You can Thank Me Later

[Disclaimer: any typos in this post are not my fault.  Please blame the little tortoise cat I like to call Ginny for any typos or errors.  She loves to help, a lot.]

But seriously, you will.  Before I turned say 22, I rarely washed my face.  Didn't use skincare.  Nothing.  You were lucky if I took off my makeup before going to bed. Then I turned 22, and my skin changed.  Which I have heard of.  Suddenly I was breaking out, my pores were clogging, my skin tone was uneven.  So I had to make some changes which including washing my face and taking off my makeup every night.

Fast forward three years later, still doing my best to keep my skin clean and looking better.  It works, most of the time.  My pores have become more stubborn over the years, clogging just because they feel like it basically.

I had seen the Clarisonic Mia 2 at stores before.  Online.  But at a price point of $149 seemed a little much for me.  I mean they made tons of knock off options at various other stores so why would I spend that much on a skin care tool.  Boy was I wrong.  I've bought the knocks offs, didn't really notice much improvement.

But from the first time I used my Clarisonic Mia 2, I noticed an incredible difference in my skin.  It felt squeaky clean without making my face feel tight and dry.  I've been using it now for about 3 weeks and my skin has made some major improvements.  My clogged pores have just about all cleared up  and my skin tone has evened out dramatically.  My skin feels clean and healthy for the first time in awhile.  Plus, it only takes a minute!  20 seconds on your forehead, 20 seconds on your nose and chin, and then 10 seconds on each cheek.  I mean coqme on.  Everyone has a minute.

Plus it comes in a ton of cute patterns and colors.  I mean how cute is the paisley print of mine?  After using mine a few times, I went on to the website and became obsessed.  They have a ton of different brush heads and cleansers.  Mine came with a sample of three of their cleansers, the Daily Foaming Cleanser, the Deep Pore Cleanser, and the Hydrating Cleanser.  Which I'm not sure which one I will be ordering a full size of when I run out of!  They are great cleansers.  But the best part about the Clarisonic Mia 2 system is you can use any face wash with them!

Trust me when I say that this little skincare tool is well worth the investment to improving your skin.  I used to spend the money on facials to help clean my skin up but now there is no need!  But seriously, you will thank me if you use this on your skin.  It has dramatically improved the way mine looks.  Even my makeup seems to go on better!  Come on, take a minute out of your day and improve your skin.  Only a minute!1

Summer Beauty Tips

So here in the Ozarks, we've been pretty blessed with a relatively cool summer.  And by cool I mean not blisteringly hot with 80% humidity all the time.  But there have been days that have lived up to that name.  I, like most women, work at least 40 hours a week and when I know that it's going to be 90+ the idea of putting on a full face of makeup is gross.  So here are a few of my tried and true tips to a lightweight face that is work appropriate.

1. Trade in that heavy foundation for a BB cream or tinted moisturizer.  This has the perks of a moisturizer but coverage for us who need it to even out our skin tone.  I sometimes swipe a little powder over my t-zone just to help the coverage last all day. A few of my faves include:

smashbox / laura mercier / l'oreal

2.  Swap out your contouring/bronzing/highlighting/blush routine for a little cream blush.  Just a little bit will give you that just pinched flushed look.  

maybelline / revlon / benefit

3.  Lashes.  We all know I love lashes.  Skip the smokey eye and swipe on that mascara.  Lashes for days will wake up your eyes and brighten up your whole look.

smashbox / tarte / lancome

4.  Tinted lip balm.  Now unfortunately I am no where near glamourous enough to wear bold lip colors but if you are rock it here.  Now is your chance.  With a muted eye and pink cheeks, rock that hot pink lip.  If you are like me, reach for a little tinted lip balm/lip stain to finish off that look.  

tarte / benefit / covergirl

Well, there you have it.  My perfect, go to summer look.  Oh and if you're like me and can't leave the house without your eye brows on, throw those on too.  Because I look weird without them!

Ready Set Gorgeous

Okay, so I have the most stubborn pores.  Seems like a weird thing to talk about right? Pores.  But seriously, mine clog up just because they feel like it I think.  So when this new CoverGirl foundation promises to not clog your pores I was all over it.

[image cred: CoverGirl]

I did my typical research before I went.  Read a few reviews on how it went on and how the shades matched and all and a few bloggers said to get two different shades and mix them to get the best results.  So I went and got two shades.  And loved it.  I love the way it goes on, I love the finish, I love the lightweight feeling.  But finding a shade to match my skin is apparently impossible.

You would think a foundation with 12 shade options a pale girl with cool undertones could find a match.  Amiright? I bought shades Creamy Natural 110 and Buff Beige 115 and mixed the two at first. Seemed too dark.  Tried each shade separately.  Too dark. Went to the store and bought what I thought was a lighter shade. Even darker.

So for now, I have thrown in the towel on this foundation.  I'm not sure what to do honestly because I really loved the coverage and look of the foundation.  I'm a pale girl with no hope of getting tanner unless I spend some serious time in the tanning bed.  Which is not the best for your skin but who knows.

Maybe if I do win a dream vacation to the beach and get super tan I can try this foundation out again.  Who wants to donate to the "Amanda-needs-a-serious-vacation-especialy-if-its-to-the-beach" fund?  Anyone? No? Okay, back to the drawing board then!

Lights, Camera, Flashes

So I took a bit of a hiatus from here [story of my life, am i right] and I was posting over on Wordpress.  Big mistake.  I've read more blog posts about how switching to Wordpress is a terrible idea.  Anyway, moving on.

Mascara.  Let's talk about it.  I love me so mascara.  And as much as I love the price point of cheap mascara, it flakes in my eyes.  I can't handle it.  I work at least 40 hours a week if not more and I need my mascara to keep up with me.  Am I right?

I watch way too many blogs, vlogs, etc from make up gurus and have tried a few mascaras that I have liked alot.  But nothing, I mean nothing has given me lashes like Tarte's Lights, Camera, Flashes Mascara.  I kid you not.  We're talking mega volume, false lash look.

It has a two sided brush that at first I thought was annoying.  Why do I need to deal with a doubled sided brush.  But when used, this brush creates mega lashes.

 I mean hello! Check these out!

You have got to check this out.  Seriously.  

Anyway, expect to see me back on the old blog again.  The URL has changed though. midwestmascara.blogspot.com.  Because I believe a few swipes of mascara can change anything.