BeneBabe

As I work my way up to becoming a master of my own face I’ve been able to branch out and try so many brands and products. After exploring skincare and making sure my face was in tip-top shape it was time to start branching out with make up products. Looking for quality products with a semblance of some ethics has been a fun task. Most recently I was contacted by Benefit Cosmetics to try out a slew of their products, and I’ve got to say you can color me impressed!

I was already a huge fan of Benefit’s They’re Real Mascara; ever since it’s inception it’s been a go-to that even though I’m trying other products I always end up back to the classic. But I’ve now added Roller Lash to my make up bag and it is so good. Contrary to They’re Real’s thickening and lengthening formula, Roller Lash creates long, but thin lashes, perfect for feminine days with a pale pink lip.

After chatting with doppelnamer SarahLovesMakeup she convinced me I need to also try the BeneTints and the Dandelion collection, and I’m so so happy for her recommendations. The Dandelion Dew has become a daily addition, which is a big step considering I was always afraid of blush due to my fair skin! The coloring on this is sublte and feminine, and that’s what I love about it.


What’s your favorite make up brand? Have you tried Benefit Cosmetics?

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Agave Spa Travel Kit

As I get older I’ve found myself getting more into beauty. Not so much make up, as I’m pretty basic when it comes to that, but more so to taking care of my skin and making sure that I put my best face forward. While I’m still fairly young and my skin isn’t too sensitive I’ve been working hard to find the perfect concoction for my skin. Agave Spa saw my plight for more products to try and sent me a wonderful travel kit to test, just in time for my trip to New Orleans.

I was super excited to try Agave Spa‘s products for a silly reason-I love tequila so I figured I’d love beauty products made from the same plant! Makes sense, right? But in actuality, it’s pretty great.

My favorite product from this kit is the Agave and Pearl Anti-Aging serum. With a slightly oceany scent and a cool, calming application this product felt lightweight and easy on my face. After starting with that every morning I’d add on the Agave Moisturizer which left my skin smelling fresh without looking dewy or clogged.

Want to try Agave Spa products for yourself? Use code “QSSFree” at checkout for a special discount!

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This post is sponsored by Agave Spa.

Self Date Sunday: The Luck O’ The Irish

Last weekend Z and I took to the mall for some shopping. I’m finally starting to convince him to get a jump on the christmas shopping we have to do. Anyway, while there we took a quick trip into Sephora. I’m getting really into skin/face treatments these days in preparation for (beginning to age) skin. We were planning to pick up some of our favorite Origins Active Charcoal Mask. Among a whole wall of Sephora’s Favorite we found Peter Thomas Roth’s Irish Moor Mud mask. While more than double the price, we were intrigued, especially since we had just been discussing a potential trip to Ireland! We bought it and headed home for a little date-in. We opened a bottle of wine from our trip to South Africa and applied the mask to our needy faces.

What I loved about this mask was it’s thickness; I love a thick mud or charcoal mask that really feels like it’s getting deep into my pores. The smell wasn’t too chemical.

The only negative was that upon first application it stung. Like a trooper, I stuck it out and within about 5 minutes the feeling subsided.

I left it on for the suggested time and took it off with a warm wash cloth. My face ended up feeling clean and fresh after.

All in All, we may have a new favorite face mask. Who would have thought a thick Irish mud would be the cure-all to our dry, winter skin?!

Want to try this mask out yourself? Buy it here!

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Self Date Sunday: Nugg Rx Facial Sets

A rainy weekend with converging storms calls for time inside. I personally spent my weekend in college brazenned sweatpants and hoodies folding clean laundry and watching Netflix. I basically hit “yes I’m still watching” an embarrassing number of times.
I also decided to treat my skin. Last year I discussed Nügg’s facials and fell in love. This year, Nügg launched their new Rx packs and I just had to give them a shot.

Each Nügg Rx pack comes with 4 facial pods to be used once a night for 4 days consecutively to counteract a specific product. I received the “Anti-Aging”, the “Dull skin”, “Dry Skin”, and the “Sensitive Skin”. While each packet has a unique set of pods my favorite is still the anti-aging. The oatmeal facial has become a favorite of mine and I love how smooth and clean these all make my face feel.

What are you doing to treat your skin during this transitional season? Have you tried Nügg facial pods? Be sure to snag your Rx pack here!

