Products I'm Using Right Now

I saw this tag on Miss Natty's Beauty Diary & just wanted to do it too to share the things I'm currently using. I am currently trying to step away from expensive brand name products because I find that some of them don't work. And I am happy to have found cheaper drugstore products that worked better for me! I wanted to take pictures of everything but I just moved, the bathroom is a mess and I'm running out of memory space on my camera (thats what happens when you have a baby haha he takes up everything!) I'm sure you can look up pictures for these products. Anyways here are my products:

Shampoo: Enjoy sulfate-free (with cleanse sensor) & Bath and Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar volumizing shampoo for extra clarifying.
Conditioner: Pantene Pro-V Full & Thick
Treatments Enjoy Leave-in Conditioner Spray
Styling Products: Got 2 B Guardian Angel flat iron heat protector spray, Enjoy Shine n Smooth serum, GVP volume booster spray (dupe for CHI volume boost) from Sally's, Enjoy Extra Firm Hold hairspray
Styling Tools: Conair Pro Gold series hair dryer, Corioliss leopard flat iron, and my curling iron has no brand.

Shower Gel: Dove Beauty Body Wash
Body Moisturizer: St. Ives Vitamin E Moisturizer
Deodorant: Lady Speed Stick in Orchid Blossom
Fake Tan: Tanwise Self-tanning Mousse from Sally's
Facial Cleanser: Mario Badescu Acne Facial Cleanser, Olay Deep Cleansing Foam wash to remove make-up

Primer: Boots No. 7 Mattifying Base
Foundation: Revlon Colorstay Mineral Mousse in light/medium
Concealer: Revlon Colorstay Blemish Concealer in light (for my under eyes) and Revlon Age Defying Spa concealer for blemishes and red spots
Powder: MAC MSF Natural in Medium Plus
Blush: MAC Pink Swoon and MAC Fleur Power
Bronzer: MAC Golden bronzer
Highlighter: MAC Iridescent Powder in Verve-Vacious from the Fafi Collection

Eyeshadow Base: Urban Decay Primer Potion
Eyeshadows: MAC Sable, MAC Satin Taupe
Eyeliner: Max Factor Crayon Traceur in Night Club (does not smudge!)
Eyelash Curler: Shu Umera
Mascara: L'oreal Extra Volume mascara
Brows: MAC brow set in Mink and Ardell brow powder in Taupe

Lip Conditioner: Lypsyl lip moisturizer stick (the best!)
Lipstick: MAC Way to Love, MAC Plink & Victoria's Secret Perfect Lipstick in Satin Sheets
Lipgloss: NYX Mega Shine in Beige, Clinique Kitten Pink lipgloss

Nail Color: China Glaze Shocking Pink Neon (very bright neon pink)

I would love to read about what everyone else is using!

July Favorites

It's kind of late in the month to be doing July favorites (time flies by when you're married with a baby!) but I've always wanted to do these favorite blogs. I see the gurus on YouTube do it all the time and it looks so fun to see what other girls like to use.

The picture I took doesn't give you a good idea of the colors of these products but trust me, these products are BEAUTIFUL!!!

1. Revlon Colorstay Mineral Mousse Foundation. This is still my fave everyday foundation. I've gotten tanner so I need to update on the color but I used to use Light/Medium. The coverage to medium to full. It goes on matte and I just love how it feels on my face.

2. MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Medium Plus. This is the perfect powder to set my foundation. The color is great is in between light and medium so I feel like I can wear this in winter and summer. I like just buffing this on my foundation with my kabuki brush.

3. MAC powder blush in Fleur Power. I've been using this color for years and although it seems frighteningly bright in the package, it's very pretty on. Its a coraly pink and perfect for everyday looks.

4. MAC powder blush in Pink Swoon (not shown). I didn't take a pic of this one because it's in my palette, but it's also a great color for all skin tones.

5. Lypsyl lip moisturizer. My cousin introduced me to this chapstick. It's all natural and its such a great lip moisturizer with the cooling effect after application. I have dry lips and most lip conditioner brands (Chapstick, Nivea, MAC, Palmers) don't do the job. THIS ONE DOES. I even use this on my baby's lips and it works wonders! I also love the cute packaging it comes in.

6. NXY Megashine lipgloss in Beige. Very shiny and smells great. The price is great too ($2.50 at this clothing store in San Diego!)

7. Clinique glosswear in Kitten Pink. This has been my favorite for a long time. I don't know where else they sell it except for CCO's. I've tried NARS Turkish Delight and even Neutrogena's Groove, but neither one looked cute on my skintone. This Clinique one is so much better. I use it to add mega shine to my nude/pink lipsticks and my lips look very glossy. No other lipgloss has topped this one!

8. Sinful Colors nailpolish in Beautiful Girl. A cute barbie pink color. I found this at Walgreens for $2.

9. MAC lipsticks in Honeylove & Way to Love. Currently my two favorite MAC lipsticks right now. Way to Love is limited so I'm thinking of buying a few more before they run out! Honeylove is in the matte collection. It's the perfect nude color for me. Kinda drying though.

10. Enjoy Super Hold Hairspray. My favorite brand of haircare. This hairspray adds shine, volume and it smells so good. People think I'm wearing perfume. I wish they sold it in more stores though. I can only find this at professional salons.

