40 of My Favorite Beauty & Makeup Products

I find it fascinating and fun to learn about the beauty regimens of other women... I'm always on the look out for quality/affordable products that ladies swear by. So I thought it would be fun to share with you everything I use from lipsticks, face masks and makeup to quick fixes and my go-to products. Here's the list in no particular order. Oh and please feel free to tell me about any products that you use too! I would love to know your fav's and try them out!

1. Arbonne Lip Polish in Hazel This stuff is amazing. It's my everyday go-to for a little lip color. It's the perfect lip shine without the sticky mess. Plant extracts and peptides leave lips feeling moisturized and smooth.

2. Burberry Lipstick Kisses in Union Red This is the lipstick I wear when I feel like getting fancy. It lasts long and looks velvety. I read somewhere that if you have blonde hair and fair skin, then a cool blue-hued red lipstick will look best on you. If you have darker skin with brown or black hair, red lipstick with warm orange-hues will suit you best.

3. Coconut Oil is so versatile. I use it for oil pulling -- swish a spoonful in your mouth every morning for 3 minutes. Then spit it out (in the trash). It's supposedly good for your gums + skin and helps keep your teeth pearly white. Follow up with brushing. My friend Dany swears by it, so I've adopted the practice this past year. So far so good. I also use coconut oil as a hair treatment once a month --> massage a tablespoon of coconut oil into your hair and let sit for 30 min. Wash out with shampoo. And lastly I use this oil as a body moisturizer for my arms, knees etc. basically anywhere I have dry skin. It smells so yummy!

4. Nubian Goats Milk and Chai with Rose Extract all natural and organic lotion. It's the thickest lotion I've ever used...and it's divine. I can't wait to get more of it! The smell is out of this world fantastic - creamy, vanilla rose with woodsy spices. Awww I love this stuff. And the fact that it's all natural makes me love it even more. Nubian has ton's of different ones too, like Indian Hemp & Haitian Vetiver, Honey and Blackseed, Coconut & Papaya and Mango Butter etc. I want to buy all of them! It's so luxurious and affordable, oh yeah!

5. 6. & 7. Lavender oil, Neroli oil (orange oil) and Peppermint oil. My BF Shan and I went to a day spa last year and they had these amazing herbal towels that they kept in a mini fridge. We would spend 20 min the Eucalyptus steam room and then come out and place a cool herbal towel on our face. Ooooh my lordy...this combo of lavender, neroli and peppermint is fabulous! First of all, it smells wonderful and secondly the cooling sensation from the peppermint oil is so relaxing. So I decided to bring my spa experience home...mix 1 cup of water with 1 drop lavender, 3 drops neroli and 1 drop peppermint. Soak a small face towel in the herbal water and then place in the fridge. After you take a hot shower, ring-out the herbal towel and place it on your face/neck and shoulders. Instant spa day!

8. Seche nail polish Hands down the best fast dry top-coat nail polish. Glossy, smooth and easy to paint.

9. Butter London Nail Lacquer Vernis - Tea with the Queen. A Great nail polish brand that is formulated without formaldehyde, toluene, DBP or parabens and it's safe and gentle on your nails. This color is classic and goes with any outfit. I'm a neutral nail kind of gal :) I usually stick to nude or pink colors...sometimes I'll get crazy and do a dark red in the fall or winter.

10.Goody elastic hair tie  Clear ties for braids and up-dos. 

11.Delorme Boar Bristle Brush So no...I don't own the Mason Pearson Brush -- in my dreams, right? But I did get one that is very similar while in Paris. The hub and I found Delorme, a beauty shop on Passage de l'Industrie during a morning walk. I was drooling over the English made Mason Pearson behind the counter and the girl working there pulled out a Delorme Boar Bristle Brush just like it. She said it was basically the same thing and much more reasonably priced. My brush and I have been inseparable ever since. Unfortunately it's only sold in Paris or you'll need to speak French and have a beautician's code to access their online order form, so I found you a similar one here and here.

12.Tangle Teezer Hair Brush I keep this tiny hand brush in my purse. It does a good job + doubles as scalp massager. Mmmm yes.

