I’ve always loved playing around with makeup and beauty products. That’s why I love subscription services. I tried Birchbox for a while, and to be honest, it wasn’t for me. Given, this was several years ago and things may have changed, but I was never too excited about the products that came my way. So a couple of years ago I decided to give the Ipsy glam bag a try, which was said to have more makeup and nail color products. Since making the switch, I’ve absolutely loved my monthly subscription! (Bonus: each month’s products come in a cute little pouch, which always come in handy to keep things organized in my purse, travel bag, and makeup drawer.)

After cleaning out my overcrowded makeup drawer last week, I decided to start a new bedtime routine with some favorite products. In just a week, I can tell a huge difference in my skin…it has more of a glow to it, instead of looking red, ruddy, or both.

1. Facial Scrub  2. Makeup Remover  3. Face Serum  4. Repair Cream  5. Lip Conditioner  6. Eye Cream

Note: Although I’ve never had acne issues, I have very sensitive skin; all of these products are extremely gentle and I haven’t had any breakouts or reactions since I started using them.

First, I remove my makeup with a makeup remove wipe. Then, I use the floral water makeup remover to get the rest of my eye makeup off. (No matter what Jennifer Garner says in the Neutrogena commercials, the wipes have never worked to get all of my makeup off.)

Next, I use the facial scrub. I only use this every other night because it would completely dry out my skin if I used it daily. It comes out in a green, gritty paste so be prepared! After I’ve washed and dried my face, I help keep the crows feet at bay with the eye cream. I apply the cream under my eyes, as well as both corners and on my lids.

Then I apply either the repair cream or face serum, alternating each night. The face serum feels like a light oil, while the repair cream feels more like a thick butter. Both leave my face feeling very hydrated (which also helps ward off wrinkles!). And last but not least, after brushing my teeth, I roll on the lip conditioner to keep my lips feeling soft and smooth.

So far, this routine has been awesome! I wake up feeling refreshed, and my skin feels smoother and looks brighter than ever before. And in case you haven’t heard, the best thing for your skin is hydration, so I drink tons and tons of water throughout the day.

Here are just a few more of my favorite beauty products…

Not Your Mother’s – Dry Shampoo

I love this stuff! I first learned about it at the Favorite Things Party last year. I generally go 4-5 days between washes. I have very thick, coarse, long hair that can handle going that long. But usually around day 3 or 4, I start using dry shampoo. This one doesn’t have a nauseating smell like many dry shampoos. Pro tip: spray your roots before going to bed and don’t rub it in. This will make your hair look mush fresher the next morning.

Not Your Mother’s – Sea Salt Spray

I am SO happy that natural, textured, voluminous hair is in right now. To get the wavy, piecey look I just spray this from about mid shaft to the ends and tousle my hair a bit.

Formula X – Nail Polish

This color (Rose Gold Metallic) is absolutely perfect. Y’all know I love some gold! But this gold isn’t flash or attention grabbing at all. It actually works really well as a neutral. Plus, it lasts longer than just about any non-gel polish I’ve tried. (See how it looks here!)

Jergens – Instant Tanner

I am a fake tan lover. I’ve got red hair, blue eyes, and verrrry fair skin, so tanning is out of the question for me. In the summer, I get regular spray tans to “knock the glow off” as my mom likes to say. I’ve tried just about every at-home tanner and this is easily my favorite. It’s a mousse and goes on easily and evenly. Pro tip: use a mitt like this one. It gives you an even application and keeps your hands from turning orange.

Smashbox – Full Exposure Mascara

I cannot say enough about this mascara. It’s a little more expensive than your average drugstore mascara, but it’s so worth it! My eyelashes look full and long, and people often comment that they think I’m wearing falsies.

What are your favorite beauty products? Do you have a bedtime beauty routine?

PS – this is not a sponsored post and no brands mentioned were involved in this post. However, if you’d like to try out the Ipsy glam bag subscription for yourself for just $10 per month, click here!

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