From a favorite memoir to wellness must-haves and new makeup to obsess over — meet the August 2023 favorites that kept me smiling.
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Hello, there! And welcome to *big gulp* SEPTEMBER.
Oh goodness me this year is rolling along at a warped speed which is actually somewhat exciting in that we’re inching ever so closer to fall. Summer’s always a busy and chaotic season for me so while it is sad to see its days wind down to a close – it’s nice to be able to settle in to a more steady routine.
Is there anyone else out there that’s a grown adult without children but loves Back to School season?
The whole premise of getting organized and refining your focus for the last chapter of the year is a great one for all ages and walks of life.
August was a nice month, though – I have to say. The sun was shining, I found myself enjoying the summer heat more than I did in July and there are lots of fond memories made I’ll be cherishing at the end of the year when I look back and build the family’s 2024 calendar.
August 2023 was also a month where at last I found myself getting back into makeup! It may sound strange, but I really took about a year off the beauty bandwagon and spent most days slathered in nothing more than a daily SPF and tinted moisturizer. New releases found repetitive and uninspiring to me for quite some time but the new arrivals pages definitely raised my interest in August and there are several hits I have to share.
From a controversial eyeshadow palette, beloved foundation and wellness must-haves — meet all my August 2023 favorites, below!
AUGUST 2023 FAVORITES
PAT McGRATH SUNLIT SEDUCTION PALETTE
For long-time fans and collectors of Pat McGrath mothership palettes — the Sunlit Seduction release was one met with disappointment as it follows a similar color story to several other recent releases from her. I myself was weary when the launch photos arrived and originally planned to skip it – but caved when I saw Alicia Archer run through the swatches on her YouTube channel. Low and behold, it went on to be among my August 2023 favorites because of how fabulously it works for these summer months. The matte formula seems even more improved as well.
Is it a must-have for those who already have the Divine Rose and Huetopian Dream palettes? No. But I think anyone will be smitten with the quality of the shadow and how well they perform.
PAT McGRATH LABS • SEPHORA • ULTA
GIVENCHY PRISME LIBRE CONCEALER
I’ve been using the Givenchy Prism Libre concealer for a few months now and I continue to be absolutely smitten with it! The creamy, hydrating formula glides beautifully across the skin and settles into solid, buildable coverage that lasts. On the weekends or light makeup days, I often go with wearing this with some setting powder and call it a day. That’s how well it conceals the problem areas I want to hide while staying in place.
NORDSTROM • SAKS FIFTH AVE • SEPHORA
PATRICK TA ‘DO WE KNOW HER’ BLUSH DUO
Oh the thrill of falling in love with an item you already have! And that most definitely was me swooning once again for Patrick Ta’s “Do We Know Her“. The orange-coral tone is so perfect for the summer months. It adds a nice flush of color that works with your summer glow effortlessly and the cream base does a terrific job holding up through the heat.
KOHLS • PATRICK TA • SEPHORA
SMASHBOX STUDIO SKIN FOUNDATION
A bigger product review is coming but you get a preview today as it’s definitely among my August 2023 favorites.
Smashbox doesn’t flood the market with a bunch of new releases as others do — so when one arrives you can tell its something they’ve spent quite a bit of time perfecting. And the Smashbox Always On foundation absolutely fits the bill! The “hydra” label made me a wee bit nervous at first as things can easily get out of hand with glowiness in the summer heat – however this one does a terrific job at controlling shine through the day.
It’s long-wearing, loaded with ingredients to care for the skin and has an excellent shade range.
AMAZON • MACYS • NORDSTROM • SMASHBOX • ULTA
KVD BEAUTY FULL SLEEVE LONG + DEFINED TUBING MASCARA
Wow do my eyelashes LOVE this mascara! It creates lift that really extends length and the tubing formula allows the finished results to last longer throughout the day than alternative options.
KVD BEAUTY • SEPHORA • ULTA
OPI ELE-PHANTASTIC PINK
I’m in the minority that hasn’t seen the Barbie movie yet — but I did manage to find the perfect Barbie pink nail polish. OPI’s Ele-phantastic Pink adorned the nails of both my hands and toes and I am so impressed with:
- How pigmented the polish is. One coat is a LONG way!
- How well the polish performs and holds up during wear/tear
AUGUST 2023 FAVORITES IN WELLNESS
LYMPHATIC SUPPORT DROPS
In July I had my very first lymphatic drainage massage and did quite a bit of reading up on the topic. Living with an underlying genetic disorder that creates a number of issues, I’m a bit surprised it’s not something I’ve focused on but I now realize it’s an area of my personal health I’ve been neglecting. Since purchasing these little droplets, I add a bit to my coffee in the morning and have been noticing improvements in my overall circulation, digestion and goal to improve my immune system.
The drops include, echinacea root, red clover blossom, burdock root, red root, cleavers herb, licorice root and more.
DEEP SLEEP PILLOW SPRAY
As a long troubled sleeper, it’s always been hard for me to squeeze in a normal night’s sleep. I still found it in me at the start of August to see a goal of getting 4-5 hours of sleep a night and in addition to the Calm app — the Deep Sleep Pillow Spray was essential to my success. It’s not the first month I’ve used this product but somehow I’ve gotten away from it. It’s pricy and you think oh gosh does it really do anything? Well, for me it does. Maybe it’s in my head or may the mixed fragrance of x puts me in a trance but in the end… I did get more sleep in August and for that I’m grateful!
AMAZON (Best Price) • NORDSTROM
AUGUST 2023 FAVORITES IN ENTERTAINMENT
LESSONS: MY PATH TO A MEANINGFUL LIVE
Gisele Bündchen is a face many know well but one perhaps not nearly as many know about as a person.
Winding my way through her memoir, I realized I was definitely in the later category knowing not much more than she was marred to Tom Brady for many years. Her profound career in fashion is one anyone who follows runway news and ad campaigns will know well about but did you know about her spiritual health? Her family? Her core beliefs and values? She answers all of those things offering fruitful tips of wisdom you can adopt in your everyday life or merely find appreciation in knowing more about the beautiful soul she has inside of her famously beautiful physical appearance.
ELIZABETH HARVEST
While not a new release — Elizabeth Harvest was a new addition to Shudder in August 2023 and what a treat it was to watch.
The film begins with an ominous tone that invokes memories of the 1940’s Rebecca (my favorite Alfred Hitchcock) as a young starry-eyed bride arrives at her wealthy husband’s vast, coastal estate. Upon Elizabeth’s arrival, she meets a housekeeper-type woman with an air of mystery like Daphne du Maurier’s famous Mrs. Danvers – although in time her motivations will surprise you. Touring through the home, her husband tells Elizabeth she’s free to go wherever she likes with one exception — his office.
From there, Elizabeth Harvest takes you on a journey — to places very different than you might expect from its opening. It’s beautifully shot with a captivating storyline that will keep you guessing and strong performances from the small – albeit mighty – cast. The film is also a wonderful blend of genres – in part sci-fi, thriller and horror – it makes for the perfect summer night watch.
AMAZON (Buy/Rent) • AMC+ (Stream) • iTunes (Buy/Rent) • SHUDDER (Stream)
TAYLOR SWIFT FOLKLORE VINYL
August was a month in general where I really enjoyed the new record station I’ve got setup — and my most-played is none other than Taylor Swift’s Folklore. I do enjoy this album year-round but summer mornings in August are particularly ideal for one of her best albums of all time. And yes, of course, I did pre-order 1989 (Taylor’s Version) to add to my collection upon its release.
AMAZON (Buy/Rent) • TAYLOR SWIFT
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XOXO
Kelly
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