Did you know that only about 30 ingredients are eliminated from our beauty products? 30! In the UK they ban over 1,300 harmful ingredients. Our beauty industry seems unregulated, and most of us aren’t even aware. Thankfully, Beautycounter is a safer beauty company that uses a Never List- a list of over 1,500 ingredients that they vow never to use in their products. Here are a few:
Tag: Beautycounter
DIY Lemon Sugar Scrub
Y’all know I love a good DIY. And you know I love a good DIY that includes pantry staples. And y’all know I like to use safer beauty products. So, it should come as no surprise to you today to see DIY in the title of this blog post or that it includes items in your cupboard or that it’s comprised of safer ingredients. Continue reading “DIY Lemon Sugar Scrub”
I Shave My Face and Maybe You Should Too
Yep, you read that right. I shave my face.
I’ve done some research on the topic and have been seeing women do this since way back in the day when Caroline Manzo was on The Real Housewives of New Jersey. She shaves her face everyday. Like, lathers up and shaves her face every single day. I don’t do it like that, but I certainly ain’t knocking it! Because that’s the beauty of beauty. Continue reading “I Shave My Face and Maybe You Should Too”
Night Time Skincare Routine
I think I’ve finally found what works for my skin! 
I can hear the Hallelujah chorus.
In all seriousness, it’s taken me a very long time to figure things out in the skincare department. I have extremely oily skin. So oily that I can do my makeup at 6:30 in the morning and by the time I get to school at 7:30, I’m already in need of blotting papers or powder. I’ve dealt with this from adolescence to now along with the occasional breakout. I had terrible acne as a teenager, but luckily, my parents recognized it and got me to a dermatologist ASAP. She said I’d grow out of it in my 20s. That was mostly true other than monthly hormonal breakouts. But it’s still oily and I have large pores that often result in blackheads. Continue reading “Night Time Skincare Routine”
Currently Loving- March 2018
CURRENTLY LOVING- MARCH 2018
March was fun! Overall I had a pretty good month, especially at the end when I went on my first spring break trip since I was in high school.
Waco, Texas and Magnolia Market
My mom and I went on a mother-daughter road trip to Texas and had the best time! We had to visit the mother-ship, Magnolia Market, and you can read all about it here.
Currently Loving- February 2018
CURRENTLY LOVING- FEBRUARY 2018
February is notoriously known as the month of love. I jumped right on that bandwagon and started a month-long blog series called Sharing the Love. I wanted to showcase a few bloggers (home and fashion), YouTube channels, and Instagram accounts that I have loved following. If you missed out on that series scroll down for the links to those posts.
BEAUTYCOUNTER
It’s no surprise to find this company on my list of current loves. I went deep with sharing the love during February in my Beautycounter Facebook Group. (Come join if you haven’t already.) I started promoting self love and even shared a product love of the day all month long. There were lots of the inspirational photos like the one above and just some general self-motivating thoughts for myself and my group of ladies. And the product love came from all areas of Beautycounter. We had makeup love, skin care love, and personal care love. Here are a few of those.
Makeup Love: Touchup Skin Concealer Pen
Skin Care Love- Nourishing Cream Exfoliator
Personal Care Love- Protect All Over Sunscreen and Protect Stick Sunscreen (Face)
Beth Moore
Do y’all know who Beth Moore is? Well, I’ve been loving her since the first time I heard her Hairbrush Story. It’s both hilarious and brings tears to my eyes. Beth is a Bible teacher that goes around the country and holds conferences for (primarily) women who want to learn about Jesus. On Wednesday nights on TBN her program, Living Proof Live, airs for 30 minutes. She is so anointed, and I learn a lot each time I watch. She’s also a fellow southern woman, and that makes it fun to watch because her Texas accent is pretty thick. Anyway, I am always so blessed by her sermons, and I thought someone else might be too. I’ve always enjoyed her teachings and used to listen to her a lot. As it goes, I found other people to listen to, other books to read, etc. But this month I decided to play one of the sermons I had on my DVR and immediately remembered why I started watching her in the first place. She just wants people to love Jesus. And she’s living proof that a relationship with Jesus can save your life. I DVR the program every week, but there are countless videos on YouTube. Listen to The Hairbrush Story below.
Bathroom Progress
Well, thankfully I don’t have a deadline for this project. I shared the before of the bathroom a while back. You can read that here. Then it snowed and stayed too cold to paint. I finally had a three day weekend to knock out the painting, and I did it! Here’s what I did:
- painted the walls white
- painted the vanity black
- spray painted the gold cabinet handles silver to match the chrome fixtures
- bought and returned 🙁 baskets that would have looked perfect but were too big
I’ve still got to:
- get and hang artwork
- buy and install shelves
- buy accessories
I’m hoping this happens sooner rather than later. I’m hoping my spring break plans will bring me some inspiration and maybe even a few treasures to put in there.
