Summer SPF Makeup with Perricone MD

May 28, 2019

Happy Memorial Day! The pool is finally open at my apartment, so I put lesson planning and grading aside to enjoy the sunshine this weekend. Increased sun exposure means it’s time to incorporate more SPF into my beauty routine.

While I wish I could just throw on some sunscreen and head out the door, having bare skin makes me more self conscious than being in a bikini! Because I have light features, I tend to look super washed out and the imperfections on my skin are super visible. I’ve been looking for something with a little tint and light coverage to give me the confidence I need this summer, which is why I was so excited to partner with Perricone MD and Ulta Beauty to test out some new SPF “makeup”. I love that this line covers existing discoloration on my skin while also providing an SPF layer of protection to my existing scars.

Perricone MD is known for its anti-aging skincare products (their Cold Plasma + is a cult favorite) and now their powerful formulas can be found in their No Makeup Makeup line! I wanted my pool day makeup routine to be as easy and low maintenance as possible, and these 2-in-1 formulas did just that. My 3 favorites from the line all had SPF and felt like I had absolutely no makeup on!

I’m sharing a little more about these specific products below, but also have an exclusive code for you guys! This is major because they are a luxe brand that is excluded from all other coupons. Use the code RSPERRICONE1 for $15 off a Perricone MD purchase of $60 or more at Ulta Beauty today through 6/31!

No Makeup Bronzer Broad Spectrum SPF 15

This liquid bronzer is a new staple in my beauty routine! I added a little bit to my face and neck and felt like a bronzed goddess. I love bronzer and this feels so much less chalky than a traditional powder bronzer. A tiny drop went a long way and blended effortlessly!

No Lipstick Lipstick (SPF 15)

This product has a catchy name, but it’s exactly what it sounds like! This is a super lightweight tinted formula that applies like a lipstick but goes on like a serum! It not only protects your lips from the sun, but also helps them look youthful. The color is super sheer and flattering!

No Makeup Foundation Serum Broad Spectrum SPF 20

This foundation serum feels amazing! This serum feels like I’m wearing no makeup and leaves my skin feeling incredible when I took my makeup off at night! It provides sheer yet buildable coverage, so I can’t wait to layer it with the liquid bronzer during the day!

These were my absolute favorite Perricone MD products that I couldn’t leave Ulta without, but I’m excited to purchase more using this discount code! As a reminder, the code is RSPERRICONE1 and you can click any of the products below to shop my wishlist, or you can browse the entire line here!

Thank you so much to Ulta Beauty and Perricone MD for partnering with me on this post, and a super special thank you to the beauty experts at my local Ulta store for being so patient and informative while I tested almost every shade and product on the shelf! This is a sponsored post, but all opinions are my own.

Beauty, Hair

My Top Tips for Great Second Day Hair

April 30, 2019

For the longest time, I had such a love/hate relationship with my hair the day after washing it. It was (and still is!) a serious timesaver to skip blow drying, especially during the work week. However, my hair just wouldn’t look or feel the same way it did on days I would wash it. I found out that my hair was getting weighed down from not only product buildup, but also from the hard water and pollution that comes with living in the city. I searched high and low for something that would detox my hair from all of these impurities without damaging it or stripping the color. Living Proof’s PhD Triple Detox Shampoo and Perfect Hair Day (PhD) Conditioner from Ulta Beauty quickly solved all of these problems for me and quickly became part of my regular haircare routine . In this post, I’ll be sharing details about its benefits along with some fun styles and accessories to keep your hair looking great on day 2 and beyond!

DAY 1

The key to great second day hair is to start off with clean and healthy hair. At the start of the week, I swap out my regular shampoo (also from the Living Proof PhD line!) in order to do a hair detox with the new Living Proof Perfect Hair Day (PhD) Triple Detox Shampoo and Perfect Hair Day (PhD) Conditioner. As mentioned previously, living in the city means I am constantly exposed to pollution in the air and hard water in my shower. Pollution particle buildup is removed by a gentle sulfate-free surfactant blend, and activated charcoal binds to the metal ions in hard water and remove them from your hair.

Both the shampoo and conditioner use a patented Healthy Hair Molecule (OFPMA) which keeps hair cleaner, longer. I used to resort to harsh clear drugstore shampoos in order to remove the product buildup and I love that I found a non-stripping alternative that leaves my hair feeling just as clean, but is much more gentle on my color-treated hair! In addition to being color safe and ideal for all hair types, both the shampoo and conditioner are silicone-free, paraben-free, pthlalate-free, and cruelty-free.

