My August Makeup Favorites

August was a month full of ups and downs, rounding out Summer 2015 with a solid 3 out of 5 stars. Was it the summer of my dreams? (Especially in those very frigid and gray days of February..?) No. Did it have some high points worth remembering? Absolutely! Including, 5 very awesome beauty bits! Here are my August Makeup Favorites.

Hands down, the highlight of August for me was a long weekend trip with my family. Even though 3 days is definitely not a long time, those 3 days managed to make a world of difference. There’s something invigorating about just getting out of town, if only for a little while. In case you missed it, read about that family wedding weekend and see my brunch OOTD here!

I could mention the low points, because I do feel in a bit of a rambling mood, but I’ll just go ahead and get on with my makeup favorites. The list isn’t too long, but definitely features some fabulous bits that I highly recommend. If you would like to know more about what I’ve been up to in August though, feel free to check out this post here – where I update you on my weightloss journey and discuss a serious health scare with my beloved doggie, Lucky. (Who is, very thankfully, snoring right beside me at the moment.)

Not going to lie, I’m happy to see the calendar read September and forge on with a great fall! It is, after all, my favorite season of them all. #RhymingGoals

ELF Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzer (here)
Well, I sure dusted this off from the archives! I’ve totally skipped over this guy for the past couple years, but in August – we reunited for a brilliant summer fling. The blush is great, but what seals the deal for me on this is the bronzer. I define it absolutely as a contour bronzer, meaning you can use it to carve cheekbones and narrow your nose. No, I’m not Kim Kardashian – but with this $3 wonder, I think I could be!

Aveda Botanical Kinetics Skin-Firming Toner Mist (here)
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had my hair cut at salons that use Aveda products. A perk to that? The option of a complimentary ‘mini facial’ whilst getting your hair shampooed. While I don’t always say yes to this little treat, when I do – this toner/face mist is the cherry on top of relaxation. So, imagine me explaining this to family while perusing the Aveda store after dinner — and it suddenly dawned on me that I could recreate the experience at home. Why something so obvious never occurred to me before, who knows…but I now keep this on the ledge of my bath. I’ll use my Clarisonic, spritz this on and just relax. One time I went really hardcore with the relaxation and had a 15-minute meditation session to the sound of rain. Bliss, guys. 100% bliss!

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick * ‘Nude or Not’ (here)
It’s not often a ‘neutral’ lipstick lands on my favorites lists, but paired with my bronzed skin and green eyes – this frosty nude was a staple in my handbag all month long. It’s smooth, creamy and supremely flattering! Also, can we talk about how strong Rimmel’s lipstick game is? I mean come on! This rivals my MAC and YSL favorites, for a much better price.

Borghese Eclissare Color Eclipse ‘Fresh’ Eyeshadow (here)
As mentioned in my full review on this palette back in April, it’s amazing! Super pigmented, soft, blends beautifully, the works. And while it may seem a bit strange to feature military green on my eyes in the month of August, it was a look that worked very well! Stay tuned, because I hope to film a makeup tutorial using this palette very soon!

OPI ‘Gelato On My Mind’ Nail Polish (here)
Another product I’ve already babbled on about it in a full review is this beautiful minty blue polish from OPI’s ‘Venice Collection’. A true testament to my love? The fact that I’ve worn no other polish in the month of August. That’s right, me and Gelato On My Mind are in a very serious and monogamous relationship. (Until October, then it’s out the door for berry-tones.)

And there we have it, my 5 beauty essentials from August! No doubt, time has been moving at warped speed this year and it’s very hard to believe summer is heading into the rear view mirror…but I am looking forward to September! It should be a great (and busy) month.

Thank you for reading, and please share what things you’ve been loving in August – beauty and otherwise. Also, what are you most looking forward to in September? For me – New York Fashion Week, the end!

Here’s to a great new month!

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