The Secret To Dewy Foundation

Recently I received a really lovely comment saying how great my skin looked and the commenter was wondering what I was using to get that look.

I cannot tell you how many people worldwide struggle with getting  dewy luminous looking skin while wearing makeup, so I thought I would share my secret with you.

The first thing you want to do it do your skin routine, meaning cleanse, tone, serums, and moisturize, and allow that to sit for about 15-20 minutes, if your pressed for time 10 minutes.

Then apply Neutrogena SPF 55 and allow that to sit for an additional 15-20 minutes or 10 minutes if time is an issue. Please don't do less than 10 minutes on this step as sunscreen can be quite greasy looking and while thats part of the secret to dewy skin if you apply your makeup too soon it won't set right so 10 minutes minimum!

Third prep the skin, so we are starting off with 3 spritzes of the Urban Decay Chill Makeup Setting Spray, this has completely changed the staying power of my makeup, it was a sales person from Sephora that gave me the tip of using it before makeup and I love them dearly for it. Then add Mac Prep & Prime all over the face, this again will help with the staying power of your makeup, but it's also our first layer and it will help covers pores and imperfections we don't want people to see.

Now time for foundation, I'm using Estee Lauder Double Wear and applying it with a damp beauty blender, if you don't know how to use a beauty blender watch my video below. 

If you have very dry/dull skin you can add 1-2 drops of a beauty oil to your beauty blender before applying your foundation.

Then apply Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer under your eyes, around your nose, and anywhere else you may need it. You can blend it in with the same beauty blender you already used, or go with the Micro Beauty Blender.

Now at this stage you will be tempted to use powder, you can if you want to but powder has a matte quality to it so if you need it dust your T-Zone and leave it at that. 

Then spray with the Urban Decay Chill Makeup Setting Spray and the Mac Mineralize Charged Water and you are good to go!

The biggest secret to getting Dewy looking skin, is layering your products correctly so that everything has the chance to be absorbed, or else you can't end up looking really cakey. Also by adding your sunscreen you not only protect your skin, but you also get that extra bit of glow without looking oily. 

If you have any questions leave them in the comments below and you can also watch the video of me doing this here.

                   

My Meals Monday | Trying Something New

Today I started my day off with my usual coffee and water, though I did add a few ice cubes in my water as it was quite warm today. I usually drink room temp water in the morning because it was recommended by my doctor as a way to wake up with system without shocking it.

I then made a nice bowl of oatmeal, bananas, blueberries, and a dash of cinnamon. Any longtime followers will know I'm not a massive fan of cinnamon just thrown over the top of something, but I am trying to add some extra flavor to my very bland tasting oatmeal.

I then needed a pick me up and was at the grocery store so I grabbed a Starbucks Frappaccino, I wouldn't recommend this on a regular basis due to the sugar count, but sometimes you just need one!

For lunch I had vegetarian dumplings, at this point I'm trying to go through my freezer/cupboards and eat anything that isn't vegan so I'm not tempted later on, as well as I don't want to throw it out as thats  so wasteful.

For dinner I made some baked asparagus with olive oil and balsamic glaze which was amazing, and then had a bit of Don's scalloped potatoes as well.

For dessert I saw this dairy free Ben & Jerry's and really wanted to try it, which it was so good I highly recommend it, but I'm trying to figure out if it's vegan or not.

I have read the ingredients and didn't see anything that could be an animal product, but it says dairy free rather than vegan, though that could be because dairy free might have greater appeal/understanding than the word vegan...please let me know in the comments if you know whether or not this is actually vegan.

Thats everything I had today, what did you have?

Here is today's Main Channel Video and Daily Vlog!!

                        

                       

Bath & Body Works Fall Haul

It's that time of year again, when all the shops come out with their sweet and spicy scented goods, and what start of Fall would be complete without a Bath and Body Works Fall Haul?

I was in desperate need of soap, so thats what I went to first, though I would like to mention that it would be really handy/enviromentaly friendly if Bath and Body Works offered a large bottle so we could refill our soap dispensers, rather than buying a new one every time.

Now that thats out of the way lets jump into my soap scents, I quickly wanted to note that this was sold as a set which is why they all link to the same thing, some of them are not available outside of the set, ok now lets jump in:

Autumn  Spice Strawberry 

Autumn Vines

Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin

Honeycrisp Apple

Fall Lakeside Breeze

Golden Autumn Day

Crisp Morning Air

I then went in for lotion, I really prefer the Ultra Shea Body Cream over their other lotions as I find them much more moisturizing, and then you don't need as much product. 

My lotion scents are:

Champagne Apple & Honey

Cashmere Glow

Orchard Leaves & Blue Sky

Golden Pear & Brown Sugar

Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin

Of course you can't go to Bath & Body Works without getting a few candles, due to the price I got two 3-wick candles and 2 mid-size candles...

Pumpkin Spiced Cheesecake

Cinnamon Sugared Doughnut

Honey crisp Apple

Pierced Pumpkin Candle Sleeve

Whilst shopping I was entranced with the Marshmallow Pumpkin Latte so I got it in:

Shea & Sugar Body Scrub

Fine Fragrance Mist

3-Wick Candle

Shower Gel

Ultra Shea Body Cream

And that is my Fall Haul, which one looks best to you?

