Monday, March 26, 2018

Favorite Spring Makeup and Beauty Finds


If there's one thing I'm always on the hunt for, its a new makeup product - you can never have enough! I swear once I buy a bag full of products at Sephora and think I've got my makeup bag covered, I go home to find that my mascara just ran out, my blush compact cracked, etc. We all know how it goes :) Yesterday on Instagram, I shared in my stories a few make up products I purchased a while back that I wanted to share. Some were definite "hits" that have been game-changers for my makeup routine - like holy-grail finds! 


Estee Lauder Double Wear Liquid Foundation

I'd heard a lot of great things about this foundation and was excited to get my hands on a bottle! The foundation is very long-wear. You can tell right when you put it on that it's going to last a long time! I put it on first thing in the morning before work and it lasts through the work day, no touch ups needed. If you're looking for full coverage, this is a great option that will last you awhile - a little goes a long way! Try applying it with a beauty blender or a foundation brush and it'll give you a flawless look [I use both but prefer to apply it with a foundation brush]. 



Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder: 

So if you watched my Instastories then you heard my story on how I used to apply two different foundations to my face - the first one as foundation and the second one to "set" it.... LOL I'm definitely no expert, that's for sure! I talked to the sales associate at Sephora and this setting powder has rave reviews. It sets everything in place and makes your skin look flawless! If you have oily or combo skin, this powder would work great paired with any foundation. 



Bare Minerals Stroke of Lights Eye Brightener: 

For years I've used drugstore concealers and never had a problem, but lately I've noticed more dark circles [hello aging], so I decided to invest. I'll be honest, this product doesn't do the best at covering my dark undereyes, but it works great as a base for highlighter! I like to use this product down my nose and along my jawbone to create shadowing with my bronzer. Again, it's supposed to be an eye brightener, but I like to use it for contouring my face instead. If you're looking for a drugstore concealer, Covergirl's Ready, Set Concealer works pretty good for the price [$5!]. I use the shade ivory. 



Evian Facial Spray: 

I've tried setting sprays before and for some reason they always feel sticky on my face or make my skin more oily, therefore defeating the purpose of a setting spray. Although this isn't a true setting spray, it works really well for my combo skin! It definitely helps set my makeup but doesn't make it look too oily or dewy. I like to throw a few bottles in my purse for work to help refresh my face during the work day. Not to mention it just feels gooooood when you spray it on! Maybe it's just water... who knows... but I'll keep buying this "wonder water" spray because it's been a game changer for my makeup routine! 




I would love to hear your makeup must-haves! What should I try next?! 

Monday, March 12, 2018

Work Pant Favorites Under $100



Hey friends! As many of you know, I recently made the move from working in event planning to the financial services industry as a Wealth Advisor.  With this career change came a wardrobe update, which is definitely an added bonus :) I know many of you also work in a professional environment, so I figured you understand the agony of trying to find new work pants every year. Good, quality work pants are so hard to find now-a-days. You're either spending an arm and a leg for one beautifully tailored pair of pants or you're running to Target every month and buying new Merona skinnys (I still do this! #noshameinmygame). Over the last couple years I've found a few options that I personally love and luckily they're all under $100, so today I'm sharing the pros and cons of each of my favorite picks.

Also, these pictures were taken on my iPhone after work so I apologize for the low-quality mirror selfies!


J.Crew High Rise Cameron Pant

Price: $79.99
Colors: black, navy, gray and olive green
Fit: TTS, available in regular, tall and petite sizes







J.Crew High Rise Cameron Pant

Price: $79.99
Colors: black, navy, gray and olive green
Fit: TTS, available in regular, tall and petite sizes

PROS: I love that these are high rise, yet not restricting. You know how some high-rise pants may look great in the tummy area but make you feel bloated? These don't feel like that! They fit like a glove and are great quality for the price. I like that they have a double button fly and the material is comfortable, but keeps its shape. They also don't wrinkle easily. The biggest bonus of all is that these are machine washable! I've washed and dried these at least once and they kept their shape quite well. The look of these are very professional, classic and "dressy". They would be perfect for a business professional office environment.

CONS: I wish they made these in a few spring colors like a cream or pink color, but they have all the staple colors that you need. Because these pants are more of a dressy look, if you have a more casual office environment you may not need a pant like this. Not much to complain about with these!



Banana Republic Sloan Skinny-Fit Solid Pant

Price: $52.80 - $59.80 with code BRFAMILY
Colors: black, navy, charcoal, dusty pink, red and various other colors and prints
Fit: Slightly larger fit, go down a size; available in short, regular and long
Currently 40% off with code BRFAMILY




Banana Republic Sloan Skinny-Fit Solid Pant

Price: $52.80 - $59.80 with code BRFAMILY
Colors: black, navy, charcoal, dusty pink, red and various other colors and prints
Fit: Slightly larger fit, go down a size; available in short, regular and long
Currently 40% off with code BRFAMILY

PROS: These pants are very flattering and would look great on many different body types. I like that they flare out a little at the ankle, so they're easy to style with any type of shoe, like pointed toe flats or heels. These aren't as dressy as the Cameron pant, but the dark navy color I have works well in a professional environment. Comfort level wise, these are by far the most roomy. I ordered my normal size and probably could've sized down (not mad about it!). The sizes are available in short, regular and long to accommodate various pant lengths. They also have TONS of different colors and prints available.

CONS: These pants are dry clean only, which for some might be a "pro", but for me it's a con because I don't have too many dry clean only pieces. Not to mention dry cleaning bills are steeeeeep. I noticed throughout the day these pants seemed to lose their shape some, and they're wrinkle prone. Nothing that can't be fixed with a quick swipe of a steamer, but throughout the day I noticed how wrinkly the top portion was.  

     

White House Black Market Body Comfort Side-Zip Skinny Ankle Pant

Price: $29.99 without a code
Colors: black, navy and heather gray
Fit: TTS
Currently 60% off in "Sale" section, no code needed


White House Black Market Body Comfort Side-Zip Skinny Ankle Pant

Price: $29.99 without a code
Colors: black, navy and heather gray
Fit: TTS
Currently 60% off in "Sale" section, no code needed

PROS: These are a knit pant, so they feel like a legging! They are very flattering and make your legs look long and lean. They have an elastic waistband with a side zipper, so if you're in a hurry these pants are super easy to slide on and go. These are great for day-to-night outfits and would adorable with a cute satin blouse and moto jacket for after-work drinks. What I love about these the most is that they're extremely versatile and could work in any closet. They're machine washable and also the price is pretty amazing for a work pant!

CONS: I seriously loved these pants the first few times I wore them, so much so that I contemplated buying another pair in black and a pair in the other colors. With that being said, they haven't really lasted (I bought these in November). My biggest complaint is the side zipper. In theory, a side zipper works amazing and is easy to manage, however the zipper on these pants isn't the best quality and it constantly unzips, making for a few near-traumatic moments in the office. The knit has started to pill around the seams, causing a less put-together look than what I prefer. Overall, they're a good pant for the price, but just know that you'll need to watch the zipper during the day and you'll definitely have to replace after a few months of repeated wear.



What's your favorite? I'd love to hear your suggestions for your favorite work pants in the comments so I can try some new ones! Thanks for reading and have a great week!


My Look:

Blouse: old, similar under $25 | Pumps - shade: light beige | Bracelet | Necklace