Hello! A beauty post is needed on my blog lately as it has been all lifestyle and travelling! Summer just started and I'm already going off on adventures. I want to be sure to take in every minute of it and capture as much as I can. Over the past month I have compiled a couple oldies and newbies to my makeup collection. I am always finding myself reaching back for these few, classic products and experimenting with new finds while chucking them into my travel makeup bag because they are just so good!
I always forget what I like or enjoyed using and it was time for me to use up a lot of older makeup that I have. These products were just ignored and stashed behind all of the newer products I had and I was going through my collection the other day and realized how much I enjoyed a couple of these products! I made sure to put them into my basket on my vanity in easy reach for my daily makeup routine.
Maybelline's Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation- If you have read my blog before, I have written about this foundation and raved about it. I did ignore it during the winter months since I didn't need a matte foundation because my skin becomes so dry. I love this foundation when I know that I am going to be outside all day in the heat. I wore it on vacation in San Francisco (post about my trip here) and my face was shine free! A little goes a very long way and this foundation has so many colors to choose from.
Milani Baked Blush in Berry Amore- This blush has come back into my makeup regimen for good! I did a review of this in my top blushers and bronzers post, here. I have fallen in love with the "gold-goddess" look and the subtle sparkles of gold really compliment a nice, summer tan! With a small bit of pigment to your cheeks and a touch of sparkle, it can make any look a hundred times more glowy and very sultry.
Covergirl Katy Kat Matte Lipstick in Sphynx- Now I have just recently gotten into nude lips and I have to say that I'm really loving it. Especially for this time of year, I think it makes your look fresh and very natural. This lipstick was a new find and I don't know what made me love it more! Either the shade or the very cute, cat aestheticism that went along with it. The packaging is unbelievably cute and minimalist at the same time with the black and white. The lipstick itself is very nice and smooth while leaving your lips matte and crack-free. I might have to go purchase a brighter color!
Stila Eyes Are The Window Shadow Palette in Soul- Love, love, love this palette. I did a more in depth review of it, here. It has the best shades for a bright and summery makeup look. During this time of year, I am reaching for the lighter shades like the creams and taupes as well as the light browns and golds. This palette has the best colors for summer and they are amazingly long wearing and do not crease whatsoever. I have been using this pretty much every day now and I am still obsessed.
Laura Geller Balance-n-Brighten Baked Correcting Foundation Powder in Medium- I have always preferred to wear powder foundations over liquids. Especially when it's hot and humid out, packing on a ton of makeup can drag my face down overtime. This Laura Geller powder foundation gives just the right amount of coverage without leaving your face looking and feeling really cakey!
Benefit Stay Don't Stray Eye Shadow Primer- When I used makeup in the past, I never thought that there had to be something you need or should at least apply before your actual makeup so that it lasts a long time. Now that I wear makeup on a pretty constant basis, I need something to really help my makeup, like my eye makeup most importantly, stay in place and on my face all day long. I have tried all the different types of primers and I just can't "stray away" from this Benefit one! It's easy to blend and is super moisturizing so it doesn't clump underneath my eye makeup and stays for an incredibly awesome amount of time. The longest I had it on without creasing was like eight hours!
Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara- Mascara is one of those staples in my makeup collection and I can't seem to get through a single tube because I own way too many. However, this new addition was well worth it! If you are looking for volume and length then this is the mascara for you! I love the shape of the brush because it is really easy to get all of your lashes curled and coated! Only a couple strokes does the trick!
Wet n Wild Coloricon Kohl Liner in Baby's Got Black- If you are on a really low budget and are looking for a classic, black eye liner, this is the one for you! I have been using this liner ever since I was in middle school. It's smooth application helps for anyone who is beginning with eyeliner. I love to use this as a way to smoke out my look by actually using it in my crease and blending it out. The best thing about it is that it is only one dollar!
I'm sorry if this post was a little bit too late, but I just thought that many of you would have enjoyed my favorite products of this past month anyway. Sometimes going back and re-using old products can bring back new inspiration and spark more interest in the things that were actually really great and you just forgot about! I love trying new products but, I also know what I love and what works best for me. Makeup is a continual learning process and I can't wait to see what comes next!
What has been your past favorite or holy grail product for a while? Is there one specific makeup item that you always seem to keep on buying? Let me know and maybe it will become one of mine!
Xoxo, Nat
Hello everybody! I have a very awesome post to share with you all today. I would like to share my trip to San Francisco, California that I took over this past Memorial Day weekend with my family! I had an amazing time experiencing all things San Fran and I lived my dream of being in Full House (an American TV show that takes place here). I only had a couple of days to explore as much of the beautiful city as I could; we had great weather and it was surprisingly colder than Chicago!
