New & Improved Daily Routine

Since upgrading my entire makeup collection, I've developed a new routine. While it takes about 10 minutes versus 5, it's still so worth it and I feel so much cuter all the time ;)

Our guests, in order of appearance on my face: 

1. EcoTools kabuki brushes, each labeled for buffing, contouring, bronzing and concealing. They are SO SOFT and blend so well!

NOT PICTURED- Benefit's Fake Up, the most amazing, hydrating under eye concealer. The packaging is beautiful, how did I forget to take a photo?!

6. Mac Studio Fix Powder in NW25

2. Ben Nye Banana Powder- I was afraid this might be too yellow for me but I love it! I use it under my eyes over my concealer, and a little on the center of my forehead and down my nose. I wait until I apply my Hoola Bronzer and then blend it all together to contour and highlight. 

5. Hoola- see my review on this! Love it.

3. Benefit Brow-zings in Medium Brown

7. Bare Minerals eyeshadow in Chenille on my lids for a really neutral, matte look.

9. Clinique High Lengths mascara- see my review on this one, too!

8. Clinique Quickliner in brown-black under the outer half of my bottom lash line and smudged using the built in smudge stick.

4. Lastly, I use this Clinique Chubby Stick religiously. This one is Plushest Punch, which happens to be my favorite, and if I don't have it in my purse, I can touch it up with the hot pink Baby Lips color.

So that's my new routine! Tried and tested for at least three weeks now and it hasn't failed me, and it's been exciting to try out so many products and return the ones that don't work (Benefit They're Real sucks, I lost so many eyelashes to removing that damn mascara).

Benefit HOOLA Bronzer Review

When I was a freshman in college, I had just discovered name brand cosmetics- before then I was all about Cover Girl- if I even wore makeup. A MAC eyeshadow was like the holy grail... especially in electric blue (we were so clueless back in the day)! 

When we would get ready for college parties, I started noticing the girls around me had good makeup- expensive makeup. I had no idea that girls spent $25 on a foundation, but the quality, department store makeup truly made such a difference in how pretty I felt on a night out.

One girl's makeup inparticular stood out to me- she wore Benefit blush and bronzer in Hoola or Dallas. It came in this super cute box and the color was perfect. She always had awesome cheek color, and here I am, seven years later, and I still remember!

This weekend I decided to suck it up and spend the $28 on Benefit's HOOLA. It's a matte bronzer/blush that you can use just on your cheeks or as an all over face color.

I love it. With my fair skin I have to be really careful not to over-bronze, but this powder is soft, matte and very blendable. It gives me a great cheekbone and I use it on my hairline and jawline to contour. I also love it on minimal makeup days; just a sweep across my cheekbones makes such a huge difference! Since I bought Hoola, I have worn it every single day.

I would definitely give this product 5 stars!