Beauty Faves For the Busy Mom

Busy is pretty much my middle name lately.  This blog post was literally written while one child slept attached to me (thanks to this incredible baby wrap), another napped in her bed, and my oldest asked me for a snack no less than 50 times.

Most days, I barely manage to get myself together, but in an effort to not come off as the hot mess that I am in public, there are a few products that are my go-to's when it comes to helping me look half human, with minimal effort.  They're all pretty budget friendly and can be found at most drug stores (or Target, which is pretty much the only place I shop lately besides online shopping).

Age Rewind Concealer-  This stuff is truly a lifesaver.  I haven't been getting much sleep since Theo arrived, and this concealer hides the dark circles under my eyes so well.  I love how easy it is to apply, and the way it feels.

Batiste Dry Shampoo-  Dry shampoo rules my world these days.  I love this dark version for my dark brown hair, but honestly, this whole line is awesome.  Bonus: If you're looking to add some volume to flat lockes, dry shampoo is great for that!

Garnier Micellar Water-  I learned about micellar water a few months ago, thanks to a fellow blogger, and I can't rave about it enough.  I love how easily and quickly it removes eye make up.

Jergens Natural Glow Firming Lotion-  This stuff helps make my skin not look so Casper-ish, but never looks orange... the fact that it also helps to firm makes my mom-bod happy too.

Maybelline Baby Lips- I own this stuff in pretty much every color.  It is in my diaper bag and my car, on my nightstand, and probably in many of my coat pockets too.  I love that it feels like a chapstick, but gives a subtle pop of color.

Maybelline Nudes Palette- This eye shadow palette has every color you need for day to day wear or the occasional night out.  I wear the lighter shades when I'm just hanging out at home with the kids and play around with the darker shades whenever we go out anywhere!

xoxo,

Beauty on a Budget

I'm not denying the fact that I have been known to splurge on beauty products in the past.  Trips to Sephora to purchase high end cosmetics are something I enjoy probably a little more than I should admit, but these days, I've really dialed back my beauty routine, since I highly doubt the effort is much appreciated by my 3 year old and 1 year old.  

Lately, budget beauty purchases have totally become my jam.  Given the amount of trips I make to Target on a weekly basis, I've become accustomed to quickly throwing something in my cart before a toddler tantrum ensues, and hoping that when I get home, it's as fabulous as I envisioned in the frantic moment that I decided to grab it and give it a whirl.

The following are the items that I've randomly tried, liked, and come to use on the regular.  Most of them are under $10, and all of them can be purchased at good ol' Target, making them even easier to love.

1.  NYX Concealer  This stuff provides great coverage for the dark circles under my eyes, that result from the minimal hours of sleep I've been getting, as well as the occasional blemish.

2.  Pixi Sheer Cheek Gel  I love the pop of pink that the "flushed" color this gives my cheeks.  I use it year round, and it lasts all day long.

3.  Maybelline Baby Lips  I own this stuff in pretty much every color.  A self-proclaimed lip balm addict, the price of this stuff makes it great to stock up on.  I love the colors, and the moisturizing benefits.

4. e.l.f. Eye Brow Kit  I recently realized the impact you can get from lightly filling in your brows... I use the term lightly, because one can certainly go overboard here, but a few light brushstrokes of this through your brows really does make a world of difference.

5.  Maybelline Pumped Up Colossal Mascara  You guys, I LOVE this stuff.  The best inexpensive mascara I have purchased in a long time!

6.  NYX Dusk til Dawn Eye Shadow I like to think of this palette as the Naked palettes much, much cheaper knock off.  The colors are great for both day and night, and it offers great versatility for the price.

7.  e.l.f. Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick  At $2 a pop, you can't go wrong with this stuff.  It's great when you want to experiment with color and not spend a fortune.

Like I said, I still like to splurge on certain items.  I have my go-tos when it comes to bronzer, BB cream, and blush... but I feel a lot less guilty about it with the money I save from purchasing these great items.

What are some of your favorite budget beauty purchases?

                                             

Swoon Worthy

I apologize for being a few days late on this swoon worthy post. It was a holiday weekend, and my husband took a few days off from work, and well, we took full advantage of the beautiful weekend to plant our garden (more on that in an upcoming post), do some grilling, and spend quality time with family and friends.

I figured better late than never, so here's what I'm swooning over this week!

1.  I'm dying... Seriously dying over These bags that Freshly Picked just released. It's no secret that I love their moccs for babes, but bags in the same colors... Swoon!

2.  This shirt, from Target that I bought this week, because the pineapple print was just too cute to pass up.

3.  These shorts from Banana Republic... They're currently out of stock online, but still available in stores!

4.  My cousin has the most amazing foodie blog,  Something to Snack On, that you must check out. I made the blue cheese chicken salad over the weekend, and it was so, so good!

5.  Little Hip Squeaks has been dropping new prints from their line, and I swear, This dress in this print is one of the sweetest things I've seen in awhile. I think my Ella has to have it!

6.  I got a sample of This lip and cheek balm from Benefit in my Birchbox this month, and I will definitely be buying the full size version. I love these colors for summer.

7.  Yum... That is all I have to say about This macachino flavor from Suja!

8.  I'm just aching to paint some teeny tiny toenails, and This polish from Piggy Toes is about as safe and natural as it gets for little ones.

9.  If you've never experienced kinetic sand, you don't know what you're missing... This stuff is fun for toddlers, kids, and adults.

10.  This faux sheepskin rug is the perfect backdrop for baby photo shoots, and draped over the back of a chair. For under $10, I couldn't pass it up!