’t need to explain anything because there weren’t options on it. It was simply an itinerary for what your palette could expect. Appetizer, Entree, Dessert. They were all your favorites with a subtle twist. You were impresed. The menu was elegantly done and it looked fly as hell. You might have to keep a copy to give to Lu for inspiration.

“Well, actually I did,” Erik began when Duke, the waiter made his exit, “I was in earlier to ask yo stubborn ass-”

“You got one more time to talk about my ass before this becomes a solo event,” you interjected.

“Aight, bet. We can take a pause on that ass for now,” he smirked, “I was in earlier to ask you to dinner face to face, but yo people told me that you were unavailable for the evening. So, we made a few changes to make you available.”

“You what?”

“I paid ya mans Jaime a few bills to take the night off. Ray and Lulu was already on board,” you glanced down at the menu of our favorite foods again, “yup. That was them. They told me what you like. I just got the chef and made sure that Michaela hired the right people to make this vision come together. We all agree that it’s time for you to take a break, ma”

“Wait a minute. You bribed my staff? Plus, Lulu and Ray were in cahoots with you on this?! You barely even know me.”

“And? I’m tryna know you”

“I’m just sayin that’s a hole lotta trouble for a virtual stranger.”

“But you not a stranger. You the one that left me satisfied. Now just enjoy the rest of the evening and let me do the same for you,” he said as he picked up your hand and caressed it all the while never breaking eye contact with you.

“Okay.” you got out meekly. You cleared your throat and tried again. “Okay, Imma let you finish what you started,” you said

He smiled one of the most genuine and naturally alluring smiles you’d ever seen.

“ I can already tell you ain’t used to letting others take control. But don’t worry ma. I got this and I got you,” you were all the way blushing at this point, “Tell me about your day. Was it as brewtiful as you are?”

You laughed out loud as Duke placed your appetizers in front of you. “You corny.”

“And you like it,” You could already tell that he was going to do good on his word. You were leaving satisfied tonight one way or another.

Tag List: @scrumptiouslytenaciouscrusade @shewrites02 @shewritestheblues @ghostfacekill-monger @sarcastic-sunshines @fd-writes @eyeknowmywrites @twistedcharismaaa @thadelightfulone @raysunshine78

[that-travelgeek]

Winter Essentials

Winter is coming! Or in Canada’s case, it’s already here. With 15 cm of snow covering the streets, Toronto experienced the coldest November 13th on record! That’s why I’ve decided to compile a list of products that are just as important as your winter coat to help you prep for the season ahead. 

Lip balms. There are a myriad of lip balms or glosses in the market that you can pick and choose from. My favorites to use for when I’m on the go are Chapstick and EOS. I just stick one in my coat pocket and I can easily whip it out when my lips need some loving! Vaseline’s lip therapy in rosy lips is the one I keep on my bedside table and I use it every night before bed. I’d go to bed without a trace of worry about having chapped lips the next morning.

Body lotion is the next big thing on my list. As the air gets even drier, so does my skin. The one’s that’s always been in my closet is Bath & Body Works’ 24-hour ultra shea body cream. They come in different scents and you have the luxury of picking your favourite (so you can smell like candy apples the whole season!). 

Moisturizer. My skin is naturally oily, but even that cannot beat the harsh air of winter. My face needs a little more loving during the winter months so The Ordinary’s Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA sweeps in to save the day. Just a small drop is all you need for the whole face, which means a whole bottle is more than enough for the winter!

Sunscreen is still so important during the winter. Even if you don’t see the sun, it’s rays still penetrate the Earth, and your face needs protection. I was gifted Skin Aqua’s UV Moisture Milk sunscreen by my best friend and I am super grateful. It has SPF 50+ and PA+++ so you don’t have to worry about their coverage. Not only is it moisturizing, it’s totally not greasy and you can put make up on top of it directly! 

Hand cream makes the cut to this essentials list. Since I am not a huge fan of wearing gloves, my hands get dry quite easily. I always carry a Glysomed’s hand cream with me in my bag as well as Bath & Body Works’. 

