Easy Outfit for Early Spring

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I am not good at figuring out what to wear during early spring. When it’s been too long since we’ve had warm weather, I forget what 65 degrees feels like and I think a winter coat is appropriate attire (I did do this last week, no joke).

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I think I’m getting it now though – layers are the key to an early spring look. One of my favorite layering pieces is a good button-down, because they’re easy to tie around your waist when it’s warm or give you another layer if it’s cooler. For this look, I paired a fun crop-top with a black button down and some olive green jeans to add a bit of color to the look!

Favorite Beauty Products of 2015

favorite 2016 beauty products makeup skincare

I think that 2015 was a really great beauty year for me – I got more into beauty and found some products that I really love! Some of these products totally changed my beauty routine (for real)! I wanted to be sure to to share with you some of the products I used and loved most in 2015. If you haven’t tried some of these out, I would highly recommend all of them!

Favorite Beauty Products of 2015

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links (denoted with a *). If you make a purchase through the link, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend things that I’ve used and loved. Thanks for helping to support the blog!

favorite beauty products of 2015 makeup

Makeup

Tarte Showstopper Palette: This palette was my big splurge for this year, and it was well worth it! The highlight and contour shades are especially beautiful, and I love how versatile each of the products are. I find myself using this palette in one way or another every day. This probably tops my list of favorite beauty products of 2015!

Maybelline FitMe Matte + Poreless Foundation*: I have been looking for a good medium-full coverage foundation that doesn’t make me break out and doesn’t make me look oily. I was so happy to have found this one! The formula can be a little drying (especially in winter), so I love to mix it with my favorite Maybelline BB cream!

EyesLipsFace Intense Ink Eyeliner: I am a sucker for a good black felt-tip eyeliner, and this one is so cheap and so good! The color is a nice, deep black (as you would expect from the name). I love it for when I’m going for a pretty natural look, since it’s easy to create a thin line right along the lash line.

Maybelline Master Precise Eyeliner*: Another black felt-tip eyeliner, because I love them. This one gives a little more precision. I don’t think it’s quite as intense as the ELF one, but it’s a little easier to apply, it stays in place really well, and I like that it’s easier to find in stores!

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara*: This was a pretty recent buy, actually – I finally bought it after hearing a ton of beauty bloggers rave about it. I can now understand why! It’s the best mascara I’ve ever used! It really curls your eyelashes up and fans them out, it doesn’t clump, and it really lengthens and thickens. It’s definitely a must-try.

Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner: I have a little trio set of these, and they’re really great natural-looking (and waterproof) eyeliners! I LOVE the purples especially – they’re too pretty and can make eye makeup look a little fun. They really do have a ton of lasting power!

EyesLipsFace Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick: I tend to be pretty low-maintenance as far as lip products go – I don’t usually like lipstick (I find it to be pretty drying), and I don’t wear lip color very often. These lip colors are perfect for me. They’re really easy to apply, moisturizing, and come in some good classic colors. (Movie Star is a great berry pink-red, and Coco Loco is a beautiful darker winter nude color.)

 

favorite beauty products of 2016 haircare skincare

Hair/Skin/Other

Simple Micellar Water (not pictured)*: I’m super bummed I didn’t get a picture of this (I was all out when I was taking the photos). It’s DEFINITELY one of my most-used and favorite beauty products! I use it every morning to wash my face, and most nights after I remove my makeup. It feels so nice when you apply it, and afterwards, my skin looks super smooth and even. It also has cleared up my breakouts and has been really great for my sensitive skin – I’ve seen a lot of my hyperpigmentation healing!

Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Dry Shampoo*: I use this basically every day; I use it on clean hair to give a little more grip and texture, and I use it on day 2 and 3 hair to freshen up and remove oil. It smells great and doesn’t leave white residue like some other dry shampoos I’ve tried. Although a little more expensive than drugstore brands, the can is actually quite a bit larger than some of the cheaper brands, so I think it’s definitely worth it!

Beauty Protector Protect + Detangle: I got a little sample of this in my Birchbox a few months ago, and it’s on my list of things to buy. I get really tangly hair and this really helps (plus it smells delicious)! I use it on damp hair and then on dry hair before I style it.

Essie Nail Polish in Chinchilly*: I rarely paint my nails, but when I do, this is my go-to color. It’s sort of like a slightly purpley-grey(?) hard to describe, but you can see it above. The formula is good too, although I wish it dried a little faster! This nail polish goes really well with my complexion and looks really elegant on my nails!

What were your favorite beauty products from 2015? What are you dying to try this year?

 

I’ve linked this post up hereherehere, and here.

Style / Black and White Date Night Outfit

black and white date night outfit style

black and white date night outfit style

black and white date night outfit style

Scott and I went to see a movie this past week since we’re both off school and work right now. During the holiday season, it’s really easy for me to wear leggings and tees or flannels all the time (because hey, if I’m not going to leave the house, why not be comfy?). But I do think that means that when I actually go somewhere, I want to dress up more than I normally would! I wanted to share this easy black and white date night outfit with you – it’s perfect for a dinner out, trip to the movies, or even for work!

black and white date night outfit style

black and white date night outfit style

black and white date night outfit style

Blazer: H&M // Tank: Old Navy (Similar, Similar) // Jeans: Forever21 // Boots: Target (Similar, Similar) // Necklace: Old Navy // Bracelet: Thrifted

I just got this blazer on sale at H&M, and it’s great – I love the length and the fit, and it was on sale for under $20! I paired it with some simple black and white pieces, including a long striped tank and my favorite black ankle boots. I just want to take a minute to talk about these jeans, too. I got them at Forever21 for $7.90 (that’s right, jeans under $10!). Although maybe not the thickest jeans, they’re super stretchy and comfortable and they fit SO WELL. I also love that you can get them in the ankle length, because I’m a short girl and the length on these is perfect! Finally, I added some gold jewelry to dress it up a little more, and make it the perfect date night outfit for this week!