BoxyCharm Giveaway
I’m giving away the July BoxyCharm subscription box! They randomly sent me two, so might as well make it your gain!
5 Reasons to Start Secondhand Shopping Right Now
There hasn’t been a better time than right now to start secondhand shopping. Here’s why.
1. People are decluttering and donating tons of items.
Since people are spending more time in their homes lately, the donations are flooding into the secondhand shops right now. Everyone is getting rid of unnecessary items that could be your next favorite outfit.
2. The holidays are coming up
Secondhand stores are really great places to find gifts for friends and family. A lot of time there are brand new, tags-still-on options you can pick up for a steal.
3. It helps the environment.
Buying new clothes costs resources and energy while buying used or secondhand costs nothing. There are perfectly amazing clothing items, kitchen appliances, and more that already exist. Feel good about yourself while getting some amazing items in the process.
4. Keeps costs low and gives you more for your budget.
Budgets are tight right now and clothing is definitely not on the top of the list. If you need a new work outfit or want a refresh without spending a lot, secondhand is the way to go.
5. You can try styles and trends that are out of your comfort zone.
When The Second Hand Stylist took me shopping I tried so many outfits and styles I never would have picked out for myself. I was able to try new things without putting a financial investment behind them. Plus it’s easier to keep up with popular trends this way without feeling guilty when it ends up in the back of your closet by next year.
Nearly a year ago now I hired The Second Hand Stylist to go shopping with me at secondhand stores to teach me what to look for when browsing the racks. Rachel showed me all of the tricks and ways to spot high-quality brands and items. She’s one of my very good friends and if you’re in the Grand Rapids area you should definitely check her out. She even does secondhand clothing boxes mailed to you! This post isn’t sponsored and she definitely didn’t know I was writing it, but she deserves mountains of praise for being such a bad ass boss babe!
Urban Decay the Ultimate Brush Off Set & Go Review
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The makeup fairies dropped off a package on my doorstep a few weeks ago and I’ve been playing around with the Urban Decay the Ultimate Brush Off Set & Go Powder* ever since. This summer I’ve been a bigger sweaty mess than normal, so setting powders have become quite common in my routine. And presto, a new powder just finds its way to my doorstep. The odds seem to be in my favor *buys a lottery ticket*
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Let’s talk packaging first because damn Urban Decay, you know how to design some crazy packaging. It’s plastic, but sturdy and glossy and wonderful. At first I was on the fence about the brush built into the packaging, but it’s an incredibly high quality, dense brush that definitely works. Personally if I’m feeling super high maintenance (and when am I not) I’ll use a fluffier brush with the powder, but the built in one is great if you want to bake your powder or apply with a slightly heavier hand.
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The brush locks in with a twist and the powder is separated by some plastic with holes. A lot of powder does seem to come through the holes rather than a regulated amount, but I just tap it off the brush and call it good. See, I’m not completely high-maintenance…
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It comes in a few different shades, but I find myself gravitating towards the universal shade out of habit. It’s not cakey, lasts all day, and doesn’t leave a weird shine in photos. I tend to use it a lot under my eyes to set my concealer, and it thankfully does not accentuate any of my wrinkles or lines. It’s everything you want in a setting powder.
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Boom. Review done.
My ThirdLove Experience | I Finally Caved to the Advertisements!
It could just be my algorithm on Instagram and Facebook, but I’ve seen ads for ThirdLove bras for months. They’re marketing team is seriously impressive and a few weeks ago I finally caved to the advertisements and decided to give them a go.
A bit of boob backstory. I’m very well endowed. I’ve always had a hard time finding bras that had a small enough number (in the 32-34 range) yet had a large enough cup size (I thought I wore a DD or DDD). They just didn’t seem to exist in the “regular” bra world of Victoria’s Secret. So I settled and wore camisoles over all of my bras to keep my boobs from tumbling out. Shoulder marks were commonplace.
ThirdLove’s return policy really sold it for me. You can wear the bras (and wash them!) for two months and still send them back. I took their sizing test and it suggested a 34 DDD (what they call an F), but they also offer you another size in the same style to try for free and send back the one that doesn’t fit.
So I opted to try their 34E, 34F, and 34G just to really see what size I actually am. They arrived super quickly in a cute box and well packaged. Turns out I’m a 34G and haven’t been wearing the right bra for nearly a decade.
I returned the other two sizes quick and easy and started shopping my actual bra size.
The bras are super soft, the straps are larger to prevent slipping and marks, and I finally feel like I don’t have to wear a camisole every day to make sure nothing’s falling out. Plus I don’t immediately feel like ripping my bra off after I come home from a long day. And the styles. As a big chested girl I’m lucky to find a bra in my size let alone a cute one. There are so many gorgeous options for a crazy range of sizes. This girl finally can wear cute bras!!!
