Clinique Lip Gloss

My absolute favorite lip gloss (and not just for this month) is the Clinique Long Lasting Lip Gloss in Adore U. It’s the perfect plum toned gloss with just the right tough of frost and simmer. My natural lip color is on the darker side, so I feel like this color works perfectly for me.

Aquaphor

This is a bit of a random favorite, but during the dry winter months it’s been a life saver. I bought my first tube in January when my ring finger got irritated from my engagement ring (click here to read about that mess). Since then I have been using it on my cuticles, lips and mixing it with hand lotion. I even started putting a touch under my nose at night  because my sinuses get so dry while I’m sleeping. It’s definitely a staple beauty product now for dry, irritated and cracked skin.

Benefit It’s Potent Eye Cream

Who doesn’t love a good eye cream?! My under eye area gets super dry and flaky. This skin area as well as my eyes themselves are very sensitive. The wrong product can make my eyes red and irritated almost like I have pink-eye. I have previously been using Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment for years which I do really like, but my local stores don’t sell it and I wanted to try something new. At the recommendation of a Benefit’s rep at Ulta, I decided to try the It’s Potent Eye Cream. It doesn’t have a must of a scent, added fragrance or parabens. It has added brightening effects which I may have noticed a bit and it keeps my under eye area hydrated. I’ve now finished the jar and I think I’ll buy it again! Definitely worth a try.

Milani Baked Blush

I have heard a lot about Milani Baked Blushes on YouTube being a great drugstore buy, so I wanted to give one a try. I usually like rosy/plum colored blushes, so I went with the Rose D’Oro. It definitely has more of an orange-y/bronze tone to it that I had hoped for, but I do like it. Some days I use it as a blush and other days as a bronzer. I even use it in the create of my eyelids (a favorite trick of mine) for a natural, bronzey glow.

NYX Tinted Brown Gel

I have been using the NYX tinted brown gel for about a year. Not sure how I lived without using something on my brows before that! Shaped brows totally step-up your look even on minimal makeup days. I feel like good browns just help you look more put together. I don’t always feel like using brow shadow and my brows themselves are pretty thick, so a tinted brow gel is perfect. Since my brow hairs are on the thick side (and sometimes get wavy!) the gel is perfect for keeping them in place. I have tried the chocolate and brunette shades and I feel like the chocolate is more natural and complements my dark blonde hair better.

xo

Miss Alyss

Can you believe the first month of 2017 is just about over? I feel like it was just Christmas. This year is going to be extra special for me. It’s my wedding year! Just before the holidays I also moved into my first home. One of my goals this year is to be more efficient with my time and that includes making time to blog. I want to blog about skincare, beauty, wedding planning and home decor. I hope this is the year I stick to it. You can now follow me on Instagram too. Here are my most loved products of the month!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. When you purchase an item through an affiliate link, I may earn a small commission.  All opinions/recommendations are my own. Thank you for shopping through my links!

Jack Black Dry Erase Ultra-Calming Face Cream

I purchased this Jack Black moisturizer as part a gift set for my fiance. He has dry skin and could careless about skincare, but I always try to help him out. He has nice even-toned, clear skin and I’ve made it my mission to keep it that way forever 😉 . We recently move into our first home together. It’s my first time other than college having to share a bathroom! Around the holidays I picked up this moisturizer from his drawer noticing it had some familiar ingredients. I was intrigued because I knew it had good reviews, great organic ingredients and it was created by women! Since I had some extra time off from work I figured it would be a good time to give it a try. I am so happy I did! I have been using this face cream every night since the end of December. This product definitely lives up to its name. It’s super hydrating and calms any redness I may have. When I wake up in the morning my skin looks super hydrated and refreshed.

Mac Eye Kohl – Teddy 

During the Nordstrom end of year sale I decided to purchase this Mac eye liner at the recommendation of one of my favorite YouTubers, LoveShelbey. It’s a really pretty coppery brown color. The texture is creamy, but stiff enough that you can apply without making a mess.