SPRING BREAK PLANS
I’m going to WACO! You know why…Magnolia!
A while back, my mom mentioned that we should go on a trip since my dad and brother do their own thing. They always pack up and go to places like Philly, NYC, and D.C. And we decided that it was our turn. So we are loading up the car and road tripping to the great state of Texas.
I’m so excited! I don’t think I’ve had an actual Spring Break trip since I was a senior in high school. That’s sad, y’all. It’s been a WHILE since high school. I don’t even care if all I buy is a cupcake from the bakery. I have watched every episode of Fixer Upper, read the books, stolen my mom’s Magnolia Journals, followed every social media account I can, ….you get the picture. I am a huge fan of the Gaines family and can’t wait to take this fun trip with my mama! If you’ve been, I’d appreciate any tips and/or must-sees and dos.
February was a pretty fun month for me. Full of love, a little self-discovery, and exciting plans for things to come. Here’s to a marvelous March, y’all!
Currently Loving- January 2018
CURRENTLY LOVING- JANUARY 2018
Sort of felt like January drug on and on. I didn’t exactly want it to end, but it seemed like it wasn’t going to. I’m currently mouth breathing and couldn’t taste my dinner because of a cold. (And praying it doesn’t turn into the flu.) So, January didn’t end on a high note for me, but hopefully February brings health and wellness.
But that’s not why we’re here. There were some great things about January and I’m going to share them with you right now.
SNOW!
Y’all! It snowed again this winter!! I am a major lover of cold weather and the winter season, so the second snow and three snow days were very exciting for me. I know not everyone shares in my enthusiasm, but I loved it. Here are a few pictures of our place and a shot of my parents house.
Our backyard is basically the back of downtown retail space, so it’s not exactly picturesque, but anything covered in snow is beautiful to me.
Year of Yes
I posted this book on Instagram right before the new year, and no, I haven’t finished it yet. However, it’s so funny! Shonda Rhimes has such a great sense of humor. Every time I pick it up I don’t want to put it down. I’ve just finished her commencement speech, and it was so true. She basically told a bunch of college graduates that the real world is hard. But that you have to get out there and do stuff to make it great and make it work for you. Sadly, I don’t even remember who spoke at my college graduation. I couldn’t tell you if it was a man or a woman, and I surely couldn’t tell you what they talked about. But I can tell you that I was clueless as to what the real world was going to be like. And Shonda’s right, it’s hard! I can’t wait to finish it and hope to do so soon. I’ll report back when I do.
Young Living Lavender Lip Balm
Are any of you familiar with Young Living? If you are, you know all about the essential oils that they are most famous for. Well, let me tell you what else they have. The greatest lavender lip balm there ever was. I’ve been using it for over a year now almost every night. I love the lavender scent and it’s so creamy and moisturizing.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m still loving my Beautycounter Peppermint Lip Conditioner. But during this flu season, I’m reaching for my Young Living lip balm more often than the lip conditioner. I’m a teacher who doesn’t want my germy fingers in the little pot the lip conditioner comes in for obvious reasons.
And with all that mouth breathing I’m doing, my lips are super dry. So thank you Young Living!
Lysol
Yep.
You guys, Paul has been following me around with a can of Lysol for the past two days. Tonight, he didn’t let me cook dinner or clean up the kitchen because he didn’t want me contaminating anything. (Let me just remind you that I don’t actually have the flu. I have nasal congestion.) He’s too much! But I might milk this for a little while longer. I could get used to him doing all the cooking and cleaning up the kitchen. 🙂 Those two scents above (Lemon Breeze and Early Morning Breeze) are the least offensive of the Lysol scents. I never liked the smell of regular Lysol and think the pink can is just as bad. But the yellow and purple actually smell okay. I’ve been using them like crazy at home and school.
The Greatest Showman
During the cabin fever that came from three snow days, Paul and I ventured out to the movies to see The Greatest Showman. I’ve been listening to the soundtrack for a while now, and it is the BEST! But the movie….y’all! If it’s still playing, go see it. It’s meant to be seen in the theater. The dancing and singing and the story is so powerful. It’s motivating, empowering, entertaining, and pulls at your heartstrings. I’ll be buying this one. I asked Paul to go see it again with me and he gave it a hard pass. So, if anyone in town wants to see it, I’m in! 🙂
Popsockets
I received a popsocket for my phone for Christmas. Where has this been all my life? It’s one of those things that you didn’t know you needed until it comes into your life. It just makes so much sense. It’s this little sticky, pop-up handle for your phone. And it’s the greatest prop for when you watch videos on your phone too. (I do this every morning, so if you get it for only this reason, it’s worth it.) Mine came from The Pineapple, and they had so many cute ones to choose from. This rose gold one with a black base is the one I have.
