Can you believe it’s already June? I can’t! Seems like only yesterday I was starting at my new job, preparing for Christmas, and doing Winter progress reports. Now it’s June and its hot and quite humid here in Baltimore, I’m planning a wedding while working full time and kids are preparing for Kindergarten at school.
On the plus side, with my very little bit of spare time I’ve come across quite a few amazing products that I had to share with you guys!
Favorite Skincare Product
1. Boscia Tsubaki Beauty Oil $46 USD
I was very hesitant about putting oil on my oily/combination skin, all I thought about was my face breaking out like a teenager. When I received a sample of this in a previous Sephora order I tested it out and it was so amazing I ordered the full size bottle. It turned my dry cheeks into baby soft skin with noticeably smaller pores and a natural glow to match!
2. Origins United State Balancing Tonic $20 USD
I was originally head over heels in love with Lush Cosmetics Breath Of Fresh Air toner but it hasn’t been as effective at balancing my skin lately so I tried Origins’ United State Balancing Tonic and it has done wonders for my skin! Not only does it give me that fresh, clean feeling like an astringent (without completely stripping my skin hello!) it also moisturizes.
Favorite Fragrances
1. Versace Yellow Diamond $69 USD
I love love loooooove this fragrance! It just smells like Spring and I’m always getting compliments on this fragrance when I wear it.
2. Diesel Loverdose $65 USD
Holy guacamole I swoon for this fragrance. It smells like licorice candy and vanilla which is unusual but it just smells so yummy and a perfect night fragrance!
Favorite Tinted Mositurizer & BB Cream
1. NARS Pure Radiance Tinted Moisturizer in Alaska $42 USD
I’ve never been a big fan of tinted moisturizers because they do not give me enough coverage and make my skin breakout like crazy! With this tinted moisturizer though, it gives me a natural glow with a sheer coverage that is perfect for daytime and the Alaska shade fits my skin tone perfectly.
2. Garnier Skin Renew BB Cream for Combination/Oily Skin $12 USD
After hearing mixed reviews on the original formula of this BB cream I was in no hurry to buy it, but once Garnier came out with a BB cream for combination and oily skin I was excited. The color is slightly darker than my skin but now that it’s Summer and I’ve been outside more it’s not even an issue! This version of BB cream is pretty good, I get no breakouts from using it and I get no greasy feeling when I wear it. Coverage wise it’s pretty good it covers most of my acne scars and gives me a dewy natural finish.
3. Too Faced Air Buffed BB Creme Compact in Vanilla Glow $39 USD
I’ve replaced my MUFE HD foundation with this amazing BB cream! Not only does it promise full coverage and trust me it does (my skin looks flawless when I wear this over a primer!), the Vanilla Glow shade is a dead on match for my skin. I absolutley love this BB cream!
Favorite Concealer
1. YSL Touche Éclat Radiant Touch 2 Luminous Ivory $40 USD
I don’t think I would classify this as a traditional concealer, its more of a highlighter but one things for sure this pen is uh-mazing! I use this as an under eye brightener and it instantly gives me that fresh eyed look which help with my dark circles.
2. Hard Candy Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer in Medium Light
This concealer not only covers tattoos but dark circles, acne scars, anything! You name it this concealer works wonders. I thought medium light would be too dark but it’s pretty decent color match for my skin.
Favorite Setting Powder
1. Too Faced Primed & Poreless Finishing Veil $15 – $30 USD
I already love the Primed & Poreless primer so this was a no brainer! It gives me an airbrushed finish and doesn’t give a white chalky layer over my makeup.
2. NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder $34 USD
At first this powder was on its way back to Sephora but I didn’t realize all it needed was the right brush! This powder is very different from most setting powders I’ve tried, it has a different consistency and feel once applied to the skin. I use this powder so much I’ve already hit pan with it!
Favorite Bronzer & Blush
1. Too Faced Pink Leopard Blushing Bronzer $30 USD
First of all, the pink leopard is too adorable! This blush/bronzer gives a very nice luminous glow to the cheekbones and look amazing on most skintones :).
