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Beauty

Skincare routine for a traveler

Posted in Beauty
on 12/04/2019

WOWIE. HI. SO many of y’all requested a travel skincare routine so here I am, delivering. I was trying to think of the best way to organize this so I guess I’ll just go through my AM/PM routine and share a few extras I use when I need a boost. Since I’ve been travelling for work and coming in contact with a variety of different climates my skin has been all over the place. For a little history lesson: I have done Accutane twice (and LOVED the results!) which has made my skin a bit drier than it’s usual super oily state. I don’t struggle with breakouts too much anymore but my main concern is normally dulless and dry skin since we are now in the THICCCCK of winter.

am

Wash face with this cleanser. Sometimes I use my Clarisonic if things are looking a little dull. After cleansing, I use this solution. It’s pretty much a toner and I really like how it makes my skin feel. I follow that with a hydrating serum and some moisturizer. Most days, I add a few tanning drops to give me some color and help my ever present line between my body/face color. Hehe.

pm

Take makeup off with this balm, this lotion, or this micelluar water. Not really a big makeup wipe girl because of how expensive they are and my access to the drug store while I’m travelling is limited, so I try to stick with a makeup remover that lasts a while. I cleanse after that with this cleanser. Sometimes with my Clarisonic, sometimes without. The cleanser is my favorite and I’ve been using it for 8 years so it’s PRETTY DAMN GOOD. After that I use that same hydrating serum and follow with this mask. It’s def my favorite skincare find of 2019. SO WORTH THE MONEY. I’m on my second tube it’s that bomb.

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If you know me IRL, you know my obsession with facial sprays. I am a fanatic. This one is my favorite and it’s super cheap. I use this after my makeup, after moisturizer or just for a pick me up when my skin is feelin dull. Not really a big eye cream gal, but I use this mask as an eye cream sometimes! It’s really an all purpose kinda thing for me. For lips, I love this lip mask before bed and this chapstick is my ALL TIME FAVE. I go through tubs of these like nobodies business.

LINKING ERRYTHANG BELOW FOR Y’ALL

 

How to: summer waves in 10 minutes flat!

Posted in Beauty
on 06/07/2018

There is nothin like a quick and easy hairstyle that’ll last for DAYS. Like, really nothing better. I’m here to share with you my secrets to my favorite waves (that I honestly wear year round) that are perfect for summer! 

first things first

If you can start on dirty hair, it’s probably best because if your hair is anything like mine it’ll hold much better when it’s got a little grit to it! If your hair is clean, that’ll do too! Before I start I’ll spritz some heat protectant on the ends of my hair. This one is my recent fave and it smells amazing! Then I’ll brush it through just to make sure it’s evenly distributed!

heat things up

I’ll then heat up my wand to a few heat settings below the hottest (I used to go all the way up but I’m trying to save my poor hair so medium heat it is). My wand is tried and TRUE, y’all. It’s under $30 and it’s lasted me 6 years now! Trust me, this baby’s got ya if you’re in the market for a good wand. The barrel is a 1″-1 1/4″ so it’s the perfect size for creating waves. For this look in particular I split my hair in half and work from the back to the front. I normally end up doing 4 chunks/waves on each side. This is what’ll give ya that beach messy look! I hold the wand with the smallest side facing down and wrap my hair around the wand away from my face. Some people alternate away and towards but I like all of my curls to be away so that’s just what I do.  Also be sure to leave the ends out a bit to create that messier look!

let set and then style

Once I’ve held the hair around the barrel for around 10 seconds, I let the chunk of hair into the palm of my hand and press it into my head to set the wave. Sounds weird but I swear it works?! My hair has a hard time staying, so I don’t touch my hair until it’s cooled. Then I’ll shake it out, run my fingers through it and play with it until it’s to the look I want! If you want to add more texture I love either of these sprays (one or two).

Aaaaannnnnnnddddd voila! You’ve got beauty summery waves that’ll last ya days!

Normally the next morning I’ll run my fingers through the waves and restyle them a bit and then spray some more texture spray or hairspray to hold. They normally last me until I wash my hair next (which now is around every 3 days).