I have a travel journal type post so I won't be giving a full paragraph for everything but, I will explain some of the pictures along the way; the things I did, saw, ate, etc. I hope you enjoy this little adventure that I went on and it inspires you all to go visit San Francisco yourselves!
Hey guys! I have come a long way from the first day I started doing yoga and I still have a lot to learn yet (so bear with me!). However, I have also learned so much already and I would like to share a very easy or, at least "try-able", Sun Salutation that I created that anyone can do; inside and outside! I also added a couple of my favorite poses! All of my friends ask about how I do yoga, so I wanted to show you all what I normally go through during a practice. I will take you guys through step by step and teach you the proper way to do each pose. I hope you guys enjoy!
If you are new to yoga and you're asking me, "Natalie, why are we saluting the sun?", well I'll tell yuh! A Sun Salutation is a flow sequence of postures or asanas, in Sanskrit, that are done to improve your flexibility, strength, and overall mentality. For many cultures, light has been a very vital symbol that represents self-illumination and energy. Many years ago when yoga was created in India, the sun was one of the most influential parts behind it. Hindus would honor the "eye of the world" by doing these postures. It connects you with the earth and your conscious self. There are many different variations of the Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutation), so here is mine:
01. Child's Pose (Bālāsana)
Normally, we start out yoga with Child's Pose. It gets you grounded and ready to start your Pranayama breathing that you do with every posture. Our instructor will tell us to spread your knees out wide and stretch for the top of our mats to keep this pose as active as possible. Sink down to your depth and you will really feel this in you hips because it is a great hip opening posture.
***Remember: You always inhale as you go up and exhale as you go down in postures***
02. Mountain Pose (Tadasana)
Mountain Pose is one of those poses that you always come back to throughout practice. You want to inhale and reach tall and lift your chest up as you gaze forward.
03. Forward Fold (Uttanasana)
Next is Forward Fold. This one, you exhale as you pass through heart center and reach for your mat. A little bend in your knees helps to stretch out your leg muscles.
04. Halfway Lift (Ardha Uttanasana)
After Forward Fold, inhale to Halfway Lift. Place your hands on your shins and pull your shoulders back in line, while making sure you keep a flat back. If someone were to put a cup on your back, it shouldn't fall off!
05. Plank (Phalakasana)
Okay, the hard stuff. Not many people love this part. This is just your average plank. You need to make sure you do it right, though! You are in a push up position really but, you need to make sure that your shoulders are stacked over your wrists, your gaze is straight down at your mat, you engage your core by sucking in your abs, and make sure your booty is not coming over your head.
06. Plank to Mid-Plank (Chaturunga Dandasana)
I wanna say that I have done about a hundred Chaturungas in my time and to be honest, they aren't my favorite. You put a lot of pressure on your elbows, but doing this protects your muscles and your arms. So make sure to exhale and pin your elbows into your side body and lower down halfway (hence, Mid-Plank). Also, keep your knees lifted at all times and your toes are tucked under.
07. Upward Dog (Urdhvamukhasvanasana)
Ahhh, the "back-cracking" posture. Inhale from Mid-Plank and rise to Upward Facing Dog. Still, keep your arms stacked over your wrist, keep your knees lifted, and your gaze up. Hopefully, you'll get a nice craaaaack as you do this in your back and it feels really good.
08. Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)
Now, you exhale and plant all fours down onto the mat. This is a great releaser pose to take a couple breaths. Fold over and make sure to look between your legs. Try to reach your head to your stomach to activate your core. You can "walk your dog" and bend each leg to get some blood flowing and stretch them each out. I like to do this when it's my first Downward Dog of the practice.
Inhale your right or left leg high and get ready to go down into Front Lunge! It's important to raise your leg up high and flex your toes so you can really bend into the lunge.
10. Lunge (Banarasana)
Exhale and sweep your right or left leg through to your hands. Keep your knee stacked over your ankle and make sure the leg that is not bent is straight and lifted, as well.
Using your balance after you just lunged, inhale and lift up. Keep your back leg straight and your foot lifted. Align your front leg so that it is stacked and is not internally rotating, or in other words, make sure your front knee is straight with your foot. Bring your arms up high just like you did in Mountain Pose and lift your chest.
I think everybody knows Warrior pose. A lot of people think of this pose when they think of yoga and I don't know why!