Also if you plan on placing an online order here is a coupon code for 20% off your total order: DISCOVER20

Here is today's Main Channel Video !

Trying Vegan Food

As you guys know, I am making my way into the vegan-verse, and I thought for today's Fun Friday video I would try UrthBox's Vegan Snacks!

Some of them I didn't care for, but most of them were actually incredible.

Have you tried a subscription snack delivery service?

Here is today's Main Channel Video and Daily Vlog!

                        
                       

Tyme First Impression

I'm sure you've all seen the Tyme straightener/curling wand on facebook/twitter/instagram, I purchased it and thought I would give you guys a first impression video. 

It turned out to be a complete fail, I am really having trouble mastering this device, not only does it put clamp marks on your hair, but the outside gets so incredibly hot it makes it difficult to turn the wand for the curl.

I am going to continue to play with this and see if it works at all and will get back to you with a full review very soon.

Have you tried the Tyme wand?

Here is today's Main Channel Video and Daily Vlog.

                       
                       

My Meals Monday | Parasailing & Baby Steps

Today's My Meals Monday is a bit speratic because I left for a few hours to go parasailing and missed lunch, by the time I got back it was dinner time so there are only two meals today.

For breakfast I had 1 piece of Raisin Cinnamon Toast, 1 Veggie Patty, and 2 Scrambled Eggs.  Obviously this is not a vegan meal, but I am making baby steps in that direction.

I had planned my whole transition around Niomi Smart's book release to help ease me in and provide me with a plethora of food options, but sadly it's not available in the US anymore, I had preordered on Amazon but just received an email saying they are canceling the US preorders. 

I missed lunch as I was parasailing but for dinner I made Vegan Broccoli Soup and garlic bread. This is my all time favorite soup and it's so easy to make it was just what I needed after an edrinalin filled day!

Now on to the parasailing adventure!!!

My friend Gina and I had talked about going hiking since it was a state holiday and she didn't have work, then I remembered we had briefly discussed going parasailing a few months back so I suggested that and that was what we went with!

It was so terrifying but thrilling at the same time, I already have plans to go back and do it again soon. Here are a few pictures from our adventure!

It was so exciting and I can't wait to do it again soon. Have you ever been parasailing? Would you go?

Here is today's Vlog and Main Channel Video.

                    
                    

My Meals Monday | Starting The Transition

As you guys know, my huge goal of the year was to go Vegan, I have spent almost 5 months at being vegetarian, and I am now starting the transition of being full on vegan, while I'm not 100% there yet I am hoping to be full vegan by the end of October of this year. I also explained before that I felt the transition would be easier and I would be able to stick to it better if I did a slow and steady change, so while the majority of my food intake is vegan there is a few exceptions.

I always start off my morning with a Nespresso Vevalo Lungo which is mixed with a bit of coconut milk, and a huge 12 oz glass of water to rehydrate after sleeping.

I have really been into smoothies lately, probably because of how hot and humid it is right now, so in today's smoothie I used 1 banana, 1 scoop of Wellco Vanilla Protien Powder, a handful of blueberries, 1 scoop of Vida Glow, and a Naked Mango Juice.

This is what the smoothie looked like, it was so amazing!!!

I normally wouldn't use a juice in a smoothie as they tend to be very high in sugar and not much else, but I really wanted a mango in my smoothie and all I had was Don's Naked Juice so I swiped one. Also the Vida Glow is not vegan as it's made from Red Snapper, but I really don't want to waste it as it is already in my cupboard and throwing it out would mean the fish died for nothing, so I will finish this batch off and then I will not be repurchasing this one, but I will purchase the beauty blend as it is vegan (I think).

For a snack I had these Dippin Chips, these are vegan and are so good I highly recommend them, they are perfect for salsa!

I went to the movies and had unbuttered popcorn, edamame, and a sprite, but I forgot to get a picture..sorry.

For dinner I made a salad with beets, artichoke hearts, baby corn, and tomatoes I served it with my friends Baba Ghanouj this is made with Eggplant, Garlic, Olive Oil, and Tahini...it is nothing short of amazing and I could honestly live off of just this!

For dessert I had two slices of Yellow Melon, I'm not sure what else this is called but it's like a cantaloupe meets a honeydew and it's quite tasty and refreshing!

And that is everything I ate today, what did you have?

Here is today's videos!

                     

BooHoo Haul

I recently did a little shopping on the BooHoo website, and thought I would share with you guys what I got....

This is the Katherine Halter Crochet Trim Top, it has two straps that tie at the top, and the crochet trim is so lovely, it adds a bit of a pop to the normal tank top, and comes in both black and white.

This is the Dawn Open Shoulder Woven Top, this comes in black or white, I love it, the only complaint is I feel like the sleeves hang too low but it still looks good.

This is the Lizbeth Pocket Front Jersey Maxi Skirt, it had me at pockets hahaha, this is such a light material it's wonderful to wear and it comes in 8 different colors!

The Ruby 90's Grunge Style Button Maxi Skirt is also really light and fun to wear, I only wish it actually unbuttoned, but it's still super cute!

The Unity Oversized V Neck Tee is so comfy, but is oversized so remember that when purchasing, it also comes in 8 colors and looks great for a t-shirt and jeans kinda night!

Here is today's videos if your interested!