2. NYX Stick Blush in Orchid $6 USD
One of my favorite drugstore blushes ever! Highly pigmented and blends effortlessly with my e.l.f. small stipple brush. I have these stick blushes in every color and they’re all amazing. I highyl recommend if you haven’t tried these you should!
3. Buxom True Hue Blush in Luvitate & Mini Hot Escapes Bronzer in Tahiti $39 USD
I got these in the Buxom Passport Collection Day Tripper Edition set from Sephora but took these out for my future Z palettes cause this blush and bronzer are amazing! The blush is very similar to NARS Orgasm blush and the bronzer is a light bronzer with shimmer and gives a nice sun kissed glow without any orange or streaking. Plus, the bronzer smells like coconuts!
Favorite Eyeshadow
1. Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in Moonspoon, Space Cowboy, and Stargazer $20
These eyeshadows are so damn pretty! I love glitter eyeshadows more than life itself so when I saw these I had to snag them up. To avoid fallout apply over eyeshadow primer with fingers, when I used my brush I got glitter all over my face.
Favorite Eyeliner & Mascara
1. CoverGirl Clump Crusher in Very Black $7 USD
This is another drugstore product I would say works better than most high end brands. This lifts and seperates my lashes beautifully while adding tons of volume and no tarantula eyes yay!
2. Too Faced LashGasm Mascara $20 USD
I use this as my everyday mascara cause it gives me nice length and volume for everyday natural looks without flaking or smudging. If you couldn’t tell I love Too Faced products!
3. L’OREAL Extra Volume Collagen Mascara in Blackest Black $8.99 USD
Another drugstore mascara that works amazingly! It gives me fluffy lashes with volume and rich black color. Short and sweet…it’s amazing!
4. NYX The Curve Eyeliner $14.99 USD
Although this is recommended for beginners I still love how easy it is to apply and lasts all day. This eyeliner is great for when you want to do cat eye looks.
Favorite Lippies
1. CoverGirl Jumbo Lip Balm in Berry Twist $8.99 USD
This balm is a dupe for Clinique Chubby Stick Lip Balm in Super Strawberry and at half the cost it’s well worth it. I love using this for a sheer wash of color on my lips and it keeps my lips soft for hours!
2. Hard Candy All Glossed Up Lip Balm in Chic $6 USD
Since jumbo lip balm sticks are very popular it’s not hard to find a drugstore brand that carries these. Hard Candy’s version is less of a balm and more of a lipstick in my opinion but the colors are beautiful and last a while. Chic is a nice nude pink for everyday looks and applies smoothly without drying.
3. NYX Butter Gloss in Maple Blondie $4.99
I’m not a big fan of sticky lip gloss and this is far from the traditional lip gloss. It melts like butter on your lips and this color is a nice pink shade that compliments all skin tones.
4. NYX Lipstick in Thalia & Indian Pink $3.99 USD
These are nice drugstore lipsticks that do not dry or flake on lips but I do recommend using lip balm first to moisturize lips before applying these lippies. Thalia is a nice pink/beige color which is almost a dead on for my natural lip color and Indian Pink is a nice coral pink with shimmer for Summer.
Favorite Brushes
1. Crown Brush C439 Deluxe Round Buffer $13.95 USD
I adore this brush! I’ve been using it for my NARS tinted moisturizer and it gives me a lovely airbrushed finish.
2. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush & Blush Brush $8.99 USD each
These brushes are pretty amazing. I love using the Expert Face Brush with my BB creams and liquid foundations and it always gives me a nice airbrushed flawless application. The blush brush is awesome for contouring and has very soft taklon bristles for a a nice natural application.
3. Coastal Scents 22 Piece Brush Set $34.95 USD
These brushes are high quality and has almost every brush you’ll need! The face brushes are ultra soft and apply makeup effortlessly and the eye brushes are amazing at picking up color for any eye look you could imagine!
Favorite Makeup Remover
1. Boots No.7 Quick Thinking Wipes $6.99 USD
I’ve tried just about every makeup remover wipe and these are by far my favorite! They take off every spec of makeup and removes my mascara and eyeliner easily while moisturizing my skin!
Are my Spring favorites in your list of favorites as well? I hope everyone is enjoying this lovely Summer weather!
The Makeup Nerd 