7 Things | Loving Lately

Whew it’s been forever since I wrote a blog post! I always say this, but after a long time away I always do miss writing. I still think blogs will eventually make a comeback, so I want to try to breathe a little bit of life back into my space here! I figured I’d ease back into it with a post about six things I’m loving lately - beauty, style, and baby.

Wearing the Free People Tank in Oatmilk and Abercrombie Curve Love Dad Shorts -my summer uniform!

Free People Happiness Runs Crop Tank - I recently got a few of these tank tops and instantly became obsessed. They’re so comfortable, with thick, stretchy fabric that feels supportive but not too compressive. I always wanted to wear tops with this neckline but never knew what to do in terms of what bra to wear with them, so I’m psyched I don’t have to wear a bra with these (although I am quite small-chested). If it wasn’t absolutely outrageous to own so many, I would buy every color. These are definitely a summer style must-have!

Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump - I’ve been going crazy for new makeup lately. It was hard to narrow down just one lip product to mention (maybe I’ll do a post rounding up my everyday lip favorites soon?), but I’d say the one I keep reaching for the most is the Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump. I love their original Juicy Lips, but the new Plump version has that nice cooling minty plumping sensation that I love. They do very subtly plump up the lips, and they have the same lovely balmy formula as the original. My favorite shade is Mixed Berries, which is a great “my lips but better” shade for me.

Hatch Rest Sound Machine - Cam is now old enough to be sleeping longer stretches at night, so we’ve been putting him to bed before our bedtime, and we’ve been giving him a more consistent bedtime routine. He’s also now sleeping in his own room - we had planned to keep him in our room until he was six months old, but he outgrew his bassinet! We have the Hatch Rest Sound Machine in his room, and it’s an absolute life-saver. He sleeps better when there’s some kind of white noise on (he loves the dryer sound), and I like that it drowns out other sounds in the house so we don’t have to tiptoe around once he’s asleep. I think he’s starting to realize that once the sound machine gets turned on and we put him in his sleep sack (he loves the ones from Kyte Baby!), it’s time to wind down for bed. I like the nightlight feature too, so I can turn on the red light for nighttime feedings to see what I’m doing but not overstimulate him/wake him up too much.

Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Sun-Kissed Glow Cream Bronzer - It seems like everyone is coming out with cream bronzers now, but I love this one so much that I don’t even feel the need to try any other new ones (and that’s saying something, for me). This has a more cream-to-powder finish, so it lasts really well throughout the day and will be great for hot summer days. It goes on and blends so easily - I used to be a little scared of cream bronzers, but this is basically foolproof. I have the lightest shade and it’s perfect: not too orange, and not too cool.

Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag - This has been so hyped up lately and I fully gave into it. I wanted something small and hands-free I could take when I walk the dogs, or to hold my things when I don’t want them to get lost in a big diaper bag. This is perfect! I really like how it looks, too - I have the all-black one and it looks sleek and compact to me.

CLEAN RESERVE Acqua Neroli Eau de Parfum - I’ve mentioned before that I mostly only wear rose perfumes, but I recently picked this one up for summer and I’m hooked. I didn’t know a fragrance could feel so “me” and not have any rose notes! I was intrigued by the neroli in the name because I wanted something that would smell like the Glossier Body Hero products, and this certainly does. It’s the perfect balance of warm and fresh, and it lasts well throughout the day on me, too.

AYR The Exec T-Shirt - I really love the clothes I’ve gotten from AYR (all tops, I can’t afford the jeans!), and lately I’ve been obsessing over their new Exec T-Shirt. It’s thick, stretchy, and sturdy, so it feels like a slightly more dressed-up version of a favorite staple t-shirt. I like that the sleeves are slightly longer - it looks quite chic to me. I’ve been loving wearing these tucked into a straight-leg pair of jeans! I wore the “City Sky” color in the family photos I took here.

What things have you been loving lately?

This post contains affiliate links.