Last but not least, winter boots! For 2 winters, I’ve been using a bulky, furry and heavy pair of winter boots but my feet were still constantly cold and I knew I needed a new pair this year. After asking a few friends for recommendations, I finally decided to get a pair of Blundstones’ winter boots and they are life-changing. They’re warm, comfortable (after you break into them), and most importantly they’re fashionable! I got them in black and they complement every outfit perfectly.

Whether you’re traveling this winter or just trying to survive this season, I hope this list will soothe your worries when you’re picking out products to stock on. Make sure to bundle up in your hoodies and scarves because this winter will be a long one!

Cheers.

[saselife]

Best Beauty Products Around

What's the best beauty buy? The answer is blush. Blush has long been considered a necessary part of every woman's makeup kit, but many women think that they need to spend a fortune on the full spectrum of blush colors and packaging. Thanks to our convenient online shopping, we can now get more for our money, and thanks to the internet there are even some places where you can get free samples of the products that we use in our daily routines!

According to Kelly Ripa, makeup artist and owner of Glow Recipe, the best beauty products on the market are ones that don't break the bank. "If you're shopping for cosmetics, you should be able to find quality products at a reasonable price," she explains. "You won't have to pay over the top for name brands. The truth about beauty product is that You'll want a product that works with your skin. Some things just work better together than others." While the best beauty products can be found at discount prices, it's important to remember that even the brands that cost less can still contain quality ingredients and work effectively.

When it comes to choosing one of the best beauty products, it's important to consider not just what looks good, but also what works. Blush and lip color have come a long way over the past few years, and some of the latest trends involve natural ingredients and products. For example, instead of buying the typical tube of aloe vera or la roche-posay, beauty editors are using pregnancy sponges, whipped soaps, and even pressed flowers like cardamom, kuma-zasa, or celandine. Pregnant women can even try new blush formulas with extracts from clay, papaya, avocado, and even kiwi extract.

One of the best beauty buys in recent years is courtesy of a new line of eye shadows by Estee Lauder. The bestselling shades are Moist, Light, Warm, and Dark. To accompany these eye shadows, Estee Lauder has also introduced a new line of mascaras and lipsticks. Mascots are usually small plastic faces that come on a stick and are used as a mascot for a product. Lipsticks and mascaras work in much the same way, but instead of having to carry around an eye shadow to use every day, Estee Lauder now offers these products in a small plastic tube that can be taken anywhere.

Ben wa balls, which are shaped like a pen, have been around for years, but a new version of these is being introduced this year. Courtesy of Ben Wa balls, which are available in a variety of colors and sizes, you can now remove your eyebrows and apply them later. "They're comfortable, they're easy to use, and they're long lasting," says Allen. "We've also seen that when the color is opaque, the eyes are less fatigued, so that makes them the best beauty buys for everyone."

The lips are also becoming big sellers, thanks to Allen's lipsense and lip gloss. "They're really nice to look at and to kiss," says Allen. "I used to carry them with me everywhere - even when I was out hiking! But my lipsense is different. It's more like a lip balm, so it's not really noticeable under any circumstance."

Thanks to its formula, which includes Shea butter and vitamin C, Allen states that Estee Lauder's new Vitamin C Lip Serum is the best beauty buys for people who have discolored or damaged skin. "The formula is infused with Shea butter, which softens and moisturizes the skin underneath the eyes and across the entire face," says Allen. Vitamin C also helps combat age spots, scars, and blemishes.

Of course, it helps that Allen has taken a proactive stance in terms of his health. "I always check with my doctor first before starting any new regime," he says. "But I do consider myself ultra-fit. I exercise every day, I've been eating healthy all along, and I don't smoke. If you consider yourself a workout addict, by all means, get the Estee Lauder Vitamins for your best beauty buys."

[fuckyeahnostalgicbeauty]

1993 Maybelline MoistureWhip Gloss Stick print ad with Christy Turlington

[dawnasiler]

Editor’s Picks: 21 of the Best Skincare, Hair and Makeup Gifts for Teens and Tweens

Finding the perfect presents for the teen and tween girls in your life is always a challenge. What can you give them that will elicit smiles, not eye rolls?!

