Dre Does August Favorites

{Click to Enlarge}

As August comes to a close, it's time to get ready for fall. Throughout the month I was trying to get my last bit of summery looks in ; bronzed skin and eyes, dewy glows, and pink shades. I love the freshness of summer makeup, but I'd be lying if I said that fall makeup isn't my favorite. I'm really excited for what is to come on Dre Does this fall seeing as it's my first here on the blog! But let's get back to what I was loving this month.

1. Amber Lights Eyeshadow by MAC: Every summer I love to use this color as much as possible. It looks so amazing with brown eyes and a darker complexion to begin with but it's even more amazing with bronzed skin. I've been using it as a lid color but also as an inner corner highlight if the rest of my look is a bit darker. I love using it to transition into the fall because it goes great with burgundy and purple.

2. tarte Amazonian Clay 12-HR Foundation: I love this foundation so much for oily skin. The clay helps control my oil throughout the day and I don't have to set it with powder so I love how easy it is. I've talked about this plenty though so I'm going to leave it at that!

3. Cargo Swimmables Blush in Bali: I have been wearing this blush almost every day in August because it's a step up from a pale pink shade. It's a beautiful cool toned baby pink but it has this purple iridescence to it that is just gorgeous when the light hits it. Also because it is from the 'Swimmables' line from Cargo, it is extremely long wearing. 

4. It's Potent Eye Cream from Benefit Cosmetics: Since I represent Benefit now, I have been trying out various products and I love this eye cream. I am really picky when it comes to eye creams because I am oily and a lot of times eye creams can be heavy and thick. I like one that will moisturize and get the job done without leaving my eye area too greasy for makeup so this one is perfect. I also love the refreshing scent that all the Benefit Skincare products have.

5. Loreal Infallible 24-Hr Eyeshadow in Amber Rush: I love these eyeshadows! They are so metallic and easy to use. This color is to die for and one of the shades I've been using a lot this month because it brightens the whole eye area and looks amazing with bronzed skin.

6. Marrakesh Endz Hair Oil: I received this hair oil in my Ipsy Glambag last month and I am obsessed. I will be buying a full size asap because I don't want to go without it. I apply a small amount after my shower to damp ends and it makes my hair so soft and shiny. I don't go a day without it. To see that Ipsy review click here.

7. Lorac Pro Matte Lip Color in Mauve: If you haven't figured out that I'm obsessed with these lip products yet then you might be living under a rock. My last few posts have included them so look back to see that if you'd like! I'm not going to go to in depth with them because I wrote a review on them but they are nothing short of amazing.

8. Benefit's Porefessional Primer: I have never been so in love with a primer. I wear this every day under my foundation because it does such an amazing job of smoothing my large pores and making everything blend out perfectly. I love how light it feels compared to some of the other primers that target pores. I always go around at work and test of the other primers and I find that I love the texture and softness of Porefessional the best!

What were you loving during the month of August? Leave me a comment below and let me know!

Have a beautiful September,

Dre

Dre Does a Fashion Quick Fix

As I was getting dressed yesterday morning I put on a dress that I love. The only problem is that depending on what bra I wear, it is sometimes see-through. Which got me thinking. I hate when you have to wear a tank or camisole under a dress because you can see your bra. Normally they bunch at my waist and they're impossible to keep straight and smooth. So I went back to my closet and pulled out my trusty black crop top. I know what you're thinking. How is a crop top going to fix this? Well, since this particular crop top is tight fitting it is perfect for wearing under dresses as a shortened camisole! I have done this numerous times and I highly suggest investing in some crop tops for this reason even if you wouldn't wear them alone! Since they are shorter they generally end at your natural waist and there won't be any excess fabric left to bunch up and make awkward rolls through your dress! 

Do you have any fashion quick fixes like this? Leave me a comment and let me know! 

Have a beautiful week,

Dre

Dre Does Makeup Looks For The Week

I've been taking pictures of my makeup for work most days and sharing them on my Instagram (@dre_does) for inspiration. I thought it would be nice to every so often share how I created the looks for those of you who are curious!

