Right now, I would say that I am pretty content with the way my skin is reacting and changing to the hot weather Chicago has been having. That being said, I have experimented and tried out a couple of products that I have been loving and are making a difference to my overall skincare.

I am the type of person to always have face masks, lotions, moisturizers, toners and cleansers on hand and ready to go. Especially during these really hot months, I think it's so important to vamp up your normal skincare routine. It's hot, muggy, and really sunny outside and you don't want clogged pores or burned skin at all! I would say that I have combo-oily skin and the summer is probably the worst time for my skin.

To start, the Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Toner does a pretty great job cleaning out my pores and the extra oil that has produced after a long, hot day. You only need a cotton pad or a cotton ball and you're good to go! I have found that this really helps with preventing more acne as well as treating it. 

I try to not use cleansing wipes, however, there are times when a girl may need some emergency wipes on hand for those long and tiring nights. The Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes are great to use to remove eye makeup, refresh your face, or even touch up and fix makeup mishaps. Something I don't use often but, have on hand for who knows what! 

I love pore strips so much; they're so helpful when you're too lazy to do a mask and when your body craves a deep cleanse on your nose, chin, or forehead (the T-Zone to be specific). The Biore Face and Nose Deep Cleansing Strips do that job so well. They're so easy to use and it is so satisfying (and a little gross let me be honest) to pull off that strip and know that your face is cleaner than ever. 

When I do feel in the mood to do a nice mask, I love using this Freeman Avocado & Oatmeal Clay Mask to really purify my skin and to help with excess oil on my trouble areas. I really like the formula of this mask and it really leaves your skin feeling smooth and clean. 

While this mask is not as fresh as say, a Lush mask, it is a very great mask to use for a couple months and is very easy to travel with. Freeman also has different types of masks like this one depending on your skin type.

Some people forget how important it is to make sure you are treating your eyes right. And that means moisturizing your under eyes. I found that the CeraVe Eye Repair Cream was great to use at night and bring back moisture under my eyes so they never felt dry or puffy in the morning. If you want to prevent dry and puffy eyes, this is the cream for you.

Every morning, I have been using the Garnier Skinactive Micellar Cleansing Water and I really like it. I'm impressed by Garnier! To my surprise, this cleanser does great and removes all the dirt and oil that builds up during the day and over night. I know a lot of people like this across the blogger world and I am so glad I tried it out. It also does a wonderful job removing makeup. All you do is take a cotton pad and wipe away your troubles! No water necessary because it is water. So hassle-free! 

If you are susceptible to sunburns, using lotion and a great lip balm can help soothe and repair your delicate skin. The Body Shop Mango Body Butter smells so delicious and is great to use for all-over moisturize. I love the Body Shop's range of butters and gels so much. Even when oil and sweat can be more prominent during the summer, it is still important to keep hydrating your parched skin. 

I have been obsessed with EOS lip balms this year. I have one in like every nook and cranny. They smell great and are super moisturizing on the lips and they leave my lips super smooth. 

What products are in your summer skincare routine?

Xoxo, Nat

Something I have been seeing a lot lately around my town and on some other blogs were a ton of suede hats and ripped jean shorts. I initially thought that suede hats were mean't for the Fall and only the Fall. Was I wrong! Since Lollapalooza is going to begin towards the end of the month, I feel like suede hats as well as ripped jeans are the trends for this music festival weekend. 

I have always loved the look of ripped and distressed jeans. I think they are so cute paired with a flowy top and a lace bralette. I am obsessed with the frayed edges and they're pretty much versatile with any other outfit combination. I wouldn't say that you could wear these out to a formal event, obviously but, these would look great out to a party or a bar paired with wedges and a nice blouse, as well. 

American Eagle Outfitter's jeans are the best jeans I have ever owned. They are high quality and are very reliable. They have many different types of jeans to choose from and a massive selection of sizes. Their summer shorts sale is going on right now and you get buy one get one half off! Many of their summer styles are also 40-60% off right now and I have to say that I have gone about five times in a row now to the sale. It's just a great deal for tops, pants, and pretty much everything else they have. 

The Hi-Rise Festival Shortie is a great light washed short and I love the look of these so much. I wear these so often with pretty much anything. I also love the black Denim X4 Hi-Rise Shortie, too. I think these are a bit toned down and aren't as distressed as the other pair. Everyone could use a blue and a black pair of really nice denim shorts. It's a necessity during these hot months and they really give off festival vibes! 

I wouldn't say that I am an avid hat wearer but, I do want to try and wear my Charlotte Russe hat that I bought last Fall. I really think it could work this summer and would look great at any type of festival or just out and about with friends on a sunny day!

What have been some trends you guys have seen around this summer?

Xoxo, Nat

All things brows today! I haven't really ever talked about brows on my blog all that much. They are still super important when completing any look. Nowadays, filling in brows has been emphasized across the beauty guru land (the internet) and now I can never forget to make my brows look #onfleek. I think doing your brows can help to really frame your face and sculpt it out as well. Brow sculpting (along with all other makeup skills and things) is an art and it takes a lot of time to get right. So, how can you mess up filling in your brows? Many ways. I'm here to give you guys some tips and helpful products for some of you struggling to master your "perfect brows". 

