A Flawless Look in Just Minutes

Bo and Ashley Toronto

If you follow along on Instagram or Snapchat, then you saw that we enjoyed a quick 30-hour trip together in Toronto this weekend. Since Bo needed to be there for Friday meetings, it was easy for me to fly up Friday morning, work remotely from the hotel and then enjoy Friday night and Saturday in the city together.

We posted the above picture online Friday night, while enjoying the views from one of Toronto’s landmarks, the CN Tower. A couple of people immediately commented on the picture, saying that my hair and makeup were perfect. What they didn’t know was that I rushed to transition from a sweaty, gym outfit to this outfit in just 30 minutes. Since that time included shower, drying my hair AND doing my makeup, I wanted to share the six beauty items that made this quick transition possible.

I’ve been using the below items for over a month and in this short time, I’ve recommended each of them to multiple friends and even ordered two of them, the lip gloss and concealer, for my mom!

Make Up Forever HD Invisible Cover Concealer – This is one of the best concealers I have ever used. The wand applicator is easy to use anywhere, without requiring any other accessories, and the small, pen like size allows me to easily toss it in my purse or makeup bag. It comes in more than fifteen different shades so you should be able to find one which blends easily with your coloring. I use this under my eyes, on my scar and on any blemishes that pop up overnight.

Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip Gel in Pomegranate Delirium– My mom has always said that just a quick swipe of color to the lips adds brightness and life to a tired face. It has taken years for me to embrace this but finally, after discovering this easy to apply lip gel last month, I’m a believer. Every day I swipe on this rosy, plum gloss before leaving the house and it instantly wakes up my face and provides a more finished look. Unlike many other lip glosses on the market, this one isn’t drying, doesn’t have a strong smell and is not sticky. The vibrant color stays on my lips at least a few hours and at the $14 price point, I can afford to try different colors.

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eye Liner – Similar to the lip gloss, a quick application of eye liner, right along my upper eyelid instantly makes my eyes pop even when I’m exhausted. When we are going out in the evening I apply a thicker line, which makes more of a statement.

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder – Until last month I’d never tried a setting powder. But, after being convinced by a very persuasive Sephora sales associate that this would help my makeup stay in place all day, I bought the travel size. To say I was skeptical was an understatement. Why the heck did I need one more powder in my life, much less on my skin. But, after using it just a few times, I was convinced. People commented that my makeup and skin looked flawless, every bit of makeup stayed in place ALL day and my face had less shine come five o’clock. It hides blemishes, helps my blush and bronzer blend and leaves me with a luminous finish. Even though it is a white powder, it goes on translucent and will quickly become your favorite makeup item!

Bumble & Bumble Hairdressers Oil – Even though I have naturally straight hair, it tends to have a mind of its own. If I don’t tame it properly with a few different potions then it’s a frizzy mess due to the curly nature of my bottom layers. This light oil has made a huge difference in the time it takes to do my hair as it has eliminated the need for a flatiron. I use two pumps for my long, thick hair and apply one pump to the bottom layers and another pump to the ends before blow drying my hair. Unlike Moroccan oil, this doesn’t weigh my hair down or leave my hands feeling greasy.

Drybar Sparkling Soda Shine Mist – Always a fan of the blowouts I get at Drybar, I’d actually not tried or purchased their products until recently. I am now the proud owner of four of their products, this one being my favorite! After a quick blow dry, I spray this all over my hair before one final hand smoothing. The result is a high gloss, flyaway free hair hair style that will last all day even in humidity.

Your turn: What is your favorite beauty item these days that you recommend to everyone? 

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes beauty items which means there are a few affiliate links via ShopStyle. It takes time and money to maintain a blog so I thank you for the support and few cents that come from clicking through the links!

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5 Beauty Products I Use Daily

I have a bad habit of waiting until I get to the office to put on makeup. This habit started over a year ago as I found that trying to apply makeup in the gym bathroom was fruitless. Still damp from the shower, the makeup wouldn’t stay in place and the moisturizer would melt right off. After doing this the entire Spring, while working out at Barry’s Bootcamp before work, this became a habit which I’ve had an issue breaking.

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Instead of trying to break this habit, I’ve tried to figure out a few quick ways that I can leave the house looking just a bit more presentable each morning. These five products, which range in price from $6.99 to over $200 have left me feeling & looking fresher & more vibrant each morning when I walk out the door.

I’ve been using these products for over a month and noticed the difference almost immediately. Each morning I wake up and find that my skin is radiant and my under eye circles and bags have drastically reduced thanks to the eye cream and moisturizer I apply each night. My co-workers have commented on my makeup at the coffee shop in the morning when the only thing I’m wearing is lipstick and concealer. The moisturizer repaired my wind chapped skin after a weekend of skiing while the concealer hid the fact that I’d been out dancing until 4am. A quick swipe of this red lipstick  makes me look awake and put together even when I’m running ten minutes late. The vibrant orange-red hue is best for medium complexions like mine hand helps counteract any tiredness or dull skin coloring during the winter months! If you’re trying to figure out what the best red is for your skin-tone, check out this helpful Allure article!

While I love each of these products, for very different reasons, if I had to buy one today for every person on my Christmas list it would be the Crest Pro-Health Clinical Mouthwash. It has left my teeth at least two shades whiter without resulting in any sensitivity. I get asked about my whitening treatment at least once a week from friends and co-workers, a sure fire sign that the mouthwash is working.

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Whether you try one of these products or not, if I could give you a resolution to add to your list come January 1st it would be to use moisturizer and under eye cream daily in 2015. None of us are getting any younger and you can easily improve the look, feel, texture and radiance of your face by using these products and drinking plenty of water. It only takes a minute or two each night to apply and makes a world of difference after just a few weeks.

Also, keep in mind, many skincare products such as moisturizers and eye creams, only require a small amount each day. This means that a product can last multiple months before you need to replace it. Your skin is an investment and you only have one chance to take care of it! Spending $200 on a moisturizer which lasts 6 months nets out to less than $0.55 per application!

Your Turn – What’s your favorite beauty product that you use daily?

*While I am an employee of Procter & Gamble I did not get compensated to review any of these products. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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What’s Inside My Makeup Bag

In between the traveling and early morning workouts, my makeup bag has been getting a lot of use these days. In fact, over the past 2 weeks I only did my makeup at home one morning! Since I’m spending more time applying makeup in gym bathrooms and hotel rooms, I’ve taken a bit of extra time lately to stock up on my makeup bag essentials. I tend to buy travel size products so all my favorite beauty items can squeeze in my small makeup bag without weighing down my purse or gym bag.

It’s been over a year since I shared the insides of my makeup bag and surprisingly only one item is the same – my mascara. A beauty product lover, due in part to my job in the industry, I always find myself experimenting with new products and color combinations.

My 10 Makeup bag essentials Here are the 10 makeup items that I swear by these days, in order of application!

Smashbox Photo Finish Oil Free Foundation PrimerLaura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum 20Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Foundation PowderDolce&Gabbana bronzer in desertLaura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Color in lotus pinkEyeko Skinny Liquid Eye Liner in blackNaked3 Eye Shadow Pallet by Urban DecayBenefit They’re Real MascaraCover Girl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm cupcake twistDolce&Gabbana Dolce fragrance pen

What’s the one makeup item you can’t leave home without?

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