First up is this gorgeous look centered around one of my favorite MAC shadows of all time, Amber Lights. It such a beautiful summer and fall orangey bronze color that really stands out. I also used Orb in the brow bone, Cork as my transition shade throughout my crease and Handwritten to really deepen up the crease and blend out Amber Lights. Lastly I'm wearing my usual mascara, Benefit's They're Real and my upper and lower water lines are lined with Jane Cosmetics' Water Resistent Black Eyeliner. (All three looks are completed with these two steps!)

For this look I started with White Chocolate from the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette on my brow bone, Salted Caramel also from Chocolate Bar as my transition color in the crease, Colombia by Cargo Cosmetics in the outer V, and then after spraying a flat shader brush with some MAC Fix +, I gently pressed Loreal's Infallible 24 Hr Shadow in Amber Rush on the lid. I love the look I get by pressing this product over the other shadows. You can still see the definition I gave my outer V through the pressed pigment and it gives a really cool look to the eye! 

For this last look I only used 3 shadows and it was a quick and easy look for a morning I was running a bit late! They all came from the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette (can you tell how much I love this thing yet? Haha). I used White Chocolate on the brow bone, White Chocolate in the crease and Amaretto on the lid. I just blended everything really well and smoked out the shadows and it looks way more time consuming then it really is! I was really going for an all over bronzed look this day because I'm trying to fit as much bronze in as possible before summer ends! Haha

Let me know if you like these kinds of posts! I love sharing my makeup looks with you because it forces me to try out different combinations and not just stick to my normal looks.

Have a beautiful weekend,

Dre

Dre Does a Lorac PRO Matte Lip Color Review

I was going to wait until I picked up some more shades of these before I did a review but I can't wait any longer! I am obsessed with this lip product. I swatch them all the time at work and recommend them to women almost daily haha. If you haven't played with them yet, you need to! I own the shade Mauve and it is amazing. It's basically a darker shade of my natural lip color. As it wears it dries a little darker but I love it just the same. These lip colors go on so smoothly for a matte product. I love that they are in a twistable pencil form because it makes them so easy to apply (like a fat lip liner). They definitely don't feel matte when they go on but after a little while they dry to a nice matte finish. What I love about them though is that they don't dry your lips out or look super cracked and dry as they wear. I feel like they almost make my lips look fuller and more plump because of how they wear. 

Now let's talk about the staying power. They last so incredibly long! The main color and outline will for sure last you all day but I'd say that the only part I had to touch up was the inner part of my lips but that's from eating and drinking throughout the day. I recommend them to women always if they are looking for a matte long wearing lip color. The range of colors is great too; all the way from nude to a deep Merlot shade. I especially love how they have a few rosy shades, like Mauve, that vary in tone so everyone can find a natural lip color that suits them best. 

Overall there are 12 shades in total (I will probably buy most of them for my makeup kit because they are that good!) and they retail for $16 each! Now for some swatches of the shade Mauve!

If you try one out let me know which shade you chose! 

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does Current Fall Fashion Lusts

As much as I don't want to admit it because it means summer is coming to an end, I am really excited for fall. I baked my first fall-themed recipe (apple cinnamon muffins that were too die for!) and I've been glancing more at fall fashion so I think it's time I admit it. I'M READY FOR YOU FALL! It's like the time when I kept listening to Rhianna songs on repeat but refused to admit that I liked her. Was that a bad analogy? Oh well! Let's talk clothes!!

Warning: I wear a lot of black as a makeup artist, so I gravitate towards black. I just can't help it! It is so easy to pair and always matches a red lip. As Rachel Zoe once said, "I'll stop wearing black when they make a darker color".

I tried this blazer on at H&M last week, in all black (shocker!) and I was in love. This pastel pink color is really starting to grow on me though. The leather detailing along the lapel and the pockets is so great and it fit so well. You're probably wondering why I didn't get it, but the truth is I was visiting this H&M for the first time since it opened and I had a strict list of what I needed and I was trying so hard not to deviate from it. Go me. I'm going to be going back soon and I figured if that size 6 black blazer is still waiting there for me, it will just be meant to be in my closet. Maybe it will even take a trip into Sale-land before then. (A girl can dream)

This skirt from Express gives me life. I love anything that hits at your natural waist because I am definition hour glass shaped and if I don't emphasize my natural waist, I can look much heavier than I actually am. I love how this is knee length but has the sheer panel. I think it adds a classy bit of sexiness in an unexpected way. I will for sure be stalking this online and waiting for some great Express coupons to make sure it becomes mine!

