No-brainer, easy peasy eyeshadow pairings

The title of this post should include: "AKA: eyeshadow combinations I wear when I'm feeling lazy and/or am too tired to think of anything more creative."  

I'm sure all of you can relate in some way or another to what I'm getting at here- you know those mornings you're either too tired, lazy, or unmotivated to think of a new look and you just need something  easy?  Easy in my mind, anyway, is a neutral look I can pair with any outfit that only requires a couple eyeshadows.  For today's post I decided to share with you the combinations I reach for when I don't feel like thinking too hard about my eyeshadows (which has been happening a lot lately...).

Left to right: MAC Retrospeck and Club; Naked Lunch and Trax; Urban Decay Sin, Victoria's Secret Luxe and Coco

MAC Retrospeck and Club have POSSIBLY taken the place of my ever-cherished MAC Naked Lunch, which used to be my most favorite MAC eyeshadow.  These two together have been my "go-to" no brainer eyeshadows for awhile now.  I'll admit the pairing seems a little strange at first, but the taupe-y brown of Club really complements Retrospeck.  I can wear Club with a slew of colors if I'm being completely honest, though.

MAC Naked Lunch and Trax are great for when I want a little color, but still something in the neutral range.  Naked Lunch is the perfect shade of champagne to brighten up my lids, and Trax gives a HINT of purple while remaining quite understated.  The sheerness of the eyeshadow helps- you really have to layer it on to build up the pigmentation.  I'd say you're better off going with NYX Flamingo eyeshadow for a cheaper alternative (or another drugstore dupe if there is one), but I still have a soft spot for Trax. 

I'm in love with Urban Decay Sin eyeshadow, which is in the similar family as Naked Lunch, but with a frostier finish and less of a pink undertone.  This pairs nicely with my Victoria's Secret mineral eyeshadows in Luxe and Coco for an easy neutral brown look.  In the pan, Luxe looks a lot lighter than it does in use.  And as UD Virgin has been my go-to inner corner highlighter recently, I usually add that in there too. :)

What do you guys use when you're pinched on time and/or creativity?  

2-in-1 NOTD Material Girl "Wild Child" & a purple party EOTD

Finally, finally I have my NOTD of that Material Girl by Madonna nail polish that I showed you in my birthday post!  It's a gorgeous glitter-infested pink that just screams girly, don't you agree?  My roommates and I have been loving this- they've been wearing it on the accent finger layered over a creme polish, but I just did three coats on my bare nails.  It'a bling-tastic.

(Apologies for the finger prints on the cap!)

The lighting on these is terrible, I'm sorry- I'm still working on finding the best place for pictures in my apartment.  The bathroom works well for EOTDs, but not NOTDs apparently. :/

This is three coats with no top coat.  I wore this as a full manicure last week with a top coat, and got about 4 days before I saw chipping (there wasn't much "tip wear" with this polish, just chipping for me). I really think it depends on your top coat, though- my friend wore this on her nails for a week before taking it off and it was still going strong.

Lastly, this is the eye look I did Saturday night for the potluck party my friends and I went to.  I originally did something with a bunch of different green/olive eyeshadows, but ended up disliking it.  THEN I thought of the Stila for Alice+Olivia look (link to Temptalia's post)- I fell completely in love with the simplicity of it right away!- and decided to do my own version in my favorite color.  Purple! 

I'm not thrilled with how this turned out in pictures, but I did like it in person.  

Primer- UDPP Original

Eyeshadows- Matte beige from Coastal Scents 88 matte palette (all over lid area)

Meow Cosmetics Jessica R (patted on top of eyeliner)

Eyeliner- Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Gel-liner trio for Green Eyes (upper lash line)

Milani Liquif'eye eyeliner in Silver (lower lash line)

Covergirl Liquiline Blast eyeliner in Black Fire (waterline)

Mascara- Fresh Supernova

Eyelashes- ELF Dramatic Lash kit

I'm loving these $1 ELF false eyelashes too, btw.  They come in a single package with eyelash glue, although the glue is pretty much a waste.  I do love how dark they make my lashes look without being too crazy over-the-top! 

