Category Archives: Beauty

Weekly Faves – Winter (mostly) Clean Beauty Finds 12.22.21

I pulled together some of my absolute FAVORITE (mostly) clean beauty finds. These are all items I have and would absolutely recommend to my best friend or sister. Here are my honest reviews, along with how I use each item.

I plan to share my full beauty routine soon, but here is a start!

Earlier this year, I decided to try to use clean products more in my home and beauty routine. This will definitely continue next year.

FYI, the links in this post are affiliate links, and if you buy something, I might receive a small commission from the retailer. That goes toward my bougie coffee habit and keeping this blog going.

  1. These Silly George Lashes are ahhmazing. I love their bond liner and mascara too. I’m not great at false eyelashes, but I’m getting better. These lashes are really high quality and last for many wears. My favorite is the Aurora style. They are extra long, so you just trim the outer corners to the length you need.

    The Silly George Liner Bond is truly a game changer. You can instantly attach the lashes, and it comes off easily when you’re ready. The liner bond comes in black or clear. I love the clear for a more natural look.

    The Heart Eyes Mascara is great because it doesn’t smudge, and it has two types of wands: one for lengthening, and one for adding volume.

    Use my code THEBAYOUBLONDE15 for 15% off your order.
  2. This clean beauty duo from BeautyCounter is a must for anti-aging!

    The Counter+ All Bright C Serum contains two forms of vitamin C taht instantly brighten skin and help reduce the appearance of existing dark spots, while antioxidant-rich turmeric and camu camu extracts help protect against new ones. I noticed an immediate change in my dark spots after starting this serum.

    The Counter+ Overnight Resurfacing Peel contains AHA and beta hydroxy acid peel that improve skin texture and boost clarity without irritation or over-drying. I’ve used similar products (that cost more!) from other brands, and I found this one to be much better for my skin. It didn’t make my skin dry, but my pores were definitely smaller. I use it every other night.

    Now is a great time to try these products — BeautyCounter has all of their holiday sets on major sale. Click here to shop.
  3. I started using this Primally Pure Gua Sha Stone about a month ago, and I can really see a difference, particularly on my jaw line and forehead lines. This stone is unique because of the variety of shapes that are incorporated into one tool. It’s really the best one I’ve seen!

    If you research Gua Sha, you’ll see that it’s being touted as an alternative to Botox. Since using the stone, I can visibly see a change, and it’s helped me go almost a year between Botox appointments. I also love that it’s inexpensive and doesn’t involve injecting a toxin into my body.

    Read more information about Gua Sha in this helpful article.

    I also love the Primally Pure Clarifying Serum. It has really cleared my acne flare-ups, and my teens love it too. We pair it with the Primally Pure Clarifying Charcoal Soap. Primally Pure is an amazing company, and I love their simple packaging and clean ingredients.
  4. These imPRESS Nails are seriously easy to use and look great. I normally do my nails at home for convenience and cost. These are even faster! I use the short length, and I find that they last about a week. Each box comes with 30 nails. They are contoured to fit snug against your cuticles, and they look like a nice gel manicure.

    Here is a link to my favorite color, Evanesce, from Amazon. They’re on sale too!
  5. This Tula Glow & Get It Cooling & Brightening Eye Balm is a must have for me. I recently ran out, and immediately, I could see a difference. I use this during the day instead of eye cream. It helps with puffiness and dark circles, but it also hydrates and feels refreshing. I usually order mine on Amazon.

That’s all for today! Thanks for reading, and if you choose to shop with my affiliate links, it is very much appreciated.

If you don’t follow me on Instagram, click here to stay in touch. I’m also on Facebook.

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Weekly Faves – Summer Beauty Picks

My makeup bag needed a summer update, so I headed to Ulta to stock up on a few things. Here is what I’m currently using and loving. The best part is that I can get my makeup done in about five minutes with these easy-to-apply products!

Please note that this post contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase something from one of these links, I may get a small commission, which I will use to keep the fun content coming.

  1. Sun Bum Face Lotion and Sun Bum Face Stick // I love all Sun Bum sunscreen products, but this face lotion and stick are a must. These don’t burn my kids’ eyes, and they don’t make me break out. Right now they are buy 1 get 1 50% off at Ulta, so I’m stocking up. The chapstick is also awesome and has a great flavor and smooth feeling. I keep both in my swim bag.

