BEST of 2020 | BEAUTY & HAIR
Hi friends! Just a hop, skip and a jump to the weekend now! I’m ready for it! We have nothing on the agenda, and that’s fine by me! If the weather cooperates, we’ll walk to the park and get some fresh air, and have a Friday night movie night!
We’ve been recapping 2020, and when I look back, it’s crazy to think of all the posts we’ve done – 218! That’s just here on the blog, not counting all the Facebook, Instagram, and Stories! Plus, the LikeToKnow.It posts in the app! You can follow me there for quick direct links to outfits and home decor.
Today, we’re talking beauty and hair, and of course, skincare tops the list as one of the most important self care items on my list. I didn’t take my skincare seriously until my 40’s, but better late than never!
MY SKINCARE ESSENTIALS
The skincare products in this post are my tried and true faves. I listed them in order of application, but I don’t necessarily use all of the products on a daily basis. You have to get familiar with your skin and what products are for what issues and how your skin reacts to them.
Radiant Cleansing Balm • Complete Eye Cream • Vitamin C Treatment Complex • Sheer Renewal Cream • Tatcha Water Cream
EVENING SKINCARE ROUTINE
Radiant Cleansing Balm • Retinol Supreme Eye Serum (not pictured) • Age Renewal Super Serum • Mandelic Acid Radiance Serum • Extreme Recovery Cream • Retinol Supreme Night Oil or Face Oil No. 9
SEPHORA HAUL
I shared the results of my trip to Sephora, also known as a woman’s beauty playground. That trip ended with me sprinting through the Galleria, trying to beat the clock to pick up the kids from school. It’s easy to lose track of time in there!
Do y’all remember this magical lotion that my friend Tarah raved about at last year’s Favorite Things party? She said men literally stopped her on the street to tell her how good she smelled. #humble It feels really luxurious on and very moisturizing. And it smells amazing- the key notes being salted caramel, pistachio, and vanilla. #yesplease
Okay friends, you know how much I love a good mascara. Most recently I’ve been using Better Than Sex mascara until now. I asked the lady at Sephora what her favorite mascara was, and without hesitating, she said Kush Mascara by Milk. I’d never even heard of it. But, when I got home and started using it, I knew it was special. It truly separates your lashes to make them look like you have 100 individual lush lashes, instead of just 10 bold ones. The brush shape makes it easy to coat every single lash. I usually apply two coats of mascara, but I only need one coat with this.
TATCHA VIOLET-C BRIGHTENING SERUM
Y’all know I’m fanatical about my Colleen Rothschild skincare and that hasn’t changed. But I am curious about new products and have heard amazing things about the Tatcha line. One of my main areas of concern is dark spots on my face. I’m super prone to hyperpigmentation. If I go in the sun without a hat or sunscreen, you can bet your bottom dollar that I’ll wake up with new friends on my face the next day.
This Violet-C Brightening Serum helps with dullness and uneven texture, fine lines and wrinkles, and dark spots. You had me at dark spots. The unique think about this Serum is that it has 20 percent vitamin C and 10 percent AHA (alpha hydroxyacid).
I bought this as a lighter alternative to my favorite Colleen Rothschild Extreme Recovery Cream. It’s good for all skin types, my own is combination and sensitive to breakouts. I always hold my breath when trying new skin products, but I haven’t gotten any breakouts with this product.
It’s an oil-free, anti-aging water cream that releases a burst of skin-improving Japanese nutrients, powerful botanicals, and optimal hydration for poreless-looking skin. I like how lightweight this water cream is and how quickly it dries (no sticky or greasy feeling) so that I can easily apply makeup after using it. My makeup looks great over it!
It comes with a fancy gold spoon to dip into the pot and a pearl sized amount is all you need.
I use this lip mask every night and my lips feel amazing! I keep it in my top bathroom drawer and apply it before bed. I just read that you are supposed to use at least once a week! ha! I guess that’s because it’s a soothing non-sticky mask as opposed to a lip balm. I love the light color and how my lips feel after using it- no flakes, chaps or rough spots!
I specifically went to Sephora looking for some new Spring lip colors and was immediately drawn to the Charlotte Tilbury display.
CHARLOTTE TILBURY K.I.S.S.I.N.G LIPSTICK
This lipstick formula is created with a special blend of waxes to maintain its rich color without bleeding. It goes on satiny smooth and also has “light-diffusing pigments to give lips a brilliant, multi-dimensional finish and full-bodied effect.” To me, there’s a tiny bit of shimmer in it.
“Velvet Underground” is a bright fuschia to wear when you want more attention on the lips than the eyes.
CHARLOTTE TILBURY HOT LIPS LIPSTICK
I’m crazy for this shade when I want something more subtle – “Liv it Up.” It’s a lovely pale pink that doesn’t disappear on your lips.