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Self Date Sunday: Shop Small Sugar Scrub

If there’s one thing I love about being a millennial it’s the insurgence of “shopping small” and supporting local businesses. More times than not, these small batch products are exceptionally better quality than the mass produced counterparts. The only bad thing, sometimes the small label products you find on a whim of a random trip to another state are horribly difficult to find on the internet. Little Matey’s is one of those brands.

Hand made in Newport, RI, Little Matey’s creates all organic products for your skin. From Shea butter lotion to sugary body scrubs they have all things to give you the smoothest skin possible. And with my annual beach vacations coming up I figured it was time to exfoliate my skin and drive some new life into it before it’s bared for the sun and sand. Similar to my previous body scrubs I’ve used, this one smoothens skin while blasting cellulite. While each scrub has a different balance of exfoliator and oils and lotions, I love that this one is high on soothing oils and minimal on the lotion. It helps to give me a little extra summer sheen!

Now, while you may not be able to find this exact product or be able to adventure to a craft fair in Rhode Island you should check out your local vendors. See what small business minded women are cooking up in their homes; you might be surprised by what you find when you shop small!

Do you shop local small businesses? What’s your favorite locally owned business in your neighborhood? Seriously, I want to check out more local businesses and travel to visit cool creatives so give me ideas!

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Self Date Sunday: A Recipe for Clear Skin

This weekend I treated myself and my face to some serious love. With the changing season’s my skin has gone from dry as a bone to confused about humidity within minutes, and it’s turned into a slight break-out city as a result.  This week I’m going to tell you all about my favorite products for smooth skin no matter the season!

After a Saturday night out, I started my Sunday morning a little slow. I cleaned my face with a Neutrogena Naturals face wipe (c/o Influenster), saving water and using their eco friendly product to remove last night’s make up and eye gunk. I know, I really should have done it last night but ya know, margaritas. I know you know. The best part about using facial wipes, besides their added moisturizers, is saving water. Did you know that everyday you wash your face with regular soap and water you’re letting nearly 5 gallons of water go down the train?? This Earth month I’ve partnered with Neutrogena in their #WipeForWater campaign, pledging to utilize their wipes over a face cloth and soap and water. I gotta say, it’s been a good feeling to save water and have a clean smooth face! I pledged to clean my face for 7 days, how many can you do!? Sign up and join the cause at http://www.WipeForWater.com

Next up, it’s facial time. And guys, let me tell you about my all time favorite at-home facial. The Origins’ Charcoal facial cleanser is the best. Something about putting on all that dark chalky charcoal, letting it sit until it gets hard, then cleaning it away to reveal blackheads gone is just. AH. It makes my little heart sing.

After my once a week facial  it’s time for my daily cleanser. I’ve written about Neutrogena’s Oil Free Acne cleanser before, literally years ago, and it’s still my go-to. Every morning I wash my face with this cleanser in the shower (better than using it over the sink, splashing water all over myself like a doof in cleanser commercials) and I gotta say I don’t want to know where I would be without this one.

So these are my go-to favorites for clear skin. How do you keep your skin clear during the changing seasons? Have you tried any of these products? What have you done to preserve water and the environment this month? Share how you’re doing your part with #WipeForWater on InstaGram and Twitter!

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His and Hers

Just some inspired flatlays of le boyfrand and I’s favorite every day necesities. I love the way the hues capture the femininity and masculinity of each, and I love that we are both so partial to Viktor and Rolf. I’ve loved Flowerbomb since college and I love that I managed to turn Z onto the spicy yet musky scent of Spicebomb.

do you have a favorite scent?

this post is not sponsored by Viktor and Rolf, or anyone.

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Self Date Sunday: Beauty and the Chic

Another cold weekend; the temps have been their lowest yet. My skin, even with last month’s spa day, is crying out for moisture. This week, I tried a new brand for repairing my skin while indulging myself in a little self date. Coffee scrubs are rapidly becoming the latest beauty craze and I totally see why. Beauty and The Chic combines the latest exfoliating crazes with stylish packaging and aesthetic and the most clever wording. And while they have yet to officially launch, you can follow them here as they test out new products and curate their brand further (and I anxiously await their rich b*tch bath bombs!)

I began with the lip scrub. “Lip Service” is wonderfully pink, sweet tasting, and dainty smelling. It left my lips smooth, taking all of the dry dead skin off with a massage of the fingers. The best part? It doesn’t take much to get the job done, so I will have smooth (kissable-hey Z) lips for the duration of the winter, thanks to Beauty and The Chic!