PS: do y’all like the dark hair? I’ve been dying it consistently this year and I LOOOOVEE it dark!

ride the wave

Fake + bake | Summer self tanning routine

Posted in Beauty
on 05/24/2018

Hiiii y’all! If you’re anything like me and spend most of your day inside then you’re probably also as white as a ghost (like me). That’s when the self tanner comes into play…. Everything is better when you’re tan — I can vouch for that. I know self tanner can seem SCARY AF if you’re new to it but after reading this post you’ll be a pro. Let’s take ya through the steps for that perfect fake and bake!

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shower

Lol, could seem like an obvious one but clean skin is the best base for any self tan! I exfoliate with this and I also shave too before applying my self tanner. Blast the cold water before you get out the shower to avoid those brown little spots from the self tanner sinking into your hair folicles!

hydrate those dry areas

Areas like you’re elbows, knees and ankles (and for some reason the area right by my arm pits lol) will SOAK up that color so it’s so important to hydrate with a little bit of lotion so they don’t turn bright orange. Believe me, I have made the mistake MANY MANY TIMES but I just discovered this lil hack and it’s been a savior so far! My favorite lotion is this one and I also use it on my face too! Talk about #doubleduty.

apply that fake tan

We are getting to the good stuff now y’all… actually applying your tan! My tried and true tanner is this one. I think I’ve gone through like 6 bottles no joke. I will recommend it to anyone and everyone because it’s soooo adorable and it really gets the job done! Mousse is my favorite formula because I feel like it’s the easiest to control. I use a tanning mitt with it and it makes application much more even! I normally start with my arms and work my way down using around 2 pumps per arm and 3 per leg. Then I move to my chest and my upper back using around 2-3 pumps too (I normally don’t really do my lower back or stomach since it’s never visible). Make sure to rub in with long strokes and instead of circular strokes to ensure you’re not streaky. I let it dry and it only takes a minute or two and then I apply another coat!

If you’re a lotion gal, just follow the same steps but you won’t need to use a mitt or anything! If you like lotion, I would recommend this one!

taking care of your tan

The lasting power of a tan will differ from person to person depending on how much you sweat and shower! I normally fake tan 2-3 times a week in the summer since I don’t see the light of day lol. It’d probably be wise to take a break for a week or two every once in a while so I could exfoliate and start really fresh but I never really do :-) My best tip is to keep your skin moisturized to prolong your tan!

IT’S TIME TO BECOME THAT BRONZED BABE YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE! Take this guide and run with it! Till next time xoxo

get ya self tan on!

Everything you need to know about Accutane + my skin care routine

Posted in Beauty, Lifestyle
on 01/03/2018

I have struggled with acne for years and when I got to college, it got progressively worse. The acne was mostly concentrated on in my cheeks, forehead and back. I turned to caking on makeup because my face was broken out, I could never wear the cute tops I wanted to because my back was broken out, and I just did not feel good about myself.

I had been seeing a dermatologist since I was in high school and when I tell you I’ve tried everything — I really have. Creams, antibiotics, face washes, gels literally all of it. But nothing really worked for me. I was finally so fed up which is why I decided to bite the bullet and go on Accutane. While I will say some of the side effects can seem scary, I was at the point where I would have done anything for clear skin.

**peep my skin now!! thank you accutane for changing my skin forever!**

I’ll jump into how my process worked for those of you wondering. There is a once a month blood test you have to get done (I am so scared of needles, but by month three I was fine. I just can’t look lol) as well as a dermatologist appointment to check in. In order to get your prescription filled each month, you have to go online and answer questions (from the iPledge program.. they were mostly about birth control and such). My prescription was from a remote pharmacy and was always overnighted to me so I was never without medicine.

Accutane does take a while to see results. Your skin may take awhile to adjust and react to the medicine, like mine did. I really did not see my skin starting to clear up until around September (month 5) and my back did not get clear until this month really (month 8). I have been taking this medicine since May and I’ve been on around 40 mg since month two. Everyone’s skin reacts differently so there is no for sure guarantee it’ll work in x amount of time or even work at all. I’ve known people who have done multiple rounds of Accutane, and some who have done 5 months and been done. Thankfully my 8 month run was enough to finally GET MY SKIN CLEAR.

The side effects came and went. In my first few months, I experienced back pain (I had always had a small lower back curve so this was nothing out the ordinary) that was worse then normal. Since I started during the summer, my lips were super dry too due to the heat. I pretty much had to change my entire skincare routine to cater to my now drier skin. Before the medicine, I had the freaking oiliest skin in the world. Like I could use two-three oil wipes midday on my face. It was seriously so gross. My hair.. oh, my hair! I think that was my favorite thing about being on this medicine. It essentially stops your skins oil production so my hair wouldn’t get oily for at least 4-5 days. Right now, after 8 months of Accutane, I could probably get away with washing it once a week. That’s been a plus for me.

