My Weekly Amazon Order

 

Teal Wrap Dress | White Bodysuit | Red Floral Skirt | Rattan Earrings | Beach Tote 

I have been shopping for my trip to Mexico in a few weeks.  Last week I found some great items last week. I am especially in love with the teal wrap dress.  I also found a great Skims dupe which I am super excited to get and try on.  In both the teal dress and the bodysuit I got my true size, which is an XL.  In the skirt I did size up to an XXL.  It runs on the small side. 

Have you found any great items on Amazon lately?  If so let me know! I am always looking for the cute new finds. 

love, 

city styles 

Lazy Days at Home

Sweater - Gap (last year) similar here and here / Leggings - Express

Ok so I think I am going to take a shot at this fashion/beauty blogger thing again.  So please excuse the weird faces while taking pictures.  How do you guys do it and look normal? 

Today is my last Thursday of winter break.  School starts next week and I will definitely miss these days off.  I have been bumming around, catching up on some missed shows, and lounging in my comfiest of clothes.  New York has been so cold so large sweaters and leggings have been a must lately.  I bought this sweater last year and I live in it when I am home.  It's extra warm and cozy.    

What have been your go to clothing items this winter? 

xoxo, 

Gina 

Best of Beauty 2017

Well it's been awhile! Almost a year a half since I stopped blogging. And even longer since I've blogged regularly. However, lately I've kind of missed it. I'm not sure how regularly I'll be writing posts but, I thought I'd share some of beauty faves from 2017. Most are items I've had for some time but there are a few new bits in there. 

RCMA No Color Powder - I use this every single day!  I take my Real Techniques setting brush and set my concealer under my eyes, around my nose, and my chin.  It helps my concealer stay all day and helps the wear time of my foundation.  The first place my foundation starts to wear off is my chin.  Probably because I tend to touch it the most.  But for the price ($12) this stuff is absolutely amazing and I doubt I will run out anytime soon. 

Pixi Glow Tonic - Over the past 2 years I have probably gone through 20 bottles of this.  It's my hands down favorite toner.  A few month ago Target had been out of it for about 2 weeks and I freaked out. Now I always have a backup on hand. I have dry skin, especially in the winter so my skin can't really handle anything that has alcohol as the number one ingredient.  The Glow Tonic has a 5% Glyolic Acid Formula with Aloe Vera and Ginseng.  It is gentle yet gets rid of any dead skin I have.  I don't even remember who I originally heard about this from but, it has been a game changer in my life.  Whoever it was needs to be thanked with my famous apple pie. 

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes - I rediscovered this mascara this year.  I was drawn in by the gorgeous packaging but, kept repurchasing because the formula is just great.  This is my normal everyday mascara.  I feel as a girl who wears glasses the blackest of black mascara is a must.  This gives me the perfect lift and slight curl that I need.

Charlotte Tilbury Vintage Vamp Eye Shadow Quad - I remember drooling over this eye quad and when I finally bought it, I didn't use her as much as I should have.  A few month ago I was getting bored of my normal palettes and I pulled out Vintage Vamp and we fell in love all over again.  I highly suggest this for anyone with blue or green eyes.  They just pop when wearing this quad.  I use the medium maroon shade in my crease, the darker shade on my outer lid bringing it in about half way and the lightest shade on my inner lid.  Once and awhile I will pop the gold right in the middle of my lid, on top of the rest.  I now reach for this 3 or 4 days a week.

Covergirl Healthy Elixir Foundation - I bought this on a whim.  2017 was not a huge beauty year for me.  I did not buy a lot of new items just a lot of repurchases of items I knew worked for me.  So, I was standing in CVS staring at this foundation thinking well why not I haven't bought any other foundation this year.  And well it's my best "why not" purchase to date.  It has become my absolute favorite foundation.  I wear it every single day.  Most days I sheer it out with moisturizer (I use cetaphil).  I wear the lightest shade, 705.  It works so well with my dry skin.  I don't have to worry about having any dry patches.  I have used the real techniques sponge to apply it but most days I just use my fingers and the coverage is great. 

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence - This stuff most be sourced from special fountain in a secret mountain somewhere heavenly because my face knows when I am not using it.  I put a small amount in the palm of my hand and then press it into my skin.  I use the essence after the Pixi Glow Tonic and before my serum.  I feel like it helps hydrate my face and my serum and moisturizer absorb better when using it.  I have tried other brands who have a similar product but I always come back to the SK-II. 

Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso - I have used this blush for ages.  It is a staple in my beauty drawers.  It compliments my skin tone so nicely and the fact that it is a baked blush gives it a natural sheen.  I can wear this alone or with bronzer.  I reach for this blush almost every single day.  It is something I don't even need to think about. 


