Basic Go-To Makeup Look // Makeup Talk


Hi all! Today I am sharing a run down on the most basic makeup look ever! Sometimes I wear this to work, other times I use it as a base to build on for something more dramatic. While the products I use day-to-day (okay lets be honest here, I don't wear makeup every single day anymore...if I don't have to leave the house or do anything major, sometimes I am just too lazy) may change, the general idea is the same.

Cold Shoulder // What I Wore + Update


Hi loves! It's Monday again... I just *love* how the weekend rushes by and the week sneaks up on you again (eye roll). As of the past two weeks, I have been taking it easy (no work), resting, and healing. About 10 days ago, I had a large cyst removed from one of my ovaries (laparoscopic).

Healthy Peanut Butter Carrot Cake Muffins // Recipe



Hi all! Today I am sharing a recipe I threw together after realizing I had nearly a whole bag of shredded carrots just sitting in the fridge. Not only that, but when am I not craving a little treat? (the answer is that I am always craving a treat!) Luckily, these muffins come in at only 91 calories (sans frosting), and just 108 calories with the frosting!

Currently Trying & First Impressions

Hi there! Today I have a little post sharing my newest beauty/skincare finds! I am seriously always on the lookout for new items when it comes to my skin, hair, makeup and health. It is very rare that I find a product and just stick to it-aside from a small group of products that I use daily and have used for quite some time. I think I will share in a future post my holy grail items; the ones that always are on the repurchase list (because that list is very very small!). I am forever on a journey to find healthier (less chemicals or completely natural) product alternatives, but unfortunately for much of my beauty routine, I haven't found those alternatives that I am completely happy with and willing to stray from the "bad" products. Granted, this post has items that are the "better alternatives", so we will see how the products end up working for me in the long run! The picture belong looks a little warm/orange toned to me-so I am not sure what happened in between my editing process and the upload, but keep in mind that the items look a little "off" below. (Sorry, I am the worst!)


Tarte Tarteist Quick Dry Matte Lip Paint in "Delish" : So this lip paint is one that I am very on the fence about. Overall, I like it, it wears okay (maybe 2 hours if I am drinking/30 minutes if I am eating), the shade is pretty (rosy mauve tone) and the price point was fantastic at the time of purchase ($12 at Sephora as one of their weekly deals). What I am not loving is how drying it is. I feel like I have to moisturize my lips like crazy for hours after I am done wearing it. The longevity isn't amazing, so that is a bit of a downer to me when you look at the original price ($20.00 at Sephora). To me, I feel like I could get something very similar in quality (or better) at a cheaper price (drugstore brand/Sephora brand). The positive is that it is a paraben free product. If I had to assign it stars (who am I right now, ugh), I would probably give it 3 out of 5 stars.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in "Concept" : Short and sweet-I will always repurchase this line of blush from Tarte. They are long-wearing, better for your skin, and have the prettiest finish (natural sheen/perfect glow (aka satin finish)). This shade is a warm coral. Adore it and wish I would have gotten my hands on it early summer!  This blush came in my VIB 500 point gift, so I can't link the exact color, but I did link the blush line! 9 out of 10 stars for this baby.

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better SPF 50 CC Cream (Anti-Aging) : This CC cream promises to give a full, flawless and perfect coverage with some awesome added skincare ingredients. When this product first started to get hyped up, I bought a travel size and decided I didn't like it AT ALL because it seemed to get cakey looking on my oily skin after a few hours of wear. I figured that once again, my oily skin would ruin every product for me that everyone else seems to adore. Fast forward a few months, and I get this package from IT Cosmetics. I decided to try it again because hello, I had nothing to lose, and I figured out how to make this product work for me. It is all in the application and setting process! I use a sponge or a stipple brush to apply (which gives a gorgeous coverage) and then bake my face to lock everything in. For those that don't know, baking is a setting process where you apply and crazy amount of powder with a damp sponge/beauty blender to your under eye area (and any other area on your face that you want to keep everything in place, all day) and let it sit, or "bake", for a few minutes (or 10-15 if you are working on your eye makeup or hair). You then dust off the excess powder, and you are left with an extra flawless, well set face. For you early gals and guys, baking can significantly increase the wear time and flawlessness of your foundation. I can now use some foundations that I previously thought would never work for me! Overall, this has become one of my favorite products for day to day wear, as well as for nights out (because the coverage is definitely buildable!) If I set it correctly, I can wear it throughout my 8-12 hour work day. If I keep up with this star thing, I would give this one 7.5 out of 10 stars (if I had normal/dry skin, it would be a solid 10/10 because I wouldn't have to work with it so much!)