13. Ojon Damage Reverse Resorative Hair Treatment So I'm not the biggest fan of how this product smells, but who cares because this treatment will work miracles on your hair. Every  time I use it, I'll get compliments on how soft and shiny my hair looks. And plus you only have to smell it for 20 minutes while you let it work its magic and then you wash it out. So worth it! Soft, fluffy, shiny hair!

14. Dr Bronner's Peppermint Liquid Soap I first was introduced to this soap at the tender age of 10. My best friend and I would go to this far out hippie camp each summer and this soap was used in every bathroom. I originally bought it because the smell reminded me of fun summers, but I've become quite attached to it. It's all natural eco friendly stuff. I personally like the peppermint to use as body soap in the shower. It leaves a cool refreshing feeling on your skin. 

15.Nexxus Youth Renewal Elixir A few drops will do ya. I put this in my hair after I shower. The hub loves the smell of it. Honestly I can't tell a difference if it "renews" my hair, but the smell is fabulous. Worth it.

16. & 17. Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay and Apple Cider Vinegar My friend gave me a jar of this a few years ago. Wow this stuff is good. I mix a spoonful or two with a dash of apple cider vinegar and then paint the clay on my face. Leave on until dry and then wash off with a warm wash cloth. I usually do this routine once a week. The next morning my skin feels super smooth. I also us 100% pure Dead Sea clay. I managed to bring home a mason jar of this liquid gold from Israel. If you can get your hands on this stuff, I HIGHLY recommend it. But the Aztec Clay is the next best thing and easier to find.

18.Eos Lip Balm OK so I bought it because it was cute...but it turned out to be an awesome product as well! + you can recycle them like this!

19. Burt's Bees Lime Cuticle Cream Love it! I wash my hands a lot and sometimes my cuticles tend to dry out, so this little tin is quite handy ;)

20.Exfoliating Cotton Rounds A staple amung my nightly routine. I use a cotton round and a bit of Bio Oil to take off my makeup.

21.Rose Petal Witch Hazel Witch Hazel can help tighten pores and to smooth skin. Moisturizes and cleanses. I apply it with a cotton round after I've washed my face. It feels wonderful and smells amazing!

22.Bio Oil this stuff is a miracle oil! Helps heal scars, stretch marks, uneven skin tone, aging skin and dehydrated skin. I use it every night as my makeup remover. I also use it on my arms when they're dry.

23. Clarisonic The shizzz. This brush is a must. Pricey but worth it! I've seen a visible reduction in my pore size and smoother skin!

24.Cetaphil Face Cleanser I use this along with my Clarisonic. It's a gentle formula for sensitive skin.

25.Embryolisse Concentrated Lait Cream I bought a tube of this when we were in Paris. It's a nice light cream. I like to put it on at night before I go to bed and after I wash my face in the morning. A great moiserizer that works well under your daily makeup routine. 

26. Kai Body Glow A dry oil mist that smells like gardenias, jasmine and some yummy exotic flowers. Paradise! I love wearing this in the spring/summer or on vacation in the BVI.  I REALLY REALLY dig this scent. Every time I wear it, someone will ask me about it + it's affordable too! ~ $28! Spray away!

27.Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Eyeliner or Inglot 77 (not pictured) both of these eyeliners are A+ products! The Stila is easy to apply with a inky fine tipped felt pen and the Inglot is a waterproof pot cream that needs to be applied with a fine brush. Both are great and last long, but I personally love the Inglot. It takes a bit more time to apply, but once it's on it stays on! My friend Camille (and talented makeup artist!) used this on me for a wedding I was in....woooza! This stuff stays on forever!

28. Because every girl needs a good affordable Brush Set.

29. Urban Decay Naked Pallet Eyeshadows. I use this pallet every single day! Sometimes I'll even use the black shadow as an eyeliner when I don't have enough time to use the Stila or Inglot. It's a perfect neutral pallet.

30. M·A·C Studio Face & Body Foundation. I really like these three M.A.C. products (#30, 31 and 32) on my list. I use this face foundation first...it's water based and the coverage is minimal. It's basically a great product for evening out your skin tone. My nose a cheeks tend to be more red than the rest of my face so this does a good job of making my color even.