Suits
If you’ve been around for more than one post you know that I love TV. I’ve recently watched The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel twice, and Good Girls Revolt (very good) on Amazon Prime. I was looking for something else on Amazon to watch, and I had heard Suits was a good show but never cared to actually try it. I went for it and have already made it through season one and quickly working my way through season two. I am quite enjoying it. It’s a very interesting story and very entertaining. I’m a little nervous to find out what happens to Meghan Markle’s character now that she’s gone and gotten engaged to a royal. It’s not going to stop me from watching, though. I’m in, now. Hook, line, and sinker.
I’d love to hear any of your thoughts on my favorites of January. Especially any of you Suits watchers. Does it stay this good?
I hope y’all had a great January. If any of you got sick like I did, here’s to getting well and breathing through our noses again! And here’s to a February filled with lots of love.
Beautycounter: Winter Must-Haves
BEAUTYCOUNTER: WINTER MUST-HAVES
This cold weather in wreaking havoc on my skin. I’m itchy all the time. And because it’s so cold I take really hot showers which only perpetuates the vicious cycle. I know we’re all guilty of this, and we head straight for the lotion afterwards to help combat the dryness.
Luckily, I’ve discovered some of the best products from Beautycounter that work wonders on dry skin.
Hydrating Body Lotion 
This is seriously the best lotion I’ve ever used. I have used countless lotion, as I’m sure you have, but I’ve never used a lotion that actually absorbs completely into your skin the way this one does. You know when you put skinny jeans on after you’ve put lotion on your legs and they just won’t slide over your skin because the lotion makes them stick to you? And then you’re so uncomfortable in the jeans all day? Yeah, this doesn’t happen with this lotion! Trust me. I’ve tested it!
The Citrus Mimosa scent is so fresh and bright yet subtle and understated. I really enjoy it. This is the scent of most Beautycounter body products. I love that I can go from the body wash (one of my faves) to the lotion and not have separate scents competing with one another.
The price tag is $24, and I can’t stress enough that a little bit goes a long way with our products. It is a fantastic product that will last you much longer than you thought and keep your legs (and entire body) moisturized and happy in and out of your skinny jeans. 🙂
Body Butter
Two words: Game Changer
I have been using this on my hands pretty regularly and before it got cold, I was using it on my dry heels. Sandal season can be awful on our poor feet, but when I used a thicker layer of the body butter on my feet and put them directly into socks, they were noticeably better after two nights of that. I did this routine right before getting into bed. Seriously, two nights!
But now that it’s cold, I’m using it on my upper body. My shoulders, the backs of my arms, and my upper back are all very dry during the winter, and this brutal one is no exception. I get very itchy from the dryness in these particular areas, and I’ve found that the Body Butter works a little better for me there than the lotion does.
The Body Butter is also quick-absorbing and has the lovely Citrus Mimosa scent. The price is $39, and again, a little goes a long way. This is a top-notch product at Beautycounter, and though it may seem a little indulgent to spend $39 on a body butter, it will make your winter skin feel smooth and hydrated throughout the entire year. You won’t be sorry you made this purchase.
A Few More
This lip conditioner with a cooling, peppermint scent will help keep your dry lips hydrated and feeling great throughout winter. It goes in my purse with me everywhere. $20.
This body oil is a step up in the hydration game. I can really tell a difference when I use this on the extra dry spots where I typically use the body butter. It’s not overly oily and doesn’t leave you feeling greasy. It actually absorbs pretty quickly into my skin and smells yummy. I love the smell of rosemary, so I’m a little biased. At $73 it’s the most expensive moisturizer of my must-haves, but it’s truly delightful and most importantly, IT WORKS!
Safer Beauty
So yes, all of these things are great and wonderful in hydrating your dry, winter skin, but these products are taken a step further with their safe ingredients. It’s amazing how well they absorb into my skin and how well they do their job. But the most amazing thing is that I feel good that a super absorbing, hydrating, moisturizing line of products is actually safe for me to use. I don’t have to worry that what’s going into the biggest organ of my body (my skin) is going to cause long-term harm from toxic ingredients that are in them. Because they aren’t there. Thanks to our Never List, these products are always safe for us to use.