Josie Maran Argan Lip Sting Plumping Butter in "Honey" : I am a sucker for plumping glosses and balms, so when Josie Maran came out with one, I jumped on it! First, I love that it does have "better" ingredients in the formula. Any lip product will be ingested-even in small amounts-if you are putting it on your lips like it is made for. Now, I don't know about you, but at the end of the day, I care about all the chemicals that we put into our bodies, whether it be knowingly or unknowingly. The less chemicals, the betta! So any way, this has things like argan oil, manuka honey and moringa butter. It feels pretty moisturizing when first applied, but like any plumping product, I do tend to feel like my lips feel a bit dry after wear. It's a trade off, that is for sure. So does it plump? Yes, I think so. A teensy tiny bit-but what it really does is smooth the lines in your lips and just make them feel supple (oh lala). I would definitely repurchase, plus this nude "honey" shade is perfect for everyday wear.7 out of 10 stars!

Piper Wai Activated Charcoal Deodorant : I came across this gem at my local GNC, and decided to give it a go. I have been searching high and low for a deodorant sans things like parabens and aluminum, but haven't found anything I love. This product was a big hit on Shark Tank and seems to be doing pretty well as a brand so far. The main ingredient is charcoal, which can apparently absorb 1000x it's weight, which is helpful for a sweaty people. It also promises to create a balanced pH environment, so you aren't stinky. Sweet, what more can you ask for? It's a gender neutral scent, which smells sort of minty/essential oil-y, and it's free of all the bad stuff. To apply, you just rub a pea size amount into your underarms until it's clear. I have worked out with it on, had 8-12 hour workdays, and wore it during my day-to-day life. It works for about 6 or so hours (or through a rough workout) and then needs to be reapplied to control sweat and odor. Overall, I am perfectly fine with reapplying because it's natural and can only do so much-plus the product recommends to reapply as needed. 9/10 stars, would recommend to anyone wanting to venture out into the natural deo world.

Rahua Color Full Shampoo & Conditioner : This line of S&C is one with "better for you" ingredients (definitely a theme here) that is supposed to preserve hair color for those with color treated or highlighted hair. Since I can not commit to $38 for 9.3 oz of Shampoo and $40 for 9.3 oz of conditioner, I bought travel size versions from Integrity Botanicals. I have only used the products once, but found them to smell great and do a decent job. I felt like I had to use a lot of shampoo to clean my hair, but that is likely because I am not 100% use to a shampoo that doesn't lather a lot. The conditioner felt moisturizing and left my hair feeling shiny and soft. I think I need to try these out a few more times to get a real verdict, but for now, I would say that it seems like a high quality natural brand that would be great to purchase if you have extra cash and would like to try something new out. 7 out of 10 stars!

Sorry for rambling and making this first impressions post more detailed than it probably needed to be. I should really work on getting to the point, but hey, that is one of the reasons I don't do Youtube videos. Please share some of your natural or less toxic favorites below! Also, remember to make sure you are not a "no reply" commenter. If you look above where you can leave me comments, it tells you how to set up your account so that when you leave me a comment, and I reply, you get the response. If you do not have this set up correctly, I can not reply to you!

Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey

Connect with me: twitter here // instagram here// pinterest here // 

Telogen Effluvium & Hormonal Hair Loss/Thinning Update: What Has Worked

Hi all! I have recently received a few emails and Instagram messages about my previous TE post. Since I have had so many questions asking for an update, I figured it was time to do a post about how my hair is now, what is working and what isn't, and my tips for those out there that are going through something similar.

I originally posted about TE in October of 2016 (see post here). At that point, I had been dealing with the thinning of my hair for about 8 months-and here we are now. Generally speaking, my hair has sort of had some regrowth. Not a lot, but I am happier with how it looks now that what I had going on at the time of the post. First, I will show the pictures from recently (aka today). Mind you, I could have brought out my nice camera to take these, but honestly, it's such a drag pointing out the thinning hair so I would rather just keep it simple and use my iPhone-sooo professional right?!

