Sleepy Morning Products

I love getting ready in the mornings. I love it. The Beard and I fight about it every Sunday before church (the only time we are getting ready around the same time).

"Ryan! Get up! It's your turn to shower. We're gonna be late!"

"You are still in there!"

"I'm waiting for you to come get in!"

"I'm not getting out of bed until you are done in there."

"I will literally spend as much time getting ready as you allow me."

"That's retarded."

The Beard has a brisk 20 minute routine from waking up to being ready. Everyday. It's not quite that simple for me. I COULD get ready in 20. Easily. But I don't always. On a lazy Sunday, getting ready for date night, or any time where I am not in a rush I love to spend extra time on my routine. It's so zen and therapeutic.

Well this year, my commute increased from 5 minutes to 30. My school starts 10 minutes earlier. So now I don't have the luxury of rolling out of bed 15 minutes before school starts. Hence, my routine has changed, and I have some new beauty products to prove it.

First, I'm slightly embarrassed but also pleased by my first beauty discovery. I originally bought it for the Beard at his request. One morning I was running late and needed to wash my hair. The Beard's Pert Moisture 2 in 1 Shampoo/Conditioner. This is blasphemy for a girl who has used her mom's Paul Mitchell products her entire life.

 

Later that day I found myself running my fingers through my hair over and over. It was soft. It was shiny. And dare I say, it was sleek? Wow, Pert 2-in-1. You changed everything.

Garnier Anti-Dark Circle roller is pretty fun to use. Dark circles are my big beauty problem, and I've never found a product that works 100% for me. This product is pretty sweet because the metal ball feels cold and soothing, which helps to wake up my eyes. It goes on light and sheer, which is great because I can't stand heavy products. It definitely improves my circles and looks natural, but I still layer a tiny bit of concealer over it.

In an effort to distract from my dark circles and make me look fresh and awake, color in my face is necessary. I used to love Maybelline's Dream Mousse, but now it's the bouncy blush and it SUCKS. I've upgraded to L'Oreal creme blush. Unfortunately more expensive, but I like it better. It's a bigger pot, less shimmer and blends even easier. I'm in love.

 

Highlighter eyeshadow is the quickest and easiest part of my routine. I brush Mary Kay's Crystalline or Spun Silk under my brow, on the inner corner of my eye, and directly under my pupil on the lower lid to open my eyes up.

No way am I waking up early to wash and blow out my hair every day. No way. Too lazy. Plus my hair is super clean, rarely oily and can go days without washing. My new favorite? Dry Shampoo. I thought it was only for oily scalps. Turns out its a saving grace for me, and flat-haired girls everywhere. I love the Suave Keratin kind. Cheap and necessary.

My weekly routine now is to give myself a real live, careful, sectioned blowout. Not just blasting my whole head until it's dry, but the real deal (great directions here). This way, my clean hair looks a million percent better and lasts longer. I usually do this on a Saturday or Sunday. By Tuesday my hair starts to look limp, so I pump it up with dry shampoo along my part, in my bangs and wherever I need volume.

Wednesday or Thursday I'll rock a bun or pony as my hair gets dirtier. I'll wash my hair at night and put rollers in it in the morning, or wash it quick (Thanks Pert!) and twist it damp into a low chignon.

I can sleep as late as 6 am and still get ready, take out Glen and double check all my crap to cruise out the door at 6:45. Thank the lord for beauty products.

Make(up) Not War

Secret obsession of Danica Budge Holdaway? Makeup. All the way. LOVE it. I've been a huge makeup fan my whole life. And how lucky am I? I've got a salon stocked with Mary Kay at my fingertips. Don't tell my mom this, but I'm starting to cheat on her. Mary Kay is great for certain things - pressed mineral powder, foundation and liquid eyeliner. But I'm not in love with their lip products, blush or concealers. They're fine. They do the job. But I've been branching out. I have the hardest time walking past the MAC counter at Nordstrom. All I want to do is buy the new Illamasqua fall products. Urban Decay eyeshadow palettes. NARS blush. Ahhhhhh my mouth is watering.


My latest purchases that I recommend:

Mary Kay's brand new I Heart Mascara. I'm a sucker for mascara.

Maybelline Dream Mousse cream blush in Peach Satin. Goes on like a dream.

Sonia Kashuk Limited Edition Brush Set. I'm SO glad I got this. It's almost perfect. I had to buy a few more brushes to add to my set in addition to these, but it's a great set. Very nice quality. And my next Pinterest project? Chic makeup brush storage. :)

Best fall trends I recommend:

Cat Eye. Never out of style. The September Allure (my favorite beauty magazine, by the way), had a great tutorial on various cat eye options. Mix it up, you guys.

Metallic Smoky Eye. I'm loving the silver and even a green metallic look.

Blue Shadow. The girls of The Beauty Department told me it's back. So much better than our first try in the 80s.

Wine Red Lips. The scariest fall trend for me. Still working to find my "right" shade. But be bold you guys.

Feeling bored with your makeup routine? Here's what you should do.

1. Watch Pixiwoo videos. All of them. Especially their Halloween and crazy makeup ones. So fun.



2. Mix up your base routine. Big liquid foundation user? Try a tinted moisturizer. My new favorite foundation routine is a little mineral pressed powder. Try a primer under your powder routine. Remember to account for a lighter skin tone during the winter. Unfortunately.

3. Buy something fun that will make you WANT to try new things. I bought a teal Maybelline eyeshadow on sale the other day. Still haven't found a good opportunity to use it, but I'm dying to. Find a new lipstick shade. Try lining your brows with a pencil or shadow.

Makeup is so fun. Never let it become a boring hoop to jump through each morning. Be a woman and enjoy it.