I'm no brow expert but, I have learned a lot through years of waxing and plucking my big uni-brow (since fifth grade) the rights and wrongs of all things brows. I have over plucked, over waxed, and have over filled my brows enough to know what is right for me. I can't speak for everyone because every body has unique brows but, I hope this helps you guys achieve what you want your own brows to look like!

1) Brows are Sisters not Identical Twins

First things first, assessing your brow type is the first step to doing your brows. Knowing the natural shape of your brows can help you prevent any mishaps in the future. Not all brows are the same, and your right brow might be a little bit more arched or thinner than your left. It all depends and that's okay! You don't want to try and manipulate your brows a different way that looks totally unnatural. I have tried to pluck my brows even and ended up over plucking one of them and regretted it when I had picture day the next day. 

You can talk to a brow expert at a Benefit Brow Bar and they can help you assess your brow shape and help you get to know your brows and how to treat them. 

2) Grooming, Plucking, Waxing, and Shaping

I try to groom and do my brows every couple weeks because mine grow in super fast. Not a lot of people have this problem; since my brows are darker than a lot of peoples', I have to do it more often. If you have lighter or blonder brows, you could probably get away with doing them once a month (you're so lucky). 

Getting your brows done at a salon can be a pricey investment. Let me be honest, I have only gone twice to a Benefit Brow Bar and that was it. I have been doing my own brows since and I think it's a totally better way to spend and save my money. I get that if you are a beginner or have no intent of experimenting or trying to groom your brows, you want to just have a pro do it. And that's fine. For those of you who don't care to drop $20-$30 every couple weeks, here is what I normally use to wax and pluck my brows. 

Starter Kit:

Danielle Rose Gold Tweezers- Everyone has to have at least one pair of tweezers in their bathroom cabinet somewhere. It's just a necessity to have! I start by plucking the really obvious, stray hairs and work my way under and above both of my brows. Plucking can hurt sometimes so putting Vaseline on them before might help with the pain. Another tip that I kind of remember is that your pain tolerance after you've had your period can actually minimize the plucking pain!

Sally Hansen Hair Remover Wax Strip Kit- If you are wanting to get on the wax bandwagon then by all means, these strips are pretty much the best and easiest ways to wax! You can cut them and form them to your brows and you don't have to worry about hot wax and all the mess. Plus, it's really quick to do! Sometimes when I can't get out my whole hot waxing kit, Parissa Hot Wax is my favorite by the way, I use these little guys and they work so well! Always remember to dab a little bit of Neosporin or an antibiotic ointment to help close your pores so no bacteria gets locked in your hair follicles and around your forehead. 

I would also recommend some type of eye brow brush or Spoolie brush to help brush and shape your brows before and after you pluck or wax them. It sounds kind of weird when you have to "brush" your brows but, hey, you gotta do what you gotta do! You can find these types of brushes pretty much anywhere, too. 

3) Filling, Penciling, and Gelling

After you have shaped your brows and you want to start filling them in, there are many ways to do so. You can use brow kits, pomades, gels, pencils, and even eye shadow. 

Starter Kit:

Essence Eyebrow Designer Pencil- for only $2 this pencil is so great and easy to use for beginners. It has a little brush on the cap which is helpful when I am travelling! 

Nyx Eyebrow Cake Powder- You can use the mini slanted brush to define your brows with one of the two powders or even mix the two for a natural shade. Then I go back to set them with the mini round brush and the little wax pot in the kit! Also a great idea for travel. 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade- Personally, out of all the Anastasia products, this is the one I love and feel like you would get the most out of. You get a pot of great brow pomade in any color that matches your brows. I bet this could last me a year or more! I have heard raves about this and it is truly amazing. Using an angled brush, lightly dip it into the pot and use small strokes to frame and define your brows! One of my favorite brow products.

Mary Kay Brow Gel- I have used this for so long to set my brows. A swipe across the brows and they never move or get messed up! There are many brow gels out there so, find the one that works best for you. 

Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics Palette- Sometimes eye shadow can be a hit or miss when doing brows. For a long time when I didn't have any brow products, I would take an angled brush and find a matte brown shade that I thought would match. Eye shadow does not have a waxy formula like brow pencils, powders, or pomades so they can tend to move around on your face if you don't set it with a gel. I found that this palette has the right type of shadows if I ever wanted to just toss it into my travel bag and use it for my whole eye look.

Your "brow journey" does not have to consist of all these components; maybe just plucking your brows or using just a brow pencil works for you and that's great! Not everyone has the same brows and it's important to treat them right by doing them right so you don't make any mistakes. It's taken me a while ever since I started grooming mine but, I think I have found the right methods for my own brows. Less is more! So, start out small and pluck a little here and there or wax a little in the middle of your brows to get comfortable with it. I hope this helped any of you brow-beginners out there who have no idea where to start with their brows! 

What are some other tips you guys remember or use when doing your brows?

Xoxo, Nat