Ipsy Glam Bag Review | November 2016

2016
Hey everyone! Today I am going to be sharing with you what I received in the November Ipsy glam bag. I just recently subscribed to Ipsy, which is a beauty subscription box that sends you 4-5 products a month for $10.  I only bought the November bag, because I wanted to try it out first before I committed to a whole year. Once you sign up, you fill out a questionnaire that will determine the kinds of products that will be sent in your bag each month. I think it is such a great idea, because the bags are personalized and customized just for you. 

I did some research before I bought the bag and compared it to other beauty subscription boxes like Birchbox. I decided on Ipsy because they focus more on makeup products, while Birchbox focuses more on skin and hair care. 

Another thing I enjoyed about Ipsy was that you can earn points by reviewing products you have received or by referring friends. You can click here to use my referral link if you'd like- http://bit.ly/2gQa9jx. You can use these points to redeem extra products in your next glam bag.

M Y  B A G  I N C L U D E S
-Benefit POREfessional Primer (3.0mL) // http://bit.ly/2gfSleE
-VERB Ghost Oil (17mL) // http://bit.ly/2geTBPu 
-LAQA & Co. B’lighter in Peacher’s Daughter (2.7g) // http://bit.ly/2gfRPxs
-The Balm Mad Lash (2.5mL) // http://bit.ly/2gaSsa0
-Skone Brow Wand in Chocolate (.3g) // http://bit.ly/2geSe3k
B E N E F I T  P O R E F E S S I O N A L  P R I M E R
I already have this primer and I really love it. It's great at smoothing over pores and imperfections. It also makes your skin makeup look flawless and makes it easier to apply foundation and concealer. This product was a trial size which is perfect for makeup beginners so they can test out a new primer. 

V E R B  G H O S T  O I L
This hair smoothing oil smells nice and makes my hair feel smooth and shiny. I like to use it on the ends of my hair. I also use it on any spots that are frizzy. 

L A Q A  &  C O .  B ’ L I G H T E R  I N  P E A C H E R ' S  D A U G H T E R
This is a creamy gel pink highlighter. The color is really pretty and looks nice on tan skin. It is perfect for highlighting cheekbones and can also be used as blush. It gives a nice healthy glow to the skin.

I really love this mascara! The wand is great for lengthening and volumizing your lashes. The small bristles are also good for separating the lashes so they don't look clumpy or give a spidery effect. 

This is one of my favorite products from this glam bag. The shade matches my brows nicely and the brow wand is dual-ended. On one side is a brow pencil and on the other side is a spoolie to comb out your brows. The brow pencil doesn't make my brows look too harsh and the product is very easy to blend out to give a more natural look to you brows. 

My favorite product from my November glam bag is the...
SKONE BROW WAND IN CHOCOLATE

I resubscribed to Ipsy for the December glam bag because I really loved my November bag. If you're interested in receiving a glam bag of your own, you can sign up here. 

Thanks so much for reading!
Thea
xx



Fall Beauty and Fashion Wish List

accessories

Hey guys! Here are 9 beauty and fashion related items that are on my wish list for Fall! These are my essentials and must haves for the season. First off, I absolutely love the trend of oversized sweaters. It's still super hot in Charlotte (in the 80's), but I can't wait until it starts getting cooler. I think oversized, slouchy sweaters are super comfortable and cute. I've had this particular sweater on my wish list for a few years, ever since I saw Sarahbelle93x's fall clothing haulYouTube video. You can watch it here. They come in so many trendy Fall colors, like olive, wine, and maroon. 

I also really love the look of these grey boots from Nordstrom. I think this is a perfect transition shoe from Summer to Fall, because it is open toe and has a semi-open backing. I think these shoes would look perfect with a shift dress or even some cute jeans.

I think the trend of liquid lipsticks is super cool, and I would love to try them out. I've heard good things about the Anastasia Beverly Hills liquid lipsticks. I think the shade Dusty Rose would be perfect for Fall. It's not too dark, and it would look great with any makeup look!

I've also been on the hunt for high waisted black ripped jeans. I think the ones from Paige denim and Topshop are both really cute. They are also both really inexpensive. I think black jeans are super slimming and they look good with any kind of shirt. 

I love wearing new nail polish colors in the Fall. Some of my fave colors are wine, olive, taupe, brown and black. 

I want to start wearing chokers, but I'm not sure they would look good on me or would fit my style. I still think they are super cute. Especially the plain velvet chokers and the leather tie ones that are super versatile.

This sweater from Forever21 is soo pretty! I usually don't wear the color orange, however I love this burnt orange color for the fall. 