HOURGLASS VOLUMIZING LIP GLOSS
This lipgloss is great new (to me) find! Aside from the pretty shades, I immediately noticed that it has has a very slight spearmint scent and creamy texture. It’s formulated with Volulip™ and Hyaluronic Acid to help enhance your lips’ natural shape with long lasting volume. When I put it on, I didn’t notice any sharp tingling, just a rich moisture that feels so good on your lips. I guess that’s because it also has shea butter and avocado oil.
This gloss comes in 18 shades. I got the “Horizon” color, a gorgeous, fresh coral pink and “Enchant” a beautiful, soft pink. I like wearing both of them alone or over lipstick.
It’s a creamy gel lip liner, so softer than what you might be used to. I love the “Nothin’ But Nude” with the XXL Nude lip plumper below. It’s a really pretty neutral lip color with lots of shine!
SEPHORA OUTRAGEOUS LIP PLUMPER
If you’ve been looking for a lip plumper that actually plumps your lips, try this one! It has that infamous tingle, but it really works. I notice my lips are visibly plumper after I apply it. The plump doesn’t last forever, you have to reapply, but it’s great while it lasts! I want to try the the Universal Volume color, so I’m waiting for it to restock.
MARC JACOBS GEL CRAYON EYELINER
I can credit Tarah for introducing me to this eyeliner pencil too. I got it at the Favorite Things party two years ago in the Cocoa (golden brown shimmer) and loved it! I used it to the very end and just went and got more. Unfortunately, they were out of Cocoa in the store, so I bought “Brownie”– a matte medium brown, which is darker, so a little more intense for day.
What I love about it is that it’s a gel eyeliner, so it goes on super sleek with a light hand. I apply it on my upper lash line and it makes my lashes look even more dramatic. Then, I apply a short line under my eye, then smoke it out with a thin brush. It blends beautifully. And you don’t have to sharpen it; you just twist the end and more pops up. My first one lasted forever!
BRIOGEO SCALP REVIVAL CHARCOAL + COCONUT OIL MICRO-EXFOLIATING SHAMPOO
This shampoo is specifically for detoxifying, exfoliating, soothing, and balancing the scalp for optimal scalp health.
I mentioned how important scalp health was in my recent hair styling post. It’s probably one of the reasons my hair grows so fast. I use a scalp brush when I shampoo my hair because I often go 3-4 days without washing, and that dry shampoo and product build up (not to mention sweat!) can be intense.
My scalp brush came with a Colleen Rothschild hair mask I bought, but it must have been a limited edition because I don’t see it on their site anymore. Amazon has one similar to mine that has good reviews.
BRIOGEO DON’T DESPAIR, REPAIR : DEEP CONDITIONING MASK
I love using hair masks and really believe in the benefits of them! I like to put this mask on after I get out of the shower and towel dry my hair. I apply it from roots to ends, then put my hair up in a clip and leave it in for about an hour. But, you can get benefits from it by just leaving it on 10 minutes while you shower. It’s a weekly treatment to restore essential hydration and your hair’s resilience and strength, while preventing future damage.
HOW TO GET A PERFECT GEL MANICURE AT HOME (WITHOUT UV LIGHT)
I was super excited about this post because these tips are what helps me get a great at home manicure when I can’t get to the salon.
Gelous Nail Gel • Nail Color ‘Strawberry Margarita’ • Top Coat
TIPS FOR A NATURAL SELF TAN AT HOME
I’ve been using self tanner at home for years now and it works great and is super easy to apply! After trying several self tanners, I found the one that’s easiest to apply and gives the most gorgeous, natural looking tan!
Fakebake Flawless Tanner • Mitt
HOW TO KEEP YOUR SKIN HYDRATED & MOISTURIZED
Aside from a weird, random breakout a couple weeks before writing this post, my skin had probably never looked better! I’m not sure if the breakout was from wearing a mask or possibly a new brand of biotin I tried, but thankfully it cleared up just as quickly as it appeared.
Retinol Supreme Eye Serum • Retinol Supreme Night Oil • Face oil No. 9 • Sheer Renewal Cream • Restorative Hand Cream
MAY BEAUTY HAUL
Eye Makeup Remover • Urban Decay Cherry Makeup Palette • Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Pencil • Marc Jacobs Eyeliner • Olaplex Hair Perfector •All Nighter Setting Spray • Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek • Translucent Setting Powder • Samba Foot Cream
VANITY ORGANIZATION
Most of my organization items are from Amazon and I rounded up some pretty storage containers for you. The first step is to toss and get rid of things that are old, expired, you never wear, aren’t flattering, or broken. Then, when you are left with those things you use and love, you can figure out the best way to organize all of it.
Four Drawers • Nail Polish Holder • Clear Cubes • Lipstick Holder • Rose Gold Containers • Multi Purpose Holder • Rotating Storage • Drawer Organizer • Compact Organizer • Clear Canisters • Makeup Organizer • Heat Safe Storage
JUNE BEAUTY HAUL
Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes • Charlotte Tilbury Eye Cheat • Face Tanning Drops • Drying Lotion • Heat Protectant Mist • Texturizing Spray • Dry Shampoo
WHAT ORDER TO APPLY YOUR SKINCARE PRODUCTS
I started out slowly with just a couple of skincare products, but over the years, my lineup has evolved to include several products. Even I found myself confused on what order to apply the products and I especially had to figure out which products to apply in the morning and at night.
