Regardless of the time of year my skin is always ridiculously dry. Snake skin has nothing on me. So I’ve been on quite the hunt to find a good, hydrating skin care routine that doesn’t clog my pores or cause me to break out. derma e has created just the thing.

One thing I love about derma e is how they don’t mess around with names. The hydrating serum does just what it says on the packaging, which is also really high quality as well. What’s most impressive about this serum is how light it is. It’s one of the thinnest serums I’ve ever used, yet provides a ton hydration to my skin. It blends in quickly without a greasy residue and also doesn’t have that weird silicone feeling a lot of serums have. Plus it’s 100% vegan which makes me feel all sorts of fancy.

It’s crazy how light this formula is. I’ve been using it for months and still can’t get over it.

It’s like consistency makes it perfect for my summer routine and I’m super curious to see how it stacks up to the cold winter months of even drier skin. So far it’s done wonders at increasing moisture throughout the day as I usually find my skin getting drier at night. I find myself using the Origins Drink-Up Intensive Overnight Mask a lot less thanks to this. That mask is super thick and it’s nice to give my skin a break from the strong products with something a lot gentler.

If you’re in the market for a new serum and are part of the dry skin club, definitely give this one a check out. Skincare is a very personal thing, but with any luck this product can help someone else too!

There’s just something about a small makeup bag/clutch that I can’t seem to get enough. I probably own a good twenty of them. And sure I definitely need to cut it back a little, but there are a ton of other ways to make use of all those little bags you’re hoarding beyond just storing makeup.

Store planner supplies. These little cases are perfect for toting around a few pens, scissors, and your must have planning accessories. It’s so much better than just throwing those items into the bottom of a bag and having to dig around for them later.

Create a mini walking pharmacy and first aid kit full of must-haves. Include things like Tylenol, band-aids, hair ties, wet-ones, and scissors. Add things depending on what you or your family may need so you’re never without anything. Plus just like the planner supplies option, it’s easy to transfer the kit from one bag to another.

Along the same lines, it’s always helpful to have feminine pads and tampons tucked away in little pouch. So many times I’ve had girlfriends ask me if I have one and it always makes life easier to have a few on hand. 

Turn one of your spare makeup bags into an electronics holder. That way your headphones aren’t making a mess in the bottom of your bag and you have all your chargers and accessories right by the electronic device. This could also work for kindles or small e-readers as well. I personally use one to store all of my Polaroid Zip items so I don’t have to run around searching for more paper or a pair of scissors to cut out my photos.

Use makeup bags to make packing easier. I always have a makeup bag filled with our usual travel toiletries. It’s so much easier than having to dig around our drawers trying to find everything we normally need. This way I’m not forgetting anything and if I’m in a rush to pack, it’s basically already done ahead of time. You can also use makeup bags to section of packing. Use one for socks, one for underwear, one for medicine bottles, you name it. Makeup bags come in all shapes and sizes so you’re sure to be able to have something you can use already on hand.

I figured we could all use a post justifying our massive collections of little makeup bags and clutches. And the next time you feel the impulse to pick up a cute one you see at a stationery shop, you’ll have a good reason to.

What are some ways you re-purpose makeup bags?

Shop the Post: Floral Bag, She Designed a Life She Loved Bag

The Urban Decay Naked Heat palette sprang onto the beauty scene out of the blue and boy is it a good one. The palette launches today on the Urban Decay website but on Sephora in July. I’m sure it’s going to sell out like gang-busters. The entire collection is so unique and the perfect shift away from the other Naked palettes. Prepare yourselves for a serious rave post.

Let’s talk the other products in the line before diving into the palette itself. There are three seriously startling lipsticks in bronze packaging I definitely squealed over in person. It’s the type of packaging you want to put on display. “Heat” is a plum red Metallized shade so it has intense glitter within it. I still don’t understand how a lipstick can pack so much glitter without being chunky or childlike. “Scorched” is also a Metallized shade but mauve toned with more of a metallic finish rather than glittery. Seriously gorgeous and one I’m sure I’m going to reach for when I want to spice up my usual everyday lip.

My favorite of the gang has to be “Fuel” (pictured above). It’s a downright gorgeous nude shade with hints of orange. It’s a Cream formula so it’s incredibly buttery and glides onto the lips without accentuating any dry patches or cracked areas. It’s light on the lips while remaining in tact for quite a few hours before fading away nicely.

Next are the 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencils which at first I thought were lip pencils since their shades are unlike anything I’ve considered using for eye liners before. That’s what I really love about this collection. It makes nontraditional shade choices much more obtainable without being too full on. The darker of the two shades is “Alkaline” and what I used in the look below. It’s a very flattering plum shade that blends out into a nice smokey finish. “Torch” is more of an everyday liner with burnt orange tones to help make it look more natural on the lids. Both apply smoothly and blend out without any trouble. I do find that the Urban Decay eye pencils aren’t the best for water lines, but look fantastic used anywhere else.

