I am a huge fan of Glossier makeup and have worked with them as an ambassador since 2016. Their most recent 2021 holiday campaign is so chic and playful that I was inspired to recreate on of the looks. I am truly not great at makeup but I had fun attempting this one! Tip: I found that you can use Cloud Paint as an eyeshadow base for a wash of warmth in lieu of pink shadow :)
Perhaps the most important preventative step in any beauty routine is SPF. The best way to prevent wrinkles and hyperpigmentation is to apply SPF 30 or above in the morning (after skincare) and every 2 hours after that. Reapplication can be rather inconvenient, but I have found several amazing sunscreens that make reapplication simple. I just purchased the SuperGoop Glow Stick and have been loving the smooth, dewy formula.
The sunscreens from Korea tend to be more hydrating and glowy than American sunscreens. Korean beauty has a culture of prevention rather than fix-it-fast treatments. This means maintaining a consistent routine is much more important than scrambling to fix the issues once they arise. The biggest take away from my foray into k-beauty is that a consistent, gentle routine is the way to achieve healthy skin. PERFECT SKIN DOES NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
The following 6 heroes are makeup and beauty staples that I use almost everyday. From water-resistant lashes, to scent-shifting perfume, these picks will not disappoint.
Lash Slick - Glossier’s iconic wispy lashes are fluttery and resist fallout. I wear crazy dewy sunscreen and this mascara stays all day without giving me raccoon eyes. NOW IN BROWN :)
Glossier You - If I go a day without spraying this all over me, then hell hath frozen over.
Stretch Concealer - A blendable, dewy and beautiful coverage concealer - a staple in many top makeup artists’ cases.
ProTip Liner - My beloved “kitten eyes” would not exist without this product.
UltraLip - Glossier’s new baby, a moisturizing lippie that adds a subtle but sheer gloss
BoyBrow - The first cult product from Glossier, this gel fills sparse brows effortlessly.
Glossier is one of my favorite brands of all time. From the to the fair prices, this brand has become the foundation for my beauty routine. I raved about Glossier in one of my first posts when I first started my blog back in 2017 and Glossier somehow came across it and let me get in on the action as a Glossier BFF. (Get 10% off your first Glossier order!). After testing all of the products, I have narrowed down my favorite products from Glossier to the top 9 - a feat I must say.
I fell madly in love with K-beauty, or Korean beauty, after reading The Little Book of Skin Care, by Charlotte Cho. As a professed beauty junkie, I excitedly poured myself into the pages of Charlotte’s book trying to learn any tricks that would make my persistent hormonal acne fade away. Though I went in trying to fix the main problem that I had with my skin, I came away with a much more positive mentality and a deep obsession with the lifestyle of Korean beauty.
K-beauty comes from a perspective of gratitude and care for one’s wellbeing rather than focusing your mental energy on your problems. Korean beauty takes a gentle, holistic approach to skincare. Caring for one’s skin is an essential part of maintaining one’s entire wellbeing - it is just as important as getting your daily exercise or staying hydrated. The K-beauty philosophy hinges on a skin first mentality. Rather than lasering in on the skin’s problems and going at them harshly, K-beauty gently takes care of skin health on a deeper level with natural, effective ingredients. The goal is not necessarily to have perfect skin at all times, but to maintain and curate a lifestyle where you work to make your skin (& self) the healthiest it can be.
Facial massage/ jade rolling - I've been all about jade rolling recently. It boosts your skin's circulation to provide better blood flow to your facial tissues giving you plump, healthy skin.
Exfoliation - Keeping your skin's cell turnover going requires it to be exfoliated every now and then. Natural skin turnover can be a bit uneven, so a weekly exfoliating mask is the best way to keep new skin cells generating.
Hydrating Serum - I highly recommend adding a good serum to your beauty routine. Serums hit your skin with nourishing shit right after cleansing so it soaks in before anything else.
Moisturizer - After serum you MUST use a moisturizer. Duh. But not all moisturizers are created equal - use one with hyaluronic acid and added vitamins for an intense, glow-boosting hydration.
Internal Hydration!!! - Drink water with lemon for max skin hydration from the inside out
Hydrating foundation with SPF - Chanel CC Cream is literally my everything. It is hydrating, blurs imperfections, and has SPF 50 in it. My other go-to is Bobbi Brown's Intensive Skin Serum Foundation because it is made with HALF of my fave serum and its SPF 40.
Illuminating bronzer - I really love this cream bronzer from Chanel which happens to be a cult fave of makeup artists, but my daily go-to is the Pixi Beauty Bronzer in Summertime. Its illuminating without being sparkly and glowy without being wet-looking. Perf. And its less than $20.
Glowing cheeks - My fave blush by far has to be Glossier's Cloud Paint in Puff. It is buildable, a little goes a LONG way, and it is made with skin-loving ingredients like collagen that plump your skin with hydration.
Y'ALL... I feel as if I've been all over the world this summer. I was in Paris all of June then California, North Carolina x2 and all over Texas for July - I haven't been home for more than four days in a row. I have NEVER traveled so much in my life and I weirdly kind of love it. Living out of a carry-on has forced me to parse down all my crap into the true essentials. Don't get me wrong, I adore all of my crap, but I can't tell you how freeing it is to know that you don't need as much stuff as you think you do.
For my makeup and skincare travel essentials, I only have two requirements. First, they have to be less than 3.5 oz so I can take them in my carry on and avoid the nightmare of getting my checked bag lost (happened in NY three years ago and I am still not over it). Second, they have to be good quality because duh. I found almost all of my beauty travel essentials at Sephora in the "dangerous zone of tiny products" right before the check out counter. This zone gets me EVERY TIME because all of the minis are too damn cute to pass by. I know you know what I'm talking about. You can find some fab little travel-sized goodies there, or even just minis to try before you splurge on the full-sized version.
I've linked my fave travel essentials in the "shop the post" section at the bottom where you can buy them online as well as explained where I got each one in store!
Chanel CC Cream - (Nordstrom) My go-to foundation happens to be carry-on size! This tinted beauty balm is awesome because it has nice coverage without being too cakey. It is moisturizing and great for sensitive skin.
Bobbi Brown Mini Medium Bronzer - (Found at Sephora's "dangerous zone of tiny products") This bronzer is teeny, yet super potent - perfect for a quick & easy glow on the go.
Bobbi Brown Smoky Eye Mini Mascara - (Sephora's danger zone) A mini version of one of my fave mascaras.
Glossier Cloud Paint in Puff - (glossier.com) This blush is perfect because all you need is your fingertips for perfect application.
Sonia Kashuk Brush - (Target) I love these brushes. I think they are not only better but also half the price of the Sephora brushes.
Foreo Play - (Sephora's danger zone) This is my favorite little facial cleansing brush!! It vibrates for a deep clean and helps speed up cell turnover for a youthful glow.
Mario Badescu Cucumber, Aloe and Green Tea Facial Spray in 2oz size - (Ulta's "dangerous zone of tiny products") This spray is the perfect pick-me-up for dry, dull post-flight skin. It is full of soothing ingredients and smells like heaven.
Glossier Super Bounce Serum - (glossier.com) The best hyaluronic acid serum I've ever come across. Remember when I raved about it a few weeks ago in the Glossier post? Still obsessed.
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser - (Sephora's danger zone) Clean and soft skin are always a must and this little cleanser gives you just that. It is loaded with amino acids and is super gentle on even sensitive skin.
Living Proof Travel Trio - (Sephora's danger zone! Told you I went a little cray there.) A haircare fave in a mini version!