If you’ve never heard of Beautycounter, I’d love for you to read this. And then you can find out why I decided to join this great company. And if you’re ever in the mood for more info, you can join my Facebook group. You can also visit my Beautycounter website and shop, research products, learn about the company, and even learn how to sign up as a consultant with me.
Want to Try My Winter Must-Haves?
If you’re interested in trying any of these products let me know. I know some people that can help you out if you’re in Louisiana, And if you’re here, I’ve got all of these products that I’d love for you to try out for yourself. Let’s make 2018 a year of Safer Beauty.
I hope y’all have a Happy Friday and a great weekend!
XO,
Elizabeth
Product Review: Color Intense Lip Set from Beautycounter
PRODUCT REVIEW: COLOR INTENSE LIP SET FROM BEAUTYCOUNTER
I’ve said this before about this product: I love them so much. I really do.
I know I’m a little biased because I do work for this company, but I believe in their mission and their products. And when I heard that we ingest the products that are on our lips, I thought lip products would be a great place to make a switch to safer beauty. And for someone like me who loves lipstick and loves wearing a different color everyday, you know, to coordinate with my outfit, I knew this set was going to be perfect.
They arrived in the mail on a Tuesday. I told Paul I needed these, and seeing as how I’d just placed a pretty large order to Beautycounter, he was less than thrilled when I told him about the lipsticks. (Husbands…)He conceded and told me I could have them for Christmas. I could share with clients, but I couldn’t wear them because they were supposed to be wrapped and put under the tree. Well…had that actually happened, I couldn’t write this post for you. So, it’s technically still a Christmas present, but I’ve been wearing them everyday since they came that Tuesday.
Pigmentation and Longevity
Beautycounter has found a fabulous way to make these lipsticks super pigmented and safe for you. Praise be! I have to blot sometimes because the color is too intense if I’m heavy handed that day. However, that’s why it’s name is the Color Intense Lip Set. Aren’t they beautiful?
As for how long they last? I put my lipstick on just before I walk out the door which is sometime between 7:00 and 7:30. I usually eat a snack and drink from my water bottle from that time until lunch at 12:30. Now, I’m a messy eater. I’m the girl that needs two or three napkins per meal, and when we sit down at a restaurant, Paul immediately asks for more napkins because he knows I’ll need them. So, I eat lunch and really use my napkins. 🙂 At that point, most of my lipstick is gone. My messiness notwithstanding, I’d say that the lipstick is long-wearing. We’ve all worn lipsticks that wear off quickly, and these simply aren’t one of them. Thank you, Beautycounter!
Let’s Try Them On
The set consists of five gorgeous, flattering colors: Girls’ Night (classic red), Little Black Dress (rich berry), Brunch (tawny nude), First Date (rosy pink), and 9 to 5 (luminous mauve). Aren’t those names fun? Get ready for a whole lot of me. 
If you can get past so many of my faces, you can really tell the difference in the colors. There’s no filter on these pictures to show you a true look at their color. These were taken on a cloudy morning.
Why is Beautycounter Lipstick Safer?
“Our lipsticks get their moisturizing touch from plant-based ingredients such as jojoba esters and their light minty scent from peppermint oil—not from synthetic flavors, fragrances, or chemicals that may have harmful health effects.”- Beautycounter Website
This right here is why I love these products so much. There are already so many factors that play into the harm of our health. Why let your makeup and skincare be one more thing? Beautycounter has a very transparent ingredient list for all of their products. And one of the best things about this company is their Never List. I like knowing that these chemicals and ingredients will never be in my skin care and makeup. Make the switch today!
Links
If you’d like your own Color Intense Lip Set or any of the Beautycounter products, I’ll leave a few helpful links below.
Hurry before they’re gone! And please let me know if I can help you. I’d be delighted to help you make the switch to safer beauty.
XO,
Elizabeth
Currently Loving- November 2017
CURRENTLY LOVING- NOVEMBER 2017
Time to put away those pumpkins and bust out the Christmas trees, Santas, and if you live in my house, glitter! Anyone else feel like you blinked and November was over? Holy crap! It flew by and even though December means that a lot is about to be added to our calendars, I’m looking forward to it.
This Blog
My first favorite this month is this blog. I have been learning so much (still have so much to learn), and I have just been having fun playing with the new things I’ve learned.
I really enjoyed writing my Changes post. It was pretty personal, but it’s the truth and something that’s going on in my life. It was fun to write out my thoughts and feelings about this particular topic, and I hope that if anyone else is feeling this way that they found a hint of encouragement from that post. No one is alone in their feelings. 
