A Sparkle and a Smile

Thursday, June 26, 2014

How To: Handle a Sunburn

Hello Beautiful Ones!

In case you haven't noticed, the sun is hot out there! I just recently went on a trip to Colorado where I spent some very relaxing time in the cool mountain air (heaven!). Unfortunately though, I forgot to apply sunscreen when I went hiking. The result was that I looked like a very tired and very red tomato! To make matters worse I had to go to a wedding the day after I returned from my trip (YIKES)!

It's always important that you apply sunscreen when you're going to be outside for long periods of time, but just incase you find yourself in the same predicament I found myself in I thought I would give you some of my tips on how to handle a pesky sunburn on your face! Here is my tool kit:


First, you're going to want a cooling gel that you can apply to the burn to reduce some of the stinging and redness. We all know that sunburns can be very painful so your first priority is to make yourself as comfortable as possible. You'll want to make sure you get a gel that contains Aloe Vera. I had to desperately buy one in a gift shop in Colorado, but it did the trick! I used Sun Bum Cool Down, but you can use any kind of aloe gel you want.

Once, you've calmed down your skin a little I would suggest that you moisturize, moisturize, moisturize (seriously!). But no matter what, if you're burned bad enough your skin is probably going to peel. That's where I found myself the day before the wedding. So I just took a dry washcloth (you can also use a damp one if you prefer) and I gently scrubbed off the dry and peeling skin. It's kind of like a really gentle exfoliating treatment. You could also try a very gentle and hydrating scrub but I would try to avoid anything too gritty or abrasive so that you don't irritate your skin. I did this the night before I was going to be applying the makeup.

Now that you've handled the peeling you're still going to be red. I would suggest using a really good primer that's going to help you combat that red and make it easier to cover up with your makeup. I used Clinique's Superprimer Color Corrects Redness. I've raved about this one before, but I just really like using it for covering up blemishes or red patches. After your primer you are good to apply your foundation like usual. After I put on my foundation I still had a little bit of red poking through so I reached for a product I had gotten in a Benefit try it box I had bought at Sephora: Benefit Some Kind of Gorgeous Foundation Faker. You can use this alone or with your foundation for a little extra coverage. I had bought the Benefit sample box for other products, but so far this one has come in pretty handy, I'm thinking that I might have to buy myself a full sized one when it runs out! It goes on really smoothly and then acts like a light powder once it's on your face. So cool!

I hope these little tips helped you out. Hopefully next time we'll all learn our lessons and apply the sunscreen in the first place!

XO- Brittney


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Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Mac Sharon Osbourne Patent Polish Pencil in Patent Pink

Hello Beautiful Ones!

This last weekend I attended a wedding that was held out in a pasture (welcome to Nebraska!). The ceremony was beautiful, but it was also extremely HOT. I was melting, so I wanted really light makeup that wouldn't be hot and heavy on my face. It was perfect timing because I had just bought the new Mac Patent Polish Pencil from the Sharon Osbourne Collection in the shade Patent Pink. The packaging is limited edition in Sharon's signature red color.


I already had this product in mind when I walked into Macy's but swatching it on my hand is what really sold it for me. This lip pencil just glides on and is buttery smooth. I also loved the color. It's just a really gorgeous light pink with a little touch of shimmer. Here is a swatch of the color:


Now back to my experience wearing this at the wedding... I found that the lasting power was pretty typical for a balm. It lasted for an hour or two without food or drink. Luckily the pencil isn't too big and fit nicely even in my little handbag, perfect for touch ups! 

At the end of the day... I'd have to say I'm a fan! I know that Mac doesn't release these Patent Polish Pencils very often so I would suggest getting your hands on one while you still can. They're going fast! Let me know if you've tried any of Mac's Osbourne line!

XO- Brittney


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Thursday, June 19, 2014

Friday Favorite #2

Hello Beautiful Ones!

It's Friday (I'm sure I don't have to remind you)! Before we all run off to our weekend plans, I'm going to share with you another one of my absolute favorite products! Today I'm talking about eye make-up remover. To be exact, I'm talking about the Neutrogena Extra Gentle Eye Makeup Remover Pads.


We all know that getting rid of that mascara, eyeliner, etc. can be a real pain in the you know what, but most of the time once you do finally find a product that actually removes your eye makeup it can be harsh on your eyes. If you're nodding your head in agreement as you read this, don't worry because I have the solution!

These Neutrogena remover pads are the real deal. They effectively get rid of all that eye makeup (no matter how waterproof it is) and they are extremely gentle on your eyes and skin. I've had my eyes irritated by many makeup removers in the past, but this one is 100% gentle.

