5 Beauty Products I’m Loving

I tend to do a pretty good job of sharing my new beauty favorites on Instagram, but I realized that I haven’t been as faithful to post them here.  By the way, if you’re not on Instagram or just want an easy way to view from your desktop, you can simply visit my profile and then click on the circular photo to view my Stories.

I always love discovering new beauty brands & testing different products, so I know how important it is to get solid recommendations & reviews from others who have tried them.  Today I’m highlighting 5 products that I have been using & loving for the past few months – I’d love to hear if you have any that you can’t live without…please share in the comments below!

1) SheaMoisture Body Wash & Body Scrub
In the middle of winter, I noticed my skin was a lot drier than usual and the body wash I was previously using simply wasn’t cutting it.  So I decided to give this one a try & I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever use anything else.  It has transformed my skin & successfully replenished the moisture I was missing.  I use the body wash every time I shower or bathe & I use the scrub about once a week.  I don’t know if the “firming & toning” aspect is dramatically noticeable, but I love the way my skin feels + the scent is incredible.  Side note: if you have thick curly hair, this shampoo is phenomenal – it’s the only one that works for my daughter!

2) Nail Medic Force Field 
I actually discovered this last summer (by accident) when I was traveling and left my nail supplies at home.  I ran to the nearest store and bought this as a stand-in and loved it so much that I stopped buying what I’d been using before.  If you know me, you know that I always have my nails painted, so I started using this as my base coat and was shocked to find that my manicures were lasting twice as long!  This is also great for wearing on its own to strengthen & protect nails when you don’t have them polished.  For those who’ve asked, this is the fast-drying topcoat I swear by to keep my manicures chip-free for 10 days.

3) Kristin Ess Purple Shampoo
My last visit to the salon was a bit of a fiasco & I ended up with much blonder hair than I anticipated.  So I’ve been working this shampoo into my routine (I rotate it with this volumizing product) to help minimize the brassiness.  I love how shiny it makes my hair & that it only takes a little to make a difference.  I’ve also heard great things from some of my girlfriends about this texturizing powder & this dry shampoo.

4) Pacifica Creamy Lip Butter
In all honesty, I haven’t been wearing a full face of makeup since we got our puppy (because I pretty much haven’t left the house!).  So I’ve been sticking to a pared-down routine that involves the serum below, some CC cream, a little blush and this lip butter.  It’s like a tinted lip balm that gives you just the right amount of natural color + its super-hydrating formula is long-lasting so you don’t have to reapply every hour.  I always look for petroleum-free options and this one is also vegan & cruelty free!

5) Tula Illuminating Face Serum
I’ve been a big fan of almost every product I’ve tried from this brand and this serum is no exception.  I’ve been trying to use it sparingly because it’s a bit more spendy than a drugstore product – and on days that I apply it, I can tell such a difference!  My skin has a lit-from-within quality & stays moisturized without getting greasy by mid-afternoon.  As I’ve mentioned here before, I also love this cleanser & this exfoliating mask.