    FYI, I love this Elta MD sunscreen under my makeup (on sale for $29). It works as a primer, and I slather it on my face, neck, and décolletage daily. It’s also available on Amazon here.
  2. IT Cosmetics CC Cream in Medium // I love this product so much. It has great coverage and extra SPF. It’s not heavy at all. I just put it on with clean hands like a moisturizer. This tube will last all summer, wearing it every day. It has SPF 50 too!

    Bayou Blonde Tip: Keep fragrance-free baby wipes with your makeup and clean your hands after applying CC Cream and other products with your fingers. You’ll seriously thank me for this one.
  3. Tarte Amazonian Clay Stick Concealer in Light-Medium Honey // This creamy concealer matches my skin and is waterproof. It blends beautifully too, and it doesn’t settle into fine lines. It’s so good!
  4. Translucent Loose Setting Powder // This is probably the fourth time I’ve purchased this powder. It’s my absolute favorite for setting my skin. It keeps my skin fresh for about 4 hours without primer, and will last up to 8 hours with primer. I love that it doesn’t change the way my makeup looks, and it never has a cakey finish.
  5. Powder Brush by IT Cosmetics // It’s perfect to apply the setting powder. It’s big and fluffy and does a great job setting everything.
  6. Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Au Natural // This is a new product for me. I wanted to simplify my eye makeup. I smudge this product along the lash line and bring it above toward the brow with the brush below or my finger. I like to add a little highlighter (listed below) to soften the look. Usually, I apply both of those with my finger. It’s quick and easy, and gives just a tiny bit of color.

    If I want to look a little more finished, I’ll follow up with an eyeliner. I love this 24/7 Glide-on Waterproof Eyeliner from Urban Decay in Desperation (Matte Taupe) for a more natural look in the summer months.
  7. Eyeshadow brush by IT Cosmetics // This brush works great to smudge the eyeshadow stick.
  8. Becca Sunlit Bronzer in Capri Coast // I love the highlighter from this brand (below), so I wanted to try the bronzer. It is perfection. The color and soft shimmer blend easily without being overly shiny. It’s almost impossible to apply this one wrong.
  9. Bronzer brush from IT Cosmetics // When applying bronzer, make a “3” shape on each side of your face to accentuate the jawline and cheekbones.
  10. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Highlighter in Champagne Pop // This product is amazing and brings just the right about of shimmer to keep your makeup from looking flat. I apply it to my brow bone, cupid’s bow, bridge of the nose, and the inner corners of my eyes with my finger. Sometimes I add it to the cheekbones too. It looks shimmery but not shiny.
  11. Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara // I’ve been using this mascara for a few months, and I am loving it! It gives great thickness and tons of length, and it lasts through the day. I usually apply two coats. It’s so good that I rarely need eyeliner with it, unless I’m going all out with my makeup. It goes on sale from time to time, so I stock up then. (Stay tuned… sale coming!)
  12. Laura Mercier Lipstick in Brun Pale // I love this lipstick because it has staying power, the right amount of moisture, and the colors are so flattering. For summer, I switched to this nude color from my go-to shade, Nu Prefere. Don’t let the name fool you — it’s not brown!

These products are pretty much all I wear, and the best part is that my makeup routine takes all of about five minutes.

FYI, Ulta is my absolute favorite beauty spot. The people are helpful in the store, and their customer service is top notch. Also, you can always return products that don’t work for you. If it’s within 60 days, you can get a refund. Otherwise, they’ll give you a store credit instead. I’m not paid to endorse Ulta, but I am a huge fan.

That’s all for this week! Thanks for taking the time to stop by today, and if you choose to shop with my affiliate links, it is very much appreciated.

If you don’t follow me on Instagram, click here to stay in touch. I plan to post a video of me doing my makeup on Instagram, so you can see it live.

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Weekly Faves 4/30/21

These are a few of my favorite finds lately. Anything is up for grabs — home, fashion, kitchen, etc. I’ve tried it and love it. Hope you do too! Keep in mind that this post contains affiliate links, and if you buy something, I might get a small commission which goes toward keeping this little blog going.

  1. Amazon Lounge Set– This lounge set it perfect for summer nights. The beige is gorgeous in person, and almost looks like a soft pink. I bought a medium, and it fits well, but there’s not a lot of extra room. If you’re between sizes, size up. At $26 for two pieces, the price is great.
  2. Fit On App – I’m loving this app. Fit On allows you to stream workouts on demand. You can search by the fitness level, type of workout, and time length. My favorite are the HIIT workouts, but they are all good. It’s free, but the paid option allows you to download workouts and choose your music.
  3. Thayer’s Blemish Clearing Balm– I love this Thayer’s Blemish Clearing Balm. I use it to help prevent and treat razor burn, but it’s also great to put on blemishes on your face. It’s very gentle on your skin. The natural ingredients help fight and prevent breakouts.
  4. Native Deodorant – I’ve been wanting to stop using my old deodorant for a while because it contains aluminum, which can accumulate in breast tissue. However, I am not ok with stinking! I recently switched to Native, and I love it. The Coconut & Vanilla smells nice and summery, and it even lasts through hard workouts.

