Monthly Beauty Favorites for April :)

Hello spring beauties! So April is almost over and I must say this has been the most insanely busy month for me but I had time to squeeze in a few awesome beauty finds! I decided I am going to start doing monthly beauty finds so check back every month to see what new products I am loving. Also I would love to hear about any amazing products that work for you so feel free to comment any suggestions you have for me. :)


1. So I am not going to save the best for the last, my #1 favorite beauty product of this month or maybe ever is in that little mystery vial, so what's in it you ask? Jojaba oil! I am going to go off on a major rant about this because it really is necessary. I don't know what it is but I cannot pronounce this word for the life of me..but in case you don't want to be laughed out of the health food store it is pronounced (Ho-Hobo oil) Just a helpful tip! This stuff is gold in a bottle and it only cost me $9. Any health food store or Whole Foods should have it, just make sure it is 100% pure jojaba to avoid any chemical ingredients added. So this has replaced my coconut oil obsession because for one thing, it is way more effective on my skin. If you've been following my Accutane posts you know that I am going through extremely dry skin. This got bad, reallyy bad. So the other day my mom told me I looked like I had fine lines ( I am 26 but everyone thinks I am 18) so this was not something I expected to hear. She told me about some girl at work using jojaba oil for her dry skin so we immediately went to the health food store to get some. I applied it as soon as I bought it, instant relief, no more fine lines.

When I had my derm appt. today my Dr. said my dryness was very mild compared to all her Accutane patients, I have been smothering my face in it and getting hardly any dry skin at all. Not only that, you get this beautiful dewy glow, not greasy looking. It just sinks right into the skin without leaving greasiness behind. It also works amazing as a makeup remover and cleansing oil, I have been using it for all three so it's a great multi-purpose product a.k.a. major money saver. I have done a little research and it is supposed to be great for oily, acne-prone skin as well, it mimics the sebum in our oil glands so putting this on your skin will essentially "trick" your skin into thinking it has produced enough oil. Therefore, reducing your oil and acne! So it is great for all skin types. I could go on about jojaba oil but I am done for now!

2. Laura Gellar Balance N Brighten in Sunswept
This blush has been a favorite of mine for a while but now that it's spring/summer I love that bronzey, rosey-ish look on the cheeks again. I use a regular matte bronzer to contour then I just dust this on the apples of my cheeks and up to my temples. It can work for both a highlight and a blush because it has a good amount of shimmer in it. I would recommend it for medium to darker skin because it does have a lot of darker tones so if you have a tan it will look super gorgeous and really compliment your complexion.

3. Coastal Scents Synthetic Classic Blending Brush
I have been looking for a new eyeshadow brush for a while but didn't want to spend a ton or compromise quality, this was definitely what I was looking for. It's a great crease brush or for just packing on color. I find it's really great for almost any kind of eyeshadow application but especially blending. You don't have to use precision at all, it basically does all the work for you. I hate to say it but it may replace my MAC #217 as my favorite, it definitely has more bang for the buck. They are pretty different but I think this brush is a lot more versatile if you only want to buy one or the other. The best thing about it is the price, only $2.49.

4. Tarte BB Tinted Treatment 12 Hour Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen
- So I have been on the BB cream bandwagon for a while but my favorite no longer works for my skin due to the dryness (I used Loreal Skin Beautifying BB cream before) I just feel like BB cream is made for summer, it's light-weight, offers sun protection and doesn't give you that cakey look or feel  that you really don't want when it's hot outside, so I went on a search to find a replacement for my Loreal. I needed one with at least medium coverage, a moisturizing effect and SPF. I have found this one at Ulta that exceeded my expectations. I feel like it has the perfect texture that imitates the look of skin and really enhances it at the same time. You will definitely get the dewy glow which I have always been a fan of while getting plenty of coverage.