Beauty gifts are usually a good bet—especially when they come from the brands Gen Z loves, like Glossier, Fenty and ColourPop.

Ahead, find this year's best gift ideas for teenagers (and soon-to-be teenagers), including sunscreen, hair tools, lip gloss and more. 

Beauty Gifts for Teens and Tweens

Mario Badescu Spritz. Mist. Glow. Set

Mario Badescu Spritz. Mist. Glow. Set

Mario Badescu Spritz. Mist. Glow. Set contains three full-sized bottles of the most popular face mist brand among teens. All are aloe-based, with either cucumber and green tea (for brightening), herbs and rosewater (for hydrating) or chamomile and lavender (for soothing).

Kitsch Velvet Scrunchies

Kitsch Velvet Scrunchies

Kitsch Velvet Scrunchies are a set of five '90s-inspired scrunchies to wear in your hair or on your wrist. (Yes, in case you haven't heard, scrunchies are back in a big way!) 

Fenty Glossy Posse Mini Gloss Bomb Set

Fenty Glossy Posse Mini Gloss Bomb Set

Fenty Glossy Posse Mini Gloss Bomb Set has five mini lip glosses to try in an array of shimmery shades. The light pink one is the bestseller, FU$$Y; the other four are brand new and include a fuchsia, opal, brown and red-orange.

Glossier The Skincare Edit

Glossier The Skincare Edit

Glossier The Skincare Edit offers an Instagram-ready skincare routine in mini sizes. There's a cleanser, serum, moisturizer, face oil, two lip balms and a stretchy headband with the brand's logo. Any teen or tween would be thrilled to get this one!

OUAI Glow Your Own OUAI

OUAI Glow Your Own OUAI

OUAI Glow Your Own OUAI is a set of two double-duty products that can be used on hair and skin. One is a scalp and body scrub, and the other is a hair and body oil, and both are infused with the brand's Melrose Place scent.

ColourPop Truly Madly Deeply Shadow Palette

ColourPop Truly Madly Deeply Shadow Palette

ColourPop Truly Madly Deeply Shadow Palette is a palette filled with 16 of the brand's bestselling eyeshadows. The shades include mauve, peach and pink pressed powders, as well as metallic pressed glitters.

Saturday Skin Eye Candy

Saturday Skin Eye Candy

Saturday Skin Eye Candy is not just for the eye area. Along with an eye cream, this four-piece skincare set contains a peel-off exfoliating gel, a brightening serum, and a whipped moisturizer.

Bed Head Curlipops 1” Tourmaline Ceramic Styling Iron

Bed Head Curlipops 1" Tourmaline Ceramic Styling Iron

Bed Head Curlipops 1" Tourmaline Ceramic Styling Iron has hundreds of four-star reviews for a reason. This affordable, clamp-free styling iron comes with a heat-protective glove and creates long-lasting loose waves.

Skinnydip Extra Makeup Bag

Skinnydip Extra Makeup Bag

Skinnydip Extra Makeup Bag is a translucent pink pouch for toting around beauty essentials. Anyone who identifies as "extra" (the adjective) will love it!

Florence By Mills Swimming Under the Eyes Gel Pads

Florence By Mills Swimming Under the Eyes Gel Pads

Florence By Mills Swimming Under the Eyes Gel Pads are from a new clean beauty line created by 15-year-old Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown. Shaped like whales, these under-eye patches are infused with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and coconut extract.

Amika Not So Basics Travel Set

Amika Not So Basics Travel Set

Amika Not So Basics Travel Set has four travel-ready haircare products for all hair types. This kit contains a nourishing hair mask, a detangler, a dry shampoo and a texturizing spray. Plus, how pretty is this packaging?!

Kylie Cosmetics Kylie Holiday Try It Kit

Kylie Cosmetics Kylie Holiday Try It Kit

Kylie Cosmetics Kylie Holiday Try It Kit is a five-piece set from makeup mogul Kylie Jenner. It includes a lip liner, lipstick, liquid lipstick, blush and eyeshadow duo, all in soft pink and nude shades.