This jacket from The Gap is beautiful. If you know me personally you probably know my obsession with Gap. I get all of my jeans and pants from them and find that if I want a good classic piece that is going to last in my wardrobe for a while, The Gap is my place to go. I love the shade of gray of this jacket and can already think of a million tanks in my closet that I would pair it with to transition my summer wardrobe into fall.

You will be seeing many more of these posts as we get closer to fall and I spend more time browsing fall collections. What do you have your eye on for fall? Send me links, pictures, whatever! I love to get inspiration from others. 

Have a beautiful start to your week,

Dre

Dre Does a Sun Damage warning!

Today's post is short and sweet. A friend and fellow esthetician (thanks Laura!) shared this video on Facebook and it's a must watch! A lot of people don't understand the importance of wearing sunscreen and what the sun can do/ has already done to our skin. Enjoy and please wear your SPF! Happy Friday my beautiful friends!

Have a beautiful weekend,

Dre

Dre Does a Classic Makeup Look

A while ago I wrote a review on the Naked Basics palette showing how it was an absolute necessity for all women. So today as I was doing my makeup for work I decided to do a look completely with a palette and share with you all so you could see how wonderful it actually is! (Pssst. Urban Decay announced they will be releasing a Naked Basics 2 Palette so you can only imagine how excited I am for that release!!!) The look I chose is very classic because I knew I wanted to pair it with MAC Ruby Woo because I haven't worn it in awhile and I live for this lipstick. (Also don't mind my beautiful pajamas that I was getting ready in....haha)

 

This look was super easy. I simply first applied W.O.S. all over the lid and up to my brow. Next I used a fluffy crease brush (I'm not sure of the brand because it's old and rubbed off!) to blend Naked 2 into my crease.  Next I concentrated Faint into the outer V with my Sigma E39 that was slightly more dense to give me a more concentrated application. I went back to my other blending brush that I used Naked 2 with, and without adding any extra color I blended everything more. Lastly I used my favorite Real Techniques Eye brush the base shadow brush to further define the outer V by mixing Faint with Crave. After some more blending with my Sigma E71, I used my favorite eyeliner, Benefit's They're Real Push Up Liner to give myself some winged liner. For me this isn't that dramatic but if you're new to winged liner start small and work your way up to more drama! Two coats of my favorite mascara Benefit's They're Real, and the look was done. All I had to do was add my Ruby Woo lipstick and this classic makeup look was done!

What do you think? Let me know if you try this look! Send me pictures on Instagram with the #DreDoes if you do!!

Have a beautiful day friends,

Dre

Dre Does an Ipsy Review

I hope you didn't mind my quick posts of my previous two Ipsy Glambags! I'm back with my review of my July bag and I couldn't be more excited to share this month's bag because it is my favorite so far. Let's start off with this bag. It's a hot pink faux leather material with gorgeous scalloped edges! I would seriously use this as a clutch on a night out because it's so adorable. I used it recently to hold makeup items on a day trip to Chicago and the bright color makes it super easy to find in a massive black purse and I even got a compliment on it from a stranger!

Now you'll notice that my bag has an extra 6th item in it because I chose to redeem some points! Each month when you receive your bag, you get the opportunity to share your bag on Facebook, take some surveys, etc. in order to not only keep Ipsy updated on what your liking and disliking, but also you can earn points! You can also earn points if someone signs up for Ipsy with your link. Once you reach 1,000 points, you can choose between a few different options and redeem them for another item in your upcoming Ipsy Glambag. I saw this bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie lipstick as an option and after receiving a baby sized one in a previous Glambag, I knew I had to snag this lipstick! I love the formula and the shade that was offered 'Light It Up', is a beautiful coral for summer! I was expecting to get another baby sized lipstick so you can imagine how pleasantly surprised I was to find that this redemption got me a full sized lipstick valued at $18! This month was already off to a great start with the beautiful bag and free full sized lipstick, but let's get onto the actual July bag!