 I figured this would be an easy way to show you that most of my thinning is still consistently on my right side (the left side in the picture). I split my hair perfectly down the middle. You can tell how much more hair I have on the left pigtail by looking at the volume in the elastic. No idea why, but that is just how it was, and still is. I know it is not from sleeping on one side, because I switch it up all the time, and sometimes sleep on my back.

 This is a side by side of the diffuse thinning. Again, the picture on the left is actually my right side, and vice versa. The thinning also seems to have spread toward the back of my head on my right side. You can't see it in the picture, but it has!

Another shot of the diffuse thinning. Left picture is right side of the head, and vice versa.

Now that you have an idea of the state that my hair is in now, I'll show pictures from the original post compared to now. If you think the quality of the above pictures are bad, just wait until I share the old ones. Next time, I will bite the bullet and use a nice quality camera.

The picture to the left is my right side last year-the picture to the right is my right side this year. You can see that I have had some regrowth since the last post.

Both of these pictures are my left side-again, the picture to the left is from the previous post. You can see some improvement with regrowth, but nothing too impressive.

The left picture is from my previous post, while the picture on the right is today. As you can see, there was and still some diffuse thinning to my part line.

So-how did I get to where I am? Well, if you remember from my previous post, the cause for the hair loss and thinning was sort of unknown. The dermatologist said it was likely telogen effluvium, which in short, is when your hair goes into a resting phase in the growth cycle due to stress, an illness, a trauma, or just a general "shock" to your body if you will. In this resting phase, the hair will eventually fall out and not grow back, because it is resting. When the stressor goes away, or when your body deems itself ready, then it goes back to the growth phase.

At the time, I thought TE was a logical explanation-I still do. However, I do think that some of the hair loss was due to hormones. I only recently (in the past 6 months) found out that a hormone called Sex Hormone Binding Globulin was extremely (and I mean extremely) elevated. This hormone binds to androgen and estrogen. Even though I am in the health field, I am still pretty confused as to how this hormone works and influences the body-but it is involved in SO many other hormones. The treatment for me was to change my birth control to one that was progesterone only based. Since changing my birth control, the hormone level has dropped dramatically.

I think that this change (along with time), combined with supplements and topical treatments, has contributed to some new hair growth. For the sake of not rattling on and on, I am going to list and link the products that I believe have been helpful in regrowth and worth buying.

Shampoo: Lipogaine Big 3-a natural shampoo with caffeine, biotin and oils. I have noticed far less hair loss when using this. On Amazon you can purchase it for $25.

Topical: Rogaine Foam For Women. You apply this once daily to your scalp. To me, it is a pain to apply and I feel like it makes my oily scalp even oiler, faster. However, it does absorb well and I can say that it absolutely works! I buy mine on Amazon-$25.20 for a two month supply.

Supplements: Biotin, Zinc, and Selenium. I buy all mine from Vitacost-I have purchased many different brands, so I don't feel the need to link a certain one in particular. Selenium works as an antioxidant and enhances your immune system, which can help with functions if the body, such as hair growth (ding ding!). Zinc does the same thing, as well as strengthening hair follicles and preventing hair loss.

Aside from the above things, I try to keep my scalp healthy, shampoo less frequently (and use dry shampoo when needed), minimize the amount of products I use on my hair, use heat products sparingly, dye my hair less frequently, rarely brush/comb my hair when wet (it's more susceptible to damage when wet), and to decrease the amount of tension I put on my hair (tight ponytails/braids/buns). I have been keeping my hair short recently, which make it feel a little more voluminous. I also sleep on a silk pillowcase and eat a balanced diet (most of the time!)

I feel that overall, my hair is at a better place than it was 1.5 years ago. I hope that eventually it all grows back, but I can only be optimistic. If you are experiencing something similar, feel free to email me, comment, or message me on Instagram to talk if you want to chat. Hang in there! It can be sad, confusing, and frustrating to lose hair and not know exactly WHY. I hope you can use some of my insight to help your situation!

Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey


Connect with me: twitter here // instagram here// pinterest here // 

Back in Black // A Night Out Look

Hi all! I'm back again with an outfit of the night! Something I haven't done in forever! I love this little black getup from Tobi... totally wishing I had this when I was in Vegas-it would have been perfect for a night out! Lately, I have been adoring jumpsuits, bodysuits, and the occasional romper. Seriously, it's so hard to find a romper that fits perfectly. I feel like I have way better luck with bodysuits. The good thing about bodysuits is that you can wear them summer through fall (in Ohio at least). It would be so easy to find a light jacket or blazer to cover up a bit in the cooler months! I did get a small in this jumpsuit for anyone wondering-it fits very true to size (I usually wear a size 2-3 in jeans/shorts and a 0-2 in dresses). The fabric has a nice stretch to it which makes for a very comfortable fit! Also, lets not talk about my hair in these pictures because your girl over here can not figure out how to style it since I cut it short again! On to the pictures!



