5 Favorite Things Friday–Beauty Edition

With summer coming up, I am breaking out some of my favorite warm weather beauty items. My go to products in the summer usually are bright and fun and I love using make-up that helps create that dewy, sun kissed look. After-all, the point is to use items that help enhance skin without making it look too made-up. My top 5 are as follows:

1. Nars Bronzer in Leguna, Sephora, $33. This brown-based bronzer with gold shimmer helps create a glowing, tanned skin look. 
   
2. Nars Orgasm Blush, Sephora, $27. This pinky-peach blush subtly highlights the face with gold shimmer accents and helps create a healthy flush. This shade is universally flattering and is one of the most popular selling colors.   
   
3. Nars Illuminator, Sephora, $29. This illuminator is a relatively new product. I just tried it and like it better than my Stila illuminator. The Laguna color works really well to hydrate skin and create a dewy, flushed look and it is also really pretty in the Orgasm color.     
   
4. Rosebud Salve, Sephora, $6. This salve is amazing at moisturizing and healing dry, cracked lips. It also works amazingly well at hydrating knees, elbows, and cuticles, and claims to help with diaper rash! It’s a an affordable, multitasking dream!     
   
5. Sally Hansen Salon Effects, Local Drugstore, $12.99. I am one of those people who normally does not paint my finger nails due to the long drying time and the peeling and chipping that occurs almost instantly. These are a time saving miracle. They just stick onto the nail and then need to be filed down. Super easy and they last a long time without the cracking, peeling, chipping, or mess that normal nail polish creates.

5 Favorite Things Friday

I have been on a beauty buying kick lately so I only thought it fitting to do my Five Favorite Things Friday post on, but of course, beauty. Below are a few of my recent (and future) purchases and a few of my favs!

1. Anastasia Lash Lifting Mascara.  I have been hearing a lot of rave reviews about this mascara lately. It is supposed to perfectly coat each lash and offer zero clumping. This is also a favorite mascara of Kim Kardashian.
   
2. Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer. This moisturizer, with its light diffusing pigments and shear color, is great at reflecting light and making your skin look and feel younger. I wear this moisture underneath my makeup daily. It’s also great to wear in place of foundation on those hot summer days. Another bonus is it has SPF 15, which will help protect your skin.
   
3. Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. I have been buying primers lately left and right trying to find the perfect one. I currently am liking Stila’s hydrating primer, but this primer by Smashbox is next on my list. This product promises to “create a perfect canvas” for your skin. It contains antioxidants and vitamins and claims help prevent collagen destruction and fill in fine lines.
   
4. Mac Face and Body Foundation. I have been using this foundation for over a year now after seeing a recommendation by Makeup by Mario and I love it. It is incredibly moisturizing and lightweight, and works perfectly in the winter and summer.  It contains several emollients to help condition and smooth. My skin always looks flawless. This is also a favorite of Nicole Richie.
   
5. LipFusion Lip Plump. I haven’t tried this lip plumper yet, but it is definitely on my list. This product claims to be “infused with revolutionary technology to plump lips instantly.” It is designed to use the body’s natural moisture to help plump up dry, cracked lips. It also has won the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, plus it has excellent reviews.