Now to the main attraction. The palette has a nice thick plastic packaging with the words raised up on the lid. There’s a really quality two-sided brush inside and twelve shades I can’t stop staring at. They’re all so unique, but still so wearable. Plus they’re buttery and pigmented to no end. At first glance I worried a neutral, simple girl like me couldn’t make this palette work, but as soon as I started applying shadows to my lid this palette surpassed the other ones in my book. 

Every shade is wearable. They look quite red-toned in the tin, but on the lids look so natural. I built things up a bit more than usual in the look I created for this post, but this palette is more than capable of being for every day. There are five lighter shades that could easily make a great understated eye while the rest of the shades can be interchanged to add a bit of pop.

For this look I used “Low Blow” all over the lid and up to the eyebrows. The I added “He Devil” to the inner corner and a blend of “En Fuego” and “Ashes” to the outer edge. A light brushing of “Ounce” under my brow bone and some more of “Ashes” smudged out on the bottom lash line and the look was done. “Fuel” is on my lips.

I’m seriously impressed with this launch. It’s incredibly unique while still suiting a wide range of makeup styles. Everything is such high quality. If you’re even remotely a makeup lover this palette is a must get. 

I’m a firm believer in treat-yo-self days. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in daily tasks and the constant grind that it’s important to stop, appreciate what you’ve accomplished, and give yourself a little treat for a job well done. Just today I bought a pair of strappy sandals I’ve been eyeing for ages as a treat for how hard I’ve been working on Oh, Hello stuff lately. Plus if you put a little pamper into your beauty routine you’ll feel, and look, better. So it’s a win, win.

Oddly enough when I started to gather items for this post I felt myself gravitating away from makeup bits to the lesser appreciated aspects of my beauty routine. Although I’m a huge fan of splurging on makeup every once and a while, I think skincare and hair care are two often overlooked categories in a treat-yo-self spree that definitely should have some light shone on them.

For hair care, nothing says pamper like the Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo. The best clarifying shampoo I’ve found to get all the grime and product out of hair to leave it squeaky clean. At first I felt insane for spending $25 on a shampoo, but I’ve only used it on Sundays for almost eight months and have barely used any of it. It’s definitely going to last me for a very long time and the results will speak for themselves with this one.

The Urban Decay Meltdown Makeup Remover Dissolving Spray is another to add to the next treat-yo-self shopping list. It’s like a setting spray, in reverse. Spritz a bit of this onto a cotton round and it wipes away almost all of your makeup. If I’m being picky I find that a little bit of waterproof mascara has a tendency to linger. It does way better than a lot of my other makeup removers and I always cleanse afterward anyway to make sure any pesky makeup is long gone. If you’re one for a fuss free skincare routine, this is one to add to the lineup. 

For skincare I’ve really been enjoying this Derma-E Hydrating Serum. It’s a brand I haven’t really explored too much, but this serum is a winner. It’s lightweight, soothing, and dissolves quickly into the skin while providing hydration to boot. It almost acts like a moisturizer without packing too much moisture. I always feel so luxurious using it.

Another skincare product that I couldn’t live without is the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. If my skin is feeling tight or dry I use this once and I wake up with hydrated, dewy skin. It’s seriously a miracle worker. Although it feels like a bit of a splurge whenever I purchase a new one, I’ll do it every time for the investment in my skin and the results it gives. 

The IT Cosmetics Je Ne Sais Quoi Hydrating Color Awakening Lip Treatment is one of those products I couldn’t believe the price of, but after just one usage I completely get the hype of higher end lip balms. This stuff makes all my other lip balm options pale in comparison. It hydrates my lips without feeling greasy or heavy, but stays on for a long time making sure they’re protected from the crazy winds we’ve been having lately. It also provides a little pop of color on days I don’t really want to bother with lipstick. 

Nothing feels like a treat-yo-self purchase quite like picking up a new makeup brush. If you’re feeling the urge to spend some cash my current favorite is the IT Cosmetics #702 Brush. The bristles are the softest I’ve ever felt and so incredibly packed together that applying foundation is so easy. I can quickly buffer everything out and it leaves such a nice finish to the skin. The handle is heavy and the brush feels worth the investment.

So if you’re feeling particularly spendy or want to celebrate an accomplishment with a little treat, these beauty products would be a fabulous place to start. What are some of your go-to treat-yo-self categories? 

Now it’s arguable to even bother wearing makeup at all as a self-employed work from home sticker maker. Yet I find that if I do pull myself a bit more together in the morning, I have a more productive day overall. I definitely don’t go crazy, and this makeup routine could also be aptly named “The Minimalist’s Makeup Routine.” Simple and to the point while making my face look fresh, awake, and happy. Who wouldn’t want that.