Thanks for reading everyone!  Have you tried any of the Material Girl by Madonna line from Macy's?  Or any false eyelashes you're loving?  

EOTD: Smokey truffle with dramatic winged liner

Hope you all are enjoying your weekend so far!  My roommates and I (which are also my two closest girlfriends) are going to a potluck party later tonight, I'm really excited!  We're going to make cupcakes to bring.  We became friends with the guys who are having the party last year, but haven't been over to their new place yet- it should be a lot of fun (and these guys are insanely goofy/hilarious).  Do you guys have any interesting things planned for the weekend?

Other than that, I have 300 pages to read by Tuesday.  I'm slowly getting a start on it, but oh my gosh is it like pulling teeth.  And it's a russian-translated novel about serfs in 19th century Russia.... LOVELY.  I'm just beside myself with enthusiasm.  

But I digress.

This is a dramatic look I did last night, loosely based on this tutorial from Kandee Johnson.  I'm getting so intrigued by watching tutorials on YouTube, guys, and Kandee is adorable.  I can't believe I haven't paid more attention to her until now!  

Anyway, the EOTD is super simple in technique, just requires lots of layering like Kandee does.  I'll list what eyeshadows I used below, but if you're interested in recreating this look just remember it's more about what shades you use.  :)  Also as an FYI, I list the eyeshadows in order of how I layer them.

Primer- Almay Bright Eyes eye base+concealer

Base- ELF Studio cream eyeshadow in Bronzed

Eyeshadows- Urban Decay Virgin (shimmery beige for highlighting)

Urban Decay Hustle (dark chocolate brown)

Lancome Click (purple-tinged taupe)

Urban Decay Creep (shimmery black)

Lancome Topaz Temptation (deep bronze)

Eyeliner- Covergirl Liquiline Blast eyeliner in Black Fire

Mascara- L'Oreal Double Extend Illuminator

For the eyeshadow placement, I followed Kandee's tutorial pretty closely.  Basically, you highlight your inner corners/browbone with a shimmery beige color, and then layer the darker colors in your lid/crease area in the shape of a "tabletop", as Kandee describes it.  This is really flattering and opens up your eyes more, despite using such dark colors in the crease area.  She also suggests building up the color more in the crease area if it's not dramatic enough- just follow the shape of your eyebrow.  

I love winged eyeliner, so I did a very slight wing using a black eyeliner but exaggerated it using black eyeshadow (UD Creep).  I never EVER do such a dark lower lash line, but using eyeshadow is a lot less frightening than eyeliner IMO.  

What drew me to this look in the first place was the layering of colors.  I never think of doing that with eyeshadows, but it's a great way to try and recreate/dupe another shade that you don't have.  

Anyway, enough rambling on my part!  Thanks for reading/looking guys.  Take care!

xox

Topshop cream eyeshadow in Velvet, swatches and EOTD

When Topshop opened downtown a couple weeks ago, my friends and I went ASAP!  They did a lot of advertising prior to the opening.  We were out shopping the week before, and they were handing out Topshop canvas totes with catalogs and "secret" gift cards inside.  You had to go to the store to reveal how much was on your gift card, with amounts up to $100 (I think).  Anyway, mine was only worth $10 but I decided to just use it despite everything being a little much for my budget.  

The makeup looked really interesting, and I finally settled on one of their cream eyeshadows in the color Velvet, which I'm sharing with you today!

These eyeshadows are $10 and come in a few different colors, Velvet being a rather bright, shimmering plum.  I don't typically gravitate towards cream eyeshadows, but I do love having them to use as bases!  I thought I'd pick this purple one because 1) I LOVE PURPLE, and 2) I'm in need of some colored bases for eyeshadows.

Far left: Velvet swatched, Center: Velvet lightly blended, Far right: Velvet fully blended

When used over a primer- I used UDPP- this cream eyeshadow lasts all day without creasing (tested for 12 hours, workout included).  I'm really impressed!  With it's creamy consistency, I was worried it would crease almost instantly, but I didn't have any problems. 