I also enjoyed putting together all of my Holiday Gift Guides. I think I was most proud of the Gifts for Him guide because I’ve always been so bad at picking gifts for Paul. I remember getting him things for Christmas one year, and he took them back. Now, in his defense, he is horribly hard to buy for because he’s like most men and gets what he needs and wants throughout the year, so come Christmas there’s nothing left to get. But he told me after he read the post that he liked everything on the gift guide and thought the orange and blue golf shoes were very cool. 🙂 #wifewin Now, will he actually get any of those things? I can’t say yet!
My New Favorite Lipstick
That picture was a very happy mail day. I knew that I wanted to incorporate these lipsticks into my beauty routine as soon as I saw them. I read that we actually ingest our lip products. Yikes! So if our lip products are made of toxic materials, I think it’s a perfect place to start to make the switch to safer beauty. I received this holiday set from Beautycounter with the understanding that I could share with my clients and anyone interested in learning about the brand, but that they were to be put up for Christmas. Well, I have pretty much worn them everyday. (Sorry, Paul.) I love them so much. They truly are long-wearing, deeply pigmented, and smell and taste of peppermint. Did I mention I love them? I’d love for you to try them. You can check them out on the website here. They are currently out of stock until December 8th, but that’s plenty of time to order, get them in, and wear them to your holiday parties (or gift them). There’s also an option to be notified when they are available. Or I can do all the work for you. Just ask me how! One less thing for you to remember to do. 🙂 And if you’re local, call, text, or message me. I’d love for you to try them for yourselves.
Christmas Decor
If you follow any home decor bloggers on Instagram, then you’ve already been bombarded with picture after picture of Christmas trees, lights, wreaths, Santas, you get the picture. I’ve got to be honest, it’s one of my favorite things about Instagram. I love to see how other people decorate their homes. Do they go traditional or trendy? Do they have one tree or four? What are their family traditions? What outfits do they pick out for Christmas cards? And what about those party outfits? There’s always a lot of sparkles and sequins, and I love me a good sparkle.
Look at Fran Bacon of The Fashion Lift in her sparkly jumpsuit! She’s from the UK, and she’s my ultimate in hair goals. Those bangs! I wish mine would look so good. Not that I have them, but if I did, I’d want them to be just like hers. And the woman can rock a bold lip. She’s just so chic! You can find her on Instagram here. Great fashion sense and always fun to listen to because of her accent. 🙂
I’ve also been enjoying my own Christmas decor. I have a Holiday Home Tour coming to the blog soon, so you’ll get a peek into our home and at our decor. I mentioned in my Changes blog post that I decided not to go traditional this year, and it’s been fun. I’m enjoying it this year. I can’t wait to get some presents wrapped and put under the tree. Here’s a sneak peek.
Auburn Won the Iron Bowl
It’s great to be an Auburn Tiger! It was such a fun game, and I’m so happy I got to watch it with a bunch of Normans. Loud, bouncy Normans. There was a lot of jumping and high fiving and yelling during that game. At one point I look over and Ian (our nephew) and Paul were doing some kind of handshake, and the next thing I knew they were both lying on their backs with their legs and arms up in the air. I was informed that’s how the handshake ends. So much excitement! Now to get Georgia again this weekend. I heard Coach Malzahn say, “The best is yet to come.” 🙂 I believe Coach, and I believe in Auburn and love it!
9JKL
Have y’all been watching this show? I am so happy that Paul and I gave it a shot. It’s a funny 30 minute sitcom that will have you laughing out loud. Anytime we go to watch our DVR, I always request this show first. The dad is my favorite character, and during the Thanksgiving episode I looked at Paul and proclaimed them (the dad and mom- Harry and Judy) my soul mates.
Brief synopsis: Josh lives in an apartment (9K) in between his parents (9J) and his brother, sister-in-law, and their baby (9L). Hilarity ensues because of the boundaries, or lack thereof, amongst the family. It’s right up there on the “Funny Meter” with The Big Bang Theory. Here’s a clip-the one that made me think we were soul mates.
One More 
I’m not finished with this one yet, but it is very intriguing. I can tell that if I haven’t read it by Christmas break, I’ll definitely finish it then. My Aunt Sharon came to town and told me she was bringing it to me if I hadn’t read it yet. She’s very well-read and has excellent taste in literature, so I knew I’d better follow her advice and get right to this one. Have you read this one yet? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
So, what are you loving this November? Tell me in the comments! Have a very happy Friday and weekend and be looking out for my Holiday Home Tour in the next few days.
XO,
Elizabeth