Mandy Knitted V-Neck Jumpsuit (Tobi) // Cuff (Last Season-Cute Alternative) (Express) // Nude Heals (Mossimo from Target) //

What do you think about bodysuits and jumpsuits? Are you loving or hating the trend?
Let me know below!

Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey Connect with me: twitter here // instagram here// pinterest here // 

**Tobi items listed in this post gifted for consideration by Tobi. 

Seeing Paisley // What I Wore

Hi lovelies! Today I am sharing one of my favorite summer outfits! I don't know about you, but when I find the perfect flow-y dress or skirt, that outfit is on repeat! This Paisley Skirt/Crop Top Duo are recent finds from Tobi, and the shoes are Kelly & Katie from DSW. I love the cut out back and the wrap detail of the skirt...perfect for a fun summer look or a flirty little date night! I have done a lot of travel this summer already, but I am hoping I can get on a beach again soon so I can bring this outfit with! I got both the top and skirt in a size small, which fits pretty true to size (usually I wear a size 0-2 in dresses, 2-3 in shorts/jeans). I didn't know if I would be in on the paisley trend, but clearly I have committed to it! I really want to find a paisley print with a red or wine color scheme as we get closer to fall...ugh, fall and winter, I am no where near ready for those seasons! Let's just enjoy summer for now, shall we?


Audrey Paisley Print Crop Top (Tobi) // Audrey Paisley Print Wrap Skirt (Tobi) // Kelly & Katie "Frilisa" Shoes // Necklace (unknown) (similar here) //


Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey


Connect with me: twitter here // instagram here// pinterest here // 

**Tobi items listed in this post gifted for consideration by Tobi. 

Beauty Staples // Recent Faves

Happy Saturday friends! I am currently on my way to Nags Head, NC for a little vacay so I thought now would be the perfect time to share my current beauty & life favorites. For me, packing for trips is so stressful because I am horrible at narrowing down "the necessities"-at least when it comes to clothing and shoes. Within the past two years, I have gotten a lot better at narrowing down the beauty and skincare items I take with me on trips. I used to want to buy all the new products that brands would come out with, which meant I was always bringing stuff with me out of town to "test out". Now I am more a creature of habit when it comes to makeup... If I find something I love, I stick with it. How did I not realize it would make life so much easier?! Long story short, here is the current beauty and lifestyle round up!



Batiste Dry Shampoo: The one I have in particular right now is the Cherry scent. The formulation of this stuff is probably one of my favorites when it comes to dry shampoos. This is my first time buying the cherry scent (because that is what was available in the travel size) and I can't say I noticed a huge difference in how the product performs from scent to scent. I literally despise washing my hair because A) it's annoying and I feel like it is just so time consuming (maybe I am being a diva) and B) I am still having issues with hair loss so it's like an emotional rollercoaster to wash my hair and see hair fall out (see hair loss story here). Basically, your girl loves dry shampoo and is known to have 2 or 3 on rotation but I always come back to this brand. I have tried the one for brunette hair too and I was a fan! Find it here. Luckily, someone from Reviews.com reached out to me with a guide (yes. a guide with reviews and all!) of the best dry shampoos. Where was this when I needed it? Find the guide here!

Dr. Jart + Dermaclear Micro Milk Peel: This is a daily "peel" that lightly exfoliates and moisturizes your skin. It comes with cotton pads that are double sides-one side for sensitive skin and the other with a little more texture to provide more exfoliation. It contains lactic acid and salicylic acid for keeping the skin soft, coconut milk, panthenol, and squalene to hydrate and calm the skin and glutathione to tone and brighten (per Sephora's website-I can't take credit for knowing all this). You shake the bottle to mix the acids together, apply to cotton pad, apply to face, wait 1 minute (or more, I do about 2-3, such a risk taker) and then wash it off. When I use it daily, I do notice my skin seems softer, more supple, and just overall "better". Find it here.

Daisy by Marc Jacobs Perfume: Since I elaborate too much on everything, I am just going to say this scent is amazing and I find myself reaching for it all the time. Perfect for summer! Find it here.

