My Latest Beauty Haul

What could be better than doing a little retail therapy over the long weekend? Um, nothing. Yesterday, after my morning yoga class, which was located conveniently at Lululemon in the mall, I hit up a few of my favorite stores. I was out of some of my makeup essentials and I also had a couple of new beauty products that I wanted to try as well, which meant stops at both Sephora and Ulta.

First up, my stop at Sephora:

Wander Beauty, Baggage Claim Eye Masks: I haven’t jumped on the whole eye mask trend yet, but I’ve recently noticed that my under-eye area has been looking a bit puffy. When I was scrolling through Instagram, I came across Wander Beauty, a travel-inspired line of beauty products made with the jetsetter in mind, and landed on their Baggage Claim Eye Masks. Ok, full disclosure—the gold and rose gold foil may have been what initially sold me on seeking these babies out, but if they work to visibly brighten, hydrate, and reduce the appearance of dark circles, they were worth the trip to Sephora. I’ll keep you posted and will share a review soon!  

Next up, it was off to Ulta:

Mario Badescu, Enzyme Cleansing Gel: I have been using this cleanser for a while now in the morning and evening and love how rich the consistency is and how soft it leaves my sensitive skin. Unfortunately, I was out of the cleanser for two days before I could get to the store and buy another bottle, and my skin really missed its hydrating friend. So glad I am restocked now.

Stila, Smudge Stick Eyeliner: This is another tried-and-true favorite—and the only eyeliner I wear. The coppery brown shade, Lionfish, is my go-to color. I love how easy this product is to apply and that it stays on perfectly for all-day wear.

OPI, Infinite Shine Line: I try to do an at-home manicure once a week, but lately, I’ve been bored with all of the colors I own. Since I was in desperate need of a new base and top coat, I decided to give OPI’s 3-step long-wear line a try. The java brown color, Linger Over Coffee (although I really think it should have been named Linger Over Lattes) caught my eye when I saw it on a co-worker last week and is now the clear winner for this week’s manicure. I haven’t tried this long-wear line yet, but I really hope it adds some life to my weekly manicures and doesn’t dry out my nails too much.

And, finally, a quick stop an Anthropologie:

Rose Quartz Roller: This item was inspired by an email I received last week from my beloved holistic health practitioner (and often referred to as my “thyroid guru”), Fern Olivia. After reading about the benefits of rose quartz and face rolling in her email, I couldn’t believe that this item wasn’t already a staple in my skincare routine. Rose quartz is said to lower stress, raise self-esteem, restore confidence, and balance emotions. The crystal is packed with minerals, including magnesium, iron, and oxygen, that help reduce inflammation and support the renewal of skin cells. I’m looking forward to using my essential oil from Fern’s line (Ajai Alchemy, Grace Serum: Hair, Face, and Body Oil) with my new tool to help increase lymphatic drainage and reduce my skin’s puffiness. To get your own essential oils from Ajai Alchemy, use code LIVINGINSTEIL at checkout for savings.