August 2013 Monthly Favorites!

I had SUCH A HARD TIME editing down my favorites this month! I think it's because I've been really trying hard to use more products in general, and to wear makeup more often specifically. So here are just a FEW of the things that I've been loving this past month. {Some products were purchased by me and some were sent for review}...

I've been obsessed with Le Couvent des Minimes {LCDM for short} ever since I received a few products to review-every time I think I've picked my absolute favorite product from out of the bunch, another one creeps up and becomes the front runner. Currently, I'm absolutely infatuated with the Smile Lip Balm in Honey Aroma ($13.50 from ulta.com; sent for review). It feels so silky smooth on the lips, smells and tastes DELICIOUS, and lasts forever and a day. Not only does a little go a long way, once you apply it, it literally cocoons your lips in a moisture shield that lasts FOREVER {I haven't timed it, but I can if you insist}. It is super fantastic... Like, really! I've also been spritzing the Adidas Fruity Rhythm Body Spray {the picture featured in the collage is actually a duo that is available for purchase from target.com for $9.99; I received a few items for review} DAILY! I literally can't get enough of the scent and the body spray is the perfect, refreshing pick me up-I spritz it ALL OVER right before Kenzie and I leave to go pick up Lo from the bus stop. I could swim in a pool of its fruity lusciousness-it is absolutely fabulous!

My other fragrance favorite has been the Lavanila Forever Fragrance Oil in Vanilla Coconut {$25 from sephora.com; sent for review} because, well... COCONUTS!!! Seriously though, it's a delectable, warm, slightly sexy scent and it because of the long-lasting oil formula, it clings to your skin for the duration. I keep this in my makeup bag and my hubby always pulls me close when he gets a whiff of it {yep, it's good stuff}.

I've been wearing my TOMS a lot-they're similar to the pair pictured above, except mine are beautiful, emerald green sparkles. I sprained my ankle REALLY REALLY bad at the beginning of the month, so I have to make sure that {now that I can finally walk again} my shoes are super comfortable and supportive. My TOMS feel better to walk in than even my sneakers at this point so I've been wearing them all of the time. I've also been using my Mama Mio Lucky Legs gel {as seen on Keeping Up With the Kardashians; $19 at mamamio.com; sent for review} every day to soothe my sore ankle {and the other parts of my legs}. It's a mini-spa treatment that glides on to instantly cool and ease weary, swollen limbs from knees to toes. It leaves a subtle sparkly-shimmer on your skin and leaves you feeling cool and refreshed. Because of the shimmer, I use it before I go out and then because of the cooling effect, I use it again after I've been out and about for a while and it truly does help my ankle to feel a bit better and improved the swelling.

Screen shot of Kim reading the label of Lucky Legs to one of her sisters. 

For my hair, I've been loving a lot of stuff {because I've been trying to wash or co-wash my hair every three days}, but since I have a few dedicated CGC's coming up, I singled out the BangStyle shampoo and conditioner {sent for review} for my monthly favorites. These are what I've been grabbing when I don't feel like trying to figure out what products to use {and trust me, that is a legitimate issue-I sometimes take so long trying to figure out what products to use to wash my hair that I don't end up washing my hair because it's overwhelming #truestory #beautybloggerproblems}. One product that I have been using without debate, is the Nexxus Youth Renewal Rejuvenating Elixir {$17.99; sent for review}. This lightweight leave-in treatment helps rebuild hair’s strength while making hair look more youthful, vibrant and radiant in just seven days. The packaging allows for precise application through a dropper that distributes the product. My hair feels so soft after using this regularly for a few weeks and my curls are super bouncy, regardless of whatever other product I use with it, so I attribute it to the elixir.

I have the same dilemma in choosing my skin care as I do when choosing products for my hair, but the one thing that I've used almost every night is the Korres Greek Yoghurt Advanced Nourishing Sleeping Facial {$45 from sephora.com; purchased by me}. My skin is so soft and smooth when I wake up, but not greasy-which is super important to me since I have oily skin. Now that we're getting up early to go to the bus stop with London, I sometimes don't have time to wash my face before leaving, but when I use this the night before {and the right cleanser and treatment}, I don't have to worry about looking like a hot mess. I can just put on a bit of black eyeliner and I'm good to go {at least good to go to the bus stop}. I've also been suffering from some acne breakouts on my chin and jawline so I've been reaching for Jan Marini's Age Intervention Duality ($90 from dermstore.com; sent for review) on a regular basis to clear it up. I have to be totally honest, I love it BUT, at $90 I don't know how realistic of a purchase it is for the average woman {I know that a $90 acne cream is certainly not in my budget, but that's one of the reasons why I love being a beauty blogger}.

Speaking of eye liner, I'm determined to use my Milani Liquid Eye Eye Liner in Black {$6.99 from CVS; purchased by me} down to the nub. While I still prefer liquid and gel liners, this was the first pencil liner I've ever been able to use on my top lash line to successfully draw my signature winged line. It's creamy, super duper dark, lasts until you forcibly remove it {which is why the Lumene Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover ($10 from dermstore.com) is also in my favorites-it's absolutely necessary for removing the liner and my favorite mascara this month, Benefit's They're Real! ($23 from sephora.com; purchased by me)}, and is an absolute cinch to apply. I like that I can get away with using one product to tightline AND do my winged liner {instead of the two products I used to use}. It's a definite time saver and thus a winner in my book! The NYX Love In Florence Eye Shadow Palette ($8 from nyxcosmetics.com; sent for review) has also been a product that I've reached for a lot-there are so many different looks that can be created with such a little compact.

I've been making a concerted effort to better utilize my makeup stash, by putting on some makeup every day before Kenzie and I go to the bus stop to pick up Lo in the afternoon. It serves a couple purposes: I'm actually using all the products I have stashed away {which means I can do more reviews}, I look like a good mommy when I go to the bus stop, and I look presentable for my hubby when he gets home from work. I've also found that I feel a lot better when I put a little something on-I may be absolutely exhausted, but mentally I'm in a much better mood when I take the time to put myself together, even if it's just to walk down the street. But since it is just walking down the street, I don't want to get bogged down with putting a lot of product on my face. So I've been reaching for my Maybelline Fit Me Shine Free Foundation Stick {$6.99 from Target; purchased by me} that I feature in my Magazine Haul, and the Lumene Time Freeze Anti-Aging CC Cream {$15 from cvs.com}. The CC Cream is a 6 in 1 color correcting cream infused with Wild Arctic Lingonberry and SPF 20. It helps moisturize, cover imperfections, even skin tone and protect against signs of aging all in one. It only comes in two shades {light and medium} and the medium is a bit too fair for me, but I absolutely love the formula and what it does for my skin, so I apply it first {sort of as a base/primer} and then dab a bit of the Fit Me Foundation Stick on top. It works perfectly for me!

So there it is, all the stuff I've been loving this month! What have you been reaching for time and time again? Anything you recommend me looking in to? My inquiring mind wants to know! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think! Until next time...