My Summer Beauty Essentials - JULY

Now that summer weather is finally kicking in, I want to make sure my skin stays looking fresh and healthy. Bold colors are trending and as always, so are nudes. What I love about Avon is that they have amazing products for all skin types and seasons. Here are my top products to try this summer:

MOISTURIZER: Vitale Day Lotion with SPF 25 

 $28 Purchase Here

This is Avon's newest moisturizer from their top notch skin care line. First off, it has a light and pleasant scent, it's oil-free, lightweight, and leaves my skin feeling hydrated. Many products that contain a high SPF tend to make my oily skin look very greasy. This product, however, did the exact opposite. My skin felt more matte, yet moisturized, and over time, I noticed that my pores looked somewhat smaller. The SPF 25 is just enough protection for me, since I haven't been burnt at all. Love love love this product, especially now that the intro price is only $19.99. I would recommend this face lotion to anyone with combo/oily skin. 

PRIMER: Avon Magix Face Perfector with SPF 20 

$11 Purchase Here

My Holy Grail product! Who knows how many tubes I've gone through of this. Magix Face Perfector is an oil-free and non-comedogenic primer that creates an HD finish to blur the look of imperfections and fine lines. Plus, it keeps shine away for us oily gals. It contains ingredients like fleece flower and rose extract and leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft. I've tried and tried countless primers that "claim" to control oil and I always find myself coming back to this one because it's affordable and does what it's supposed to do. Definitely a staple for not only summer, but all year round!

EYESHADOW: True Color Eyeshadow Quad in "Warm Sunrise"

$8 Purchase Here

Coppers have to be my obsession right now and this quad is everything. This is just about been my go to everyday eyeshadow combination and it's SO pigmented. Love how the colors bring out my green eyes. I believe this quad would go perfect with any eye color though. 

FACE COMPACT: Mark. Touch & Glow All Over Shimmer Cream Cubes in "Coral"
$16 Purchase Here
This all in one compact provides color and highlight for all over the face. It's probably the most versatile product I've tried. Not only could you take a brush and just swirl all the colors together. You can also individually apply shades for the eyes, cheek, and lips. With a combination of highlight colors and even deeper coral shades, this compact is great for on the go and traveling! Don't worry about your skin type's compatibility with this product. The texture feels like a creamy powder that is dry to the touch but blends beautifully onto the skin. Great for all skin types and its oil-free! This is a  staple item and I can't wait to carry it along with me on my summer trips.

EYELINER: Mark. What a Line Max Liquid Eyeliner in "Blackest Black"
$12 Purchase Here
If you are on the look for a smudge-proof, waterproof liquid eyeliner, this is the real deal. Mark's What a Line Max contains a pointy foam tip applicator that helps create thick or thin lines. I find it lasting all day without fading in color. Sometimes, I'll even add it over my regular liquid eyeliner to create a sharper cat eye line and add staying power. Love it.

LIPSTICKS: Ultra Color Matte Lipsticks in "Matte Nude" and "Matte Melon"
$8 Purchase Here
These two lipsticks are my favorite colors to wear this summer! Not only are they matte, they don't dry out my lips AT ALL. I always get compliments when I wear the nude shade. Now that summer is here and bold lips are trending, I got a hold of the melon shade. It's so pretty that I'll be doing a fun lip tutorial this week! Stay tuned!

Hope you all enjoyed this post. If you would like to see more makeup hauls and essentials guides, let me know on here or follow me on my social media pages.

Instagram: IveyDee
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xx, Ivey

Review: Anew Vitale Day Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 25

I am so excited to share about some goodies I was sent from Avon for reviewing!

ANEW Vitale Day Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 25 

WHAT IT DOES:
"This day moisturizing lotion helps offset the appearance of fatigue and stress for younger and more radiant looking skin.  In just 3 days, pores look smaller and skin looks naturally radiant. In as little as one week, provides a uniform, evenly toned appearance. Contains UVA/UVB protection. Suitable for all skin tones."

