Top 3 Favorite Drugstore Blushes

While some people can't live without lipstick or mascara, I can't live without blush. It's one of my absolute favorite beauty products. It transforms the face with just a swipe and makes you look alive. My makeup collection has blushes of all prices, ranging from $3-$50. I do not discriminate and in fact, the blushes I use daily typically come from the drugstore. I have three favorites which I rotate frequently. Currently, my go-to is number one...

1. My absolute favorite which I'm always repurchasing, is Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso. It's a cult favorite for good reason. It adds the perfect peachy glow to your complexion and it's hard to add too much. My face tends to "eat" makeup so I have to add a little more otherwise it disappears but this one is easy to get right every time. It's almost impossible to overdo it. I wear this almost every day, winter or summer.

2. Wet n Wild Color Icon Blush in Rose Champagne - This is a such a natural blush that looks amazing with any makeup look. I've worn a vampy lip, a bold red, and a nude lip and it looks great with all of them. It has a slight sheen but nothing crazy.

3. Covergirl Classic Color Blush in Soft Mink - Don't ever underestimate the bottom shelf of the drugstore! These products often go unseen but like this blush, can turn out to be one of your favorites! This one gives you a glow from within (sensing a theme here?) that is the perfect shade of pink. Nothing too bright and makes me full super feminine. It does have a pretty strong "grandma" scent but the color is gorgeous so I can look past it.

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Milani Baked Blush "Luminoso" | Wet n Wild Color Icon "Rose Champagne" | Covergirl Classic Color "Soft Mink"

2 Essentials for Dry Winter Skin

Moisturizer: Korres 24-Hour Moisturizing & Brightening Cream | Lotion: EOS

Even with the humidity that Texans experience in the winter, my skin still feels dry. It's as if my skin feels as gloomy as the weather. BUT! I've found two products that zapped my dry skin woes.

I've touched briefly on the magical powers of this Murad Lightening Gel that has literally saved my skin. It does tend to dry out my skin a bit however, due to it's miraculous ingredients, there's no way I'm not going to use it. It's become a staple in my beauty routine. But no matter how alligator-y my skin is feeling, Korres 24-Hour Moisturizing & Brightening Cream dumps the moisture back into my skin and makes it feel like it's living again. I've never discovered a moisturizer that makes my skin feel so dewy 12 hours after I put it on more than this. It's a game changer.

And for the body, this EOS lotion is fab. Husband actually brought it home one fateful day and it's transforming my skin. I start to get tiny rashes on my hands and knees if I'm not careful but using a thick balm can get annoying. They take forever to warm into the skin and I hate the sticky feeling that remains afterward. EOS lotion immediately melts in my skin and relieves me of itchy, cracked skin. Can't say enough good things.

What are your favorite winter skincare products?

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Best Beauty Products of 2016

I tried a lot of beauty products in 2016. Some were duds, some were good but not worth raving about, and others have risen to the top of my Favorite of All Time list. A capitalized list that is very much a real thing. When you love a product this much, you want to tell your friends about it. You're welcome.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation - I tried A LOT of foundation this year and this one is by far my favorite. Most foundations start to break up on my face and settle in fine lines except for this sucker. Literally the only foundation I've found that literally looks the same when I put it on as it does when I take it off.

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream - Perfect for those lighter makeup days but still provides all the coverage you need with SPF 50. I love it's skincare like formula.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette - The perfect shades, in my opinion. You can create so many subtle or dramatic looks depending on your preference. Literally wear this almost everyday. The pigment and staying power are incredible.

MAC 217 Blending Brush - I now fully understand the hype around this brush. Creates perfectly blended looks with ease. Only downside is price.

Murad Post-Acne Spot Lightening Gel - This is a new-to-me product towards the end of the year and I've already seen a dramatic shift in my skin. Tone is more even and those pesky dark spots are slowly going away. Literally saw a difference overnight.

Buxom Full-On Lip Cream - I'm definitely a gloss girl over a matte girl and Buxom's glosses are my favorite. You really can't go wrong with any one of them but White Russian is my favorite.

Tarte Airblush Maracuja Blush - Not quite a cream, not quite a powder, I'm obsessed with this in Shimmering Poppy. It gives such a natural, healthy flush to the skin. My favorite way to apply it is with a damp beauty blender.

Kérastase Serum Oleo-Relax - A friend of mine told me about this and I haven't looked back. It's the one product that really tames the frizz and makes my hair more manageable without a ton of build-up.

Emoji eRase e60 - The perfect combination of tweezer and razor, this tool keeps me hairless for weeks! I prefer the sensitive attachment cause I'm a bit of a siss and it leaves my skin so smooth.

Freshly Picked Cyber Monday Sale!

 Freshly Picked "Zion" Moccasins, c/o

As the years pass and the pile of baby gear grows, I've learned how important quality over quantity is.   It's become important for me to find products that will last through the years and pass on from sibling to sibling. This is especially true since a sibling is well on the way. 😍 I've also grown to love and appreciate small businesses run by mamas who have the drive to take care of their kids and grow an incredible business.

I've mentioned before here how much I love moccasins for little ones. I have a drawer full of lone shoes that are looking for their partner. Mostly this is me in denial that they are long gone and I need to toss them. Moccasins became the only shoes I was willing to invest in because I knew they would stay on Liam's feet. He crawled everywhere in them and they never fell off, he learned to walk in them, and even found they make great chew toys. 😬 Joke. Sorta. I am such a huge fan of Freshly Picked soft soled moccasins because they don't hinder feet development and it's the next best thing to being barefoot.

Starting TODAY at 10am MST Freshly Picked is having their Cyber Monday sale. All seasonal styles will be 25% off and lasts for 24 hours. Such a great time to stock up and would make a perfect holiday gift!

Holiday Gift Guide: Beauty Lover

1. I've tried a mother-load of dry shampoos in all price ranges and Batiste is my absolute favorite. Perfect for my blonde hair (there's a brunette option too!), no white cast and doesn't leave my hair feeling dirty and gritty.
2. Josie Maran Argan Oil is the best for face and body. Even add it to your foundation for a custom tinted moisturizer.
3. I love grabbing a variety of gift sets and creating my own custom gift for friends and family. Grab one of the gorgeous nail colors from this Essie nail set and a gloss or two from this Buxom lip set and it's the perfect little stocking stuffer.
4. For the last minute girls, this MAC "Look in a Box" kit is so easy.
5. This Anastasia Beverly Hills Eye Shadow Palette is on my list. I'm such a sucker for warm eye colors.
6. Philosophy Christmas Cookie Shower Gel: Because who doesn't want to smell like a cookie! Love this stuff.
7. It's a splurge, but this T3 Styling Wand set is all you need to create a variety of curls.
8. Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick: super long wearing and comes in tons of colors.
9. Beauty Blender Pro on the Go: You can never have too many, that's why.
10. I use this Living Proof Dry Volume Blast every day. Volume is an understatement and it's perfection.
11. Buxom Lip Gloss "White Russian": My absolute favorite gloss in this world. I love the tingling feeling, it's the perfect nude, and lasts a surprising amount of time.