Natural Beauty Is Great; But These Beauty Products Are Life.

So recently I've gotten pretty intense on here. I thought I'd lighten the mood this week, with a list of some of my favorite beauty products! Because honestly, if I feel I can give you my two cents on addiction, I'm certain I'm actually qualified to speak beauty to you.

1.) Fake Bake Flawless Sunless Tanning Spray

This stuff is hands-down my favorite self-tanner I've come across. I use it year round. It's a liquid that comes with a mitt for application. I've found it's more of a pink base, versus an orange. What does that mean for you? No more fakey, orange, streaky tan. And you can follow the instructions on the box. Or you can do it the Luxuriously Dope way. After showering in the morning, I put a light layer of lotion on all over. (Bonus hack: If you use the Jergens Natural Glow lotion, I think it helps prolong the artificial tan.) I like the lotion first, as the tanner is a liquid, and therefore, not very hydrating. I don't want to be a tan alligator. Immediately after the lotion, I spray the mitt and apply from bottom to top. I use a lotion applicator for my back, simply putting the mitt over it. And that's it. The bronzer in it shows up instantly, and continues to stain your skin over the next several hours. The only drawback? The bronzer will rub off on light-colored clothing (since I don't rinse the bronzer off in the morning, as the instructions suggest. So Weird.). And if you're going to sweat, or get wet at all, the bronzer will come off as well. So keep that in mind and you'll be good! My favorite is the Flawless Darker (as I like it dark), but the original Fake Bake Flawless is great for anyone looking for a little color for a special event, or someone who is normally mistaken for Casper.

2.) Purple Shampoo and Conditioner

I didn't give a specific brand on this, on purpose. Although there are slight differences, and people prefer different ones, I've found they're all pretty similar. They pretty much all do what they're supposed to do: tone blonde hair. So let me back up for a second. Purple shampoo and conditioner is for blonde hair. It helps cut that gold/brassy look that can occur in blonde hair over time. Same for white hair. So if you like a neutral/cool toned/platinum blonde, this is what you absolutely need in your life, in between salon visits. Although the shampoo has always been the holy grail, I think if I had to pick, I'd actually take a purple conditioner over the shampoo. The main thing to remember when picking one up? The formula (in both the shampoo and conditioner) should be a vibrant, vivid, intense purple. No smooth, light lavender. It won't deposit as much color, and give you the toning you want. In my experience that has been the case anyway. I personally use the Matrix So Silver shampoo, paired with the Kenra Brightening Treatment conditioner. But seriously. There are a ton out there to choose from. And it works on a full blonde head of hair, as well as those few face-framing highlights you just got. It won't affect the darker colors in your hair. Generally speaking, people use this a few times a week to maintain their color. It will build up if you get too much. Remember those purple-tinted little old ladies? Yeah. Like that. My personal routine? I use the purple shampoo every time I wash my hair. And because the conditioners are so potent now, I use a regular conditioner, and mix just a little stripe of the purple conditioner in with it. It's seriously the best thing I've found to keep my blonde on the cool side. I literally never tone my hair anymore.

3.) Lumify Eye Drops

If you struggle with red eyes that just won't go away, you need this product in your life. Seriously. I have always had issues with this angry red vein in my eye, and nothing worked. Visine, Clear Eyes, those weird cooling drops in a circle container- none of them would touch it. Then a friend of a friend recommended these, and holy crap! They made the whites of my eyes SO bright! I love them. And I'll never be without them. Ever. I'm in love with an eyedrop.

4.) Moroccan Oil

The original argan treatment oil for your hair. It's on the pricy side, but so worth it. Plus, it lasts forever. It helps hydrate, nourish, detangle, and protect the hair. Plus, it smells like sunshine and rainbows. Or what I think they'd smell like, anyway. I work a few drops through the ends of my wet hair before brushing through. It can be used at the end of styling as well, to smooth flyaways. Moroccan Oil has an entire product line based around this oil, which I also love. The Dry Shampoo and Hairspray are money.

5.) Rodan + Fields Radiant Defense Perfecting Liquid

I'll keep this one short and sweet. This product has completely replaced my foundation. I tried to go back to my old stuff, and couldn't. It doesn't break me out. It gives me a dewy finish. And a little bit goes a long way. Bonus? You can contour your face with the different shades. Highly recommend this one. And if you need a consultant for samples? I know a girl... (Me. I'm 'a girl'.)

6.) Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara

I'm a mascara snob. And so far, I keep going back to this one.

7.) Rodan + Fields Lash Boost

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. I'm a consultant. Of course I'd keep listing R+F. But it's just good shit. In all honesty, I have been getting lash extensions this summer. And I do love them so much. But I also know my real lashes need some TLC. And I know just how long and luscious they will get with Lash Boost. So I will definitely be going back to using this product as I shed my last set of lashes. Something to keep in mind, for all my lash extension-wearing ladies.

8.) Moroccan Oil Dry Shampoo

I've always loved this dry shampoo, but now that I have extensions and wash my hair like, twice a week (cringe, I know), it's a must. I love the smell, and the fact that the mist is super fine. It is easily blended into the hair, so no tell-tale white residue. And it comes in two shades: Dark and Light. So basically everyone can use it. Must. Have.

9.) Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW Pomade

This product has been my favorite for my brows. Although I've toyed around with a bunch that I don't hate, I always go back to this one. Because I use an angled brush to apply it, and a wand to blend, I've found I look way less 'Groucho Marx-y' with it. (Yes. That's a thing. And you know exactly what I'm talking about.) And unlike some 'blonde' products that end up too golden, this one comes in ashy shades. The ashy brows pair nicely with my purple-shampooed hair. It just works.

So there you have it. These are all products that I use consistently; almost on the daily, in fact. They help keep me lookin' fly, and feeling confident. And that's Luxuriously Dope.