First up, we have another bareMinerals product, that I was dying to try. I work for Benefit at an Ulta Beauty so I am surrounded by new makeup products and I had been eying these BB Cream Eyeshadows.  They are 5-in-1 and claim to do these five things; provide 12-hr long wear, prime the eyelids, have powerful brightening effects, smooth fine lines, and protect with an SPF 15. I received the shade Divine Wine which is a pretty taupe brown shade that I really love. I have only worn it once, but I was really happy with the application and wear of it. I like how thin the product is so I think if you want to create a very specific shape for your eye look, this would be an amazing product to start with. It was very easy to apply shadows after and blend so I can't wait to wear it more. A full size 5-in-1 BB Cream Shadow is 0.10 fl oz and valued at $18. So the adorable 0.03 fl oz size included in the Glambag is valued at $5.40!

Next, we have the Marrakesh Endz Argan & Hemp Oil Therapy Split End Mender & Preventer. This product smells absolutely amazing and I can already say I will be buying a full size of this product once my current hair oil is gone. I have been putting it on my damp hair after I get out of the shower and I can see a huge difference in how soft and moisturized my hair feels once dry. I love that the product contains NO: animal testing, animal ingredients, drying alcohols, parabens, THC, Dyes, propylene glycol, petroleum, or phthalates. The full size is 4 oz. and valued at $17.99, so this 1 oz. deluxe sample is worth $4.50, bringing the Glambag total so far to $9.90.

I received another product from the brand Hang Ten this month, this time it was a Dark Tanning Oil with SPF 8. While I haven't had the chance to spend much time in the sun recently, I can say that I'm happy to have received this tanning oil because it is organic and does still have an SPF in it. I will update you in an Instagram post probably once I use this and the Hang Ten SPF that I received in a previous bag, so if you aren't already following me on there go do it! CLICK HERE for the link! This tanning oil uses a natural sunscreen and is water resistant so I know I will like it! The full size is worth $11.99 at 8 oz, so this deluxe sample of 1 oz. is valued at $1.50. Current total of the Glambag? $11.40!

Next we have a deluxe sample sized nail polish from the brand Whet in the shade Facetious. I love that the definition of whet was on the packing and said "[hwet, wet] to stimulate curiosity, appetite and desire". I had never heard of the brand before but was super intrigued by the color. The polish is three free and vegan, made in the US and claims to be 7 day chip resistant. I wore it when I went on that Chicago day trip and it was such a beautiful color. The best way I can describe it is as a neon cobalt blue, which seems silly because cobalt is dark, but in the sun it was so vibrant and beautiful. I have to say it didn't last the whole 7 days without chipping, but I rarely find a nail polish that actually stands up to claims like that so I'm not too disappointed. A full size Whet nail polish is 5 fl oz. and is valued at $15, so this 0.3 fl oz. sample is worth $9, bringing our current total to $20.40!

The last item to come in my July Glambag was the cutest little baby pencil eyeliner I've ever seen! Haha! It is a Black SILK mini kajal kohl-liner by Lord & Berry. I have yet to use it but it seems like your average black pencil eye kohl liner pencil. It has a semi-matte finish and is very dark and creamy. I will do a similar Instagram update when I have used it and seen it wear throughout the day!
While I can't seem to find how much product is in a full size pencil, I know it's worth $16 and if I had to guess I would say the sample is about a third of the size of a normal pencil, so we're going to estimate and say this sample was worth $5.33! This brings our grand total to $25.73.

To be honest I'm shocked that this bag is only valued at around $26! I think it goes to show that you don't have to spend ridiculous amounts of money on really high end products, when there are cheaper alternatives that do a great job as well. Even though this bag is worth the least amount of all the Ipsy Glambags I've received, I would still say it was my favorite! With the bonus bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie lipstick that I redeemed too, this bag is worth $43.73, which is even better when I technically only paid the normal $10!