You want to exhale, and whichever side you are on, pivot your front foot parallel to the front of your mat and drop your back foot. With a generous bend in your front leg, it is vital in this posture to not lean forward as you bend. I got into the habit of reaching forward and that's not the right way! Instead, stack (so many stacks!) your torso over your hips and reach your arms out wide as you gaze over your middle finger.
All you have to do is repeat on each side and you've just passed your first yoga practice with me. This is my Sun Salutation! I hope you enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed making it!
13. Salutation Seal (Anjali Mudra)
Always end with a Namaste and put your hands together to seal your practice and acknowledge the presence and strength you have gained. Namaste pretty much means, "I bow to you", and that's why you do it! Whether you improved on a posture or just tried a new one, accepting your practice and bowing to your teacher shows the most honor and respect!
My Favorite Poses
This is one of my favorite poses because you feel so free doing it. A cool breeze and the sun on my face never felt so good! Inhale and spread your legs out wide and point your toes to the corner of your mat. Be free!
This mouthful-of-a-pose is really great to stretch out your legs! You go right into this after Star by inhaling and putting your arms out wide and "pigeon-toe" your feet inwards (which I forgot to do LOL).
Then, you want to exhale and slowly lower down to your mat vertebrae by vertebrae, while also puffing up your chest as you do this. You can reach for whatever is accessible to you; whether that be your knees, shins, ankles, or your mat! If you want more of a stretch, move your legs closer together.
You will be here for a while during a yoga practice so, you can stretch out your arms one by one or put your arms behind your back and connect your hands to open up your chest, too! To get out of this pose, do exactly what you did as you went into it; put your arms out wide and slowly rise back up.
16. Headstand (Sirsasana)
This is probably one of my greatest achievments in yoga. I never EVER thought that I could ever do an inversion (going upside down) in all of my yogi history. This takes a very long time to do but, you will get there eventually like I did!
Start off by planting both hands on your mat and spread your elbows out wide like you're doing a wide push up. Place your head a little bit above them. It is important with this posture to always look forward to protect your neck and to concentrate, as well. Next, you play with bringing your knees into your body by using your ab strength. It helps to flex your abs and engage your core as you do this pose.
Once you have successfully balanced both your legs into your body, begin to lift your legs up into the air. Try to make them straight but, then again, you're doing a freaking headstand anyway. Have someone snap a pic, too! If you fall, always tuck and roll!
I love doing this pose so much. It literally feels like you're flying! You need a lot of arm strength and core strength but, hey—that's yoga.
Start by planting your hands like you were doing with the headstand. You want to spread your knees and hips wide like a frog!
Using your very strong muscles, plant your knees onto your elbows like a shelf. Lean forward, while looking forward, and lift off your toes one by one until you start to balance. It helps to use a block underneath your head if you are afraid of falling. I've done it way too many times so don't be afraid to reach your depth!
18. Crescent Moon (Chandrasana)
Crescent pose is really nice to do at the beginning of your practice. It helps to stretch out your side body and your shoulders. To do this, start in Mountain Pose and interlock your fingers except your pointers (Prayer Grip). Extend up really high and bend right or left as far as you can! I can't go very far but, I have seen people transform into an actual crescent. Remember to look up the way your bending, too.
19. Standing Bow Pulling Pose (Dandayamana Dhanurasana)
I wanted to give a little shout out to my photographer for this post; my best friend, Ellaby, who also is a beauty blogger and lover of yoga! Go checkout her blog here.
To do Bow, lift up your left or right arm, sort of like a half Mountain Pose in a way. Catch your left or right ankle on the outside of your foot. Slowly lean forward, while kicking into your Bow and reaching forward as you do so. Look forward and Ta-da!
20. Namaste
Yoga has taught me so many great things over the past couple of years and I cannot explain how happy I am to be able to share my passion with all of you! I hope you guys can at least try my Sun Salutation and become self-proclaimed Yogis like me! This is my variation and obviously I have a lot more to learn. Yoga has so many benefits and I think everyone should be doing it. It makes you mentally and physically stronger and better. If you guys would like to check out some yoga related things, here are some links:
You can get a free week trial, students and teachers get a member discount, and it's just a great community of yogis to practice with!
I love Adriene's channel so much! I don't find myself doing yoga videos a lot because I am a part of Corepower already, however, I do love to watch her videos when I want to learn new postures and flows!
What I Am Wearing:
Lululemon Racer-back in Static Blossom
This Memorial Day weekend is going to be quite the adventure; I am headed off to San Francisco! I will be taking many pictures and will be doing a follow up journal-type-post sometime next week or two once I download everything. I am so excited to visit California because it's my first time! Anything i should do while I'm there?
Namaste, Nat
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Social Icons