11. Aldo aviators. I know this isn't a beauty product but I just love aviators right now. I got mine at Aldo (on sale for buy 2 for $20) and I can't leave the house without them!

What are your summer favorite beauty products?

Drugstore Faves

Here are a few products that have worked for me AND my budget. Besides MAC, I have always been a fan of Revlon. I find that their foundations work better for my combo/oily skin & since my skin color changes through seasons ( I also go thru phases of tanning), I find it easier on my wallet when I switch foundation colors.



1. Revlon Age Defying Spa Concealer in Light/Medium: $11; works best on blemishes & scars--I don't recommend this for under-eye circles though. Easily blends onto skin w/ my finger
2. Revlon Colorstay Foundation with Softflex for Combo/Oily Skin in Golden Beige:$13; works better than MAC foundations on my skin; better color selection; medium-buildable coverage.
3. Revlon Colorstay Mineral Matte Mousse Foundation in Light/Medium:$14; Best foundation I've ever tried; Blends well, full coverage, matte finish; best applied by fingers.
4. Boots No. 7 Mattifying Make-up Base:$10 (only at Target); works better for me than primers from MAC, Sephora & Laura Mercier; a little goes a long way; you really have to blend it tinto the skin because it goes on very white.


1. L'oreal Colour Riche lipstick in Tawny: $8; a nice nude/pink color; long-lasting & non-drying formula.
2. Rimmel lipstick in Airy Fairy: $5; Great everyday pink color; long-lasting, shiny finish & doesn't have the typical lipstick smell
3. Sally Hansen Prep & Perfect Lip Care: $10; Primer for lips; nuetralizes your own lip color so the true color of the lipstick shows better (I have very pigmented lips); prevents feathering and bleeding of lipstick.


1. Ardell Brow Powder in Taupe $4; really colors in my eyebrows beautifully; applied with MAC's small angled brush
2. Revlon Colorstay liquid eyeliner in Blackest Black:$10; goes on in a fine line or thick line depending on pressure; not runny like most liquid liners; no flaking and it lasts all day
3. (not pictured) L'oreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara in Blackest Black $8; hands-down the BEST mascara I've ever owned (better than mac, dior, benefit etc); very black; gives lots of length and volume after one coat; reminds me of MAC's plush lash mascara



L'oreal True Match Super-blendable blush in Tender Rose: $11; looks shimmery in the pic but goes on beatifully; blendable; comparable to MAC's Dame blush or Well Dressed; I depotted it but it comes in a small compact with a brush & mirror

Nivea Goodbye Cellulite Gel Cream

Last year, Nivea came out with a Goodbye Cellulite Challenge which was a 4-week program to help reduce the appearance of dimples by using Nivea Goodbye Cellulite products, eating healthier and staying fit.

I decided to give it a shot and I was so amazed at how fast I saw results. I tuned in on their website everyday for 4-weeks and followed their easy program. (www.nivea.com/goodbyecellulite) I didn't do the same exact workouts since I didn't find them as intense as the workouts I was used to but the program really did work for me! In four weeks, I noticed less dimples on my thighs (of ocurse, the program didn't get rid of all traces of cellulite within 4 weeks) and within 6 weeks I had achieved my goal weight. I lost a total of 14 pounds just before my family cruise and never felt better in my life.

I would definitely recommend the Nivea Goodbye Cellulite line to anyone who's willing to give it a shot. I know the line comes with a gel cream, dietary supplements (that I didn't try) and patches. I only used a few of the patches...I found them really inconvenient & they didn't stick to well to my thighs but I went through 2 bottles of the gel-cream and I really liked it. The fragrance it has smells like a department store perfume and it goes on really well. I think the gel bottles run for about $13 at CVS Pharmacy.

Gel cream directions for use: "Apply cream once or twice daily to thighs, buttocks and stomach, and use with Nivea Body Goodbye Cellulite Patches".

This year, I'm so anxious to have my baby and start getting back into shape. My hubby is also a fitness trainer on the side, so he's pretty anxious to help me as well :-) There's no doubt that I'll be getting a bottle of Nivea Goodbye Cellulite Gel Cream to help me get back into shape.

*NOTE: These products are formulated with L-carnitine, which help your body convert fat to energy, & they contain caffiene, which is why I'm waiting until after my pregancy to continue using them.

PS: I am also really anxious to try out the Soap & Glory Slimwear lotion which is a cream that claims to reduce the appearance of cellulite too. So far, I've only found it at Target but I'm definitely going to try it soon since I read a lot of good reviews about on makeupalley.com!

Tanwise Self-Tanning Mousse

I used to use tanning beds a lot before I got pregnant. Not only was it unhealthy for my skin; it was getting to be really expensive (and so addicting!). To be safe, I started trying out self-tanners and even a few mystic tans (that were also becoming expensive). I went to Sally's to renew my membership and I found this wonderful product for $7.50. It was on sale so I'm not sure what the normal price is but considering that it's from Sally's, it can't be that expensive. I've been wanting to try St. Tropez self-tanner for awhile but I couldn't find it anywhere except online. I figured I'd give the Tanwise mousse a shot and WOW, I LOVED IT!

It doesn't have a nasty smell or a sticky feeling. It doesn't dry out my skin and it tans my skin immediately upon application. I even started using it on my face--no breakouts or irritaton; just a beautiful, natural-looking tan! I'm so glad I found this product that I probably won't be buying St. Tropez's $40 dollar tanner ever!