My Handbag Essentials

Alright my beautiful readers, who else here has their essentials that they always have in their handbags?! No matter how many times you change handbags, these items are always right their at your fingertips. I think over the years I have also cut down on how many products I keep in my bag. I used to keep every item of makeup in my bag, which is just way too excessive.

Understanding my skin better I also know what I products I really need to touch up my makeup throughout the day. Since I have oily skin, the only thing that really needs touch ups would be my foundation in my T-zone. Since my lips are always dry a great chap stick always does the trick. These products are also staples in my makeup and getting ready routine. I have constantly repurchased them over the years and swear by these products!

Products:

City Lips Lip Plumper (Clear)

Nivea A Kiss of Moisture

Travel Flossers 

Aloe Vera Hand Lotion

MAKEUP FOREVER Pro Finish Powder

L'oreal Telescopic Shocking Extensions Mascara

Since my lips are always dry this chap stick truly adds moisture back into my lips in the matter of seconds. Probably by far my favorite chap stick and the only one I will keep repurchasing. Now I always like to add a little plumpness to my lips so this City Lips lip plumper has been a total life saver. It doesn't make my lips burn or hurt, yet they look plump and soft.

These travel flossers are amazing because you can get them with a minty taste and make sure your teeth are healthy and clean all day long. By far the best item to have in your handbag. Dental hygiene is crucial!

The Aloe Vera hand lotion is fantastic because its so nourishing and makes my skin super soft. I usually pick these up from my local Harmon's because the cute travel size is perfect to throw into my purse. They also carry a larger size which is great for having at home. This stuff really melts into your skin and leaves it super soft.

Since I get super oily in my T-zone I always keep a compact in my handbag. I used to have a translucent powder but noticed that it didn't apply evenly when I went to touch my makeup up. I love the MAKEUP FOREVER pro finish powder because it is super pigmented but it leaves your skin looking flawless. Plus when you touch up with this it doesn't make your skin look cakey. This stuff is worth the moneyyyyyy $$.

And of course my favorite mascara of all time, L'oreal Telescopic Shocking Extensions mascara. This mascara makes my eyelashes look sooo luscious. I can never be without this stuff....ever!

So I hope you have a better idea of some handbag essentials that will keep you going all day long. These are items that I really do swear by and cannot go a day without. Try them out and I promise that you won't be disappointed.

Until next time my loves! Ciao!!!!

DIY Flower Crown

It is finally October and that means Halloween is almost here! This month is always filled with so many fun costumes, tutorials, and projects. It is truly my favorite time of year because the air gets crisper, pumpkin everything emerges, and there are so many fun holidays!

So this year I have a really awesome Halloween tutorial coming for you guys! Today this DIY Flower crown is part of the costume for the Halloween look I will be filming. This is great for a costume with sugar skull makeup, Lana Del Ray costume, or possibly a really cute hippy!

So let's get started!

Okay so I went to Michael's and bought 4 pink faux roses. Then I pulled at the rose and detached it from the stem. Put the stems to the side because we will need them later! These are very large roses so I only got 4 because that is all that would fit on the headband. If you want more then opt for smaller flowers.

Next, I got a very thin metal headband. I got silver because that is all I could find but a color closer to your hair color would probably be a better option.

Next get yourself a hot glue gun.

After it is heated up place your roses face down and in the shape they will be glued to the headband. Next, I glue one at a time. I really load up the headband and rose with glue from every angle so that it won't detach at any point. The more glue the better!!

I just keep doing that with each flower until they are all secure to the headband.

Take the stems and begin ripping off the leaves. Next, I took those leaves and began individually glueing them to the back of the roses so the glue and mess would be covered. Plus the leaves look really pretty poking out from behind the roses.

Once it is all dry, you are free to rock your very own flower crown! Stay tuned for my Halloween makeup tutorial that will be up later this week where I incorporate this flower crown :)

Ciao!!!!

DIY Makeup Brush Holder

Good Morning my beautiful readers! I have a fun little DIY project that you are going to love! It's multifunctional and cheap to make. I know the struggle of buying tons of makeup brushes and wanting to store them without any damage being done to the bristles. You want to keep those brushes in pristine condition and have them right at your fingertips. Sometimes those store-bought makeup brush holders are small or don't provide the right shape to hold certain brushes.

Since I am a huge candle collector I always have tons of candle holders leftover. Some are so beautiful, I can't get my self to through them out. Realistically some of these candles can cost up to $25 and if you are anything like me, you can burn that entire candle in one day! I love to recycle my items and make sure I get the most use out of everything.

