Favorite skin care and makeup products

Quick unrelated note...girls' nursery/bedroom reveal coming soon! We're almost done with it, so I'll post pictures!

I've changed a lot of things with my makeup and skin care routine lately and have been extremely happy with the results. So much so that I often find myself saying "man, I LOVE this stuff" every morning. Literally. I'm not being asked or paid to promote these products. I just like to share about stuff that really excites me. So here's what I use for makeup and skin care:

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First up is my skin care regiman. I have oily and acne prone skin...but it's also extremely sensitive, so I have a really hard time finding something that doesn't give me a reaction or dry my skin out too much while still treating/preventing blemishes. I've used expensive products like DDF and Dermatoligca to less expensive like Aveeno and Alba Botanicals. All of them contain some sort of acne medication...either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. And while those medications are in there to help clear and prevent breakouts and control oil production...they always leave my face feeling crazy dry and stretched out. And the topical pimple creams do help with red and swollen blemishes, but they also dry my face out something awful. The last product I tried actually gave me an allergic reaction that took a prescription strength hydrocortisone cream to clear up. So that's when I'd had enough of all the chemicals and medications and decided to try something more natural. Natralia is a homeopathic type acne system. It doesn't contain any harsh chemicals or medications, so it doesn't dry me out. And because it doesn't dry me out, I actually don't even need a face moisturizer anymore. And the acne rescue cream is awesome. I wasn't real convinced it would work or be effective but thought it was at least worth a try. And guess what? After about a month of use, my face is clearer than its ever been my entire life. And that's saying a lot right now considering pregnancy hormones turn me into a pizza face. I still get a couple pimples, but they never get all swollen and nasty and if I pop them (I know, shame on me), they're usually gone or almost gone the next day. My face is so clear I actually ran to the bank for some cash without a drop of makeup on! I hardly liked to let my hubby see me without makeup before just because I was so self conscious. I also haven't gotten a single one of those nasty, painful under the skin pimples that make your whole face hurt since I started using Natralia. Needless to say, I'm thrilled with my new skin care regimen! 

Moving onto makeup products...I mentioned in a post a few months ago that I switched to a brand called Jane Iredale. I felt the brand I was using before that had really messed up my skin and clogged my pores...causing even worse acne than usual. Jane Iredale is pricey, I will admit. More than I have ever spent on a makeup product...but it lasts forever and it does wonders for your skin. My best friend's mom (she's an esthetician and cosmetologist) recommended it to me. It's actually a medical makeup specially designed for people with serious skin issues to help restore and heal. But it's also totally natural and free of harsh chemicals, so it doesn't clog your pores or screw with your complexion. You can check out more about their products and ingredients on their website: www.janeiredale.com. 

Here are the products I use:

Liquid Minerals Foundation 

(bisque color because I'm as pale as they come)

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I use this as the first layer to help moisturizer my face and even out my skin tone. 

Amazing Base in Ivory

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This is a loose mineral powder type foundation. The Liquid Minerals helps give the Amazing Base something to cling to so it stays on my skin. I use a powder brush to apply a light layer all over my face (it helps absorb oil throughout the day and keeps me from getting too shiny). Then I go back with a concealer brush and apply the Amazing Base to trouble spots (blemishes and the exhausted mommy circles under my eyes). It does an awesome job as a concealer. I never have a need for anything additional. 

PurePressed Blush in Tawny

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I apply a little blush to the top of my cheek bones and the tip of my nose to keep me looking healthy. I'm naturally so pale that I can look a little sickly without some blush to add color. 

Balance Spray

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Two or three sprays of this to my face set the makeup so it stays on all day and also helps with oil production. Oh, and it smells amazing too. 

(If I decide to wear any eye shadow, I'll put this in BEFORE the balance spray and spritz afterward.)

Blinc Mascara in black

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I don't typically wear any eye makeup outside mascara unless it's a special occasion or date night because I have horrible allergies and get itchy eyes a lot...I usually end up wiping most of my eye makeup off by the end of the day anyway, so I just forego it. Anyway, this mascara is awesome. Because of my allergies and sensitive eyes, I almost always wear waterproof mascara or I have flakes and raccoon eyes by the end of the day. The problem I have with waterproof mascara is that it's a complete pain in the rear to take off. Even using special eye makeup remover designed for waterproof makeup doesn't always take it off completely...and I wake up in the morning with raccoon eyes. Blinc is water resistant and will not flake. But it also comes off SO easy. They have come up with a new technology (check out their website for more info) that actually forms water resistant tubes around your eyelashes instead of painting them. And at the end of the day, the only thing you need to take it off is a little warm water and some pressure from your fingertips...and the tubes pull right off your eyelashes! It's awesome! I actually really enjoy taking it off because it's so cool to watch. Haha! This mascara is wonderful for contact wearers and people with sensitive eyes. I find myself itching my eyes about half as much as I did before. 

Magic Mitt

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This isn't makeup. It's a makeup remover. And you don't need anything but warm water! It's this great little mitt that is designed to remove all your makeup (including eye makeup) without anything but water. Simply wet it with warm water, wring out the extra water, and wipe your makeup off (if one side gets too icky, turn it around and use the other side). When you're done, use a little hand soap to clean your makeup off the mitt, and hang it up to dry. That's it! Super easy, and it takes off make far better than anything else I've ever used (I used to use those Pond's moist towelettes specially designed to remove makeup and oil). 

There ya have it. My complete skin care and makeup regimen. 

A couple tips for good makeup application:

Wash your brushes regularly. I clean my liquid foundation brush daily so nothing clumps or builds up in it. I wash my other brushes (powder, concealer, blush) once every week. It's really important to clean your brushes at least weekly. It gives you the best makeup application because it keeps makeup from building up (like when you've gone so long without cleaning your blush brush that you don't even need to dust it across your blush compact to get the proper amount of your face...yuck, right?). And it also prevents bacteria from your face from getting into your makeup and being transferred back to your face...which keeps your makeup better longer and keeps your skin clearer. 

Make sure your foundation colors blend completely with your natural complexion. The best way to test it is to apply a little to your neck. If it blends and you cannot even tell where you've applied it, it's perfect. 

What are your favorite skin care and makeup products? Any must-haves?

Kony 2012

Please watch this video and then share it like crazy. It's worth 30 minutes of your time, I promise!

etsy baby love

I've been checking etsy and pinterest for cute baby/kid stuff both for things to buy and for inspiration on stuff to make. I originally super loved the timi and leslie diaper bag I posted about earlier, but I just found an etsy bag that I LOVE way more.

Check out all these awesome baby/kid items!!

Love this toddler bedding for Eden. We plan to move her to a toddler bed around 18 months to free up her crib for baby 2. It's gender neutral since they'll be sharing a room but is cute too if I had some colorful pillows or sheets on the bed.

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This is from the same etsy shop as the above bedding, but it's a bit more girly with the print. I really love red for a girl. And it would go great in the room if this new one is a boy. The plus is that it's organic bedding!

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LOVE this mobile!! It couldn't be more perfect for our rainy state of Washington, but the colorful raindrops are much brighter than our grey days here. I'm totally going to make this.

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Love the little cloud pillow on the wall. From the same etsy shop as the bedding...and it totally goes with the baby mobile.

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Here's the diaper bag I plan to get. I'm smitten. It's waterproof and has 8 pockets inside for organization. It's about the same size as the timi & leslie one, but I actually like it better. Oh, and did I mention it's half the price? Awesome!

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I wanted to do this in Eden's room before she was born but ran out of time and wall space...I still love this idea though. Various fabris in embroidery rings of various of various sizes. Too cute! I'm totally doing this in the kids' room (assuming we have a bigger place where they can share a room).

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Last but not least...I'm completely in love with this nursery! It's gender neutral but SO cute. I like the neutral grey walls with the pops of color. Absolutely adorable. Not sure if I'll go with this exact color scheme for our kiddos, but I may do something similar (neutral walls and pops of color). 

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Are you seeing the grey theme? Haha. I might have a slight obsession with grey!

iphone cases

Ahhh. In love with a bunch of iPhone cases from society6!

Here are some of my faves...

It's a little bright for my taste, but I still think it's really cute.
Get it here!

Get it here.

Very in-line with my current mustard and zig zag obsession.
Get it here.

Get it here. 

I love Penguin books. What a great idea!
Get it here.

Get it here.

Get it here.

Spoonflower

Uhh...

How come nobody ever told me about Spoonflower before???

Design and print your own custom fabric? Yes please!!

It's a bit pricey, and I'd have to use it sparingly, but it would be SO fun for a couple special projects!

It's been a while!

Hi all! Sorry, it's been quite some time since I last posted. We've had a lot going on...some family issues, and some personal changes.

BUT.

I'm excited to announce that baby #2 is on the way!

Yes, you read that right. Yes, my daughter is only 10 months old and will only be 16 months when the new babe is born (assuming this baby comes on time and not early again like her). Yes, I realize that's kind of nuts. No, it wasn't exactly 'planned' per se, but we are totally thrilled and excited. We will just have a chaotic household for a bit :)

That's where I've been. Busy being a mom to a mobile almost-toddler. And busy puking and being tired and making another baby. Haha. SO much fun. But really, it's all worth it. It's so much easier to look at my little girl and see what all comes from the unpleasantries of pregnancy. The not-so-awesome symptoms are tons easier to deal with.

SO...question for the mamas out there. Any suggestions for a large diaper bag that will fit enough outfits/food/diapers for two little ones? My current Petunia Pickle Bottom is great but won't cut it for two sets of everything.

I'm loving this Timi & Leslie bag right now:

I know without a doubt that it's big enough...but is it worth the price?? That's the big question.

And sadly, because we are still in our itty 2 bedroom apartment, I won't have another nursery to decorate (or a 2-child room to redecorate). Eden's current nursery is only 7 feet by 9 feet. All I can fit is the dresser, her crib, a hamper, and a couple baskets for blankets, towels, and burp cloths. So baby #2 will be in a pack n play in our bedroom unless there's such a thing as stackable cribs (haha!). But I'll probably still fantasize about what I'd do with another baby room and post about it after we find out the gender in just 8 weeks.

Due date is set for August 22nd (again, if this one doesn't also decide to come a month early). I'll try to get another post up here pretty soon!