The Stila One Step Correct is still my holy grail face primer. Even if I convince myself to skip the makeup for a day, I still find myself applying a nice layer of this to my skin. It works as a moisturizer/skin corrector combo and my skin just drinks it up happily. They recently changed the packaging to a fancier gold lid and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the upgrade. It also just so happens that today Ulta is doing their Beauty Days on this gorgeous product so I’ll be picking up as many as I can at half off. Gotta stock up for the apocalypse.

Foundation varies the most often from day to day, but I’ve been enjoying messing around with IT Cosmetic’s Confidence in a Compact Foundation. I bounce between using the shades “Fair” and “Light” depending on how pale I’m looking on a particular day. It’s a much more matte foundation than I’m used to, but I’m loving the finish and how it stays put all day. It’s also super easy to build up with a few extra dabs of a beauty blender. It blends out easily and doesn’t highlight any dry patches of my skin either. I’ve written a full blog post about it if you want more info.

I completely used up my Urban Decay Naked Concealer and I’m trying to keep beauty spending down to a minimum lately so I’ve been working on finishing up another tube of the NARS Creamy Concealer. It’s a great concealer, but I just prefer the Urban Decay one as it’s a bit thicker and lasts longer throughout the day. For just days around the house though or a trip to the grocery store the NARS concealer does just fine.

I completely skip eye shadow and focus on the brows. I’m not entirely loyal to any one brow pencil over another, but I’m working on finishing up the IT Cosmetics Brow Power. I’ve also been jumping around between the Urban Decay Perversion Mascara and Bobbi Brown’s No Smudge Mascara. The Urban Decay offering is far more superior in volume and boldness, but I like Bobbi Brown’s for a more natural, makeup-less makeup look.

Blush tends to be whatever my hands reach first but I do really enjoy the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Blush in “Je Ne Sais Quoi.” It’s just the right amount of pink on the cheeks that can be built up to seriously full on. I often have to use leftover foundation on my beauty blender to calm the blush down as I apply it with quite a heavy hand on accident most days. It lasts all day which is always impressive for a blush in my world.

For lipstick it’s usually something from MAC, but lately I’ve been loving the thickness of the Urban Decay Revolution lipstick in “Rush.” It’s super duper hydrating and lasts on the lips for ages. It’s a great your lips but better shade as well. They seem to be discontinuing the range sadly, but there are still a few shades on sale for $10. I can’t help but finish the simple look off with the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray. It’s just so dang refreshing on the skin and helps keep everything in place just in case the day brings a few too many face rubs from stress. 

A super simple makeup look that spunks up my day and makes me feel like I’m not just living in my pajamas in a sticker dungeon. 

The Esian Korean Beauty Box has always been a fun little treat for me. I’ve been involved with beauty and makeup for years (just look at the age of this blog, yessh!) so it’s fun to mix things up and try beauty products from other cultures. Plus I’m a sucker for a good subscription box.

This month’s box definitely surprised me. I wasn’t expecting a huge, nice quality DC Superhero scarf as it popped out at me when the box opened. I’m all about superheros so I’ll be sporting this for sure. Most of the boxes I’ve gotten are makeup only, so it was nice to see some fashion thrown in this time.

This month’s box came with four beauty bits. The Pig Nose Black Head Remover product cracked me up. All black head products I’ve gotten from this subscription always revolve around pigs. There’s also a Collagen Boosting Renewal Mask. The masks I’ve gotten from these boxes have always been really nice, but not something I’ve looked for to repurchase. The Stylenanda Fresh Aqua Mist is the most intriguing product from the box and something I’ve really been enjoying using. I love a good face mist and this one is refreshing and light. The last beauty item is a panda themed warming eye mask. I’m obsessed with how cute and fun Korean beauty is!

My biggest complaint is that the website is difficult to navigate. Ironically enough you can see my derpy face on the front page in a video I posted about my first box. But the site itself is hard to figure out what box to get and what you’re purchasing. It takes some time to work to the pricing as well. There are two different beauty boxes available. The Spa box is $24.95 a month with a reoccurring subscription and the Glamour box is $59.95 for an every two month box. Since they’re foreign beauty products it’s hard to gauge if you’re really getting your money’s worth each box, but you definitely get a sizeable quantity of products to try. 

Ultimately if you’re interested in experience different types of beauty products, this would be a subscription to try for a few months. But if you’re trying to save your beauty budget for something really worth it, I’d suggest another subscription altogether since you can’t be sure what you’re going to get in this box and if it’s worth the price. Honestly I find their snack boxes to be a much better investment and fun for the whole family to try some different snacks and food from other countries. So I’d definitely look into that!

So kind of a mixed review. I love the box when I do get it, but I’m still on the fence about purchasing it long term. The products are always fun to play around with, but I’ve never really been swept away with a product that I had to repurchase. It’s a fun gift for a beauty junkie or a little treat to yourself, but I wouldn’t say everyone needs it in their life.