five friday faves #12 - hello beauty!

hello weekend!

the sun is up. the weather is toasty. today is a good day to have a good day. i have been a bit out of sorts lately. starting the day with a positive mantra always helps put things back into perspective for me. 

today (and by today, i mean yesterday when i began drafting this) i'd like to talk about beauty care. not a typical topic for me here, but taking care of my skin and feeling my best before walking out the door each day is essential. for me it falls under happy and healthy.

my "beauty routine" is pretty basic and mostly consistent throughout the year, but i do find that my skin favors certain products during the hot, dry summer months. okay, let's get to it. for today's five friday favorites, i bring you my
                                                   five 
                            summer 
                                        beauty 
                                                 essentials!

1. the body shop: vitamin E cool BB cream.

during the year i turned 27, my skin did an abrupt 180. my T-zone was suddenly oilier than normal, while my cheeks remained predominately dry, and overall my skin became oddly sensitive. i struggled for a good year and a half with trying to find the right combination of skin products that would keep my dry skin hydrated without causing my oilier areas to break out. it was out of sheer desperation that i asked a Body Shop associate for skin care advice, while shopping their annual holiday sale one day. i was highly skeptical when she directed me over to their vitamin E line. the word hydrate was over abundant in the line's marketing, and at that point i thought for sure that hydrate was synonymous with break out city. truthfully, i bought it out of guilt because the lady had been so nice and helpful, and had reassured me that if it did not work i was free to return or exchange it within a month from purchase, with receipt. 

if you haven't guessed, i did not return it. my first impression was pure surprise. i was surprised at how creamy and smooth it went on. no smudging or smearing, and it blended with my skin tone flawlessly. within a week, i was astonished at how my skin had not broken out. my skin was smooth, soft, and not the least bit overly oily. from then on, it has become a staple in my daily skin routine.

i love how light it feels. it absorbs completely, so i never have to worry about streaking or running, even in the summer heat or at the gym. perfect for an active, on-the-go gal! plus, it offers enough coverage to wear alone, but not so much that it feels heavy. nowadays i use my foundation as "spot coverage" when needed. 

2. neutrogena: clear face liquid lotion sunscreen broad spectrum SPF 55

my step-mom has always been (and still is) a stickler about using sunscreen. she is very, very fair skinned and burns in a heartbeat, so in truth it is no surprise she avoids exposure and uses sunblock religiously. a true benefit because the habit was passed down. after washing my face each morning, i apply a quite generous amount of sunscreen to my face, ears, neck, and chest. i like this particular lotion because it is thin, non-oily, and specially formulated for beak-out-prone/sensitive skin. and it provides SPF 55 protection from the sun! it's perfect for day-to-day use and still provides enough protection when i am out hiking, running, biking, living life, etc . . .

3. dove: refresh+care invigorating dry shampoo

one thing i think every active girl needs is a good dry shampoo. for the longevity and health of my hair, i do not wash it daily. it is wavy and a tad on the dry side, so it cannot handle daily shampooing. that is where this lovely product comes in. i initially tried a salon quality dry shampoo, but it left my hair feeling dingy and looking flaky. gross! i sat down one day and Googled top dry shampoos, and this Dove aerosol popped up. i have not switched brands since first buying it. it has a lovely, powdery-fresh scent, and does not leave my hair feeling heavy, thick, or looking flaky. a little spritz in between washes, or to tame sweaty locks after the gym, and i am out the door.

4. estée lauder: youth-dew roll-on anti-perspirant deodorant

the one thing i cannot stand during the summer months is sweating. sweating at the gym i do not mind. sweating during bikram, no problem . . .  but breaking into a sweat as i walk from the parking lot into the store or the office is just miserable. and on top of that my skin is once again . . . super sensitive. i cannot use common deodorant brands because of an allergy to several metals and alloys. on the flip side, i have tried every natural deodorant i can get my hands on, and not a single one has kept me from perspiring, or left me feeling fresh by the end of the day. a few actually gave off a not-so-pleasant fragrant going on, and gave off an even worse smell after breaking a sweat. 

i am not quite sure how i stumbled across this estée lauder roll on, but i have been using it for years. out of sheer miraculous coincidence, it does not irritate my skin like other anti-perspirants do. even better, it smells so good! record highs. intense sweat sesh. i still end the day feeling powder fresh, and cannot complain about that!

5. the body shop: vanilla body mist 

i am not big on perfumes. once again . . . allergies. there is not much that doesn't bother my nose. still, i am a girl and like smelling pretty. vanilla is my signature scent. how very vanilla, right? lol. i have always loved its warm, cozy notes, and find that it is light enough to enjoy year round. this particular body mist is light and not at all overpowering. i spritz it on before leaving the house each day. it's the cherry on top of my daily ensemble.


new kids on the block:
while my sensitive skin and allergies limits the beauty products i can use, i still love testing new things out. these four are brand new to my collection, and i can't wait to share my thoughts about them with you, once i test them out. :)

1. the body shop: blue corn 3-in-1 deep cleansing scrub mask
2. neutrogena naturals: purifying facial cleanser
3. the body shop: travel size hand creams

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what are your favorite summer beauty must-haves? 

peace. love. :)
yay