REN Clean Screen Mineral SPF 30 Mattifying Face Sunscreen

REN Clean Screen Mineral SPF 30 Mattifying Face Sunscreen

REN Clean Screen Mineral SPF 30 Mattifying Face Sunscreen is a highly protective and super lightweight sunscreen with a matte finish—ideal for teenage skin. And SPF is the most important skincare product for them to get in the habit of using!

Briogeo Healthy Hair Game Kit

Briogeo Healthy Hair Game Kit

Briogeo Healthy Hair Game Kit features a full-sized hair mask, along with three mini haircare products: shampoo, a leave-in conditioner spray, and heat-protective styling cream. Everything is silicone-free and sulfate-free.

Tarte Party Time Trio Color Collection

Tarte Party Time Trio Color Collection

Tarte Party Time Trio Color Collection is a three-product set that's perfect for makeup newbies. There's a full-sized mascara, a mini peachy-pink powder blush, and a matching mini lip gloss.

Peace Out Jet Set

Peace Out Jet Set

Peace Out Jet Set may be designed for jet-lagged skin, but anyone could use this kit to target various skin issues. Included are a pair of patches for puffy eyes, 10 healing dots for acne, a pore strip and a blackhead strip.

Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Mist Set

Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Mist Set

Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Mist Set is a set of two full-sized hair sprays for achieving temporary "unicorn hair" effects. That means either pink hair (from the Rainbow Mist), pearly shimmer (from the Star Mist), or both!

INC.redible Gen Yellow Jelly Lip Balm + Nail Polish Duo

INC.redible Gen Yellow Jelly Lip Balm + Nail Polish Duo

INC.redible Gen Yellow Jelly Lip Balm + Nail Polish Duo is a lip and nail duo in Gen Z yellow (it's the new Millennial pink!). The nail polish is a 10-free formula, while the lip balm adjusts to skin pH to create a custom pink tint.

Glow Recipe Slice of Glow Set

Glow Recipe Slice of Glow Set

Glow Recipe Slice of Glow Set is a brightening and hydrating duo for all skin types. It includes a lightweight moisturizer, along with an AHA-based sleeping mask that can be worn overnight or as a 10-minute wash-off mask.

Verb Ghost Wash & Go

Verb Ghost Wash & Go

Verb Ghost Wash & Go features a full-sized tinted dry shampoo (which had a 2,000-person waitlist before it launched!). There are two colour options: Light Tones and Dark Tones. Each kit also has a travel-sized shampoo and conditioner.

Nudestix Mini Nudies 3-Piece Kit

Nudestix Mini Nudies 3-Piece Kit

Nudestix Mini Nudies 3-Piece Kit has three chubby colour sticks to mix and match on the lips, cheeks and lids. One is a golden bronze, one is a soft peach, and one is a sun-kissed coral bronze created by celebrity makeup artist Mary Phillips.

Shop Editor’s Picks

Which beauty gifts for teens and tweens are on your list?

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Editor’s Picks: 21 of the Best Skincare, Hair and Makeup Gifts for Teens and Tweens syndicated from The Skincare Edit

[crazyblondelife]

Ultimate List of the Best Products for Summer

As I’ve said before, I’m a complete product junkie and love to try new products of all kinds. Since I don’t use retinol in the summer, it’s the perfect time to experiment with all kinds of serums and creams. One serum that I’ve been using is the Mermaid Collagen Serum from Soon Skincare. This serum restores collagen production, strengthens skin elasticity and minimizes fine lines and wrinkles. It also provides deep hydration.

Also from soon skincare…I’ve loved their Clear Day Broad Spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen. It’s a mess free stick that glides on easily to cover your face, neck, chest, and any other body part that may take a peek at the sun. Antioxidant-rich chamomile and vitamin E soothe, hydrate, and ward off signs of premature aging, while stabilized vitamin C brightens and renews skin. Your sunscreen might as well do double duty.