You can get these at most drugstores for about $7. You get 30 pads in the container. I use one side of the pad one night and then put it back in the container so I can use the other side the next night. That little trick helps me stretch these out for a whole extra month (look at me go!).

Let me know if you have any favorites you think I should check out!

XO- Brittney


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Tuesday, June 17, 2014

My Current Favorite Drugstore Moisturizer!

Hello Beautiful Ones!

As I've said before I've always struggled with acne, but I was finally able to get it under control after going to the dermatologist. However, I do sometimes struggle with dry skin from the topical cream prescribed by my dermatologist. I make sure to moisturize both at night after I wash my face and in the morning before I put on my makeup.

Since the topical cream I use daily to keep my acne at bay can be somewhat harsh on my skin it's really important to me that I use a moisturizer that is extremely gentle. That brings me to my love: Cetaphil Daily Advance Ultra-Hydrating Lotion.


I know what you all are thinking: umm... why are you using old lady lotion? Yeah, yeah... I know, but hear me out first! This was recommended to me by my dermatologist a couple of years ago and I have been faithfully using it ever since. I love that this is no-frills, no-fuss, it just gets the job done.

This is unscented, non-greasy, and won't irritate your skin... no matter how sensitive your skin is. It has a really nice consistency. When I put this on I feel like it creates a barrier of moisture on my skin. I'm telling you, if you struggle with dry skin you should definitely try this one out! You can get it at most drugstores for about $10. I've also used this on dry hands and feet.

Let me know if you have any drugstore moisturizing favorites!

XO-Brittney


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Friday, June 13, 2014

Beauty on a Budget: Curly Hair Favorites

Hello Beautiful Ones!

Today I'm calling all of the curly haired girls who don't want to spend all of their hard earned money on hair products (I know you're out there!). When I was younger I used to be caught in a constant power struggle with my naturally curly and extremely thick hair. After years of straighteners and ponytails I finally found peace with my hair! I realized that things go a lot better when you let your locks do their own thing, but what you can do is use products that will enhance your hair's natural beauty (instead of fight it).

You can easily spend a large amount of money on hair products (and most of the time they will do the trick) but I've found some inexpensive drugstore products that I'm really happy with, so I thought I would share with all of you!


Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo- $5
First of all, I'd like to state that I love dry shampoo. I usually wash my hair every other day because if you wash curly hair too often you'll be stripping away the natural oils that make your curls pretty! The trick is to get rid of the extra grease at the roots so your hair doesn't look and feel greasy. I've been using this for a while and I really like it. I just spray some on my roots and then let it soak in for about 5-10 minutes while I continue getting ready. After I've let it sit for a while I brush it through the rest of my hair from roots to ends. It gets rid of the excess oil and it is refreshing, definitely a LOVE!

Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Anti-Humidity Smoothing Milk- $4
One of my greatest struggles with my curly hair has always been fighting frizz. I love this product because it cuts down on the frizz, but is also lightweight. I run this stuff through my hair every day, whether it is damp or dry and it works like a charm!

Garnier Fructis Style curl Calm Down Anti-Frizz Cream-  $8
I use this as sort of a supplement to the smoothing milk, it just adds a little more definition to the curls. I've tried gels, but I'm just not into that crunchy look (yikes). This will give you really nice, soft curls. I just apply a little to the ends and then lightly scrunch my hair, and I'm done!

At the end of the day my advice is to embrace your hair's natural texture. Take down those ponytails and let it loose baby! :)

Let me know if you have any curly hair favorites!

XO- Brittney


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Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Summer Colors: Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelée

Hello Beautiful Ones!

The sun is shining and it is a gorgeous hot summer day here in Nebraska! It's the perfect day to sit and sip a frozen cappuccino (spoiler: that's exactly what I'm doing!). Normally I tend to gravitate towards pinks and neutrals for my face, but weather like this always gets me in the mood for bright and happy colors.

During a recent trip to Sephora I picked up the Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelée in the color Poppy Paradise.



You can now get two shades of the cheek gelée (poppy paradise and pink escape) in a mini size for $13 compared to the regular size for $22. Sephora describes the cheek gelée as "an innovative coconut water-infused cheek gelée with up to 14 hours of color and hydration." I use my finger to dab a little on my cheeks and then buff out the color using my blush brush. The lasting power is pretty good, although 14 hours might be a little bit of a stretch! I would say, for my skin at least, it will stay for a solid 8 hours. I also like that this product is moisturizing, it glides on smoothly and is not heavy at all.

As I said before this is a little outside of my normal color palette, but I'm really loving the pop of color for the summer. This goes on pretty sheer so you can build up the color if you want a more dramatic look. Here is a swatch of the color:


Finally, I am seriously loving the mini size. When I was checking out at Sephora the cashier helping me was gushing about how cute and little it was, and I have to agree! This little mini would be perfect to throw in your purse for a mid-day touch up or in your travel makeup bag. I just generally love minis because they allow you to try new products without completely breaking the bank (woo-hoo!).