In terms of fading, however, it doesn't hold up quite as well.  I noticed fading after 12 hours, though when used in conjunction with a powder eyeshadow it isn't as noticeable.  

The color is probably my favorite part- isn't it gorgeous?  The shimmer adds a beautiful dimension that makes it stunning alone or underneath eyeshadow.  I love that the jewel-toned purple stays as vibrant once applied as it does in the swatch, too.  Sometimes after you blend a color out, it loses its brightness.  Not the case here, thankfully!

Here's an EOTD I did using Velvet as a base, and Estee Lauder eyeshadow quad in Arctic Nights:

And this is a SUPER quick look I did using it in the outer corner/crease,  just to give you an idea of how it looks all by itself, no eyeshadow over it.  It was my first time using it, FYI. ;)

Overall, I like this cream eyeshadow, but it's not a necessity for me by any means (and I wouldn't repurchase for $10).  I'd prefer buying NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils for their lower price and packaging (it gets messy applying these with your fingers).  There's nothing bad about it by any means, but personal preferences definitely get in the way.  I do love the color and crease-proof formula!

What are your favorite cream eyeshadows?  Have you tried any Topshop makeup that you really like?

Thanks again for reading, everyone!  Happy weekend!  (I have 300 pages to read by Tuesday.... yay.)

OOTD: "Dressy casual" and a little leopard print

Hi, lovely readers!  I let my friend borrow my camera this week and now that I have it back, I have a couple of OOTDs to share (See, I actually have a somewhat valid excuse for not posting this time!  Yeah, right.  I will never ever be able to justify a lack of posting here).
The weather has been whacko lately- seriously!  This week has actually been better with temperatures in the 60s and 70s, but then randomly a few days will be in the 50s, or cloudy, or raining.  And that doesn't put anyone in a good mood.  I've pretty much been dressing however I want to, though, despite how warm or cool it is (honestly, I just can't be bothered paying that closely to what temperature it is yet!).  Fortunately fall is more of a forgiving season, as opposed to winter.  I definitely don't want to be caught without a coat in a snowstorm.
Anyway, these are two outfits I wore recently- the first is from today, and the final one is actually from about two weeks ago (laziness!).

Top- Forever 21

Blazer- Forever 21

Leggings- Victoria's Secret

Shoes- Chelsea Crew by Urban Outfitters

Belt- Forever 21

Necklace- Aldo

I got this blazer a couple weeks ago from Forever 21 and I'm IN LOVE.  In all my fashion classes we talk about garment quality/construction and how Forever 21 really isn't that great- my teachers pretty much loathe the store- but for the price, sometimes you have to sacrifice.  This blazer was $27.50 or so and satisfies my need for that "dressy casual" look.  I'll get a better one eventually, but hey, this one is lined, has shoulder pads, and ruching on the sleeves (I have them rolled up here); I do wish it had a box pleat on the back to give it more structure.  A lot of work went into it despite not costing much to manufacture!  

Top- Forever 21

Cardigan- Aerie by American Eagle

Jeans- Forever 21

Scarf- Forever 21

Shoes- Franco Sarto from Nordstrom Rack

Bracelet- American Eagle

Forever 21's jeans are a perfect example of their terrible quality.  They're cheap, so for the trendy stuff they're appealing, but anyone in the fashion business would seriously frown on these black jeans.  They have a weird smell when you get up close to them, and they don't stretch like jeans should.  Fortunately they look just fine to the public eye.

I say all this, and as you can see a lot of my wardrobe is from Forever 21.  I'm not trying to bash them, because their prices and styles are really attractive, but some things I've gotten from there are just pretty sad.  On the flip side, I get most of my scarves from there and they're great!  Never had a problem; in fact, they all look like much higher quality.

I found these little leopard-printed flats on sale at Nordstrom Rack a couple years ago.  I love them!  They aren't the most comfortable, but they spice up boring outfits and are really decent quality- still look as good now as when I bought them.