31. M·A·C Studio Sculpt SPF 15. This stuff is heavy duty and WONDERFUL! I wouldn't recommend using it as an all over foundation, but more as a spot corrector. It's great for hiding blemishes or tiny red patches. I usually use less than a pea size each day, just to cover any red spots or under my eyes.

32. M·A·C Studio Fix Powder (C3) Lastly I use this powder to set any shiny areas. Ever since I've been using these three products (together) I have had a lots of comments on how nice my skin looks. I couldn't be happier with these 3 products! Good job M.A.C.! It's sounds like a lot of make up, but it's not... a small dab/pat of each will do ya! 

33.Borghese Artista Exact Match Concealer. A perfect trio pack for taking with you when you're out and about. I throw this in my purse when I don't have time for the M.A.C. products above. You can mix and blend the three cream colors to create your exact match. The coverage is great for red spots or under eye circles. It's a convenient product to carry in your purse and do a quick touch up in the bathroom at work or wherever!

34. Colloidal Silver I use this stuff for everything. It's a natural antibiotic and antiviral. I use it whenever I feel a bug coming on (sniffles and what not). I also use it on blemishes and cuts and as an anti inflammatory for achey joints. Use with caution and only buy from a reputable source. As always, ask you doctor before using topically and or consuming. 

35.Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit So I don't actually own this one, but my best friend Melissa does! I borrowed it for a wedding we were in and I really liked it! It makes contouring so easy! I don't do contouring makeup everyday, but this pallet is fabulous for fancy occasions. I think I'll save up for this and get one soon!

36. Bahama Mama Bronzer This is a great bronzer to brush on under your cheek bones.

37. Shiseido Eyelash Curler A+ curler right here!

38. Full Soft Thick Healthy Waterproof Mascara Great product for those of you who use waterproof mascara...I love swimming in the summer time and I hate worrying about raccoon eyes, so this mascara will be your best friend.

39. L 'Occitaine Foot Cream I wear sandals almost everyday so my feet get dry. I try to use this cream at least once a week. I'll rub a dollop on my feet and then cover them with socks while I sleep at night. It the morning my feet are silky smooth! It's a rich cream with shea butter and  lavender oil! Mmmm.

40. Tiger Balm Tiger Balm tins (no bigger than a coat button). I have a white and red balm set that I keep in the car. My nanny kids love to put it on their temples when I pick them up from school. Z says it calms him down. Ha-ha. I just like to use them when I have a headache or stuffy nose. They are awesome. 

Bonus Product: Avibon...(not pictured) this vitamin pommade is spectacular. I only have a title left! So sad. It's hard to find in the states. I bought mine at a pharmacy in Paris. G Paltrow uses it on her skin  "Avibon is hard to find outside of France, but it’s one of my very favorites. It’s full of Vitamin A, which is wonderful for the skin, getting rid of blemishes, tough dry spots and preventing wrinkles (they say). I know an older movie star who uses this every night and she has the most amazing skin!"  If G uses it, it must be good stuff right? I agree. It's a tad goopy, but I like using it under my eyes and anywhere that I might develop wrinkles. It's a vitamin A pommade with other goodies added in. I've seen it on Amazon once but they were asking way too much money for it. I think I paid around 10 Euros for it in Paris. I saw it selling for $100 US on Amazon. Crazy. So if you happen to be on vacation or have a friend in France...pick it up!

That's about it! What products do you guys use? I would love to hear about them!

Ladurée French Macaron Recipe

I made a batch of  French Macarons the other day. Boy do I love these little things, but they are a pain to make...until I tried this recipe! Daniel and I honeymooned in Europe and we stopped in Paris to try the ever coveted Ladurée macarons. They were amazing! I picked up their English Sucré cookbook so I could make them at home. Be patient, say a prayer and they will turn out beautiful. 

This is a macaron shell recipe from Ladurée -- the crème de la crème of macarons in the world! And I whipped up the filling recipe myself...

Makes approximately 50 macarons

Bake at 300F

Macaron Shell Ingredients

2 ¾ cups + 1 tbsp (275 g) fine almond flour

2 cups + 1 tbsp (250 g) confectioners' sugar (aka powdered sugar)

6 +1/2 egg whites (room temp)

1 cup + 1 tbsp (210g) granulated white sugar

3 drops of whatever food coloring you desire

Directions for Macaron Shells:

1. Combine the ground almond flour and the confectioners sugar in a food processor. Pulse a few times until the mixture resembles a fine powder {do not over mix or you will end up with paste! Nooo!}. Sift through a sieve to remove any lumps.