I have seen the Violet Voss eyeshadow palette all over the blogging world! I think the shades are extremely pretty!!! Every color in this palette looks so wonderful. It also has a variety of matte and shimmer shades. 

Let me know what's on your Fall wish list!

Thanks for reading :)

The Top 10 Highlights of My Summer | 2016

2016
Summer break is officially over for me, and today was the first day back to school. I am a junior in high school, and it feels like summer went by soo fast! I honestly wouldn't have remembered to wake up for school today if it wasn't for my trusty planner and my annoying alarm clock. Today I am going to be sharing with you a recap of my summer break. I was super busy this summer with working, but also found time for myself.

I worked at a resale clothing store this summer, and it was my first job- besides babysitting and house sitting. I've wanted a real job for a long time, because in the summer I'm always extremely bored and just sitting around the house all day when I have nothing to do. I really like being busy and having a purpose for my day. Working really got me out of my bed and pajamas. I'm still working as a sales associate at this store, and will try to balance school with my part time job. 

Another one of my favorite things this summer was volunteering at Camp Invention at an elementary school near my house. Camp Invention is a camp all about thinking and learning. I worked mostly with the 2nd-3rd graders and I absolutely loved it! The kids were so sweet and the counselors all got to think of fun activities and games for the kids. I volunteered as a camp counselor for a week and was sad when the camp ended. I hope I have time to volunteer next year with these kids!

I really enjoyed watching the movie Hunt for the Wilderpeople! If you are looking for something super funny to watch, then definitely go watch this! You will definitely have more than a few laughs.

This summer I have tried to blog more. I got to work with my first company at the beginning of the summer which was super cool! It was such a great experience! I have also tried to better my photography and editing skills!

Practicing yoga was another highlight of my summer break. I practice with my mom and her friend, who is a yoga instructor. I also watch videos on YouTube and practice by myself in my room. I like to watch Yoga with Adrienne, because she's really great at guiding you through the poses with her voice. I hate when I have to keep looking over at my screen to see what the instructor is doing. I took a yoga class at a studio near me as well, which I also found very rejuvenating and awakening. Stretching is so great for you, and I think that yoga is great not only for the body, but also for the mind.

Since I got my license in May, I got to drive by myself this summer. I got to hang out with a lot of my friends which was super fun. We went to the pool and went shopping a lot (there really isn't much else to do where I live).

A small highlight was reading the Mortal Instruments book series. I love these kinds of books that take you into a whole new world where the unimaginable is real!

I watched Grey's Anatomy this summer as well, which I would definitely classify as a highlight. I have watched all the seasons on Netflix, and I'm waiting for the next season to come out on Netflix. I'm watching the sister show called Private Practice, which is all about Addison Montgomery instead of Meredith Grey.

I also went to the beach for a week near the end of the summer. You can read more about my beach vacation here. My family and I stayed at Caswell Beach on Oak Island. It's super close to a bunch of other beaches in North Carolina. The beach trip was a super relaxing way to end my summer!

A week ago, I went to the Gay Pride Parade in Charlotte. I marched with the Moms Demand Action for Gun Safety Group. The parade was packed which was so awesome! There were a lot of other organizations supporting their causes and the parade lasted a few hours. There were some really cool floats, and I also saw my first drag queen!

Thanks for reading!

Thea :)

How to Pack for a Summer Beach Trip | Beach Essentials ♡

beach
Hey friends! I'm going to the beach tomorrow for a week, so I thought it would be appropriate to share my beach essentials. I'm also going to share the things that I think you should  to pack in your suitcase for a summer beach trip. I hope you guys find this post useful :) Also click here to check out a similar post I wrote about spring break essentials for the beach.

summer beach essentials
Detangling hair brush | sunscreen | dry shampoo | suitcase | maxi dress | playing cards | sunglass strap (different color) | bikini | hat | striped dress | sandals | camera | earbuds | tote bag | water bottle | towel | sunglasses (different color) | makeup bag | book | mascara | phone case | hair ties | sports bra | shirt | shorts | sneakers | flip flops

Hairbrush/ Hair ties
Both are definitely essentials! You should definitely have a hairbrush in your beach tote bag, in case your hair gets tangled while swimming in the ocean. You should also always carry around hair ties with you, because if you're like me they will just disappear.
Here are some of my favorite hairbrushes for detangling and smoothing my hair:
-Tangle Teezer // http://bit.ly/2alznyT
-Wet Brush // http://bit.ly/2al3EDP
-Conair // http://bit.ly/2aoVyVP
Here are hair ties that I really like:
-Ribband // http://bit.ly/2al68SJ