That's all for today- what are you wearing?  What are your thoughts about Forever 21?  

xox

(PS: I just made a profile on Beautylish today!  Are you guys on there?  My link is beautylish.com/inhermakeupbag, but please leave yours in the comments if you have one and I'll follow you!  It's a lot of fun!)

A few birthday surprises from Clinique, etc.

Hi, my name is Stephanie and I've been a terrible, terrible blogger!  I'm so apologetic and yet I really don't have a good excuse- besides that I've hit a bit of a rough patch and blogging has, again, suffered the blow.  I won't go into details, but that's the gist of it.  I'm incredibly sorry!
Another reason posting has become sort of a nuisance is the lack of good lighting I get in my apartment.  You'll see in these pictures that natural sunlight is below average, but if I use the flash it washes everything out.  I've considered building a light box (and actually, my film friends have some awesome set ups that I should borrow sometime) and probably will once I get the energy/motivation/time.

Anyway!  For today's post, I thought I'd share with you a few new things I've acquired since being at school, beauty-related.  I've felt so spoiled this year, to be completely honest with you.  My parents have been very generous with things they're allowing me to do here at school, along with a few surprise expenses I've had over the summer.  After all of that, my mom STILL sent me the sweetest package for my birthday (last Sunday) containing several Clinique goodies.

I was also recently sent Dr.'s Remedy Enriched Instant Cover, which is a camouflaging product to hide skin imperfections.  I thought this sounded interesting, especially since I have quite a few scars/marks on my legs from random mishaps (like, I'll wake up with a random bruise or scrape on my leg and have no idea where it came from.  Maybe I'm just a rampant sleeper?).  The one I received is for light skin tones but they have a darker shade to suit dark skin tones as well.  Honestly, I'm not a huge fan- it's not highly pigmented so it doesn't do much to cover imperfections; if I'm going to use makeup on my body, I want it to really serve its purpose.  The color is a good match for my NC15-20 coloring, though.

These are the goodies my mom sent in my little birthday package.  Before I left for school in August, she asked me for a few ideas of things from Clinique that I liked for future reference (Christmas presents, etc).  She told me she took the list to the counter, but the girls working that day- the ones I was closest to over the summer when I worked there!- suggested some other things.  So she sent me the new Black Honey eyeshadow palette, cream eyeliner, and All About Eyes eye cream.  The girls also threw in a couple of samples and wrapped it up nicely- it was so sweet!  See swatches of the Black Honey eyeshadow quad and eyeliner in the last photo, below.

I have the best roommates/friends, hands down.  A few of us went out to dinner for my birthday and as soon as we got our tickets, one of my guy friends stole mine away from me and paid for me.  My roommates got me this ADORABLE Material Girl (Macy's) nail polish, above, and a necklace.  I did a full manicure using just this pink glitter, while they used it on the accent finger.  The three of us having coordinating nails now;).

Swatches:

Clinique Black Honey eyeshadow quad, Black Honey cream eyeliner (one swipe, swatch)

Again, thank you all so much for bearing with my absence and continuing to be such amazing subscribers.  I love my blog and all of you and honestly cannot imagine being without this community!

xox

New jewelry!

I love love jewelry- it's amazing the transformation a necklace or bracelet can be for an outfit!  For some strange reason, I actually don't have tons of jewelry (a few of my favorites got stolen out of my suitcase last Christmas when I flew home for break, and I've since been trying to rebuild my collection), but little by little I'm adding on.  On Monday my friends and I went shopping and I took advantage of some of the awesome Labor Day sales- I scored myself some cute new things!

Bracelet from Aldo, Forever 21, American Eagle; Necklace from Aldo 

The Aldo bracelet and necklace I got BOGO free- they had a large selection of jewelry that was all two for the price of one.  They were both $11.98 so I only paid over $13 for them.  American Eagle/Aerie was having 40% off everything in the store over the weekend, so I got the bracelet for around $6.  The Forever 21 bracelet was only $5.  I love holiday sales, haha.

Lastly I found a scarf from Forever 21, which is the same one I'm wearing in my previous OOTD post!  I just love it!

Have you guys acquired any new jewelry or accessories lately?   