Skincare routine

My skincare routine has drastically changed since I’ve started Accutane. I’ve simplified everything and just let the medicine do it’s job. Before I was doing four and five steps including cleasner, toner, acne cream and moisturizer. Now I am down to three at max — it’s seriously the best thing to happen to a lazy girl like me.

Philosophy purity made simple face wash //  My absolute favorite face wash on and off Accutane. I’ve been using this one for around 6 years now and I have nothing but rave reviews to give! It’s really hydrating with it’s silky creamy texture and also great to use as makeup remover too if you’re in a hurrry. With my Clarisonic and this — my skin feels AMAZING.

First aid beauty ultra repair cream //  I stumbled upon this at Ulta this past summer and I figured I would give it a try since it’s reviews were pretty good. I  just bought my second tub and I am head over heels for it. I use it as my body moisteriser too and it’s a nice unscented lotion that actually keeps my skin hydrated.

Clairisonic Mia 1 //  My tried and true. I’ve had the same one since freshman year of high school (6 years) and it’s still goin so strong. I used to use it everyday, but now that my skin is drier and I’ve gotten a lot lazier (lol) I use it every once in a while to get a goood deep clean. The brush head I’ve found works best for me is the acne one! I would recommend, despite the hefty price tag! I can honestly say I feel the difference when I use it and when I don’t.

Mario Badescu rose water toner spray // This is something I use here and there, but especially when my skin is tired and needs a lil boost. I like it if I haven’t washed my face in the morning to put on before makeup. I’ve also seen some people use it as setting spray — I need to test that theory out!!

Garnier micellular water // One of my favorite beauty finds of 2017 hands down. One cotton bad and squirt of this and I am clean and makeup free. Makeup wipes are so expensive but this is cheaper and lasts way longer! I also find it’s bit more gentle on my skin and sensitive eye area. I could easily use this at night and be fine without moisturizer for the day too!

Blistex lip medex //  I swear by this stuff. Ugh omg I could go on about how moisturizing this is and how it literally SAVES my peeling, cracked dry lips every time. It’s also got a cooling feeling too that I love. No need to spend the big bucks on lip balm when you can have it all for under $4 with this guy!

Makeup favorites (full coverage)

Some of my makeup favorites changed too! I ended up needing A LOT more coverage the first three months so I was experimenting with foundation and concealer like crazy!

Benefit boing concealer //  I found that using this under my foundation helped. The first few months were hard with lots of breakouts on my cheeks, but this def has the coverage I needed! The color I have is light.

Two faced born this way foundation //  This was the FULL coverage foundation I used when I first started Accuatne. It was awesome for pretty much making me look acne-less. I did have to use a bit of concealer with it since my acne/scaring was severe. The finish was pretty natural looking and I would spritz it with my Mario Badescu rose water toner to make it a bit more dewy looking. Once my skin got clearer, I didn’t find the need for it anymore.

Maybelline fit me foundation //  This is was I use currently, as I am wrapping up Accutane. I think this foundation is a fantastic drugstore buy. I have used high end foundations for the past 5 or 6 years, and I honestly think this one revels a few. It runs about $9 and the coverage is pretty solid (more light to medium). I can layer it up if I need to though so that is a plus!

Has anyone else done Accutane or is interested in doing it? I would love to chat about it if y’all have any questions. I know it’s really not a medicine that is for everyone but for me it was exactly what I needed to get my skin clear. It might sound superficial but I really do feel so much more confident with my clear skin. It was something that had always made me feel self conscious. After years of dealing with acne (I seriously would not wish that upon anyone) I can say I am finally FREEE! Ugh, how liberating.

Hope y’all enjoyed this #realtalk with me! Love y’all too much!!