INGREDIENTS TO NOTE:

UVA/UVB

Sunscreen keeps skin from prematurely aging or getting blotchy

Harsh UV rays can damage skin collagen, elastin fibers, and DNA 

Sunscreen has UV filters that absorb or scatter UV light

Glycerin

Promotes skin cell maturation before it sheds

Improved hydration in skin's outer layer

Epidermal thickness increases

Aids bruised and swollen skin

Excellent for acne prone, oily skin

Diminishes dullness and enhances skin's luminosity

MY THOUGHTS

-Provides broad spectrum sun protection = BIG +

-Packaging with built in pump keeps light and air sensitive particles from breaking down when used

-Fast absorbing, matte finish! (BONUS FOR OILY SKIN)

Overall, I really REALLY liked this product. Because the consistency is more lightweight, I would recommend this to someone that is more on the normal to oily skin side. If you have drier skin, I would use the Vitale Day CREAM instead of the lotion. Although I love both, the lotion is perfect for the summer. Excess oils on the skin can make us look dull and more prone to other skin conditions like acne and redness. I love that the Vitale Day Lotion has Glycerin, an ingredient that helps all these issues associated with oiliness. Also, with any broad spectrum product for the face, greasiness is usually an issue. However, with the Vitale, I NEVER felt greasy. In fact, I felt like my skin was more mattified. Neat, right? After using the product for about a week, I noticed that my skin looked brighter and my pores looked somewhat smaller! I have now been using the Vitale Day Lotion consistently for about a month now and my face not only looks more even, I've been having less breakouts. Definitely a hit product for summer.

To purchase Anew Vitale Day Lotion, go here.

Music Festival Beauty Essentials Guide

Festival season is finally here! Deciding what to wear and what beauty products to bring might be tricky if you've never been to a spring or summer festival before. Let's face it. Festivals can get kind of dirty, sweaty, and icky. Don't worry babes. I have compiled a list of must have items to bring with you so you can look and feel your best! 

#1 SUN PROTECTION

Tip number one is the most important rule of all! WEAR YOUR SUNSCREEN! If you forget to put on protection, you could end up with some really bad burns and look like a fried tomato. Be sure to apply sunblock of at least SPF 15+, but for this occasion, the higher the number the better. You can find some non-greasy formulas and even some lotions that have sunscreen in them. Some personal favorites of mine are Anew Clinical Skinvincible Multi Shield Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Reg. $36. It's oil-free, suitable for sensitive skin and is great for all skin types! For the body, I enjoy using Avon's Skin So Soft DD Body Cream $12 with SPF 15. This all-in-one dynamic lotion has anti-aging, firming, and moisturizing benefits and smells really nice!
UPDATE: Avon no longer has the Sun + Day Lotion SPF 40 (which is pictured at bottom photo) but the Skinvincible Multi Shield Lotion is a great and better alternative!

#2 PRIMER 

Primers will help the longevity of your makeup and make it go on so much smoother than just moisturizer alone. Most primers can even minimize pores and mattify your skin to keep it shine-free throughout the day. You can even find some that contain SPF, which is an added bonus if you really want to protect your face. If you plan on wearing eye makeup, an eye primer may not be a bad idea either! You also don't have to spend a bunch of money to find a decent primer. Most of my customers, myself included, LOVE the Magix Face Perfector SPF20 $11. This primer gives an HD finish. It is suitable for all skin types, but I find its a favorite among oily skin types. 

#3 LIGHTWEIGHT COVERAGE

For an event like this, you don't want your face to look like it is melting. If you're going to wear any face makeup, the lighter the formula the better. Trust me. I've been the victim of makeup meltdowns before and you will save yourself a lot of embarrassment if you learn from my mistake. However, if you're like me, my skin isn't perfect. I have redness, huge pores, and dark circles under my eyes which means I need at least something! Investing in a good tinted moisturizer can be enough to give you a natural glow and even out your skin tone. You can try a BB Cream , or if you have oily skin, try out the mark. Powder Buff Natural Skin Foundation. It's a weightless oil-free powder that gives you sheer to full coverage depending on what your desired look is.

