{true happy place}

I've been eyeing this since last winter when I spotted it at a friend's house.  I've been faithfully waiting for it to go on sale and finally it did!  I am now a proud owner of a mirrored vanity where I can spend hours upon hours dolling myself up.  Honestly, a dream come true.  ;)  

{skin care routine}

Being in my early 30's I have become more concerned with preventative care and maintenance care for my skin.  Here's my current skin care routine: 


Morning Routine:

• Wash face w. Olay Foaming Fash Wash for Sensitive Skin
• Moisturize skin w. Shiseido The Skincare Day Moisturizer SPF 15 PA+

Night Routine:

• Remove make-up w. make-up remover towelettes.  Currently using Up&Up Makeup Remover Cleaning Towelettes Compare to Ponds Clean Sweep. 
• Wash face w. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Power-Gel Cleanser using the Clarisonic Mia.  I use an anti-bacteria soap to clean my Mia brush after every use.  
• Apply winkle serum to wrinkle-prone areas (around eyes, forehead, smile lines, and neck) then any remaining serum on remainder of face.  Currently using Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Winkle & UV Damage Corrector.
• Apply eye wrinkle cream around eyes.  Currently using Shiseido Eye Wrinkle Cream Concentrate (discontinued) 
• Apply night cream all over face & neck.  Currently using Clinique Super Rescue Antioxidant Night Moisturizer

I've been trying out different winkle serums, wrinkle creams, and night creams.  I'd like to know what are some of your favorites?  

{make-up remover towelettes}

I was using regular face wash to remove my make-up before doing a deeper cleaning with my Clarisonic Mia.  I noticed the brush on my Clarisonic was dingy with make-up after the wash, meaning the pre-wash with regular face cleaner wasn't doing what I hoped for -- to remove my make-up.  That's when I decided to buy make-up remover towelettes.  I picked up Up & Up Makeup Remover Cleaning Towelettes Compare to Ponds Clean Sweep. 

I, now, don't understand why I never thought of using them before!  The towelettes are doing what I hoped for (YAH!) and the brush on my Clarisonic barely has traces of make-up on it (confirming the towelettes are doing their job.  Double YAH!).  I haven't explored the different towelette brands so I wouldn't be able to give you a fair assessment of these, however, it's been working pretty well.  It hasn't caused any redness, tightening, or breakouts on my sensitive skin and it removes waterproof make-up while being safe for contact-wearers.  All which I love.  P.S.  I do store these in a Ziplock sandwich-sized bag to keep the moisture longer lasting.  


Which make-up remover towelette brands do you love?

{snapshots}

{spent my babymoon & birthday in Maui, Hawaii w. hubby and family.  it was perfect}

{birthday gift from hubby + trip to Maui <3}

{picked up a souvenir for baby boy}

{Ululani's snow cone: the best ever}

{foundation : airbrushed}

I think I've finally found the way of creating an airbrushed, natural look with foundation!  The main tool?  

Sigma Beauty's Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki brush (F80)

This brush works best with liquid foundation in a stippling motion.  My prior foundation tool was a wet beauty blender, however, that tended to apply a thick application and I could tell I was wearing make-up.  The F80 brush gives plenty of coverage while also looking natural... AND... your make-up still looks airbrushed 10 hours later!  (At least for me it does.)  At the end of a work day I had a co-worker comment, "it (my foundation) still looks airburshed!".  Definitely a keeper and a tool I will be recommending!  I also bought the Round Top Synthetic Kabuki brush (F82) (couldn't decide between the two so I did what I usually do... GET BOTH!)  but haven't used it yet.  Once I do I'll make sure to post my review.  

{pregnancy must-haves}

During this pregnancy adventure, I've discovered 2 of my pregnancy must-haves.  The 1st is...

... the Beband.  I'm still able to wear my pre-pregnancy pants due to this nifty invention!  With my growing belly, I haven't been able to zip my pants but the BeBand does the trick of holding my unzipped pants up & hiding the fact that they are unzipped.  It also feels great that I am still able to wear my pre-pregnancy pants and not have to always wear maternity pants!  

My 2nd must-have is...

... Bio-Oil.  This was recommended to me by a friend.  I know studies have shown products like this can't prevent stretch marks and stretch marks are genetic, but just let a girl dream, okay??  LOL.