L'Essentials - Part Three

Good evening,

Tonight concludes the three-part series of my personal fashion/cosmetics/beauty essentials. As in my last blog, 90% of these are super inexpensive with the exception of the Clinique moisturizing gel. However, as previously mentioned, I wait to buy it when there's a free gift event, plus a bottle usually lasts me approx. 6-8 months if I moisturize every single day.

Beauty Products/My Shower Routine:

1.     Dove Exfoliating Soap

     2.     Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar. My dermatologist recommended this one. It has worked better at keeping breakouts away than any medicated face wash I have found. I think the medicated ones dry me out too much. They also make this in Antibacterial, if you are having a LOT of breakouts.

3.     Facial exfoliator (I use whatever is the least expensive for this.  I went to my Clinique rep for advice because I thought my foundation was caking and causing my nose to look peel-y but she suggested a better exfoliator and gave me a bottle of their exfoilator for free so it's what I've been using, but simple baking soda will do.)

4.     Tailor your shampoo to YOUR hair. I love the Clear Hair & Scalp Therapy Volumizing Root Boost, but I recently got highlights so I've been using Pantene Highlighting Expressions.

5.     Once I get out of the shower I use my facial toner. I alternate between an AHA toner (won a Merle Norman facial kit, once again, I use whatever is given to me) when I have more blemishes and garden-variety witchhazel on normal days.

6.     Moisturizer! (ALWAYS! Even if your skin is oily) My favorite is Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. I opt for the gel because it is lighter and feels cleaner than the lotion formula.

L'Essentials - Part Two

Good evening!

The last post was about my fashion essentials, so for part two we are going to take a tour to the world of cosmetics.  Some of these products are on the expensive side. The Clinique foundation and bronzer both run in the low $20 range, but they last forever and if you buy them during one of their gift events you can qualify for the free bag with the goodies in it.

Cosmetics:

1.     Clinique Superbalanced Foundation.  I use Breeze which is the fairest color they have, and it's a neutral.

2.     Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser. This is what I use for under my eyes. It's a super silky application, not cakey and does not settle into fine lines. It is the BEST one I have ever found. I also use it for blemishes, you just have to really blend it out. It also seems to, for some reason, clear up the blemishes even though that's not something it's advertised as doing. DOUBLE WHAMMY.

3.     Clinique Sunkissed Pressed Bronzer. Once again, the lightest bronzer they have. It's easier to apply more as needed than have to take away. I use this to add color to my whole face or for contouring my cheekbones.

4.     Eyeshadow. I have no "favorite" brand right now. I use powder and always stick to browns/bronzes with a shimmery neutral for a highlight tone.

5.     Covergirl Lash Blash Volume Mascara. I finally found one I stick with! Before this I always bought a different kind of mascara every visit, but for 2+ year I have had a long term relationship with this one. I wear glasses, so the lengthening formula of this one does not work for me (touches the lenses of my glasses.)

6. Maybelline Mineral Power Finishing Veil. Translucent. I just found this last week. It works very well at setting liquid foundation and making it look airbrushed. I also use it by itself if I'm in a hurry in the morning and can't do a full-face routine, because it keeps shine at bay ALL day long.

L'Essentials - Part One

Good afternoon lovelies,

This blog is the first of three installments on what I consider to be my personal essentials.  I briefly mentioned in "The Genesis" about how the key to an affordable wardrobe is versatility.  You can stretch your paycheck further if you have more pieces that can be used with multiple outfits in multiple seasons.

Fashion Essentials Overview:

1. Cardigans
2. Skinny Jeans
3. Boots
4. Flats
5. "Simply chic" necklaces

Fashion Essentials Breakdown:

Cardigans!! Below are two of my favorites.

Navy & white striped cropped cardigan. $5 on sale at Rue 21

Gray cardigan. $15 Gap Outlet

Skinny Jeans. Doesn't get more basic than this.  This pair is from American Eagle. I have found that theirs fit me the best because they are very stretchy and I can find them that fit through the hips and don't gap at my waist. 

American Eagle Skinny Stretch. $26 during jean sale.

Boots.  Riding boots are very "in" for Fall 2012, so I splurged and bought a new pair. The other two are my old stand-bys.

Amazon Riding Boots $40

Payless $20

 

Belk $70

Flats. I honestly own two pair of flats. One of which I bought in 2007 for $25 at Target and they are still holding up. I have only included the picture of my newest pair I got from Nine West.

Nine West $35

"Simply Chic" Necklaces. I probably have 20 necklaces, all of which are rather versatile. I have included pictures of the ones I wear the most often. The colors are kind of off so I will include the true colors next to the images.

Silver long hearts necklace. $10 at Rue 21.

Gold w/ pink pearls and roses double-wrapped necklace. $10 Charlotte Russe.

  

Silver bow pendant necklace. (Price unknown, it was a gift from my boyfriend).

                    

The Genesis

Thanks to Pinterest and various other magical internet media, I have spent an ungodly amount of time over the past several months looking at fashion trends, the latest beauty products, and tutorials on just about everything.  In my personal life I have always found myself suggesting my favorite products, cosmetic techniques, etc to my friends.  So this blog was the logical next step and the culmination of all of the aforementioned events.

Voila!

So, to get started - I feel like I need to introduce myself (don't worry, I will spare all of the boring details).

My name is Liz, and I am 23 and a recent-college graduate from the University of Georgia Griffin Campus. I am the Restaurant Administrator at Truett's Grill/Chick-fil-A.  In my spare time I tend to find myself pinning, playing my acoustic guitar Eden, hanging out with my friends, and otherwise trying to maintain a social life while working full-time.

My Style: Simple, versatile, and affordable.  Unless it's a magnificent statement piece, I won't buy something unless I know of at least 3-4 outfits I can wear it with.  As far as cosmetics, I steer towards natural and easy-to-do looks.

My Beauty Routine:  I am a firm believer in taking care of your skin and body. Fortunately, I have found some easy ways to do this.