That’s all for this week. Thanks for taking the time to read this list, and if you choose to shop with my affiliate links, it is very much appreciated. If you don’t follow me on Instagram, click here to stay in touch.

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Daily 5 Minute Makeup Routine

Let me start with the fact that I’m not a beauty expert! With that said, a friend recently asked me about the products I use. Since I think of y’all as friends, I thought I’d share here too.

My makeup routine is super simple and short. I can add on or take away as needed. What I love about it is that I can do it in just a few minutes, and I feel confident to do anything that comes up that day. Even hop on Instagram and take a selfie!

For starters, I do my daily skin care routine EVERY SINGLE DAY. I never skip. Same with my night routine. There are no shortcuts for great skin. It’s so important. I have found a handful of products that work for my skin, are easy to apply, and most of all, work. I also love that several of the products below can do double or triple-duty.

These are my basic, can’t-live-without items:

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation Full Coverage Moisturizer | Light Medium
I smooth this on with my hands once my moisturizer has set for a couple of minutes. For oily skin, it can double as your only moisturizer. During the winter, I need both. It contains SPF 50, but if I’m going to be in the sun a lot, I would add more sunscreen underneath.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Concealer | Light Medium Honey
This concealer is awesome for under the eyes and for covering redness. It doesn’t look dry and cakey on my skin, but it’s also waterproof. I just apply with the stick in a triangle under my eyes and blend in with my fingers. The Tarte Shape Tape is better for concealing blemishes, FYI.

Nars the Multiple | Orgasm
Hate the name, but love the color! It’s shimmery, peachy pink has been my go-to for a long time. I love that this stick is easy to apply and blends in perfectly. I put it on before setting powder. It can also double as an eyeshadow color or lip color, but I prefer it as a blush.

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder | Translucent
This stuff is perfect. It doesn’t change any of the colors in your makeup and just gets rid of that sticky feeling. It also makes everything stay in place.

Ulta Tinted Eye Primer | Champagne
This helps conceal my veins on my eyelids and gives a small amount of shimmer. I use it instead of eyeshadow, but I can also layer eyeshadow over it. They also have a matte version.

Tarte Maneater Mascara | Black
This one has been a fave for a while, but I just ordered a new one to try — Lights, Camera, Lashes. I’m all about the eyelashes! These are great because you can find them on sale pretty easily. The prices become the same as a drugstore mascara. Also, remember to change your mascara every three months!

Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel Silky Crème Lipstick | Nu Prefere
I’ve been wearing this color for a while. It goes with everything, and it’s moisturizing, stays on well, and doesn’t rub off (much) on my face mask. I want to try the color Nude Noveau for spring.

Optional products I’ll add in if I want to be “extra”:

Anastasia Beverly Hills Bronzer | Tawny
This is great for contouring the face, but I’ll also use it as an eyeshadow under my eyes or on the lids.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector | Rose Quartz
I love this soft shimmer on the inside corners of my eyes, down the bridge of my nose, and on my cupid’s bow (above lips). I apply it with my fingertip when I’m in a rush — which is usually the case.

Stila Liquid Eyeliner | Black
It took some practice with this one, but I’m getting better. I love the matte black color and easy-to-use tip. It’s waterproof, but it comes off easily with my microfiber makeup removing cloth.

If I’m getting dressed up, I might add some color from one of my Urban Decay Eyeshadow Palettes and my Mac Lip Pencil to give my lips more staying power. However, this is usually it. My brows are micro-bladed. Before I had that done, the WinkyLux UniBrow was my go-to brow pencil. I’m currently on the hunt for a good brow gel to shape my brows without making them look crunchy.

When I buy products, I don’t ever buy everything all at once. I am a beauty minimalist. I use up what I have before I buy something new, unless it’s really not working. Another thing to consider is that these products aren’t cheap. It took me a while to find what really worked, and not many people can go to Ulta and upgrade their entire makeup bag in one trip. Drugstores have great options too, but I find the reviews on Ulta help me a lot.

FYI, I didn’t receive any compensation from Ulta to write this post. I just love shopping with them because of their amazing customer service and easy-to-navigate app.