#4 WATERPROOF ______________ (insert here)

From eyeliner to mascara or whatever else you desire to wear, make sure it's waterproof. This is a MUST, considering you will have very limited resources for cleaning up. A beauty emergency is bound to happen when you are dancing for hours under the blazing sun. Don't count on touching up too often, since the bathrooms at festivals are usually very dirty. Last thing you want to do is touch up your half smeared cat eye in a portable bathroom. YUCK. Granted, there are makeup sealers and makeup setting sprays, but to make things easier on yourself, just go with waterproof cosmetics. You will save yourself the worries of having a meltdown. LITERALLY!

Here are some of my favorite stay-put products:

Mark. What A Line Max Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner $12 // Mark. Saved By The Gel Waterproof Eyeliner $11 //  Mark. Please Hold Eye Primer $9 // Avon Super Shock Max Waterproof Mascara $9 // Avon Extra Lasting Eyeshadow Ink $7 // Avon Makeup Setting Spray with Vitamins A,C,E $10 


#5 FACE/BODY SCRUB

You are going to be walking around ALOT and if you plan on wearing open toed shoes in the desert, expect to have very dirty feet by the end of the day. Not to mention, people's sweat will get all over you after the inevitable contact of being in the crowds. Gross, right? Once you have a chance to shower (yes campers, sometimes showers are available, depending which festival you're going to), you're going to need to scrub all that dirt, sweat, and dead skin cells away! That's why a body scrub comes in handy like Mark. Crushing On Coconut Body Scrub $12. You can also try this favorite of mine called Clearskin Pore Penetrating Invigorating Scrub, which contains ingredients like witchhazel and eucalyptus extracts for only $5.50. In case you didn't know, sugar is a natural exfoliant, so if you want to scrub your face, bring some sugar packets with you. Wet your face and make a paste with your normal cleanser and the sugar, make small circular motions, rinse, and WAH-LAH!

#6 OIL BLOTTING SHEETS

For you oily gals, you may start getting shiny on your T-zone as the day goes on. Keep a pack of shine-blotting sheets in your bag and blot any excess oils from your face. If you don't have any blotting sheets on hand, toilet seat protectors do the job just as well. Rip a few pieces of it and throw it in your bag for a budget friendly way to look fresh all day!

#7 SEA SALT SPRAY

Hair product can be a bit of a drag during a hot festival. Not only does hairspray and other heavy products have sticky results, it will also tend to look a bit gross when you are smoldering in the sun. Your best best is to embrace your hair's natural beauty and go for a bottle of sea salt spray. Spritz onto damp or dry hair. Finger style and twist pieces of hair for a wave-tousled boho look. You can try Mark. That's Beachy Texturizing Surf Spray $14, a product that gives you that island girl hair and smells super good!

#8 HAND SANITIZER/ BABY WIPES

Before you eat. After you use the port-a-potty. Before you touch your face. After that one sweaty stranger started dancing all up in yo business. Emergency shower substitute... etc. Stay germ free with hand sanitizer or carry around baby wipes for extra cleanliness. You will be thankful you have them on hand! Try Naturals Cucumber Melon Antibacterial Gel $3 or Avon Elements Refreshing Cleansing Wipes $5.99, which contains Edelwiess flower extract and is suitable for sensitive skin!

#9 LONG LASTING DEODORANT

This is pretty obvious, considering you will be out in the heat, dancing that booty off. Find a good deo that works for you and will last all day. My personal favorite is  On Duty Unscented Antiperspirant Roll On Deodorant $1.99 and it's totally dirt cheap for the quality you're getting.

#10 HYDRATING LIP COLOR

Bright lips are trending this spring and summer. Ultra Color Indulgence Lipcolor $9 from Avon has a variety of bold colors and also some softer shades that are safe enough for the shy gals. What I love about this lipstick is that it goes on like a lip treatment with its buttery, soft texture, but builds from sheer to full pigmented color. I currently have "Poppy Pink", but I can't wait to get my hands on the coral and nude colors!

Well my babes, you are now on your way to making heads turn during festival season. Keep these tips in mind and you'll be even more of a knockout than you already are! Remember to stay hydrated, be safe, and have fun!

xoxo,

Ivey