Same pieces, two outfits

I have good news!  To my pleasant surprise, my new room has a great spot for taking outfit pictures!  Once I clean my room up a bit (this morning was frantic, let's just leave it at that) I'll take pictures of my room and show you that, but for now, I'm so excited that I can finally post more OOTDs.  There's an empty part of the wall behind my door that is a good distance away from my desk, so I can set up my camera there and use the timer setting.

I've always wanted to do more outfit posts because 1) I'm a fashion business major and it's my passion, and 2) I love reading OOTD posts by my favorite bloggers.  When I'm at school I get deeply wrapped up in my major, so fashion really becomes my life.  I absolutely love it.  And I know I've tried to keep this strictly a beauty blog, but would you guys mind seeing more fashion-related posts?  Please let me know if you'd like that because I can think of a bunch of things to blog about!  Thank you!

Anyway, today I have a two-in-one type of thing.  I "repeat wear" a lot of my clothes, especially pants because I'll typically find ONE PAIR that is the bomb and not want to wear anything else.  I'm super picky like that.  The girls I worked with over the summer always asked me if I had a huge closet to keep all my clothes, and I said no way!  I just style the same few items differently so I get more outfits out of them.  

The following is an example of that- one of my favorite pairs of just plain black jeans, worn with different pieces.  Actually, same shoes, too.  LOL

Top, pants, scarf: Forever 21

Bracelet: Aldo

Shoes: (Shown below) Urban Outfitters

Top: Zara

Cardigan: H&M

Scarf: Urban Outfitters

Pants: Forever 21

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

Is this something you guys would like to see more of?  I hope you enjoy it!  And definitely let me know; any feedback is appreciated!  Thanks everyone. xox

Monave Minerals review part 2: Eyes & etc.

Hey guys!  Here are the rest of the products I was sent from Monave, a good-for-you mineral makeup company that is gluten-free and 95% vegan.  Last week I posted my review of a few face products, and this week I'm featuring a versatile mineral powder, cream to powder eyeliner, and pencil eyeliner.  The cream to powder eyeliner came with an angled brush for application which I'll show as well.  

And as a side note, I'm still just in love with most of these products!  The setting powder is by far my favorite (from my first post, part one), but I'm overall just really impressed with the quality of everything.  

Left: Mineral Powder in #60, Right: Cream to powder eyeliner in Black 

I'll start off with the mineral powder, shown on the far left (above), in the shade Lavender Pearl #60.  I had no idea how dimensional and unique this shade would be from the pictures online!  It looks like a nude beige-pink shimmer in the container, but the "lavender pearl" part comes out when it's applied.  These are called "Versatile Mineral Powders" for a reason, too!  Here's what Monave.com says:

Monave loose mineral powders are a blend of pure, oxidized mica, and are versatile and fun. The texture of the powders range from semi-matte (these impart a light sheen) to shimmer, to full sparkle. All of these beautiful loose powders can be used as eyeshadow, eyeliner, blush, and nail polish (please see directions for how to use them). The red, pink, brown and beige tones can also be mixed into a clear gloss and applied to the lips. 

Lavender Pearl looks great as an eyeshadow, which is how I've been using it- however, it would also be gorgeous on cheeks as a highlighter, or mixed into a clear gloss!  I love how you can use these powders however you want, a la MAC pigments.

The cream to powder eyeliner in Black doesn't work as well for me, personally, but it's not really the product's fault.  My initial thought was that this was only a kind of cream eyeliner.  Not true- according to Monave's description, they're targeted more for brows:

Our original mineral cream to powder multi-purpose product is a soft, creamy all-over product that can be used on eyes, lips and cheeks. The colors are long-wearing, with a sheer, matte finish, and are packaged in an elegant, portable pot for on-the-go touch-ups.

Monave cream to powder provide excellent control, staying power and natural color for brows. No water is necessary, simply load up the angled liner brush, and touch the product anywhere brows need shaping or fillling.