PRO TIP : Label your products in the order you apply them or with “AM” & “PM”. I put my morning and night products in two separate collections so it’s easy to see which are to be applied in the morning and at night.
You may not use every product every day, it often depends on what your skin needs or what season you’re in (i.e. more moisture in winter), but if you can get the gist down with labels or by how you organize your products, you won’t be overwhelmed when you go to use them. And who can read that tiny print?!
I’ve touched on this very topic in this skincare post, but I wanted to elaborate on it here. I also went straight to the source, Colleen Rothschild, to see what she recommended. Her mantra is : When in doubt, keep it simple: Cleanse > Treat > Moisturize
NSALE 2020 | BEST OF HAIR & BEAUTY
Did you stock up on beauty supplies during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale? Here are my top picks!
1 • 2 • 3 • 3A • 4 • 5 • 5A • 5B • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10
THE SIX SKINCARE PRODUCTS I BUY ON REPEAT
Radiant Cleansing Balm • Micro-Mineral Resurfacing Scrub • Complete Eye Cream • Vitamin C Treatment Complex • Mandelic Acid Radiance Serum • Retinol Supreme Night Oil
LET’S TALK HAIR | MY CUT, COLOR & STYLE
I was so excited for this post because I hope it answered a lot of your hair questions all in one spot! I know lots of us have a love/hate relationship with our hair, myself included. I’m sharing what products I use, how I style my hair, and what tools I use!
Ouai Dry Shampoo • A super-absorbent dry shampoo that uses volcanic minerals and rice starch to soak up heavy oils and refresh your hair. (I use nearly daily)
It’s a 10 • A multi-purpose leave-in conditioner spray that leaves dull, damaged hair in the past and rejuvenates natural oils. It works as a detangler as well as a restorative styler and helps protect against heat damage while smoothing and controlling frizz. (I’ve been using this for years and often use it on Jordan’s tangles too)
Paul Mitchell Hair Spray • Secures hard-to-hold hair, fights frizz, boosts volume and adds shine. (My go-to hairspray since Shelby first used it on me)
Blow Dry Spray • Heat-activated blow dry spray that adds lightweight shape memory and definition to the hair. (I recently started using this and like how it enhances my style)
Oribe Texturizing Spray • A MUST HAVE! Give it a try and watch your hair boost in volume, fullness and texture. It’s really what takes your hair from boring to bam. It can also be used as a dry shampoo.
Blow Dry Serum • Air dry / blow dry primer with 7 instant benefits that preps the hair for any style. Instantly hydrates, detangles, smooths, conditions, boosts radiance, tames frizz, and adds silkiness to all hair types. When sprayed before a blow dry, this primer locks in moisture and tames strands for a smooth finish. On dry hair, the formula enhances the hair’s natural texture. Perfect for smooth styles, air-dry styles and blowouts. (This one does it all and I’m still experimenting with it, but so far, it’s awesome!)
Shu Uemura Mousse • Hair mousse provides maximum hair volume and body without crunchy residue. Delivers a silky finish, smooth touch, long-lasting medium hold and natural shine. (I love this and feel like it gives natural volume to my hair before blow drying)
Pomade • Sculpting hair pomade that defines and texturizes hair styles with long-lasting workable hold and a demi-matte finish. (I use this for taming flyaways and for more ‘pieceyness’ at the ends.)
Gold Dust Dry Shampoo • This is the Oribe brand of dry shampoo that I like.
Brush • I’ve been using this brush to detangle my hair, I like how easy it is to clean. No little balls for the hair to get stuck in.
Colleen Rothschild Serum • This serum reduces frizz, tame flyaways and quenches dry ends. (While my roots get oily, the ends of my hair get dry, so I’ll add a few drops into my hands and rub into the bottom half of my hair. It makes my hair look instantly more hydrated, less frizzy, but it doesn’t make it look greasy. Plus, it smells amazing.)
Volume Powder • This texturizing root-lift powder instantly adds buildable grip and style. (This is the one I said doubles the volume of your hair, but you can ‘feel’ the grip in there, so it might take some getting used to.)
Billie Dry Shampoo • This is my current favorite dry shampoo. It gives loads of volume too.
Are you looking forward to more beauty content in 2021? Even though I’m in my 40s, sometimes I feel like I’m brand new at experimenting with products, but I do enjoy it!
If you missed any 2020 Faves post, catch up here:
Best of 2020 | Your Fashion & Beauty Faves
Best of 2020 | Home Decor & Organization
Best of 2020 | Amazon Reader Faves
Best of 2020 | Fitness & Wellness
Have a fantastic day friends!
Out of curiosity, do you get Botox? Your skin is gorgeous!!