Honorable mentions
Glossier Stretch Concealer & the Balm Dot Com
Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser & Moisturizing Lotion



What were some of your 2017 favorites?

xoxo,
Gina

Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick

Hourglass recently came out with a new foundation, Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick ($46).  I orginially looked at this in store and passed on it.  Mostly because I have the Makeup Forever HD stick and I am not the biggest fan.  But, then I was browsing online and I was like well let's try it.  And I was right I should have passed on it.  I picked up mine in Porcelain.  It was a good color match but, I couldn't get it to work with my skin.  It just sat on my face and felt very heavy.  I tried this many different ways.  I used primer, no primer, my beauty blender, and a brush.  Nothing worked.  It lasted only a few hours before it broke down on my face.  I was so disappointed.  I am usually not one to return a product but, with this I did.  Hourglass claims this foundation is seamless and weightless but unfortunately I did not feel that way.  I know other bloggers are loving this which made me really want to make it work.  But I couldn't.  

Have you tried this new foundation ??  How do you feel about it ??

Love,
City Styles


Also please let me know if you like when I review a product I wasn't happy with.  Thanks! 

The Estee Edit: Skin Glowing Balm

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Since the Estee Edit was released I was very intrigued by this product, Skin Glowing Balm Makeup with Pink Peony ($36).  The Pink Peony really drew me in.  And I can never stop myself from getting a tinted moisturizer.  The Estee Edit claims the Skin Glowing Balm gives you a unique and gorgeous glow with this innovative complexion hybrid formula.  It is infused with ultra hydarting and conditioning ingredients, including shea butter, evening primrose oil, and muru muru seed butter.  It leaves your skin feeling moisturized with a dewy glow, while the pink peony soothes your skin.  

I, of course, got mine in the lightest shade, 100 Vanilla.  I tried applying this three different ways, with my fingers, with a brush, and with my beauty blender.  Each way left the product just sitting on my skin.  I didnt feel like it ever meshed with my skin.  I could feel it just laying there like a film.  I also tried it with primer (Too Faced Hangover RX) and without.  There also wasn't much coverage.  Which, with a tinited moisturizer is expected but, still not as much as I thought there could be.  

I was very disappointed with this Skin Glowing Balm.  The only thing I truly enjoyed was the smell.  We know how I feel about good smelling makeup.  But, that alone is not enough for me to keep using this.  If you have found a good way to wear this please let me know.   

In direct sunlight

Have you tried this Skin Glowing Balm ?? Hwat are your favorite Estee Edit products ??

Love, 

City Styles 

Photo Diary: Bar Harbor, Maine

Bar Harbor Camp Grounds 

Top of Acadia Mountain 

Sunset from the top of Acadia Mountain 

Sand Beach 

Thunder Hole 

Hiking in Acadia Mountain 

West side of the island

Jordan Pond House 

Bar Island

For my birthday this year I decided I wanted to go to Bar Harbor, Maine.  It was absolutely beautiful.  Besides Hawaii, I would say this is by far one of the most beautiful places I have been too this year.  And I would totally go back in a heart beat!

Where you you been too this year ??

Love, 

City Styles

Becca Champagne Splits {Prosecco Pop/Pample Mousse, Champagne Pop/Flowerchild}

Jaclyn Hill collabarated with Becca once again.  One of the products released were these Champagne Splits ($38).  I was very excited to see these and ordered two right away.  Flowerchild is my favorite blush and Champagne Pop is one of my favorite highlighters so it was an easy choice to get the Champagne Pop/Flowerchild.  And since I have not tried Proseco Pop my next choice was Proseco Pop/Pample Mousse.  

I was very pleased to see that the pigment is the same in the slpits as in the orginial form.  They are creamy and vibrant.  I am really loving the Proseco Pop/Pample Mousse at the moment.  Proseco Pop is only a bit darker than Champagne Pop.  And I don't have a gold highlighter like it.  

 Champagne Pop/Flowerchild

 Proseco Pop/Pample Mousee

Pample Mousee/Proseco Pop - Flowerchild/Champagne Pop

Flowerchild - Champagne Pop/Flowerchild - Champagne Pop 

Overall I think these are some great blush/highlighter duos.  I think they are great for traveling and on the go.  Two producst in one is never a bad thing in my book.  There are two more shades I still would like to get my hands on.  

Have you tried the new Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Splits ?? What is your favorite Becca product ??

Love, 

City Styles

Photo Diary: The Smokey Mountains

Back in May I took a trip to the Smokey Mountains.  They were breath takingly beautiful.  One item on my bucket list is to visit all 50 states.  And this year I checked off a few states.  I love my city but, it is so mice to get out in the fresh air and see what the rest of the country has to offer.  Along with the Smokey Mountains I also visited the Biltmore House.  Uhhhhh it's so beautiful.  The gardens were so amazing to walk through.  If you are ever in North Carolina I would say go and enjoy yourself.


What is on your bucket list ??

Love,
City Styles