As usual, here are my previous Ipsy reviews:

May and June Mini Review ($37.67 & 37.36)

March Ipsy Review ($46.71)

February Ipsy Review ($45.02)

January Ipsy Review ($38.17)

December Ipsy Review ($57.17)

Click here to subscribe to Ipsy yourself!

 

Have a beautiful week my friends!

Dre

Dre Does Products I've Used Up

If you watch any beauty related YouTube videos consistently, you're probably familiar with people doing videos on products they have used up or 'empties' as they're sometimes called. If you are unaware of this topic, I think it's a very valuable one because it allows you to see the stuff I'm using. If I've used it until it is gone, I think it gives me enough time to really decide how I feel about a product and give you ladies a better opinion. Plus it allows me a chance to say whether or not I would repurchase it! So here we are with a post devoted to products I have recently used up!

1. Neutrogena makeup remover cleansing towelettes (the original blue pack): These are my favorite wipes to this day. I always use a makeup wipe to remove my face and residual eye makeup before I cleanse and I have been using these for years! I've tried numerous other brands and even the store brand versions of the Neutrogena ones but I always come back to these. They are gentle enough and don't burn my eyes, but still manage to get all of the makeup off. I like the texture of the actual wipe too! I actually have a bag that I have been collecting all of these empty products in and it holds 3 of these! Case in point. Haha 

Verdict: Buying, bought, will continue to buy them again. Haha

2. Bioré Makeup Removing Towelettes: Here I was trying out a new wipe and I hated these. They burned my eyes so terribly and I wasn't even using them to remove my eye makeup. These got reassigned to switching duty. I always keep cheaper makeup wipes on hand by my makeup collection and where I do my makeup so that if I need to remove anything off my hands or fingers, whatever, I have something to wipe with. These were only used for this reason. Haha

Verdict: Don't waste the money!

3. Forever 21 Love & Beauty Lavender Makeup Cleansing Tissues: I'm not even going to pretend I tried these on my face because to be honest, I'm a little scared to let something so cheap ($2.80 for 30) touch my face so these were bought with the intention of only using them for swatching and they got the job done! Loved them for this! (The only picture I could find was of the grapefruit scent. As with most Forever 21 stuff, the actual colors and styles you find in the store are really hit or miss so who knows what scents they currently have! Haha) 

Verdict: For the face? No, but worth it for swatching reasons.

4. Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil Deluxe Sample: I'm obsessed with this stuff and so sad that I used it up. It lasted me a long time because you need hardly any but it really is the perfect facial oil. Even though I'm oily I loved how plump and bright it made my skin feel. Some people like to use it as their moisturizer but you can also use it before or after it. While the big bottle is pretty expensive at $45 I know that it will last a long time, so I'm excited to be picking it up soon. I got my sample through Sephora so keep an eye out if you're wanting to try it. They do make a smaller roller ball version if you don't want to commit to trying the huge bottle but I will always recommend this awesome product. 

Verdict: Yes! Let me bathe in Maracuja Oil. Hahaha ok slightly dramatic...

5. Jane Water-Resistant Eye Liner in Black: I've mentioned these eyeliners before and I love them. This is seriously such a hidden gem as far as drugstore makeup goes. It's so inexpensive and I've gone through at least 3 of these. They come in a multitude of colors too! It is so creamy and dark and really stays on so well. I love that it is a twist up pencil so you don't have to worry about sharpening it, but it doesn't break constantly. Sometimes I find that twist up products dry out and break super easy but this isn't the case with this liner.

Verdict: Yes! Get one in every color, especially black.

6. Maybelline Dream Fresh BB 8-in-1 Beauty Balm Skin Perfector in Medium: This honestly got thrown out because it was old. The reason it sat so long and got old was because I wasn't the biggest fan. It's not that it was specifically bad, it just didn't do much. It was too thin of a texture for me. As far as BB creams go, I think there are far better products to try since everyone is creating BB and CC creams now, so I think I would want something with more coverage that has better ingredients in it.

Verdict: Probably won't ever try again and wouldn't recommend. 

There are the first six products that I've used up. These posts will usually be really random collections of products but I'd love your feedback on this type of post! I like stuff like this so I can get people's opinions but I want to know how you enjoy it!