Madison

 

Things I’ve bought recently | Edition 1

Posted in Beauty, Fashion
on 03/15/2017

Hey ma ladies. How’s this week treating’ ya so far? I know I am just getting started lol. After an extremely hectic Monday, I was able to have a chillish Tuesday and now it’s hump day so things are picking back up. I got to thinking about this week’s post- scrolling through my instagram feed, reading my favorite blogs- and it came to me… a shopping roundup?! I’ve been doing a lot of shopping lately. I’m not sure what it is… I’m just in a spending mood which my bank account is not thanking me for. Good thing payday is coming up this week (thank you, thank you)!! Well, without further ado, let’s get into it…

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bauble bar tassel earrings

Statement earrings are definitely here to stay this spring. I recently picked up this pair from Hemline (shouts!!) and I am in love. Often times, I find myself wearing a simple outfit so some fun earrings like these will dress it up! I’m linking some other earrings I’m lusting for below.

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pink ray ban aviators

Y’all know my undying loyalty to the Ray Ban aviator, so when I shattered a lens over Mardi Gras break I needed to replace the pair asap. Luckily, my roommate had a pair she was wanting to get rid of. They’re a pink lens with a gold frame and different from anything I’d seen before! I styled them in my last post and they honestly made me feel like Hyde lol.

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steve madden platform espadrille sneaker

If you follow me on Instagram, you would know that I have been on a sneaker kick!! Every time I get ready for work, I reach for them. They literally go with everything in my closet, I swear. I’ve paired them with a fringe top and skirt, denim dress, chambray shirt and black shorts… the options are endless.

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two faced born this way

I was in the market for a new foundation, so I ran over to Sephora last weekend. With some coaxing, I settled upon the Two Faced Born This Way foundation. It’s oil-free, medium coverage, and good for combination skin, which is what I’m about to have since I’m starting Accutane in a month or two (wheee!!). So far, so good.

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benefit hoola

In the height of my makeup obsession stage (sophomore year of high school), I used this stuff religiously. The shade is perfect for my coloring anytime of year and I always have great experiences with Benefit products. When the mini size caught my eye; I knew I needed to go back to it!

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philosophy purity made simple

I go back to this cleanser time and time again. I think this is my fourth bottle #noshameintherepurchasegame so if that tells ya anything.. I use my  Clarisonic Mia (which is a literal dinosaur) with it and I would recommend to any skin type!!

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denim shift dress

Pay day had me feeling on a high for about a week. I ended up scouring Asos and stumbling upon this little number. As a working gal, I am always looking for easy dresses I can wear for work. This one is sooo cute with a sneaker, chunky heel, or even sandal for the spring. It runs true to size. I normally wear a XS-S and went with the XS, which was perf.

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fringe top

Refer to my previous post for more on this top, but I am in looovvveeee and I can’t stop talking about it. Fringe is just so fun. It’s a nice change of pace for me with my basic tees and jeans every dang day. The top runs pretty true to size (I got a small for reference). I’m gonna link some more fringe pieces because I feel like spring/summer are the time to rock it!

Is it just me or have any of y’all been on a shopping kick lately? Leave me some comments with some stuff you’ve recently bought!

madison-bronze-foil

Life Lately | November Edition

Posted in Beauty, Fashion, Lifestyle
on 11/30/2016

Honestly surprised I made it to the end of this month (lol). With computer problems out the wahzoo, semi, projects + some family issues – it’s no surprise this month was a rough one. December is here, which means I can finally start decorating for Christmas! But before that, I’ll give y’all a little run down of my November…

nov-life-lately-1Ah, the best way to start the month is with a fresh new monthly view in the agenda. My planner is my literal saving grace. I would be running around like a chicken with my head cut off if it weren’t for it.

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Who’s fun + brunette? That’s me! This MuMu tee has easily become a throw on and go for the month. Jeans, skirts, leggings – you name it, I’ve worn it with this shirt. MuMu has a fantastic line of graphic tees, but they can be pricey so if you’re looking into one, I would recommend getting something you’ll be able to re wear time + time again.

some mu for you

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Football season has come to a close this month. I have to say, I am really going to miss heading over to Tiger Stadium to cheer on my boys. Picking out an outfit every weekend – that’s something I won’t miss. There’s a first time for everything + this was mine with the jersey. Let’s just say I looked more sporty than I am.

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Back and better than ever! Serving on exec has been one of my best memories in Alpha Phi. This year I have been elected to be our VP of Chapter Operations. With our brand new home, there is so much to be done (we are still getting the hang of things over here). I am looking forward to working with my girls to have a year to remember!