2. In a large bowl {I use my KitchenAid}, whisk 6 egg whites until foamy. Once they are frothy, add a third of the granulated sugar {precisely 83.3 oz}. Whip until the sugar has dissolved. Add another third of the sugar. Whip for 1 minute. Add the last third of the sugar and whip for one minute. Egg whites should be glossy and hold soft peaks. Using a spatula, delicately fold the almond flour and confectioners' sugar into the whipped egg whites. In a separate bowl, beat the remaining 1/2 egg white until just frothy. Then add it to the final mixture, folding gently to slightly loosen the macaron batter.

3. If you only want to make one color of macarons, then add your desired food coloring to the batter bowl. If you want multiple colors, divide your batter into separate bowls and add coloring to each. Try not to over mix.

4. Transfer the mixture into a piping bag {you can also use zip lock bags with a cut corner}. Pipe small macaron rounds 1 1/2 inches in diameter onto a  lined baking sheet. I like to line mine with a silpat or this fancy macaron mat. Parchment paper will also do. Lightly tap the tray on the counter to release any air pockets. Allow the macarons to sit uncovered for 10 minutes, so a thin dry coat forms on the top {you should be able to gently touch them without the batter sticking to your finger}. Now they are ready for the oven. Only bake one tray at a time. Bake at 300F for approximately 15 minutes or until they form a smooth shell and little foot.  

*You can prepare the next tray while you wait for the first batch to bake.

5. Ok here is where you'll need to be extra patient. Wait until the macarons have completely cooled before peeling them off the mat. If they stick, they are not ready. * My method {because I'm impatient} to speed things up, try placing the hot baking sheet on top of cold damp dishtowels. This can cut your waiting time in half!

Macaroon Filling Ingredients

8 tbsp jam

4 tbsp soft butter

splash of whipping cream

Fills approximately 50 macarons 

{If you want to make different flavors on a smaller scale just measure 2:1 ratio for jam and butter}

Macaron Filling Instructions

Easy part!

1. You can use any flavor you want. For these macarons, I made different flavors for each color -- peach, strawberry, blueberry and chocolate. Mmmmm. My friend gave me some amazing homemade jams that I mixed with butter and a splash of whipping cream.  Your measurements will vary depending on how much filling you want for each flavor. Just mix jelly, butter and whipping cream until you reach a semi-solid consistency at room temp. This one is pretty hard to mess up.  

*I used Nutella for the chocolate hazelnut filling.

Good luck my friends!

               

           ^^^ Whipping the egg whites and sugar                       ^^^Smooth shell and little foot!                                                  

Done!

^^^Blood orange and framboise macarons from Lauduée on our honeymoon.

We jumped on a bus and took our macarons to the Eiffel Tower. Cliche? Yes. But this was a perfect moment for us. We sat on a park bench, gazed at the tower and savored every bite of of these Frenchy treats. Macarons, a pretty day in Paris and the love of my life... what more could I want! 

Ladurée Cream of Pumpkin Soup {Crème de potimarron}

 

Crème de potimarron {Cream of Pumpkin}

{An adapted Recipe from Ladurée}

I bought myself some French Cookbooks when we came home from our European honeymoon. All that traveling inspired me to cook (or at least attempt to cook) new fancy things! Here is an adapted recipe from my Ladurée Cookbook. I made it slightly easier for your convenience. Ladurée recommends making your own chicken stock from scratch of course…but who has time for that? I know the French would gasp, but I used a can of chicken broth. This soup is phenomenal and husband approved.

Ingredients:

14 oz. chicken broth

1 leek roughly chopped

1 sprig parsley

1 sprig thyme

¾ cup or 180ml heavy (double) cream

Salt and white pepper to taste

1 lb or 500g organic pumpkin

2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil

1 small onion chopped

Fleur de sel (sea salt crystals) sprinkled

Nutmeg (finely grated) sprinkled (optional)

Directions:

1.      Peel, seed and coarsely chop pumpkin. Set aside

2.      Add 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil in a saucepan over low to medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for a few minutes. Add Pumpkin and cook for 2 minutes. Incorporate the chicken broth, leek, parsley, thyme, cream, salt and pepper into the saucepan. Cook over low heat for 1 hour.

