Welcome to this month’s Five Faves! This will be a monthly article on five products I can’t live without. Each month’s topic will vary, and for this month, its beauty. Let’s get started!
First up is Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm. I am pretty sure it is impossible to live in the desert and not use chapstick! There are a few things that I love about this lip balm that I have not yet found in any others. First of all, it’s all natural. I am in the process of switching my skincare items to all natural products, and this was one of the firsts! I mean, this is something I am literally slathering on my lips, which means it inevitably ends up in my mouth if I lick my lips or if I accidentally apply some of it on the inner part of my lip. Why on earth would I want a whole bunch of nasty chemicals being ingested into my body?! Some of my favorite ingredients are, of course, beeswax, vitamin E, and coconut oil, as well as rosemary extract and peppermint oil. Those last two lead me to my next reason for loving this lip balm- the scent/taste! I love the natural scent. Don’t get me wrong, when I was little, I rocked my Dr. Pepper scented lip balm, but now that’s not so cute! Because of the peppermint oil, it almost aids in having fresh breath. I go back and forth between the original and the pomegranate, which gives the most subtle tint. Lastly, I love the moisture it brings. It is so nourishing! Like I said before, I live in a very dry climate, which means it’s very easy for my lips to get dry. I literally only have to apply this once during my morning makeup routine and once before bed, and I am set! This lip balm is amazing for wearing on it’s own or under a matte lipstick. You can get it from any drugstore, supermarket, or online at www.burtsbees.com for $3.30.
Next is my favorite mascara! There are so many on the market now, and I’m not saying this is the absolute best one out there, but it is perfect for day-to-day using just 2 coats, or 3 if you are wanting something a little more dramatic. I use Wet n’ Wild MegaVolume in “very black”. Y’ALL- this mascara is $2.99 and works wonders! A couple of things I love about it- for one, it is a cruelty free brand. This is huge for me because I am an avid animal lover. The last thing I want to think about when applying my makeup is, “Oh, I’m so glad some little bunnies got to try this out before me to see if it would cause a reaction!” Second, the formula is amazing. It goes on very smooth and doesn’t flake one bit. Again, being in a dry climate, this is super important! Because it’s so dry, a lot of very nice mascaras end up flaking because they dry out during the day. And third, the brush! I may be weird for this, but I cannot stand plastic or rubber brushes. I love a full bristle brush, and this baby has it! Another bonus with this brush is that it never feels stiff and new. Most bristle brushes take a few uses to break in, and can be difficult to control the first few uses. This one is great right from the start. Again, this can be purchased at any drugstore, supermarket, or www.wetnwildbeauty.com.
Third on the list is probably the most versatile thing I will ever post about- COCONUT OIL! I use coconut oil for like a million things, so I will just list a couple.
- Shaving oil: I use coconut oil as a shaving oil or cream because a little goes a long way, and it acts as a natural moisturizer. Simply scoop approximately one tablespoon into the palm of your hand use to coat one leg. This usually coats my entire leg. Then just shave like normal!
- Makeup Remover: This can be a bit messy, and I wouldn’t recommend using it for a full face of heavy makeup, but for your everyday look, it’s perfect. I scoop little bit into the palm of my hand and rub my hands together to melt the oil (coconut oil is solid until 76℉), and then spread across my face. Your best bet is to apply small amounts over time so you don’t waste any. Then, take a rag or cotton pad and wipe off. I wipe as much of my makeup off as possible and then let the oil sit for a bit to moisturize my face before washing.
- Moisturizer: You can pretty much slather this stuff anywhere and get insane moisture. I love using it on chronically dry places like cuticles, elbows, knees, and feet. For my feet, I usually coat them up and massage them a bit and then put some socks on to trap the moisture.
- Hair growth and health: One of my favorite hair masks is coconut oil, 1 egg, tea tree oil, and vitamin e oil. Whip that all up and let it set overnight. It works best to apply the mix to the ends of your hair and then comb through the rest to spread. Give it a little massage on your scalp to stimulate blood flow, then wrap your hair up in a bun on top of your head and wrap it in saran wrap or a plastic bag. Wash it the next morning twice with shampoo and only condition the ends. You can also apply just plain coconut oil to your eyelashes and eyebrows to help in their growth as well.
For all of these, I use Simply Balanced Raw Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil from Target. It can be purchased in stores or online at www.target.com for $6.99 for a 14oz jar.
Next up is my favorite razor. I use Harry’s Men’s Razors exclusively from Target. I have used men’s razors for as long as I can remember because I feel they get a closer shave, but this is by far the best! It’s a 5 blade razor with a precision blade on the reverse side. The blades are amazing and don’t rust very easily, a problem I’ve had with most other razors. The starter kit comes with 2 additional blades in a case, as well as a travel razor cover for protection. Being 100% honest, what first attracted me to this product was the packaging. I love design, and this box was so clean and professional looking. There wasn’t a whole bunch of colors and loud phrases, and I loved that. They let the product speak for itself. It also has a great flexible hinge that helps get hard to reach places, as well as a textured handle to avoid any slips, even if your hands are covered in coconut oil or shaving cream. Lastly, the replacement blades are the least expensive I think I’ve seen yet, which is great considering most other brands the replacements are more expensive than the razor itself! The starter pack is $9.99 and a pack of four replacement blades is $7.99, and can be purchased at Target stores or online at www.target.com.
The last favorite I’ll share with you this month is my foundation. I use Wet n’ Wild PhotoFocus foundation. I already know what you’re thinking- “Wet n’ Wild foundation?!”- but just wait! Just like their mascara, this is a cruelty free product. It also does not have any parabens in it, which is huge for me. In case you weren’t aware, parabens turn into estrogen when absorbed. For us ladies, excess estrogen can wreak havoc on our bodies. For me, it causes migraines. I had cut our every bit of soy (which also has estrogen) out of my diet and was still getting migraines. I finally discovered almost every makeup product I was using had parabens in it! Since switching to this product, my migraines has significantly dropped in frequency, praise the Lord! Now that you’ve had your science lesson for the day, let’s move on! This foundation comes in a whopping 20 shades! I have always struggled with finding a shade light enough for my fair skin, and I have finally found it! The coverage is great too. It is very flexible. If you want a lighter coverage, a light coat of this will be great. If you are wanting to cover up acne scars or blemishes or redness (like me) a heavier coat applied with a makeup sponge works amazing. The absolute best thing about this product though is the little spatula attached to the top. Why no other company has done this yet, I am not quite sure. This allows you to get the very last drop of foundation and it’s amazing! Each vial lasts me about 3 weeks and is only $5.99. It doesn’t get much better than that! You can pick this up at any drugstore, supermarket, or online at www.wetnwildbeauty.com.
If you have any questions regarding any of these products or any products you would like me to try and review, feel free to leave a comment below! Thanks for reading!
XOXO
ELK
Emily Louise Keller 