They are safe for use pretty much anywhere on your face, but it just depends on the color you get.  I saw the black and immediately tried it as an eyeliner- it didn't go as well as I'd hoped, thinking this was strictly a cream eyeliner.  After going back and reading that they work well for brow color, it all made sense!  They come in shades that are typical for brow products, and the muted color makes it so you don't overdo it.  I would recommend these for a nice alternative to your standard brow pencil or gel- the consistency reminds me of the ELF Studio Brow Kit wax.
The angled brush it comes with is the perfect size for both eye lining and brow filling.  I wish it was firmer, but that's partly personal preference.

Lastly, I was sent one of their pencil eyeliners in Grape.  I was really interested in trying these, as Monave says they are formulated with jojoba and natural waxes/plants to give them a creamier texture.  Grape is a beautiful shade of plum that I've been using on days where I want a softer eye look (and something different from dark brown or black).  The staying power is really nice and lasts all day, not to mention totally living up to its claims of being creamy- my only minor complaint is the pigmentation.  I notice I have to go back and forth a few times to get the color as deep as I like.  I do think these pencils are great for a more natural, work-appropriate look!

 Swatches:

Far left: Eyeliner in Grape, Cream to powder eyeliner in Black; Far right: Mineral Powder in #60

Overall, I'm really liking what Monave Minerals has to offer.  It seems like a quality brand whose products not only perform, but have green ingredients that I can feel safe using.  It's great to know that "healthy" makeup doesn't mean skimping on things like color, lasting power, and wearability!

Thanks for reading guys! 

xox

Disclaimer:  I was sent the mentioned products for review from Monave Minerals.  I have no affiliation with the company whatsoever.  All thoughts are 100% true and my own! I would never recommend something I wasn't pleased with. 

Geek Chic Cosmetics eyeshadows: glitter lovers, gather around!

Indie makeup companies have opened up a whole new world for me, guys (I'm sure I'm not the only one!).  The eyeshadows from the few online companies I've ordered from take shadows to a whole different level; Geek Chic Cosmetics is no exception.  I was recently sent four of their eyeshadows to test out, and I'm just taken back by how much glitter, pigment, and vibrancy they pack!  Take a look:

L-R: Triforce, Tame This, Twilight Princess, Excuuuuse Me, Princess!

I chose four of the colors I tend to gravitate towards with eyeshadow- Triforce, a sandy gold; Tame This, a leafy forest green; Twilight Princess, a smokey teal-blue; and Excuuuuse Me, Princess!, a bright grape purple.  

L-R: Triforce, Tame This, Twilight Princess, Excuuuuse Me, Princess!

Triforce looks gorgeous paired with a variety of colors, but the other day I tried it with a chocolate brown/bronze combination.  I haven't used Twilight Princess in a look yet, but here are two quickies that I did using Tame This and Excuuuuse Me, Princess!

-Almay Bright Eyes eye base

-Lancome Kitten Heel (inner half of lid and lower lash line)

-Geek Chic Cosmetics Tame This (outer half of lid)

-MAC Green Smoke (outer crease and lower lash line)

-Victoria's Secret eyeliner in Deep Forest

-L'Oreal Double Extend Illuminator mascara

-Almay Bright Eyes eye base

-Estee Lauder Candlelight Metallic (inner lid and crease to blend)

-Geek Chic Cosmetics Excuuuuse Me, Princess! (outer lid and blended into crease)

-Monave Minerals eyeliner in Grape

-L'Oreal Double Extend Illuminator mascara

Do you own any of these eyeshadows from Geek Chic Cosmetics, or have others you'd recommend?  

Disclaimer:  I was sent the mentioned products for review from Geek Chic Cosmetics.  I have no affiliation with the company whatsoever.  All thoughts are 100% true and my own! I would never recommend something I wasn't pleased with. 

Movin' on out

Hey guys, just a little heads up to let you all know that I'll be moving back to school this weekend- I have a few posts almost ready to go, so as soon as I have some time to get them up I will.  Things will be crazy craziness the next three days, though, and I just thought I'd fill you in as to why posting might be sporadic again.
But all that aside....
I CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL!
That's all.  :)  Thanks guys!
xox

Edited 9/4/11-
Thank you guys so much for your sweet comments!  I'm all moved in finally.  !! :)

My updated skincare routine!