Accutane Update: 15 Day Review

As promised, I want to give you all an update on my Accutane/Myorisan situation. The pics are completely unedited which I'll have you know, I NEVER do and I am not wearing a drop of makeup so be kind! I have now been taking Accutane for 15 days so I wanted to let you see the progress! Let me tell you I am already impressed. I did have an initial breakout when I first started taking it which only lasted about a week and it was not much different than what I was dealing with before. Now that I have reached the clearing phase I am starting to see some real progress. I am a shameless skin picker and even that isn't stopping the medication from clearing my skin. You know how you pick a zit and the night before and the next day it is total volcano status? I totally pick and the next day it looks like I never even did anything and the zit I picked is already healing. Gotta love that, even though my results would be a lot quicker if I didn't pick. Anyways, I have had no new bumps whatsoever and I can't feel any on my face. Anything you see in these pictures is post-pimples that are just healing. The thing I love about Accutane is that it's a retinoid which causes your skin to peel like a lizard but leaves your skin looking so much smoother, even and radiant. Those with acne marks like me will definitely love this although your skin gets beyond dry and I am only in the first month. As you progress with treatment your symptoms will also progress which means even more dryness coming my way. That being said I am going to tell you how things have been going on the side effect front.

Symptoms I've had:

• Dryness of the mouth, nose and lips-I put emphasis on the lips because you will be medicating your lips 24/7 with chapstick or heavy lubes like Aquaphor or Vaseline, this is a consistent symptom I have been experiencing.
• Tiredness/fatigue- I only dealt with this about the first 3 days or so, I would take the Accutane and instantly feel like falling asleep. I started taking it at night because I have a hard time getting to sleep anyways but this subsided after the 3rd day. This is totally normal and is just your body getting used to absorbing the medication. 
• Headaches-This is probably my most pesky symptom because I have a headache almost every day and really, nobody got time for that! lol. 

Other than that I truly haven't noticed anything but I will update you all again in another few weeks! Let me know if you have any questions on my treatment. :)

My Drugstore Obsessions!

For you cheapies out there who love finding great beauty bargains as much as I do, you're gonna love these awesome products if you don't already own them! They are all very affordable (not the kind of so-called drugstore cosmetics that are barely cheaper than Sephora) The best part is they are products that are great for on-the-go girls who want no-brainer beauty products, or for easy outdoor maintenance. I actually purchased these for a trip to the sand dunes and they were my saving grace, sometimes you don't feel so sexy covered in dust and sand! So you outdoorsy girls or no-fuss ladies, listen up!

1. Maybelline Clean Express Make-up remover Wipes- The advertising on these had me sold at hello, promising to remove even water proof mascara which was a must for being outside. The verdict? These wipes were amazing! They truly got every bit of makeup off and without too much effort. Makeup remover wipes never seem to really work for me but these ones are definitely hard core, they also promise to go easy on sensitive skin so anyone can use them. I found these well worth the $5 to keep me from looking like a hot mess.

2. Maybelline Dream Lumi Highlighting Concealer- All I can stay is this stuff is magic. I have been waiting for a highlighting concealer dupe for YVES Saint Laurent's Touche Eclat for way too long and finally I have it for $6! (YSL's concealer is $40) I find this concealer to be super light, so no settling in fine lines and it's undetectable and looks just like your skin. It's also very brightening, I actually put this on my friend and her before and after was so dramatic I wish I would've snapped a pic! This is great for hangover eyes or just straight tired eyes, a perfect pick-me-up that you should always have in your purse for those unexpected haggard moments.

3. Maybelline Baby Lips- So I have this thing where I have to have a little bit of color on my lips at all times (pretty sure I'm not the only one) otherwise I just feel..well, ya know, dead. So this is like exactly what I have needed all my life, the perfect flush of color while giving me moisture and making my lips smooth and supple like a babies! They definitely nailed the whole baby lips thing, not gonna lie. It's a lot like a balm but you get color that is natural and actually stains a little, giving you color without the obvious effort. Love, love, love it! All my friends were stealing this from me right and left. These are about $4 each and I plan to own them all.