Hello loves! Happy Wednesday all you darlings! First I cannot believe its already Wednesday and can we talk about how it's also half way through July?!?! Time is just zipping by and I'm having a hard time grasping that in less than three weeks I will be moving back home into my parents house. While it is an incredible opportunity to be able to have my family's support and love, it also is incredibly hard to live with other people again instead of being on my own. I love the privacy and alone time that having your own living space provides. I'm also big on personal style { I know, go figure!} and I love having my own space to be able to express my individuality. The major plus's of making this move is being able to make lifestyle changes and having help caring for Dallas.
Todays post is all about my summer essentials for this year. I cannot believe that summer is almost half way over and I've only gone to the beach and enjoyed this weather a handful of times. I NEED to get out and enjoy more of this summer time sunshine and smile at what an incredible place this world can be. When people think of summer essentials they may think of similiar products listed below but I think that everyone has a different idea of what is essential to them and that is OKAY!!! We are not all similar and that is what makes us, us.
For me, lippies are a MUST HAVE any time of the year. The base to any beautiful lip is lip balm. Lip balm keeps your lips hydrated, protected and silky smooth.
EOS lip balms took it a step further and packaged it in this cute little sphere shape with bright colors and flavors. My favorite that I just ran out of is the "Strawberry Sorbet" in its adorable pink packaging. Keeping your lips protected from the sun when out at the beach, family cookout or outlet shoppingggg is very important and looking cute while doing so is an extra bonus! Plus we can't forget that putting our fave lippies and lip colors on chapped lips is not cute and only draws attention to a problematic area. So drink lots of water and add lip balm to the top of your to do list!
Next on my list is summer skincare must haves!! I have not had a chance to discuss with you my skincare journey so I will summarize and leave up to you all to tell me if you would like a more in depth post about all the ups and down and products that I have tried. About two years ago I suffered a blood clot that caused partial vision lost in my left eye. The doctors could only relate this blood clot with the birth control pill I was on at the time and told me to stop taking them if I wanted to prevent this ever happening again. I had gone through several different birth control pills trying to find the one that would allow me to feel normal and would prevent migrane and PMS. Experiencing the loss I experienced I took the doctor's advice and in doing so my hormone level spiked causing an acne issue that I had never experienced before. After seeing a dermatologist and trying different topical creams I found one that worked for me and implemented an extremely delicate cleanser called Cetaphil. After trying many of the new products on the market since then I have always gone back to the same cleanser time after time until I found the Simple products below. I have fallen in lust with them and implemented them in my daily cleansing routine. The wipes are great when you're in a time crunch or on the go, they do not burn or cause irritation to the skin like many others I have tried. One wipe is all you need to clean your entire face! The Micellar Water...is a must try, must buy for everyone!! This stuff is life changing and you won't even notice it at first. The product leaves your skin silky smooth and removes any left over residue from cleansing. And of course last but not least the Banana Boat Aloe After Sun Lotion is a no brainer for summer after basking in the summer sun all day. This lotion has been my go to for sun burn calming time after time. I usually get home from the beach, shower and cake on this lotion. Then again before heading to bed for the night I cake it on {extra thick this time} and throw on a t-shirt and pants so that my sheets aren't all icky in the morning. By the next morning my skin has calmed down and I am on my way to a tan! Honestly this stuff is magic!! I also use this lotion when I am looking to put moisture back into my skin. Not only is the smell great, it leaves your skin super silky soft and doesn't clog your pores. Its amazing, take my word for it!
{You can find Simple products
here and
here, Banana Boat Aloe After Sun
here}
Okay so summer is also a time for mani's and pedi's to show case the seasons hottest colors and accessorize to your look. I mean c'mon who can't agree that those adorable midi rings and new sandals are best rocked with perfectly manicured nails and toes!?! This Mango Mend is designed for rough, dry, cracked skin but also works wonders for your cuticles. Hangnails and cracked heels are not sexy and since we all can't afford fifty plus dollar nail salon trips every week we must take it upon ourselves to maintain on our own. This stuff is a must use!
{Mango : Mango Mend can be found
here}
Lippies!! My favorite accessory are lippies, in an instant it can change your look. Put on a deep dark red and you go from blah to sultry. Put on a bright pink and you go from blah to spunky! I just love it! Pretty much every time I head to a drug store or beauty section I pick up a new lippy. For the most part lippies never expire and can be used over and over again. These butter glosses are super pigmented and don't leave your lips feeling sticky. I have repurchased both "creme brulee" and "eclair" multiple times because I love how a simple nude/pinky lip neutralizes any look.
NYX: Butter Glosses {can be found
here and
here}
{From left to right: Strawberry Parfait, Merengue, Eclair, Maple Blondie, Creme Brulee}
Last but not least is my summer craze- "The Selfie" Stick! I fell into the trap when shopping through TJ Maxx one day and can't say that I hate it. It makes taking pictures of groups or even yourself ( duh, I know its a "selfie" stick) a whole heck of alot easier. It's also very easy to set up and connect with your smart phone- whichever kind you have- through bluetooth! Once you have connected it all you have to do is open up your camera app and click the photo button shown below and the shot will be taken and added into your gallery. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!
"The Selfie" Stick {can be found
here}
Oh and I need to mention that its easy to throw into a bag and take with you since it collapses to a small size! Until next time loves!!!
Miss Michelle Eva
XOXO