Before I begin my mega-rant about how I started my new skincare routine, I just want to put it out there that what works for me may or may not work for you- we all have different skin types, and these are just my thoughts about how my skin is reacting to these products! :)  PS: You can skip the lengthy intro and go straight to the pictures!

How many of us have tried the ENTIRE drugstore's skincare aisle (and then some!), only to be less-than-impressed with most of it?  I've always been a slave to drugstore skincare because quite frankly, I don't have a lot of money to indulge in the high-end stuff.  People often say that the best skincare really is more expensive, but I was determined to find something cheaper that still worked.  Well, in recent years I've found a few products that work OK for me- they clean & moisturize my skin, do the basic stuff, but I still experienced occasional breakouts (the last two years specifically it seems like there's always at least one pimple in that area between my eyebrows of on my chin.  Or above my lip).  Spot treatments were my best friend (which, I should add, I really have had good results with the ones I've tried- all from drugstores).  I never quite found a cleanser that I liked much, even though I did find a good basic moisturizer that didn't break me out (Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture for Sensitive Skin).

Long story short, this summer I was a little frustrated.  I felt like a lot of what I had tried at the drugstore was below average, and I just didn't know where to begin looking for a new regime.  This is where Clinique comes in.  I worked as a helper at the counter starting back in June, where the girls skin-typed me and basically told me what Clinique recommended I use.  It turns out my skin is combination (a probable reason as to why I occasionally break out in my T-zone), something I didn't really know before having a consultation with Clinique.  I got a few samples of the #2 toner for dry-combination skin along with the Dramatically Different lotion and used them over a two-week period.  I kept using my Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening cleanser, as it has been working really nicely for me.  Aaaand it's cheaper than buying Clinique's $16 cleanser.

My T-zone stopped breaking out during that time period, while I was doing the three steps- cleanse, tone, moisturize.  Toners are something pretty new to me, as I have always read mixed reviews.  However, Clinique's #2 toner for dry-combination skin really feels like it cleans my face and controls the small amount of oiliness I get in my T-zone, which I like.
Basically I had to buy full-sizes of the toner and moisturizer after seeing such a difference in my skin.  This would have been harder for me, being someone who is used to drugstore prices, but thankfully Clinique isn't too expensive even as a high-end brand.  In my Clinique pre-order haul post I showed the #3 toner, but that ended up not working for me like the #2 toner did.  So I swapped it out right away and have been using the #2 one ever since.  My skin has been looking more clear, even, and breakout-free than it has in years!

So here's what I do:

1.  I remove my face makeup with Pond's original all day clean towelettes.

2.  I cleanse my face with Aveeno Positively Radiant brightening cleanser.

3.  I saturate a cotton ball with Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2 and go over my T-zone (you can use this all over but I just do it in that area).

4.  I moisturize my face using Clinique Dramatically Different moisturizing lotion (I love the pump this comes with- it dispenses the right amount to cover my entire face.  I've found a little goes a long way, which also saves product!).

And then 5. is used when needed, as I haven't been getting pimples much lately; when I do I use Alba Botanical AcneDote spot treatment and it clears me up overnight.

Since we're talking about skincare, too, I thought this would be a good time to rave a teeny bit about the Aveeno cleanser- I'm a longtime lover/user of the Aveeno Skin Brightening daily scrub, but I saw this one at Target earlier this summer and decided to try it.  I'm not sure if it's new but I hadn't seen it before.  It's supposed to target the "5 factors of radiance", interesting?:

I mainly just like it because it doesn't break me out, thoroughly cleanses my face without leaving it tight or dry, and doesn't irritate my skin.  And look!  It's so pretty!

Well, I hope you can tell anyway.  It flashes all these different colors and I get pretty fascinated by it, LOL.  

Anyway, that's my way-longer-than-I-planned updated skincare routine post.  If you read everything, you are awesome!  If you didn't that's OK too. :)  

What are you using for your skincare routine?

xox