OK, before you start laughing, I need to preface this post by saying I am not by any means a fashionista or a beauty queen. I could live in sweats, tie my hair up in a messy ponytail, and walk around with no makeup if I wanted too! It’s not because I don’t like beauty and fashion, but I just don’t care about it enough to go all-out with it. That said, however, here are some of my go-to favorites for beauty products.

  • Julep Freedom Polymer Top Coat | I’m part of Julep’s Maven program (a Boho Glam girl) so I get to try lots of new products every month. One of my favorites so far, outside of the color selections of nail polish that arrive monthly, has been the Freedom Polymer Top Coat. It sets your polish and creates a nice hard protective barrier between your nails and anything that comes in contact with them. I haven’t purchased this on my own yet, as it came in a previous box, but I think I might once I run out of it. It’s $18 so it was definitely worth getting it my box!
  • Havaiana “Slim” Flip Flops | Rewind a few years and I would’ve sung the praises of Old Navy flip flops. Fast-forward to today and there’s nothing wrong with them, but they’re cheap and fall apart rather quickly … somewhat expected for the price you pay. I purchased a pair of Havaiana flip flops two summers ago, and believe it or not, I still wear them and they haven’t failed me yet! It’s worth the $15 I paid for them (they are usually closer to $25, but I found a pair at Marshall’s).
  • Maybelline Eye Studio Master Drama Eyeliner | I have watery eyes … even when I’m not crying. And my eyes water even worse when I’m in tense situations or when I’m in meetings and talking. It’s super inconvenient, especially with my line of work in the communications industry! I don’t know how many brands and varieties of eyeliners I’ve tried, all in search of one that won’t smear off or completely disappear by lunchtime. I’ve tried cheap brands, expensive brands, “oily eyelid” varieties, gels, liquids … everything. I stumbled across this type from Maybelline and love it! It is soft enough that it’s easily applied, but it stays on well too. It’s about $7 and I try to get it when Fred Meyer has BOGO sales.
  • The North Face Venture Jacket | Again, a few years ago I would’ve never considered paying $99 for a rain jacket. But when I got my job and started taking the bus every day, I knew I needed a high-quality jacket that would keep me dry from the inevitable Seattle rain. I love this jacket! I have three right now and will probably get another one soon. Another huge plus is that The North Face has an awesome warranty program and will replace jackets if they wear-out or if something weird happens to them (I once had the seams in mine separate and another lose its waterproofness after too much wear … I sent them in and got new ones back!).