Sunscreen
This is pretty obvious. Sunscreen is very important if you want to keep your skin protected, which I'm pretty sure everyone wants to do.
-Sun Bum // http://bit.ly/2aADSdk
-Banana Boat // http://bit.ly/2aFl9yG

Dry Shampoo
Your hair can get pretty hot, smelly and gross in the beach humidity. You should bring a bottle of dry shampoo to spritz in your hair when it gets greasy.
-Drybar // http://bit.ly/2aHjV2u

Suitcase
Well duh... if you're packing your suitcase you need to have a suitcase. I like these ones listed down below because they are super cute and roomy!
-River Island // http://bit.ly/2aoZSqO
-Tommy Hilfiger // http://bit.ly/2aztPUk
-Northfield // http://bit.ly/2aFm02b

Dressses
I love wearing dresses around when I'm on vacation. The dress serves as your whole outfit, which saves room in your suitcase. They are also a lot cooler than wearing pants and a shirt.
-C&A Yessica // http://bit.ly/2aFlqS0
-John Lewis // http://bit.ly/2aDz9XV
-Urban Outfitters // http://bit.ly/2aFzN8B

Cards
Every time I go on vacation I always end up wanting to play cards. I always end up having to buy new cards, so now I've probably got 10 packs sitting in a shelf in my room. I think cards are great things to pack when going on vacation, because you can play fun games with them when you're bored.
-Bicycle // http://amzn.to/2alD7Af

 Sunglasses/ Sunglass strap
I love wearing sunglasses, not just at the beach but whenever it's sunny outside. Click here to check out my post on inexpensive vs. exensive sunglass dupes. Sunglass straps or croakies are also nice to have so you don't lose your sunglasses. They very conveniently hang around your neck.
Here are some cute sunglasses:
-Betsey Johnson // http://bit.ly/2aqmVP8
-Quay // http://bit.ly/2acHwpE
Here are some cute sunglass straps:
-Kate Spade // http://bit.ly/2aoYF0g
-Lilly Pulitzer // http://bit.ly/2aik2AR

Bikinis
I absolutely love shopping for and wearing bikinis at the beach. You can find really cool and unique ones out there. There are a bunch of different styles that work great for different body shapes. Click here to read my post on bikini and swimwear trends. Here are some of my favorites:
-VipMe // http://bit.ly/2ap3lW5
-Frankies // http://bit.ly/2aSVUVp
-Bikini Lab // http://bit.ly/2aqnMPz

Hats
Hats will protect your face from the sun. They are also something cute to add when you hair is a mess- shhh... no one will know.
-Chic Nova // http://bit.ly/2azx2Da
-Robert Graham // http://bit.ly/2aikxei

Shoes
I think that shoes can totally change an outfit and add a bit of fun to it. I think flip flops, sneakers and wedges are must haves when going to the beach.
Flip flops:
-Havaianas // http://bit.ly/2a8nsJc
-BP // http://bit.ly/2aDDDhe
Sneakers:
-New Balance // http://bit.ly/2aqpwIT
Wedges:
-Dorothy Perkins // http://bit.ly/2aAKNmY

Camera/ Case
Did you really go to the beach if you didn't post a picture on Instagram or at least take some pics?? You can bring a regular camera to the beach or a cute polaroid to take those beachy pics. You can also just use your phone- iPhones actually take amazing pictures. If you do bring your phone with you while your at the beach, you should have a waterproof case on it so it won't get wet from your fingers or the ocean.
-Fujifilm // http://bit.ly/2ap2Zwz
-Apple // http://apple.co/2alHwU1
-LifeProof // http://bit.ly/2ap3FBP

Earbuds
Jam out to your fave Spotify playlist with some earbuds!
-Happy Plugs // http://bit.ly/2a8oMMc

 Tote Bag
You definitely need a tote bag or some sort of bag for the beach to carry your towel, sunscreen and other essentials. I really like this one:
-Very Straw // http://bit.ly/2a9gq73

Water Bottle
Stay hydrated with a cute water bottle! I tend to drink more water when I have a cute and fun water bottle.
-S'well // http://bit.ly/2aIrXZ5

Towel
Lay out in the sun and catch up on a good book with these towels:
-Hunkemoller // http://bit.ly/2aGxxOa
-Gilt // http://bit.ly/2aEum8A
-Gilt // http://bit.ly/2aGrw4G

Makeup Bag/ Makeup
I think having a waterproof bag that you can put your makeup, cash and phone in is a great idea. That way, you can keep your stuff safe from pool or ocean water. I also think waterproof mascara is essential!
-New Chic // http://bit.ly/2a9h6t3
-Maybelline // http://bit.ly/2aqznPi (my all time fave waterproof mascara!!!)