So I’m a convert. I’m always so skeptical when it comes to those overly advertised products on Facebook, but caving to the ads definitely paid off in spades with this one.
If you’re down to give them a try, click here for my referral code to save $15. I’ll get credit towards future purchases and we can be bra buddies!
My Go-To Skincare Products
This girl’s got dry skin. No matter what the weather is like outside my face is as dry as a desert and begging for moisture. I tend to use the same products all year around, but with more focus on overnight masks in the winter. These are my four favorite products that keep my skin clear and hydrated.
I can’t tell you how many tubes of the Derma-E Hydrating Serum* I’ve thrown on my face in the past few years. It’s an incredibly light serum that packs a moisture punch. I love how fast it sinks into my skin so it’s great to use in the morning before I start my makeup routine. It’s FAB.
Although I use the Origins Drink-Up Intensive Overnight Mask like a crazy person in the winter, I still like to use it every two weeks or so to really pump up the hydration. My skin tends to get dull over time if I don’t do a shot of serious moisture every once in a while. I take a small amount on my fingers and massage it into my skin after my evening routine is done. It feels thick, but works its magic throughout the night. Seriously good stuff.
Another mask that I can’t get enough of is Glossier’s moisturizing moon mask. You can find me in the bath with this stuff slathered on my face at least once a week. It’s incredibly light, doesn’t dry out or pull the skin, and leaves it feeling bouncy and refreshed. Plus a little goes a long way which is always a plus.
As for makeup removal I try to keep things gentle and not moisture-stripping (you’re seeing a trend here eh?). The It Cosmetics Bye Bye Makeup Balm is a makeup removing oil that doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight or dry after using it. I apply it to dry skin, rub it around, and then add some water to foam it up. Rinse away and continue to the next step in my routine. Easy peasy.
What are you favorite go-to skincare items?
5 Beauty Products I’ve Been Loving and You Will Too
So my last beauty post was like a year ago…Like I just didn’t stop wearing makeup. Or new products. But apparently beauty posts went out the window when I changed the blog from MicroscopeBeauty to Oh, Hello Living. Well they’re back my friends and what better way to dive right in than talk about some new products to my collection that I’ve been loving? Let’s get our toes wet again with this whole beauty blog post thing…
I basically cannot live without Glossier’s Boy Brow, so whenever I place an order to replenish my stash I’ve been slowly trying out other Glossier products. I figured I would try the Perfecting Skin Tint (I’m the shade G11) in my most recent order and I’m so happy I did. It’s an incredibly lightweight formula that I love for days that I don’t want to wear a ton of makeup but still want to even out my skin tone. It has somewhat of a satin finish that I’ve really been digging lately. In the summer months dewy skin just looks sweaty so this is a great, build-able option.
The vegan and cruelty-free brand Clove and Hallow recently popped up on my radar. Having absolutely no idea about the brand, I chose three products from the line and completely love each one. How often does that ever happen!? Definitely since I’m a grandma when it comes to new things. I went rouge with the Hydraglow* as I’m not usually one for highlights (goes back to that looking sweaty thing). It’s amazing. Specifically I use it to highlight my shoulders and collar bone if I’m wearing a tank top or an outfit that shows off those areas. it provides this amazing shimmery glow that I’m completely obsessed with. It’s incredibly easy to apply just a little bit so my heavy handed ways don’t go overboard.
I also snagged one of their lipsticks in the shade Desert Rose.* The formula is so smooth. It has the hydration of a lip balm and the pigmentation of a lipstick. Plus the packaging is gorgeous with a strong magnetic closure. Gotta love hearing that satisfying snap of the tube closing.
The third product I picked up from Clove and Hallow is their Hydratint Blush in Georgia.* I’m having a moment with liquid blushes lately and this one is fantastic. I find that it’s really easy to control how much pigmentation you want when it comes to a liquid blush. I apply a bit to my fingers, dab it to my cheeks, and blend out with the beauty blender I used to put on my foundation. It gives this gorgeous flush to the skin that I can’t get enough of. I’m definitely going to have to go back for more shades!
Derma-E has become my go-to skincare brand as of late because there hasn’t been a product that I haven’t liked. It’s also a 100% cruelty-free, vegan brand (blog post on my favorite brands maybe?!). Their serums are definitely some of my favorites, but I really have been liking their Vitamin C Renewing Moisturizer.* Vitamin C is great for adding vibrancy and life back to the skin and with the long nights and early mornings I’ve been pulling for my business lately, I need all the help I can get. I particularly enjoy how liquid-y their products tend to be as they sink into the skin super fast.
Phew. It feels good to be back on the beauty blogging wagon. I can definitely see a shift in my beauty and makeup style over the past year so I’m excited to show you the evolution. Gone are the days of poorly blended eye shadow (fingers crossed). It’s all about natural skin and glow (but not sweaty!!).
