August Favorites
This was definitely one of those months that completely flew by! I don’t even think I was any more busy than usual, but I remember looking at the date around the 20th and wondering where the time had gone. That’s okay, though, because football season starts this weekend and I am so excited about it! A lot of my favorites this month ended up being mostly skincare. That’s something I’m really starting to focus on improving and mannn does it take some patience!
I’ve talked a little bit about Pilates before and maybe one day I’ll do a dedicated post talking about my Pilates journey over the past few years. Pilates is an exercise that I really just love doing. I do some sort of routine six days a week and unless I’m having an off day, it’s something I always look forward to. It’s a chance for me to clear my mind, while also doing something good for my body. And I just think it’s fun!
I fell in love with resistance bands last year and just recently discovered the Pilates bar. I found it at Target and ended up ordering it during a sale on Amazon. As with any new workout equipment, it took some getting used to at first. I’ve found it to be extremely effective and very time efficient. I usually combine these two together to get a full 40 minute workout. As if I didn’t already love Pilates enough as it is, adding in toys like this makes working out even more fun!
In last month’s favorites post, I talked about some new jean shorts I got and how difficult it was to find the style I was looking for. I love those shorts so much and was having some serious non-buyers remorse for not buying a second pair. I decided to go back and get a darker color. These are the same brand and style, just with a little more distressing around the pockets. They’re so stretchy and comfortable, exactly what I was looking for. Even my husband has been making fun of me because they’re pretty much all I wear anymore!
Okay, now let’s talk about skincare. I have super oily, acne prone skin and fighting breakouts is a constant struggle that I just haven’t figured out. My face is a whole different story and I seem to be doing pretty good with that, but my body will literally breakout anywhere and everywhere. I have no idea why or how to fix it. I use antibacterial soap and apply lotions every night that I thought were good for my skin.
I’m 26 now and I’m tired of not having clear skin, so this past month I’ve really been focusing on fixing it and figuring out what’s going to make my skin happy. My two main issues are my chest/shoulders/upper back area and my thighs, although I’d like to see everything else look a little smoother as well.
I’ve been doing a lot of research and only making one change at a time so I can really see what’s going to make a difference. My first change was body lotion. I found out that although my favorite c. Booth 4-in-1 body lotion omits a lot of pore clogging ingredients, it isn’t non-comedogenic.
Since I love the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser so much, I decided to try their Moisturizing Lotion. It’s non-comedogenic and lightweight, which is a must with my oily skin in the humid Florida weather. I do like the way it feels, but with as many hormonal changes as our bodies go through during the month, I still need more time to see if this is the solution I’ve been looking for. But so far, so good.
When it comes to my face, I don’t usually breakout as much as I used to when I was younger. I still have some issues every now and then, but it’s a lot more manageable. I’ve found a lot of products that work well at keeping my face clear. However, I have to switch it up every so often to continue seeing results.
I’ve recently been trying out Pixi’s new Vitamin C line and my favorites are the Vitamin C Tonic, Caviar Balm, and Lotion. I use the tonic after cleansing morning and night, and switch between the two moisturizers depending on my skin’s daily needs. They do have a slight citrus scent, but it’s not as strong as I was hoping for. After using these continuously all month, I have noticed a difference at how bright my skin is looking.
Another Pixi product I’ve really been enjoying lately is their Glow Mud Mask. Usually I’m not very impressed with any pre-packaged masks because I love my Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay so much, but this one is pretty good. They call it a 15-minute facial and I’d definitely agree with that. It doesn’t do as much as I’d like when it comes to cleaning out my pores, but after removing this mask my skin does look noticeably purified and refreshed with a beautiful glow. It’s also really fun to apply because it’s so pigmented, it’s literally like painting your face!
Most of the time I just use concealer for every day, but when I want a little more coverage I’ve been using this Garnier BB Cream as a foundation. This is a long time favorite of mine! It’s super lightweight, yet provides more coverage than some foundations that I have. The best way I’ve found to apply this is with the fingers because it has a very liquidy consistency.
A new product that I’ve been testing this month is the Elf Camo Concealer. This is the first concealer I’ve tried with the large applicator and although the formula definitely took some getting used to, it’s been great for my oily skin. It’s extremely full coverage, so I only use a tiny amount and typically only apply it over a BB cream or foundation. In case you missed it, I posted my full review of this concealer on Monday with more details.
When I’m not using my favorite Makeup Geek blushes, I’ve been reaching for this Alamar Cosmetics Colorete Blush Trio instead. I’m so grateful that these blushes have a talc free formula! I can wear them comfortably without any worries of breakouts. I love all three shades in this palette and how easily they blend on the cheeks.
The two eyeshadow palettes I’ve been loving the most this month are the Makeup Revolution x Emily Edit The Needs palette and Tarte’s Be You, Naturally palette. If I were to have created an eyeshadow combination of singles, I would’ve chosen the exact same shades as what is in The Needs palette. It’s perfect for everyday because it has all the basics and the formula is one of the easiest eyeshadows to work with.
Tarte eyeshadows are also pretty easy to apply, but every now and then they take a little bit more work because of their extremely creamy and soft texture. The color selection in this Be You, Naturally palette is one of my favorites for creating a neutral glam look. It has mattes, shimmers, and can even go a little darker if I’m wanting something more dramatic.
My last two favorites to mention are the Emma Beauty Stuck on You base coat and Rock Hard top coat. I’ve been exclusively using this combination for the past nine months and I am amazed at how long these two make my manicures last. I can pair these with any other nail polish and it will almost always leave me with zero chips after seven days!
Between all these new skincare products and spending the time to enjoy some of my long time favorites like the eyeshadow palettes and nail polishes, this was a great month! I can’t wait to continue using the Cetaphil lotion and see what kind of a difference it will (hopefully) make. I’ll be sure to keep you updated on any results!
I hope you enjoyed this post! If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them for me in the comments section. Have you tried any of these products before? What were some of your August favorites?
XO ♥ Christina ♥
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