Have a beautiful day, 

Dre

Dre Does Quick Skin Care Tips for the Eyes

I can't believe how long it's been since I've done a quick tips post! So here I am with some of my go to tips regarding a very important skin care topic; your eye are. The eyes are one of the first areas to show signs of aging so it's never too early to start thinking about incorporating some steps into your skin care routine, no matter your age!

1. Eye Cream First! Always apply your eye cream before you apply your moisturizer for the rest of your face. I see a lot of women apply it last or not really thinking about what step it should be. If you're applying a product for a specific problem (say to de-puff and moisturize under the eyes) you want that product to penetrate first in your target area before you put something more general (like an all over face moisturizer). The skin around your eyes is the thinnest and first to get dehydrated so applying the products in the correct order is crucial!

2. Under-Eye Concealer: I am no stranger to dark circles under my eyes so when it comes to doing my makeup I don't ever skip the undereye concealer. Regardless of what concealer you are using, always make sure you are tapping the product into your skin with your ring finger instead of swiping it. This will allow you to really warm up the product with the heat from your finger tips, while being really gentle. It will also help it blend into the area instead of smearing over it. You'll get a much more natural application that will cover the dark areas more effectively. 

3. Cold Spoons: If you have a problem with puffiness in the mornings because you're either tired or have allergies, try leaving two spoons in the freezer overnight. In the morning, pop them out and place them right over your eyes to cool and help taking down any swelling. The curves fit perfectly into your eye sockets! This is a great tip for the summertime to stay cool too. 

Remember, preventative skin care is always a good idea! Do you have any tips and tricks relating to the eyes that you'd like to share? Leave me a comment below and let me know!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does an Ipsy Review

Long story short, I moved and my Ipsy Glambags got lost and delayed. So we're here now 3 months behind. Whoops. Instead of completely skipping over two months worth of IPSY Glambags, I've decided to include what I got for my May and June bags with the price breakdown and then I'll do my normal July review within the next week! 

To be honest this bag for May was the most underwhelmed I've felt so far with Ipsy. I was surprised to calculate that it was worth $37.67 because I didn't think it would be. If it wasn't for the Pur-lisse hydra-moist face moisturizer sample valued at around $16 though, it wouldn't have been worth as much. I do like to see deluxe sizes of expensive products though so in the end I think it was a smart move for Ipsy if the rest of the products weren't going to be valued at as much. I think for a spring bag it was great to get more skincare related products than makeup because I really like to keep my skin in check with the summer weather changes. Both the Hang Ten SPF 50 sunscreen and Avène Thermal Spring Water are great to keep in your purse for when you need a high SPF or your face deeps some moisture from a facial spray. Click here to read about my pool routine so you can see why I like to keep them on hand! I always love a good cream shadow base, so it was nice to try one from City Color in a pretty gold shimmery shade. Lastly, the full size Nailtini Polish was a nice addition since in May it's time to start making sure those toes are looking good at all times with the upcoming sandal weather! 

My June bag was valued at almost the exact same at $37.36! While I was completely in love with three products, I threw out the Be a Bombshell mascara (because it smelled so terribly of cheap tar) and I'm not a huge fan of perfume samples in a sample pack I'm paying for, so the Real Tree sample wasn't my favorite. A NYX butter gloss that I already love is always a plus in my book, so when paired with a Marc Anthony Beach Spray for your hair that smells like summer and a universal eyebrow pencil from OFRA, I was happy with the month of June. I like that you can get various shades of the product based on how much pressure you apply, so many people can use it! And can we talk about how great the bag was for June, designed by Rebecca Minkoff?! I love the floral print! 

Stay tuned for my July Ipsy Review friends! We will get back to how I normally review the bags with descriptions of each product individually and price breakdowns! I can't wait to show you how great the July bag is! Thanks for hanging tight in the mean time because I know how much you guys love the Ipsy reviews. If any of the products above caught your attention though, please feel free to comment on them and I'll be happy to answer questions or review them further!

