Tuesday, June 30, 2020

New Beauty Favorites

Today I wanted to share all my latest beauty favorites! I've tried a lot of new products in the last couple months so I wanted to share the ones I loved and will reorder!

Since being home during quarantine these past few months, I've had lots of extra time to try some new products. Some I had been wanting to try for awhile and others were ones I just happened to find. Today I wanted to share all of the ones I've found that I LOVE.


I've been using TULA products for year, but these three are ones I've tried more recently. First is this Smoothing Primer Gel. When you put this on it gives such a cooling feeling. It is lightweight and doesn't clog your pores but helps your makeup going on super smooth. Next is the Rose Glow Brightening Eye Balm. I've used the Brightening Eye Balm for awhile and I'm obsessed! I wanted to try the newer version to see if it was any different. I honestly didn't see/feel much of a difference, but I love them both. I use them daily. They are super cooling and feel amazing when you put them on. I use mine under my makeup and also as a finishing touch for a little extra glow or highlight. Last is this Blurring and Moisturizing Filter Primer. It also comes in this supersize! I think I prefer this primer to the first one. They are both great, but I even love using this one when I don't wear makeup because it has a glowy finish. Next on my list to try is their brand new sunscreen. I've heard great things about it!

Next is this Charlotte Tillbury Magic Powder. This setting powder is very lightweight and very smoothing. I've never felt like a powder was a necessary step in my beauty routine until I started using this one! I use shade medium.

Now, this is one that I've been wanting to grab for awhile because I've heard it's a great staple and it did NOT disappoint. The formula is great and the color is perfect for everyday. Can't say enough good things about this Charlotte Tillbury Lipstick in shade 'Pillow Talk'. You can also get it in a set with the lipliner as well here.

I'm always looking to try new mascaras and these two are my current favorites. The Taste Surfer Curl Mascara is a clean mascara (which I love) and it isn't very heavy. I use it on days I'm not wearing much makeup or even when I'm not wearing any and just want a little something. It's volumizing, but not as lenghtening. In my opinion this Too Faced Mascara called 'Better Than Sex' is the BEST. It makes my lashes look so much longer and fuller. It's my current go-to!

These products are ones I have wanted to try to awhile and finally got around to ordering. I must say, they are worth the hype. They are GREAT. First is the Tarte Shape Tape. I use color 'Light'. This is such a great concealer and I think it will be one that I purchase over and over again. A little goes a long way. The coverage is great and it wears well throughout the day. Next is the IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream. I wear shade 'Light', but will probably need to get a lighter shade for the winter. This is such a good coverage foundation. It goes on smoothly and makes such a big difference in my beauty routine. I love that it has SPF built in too! Last is the Shape-Tape Glow Wand. I love that this product does the same job as the shape tape, but gives more of a glow. I also love that the beauty blender is built in, which makes it super convenient. 

I've been trying to give my hair a bit of a break lately and trying to goin longer between washes. I've never found a dry shampoo I've loved until now. Now I have two I love! The first is this Living Proof one. I've also been loving this Living Proof Full Dry Volume Blast. My hair is VERY straight so I need all the volume I can get. Some products weigh my hair down too much, but this one is lightweight but gives a ton of volume! 

So I've been hearing about billie razors A LOT lately. Of course I needed to order one. Honestly, I JUST tried the razor for the first time this week and loved it, but I want to use it awhile longer until I'm sure this is the one I want to stick with. However, when ordering the razor I also ordered this dry shampoo and these wonder wipes and I AM OBSESSED WITH BOTH! I've been using them both for a couple months. They are both full of natural ingredients and work amazing. This dry shampoo seriously makes my hair look and feel clean. I also prefer the powder to the aerosol (personal preference). I will definitely be reordering! Also I cannot say enough good things about these wipes. I use them every night (when I'm wearing makeup) and they feel amazing. They are full of great, clean ingredients including hyaluronic acid and vitamin C serums (no alcohol) and they work so well. They get my makeup off perfectly every time. I already have my second container on the way!


I had to include some of my OG favorites when it comes to beauty. These are my tried and true favorites I keep coming back to. A few of these items are Beautycounter, which I can't link but if you are interested in trying them, I know a few consultants, so let me know and I can point you in the right direction!
First is the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray. This works wonders for getting your makeup to stay put all day and night. 
Next are my Cosmakery favorites including this Highlighter in the color 'Lightbulb' and these Sculpting Sticks in shades 'Light' and 'Light Medium'. This is my first highlighter I ever bought and I think I'm on my third or fourth now. It is amazing. These sculpting sticks make it so easy to contour and are just as amazing as their foundation (which I also love). Also Cosmakery brushes are THE SOFTEST things ever. I use mine every single day. 
The Beautycounter makeup items I love are the tint skin foundation and the concealer pen. Next, is my favorite Anastasia Brow Wiz. I use shade 'Dark Brown'. Last are my other two favorite mascaras including the IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara and the Chanel Volumizing Mascara. Both are ones I go back to when I'm looking for a mascara I know I will love.

Let me know if you have any questions! Thanks for stopping by!

XO,
Sarah


Thursday, June 25, 2020

Summer Dresses Part 2

The next collaboration I was super excited about was Target x Lisa Marie Fernandez. I would say all of these run true to size or a little big. I'm wearing my normal size. I love that these dresses can be worn with or without the ties and/or a belt. The quality of these dresses is AMAZING and all are under $60! There are still quite a few available online and there were a ton in stock at my local store.


Target x Lisa Marie Fernandez







Summer Dresses Part 1

            Hi everyone and happy Thursday! Today I wanted to share these recent collabs at Target.      
            They sold SUPER fast, but there are still some styles/sizes available online and in stores! 
             Even went today today, there are still so many available. The first one I want to share is 
         Target x LoveShackFancy. I've always loved this brand but the price tag always held me back. 
                         All of the dresses in this collection are SO adorable and all are under $60! 
                       They are perfect for summer. Don't forget to check your local store as well! 
                   

                                                 Target x LoveShackFancy

FYI: I sized up for length - wearing size Small






XO,
Sarah

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

New Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe



A friend recently sent me this recipe to try for Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies and THEY. ARE. AMAZING! They are seriously so good, I was shocked how good - I will definitely be making them again. The recipe can be found on Food52.com as well, but I'm not positive who the recipe belongs to. I knew I needed to share the recipe with as many people as possible, because I promise you will love them. 

Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
2 tbsp. granulated sugar
2 tbsp. turbinado sugar
3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp. packed dark brown sugar
1 egg at room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate cut roughly into 1/2-inch chunks (if you want you could also use chocolate chips)
1-2 pinches of flaky salt for finishing

1. Cream the butter and sugars together with an electric mixer on medium speed until light in color and texture (about 5 minutes). Add the egg and vanilla and mix well.
2. Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl and slowly add to first mixture.
3. Add chocolate chips and mix until it just comes together. You may need to mix with your hands at the end. This dough is a lot thicker than a traditional chocolate chip cookie dough.
4. IMPORTANT: Wrap in Saran Wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours. *I always refrigerate my chocolate chip cookie dough before I bake them, but not usually 24 hours.
24 hours of resting the dough intensifies the toffee flavors and improves the texture of the baked cookie.
5. Preheat oven to 360 degrees (yes 360 not 350). Line the baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpats. Scoop the dough onto the baking sheets. Top the cookies with a pinch of flaky salt just before baking. 
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Don't overbake. You can rotate sheets halfway through if they appear to be baking unevenly. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for at least 5 minutes then transfer to wire cooling rack. 

This recipe makes 18-24 cookies.

ENJOY!

XO,
Sarah