Mario Badescu Skincare Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater: This is a perfect product for summer... I use it to prep my skin before lotion, as a setting spray, and as a pick me up if it is super hot and I feel like my face is melting off. If you aren't a fan of rose scents, you might not love the way this smells, but the scent does not linger for long. Find it here.

MyChelle Sun Protection Sun Shield Liquid Tint SPF 50: This one deserves its own post... I will definitely be doing a review on it. I stumbled across this at Whole Foods when I was perusing the beauty aisle for all the things I don't need, bought it on a whim, and then fell in love. The best love is unexpected love, amiright? Anyway, this is a tinted sunscreen that gives a sheer coverage. You could probably build up the coverage on this a bit, but for work or just laying out by the pool, it is fantastic. The best part is that it doesn't become a hot mess on my t zone like every other sunscreen, foundation, and powder. My skin loves this stuff. So much in fact that I have mixed my Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer to create more coverage and wear it on nights out. Holy grail status! Find it here.

Kevyn Aucoin The Eyelash Curler: Yes, this is THE eyelash curler. $21 for an eyelash curler? Sure, if it performs like this bad boy. It creates the best curl and it seems to make the curl last longer than any other eyelash curler I have used. Also, how many times can I say curler? Find it here.

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Blush: I received this blush along with a few other products from It Cosmetics, and it has easily became my most reached for blush for summer. The shade I received is "Je Ne Sais Quoi" and is perfect for a little pink flush. The shade is matte, which I usually prefer for blushes. It has good staying power and can be built up in intensity if necessary. Find it here.

Faux plants: Like any faux plant, because then I can forget about it and it wont die. Currently loving succulents.

Hemp Seeds: On everything, in everything. No, you will not get high. Yes they are legal. No they do not taste weird. The literally taste like heaven and are perfect for adding texture to yogurt, salad, cottage cheese, etc. They kind of taste like a creamy sunflower seed which sounds weird but is delicious. Trust me on this, you should buy them! I buy them without the shell (which means they are actually hemp hearts) but eating them shell in all provides protein and essential nutrients. These are the ones I buy.

The Republic of Tea HiCaf Cinnamon Toast Black Tea: This tea has 116 mg of caffeine which is about 16 mg more than coffee so that's a yes in my book. It smells amazing and tastes like it is supposed to. Sometimes I drink it without anything in it, and other times I add almond milk or cream with sugar. The besssttt. Find it here.

Ebates: For those who are unfamiliar with Ebates, it is a cash back site that allows you to earn a percentage back on what you spend at your favorites stores. It's that easy. You just choose the store you want from the Ebates site, click on it, and it takes you through their site to the store you chose. Then all you have to do is shop! It is not a scam-you earn money back and are sent a check or credited to your Paypal account. If you are already buying stuff anyway, why not earn $$ back? I used Ebates for my holiday shopping last year and earned sooo much money back. The best part is they are beginning to offer cash back in-store for a couple different stores, if you link your credit card to you account. If you're interested, sign up via my link and you will be credited $10 to your account as well (I also receive a $5 credit if you sign up and use Ebates at least once). You can also book hotels through booking sites, which I did for my current vacation, so it's great for those that travel often! My link is here!

Please leave any suggestions for peels, dry shampoo, and teas- I would love to hear what you're loving!

Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey



Connect with me: twitter here // instagram here// pinterest here // 

What to get for the Superwoman in your life // Mother's Day Gift Ideas

It's that time again-the time we take to truly honor those women in our life that have given us so much; whether it be a mom, stepmom, grandmother, or aunt, I am sure all of us know at least one superwoman that showed us love, guidance and support throughout life. Like Father's Day and Valentine's day, we can all agree that we should honor and love those close to us every day of the year, but why not set aside a day to celebrate that special person?

When thinking of ways to make Mother's Day special for the amazing women in my life, the first thing that comes to mind for me is actually doing something special for them. Cooking or cleaning for them,  going on a day or weekend trip, going out to lunch/dinner, or just simply creating a memory together by crafting, watching a movie, or coming up with a yearly tradition. My stepmom's family makes a craft together every year-this year we are making wreaths for our doors! Everyone gets together for a potluck lunch and makes the craft. They started this tradition a few years ago and it has stuck ever since!

