Friday Five: May Beauty Favorites

TGIF Everyone! This Friday Five will be featuring my May Beauty Favorites. These are five products that I've found myself using and loving all month long. They are some really great products that I would recommend to anyone to give a try. Find out why they are my favorites below!

Links Below!

1. Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream - I have always been a fan of Jergens and their different types of body lotions. I love to use the glow daily moisturizer especially in the summer, but since I hardly have any sort of tan yet, this BB Body Cream has been my thing. We all know that BB creams exist for your face, but how cool is it that there is one specifically for your body? This product is intended to hydrate & smooth, brighten & illuminate, even out skin tone, firm skim, and minimize the appearance of imperfections. I've been really liking this because I do feel that it is hydrating and helps even out my skin tone. I've noticed it the most on my legs. It is not a self tanner, so it doesn't dry streaky. It also smells really great. If you've ever tried Bath and Body Works Twilight Woods - it smells pretty much exactly like that! 

2. L'Oreal Paris Boost It High Lift Creation Spray - If you've ever had trouble teasing your hair, or getting some volume - this stuff is for you. My hair is thick and curly, so it naturally has a significant amount of volume, but this stuff just gives it some crazy lift. Spray a little at the roots and back comb your hair, and it literally stands up straight. Just be sure to smooth it out when you're done, since, you know, we no longer live in the 80s. ;)

3. Maybelline Super Stay Concealer - I have been using this concealer all month because I ran out of my favorite NYX photogenic concealer; however, I have really been enjoying this one by Maybelline. It has great coverage and that brightening effect that I love for under the eyes. 

4. Bobbi Brown Bronze Shimmer Brick - I have had this shimmer brick for years and I love it! I had stopped using it for a while for some reason, but for the past month, I've been using it everyday as a highlight and to blend my blush and bronzer together. If you saw my post from yesterday, I also used it as an eyeshadow! If you want to try something a little less expensive that you can find at the drugstore, I believe Physicians Formula and Revlon have very similar products.

5.  Essie Resort Fling Nail Polish -This Essie color has pretty much been on my nails the entire month of May. I did have to use three coats to get it to the opacity that I liked, but I just love the color so much. I will probably be using this nail polish into the summer as well!

Have a great weekend!

xox,

                  Meredith

Feelin' Bronzy

Hello, Hello! Today I bring you a makeup look using three kinds of bronzing products. Now, you may think that's a lot of bronzer, BUT they all serve a different purpose and I even use them for my eyes. The three products consist of Bobbi Brown's shimmer brick in the color Bronze Shimmer, the Milani Baked Bronzer in the shade Glow, and of course, my favorite matte Hoola Bronzer by Benefit. The three of these products together are just so gorgeous - the pictures below do not do it justice! I'd have to say I am extremely impressed with the Milani Baked Bronzer. It is very light weight, so you can go a little crazy with it, but it literally gives you this beautiful glow - and it can be found at the drugstore! Look below to see what else I used on my face :)

Face:

Foundation: CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous - Nude Beige

Concealer: Benefit Fake-up - Light

Finishing Powder - MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Natural - Medium

Cheeks: 

All Over Face Bronzer: Milani Baked Bronzer - Glow

Contour: Benefit Hoola Bronzer

Highlight: Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick - Bronze

Blush: MAC - Warm Soul

Eyes:

Base: MAC Paint Pot - Soft Ochre

Lid: Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick - Bronze (the darkest color at the bottom)

Crease: Benefit Hoola Bronzer

Eyeliner: Korres Pencil Liner & Maybelline Master Precise Liner Pen

Mascara: Too Faced Better Than Sex

Brows: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade - Dark Brown

Lips:

MAC Lipglass - Snob

xox,

                  Meredith

             

High & Low Sunglasses

Hi Everyone! I apologize for being slightly "missing in action" this week. I had a lovely long Memorial Day Weekend in Wildwood and just got home yesterday. The weather was absolutely perfect on the beach - probably some of the best MDW weather we've had in a long time. Although it is not summer for another 20 something days, being at the beach definitely kick started me into that summer mode. Now, sunglasses I use year round; however, the summer is when they are basically permanently attached to my face. My current pair of Ray-Bans are pretty beat up (I have the original Wayfarer in Tortoise), so I've been playing with the idea of purchasing a new pair. A good pair of sunglasses can be a bit of an investment, so that's why I've also found some less expensive alternatives to maybe try out and see how I like the style. Check them all out below!

         Links below!

Ray Ban ray ban eyewear
shopbop.com

Square sunglasses
shopzerouv.com

Quay acetate sunglasses
revolveclothing.com

Ray-Ban black wayfarer sunglasses
piperlime.gap.com

CÉLINE celine glasses
lindelepalais.com

Round aviator sunglasses
shopzerouv.com

Oliver Peoples sunglasses
lindelepalais.com

ASOS blue lens glasses
asos.com

xox,

                 Meredith

Friday Five: Favorite Hair Products

Happy Friday Everyone! Today's Friday Five will be featuring some of my all-time favorite hair products to use. All of the products listed are used during the blow-dry and hair-styling part of my hair routine and I absolutely love all of them. Also, be sure to check below for links and a special honorable mention product. Enjoy! :)

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

1. It's a 10 Miracle Leave-in Plus Keratin - I know I've featured this spray on here before, and for good reason. If you have naturally curly, thick, and frizzy hair - this stuff is for you. I spray this on my wet/damp hair, brush it through and then blow dry my hair. It definitely helps control the frizz and gives my blowout a smoother finish. 

