I've been contemplating subscribe to birch box for a while but I recently heard about "ipsy" which is a similar program. I ultimately decided to sign up for ipsy instead of birch box because its different. One thing thats really nice about ipsy is that you get a different makeup bag each month. For $10 a month I get about 5 "personalized" beauty products shipped to me. I really love programs like this because I LOVE getting packages and mail and I also love trying new beauty products! When you sign up, you take a simple quiz and answer questions about what type of products you usually like so that they can personalize the products you get sent. Everything comes in a cute little pink package and I was really impressed with the products that I was sent this month. 

This eye shadow pencil is really nice because its super easy to apply and its something you could just throw in your bag as a "just in case" or for touch ups. 

I've heard great things about smash box primer and I've been wanting to try it, so I'm so glad it was in  my bag! 

This body butter is amazing I LOVE the scent! 

I love this color nail polish! Its a hot pink that is perfect for summer and I think I will be using it all summer! 

This little bag is so cute! Its the perfect size to throw in a purse or something! 

I've always heard amazing things about LUSH products but I've never bought much from there. We don't have a location near us but when I was in Chicago last week I picked up a few things and I am loving them! 

1. Brazilliant Solid Shampoo

I've heard excellent things about the Shampoo bars, as they are supposed to be amazing for traveling and I've been told they last forever. I am VERY picky about my shampoo and other hair products and the idea of shampoo that was basically a bar of soap didn't appeal to me. I really did not think I would like it but I was curious so I decided to give it a try. All I can say is that I LOVE it. It works just like a normal shampoo and left my hair feeling great! 

I picked the "Brazilliant" shampoo because I liked the citrus smell and it was recommended by a sales associate for my hair which isn't naturally curly or straight and is somewhat dry but not super dry. I wanted something that would give my hair a little bit of shine but not make it greasy. I've used it a few times already with good results, leaving my hair shiny! 

2. Montalbano Solid Shampoo

I was so impressed with my first shampoo bar that I went back when I was in Chicago this week and got another one to try. Honestly I would say I like the "Montalbano" one even more than the other! It has a lemony scent and it is supposed to be deep cleansing. It left my hair smooth and shiny and smells amazing! 

3. Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask

I have really sensitive skin so I am wary of trying new skin care products. I had never really tried a face mask because my face tends to be very dry and I was worried about them being drying. After hearing good things about the fresh face masks from LUSH I finally decided to purchase one. All of their products are natural and they have a variety of different masks so it was not hard finding one that wouldn't irritate my skin. This product has to be refrigerated and has an expiration date but it is definitely worth it! 

"Catastrophe Cosmetic" is made for sensitive skin and isn't supposed to be drying at all. I tried it the first day I got it and loved it. The sales associate told me that many people wear them every 3 days or so, which is what I've been doing because I love the way it makes my skin feel and it smells amazing.   I moisturized my face right after (which I do every night anyway) so it didn't dry it out at all. After using it, my skin felt really soft! 

Happy Monday! And happy summer!! Today I want to share some of my favorite makeup for summer. I don't wear a ton of makeup in the summer but when I do, these are the things that I cannot do without! 

1. Urban Decay Naked Palette 

The original Naked Palette is my favorite for summer because I love the more gold/bronze tones with a tan! There are colors that can make it look like you are wearing almost no makeup, and there are colors that can be used for a much more dramatic look. 

2. Nars Orgasm Blush 

This a color that seriously looks good on everybody. It has a slight golden shimmer and also looks great with a tan. It is easy to make it very subtle for daytime or make it a little brighter if thats the look you're going for.

3. Hourglass Mineral Primer

This is the best primer I have tried, and its perfect for mineral foundation. It does not make your face shiny (very important in the summer when its hot!) It also has SPF 15 so even if your foundation doesn't have SPF you don't have to mess around with a layer of greasy sunscreen under your makeup! 

4. Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation

I think mineral foundations are amazing for summer because they are light and usually not as harsh on your skin (the sun and the heat are bad enough!) Its also super easy to reapply if you sweat. This foundation in particular is supposed to be waterproof and last all day. While I wouldn't say it is 100% waterproof, it does last really well.

5. Make Up Forever Full Cover Concealer 

Not quite the caliber of my beloved MAC pro-longwear concealer but this is another really good concealer. It goes on really easily (you really don't even need a brush) which makes it super easy to throw in your bag during the summer for touch ups. It is also waterproof so its perfect for days by the pool or the lake, or even if you're just going to be sweating. 

6. Blinc Mascara Amplified 

I've mentioned this before but this is my most used Mascara. Its good for daily use because it is really easy to take off. It puts "tubes" on your lashes so if you sweat or get wet its not going to smudge and it will definitely still look good after a long day. It actually doesn't even really come off when you're swimming (unless you rub your eyes). Even if you rub your eyes the most it will do is flake a little bit so its much easier to fix than raccoon eyes! 

7. Fresh Sugar Rosé Lip-balm

This is a new product for me, but I have the non-tinted Sugar lip-balms and I love them. Its super hydrating and it has SPF 15. I love this one because it has just a very slight berry tint to it, which adds to any super natural day time look. 

8. Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

This is also a really new product for me, but so far I love it! I wanted a setting powder that would keep my makeup in place all day and this has definitely done the trick. 

9. Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray

Once again, I'm all about makeup that really stays put in the summer. Through sweat, water, you name it I want to be able to be active and not have to worry about all my makeup coming off. This setting spray definitely does the trick. Be careful how much you put on though because it can make your face shiny if you spray too much! 

For breakfast one morning we went to Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken, which was highly recommended when we were searching for doughnut places to try. I am not very adventurous so I only got a vanilla doughnut but they had some really crazy flavors like "maple bacon" for those who are interested in trying something different. 

One of my favorite places that we tried was GCDC (Grilled Cheese District of Colombia!). They had every type of grilled cheese you could ever dream of and you could completely customize it! I am sort of obsessed with grilled cheese and GCDC was fantastic! 

My favorite place we ate on the trip was Sugar Shack. It is a little doughnut place in Alexandria, and it served what were quite possibly the best doughnuts I have ever had. They were huge (my dad and I got a bunch cause we wanted to try them all) and we definitely overcommitted. My favorite was the "Apple Cake Doughnut" which was different than your average doughnut but not too crazy for me either. 

On our last night we went back to Georgetown and tried Georgetown Cupcake from the TLC show "DC Cupcakes." They did not disappoint. At any point there is a line stretching out the door to try them. They had countless flavors to choose from though a few flavors had sold out as we got there right around closing. I tried the "Vegan Apple Cinnamon" cupcake, far from my usual vanilla, and I was very impressed!