And as usual, here are the links to my previous Ipsy Reviews! You can tell just by the numbers the past few months haven't been worth as much as previous months, but I like that I'm getting a larger variety of products so this doesn't bother me. The whole point of a subscription service like this is to try new types and brands of products, so as long as I'm getting a value of over $30 for spending only $10, I'd consider it worth it!

March Ipsy Review ($46.71)

February Ipsy Review ($45.02)

January Ipsy Review ($38.17)

December Ipsy Review ($57.17)

Click here to subscribe to Ipsy yourself!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does July Favorites

| Click to enlarge |

I never really realize how fast the months go by until I do my favorites posts. I feel like yesterday was the 4th of July! As usual my month was really busy, getting used to a new job and dealing with a severe allergic reaction to something so while I didn't try that many new products out, I have been loving some good ones! So let's recap the items I've been obsessed with this month! 

1. Browzings by Benefit Cosmetics: I have been using this product nonstop since I started working as a Benefit Arch Expert. I use it on every guest to map their brows for waxing, but also use it daily on my brows. I love that it comes with both a tinted wax and powder. I use a quick tap of them both together to fill and define my brows. The wax helps hold brow hairs in place and also makes the powder adhere better. It gives a very natural, yet defined look that I love!

2. Revlon Colorstay Foundation: I hadn't tried this foundation until June but I'm obsessed. It really does last all day and I love that it comes in two formulas (one for drier skin types and the other for combo/oily skin types). I really like mixing it with other foundations to give a long lasting flawless finish to my skin. 

3. Tarte Amazonian Full Coverage 12-HR Foundation: This foundation is a holy grail product as well. I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned it before, but I love the texture. It's a mousy one that gives a liquid to powder feeling to the skin. It's buildable from medium to full coverage and for oily skin it's a dream! When you rub it in, it really feels like nothing on the skin! It's no secret that I have a love affair for tarte cosmetics so if you're oily and wanting to try out a new higher end foundation, go give it a look!

4. Benefit's They're Real PushUp Liner: I know that this new product from Benefit has been getting mixed reviews but I truly love it. I have a very hard time finding a liner with an applicator that I love but this one is amazing! One unique feature that I love is that you control the amount of product you use by clicking it up at the bottom. If you're comfortable with liquid and gel liners I definitely think you should try this one. I can apply a big dramatic winged liner in the morning before work and know that when I get home 10 hours later it will look the exact same as when I left. I love the matte finish too. It looks very natural. I love to show guests how using the flat and wide applicator you can create a "no eyeliner, eyeliner" look to make your lash line look fuller. Comment below if you'd like to see how I accomplish this!

5. White Straw Tribal Clutch from LOFT: I hate to include things you can no longer find but I like the idea behind this bag so I had to include it. I bought this at LOFT probably about 2 or 3 summers ago because I loved it. It was neutral and summery, but could fit a lot. The tribal print trend has been going for awhile but I thought this was a more subtle way to incorporate it into my wardrobe because it wasn't as flashy. I can't even begin to tell you how much I use this bag. It pairs with everything in the summer and gives an interesting texture to outfits and can be paired with black and white or even bright colors! If you find something you love and you can picture using in multiple ways, I say always get it. 

6. Essie quick-e Drying Drops: I can't do my nails without these drops anymore. Half the time I skip out on doing my nails because I don't have time to sit around and wait for them to dry. Not anymore! Just use the little dropper to apply a 1 to 2 little drops per nail and you're polish will be dry in no time! I love them and highly recommend them to all nail polish junkies or women on the go!

7. Cargo Swimmables Water Resistant Bronzer: I bought this bronzer because the ULTA I work at is no longer carrying Cargo Cosmetics so it was ridiculously discounted. I actually bought 12 other products too for a steal so look for a review on all of that soon! Luckily you can still buy the products on Cargo's website so when I fell in love with this bronzer I had to share. While I haven't gone swimming with it on because I'm not a fan of wearing makeup in the water, I do find it has great lasting power all day! The tone is really nice, a little warmer then I like to use for contouring but since it has shimmer I use it to give my face more of a glow anyways! It's also very smooth and blendable.

What were you loving this month? Leave a comment and let me know! I'm always down to try new things :) Hope your July was fantastic and happy August!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre