A Few of My Favorite Things - Beauty

Today, I thought I would share a few of my favorite beauty supplies for you ladies!  I've never been one that thinks she has to try all the new products out there.  I always  get overwhelmed in the makeup aisle looking at all the options and shades.  But since I've been in the blog-world, I keep up with a few beauty and hair blogs, and if these women who know a lot more than I do about makeup and hair products fall in love with a product, then I will consider trying it.  Onward to the list:

1.  Burt's Bees Soap Bark and Chamomile Facial Cleanser

I am not a huge fan of all Burt's Bees products, but they have this one in the bag!  I think I'm on my 3rd tube and a little goes a long way of this stuff, so it lasts a long time!  I've used a few other face cleansers, but I keep coming back to this one.  It has a perfect creamy texture that lathers up well and is gentle on the skin.  After you rinse it off it leaves your face with a cooling freshness.  And you can feel good about using a more natural product on your skin!

Price: ~$7.99 @ Walmart, Target, etc.  I ordered mine online from Abe's Market with a discount code and free shipping. :)

2. Aquage Uplifting Foam

This is one of the products I found on another blog.  Kate @ thesmallthingsblog is a hair stylist who posts hair tutorials on her site.  Like me, she has naturally straight, limp hair and she found this root lifter that works wonders.  This is only sold at salons who carry the product line but is worth the hunt.  For everyday wear I apply it like this and blow dry my hair upside down, then straighten my ends in place, giving the roots a little body so they aren't flat against my head.  For more "special" occasions, I will flat iron like this from the roots to the ends of my hair to create more lift or blow dry and then curl.

Price: I paid $15 at a salon in Opelika for my bottle, but it can run a bit higher. Amazon sells it, but usually for more than salon prices.

3. Sonia Kashuk Brush and Sponge Cleanser

Confession - until I purchased this a few weeks ago I had never really cleaned all of my makeup brushes.  I have tried cleaning a few in a warm water vinegar solution and washing with soap and water, but it never seemed to remove all the makeup.  (A sign that should have encouraged me to keep cleaning them!)  There are plenty of other brands of brush cleansers out there, but this is the only one I've tried, and it worked like magic!  I was surprised at how much makeup those brushes can hold onto as I watched it all rinse down the drain!  But the real verdict was that my brushes felt like new again!  I couldn't believe the difference - they were so much less... dense... and much smoother.  This brand is only sold at Target.

Price:  ~$6.99  (Often there is a $2 off coupon for any of her products found HERE.)

4.  Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter

This is my new favorite thing!  I just bought it yesterday, but it's the best lip product ever!  I have always been a chapstick sort of girl (not real Chapstick, but Burt's Bees original and Softlips at different points in my life).  But in the past year or so I've worn a lot more lipstick than before and I got used to seeing color on my lips.  I love the moist creamy-ness of chapstick, and (until now) it has never been captured in a lipstick in quite the same way.  This stuff goes on so smoothly and feels just like chapstick, but has lots of color that stays on for a long time.  It comes in many shades, but I purchased the Sweet Tart (a vibrant pink shade).  I have also tried the Peach Parfait (a lighter pink shade that blended into the natural color of my lips more).  

Price:  ~6.99 @ Target, Walmart, etc.  Target runs coupons a lot for Revlon products, and can be stacked with a manufacturer's coupon if you have one of those as well. Mine was on Price Cut to 6.19 and I had a $3 off coupon! :)