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May 7

Answering The Top Beauty Related Questions I Get Asked

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When it comes to beauty products, I’m always so curious to know what other people are using. That’s usually how I find my best recommendations. Nothing compels me more to try a new product than a friend raving (and seeing her glowing skin) about a moisturizer (or serum or toner) that she’s been using. I get asked so often about beauty products, everything from skincare to makeup, hair products and more, so I thought I would compile some of the top (and most frequently asked) questions in one place.

I buy 99% of all my things online. That’s clothes, accessories, home goods…you name it! It sort of goes without saying but a majority of that comes from Nordstrom. It’s my catch all- I can always find it at Nordstrom. All of my favorite beauty products, which I mention in today’s post, you can shop in their beauty section here. I’ve been doing this for years, so beyond the fact that I’m partnering with them for this post, this is how I naturally shop and I’ve bought all of these products on my own while doing so. SO, let’s talk beauty…

What are 3 makeup products and 3 skincare products you cannot live without?

If I were to break it down by item, my three would be…

Skincare products: cleanser, moisturizer & a mask (specifically, this Glam Glow cleanser (that Thomas and I both love), my favorite Perricone MD moisturizer and Origins Rose Clay mask or my Arcona Tea Tree Mask.

Makeup products: concealer, blush & lip balm (specifically, bareMinerals BarePro stick in light/medium, Laura Mercier blush in “lotus pink”, and Fresh Lip Treatment in “petal”.

With long work hours and lots of travel how do you keep your skin looking fresh?

Hydration, hydration, hydration! Both inside and outside. First, I drink a lot of water, especially while traveling. I get so dehydrated on planes, that’s why I always have my reusable water bottle on me when I’m on the go. No amount of moisturizer is going to make up for not drinking enough water. I try to drink 80-100oz a day. I do have a handful of products that I rely on for getting my skin looking bright and fresh, especially on long travel days or after late nights working. I use lots of oils, like RMS Beauty Oil or Sunday Riley Juno Oil (I first started with their Artemis Oil) to hydrate my skin and give it that glow. I always feel like oils help bounce my skin back quicker than a cream. I do like using eye masks and love FlashPatch Eye Gels by Patchology (I like keeping some in the fridge and using them before a big shoot).

I saw a few weeks back that you like to embrace your dark under eye circles. When you do need to cover them, how do you?

I’ve realized that my under eye circles are just a part of me and as much as I try to hide them, they’re still there. I notice them the most when I’m 1) not drinking enough water 2) traveling a lot and not getting enough sleep 3) not eating as healthy as I would like. If I’m better at those three things then I know that I’m going to notice a positive change all over, not just in my under eye circles. I don’t worry about covering them or putting a lot of makeup on them when I’m home. For me, that’s my time to let my skin breathe and have as little makeup (and sometimes even skincare) on it as possible. My skin always feels so happy when it’s just bare. If I am going out or doing something for work, I do like to add a bit of my favorite under eye concealer- either bareMinerals BareSkin Concealer in “Light” or bareMinerals BarePro Concealer in “Light/Medium” (this one is a little bit heavier). I do like RMS Un-Coverup, although it’s much lighter than the two previous concealers and I find that it doesn’t last as well throughout the day. But, when my skin is feeling great and I want something very light, this one is my go-to.

What are your techniques for combating wrinkles? How do you feel about cosmetic injections vs. a skincare approach?

I’ve been asked that question a lot lately, especially around botox, fillers, etc. While I personally haven’t had any experience with cosmetic injections, I don’t have anything against it. I think if you want to do it, then do it! It’s such a personal choice and nobody should feel judged if they want to get it. Now that I’m in my later 20s, I am starting to see more wrinkles and fine lines pop up, and to be honest, they don’t bother me. I have wrinkles and that’s totally normal (sometimes people even like to point them out here on the blog). I love the beauty of aging, I think it’s beautiful. I look at my mom who has never done anything to her skin and I love every single line that’s there. Sometimes she gets down on herself and says “I just look so old next to you”, but I remind her of what all of that age means and how special it is. I’m not afraid of aging and I definitely don’t seek ‘youth’ when keeping up with my skincare routine. I am still young, so it’s probably much easier for me to say that, but I just want to look healthy and take care of my skin and treat it right. I don’t really have any specific products I use for wrinkles, but keeping my skin hydrated with oils and moisturizer is always my main focus. I lather on moisturizer at least twice a day, sometimes more.

Can you share a minimal makeup routine to feel put together on the weekend?

Easy! Three things- a little tinted moisturizer, under eye concealer, blush and my favorite tinted lip balm in ‘rose’. And since it’s now spring and we’re spending a lot more time outdoors, I’ve been using Supergoop’s Setting Mist Spray over my makeup to keep my skin protected (it’s seriously the best).

Best lip colors- what lip stuff do you wear- what is your day to day lip color?

I am obsessed with Fresh Tinted Lip Treatment. I have pretty much all of the colors, but the two I use 99% of the time are ‘Petal’ and ‘Rose’, although I mostly use ‘Petal’. It’s the most natural, subtle lip color and I love it because it keeps my lips hydrated and fresh, too. I like to wear it with this MAC Liner in ‘Spice’. My three favorite lipstick colors would be Laura Mercier ‘French Kiss’ (the best pink), Laura Mercier ‘Mon Cheri’ (my new favorite red) and Bobbi Brown ‘Cali Rose’ (a neutral rose color).

What are your favorite makeup brushes?

I used to use mostly bareMinerals makeup brushes, but recently switched to a mix of Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier. While I love bareMinerals makeup, I found that many of their brushes shed a lot, and I was always having to pull off little bristles all over my face. I mostly use this Laura Mercier brush for my all-over powder foundation and this Bobbi Brown brush for bronzer/blush.

How do you get your lashes so thick and full?

This is always my number one most asked question. I love big lashes! They’re kind of my beauty staple if I’m doing my makeup. Two things here: First, I truly believe in lash serums for growth. I’ve been using NeuLash for years and love it. Consistency is key, so make sure you use it often. Second, I am obsessed with Bobbi Brown Eye Opening Mascara– this has been my favorite mascara for years and it still remains my number one.

Throughout the course of a week what do you do to your hair? Can you share your daily hair routine and anything that you also do weekly?

So I’m not one of those people that can go a week (or even a few days) without washing my hair. If my hair feels dirty, I feel dirty. I wash my hair about every other day, give or take (depending on what I’m doing). Right now I’ve been using MoroccanOil Shampoo and Conditioner or Oribe Shampoo and Conditioner. About once a week I like to use a hair mask or deep conditioner- I love Alterna’s CC Cream and MoroccanOil’s Restorative Hair Mask. If I am going a few days between washes, I will use MoroccanOil Treatment to give my hair some luster and shine. It’s also great as a heat protectant and for frizz control. I definitely appreciate a good heat protectant since I curl my hair often, usually at least once, if not twice a week. I use this GHD curling iron that has a 1 1/4 inch barrel, which gives it the soft curls that I love.

Which beauty items do you always splurge on or prefer to save on?

I think it’s way more beneficial to splurge on skincare vs everything else. I feel like I’m going to get the biggest difference when it comes to a serum or a moisturizer, so I would rather put my money there. Products like Tata Harper’s Rejuvenating Serum, SKII Treatment Essence or Perricone MD Cloud Cream.

Thank you to Nordstrom & ShopStyle for sponsoring this post.

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