3.      Sift out Pumpkin and puree it in a food processor until smooth. If necessary, thin the pumpkin puree with a little of the reserved cooking liquid.

4.      Sprinkle with fleur de sel and nutmeg.

 

Recipe: Adaptation of recipe from Ladurée

 

Our Honeymoon Plans!

So guess what? Dan and I are going on our dream honeymoon! A month long European adventure! Yaaahooo! We have a 2 week cruise in the Mediterranean followed by 2 weeks of backpacking.  We are so excited! Oh man, I'm feeling really spoiled right about now! We've been working hard and saving for years, so this honeymoon is a well deserved trip! We were thinking, you only get married once -- so why not go BIG!" And it's the perfect time in our lives to travel (no kids, flexible jobs etc.)

Europe here we come!

Here are some spots we'll be checking out.

If you have any recommendations let us know! We would love to hear about your favorite places, hideouts, restaurants and must do's!

Barcelona, Spain

Monte Carlo, Monaco

Florence/pisa (livorno)

Rome, Italy (civitavecchia)

Naples, Italy (for Capri & Pompeii)

Mykonos, Greece

Istanbul, Turkey

Kusadasi, Turkey (for Ephesus)

Athens, Greece

Venice, Italy

 

And then...

We hope to see these during our 2 weeks of backpacking

Germany for Oktoberfest and a visit to Opas hometown

Switzerland because we've heard it's cool...

 

Lake Como, Italy

Paris, France (We're flying out of Paris) and I need to get my booty over to Laudree! Oui Oui!

Oh my gosh! Is this really happening? I need to pinch myself sometimes...we are feeling very blessed and excited for such a grand adventure ahead of us! What a wonderful way to start our marriage. We can't wait!

Pictures: Istanbul, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Ephesus, Florence, Venice, Rome, Naples, Mykonos, Switzerland, Paris, Munich, Lake Como

Churros con Chocolate

One of my dreams is to temporarily house swap and live in Spain with Danny! Oh how great would that be? Dan was a lucky duck; he grew up in a bilingual family and can switch from English to Spanish like it ain't no thing. Spain could be my chance to finally learn Spanish fluently! Until then, I will continue to practice my Rosetta Stone and make Churros con Chocolate -- a popular breakfast treat among Spaniards. Believe it or not, this recipe is really easy to make. And...it's AMAZING!

Churros are usually served plain with a hot chocolate dipping sauce in various European countries. And check this out...when we were in Costa Rica, they made their version with dulce de leche in the middle! Awww so good! But my all time favorite would be rolled in cinnamon-sugar and dipped in chocolate!

Makes approximately 20 churros (depending on size)
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter (I used salted butter, if you use unsalted add a pinch of salt to the batter)
2 tbsp sugar
1 cup flour
3 eggs
oil for frying

Cinnamon sugar
2 cups sugar
2 tbsp ground cinnamon

Chocolate sauce
100g (3.53 ounces) dark chocolate
50ml (1.69 fluid ounces) cream

• Start by making the chocolate sauce and the cinnamon sugar. Melt the chocolate and cream together and set aside. Mix together the cinnamon and sugar and set aside.
• In a saucepan, combine the water, butter, sugar and salt. Allow the butter to melt and stir everything together.
• Combine the saucepan mixture with sifted flour and stir until a ball starts to form.
• Transfer the mixture to your stand-alone mixer or to a separate bowl if you are using a hand-held blender.
• Allow the mixture to cool for 5 minutes.*You don't want the hot dough to currdle the eggs
• Place enough oil into a pot to fry the churros and allow to heat.
• Start beating the dough and add the eggs one at a time. Beat well after each addition. The mixture will become slightly sticky and more like a batter, but still thick.
• Place the batter into a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle.
• When the oil is hot, pipe long shapes into the oil and allow to fry until golden brown, flip them over and fry on the other side.
• Continue until all the batter has been used.
• Coat the churros in the cinnamon sugar.
• Serve warm with chocolate sauce.

Adapted from Simply Delicious