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Catherine (my sweet roomie + bff) turned 20 this month! The weekend was jam-packed. Semi took place Friday night + following that was the Alabama game. I snagged these gold foil balloons from Amazon for $5 each (talk about a bargain)! Her little gift from moi included, a sweet note (feat Harry Styles), kit kats, a choker, and a framed picture of us.

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Semi was where it was at!! I can’t even begin to describe how much fun we all had! The night started hectically (what’s new), but once we got to the venue all was well. Bag of Donuts was our entertainment + I swear to you, they are one of the best cover bands of all time! Shout out to my best friend Brooks for tagging along with me ;-)

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Alpha Phi took us to the Pelicans game + boy was it fun! Not only did I spend $16 on food, ride a bus from BR to NOLA for 3 hours, but I also got to go on the court + snap some pictures! My outfit was a total seventies vibe from the flares to the bodysuit to the hoops.  

70s fever

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A successful friendsgiving was had! We chowed on some delicious food + caught up like old times. Seeing my high school friends is one of the best parts about going home. Did I mention how freaking cute our little photo shoot turned out?

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Thanksgiving this year was quite an odd one. I was all over the place (NOLA, Mandeville, BR) + didn’t get much of a break. Louisiana weather still has not cooled down enough for a jeans, boots, and sweater look so I opted for a sweater + skirt combo.

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My music favorites for this month:

Love on the weekend by John Mayer

Blue ain’t your color by Keith Urban

Make your mind up by Moon Taxi

The chain by Fleetwood Mac

My beauty favorites for this month:

My daily routine for work has been pretty simple. CC cream, blush, brows, and then mascara.

Articles I’ve been reading this month:

Winter wedges by Lonestar Southern

One Direction update by Billboard

4 ways to add holiday glam to any outfit by A Pinch of Lovely

Michelle Obama’s final White House Christmas decor by Vogue

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How has everyone’s November been? Give me some feedback in the comments!

madison-bronze-foil

The only makeup products you need during the summer

Posted in Beauty
on 07/06/2016

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I’m all about dat glowy summer face this summer. With extremely oily skin (I’m talking the use two full oil wipes), I have to be careful not to go overboard with the luminescence because no one wants to look like a light bulb. This is my go to face for the summer, so I thought I would share and see what y’all think.

Breakin’ it down

I always prime my skin before foundation/tinted moisturizer to be sure it’ll last all day. Neutrogena Shine control is a rice-based primer that helps mattify my skin. Laura Mercer Tinted Moisturizer is probably one of my all time favorite products ever. I love the coverage that it gives and the oil free version is a godsend. Due to my super oily skin, setting powder is a must. For years I’ve been using the Makeup Forever HD Powder and I am a huge fan. It makes my skin look airbrushed! For a glowy highlight/blush, MAC’s Mineralized Skin Finish does the trick. The one I have is super duper old and I’m pretty sure it’s been discontinued but MAC has lots of other color options in stock. I love their MSF’s because they aren’t chalked full of chunky glitter. When you swirl this one together, you get a beautiful desert rose color (I swatched it in the third to last picture). To set my face, I like a matte setting spray like NYX’s Matte Setting Spray

As far as eyes go, I love eyeliner but I have been *trying* to steer away from it during the summer for a fresher look (keyword: trying. No really y’all I am an eyeliner addict). I always do a shimmery lid for summer, and MAC makes amazing cream shadows that last ALL DAY (not even exaggerating). MAC Bare Study Paint Pot is the perfect champagne color. I swatched it in the last picture. Mascara wise (I am constantly changing my mascara up) lately I have been using Maybelline the Falsies and I really like it.

As y’all are well aware and have seen in previous posts (aka this one and this one) I am obsessed with Revlon lip products. The Just Bitten Balm + Stain in particular is an all time fave. This light pink color looks good with any outfit and polishes off my makeup look.

Do y’all have any must have products for summer I should know about?

shop this post

madison

Manicure SUNday…? | OPI Cajun Shrimp

Posted in Beauty
on 06/19/2016

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In pursuit of a fun summer color, I stumbled upon this beauty. OPI Cajun Shrimp is the perfect summer color for your fingers and toes. Did I mention this coral looks stunning with a tan? Per usual, the formulation was on point. I will be wearing this one into fall to go with my chunky knits and jeans! Honestly this color could go year round so don’t hesitate to pick it up in a cooler month.

coral crush

What is your fave coral color for the summer? Fall? Let me know!

lots of love,

madison