Hope you all are having wonderful and colorful summers! :)

XO- Brittney

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Friday, June 6, 2014

Friday Favorite #1

Hello Beautiful ones!

 TGIF! Last night I went and saw The Fault In Our Stars, the movie inspired by John Green's book. So. Many. Emotions... If you haven't already read the book I highly suggest you do before you go to the movie (and take some tissues). As a huge fan of the book I thought the movie was a really great adaptation!

Now on to the beauty! I thought I would start a new Friday series where I share with you one of my absolute favorite things. This Friday I'm going with something a little different... the Band-aid Brand Friction Block Stick.


You know that awful thing where you buy a pair of adorable new shoes and then they completely tear up your feet? The Band-aid Friction Block stick can help you avoid that whole tragic mess! You can buy this little guy at just about any major drugstore, and they retail for about $8.99. You can find it in the pharmacy section right next to the band-aids. I first heard about this product when I saw it on Pinterest and I knew I had to try it. 

Bottom line: this thing is absolutely incredible. When you open it up it just looks like a little baby stick of deodorant. You just rub it on your feet on the spots that your shoes normally rub and it prevents the blisters. Seriously it works! I use this all the time for some of my flats that have a tendency to rub on my heels. And the bonus is that this smells really good! It's not an overpowering smell, it's just light and fresh smelling. I can put this on in the morning and it lasts all day, also it's small enough to easily fit in your bag or purse!

Let me know if you've ever tried this or if you have your own Friday favorite!

XO- Brittney 


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Tuesday, June 3, 2014

May Beauty Favorites 2014!

Hello Beautiful Ones!

Well I don't know how it happened... but May is officially gone and June is here! Before we completely tell May goodbye I thought I would share with you some of my favorites for beauty for the month!


Marc Jacobs Honey Rollerball- $22

This is a really gorgeous floral scent that I have been loving this summer. It's just really light and fresh smelling. A perfect day fragrance! Rollerballs are always nice to keep on hand because they are easily portable (they're also more affordable than the full sized fragrance!).

e.l.f. Essentials Shimmering Facial Whip in Lilac Petal- $1

I've talked about this before, but I just love that it is a light and versatile shimmer that can be dabbed on your cheeks or even on lids and lips! It's really nice to have products that can multi-task and this one is only $1!

Maybelline Line Stiletto Liquid Eyeliner in Blackest Black- $5.97

There aren't many negatives for this one! The applicator is really easy to use and creates a thin and precise line. This is perfect for those of us who don't have the magic touch when it comes to winged eyeliner. :) I also like the lasting power for this, I can put it on in the morning and it stays put until I take it off at night.

Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil Light (mini)- $16

I can't get enough of this one! It's super moisturizing. I use it on my face under my makeup, on my dry feet, and at the ends of my hair to calm my curls. You can pick up the mini size at Sephora for $16.

Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener- $20

This little guy has found a permanent spot in my daily makeup routine. I just dab a little bit under my eyes for a fresh face! Love it!

I can't wait to see what June has in store for all of us! Let me know what you were loving this month!

XO- Brittney
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Monday, June 2, 2014

Beauty on a Budget: Hard Candy Hydrating Lip Stain

Hello Beautiful Ones!

It's time again for another beauty on a budget review! I'm always scouring the drugstore for products that not only work, but also won't break the bank. It's nice to have variety in your makeup bag, but that's hard to do when you're buying all high end products (sigh)!

Ever since I tried the Revlon Kissable Balm Stain I've been wanting more balm + stain combinations in my life! I like the gloss look, but also lasting color. So when I ran across the Hard Candy All Glossed Up Hydrating Lip Stain at my local Walmart I knew that I absolutely had to try it! I picked up the color Tickled Pink.


The first thing I noticed when I put this on was how smoothly it glided on my lips. This is a very light lip product, which is perfect for the summer time. However, the color is very sheer (it is a gloss after all). If you are looking for something lighter and not as matte as the Revlon line of balm stains, this is the one for you! I feel that it is much more hydrating than it is a lasting stain.

Here is a swatch of the color:


This is just a really pretty and simple pink lip color. Oh and I forgot to mention the best part: you can get this little beauty for only $5! The bottom line is that I would definitely recommend that you try these, I'm looking forward to picking up a few more in different shades.

Let me know in the comments if there are any beauty on a budget products you are loving right now!

XO- Brittney

P.S. Call me, tweet me, if you want to reach me! :)

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