my top 5 beauty secret weapons.

Every girl has them – her secret beauty weapons that aren’t necessarily noticeable to the naked eye, but can make all the difference in the world. The other day I shared some of my favorite everyday makeup products, and now here are my top 5 beauty secrets weapons.

Lorac Tantalizer.

We all know the dangers of tanning, and I’m pretty sure we all know the dangers of using sunless tanners too (orange streaks – thanks but no thanks). Although I do often use Jergens Natural Glow (and sometimes St. Tropez), Lorac Tantalizer is my go-to when I need an instant bronzed look. It gives your skin the perfect bronze and subtle shimmer – perfect for before a night out.

Some tips:
1) Tantalizer is more like body makeup than a self tanner, so try to wash it off before going to bed.
2) Something I learned from Jessi - use just a small amount of Tantalizer and mix it with regular lotion for a smoother and lighter application.

Dermablend.

I first got Dermablend years ago for the purpose of covering up my wrist tattoo for a job. Not only did it do a great job of covering up my tattoo, but I found that it’s the perfect concealer when dealing with bad blemishes or redness. I’ve never used it as a full foundation, so I can’t vouche for that, but it’s definitely my secret weapon when I need some extra coverage.

Some tips:
1) Dermablend has facial foundations/concealers but also one for your body, which is great if you’re dealing with blemishes on your back or chest.
2) A little bit of Dermablend goes a long way, so start out with a small dab and go from there.

 

Dirty hair.

That’s right - the dirtier, the better! (Okay, maybe I wouldn’t go that far.) But whenever I want my hair to hold a certain style – especially waves or an updo – one day after washing leaves my hair in a better condition and texture to hold the style in place. I find that this is especially true when I want more volume because when my hair is freshly clean, it doesn’t hold teasing or hairspray nearly as well.

Some tips:
1) If you don’t want to go the dirty hair route (or even in addition to), I highly recommend getting a volumizing texture powder for your hair. My favorite is Big Sexy Hair Powder Play.

Eucerin Calming Oil Body Wash.

I’ve mentioned a million times how moisturizing is my number one beauty tip. Applying body lotion right after showering is the best way to keep your skin moisturized, but sometimes there’s not always time for that. So whether I want to skip the body lotion or just get some extra moisturizing in, I love using Eucerin Calming Oil Body Wash in the shower. It’s especially great in the winter when normal body washes can make dry skin even worse.

 

TheraTears Lubricant Eye Drops.

You can have the best eye makeup on in the world, but nothing can ruin that quite like red, tired-looking eyes.

I have pretty bad seasonal allergies, so my eyes often feel dry and sometimes get red. A lot of eye drops are bad for you, though, because they stop your eyes from being able to produce their own tears. My mom introduced me to TheraTears, which I think are the best option if you’re going to use eye drops on a regular basis. They’re preservative-free and lubricating, so they actually improve the condition of your eyes, rather than just covering up redness or providing temporary relief.

 

FYI: all of these products can be found on the GML Amazon store if you’re interested in getting them for yourself!

What are some of your beauty secret weapons?

skincare products i’m loving right now.

If you haven’t noticed, I’m a really big believer in taking care of your skin by keeping it moisturized. I’m constantly trying new lotions, face moisturizers, and any skincare products I can get my (well-moisturized) hands on. Here are some new ones I recently tried that I’m loving right now.

Eucerin has been my go-to brand of lotion for years. Nothing leaves my skin feeling softer and looking healthier! That’s why I was so excited when they sent me a handful of their new products to try.

I loved each and every one of these, but my favorites were Eucerin Original Healing Soothing Repair Lotion and Eucerin Daily Protection Moisturizing Face Lotion.

The Soothing Repair Lotion goes on so smoothly and feels great on my skin. I apply right after I get out of the shower and felt a difference in my skin after just a few uses.

The Moisturizing Face Lotion is a great go-to daytime moisturizer. It’s lightweight and soft, but still gives your face protection with SPF 30.

The other facial moisturizer I’ve been using often lately is bareMinerals Purely Nourishing Moisturizer. It’s also really lightweight, smells great, and is supposed to improve skin’s firmness, elasticity, radiance and skin texture.

Also from bareMinerals is this Firming Eye Treatment. I just started using eye cream, and so far this one is great. All it takes is a few small dots under the eyes, and I can tell the difference in reduced puffiness.

What skincare products are you loving right now?
What’s your go-to lotion and/or facial moisturizer?