After washing and conditioning my hair, I use this curling iron to give it a loose wave. If needed, I tie it back with a scrunchie (super on trend for Spring!) so I don’t leave a crease, making it easier to style on the second and third day.

Day 2

To style my hair on the second day, I spray a little Perfect Hair Day (PhD) Dry Shampoo on my roots and go over a few curls that may have loosened the day before. After styling, I use Perfect Hair Day (PhD) Body Builder which brings my formerly limp, second-day curls back to life! It has a spray nozzle that can be turned to add more or less volume.

My current favorite part about second day hair is that there are so many fun hair accessory trends this season! Be on the lookout for the following items that are super in style and shop my favorites below:

clips (especially pearl and sparkle)
scrunchies (look for fun fabrics, patterns, and details!)
scarves (I have this one in several colors and patterns)

Shop my favorites:

Which hair accessory trend is your favorite? Have you tried any? Any other tips for getting your hairstyle to last between washes? Let me know in the comments!

Thank you Ulta Beauty and Living Proof for partnering with me and gifting the shampoo and conditioner! Affiliate links are used in this post.

Beauty, Makeup

My Favorite Beauty Finds from Ulta’s 21-Day Sale

March 29, 2019

Spring Break is finally here, and I have a million things on my to do list: clean my car, get ahead in lesson planning, catch up with friends, find my passport… but the first thing I did after school today was head to Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty sale! I got the Tartelette Toasted Eyeshadow Palette for 50% off for under $20 and couldn’t be happier. It’s a warm neutral palette that’s perfect for everyday makeup- I added details about the shades I’m wearing down below. The palette is already sold out online, but I’ve got you covered for the rest of the sale so you can plan ahead! From now until April 6th, Ulta will have daily beauty steals for 50% off.

3/29: Tarte– Tartelette Toasted Eyeshadow Palette $19.50 (reg $39)

3/30: Stila– Stay All Day Waterproof Liner $11 (reg $22)

4/2: First Aid Beauty- Facial Radiance Pads $8 (reg $16)

Estee Lauder- DayWear Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant 24H-Moisture Cream SPF 15 $17 (reg $34)

4/5: Too Faced Bronzers $15 (reg $30)

Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum $22.50 (reg $45)

MAC Prep + Prime Skin $15.50 (reg $31)

4/6: Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel $12 (reg $24)

LORAC PRO Palette 3 $22 (reg $44)

[h1] Need to hit the shipping minimum? [/h1]

Here are some of my all-time favorite products from Ulta! One of my favorite new arrivals is is the Tarte Lip Slip Vegan Oil in the nude color “Fresh Pressed”.

Use this coupon at shipping for $3.50 off your purchase!

Makeup, Uncategorized

Long-Lasting Makeup Tips for Work with Ulta Beauty

March 21, 2019

Happy Spring! Now that the days are getting longer, I like to stay a little bit after work to start ready my classroom for the end of the year. This is the first year that I’m not either tutoring or in grad school after work, and I was always trying out new ways to get my makeup to last the entire work day. I’ll be sharing some awesome products and tips with you for long-lasting makeup, including my favorite Becca primer that’s part of Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty Sale today!

From now until April 6, you can get daily beauty steals at Ulta for 50% off. There are also hot buys up to 40% off every day, so be sure to check out their website here so you don’t miss out! Today’s beauty steal is one of my favorite products and is the first step in making sure that your makeup lasts all day.

Tip 1: Use a Light-Filtering Primer Before Applying Foundation

Becca primers are on sale for $19 (normally $39!) today. Apply this onto your face before putting on foundation and it goes on SO smooth! These are also designed to be used alone if you don’t use foundation or concealer. There are three different types you can use depending on the look you’re going for, so I’m going to break down details of each one so you can decide which is best for you.

I’ve been using the First Light Priming Filter for about a year after trying out a sample and it works great for my skin type. My skin is really oily in some spots and dry in the others, so I need something that’s not too drying but will also provide a little moisture. This primer looks purple, but it goes on clear and provides a glow that photographs really well! I don’t wear much concealer or foundation so I love using this by itself. It helps keep my complexion looking fresh all day and literally looks like a photoshop filter on your skin!

The Backlight Priming Filter works with the light to create a natural canvas for makeup foundation. It uses the light to shine through your foundation in order to create a flawless finish. You can mix this with your foundation or use alone! This also works best for dry or combination skin.

The Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector works best for oily skin or if you have large pores. It helps to create a smooth look while mattifying oil before your initial layer of makeup!

Tip #2: Dip Your Eyeshadow Brush in Setting Spray

I like to use eyeshadow primer as well (the Lorac Pro Palette 4 includes one!), but this makes sure your eyeshadow does not budge. Also, use light colors for eyeshadow if you’re aiming for a long lasting look. This way, if it smudges, it’s not as noticeable as a darker shade would be.

Tip #3: Use a Lip Oil in a Natural Shade

Lip Oils last much longer because they sink into your lips without feeling sticky or goopy. Using a natural shade will ensure that you don’t need to worry about maintaining a dark lip throughout the day. Like with eyeshadow, natural colors are best because they still look fresh when the pigment starts to fade or it smudges throughout the day.

In this look, I’m wearing the Tarte Sugar Rush- Lip Sip Vegan Oil in the sheer nude shade Fresh Pressed.

Tip #4: Wear Waterproof Mascara and Eyeliner

Beauty

Create Your Own Beauty with Shimmery Spring Makeup

March 9, 2019

In case you don’t have a class full of third graders to remind you, Spring is quickly approaching! My students and I are both ready for a change in season and routine. This week, I switched up my work makeup routine in partnership with Ulta Beauty. An iridescent glow and shimmery highlights are big makeup trends for this upcoming season and I was surprised at how easy it was to incorporate it into a natural look for teaching.
Teaching makeup doesn’t always have to be natural, though, it’s simply a personal preference of mine. The key products used to create a shimmer glow come in a variety of colors, so you can make the look as minimalist or “maximalist” as you’d like! That’s what I love most about Ulta’s spring campaign- their theme is “Create Your Own Beauty”. Ulta stores always have a variety of products at varying price points, so creating your own beauty is super accessible no matter what your budget is. In addition to their higher range “shimmer” products (which I highly reccommend because they’re super pigmented and worth every penny), I tried to include items from the more affordable lines that Ulta carries as well because budgets are real for teachers!

Feel free to use this guide as a baseline to create a look that’s as subtle or dramatic as you’d like! I applied all of the makeup in this post dry, but simply wetting your brush before applying will create a more intense glow! I love a good 2-for-1.

Speaking of 2-for-1’s, I’m now obsessed with these dual-ended brushes. I try to keep my makeup routine as quick as possible, so the less items the better. These brushes have 8 different functions on 4 brushes! There’s a different type of brush on each end, which make applying this look so much easier.

Step 1: Prep and Glow

After prepping my face with my favorite self tanner drops, I added a bit of concealer to my problem areas, then contoured using the NYX Highlight and Contour Pro Palette. I then added Becca Shimmering Skin Pressed Highlighter to my upper cheekbones, forehead, and I also did a quick sweep on my eyelids using the dual ended brush. I know this sounds like a LOT of highlighter, but I chose a shade that is close to my skin tone so it’s super subtle. For a more intense look, try a shade such as pearl or prismatic amethyst.

Step 2: Eye Shimmer

For everything eyes, I used the LORAC Pro Palette 4. It’s a little pricy, but SO worth it. The shades are super pigmented and it even comes with a primer! I prefer lighter colors, but even the more intense shades were really flattering, so I know I’ll be getting a ton of use out of this palette. I lined my upper lashline with the shadow color “java” on my upper lashline and the outside of my lower lashes (where my lashes start) using the dual-ended liner brush. The dual-ended shadow brush was used to apply “pecan” to my crease, “soft pearl” to my lids and “chantilly” right below my eye. If you take a look at the picture, you can easily pair shades by using a top color with the shimmer shade right below it:

I then added a quick swipe of L’Oreal Lash Paradise to my upper lashes. I prefer the waterproof one because I wipe my eyes a LOT subconsciously at work, but the original formula works just as well.

Step 3: Set and Go To Work!

My all-time favorite setting spray is NYX Dewy Finish. I apply a bit of Smith’s Tinted Lip Balm before heading out the door. It adds a really nice glowy tint to lips while still allowing me to drink coffee at the start of the day!

The whole look took me under 10 minutes because I was really able to only use one main palette and streamlined 2-in-1 brushes. If you love any of these products or know of other great shimmery makeup items, let me know! Also tag me on instagram if you try this makeup look!

Thank you Ulta Beauty for sponsoring this post and letting me be a beauty blogger for a day 🙂