My very favorite new summer scent is Jo Malone Orange Peel Cologne. Every time I wear it, someone tells me how good I smell and asks me what I’m wearing. This scent isn’t sweet, but more woodsy and masculine which I love. It also comes in a cute little 1 ounce bottle that’s perfect for travel!

I’m skipping around a little, but the new skincare line from Serovital is amazing. The Comfort Bead Cleanser gently exfoliates leaving my skin feeling clean and ready to soak in the creams and serums that I’m slathering on at night. I use the Deep Moisture Recovery Whip which has the anti-aging effect of a serum in a comforting cream. Both of these products were developed just for mature skin.

When I’m on vacation and it’s hot and humid, I find that makeup isn’t something I want to fool with. A good tinted sunscreen, a swipe of lip gloss, a bit of bronzer and great eyebrows are about as much as I want to do. I’ve used Buxom Lip Glosses for years and love the colors and the plumping effect. This year, I also tried Two Faced High Shine lip Gloss in a sparkly pink and like it as well. The sunscreen I’m loving is by Revision Skincare and offers anti-aging tinted moisturizer with 100% mineral sunscreen SPF 45. It’s nice to have just a bit of natural coverage that doesn’t feel heavy on your skin. I use Anastasia Eyebrow pencils in taupe, and lots of different bronzers, but always something with a little bit of sparkle (bronzers linked in the boutique below)!

I’m sure I’ve tried every hair product out there for unruly curly beach hair. Some work better than others and I’ve found that the best solution is a hat! Having said that, I do want to take care of my hair and rotate several different products including Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo and Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask, Virtue Recovery Shampoo, Virtue Alpha Keratin Restorative Treatment Mask, Virtue 6-In-1 Styler and Virtue Healing Oil (my favorite).

[mromeo99]

Paint Your Cabinets To Look Antique Painted wood is the trend right now in both furniture and cabinets. In fact, chalk paint has become all the rage. There are websites galore that provide instructions and even instructional videos on how to paint a piece of furniture with chalk paint. The look goes especially well with cottage style decor or shabby chic. My kitchen cabinets are the old oak cabinets you see in just about every house built in the 1960s-70s. They are also starting to look pretty shabby. I’ve decided ready for a change, so I’m going to paint my cabinets to look antique. With kitchen cabinets, chances are they have already been varnished or otherwise coated to give them a glossy look, so, before doing anything else, you need to rough them up so your paint will stick. This can be done one of two ways: either by sanding them very thoroughly or by treating them with a chemical, such as Krud Kutter Gloss-Off, which is a great all-in-one cleaner and deglosser. It will get all the excess “crud” off your cabinets. Sometimes sanding and using something like Krud Kutter both are necessary to get the job done right. Once you have prepared the surface, you are ready to start painting. But first remove the cabinet doors. It will look far more professional in the end if you remove the hardware and perhaps even update it. Another very important point is to use high quality paint, either an oil based or something like Benjamin Moore’s Advance, which has the qualities of an oil-based product (like sticking well to the surface being painted) even though it is basically still a latex. You will want to do a primer coat and a final coat in an acrylic or semigloss. It’s also a good idea to paint the inside of the cabinets first. That way you’ll get used to the character of the paint and, if a paint gun, you can work out the kinks on the part of the door that won’t show. After all your cabinets have dried it’s time to do the antiquing. Wrap a sanding block with 80-grit sandpaper and sand the corners and edges, allowing the bare wood to be exposed in spots. Some put a little Vaseline along the edges and corners before that last coat of paint. This makes it easier to remove that last layer, giving it an older, worn look. Don’t be afraid. Just eyeball it to decide when it looks weathered enough. You can always repaint and start again. Next you rub or paint on an antiquing glaze. Let that sit for maybe five minutes, then rub it off with cheese cloth. Again, this will call upon your artistic eye to determine if it has the right look. Finally, dip a paint brush in some stain; squeeze out the majority of the moisture, then spatter it across the surface. This will give the appearance of aging. A good whipping with a heavy chain and a nail hole or two and, voila’ – you have yourself some spanking new “aged” wood cabinets. The post How to Paint Cabinets to Look Antique appeared first on Independent-Painting.

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