Second, I think of actually telling those women in my life just how much I appreciate, look up to them, and love that I have them in my life. For some, this type of dialogue may be hard; for others, easy. I wouldn't say I am shy with my feelings, but sometimes it is hard to truly tell those that you appreciate most how much you admire and love them. A card is a great way to spill your heart. Again, this may not be everyone's cup of tea, but for me I take advantage of this special day to open up that dialogue.

Third, you can always gift something to those that you love most. I live about 2.5 hours away from my mom, grandmother, and sister (she has three children of her own). These ladies mean so much to me, and I unfortunately can't be with them on Mother's Day. I put together a gift for each of them (with a sappy card of course) and sent it their way. While it doesn't make up for me not being there, I did have a huge smile on my face when they told me how they appreciated what I had sent. It's always better to give a gift than receive (for me at least-you should see my Christmas shopping list #mywallethatesme). Mom's are so giving;in whatever context you want to take that, I feel like it's nice to finally give back! Below, I am sharing some ideas for last minute Mother's Day gifts!

1: Spa day! I don't know about you, but feeling pampered and rejuvenated never gets old!
2: A photo album of your favorite memories
3: Fruit, food, wine, candy or flower baskets
4: A new book from her favorite author or genre
5: A gift certificate to something/somewhere she loves
6: Concert tickets
7: Beauty/health/hair products

For my mom, anytime there is a gift to be given, I usually include at least one beauty product. I know she likes receiving them, so I feel like I can't go wrong there. For my stepmom, I tend to gift skincare and hair products (for her birthday, I bought her a gift card to her hair salon). I try to be very thoughtful, but also gift something that is useful as well. One of my favorite "small" items to include is usually a face mask or eye mask. Again, it feels sooooo good to feel pampered! Occasionally, I may gift a lotion or perfume if I know exactly what they want, but otherwise, I tend to purchase items like mascaras, blushes, or eyeshadows.

This year, IT Cosmetics had a list of "it girl essentials" to help narrow down your search for a Mother's Day gift. In it, they included a blush, lip treatment, 5 piece getting started airbrush brush set and 5 piece mini face and eye brush set.



Your Beautiful Basics Airbrush 101 5 Piece Face & Eye Getting Started Brush Set


Your Face & Eye Essentials Mini 5 Piece Face & Eye Travel Brush Set

All of these items (in my opinion) are a safe bet for the beauty lover in your life. I love that IT Cosmetics put together these suggestions-while I try to be thoughtful with gift giving, I definitely have had those moments where I am frantically googling gift ideas! I'm hoping that my post will give you a few good suggestions for your last minute shopping!

Keep your eyes out for a full review of a few IT Cosmetics listed in this post, as well as a couple other fun items that IT Cosmetics kindly sent!


Sneak peek!


Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey


Connect with me: twitter here // instagram here// pinterest here // 

Makeup Talk // Beauty Counter Review

Hi friends! Happy 2017! I am not sure how weather in your state has been, but in Ohio, we've had 68 degree weather one day and 20 degree the next (literally). If I didn't have a job to venture out to I would probably just stay inside and hibernate for the rest of the "winter". Choosing clothes daily has definitely been a back and forth unwanted guessing game. Anyway, at least my makeup isn't changing drastically like the weather each day! Today I wanted to show you my "everyday" makeup look (I do tend to switch one product for another some days, but the basic look is the same). I also will be reviewing three products from the Beauty Counter line and showing how I include them in my daily routine. Side note-since I work as an RN, sometimes even this amount of makeup is just too much (especially if I am running late). On those days, I stick to moisturizer, a primer, concealer under my eyes, a translucent powder and mascara.

Beauty Counter has a goal to make safer beauty products accessible to whoever may be interested. Why does this matter? According to BC's website,

"Over the past two decades, the European Union has banned more than 1,300 chemicals in the product formulas of personal care products and restricted the levels of over 250 more in such products. The United States has only partially banned 30 to date".

In order to provide a product that does not include many of these chemicals that are not banned, BC made the decision to ban over 1,500 of the questionable and/or harmful ingredients in the use of their products. To me, that is a step in the right direction. I hope that more companies transition to this mindset so more products that the public has more access and more choices when it comes to "safer" products. Another great thing about BC is that their website does have an ingredient glossary, as well as the "Never List" which are some of the ingredients that you won't see in their products.