2. CHI Silk Infusion - I love to use this product on my hair after I've finished blow drying. I like to take about a dime size amount in the palm of my hand and then work the product all throughout my hair, mostly focusing on the dry ends. Definitely a great product that smooths your hair and gives it that silky, shiny look.

3. Tresemme Heat Tamer Protective Spray - If you aren't using a heat protective spray before you are putting heat to your hair, well, you should be! This particular spray is great, and is literally not more than $5 at any local drugstore. This is a must have for me, especially with all the curling irons I use on my hair.

4. Loreal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray - I cannot stress enough how much I love this hairspray. It is a little more pricey for a drugstore product, but I'm telling you, it's worth it. This is the only spray I've come across where you can continue to style your hair after already spraying the product. It does not give your hair that sticky hairspray feeling at all, and is just overall a great hairspray.

5. Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo - If you're like me and don't need to wash your hair every day, then you've probably already been introduced to the wonderful world of dry shampoo. My sister introduced me to dry shampoo a few years ago, and I cannot believe I ever lived without it. If you've never used it, try it! Spray some on your roots, shake up your hair with your fingers, and be prepared to see some crazy volume. I love dry shampoo so much, I even use it on a clean head of hair because I like the texture it gives my hair. This particular brand I have been loving, and it smells great!

Honorable Mention:

Find it here!

Garnier Fructis Style Sleek Finish 5-in-1 Serum Spray - I could not complete this hair post without giving some credit to this guy. I think this product is fairly new, but it is definitely worth a try. I've had for it a couple of months now and I use it after I've finished styling my hair. A little bit goes a long way with this stuff, so don't spray too much, especially by your roots. But a nice mist at the ends of your hair, and it just transforms the texture to this beautifully soft feeling sleek finish. Great, great finishing spray. Try it and love it, my friends.

Have a beautiful, fun, and safe holiday weekend!

xox,

                  Meredith

Memorial Day Weekend Fashion Lookbook

Since Memorial Day Weekend is only a few days away, I figured why not do a fashion post with some outfit ideas for the weekend. Memorial Day Weekend aka the big MDW is known for three things: barbecues, barbecues, and more barbecues. I will be attending one this Saturday with my family, and I know many of you will be at some too! However, this time of the year is always a little tricky with what exactly to wear. It's not quite summer yet, but the weather is basically warm enough to show a little more skin. Below you will find four casual, weather appropriate looks. I think I will be going with the second look, since I already own pretty much everything. Now, these are just ideas, so feel free to adjust accordingly and mix and match! If you would like to see where you can find any of the items, they are all linked below!

 

Top / Shorts / Sandals / Earrings / Rings / Necklace / Sunglasses / Lipgloss

 Top / Denim / Sandals / Necklace / Ring / Sunglasses / Lipgloss

 Jacket / Romper / Espadrilles / Rings / Pendant / Lipstick

Top / Skirt / Sandals / Necklace / Earrings / Sunglasses / LipButter

Which one is your favorite?!

xox,

                 Meredith

May Ipsy Glam Bag - Fresh Picks

Today I will be showing you what I got in my May 2014 Ipsy Glam Bag! For those of you who don't know what Ipsy is, it is a monthly subscription service where you receive your little Glam Bag along deluxe samples that include full-sized beauty products. When you sign up, you are prompted to take a quiz so that your bag can be matched specifically to you. It's only $10 a month, so if you like samples and experimenting with different beauty products, this is for you! Look below to see what i got - I think I am most excited to try the concealer and hair oil!

Avène
Thermal Spring Water

Hang Ten
Classic Sport SPF50

Boo-Boo Cover-Up
Boo-Boo Cover-up: Medium Shade

Pacifica
Mineral Eyeshadow Duo

Balanced Guru
No Frizz Organic Sesame and Lemongrass Balancing Oil

xox,

                Meredith

Nordstrom Picks

This post on this beautiful Tuesday is dedicated to the sacred land of Nordstrom. I absolutely love Nordstrom because they have all of my favorite brands, always free shipping, and they just carry some really great merchandise. If you've never ventured out to Nordstrom, or checked out the online shop, you're missing out! Below I've included some of the things I've had my eye on from there. Basically, if I could go on a little Nordstrom shopping spree, I would purchase everything listed below!

Links Below!

xox,

                   Meredith

Some New Jewels

A nice motto to live by is "you can never have too much fashion jewelry". Statement necklaces and fashion jewelry in general is a total trend at the moment, and you don't even need to spend a lot of money to get some really beautiful pieces. Over the past few weeks, I've added some new fashion jewelry pieces to my growing collection. Look below for pictures and to see where I got them!

H&M:

PacSun:

ShoeDazzle:

Have a wonderful day!

xox,

                  Meredith