Sephora VIB Fall Sale Recommendations

It’s that time of year again! The Sephora VIB Sale is coming at the end of this week, so you know I had to round up a few recent favorites in case you’re looking for recommendations. As always, please don’t feel pressured to shop just because there’s a sale - oftentimes the individual brand websites will have better welcome discounts/sales than the VIB sale, so if there’s just one thing you’re after, try checking there first!

Sale details are as follows:

VIB Rouge - 20% off 11/5 - 11/15 with code YAYHOLIDAY

VIB - 15% off 11/9 - 11/15 with code YAYHOLIDAY

Beauty Insider - 10% off 11/11 - 11/15 with code YAYHOLIDAY

I tried to keep this post a little more streamlined and focus more on some newer releases or at least some things that were new to me, but you can check out my posts from the Spring VIB Sale and last year’s Fall VIB Sale for more recommendations - I still stand by all those products mentioned!

Biossance Squalane + Elderberry Jelly Cleanser - I got this a couple months ago when I bought a backup of their 100% Squalane Oil (my favorite body oil during pregnancy!), and I instantly fell in love. I am usually sold whenever something has “jelly” in the name. This gentle cleanser removes light makeup when applied to dry skin and rinses cleanly without lathering too much or making the skin feel dry or tight. I’m definitely going to be getting a backup during the sale!

Youth to the People Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm - Everyone has been raving about Youth to the People’s newest release lately, and for good reason. I love cleansing balms as a first cleanse to get all my makeup and sunscreen off, and this works so well to remove literally everything. It has more of a unique consistency at first, as it feels a bit dry and crumbly as you first take a bit from the jar, but it melts into a luxuriously plush oil that breaks everything down. When you add water it emulsifies into a milky cleanser and rinses away with no residue, and it leaves the skin feeling hydrated and supple.

Beautyblender Bounce Always On Radiant Skin Tint - I just mentioned how much I was loving this new skin tint in my “New Launches I’m Loving” post, so of course it needs a place on this list. This has been my go-to for everyday since I got it - it’s so easy to apply and blend, and it seems to really blur and smooth the skin. It has a great light-medium coverage that’s perfect for me, and instead of a tacky, dewy finish, it has a soft luminous quality while setting down on the skin.

Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer - But of course sometimes you want something super dewy, and that’s when you need Saie’s Slip Tint. It has light-just-slightly-verging-on-light/medium coverage (meaning, a little less than the beautyblender Skin Tint but more than my beloved bareMinerals Complexion Rescue), feels very smooth and hydrating on the skin, and again, is really dewy. I don’t find it to transfer if I touch my face, but it does transfer a bit into a mask. The finish is just so pretty and makes me look so hydrated and healthy that I don’t mind, though.

Rose Inc Softlight Clean Dewy Hydrating Concealer - I was so excited to try some of the new Rose Inc products when they launched recently, and my favorite thing I tried has to be the concealer. (For what it’s worth, I do also love the Brow Gel and Cream Blush). I’ve been using the concealer every day and love everything about it. A little goes a long way, so it has great coverage, but it’s also very natural-looking once blended in. It does feel quite hydrating, so it never looks cakey or dry on me, even on old blemishes or on my undereyes. It has the perfect dewy finish - not so dewy that it would call attention to texture, but just dewy enough to help me look luminous and awake.

Refy Brow Sculpt - If you’re looking for a brow gel that will give you a strong hold and a laminated brow look, then this is the one for you! This is a thicker and more paste=like than your usual brow gel, but it really provides a tremendous amount of hold. There is a double-sided brush/comb inside the cap to brush and manipulate your brows in any direction, and once the product sets, they’ll stay that way. I love the amount of control this gives, and while I do sometimes have to brush out some slight white residue, the all-day hold and feathery final look is worth it.

Pat McGrath Labs Mothership IX Huetopian Dream Eyeshadow Palette - I feel like I have to include a Pat McGrath palette every time there’s a new one out before a sale. I was on the fence about Huetopian Dream at first, since I already have the Divine Rose I Palette, but I absolutely love this one. Granted, my eczema did flare up soon after buying, so I haven’t worn it as much as I’d like, but it’s still so stunning and I think the color story would be a general crowd-pleaser. I love that it has some rosier shades, and then the pops of glitter are just beautiful. As always with these palettes, the formula can’t be beat!

Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara - I’ve recently been looking to change up my everyday mascara, and this new one from Rare Beauty has really won me over. The brush grips every lash and fans them out for a really pretty fluttery look, and the formula doesn’t flake or smudge throughout the day. It gives good length and volume and holds a curl for me, and it’s just the perfect amount of drama for every day.

Makeup by Mario Soft Pop Blush Stick & Soft Sculpt Shaping Stick - I got the Shaping Stick on a whim over the summer, and I was so happy with it I went back for the Blush Stick. These have a lovely creamy formula that just glides right on and blends easily, and they have attached brushes that are actually pretty good. The blush has a really lovely glowy finish, and the contour is a soft matte. My favorite thing about these are the shades - they’re just perfection! The Shaping Stick in Light is such a good shade to both add a little bit of warmth as well as definition to my face - the undertones are perfect. I have the Blush Stick in Pale Petal, and it’s the best soft pink flush as well. I have my eye on a couple of the other blush shades if they come back in stock for the sale!

Charlotte Tilbury Hyaluronic Happikiss Lipstick Balm - I normally have tons of lip product favorites, but I’ve just been reaching for this one over and over since I got it over the summer. I’m all about comfortable, balmy lip products lately, and this is just that. It’s plush and nourishing, but I love that there’s more pigmentation than your usual tinted lip balm. I have the shade Pillow Talk, which is just perfection. In fact, I think it’s much more flattering on me than the matte lipstick version - the Happikiss Pillow Talk is just a touch deeper and rosier.

What’s on my list for the sale? I’ve been adding and subtracting things to/from my cart all week, so who knows what I’ll actually end up with. I’m definitely getting another jumbo size of the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Hair Mask because my husband and I go through so much of it. My hair hasn’t been doing great in pregnancy so far, so I’m scared to think about what it would look like if I didn’t have this hair mask to try to help it once a week! I’m also really excited for the new Tower28 SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen, although I actually got too excited to wait for the sale and ordered it from Tower28’s website last weekend - I’ve heard great things from people with different skintypes, like Kelsey from RosalieRouge and Devan from Devsday, so I think it’ll be a big seller during the sale. I’m strongly considering the Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette since I’ve finally been able to wear eyeshadow again. It looks so perfect for everyday, although I’m not sure if the shades will end up pulling too warm on me! The last thing I’m eyeing is the Armani Lip Power Satin Lipstick in 504 Flirt - I saw Joanna Spicer use this patted into a lip balm in a Get Ready With Me on either Instagram or Tiktok and it looked like the perfect kind of flushed mauve shade I’ve been looking for.

Do we have any of the same favorites? What are you thinking of picking up in the sale?

This post contains affiliate links.

New In Beauty | New Launches I'm Loving

I’ve slowly been trying to get back into the routine of blogging/content creating - I’ve missed it, but it’s really hard to pick it back up when you’ve left it as long as I have! I’ve still been testing new products here and there as new launches that I’m interested in come out. These are the things I’ve been reaching for the most lately.

Beautyblender BOUNCE Always On Radiant Skin Tint - You know me, I hear the words “skin tint” and it’s in my cart before I even realize what’s happening. Beautyblender’s new Skin Tint promises to provide light-medium coverage with a hydrating, radiant finish. It’s a thin, fluid formula that spreads easily over the skin and blends in seamlessly with fingers. It has more of a velvety, luminous finish than I was expecting - I thought it would be dewy and feel a bit tacky on the skin. It truly looks like the skin is “lit from within,” rather than wet. It seems to have a bit of a smoothing effect on me, too - it’s so perfecting without even looking like you have anything on! I agree with their claim of the light-medium coverage. It’s enough that some days I don’t even feel the need to use concealer.

Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara - Mascara is one of my favorite products to test, so once I saw the new Rare Beauty Mascara getting lots of attention, I knew I had to try it, too. It has a fluffy, fiber brush that’s not too big or too small. It grips every lash to comb product through, resulting in a really pretty, fluttery look. It adds length and volume, but if you’re looking for drama, you may want to look elsewhere. The finish is more subtle and perfect for an everyday look. The formula is more on the dry side, which I like, because it doesn’t clump or weigh down the lashes. My lashes are pretty picky and I find it doesn’t smudge or flake throughout the day, and it holds a curl well. It’s an everyday winner!

Kate McLeod Face Stone - I apologize mine doesn’t look as picture-perfect as the one on the Kate McLeod website, unfortunately mine melted in the mailbox a bit before I could bring it inside when it was delivered! But when I first saw this launch and read its key ingredients, I was sold. Kate McLeod is known for her bestselling Body Stone solid body butters, and now has expanded the line to include a product for the face. It contains a whole bunch of oils, including meadowfoam seed oil, tamanu oil, and blue tansy oil - all things I know my skin loves. Since it’s mostly oils, I use this as the last step of my nighttime skincare routine, taking care to really give myself a nice facial massage with it (if mine was still in its original shape, the massage effect would be even better!). It keeps my skin nice and nourished until morning without being too greasy, sticky, or clogging. Note: Kate McLeod’s social media team noticed my photo of the Face Stone on my Instagram Stories mentioning it was misshapen (though I totally blamed myself for not being home to take it out of the mailbox quickly enough, and didn’t complain to them at all!), and they offered to send me a fresh one - so obviously the brand has great customer service! So I will update with prettier photos once I have the new one.

Em Cosmetics So Soft Blush - These aren’t quite as new as the other products listed here, but I haven’t had a chance to talk about them yet! I love a cream blush, especially when it’s in stick form, because they’re just so easy to use and are so good for an easy everyday look. There’s a pretty good range of shades, so I think there would be something for everyone. I love the shades Pearl Tea, a brown nude, and Baby, a pale pink, and wear them both together a lot. I wear Pearl Tea more as a bronzer, and then I blend Baby into it closer to the apples of my cheeks. They’re quite creamy and blendable, (the name “So Soft” is perfect, as they practically melt into the skin) but they set down to a satin finish that doesn’t slide around. They’re pricey, but certainly one of my favorite cream blush formulas I’ve tried.

Rose Inc Softlight Clean Dewy Hydrating Concealer - I flip-flop a lot on my everyday concealer, but right now I’m loving this new one from Rose Inc, Rose Huntington-Whiteley’s new beauty brand. Right away I noticed the coverage and how far you can “stretch” just a little bit of product. It spreads so well without losing coverage, and it blends out easily and seamlessly. It lasts throughout a workday on me without fading or caking, and it does feel quite hydrating - it doesn’t dry out or accentuate dried out acne. It has a soft luminous finish that I especially love under the eyes.

MAKE Beauty Serum Balms & Pink Matter Multi Balm - I’m grouping these together, but MAKE Beauty in general has been a new discovery to me that I’ve been loving a lot. I first got a couple of their newer Serum Balms a few weeks ago and was instantly hooked. They’re a gel-like, plush balmy lip gloss that actually do feel like a treatment. They give a sheer wash of color to the lips while nourishing them all day like a lip balm would. I love them so much that I kind of want every shade. I have Nude Nova (which I wear constantly) and Lilac Layer. Since I loved the Serum Balms so much, I just got their newest lip product, Pink Matter. This is a cushion-y lip balm that feels ever-so-slightly minty when first applied, and it makes my lips look so much smoother and plumper instantly. It has more of a thick, slippy consistency, so it doesn’t feel sticky yet doesn’t slide around. It’s been my new favorite for sure - I only wish they could somehow get it into a tube or something so I could use it on the go without sticking my fingers into a pot!

What new products have you tried lately?

Earrings pictured are linked here.

This post contains affiliate links.