Next up on my little self date I poured myself some wine. Took a quick shower and shave (as per my instruction sheet) and then doused myself in coffee. Beauty and The Chic sent me the impossibly best coffee scrub, penned the “typical white girl” this pumpkin spice scrub smells so good it actually took restraint not to lick myself (and has me not-so-patiently awaiting my second scrub “double chocolate brownie”). I lathered myself up, massaging the delicious concotion into my skin, where I let it sit for about 10 minutes before rinsing it off in the shower. I advise cleaning up the mess in this time, as doing this outside of my tub left my floor a mess that I did not want my fur babies licking up.

After my shower-rinse my skin was SO SOFT. Like, yeah it’s winter and it may have been the first time I shaved in a week, but it felt like there was oil on my skin, but without the oily residue…just, smooth.

And then I had myself another glass of wine and a book and relaxed. Because all of that treating yo’ self really takes it out of you.

What have you done for yourself this week? Have you ever tried a coffee scrub? Be sure to follow Beauty and The Chic for the most FAB luxe line of beauty products we’ve seen since, like, ever.

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Self Date Sunday: Chesapeake Beach Salon + Spa

It’s winter; the harsh cold and winds have our skin dry, lacking vitamins and moisture, our face’s whiplashed into flakes. While at-home spa treatments (and the thought of the low temperatures keeping you from wanting to leave your house) can be effective, there’s nothing quite like getting yourself out and getting the professional treatment. When I was approached by local CB Salon + Spa to come in for a relaxation day I was ecstatic. I took a day trip to the scenic beach side town (really, there’s nothing so heart-thumping as seeing the sea side, even in 25 degree temps) and indulged myself.

After changing out of my cold weather layers and into the quintessential fuzzy robe it was time to begin. I headed into a red lit chamber where I lay undressed in a shallow tub. I received what the CB Spa calls the “vichy scrub”; a full body exfoliating scrub and rinse which eliminates dry skin and soothes it with warm water and lavender soap and moisturizer. HELLO HEAVEN.

Next up it was time for my facial. I relaxed with soothing sounds, layers (and I mean layerS) of exfoliates, lotions, and warm towel wraps immersed in massaging shoulders. It was bliss. And all of a sudden it was three hours later; time flies by when you’re eyes are closed and your body is getting it’s highest form of self-date love.

Fresh faced and smooth bodied I reluctantly made my way to the beverage bar and on to the changing room to return to the real world, not ready to confront the freezing world outside. Thankfully, my body stayed smooth for days after, and my face literally glowed (as compliments at work let on).

More about the Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa: it’s one of the top wedding destinations on the Eastern Shore (meaning if you’re getting married and want a gorgeous white-sand beach without the trip to the Bahamas, you can head there) (not that I’m looking either but hey), and the salon gets pretttty crazy around wedding season, Mother’s Day, and other warm-weather holidays. With such generous and exceptional staff, it’s hard not to want to treat yourself and those you love to such luxury.

Have you ever had a spa day? If you’re a DC/MD/VA resident I highly suggest the day trip to Chesapeake Beach for the salon; it’s worth the trip and the exiting of the city for the relaxing sea side!

Be sure to follow the CB Salon and Spa on Twitter, on InstaGram and check out the website here!

this post is sponsored by the CB Salon and Spa

Self Date Sunday: Jamberry Nail Wraps

Y’all know I’m a sucker for a graphic mani. When I was approached to try out Jamberry’s stylish nail wraps I jumped at the opportunity. Armed with samples I played around with them with family and friends, and really fell in love with them. Jamberry is such an easy way to add a pop of nail art to your week with minimal effort!

While some people choose to get a full set of all one print, I’m a fan of spontaneity. Armed with a few multi packs I picked out some favorites, got some clean and fresh nails prepped (cleaned, buffed, etc), and began the process. It’s suggested that you warm the nail strip with a hair dryer, though I’ve found it works fine without, though sticks better with. Up2U! I adhered my black and white styles to my chosen fingers, holding it into place for 90 seconds to make sure it sticks, then clipping off the excess around the end of your nail. Continue on as many fingers as you like; I chose two per hand, and painted the rest black, keeping with the theme.

Voila. Less than two minutes (or 20 if you do a full set) to gorgeous graphic nails without a salon or painstaking hours of attempting to draw designs.

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Have you ever tried Jamberry or another brand of nail wraps? What do you think!? Be sure to order your set of Jamberry Nail Wraps here!

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