Maybelline  FIT ME Concealer

I have been extremely surprised by this concealer. Throughout 2016 I was a huge fan of the Urban Decay Naked Concealer (Light Neutral). I probably purchased 3 or 4 tubes because it gave great coverage without being greasy or cakey. In December I ran out of my Urban Decay concealer, but knew my mom would probably put some in my stocking. When I was at Target I opted for the Maybelline FIT ME Concealer (10 Light). Total shot in the dark! I have been using this concealer every day for almost two months! I am no makeup expert, but I would for sure say the Maybelline concealer is a dupe for the Urban Decay Naked concealer. The coverage is great and it doesn’t cream or cake up. My mom did get my a tube of Urban Decay for Christmas and I have found myself reaching for the Maybelline concealer first.

Eucerin Advanced Repair Hand Lotion

My hands have gotten super, super dry this winter. With all of the extra cleaning that came along with moving into a new house my hands were awful! The dryness even contributed some problems with my engagement ring fitting. I got this hand lotion as a Christmas stocking stuffer and have used it every day since! It helps keep my hands soft, smooth and crack-free.

OPI Hello Kitty “Let’s Be Friends”

Love this pinky-white shade by OPI, unfortunately I think it is discontinued! I decided to get this color because another favorite YouTuber of mine, Alex Garza, mentioned it in one of her Vlogmas videos. I would have to agree with her statement, she definitely knows how to pick a good color! I was happy my local salon had it. It’s definitely going to be one of my regular colors and may even be in the running for my wedding day color!

Godmother Bracelet

My sweet Goddaughter (and future flower girl) gave me this special bracelet for Christmas! This bangle fits in perfect with the Alex and Ani style bracelets. The quality of the bracelet is great. It’s made by Georgie Designs and my favorite part is that you can send it back to them to be resized, just pay for shipping. They include resizing instructions in the box. I think this makes their bracelets a great gift because bangles aren’t one size fits all. 

xo 

Miss Alyss 

Derma-e Cleanser

After watching one of Alex Garza’s (huge fan of hers!) reviews of her favorite glycolic acid cleanser, I decided I needed to try one out as well. Derma-e is a drug store brand that can be found at Ulta. The first time I went to buy this one it was sold out. Luckily, the next time I went to get it there was one left and it had a coupon on it! It’s a very affordable cleanser, which I love. I have been using this cleanser every morning and it makes my face so soft. Glycolic acid promotes skin turnover which is helpful for both acne and wrinkles.

Derma-e Scrub

I received a sample a sample of this Derma-e scrub in a recent Birch Box. It has a beautiful lemon scent and really exfoliates my skin! I have been using it once a week on my face, neck and chest in the shower. My skin feels so soft after using it! I will definitely consider buying a full size tub once I run out of my current scrub.

Cashmere Snow Flake Lotion
Last year I was all about BBW Vanilla Bean Noel, but this year there is a new scent in town! I have had this lotion for almost two months and I am obsessed with this scent! Cashmere Snowflake is one of BBW 2016 holiday scents, but I think I’m going to wear it all year-round. It is light, fresh and a bit sweet; not over powering at all. I get compliments whenever I am wearing it. Unforunatley, this scent seems to be sold out! Hopefully you will be able to find it at your local BBW.

Michael Todd Blue Green Algae Toner

Another purchase based on Alex Garza’s videos. I had been looking for a toner to add to my current skincare routine, but wasn’t sure where to start. A lot of toners I have tried were drying and/or irritating. What I like about this toner is that it is gentle on my skin, affordable and doesn’t have a strong smell. I have definitely noticed a difference in my skin since I’ve been using it (about 2 months). My skin is soft, clear and pretty well hydrated for this time of year. This toner has hydrolic acid in it which helps your skin retain moisture.

Kate Spade Card Holder (linked similar)
I am currently obsessed with my Kate Spade card holder. It holds 3 cards which for me is my ID and credit cards. It also has a small pocket for a little bit of cash. I love using this because it is so light weight and fits my essentials. It’s perfect for shopping or errands because I can put it right in my pocket and leave my purse at home. I purchased mine at the Kate Spade Tanger Outlet for less than $20 during a pre-Black Friday sale.

Kate Spade Bracelet (linked similar)
Another pre-Black Friday find at Tanger Outlers was this beautiful Kate Spade cuff bracelet. I love the pearls and rhinestone combo. This bracelt is so classic and goes with everything!

Essie Nail Polish | Sand Tropez

This polish is the perfect grey-biege. Always one of my go-to colors. It’s pictured below with my favorite Kate Spade bracelet mentioned above.