The best candles to re-use are the round glass containers from Bath & Body Works. Once the candle is completely gone I can peel off the outer label very easily without any residue. Then I took a butter knife and chipped away any excess wax and also the metal left behind from the wicks. After everything is emptied out, I make sure to scrub the entire glass holder with soap and warm water.

Next, I ran out to Michael's and picked up glass filler beads. The great thing about these glass holders is that you can choose any color beads you want! I decided to go with these beautiful gold and orange glass filler beads. I bought the biggest bag and was able to fill up two glass holders.

And lastly, just start putting your makeup brushes into the glass filler beads and it will be able to hold all of them up. It's a beautiful decoration for your vanity, but also a great place to hold those makeup brushes and keep them in wonderful condition. I feel so satisfied that I got the most out of my money with these candles! (By the way these were the Paris Amour candles and that scent is by far the most romantic and sweet scent I have ever smelled!!)

So enjoy those candles and make sure you get the most out of those glass holders! Your vanity will thank you <3

Ciao!!!!

Back To School Makeup

It's that time of year! Back to school and a fresh new start. I know some people might be sad to see summer leave, but honestly it's always been my favorite time of year to see the fall come along. Fall and the beginning of school always means new beginnings and opportunities. Embrace the change and wonderful things will happen. Keep a positive and strong mindset while you are going through the school year and always believe in yourself :)

Products:

Paula's Choice Moisturizer

L.A. Girl Pro Conceal (Green & Orange)

L'oreal True Match (W4)

Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer & Highlighter (Fair/Light)

Laura Mercier Translucent powder

MAC Uninterrupted powder

Milani Bellissimo Bronze Blush

BH Cosmetics Wild & Radiant Palette

Loreal Telescopic Mascara

Brow Bar To Go

EOS lipbalm

Enjoy this tutorial and embrace your natural beauty :) good luck on this wonderful school year and I am sending you lots of love and positivity!!

Ciao!!!!

Office Decor Tips & Inspo

There is no better feeling than starting a new job and having the chance to show people how much you have to offer. It's a fresh start and you have the ability to make the best of it.

Another great thing about a new job means turning that dreary office desk into your own little slice of paradise. Because let's get real for a second, you're going to be spending majority of your day at that desk so might as well make it your own. But be forewarned when it comes to making extreme changes to your work space, make sure you run it by your boss first!

I wanted to post some inspo pictures that I personally love for office decor. I think it is smart to get the following items:

- Letter Tray with numerous slots

- Pencil holder

- Mouse pad

- Frame turned into white board

- Faux flowers

- Cute coffee mug

And then whatever else you would like to add is perfect as well! Those are just my essentials that I feel you can never go wrong with. I personally love to keep my decor colors light and sweet. Colors like white, gold, pink, and cream are always great color selections. By keeping your office colors light and cheerful this will translate to how you feel during the day. Great office decor will help you feel at home and happy, so in return you will feel motivated.

So freshen up that office and make it your own! Tag me in your office inspo pictures on Instagram @modern_minimalist !!

Ciao!!

GlamGlow Tinglexfoliate Review

So I am a skincare fiend and absolutely love trying new products that will help my skin heal and glow. I know the GlamGlow mud masks are all the rage and everyone has amazing things to say about it. At first I refused to try it because wayyyyy too many people were talking about it nonstop and it felt forced down my throat.

As time went on I began to look into the ingredients and realized that they incorporated many amazing ingredients that really help heal and nurture the skin. So I decided to try a small size of the Tinglexfoliate mask. I chose this one because it said it has properties to help with acne and skin discoloration.

If you really do research on the beneficial qualities of mud masks, you will see it contains so many natural nutrients. So basically GlamGlow's skincare line is based upon the benefits of mud masks and cleansers. They work great when applying all over the face but also work great as spot treatments.

(click on the picture for a link to the product)

So when I first used the Tinglexfoliate mask, I used it all over my face. It dries fairly quickly and you can even see little spots pop up to show where it is pulling the most oil and dirt out of your skin. It tightens your skin as it dries and you can see little pieces of green tea leaves. Fun fact, green tea does amazing wonders for your skin because it is a great detox.

My favorite part about this mask is that once it dries and you wash it off, it has tiny pieces of volcanic pumice rock. This gently exfoliates your skin and washes away any debris picked up by the mask. Honestly I saw a difference in my skin after one use. Now I love using it on any spots that pop up or if I want to deep clean the pores on my nose after wearing a lot of makeup.

Truly a great product and one of the best masks on the market!

Ciao!!!!