Products pictured (clockwise): Flower Beauty Glow Baby Glow Blush/Bronzer Duo // Flower Beauty Daily Brightening Under Eye Cream (shade DB2) // Tarte SmolderEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner, shade "brown" // Beauty Counter Lengthening Mascara "soft black" // Tint Skin Foundation (2 shades shown; swatches and shades listed later in post) // Lip Sheer "Rose" //

Tint Skin Foundation 
This product claims to be "lightweight and creamy", with sodium hyaluronate, which helps to retain moisture, promote smoother looking skin and reduces appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The coverage can be sheer to medium per the website, depending on how you apply it.
For me, I tend to use it on the days that I want a "no makeup" look.  I would say the coverage is definitely buildable. I honestly wear it to run errands or when I am going to work-I have not tried to get more coverage than in between sheer/medium. I did find that it wears well, about 6 hours before I start to notice the coverage is fading. I think this product would be amazing for someone with normal to combination skin. A primer or a great moisturizer is necessary (from my experience) to get a smooth application. I do have combination oily skin, and found that the foundation flaked up around my smile lines and nose. From the four shades I received to test out, I could easily go between two of the shades (linen and sand) depending on if I self tan or not. Since this product is pretty sheer, the shades are very forgiving. While testing this out, I did have a breakout; after switching a few products around, I realized it was actually a moisturizer I was using and not this foundation, so it has not caused any breakouts (win!) As you can see in the following pictures, it gives a satin/natural finish, but I always end up setting with a translucent powder due to my skin type.

Retail price: $41 USD


Shades from top to bottom: Porcelain, Linen, Sand, and Honey.
I used Linen without a self tan, and Sand with a tan.

No makeup. My camera for blogging is currently out of commission. The iphone 7 puts a slight filter on the skin with pictures (I haven't figured out how to turn it off). My skin isn't bad-just slightly red, with noticeable pores. 
 Coverage with the Tint Skin Foundation, shade linen. Even though the picture has the slight filter (sorry), you can see the coverage and finish it provides. 
Dry patches around mouth.

Lengthening Mascara  
This mascara was made to create a daytime or dramatic look, while also hydrating the lashes and defining the eyes. The product states that the brush provides "clean application without smudging, clumping, or flaking. My take? I would agree with most of this! It has not smudged or flaked-nor has it clumped. I found that the brush really does help to define and separate the lashes. I have slightly long lashes naturally, so this mascara is perfect for helping to really make them stand out. I did find that my mascara was dry; I spoke with the consultant and she confirmed what I had noticed from most of the reviews: the product is usually really creamy and completely opposite of dry! Since I couldn't just give up on this new (to me!) product, I decided to put some contact solution into the container/barrel? I think I may have received a dud, because with a little extra moisture, the mascara was performing as it said it would. I will say, if you are looking for volume, I didn't really find it in this product. The name states it is lengthening, which is what you will get! I received the color black; I think this is the only shade. 

Retail price: $29 USD 



Finished look (mainly showing the mascara here!)

Again, finished look (including the Lip Sheer). Pre-gym and errand running!

Lip Sheer
This product is meant to be a lightweight, moisturizing and safe formula to give a sheer wash of color. There are no synthetic fragrances-just pure vanilla planifolia. It promises to condition lips without feeling oily or waxy. It is gluten free, vegan, nut free, and soy free. This product states that it could also double as a cream blush (have not tried that yet!) To cut to the chase, I will just say I absolutely love this product. The packaging of the full size product is beautiful, and I really adore how the product applies and wears. It's one of those items that you want to keep using but you also don't want it to run out. I have a few more shades on my list to purchase full size. It is listed as a Best Seller on the site, and I totally know why. If I could just shell out all the cash for the whole collection I would! 

Retail Price: $30 USD

If you have any questions regarding these products, or are interested, I highly recommend reaching out to the consultant that I worked with, Jenny Pittman. Her Beauty Counter link directly is www.beautycounter.com/jennypittman; her instagram page can be found by searching "jennypittman, her Facebook page is located at www.facebook.com/groups/BeautycounterwithJenny. She also has an email, beautycounterbyjenny@gmail.com. She has been super helpful with these products and I am so glad I got to work with her for this post!

Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey
Connect with me: twitter here // instagram here// pinterest here // 


*I was not paid for this review. I did however receive the Beauty Counter Samples for review.
**Primer used under Tint Skin Foundation was Pacifica Jasmine Iris Oil Control Primer (a primer that deserves its own review!)