Books
Catch up on your reading for school or for fun! Here are some of my fave books:
-B&N // http://bit.ly/2aEvJEe
-B&N // http://bit.ly/2aIuKBe
-B&N // http://bit.ly/2anvHQt

Athletic Clothes
I really like wearing athletic clothes (like t-shirt and shorts) around the beach. You can throw them over your bathing suit when riding bikes or going into shops which is nice.
-Calvin Klein // http://bit.ly/2anvn3W
-Etsy // http://etsy.me/2aCnZDc
-H&M // http://bit.ly/2aGydn2

I hope you enjoyed this post! What are your beach essentials?

Thea ♡







My Favorite Bronzer, Contour + Highlighter Makeup Products (Review & Swatches) ♡

animal cruelty free

Hey guys! Today I am going to share with you my favorite bronzer, contour and highlighter makeup products, as you can see from the title of this blog post obviously. I love using bronzer during the summer to give my skin a nice healthy glow. I also love the contour and highlighting trend that's going around. I don't think of it as changing the shape of your face, but more as enhancing your natural face shape. 

You're probably wondering why there is a picture of foundations and eyeshadows when this is a post all about bronzer, contour and highlighter. Keep reading to learn more about how I use things like eyeshadows and foundations for bronzing, highlighting and contouring!

Shop this post



I picked up the Covergirl Nudes TruNaked Palette a few months ago during an Ulta shopping trip (read full review here). I think the eyeshadows in this palette are absolutely beautiful. They are extremely easy to blend and are super pigmented. I noticed that the shades not only work as eyeshadow, but also as highlighter!

There are a combination of matte and shimmery shades in this palette. I use the shades buff and champagne in this palette for highlighting. These shades are shimmery and give a beautiful glow to the skin. I use the shade mink sometimes for bronzing my face, but it could also be used as a highlight if you have a darker skin tone.

Buff and champagne are both cooler tone shades in my opinion and mink is a more warmer tone shade. I mostly use champagne for highlighter. I just like to dust it on the tops of my cheekbones with a small little eyeshadow brush. If you have any light colored eyeshadows, you can make always try using them as highlighters! That way you'll get more use out of them and won't have to carry around and buy more products than necessary.


I bought this contour palette from Marshalls a few weeks ago and fell in love with it. First of all, the packaging is just the best thing I've ever seen. It comes in a gold tin case and the words are in a matte black. I've looked on the Profusion website for this palette, but they don't seem to sell this particular one anymore. I did find a similar one on Ebay. I got this palette in the shade medium and it came with a small mini contour brush inside. 

This palette not only comes with shades for contouring, but also has powders for highlighting and bronzing as well- the perfect trifecta! The powders are very blendable and easy to work with. This palette really makes contouring and highlighting easier and faster!

I usually use the shade highlighter and vanilla for highlighting because they give the perfect glow. The shades nude and caramel are good for bronzing your face or for contouring. I usually use caramel for contouring my cheeks because it's just a hair darker than my skin color, so it looks very natural. When I want to make my contour more intense, I'll go in with the shade expresso very lightly. I definitely recommend this palette to basically anyone!!!



I recently picked up the sample size of the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer at Ulta. I also just did a review on this product that you can read here. One of the main reasons I love this bronzer is because of the smell. It smells just like chocolate, but it's not an overbearing scent. It's very subtle and sweet. 

The shade I have is medium/deep which is just a little bit darker than my skin tone. Since this is a matte bronzer, it's great for contouring and sculpting out your cheekbones. 

Here is a swatch of it on my arm. This is definitely a pricier bronzer and if you want to spend a lot of a nice, expensive bronzer than go for it! I think that there are many drugstore matte bronzers out there that will do just the trick- however bear in mind that they won't smell as good. 

Bobbi Brown Bronze Shimmer Brick

This is one of my all time favorite makeup products, because I think it is so versatile and can be used in many different ways. The Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks are handmade in Italy have 5 shades in them. 

You can use the shades in this compact as eyeshadow, highlighter or bronzer! I like to use an eyeshadow brush and sweep it into these shades individually as eyeshadow. When I use this compact as highlighter I like to run my brush through the top two shades and pat the brush on the tops of my cheekbones where natural light usually hits. When I want to bronze my face, I use the bottom 4 colors and apply them on my cheeks and around the high points of my face. 

Here are swatches of the colors in this palette, starting from the top color and working down to the bottom color. This is my go to compact when I want to look really glowy and bronzed up for the summer. 

Wet n Wild Color Icon Bronzer

I have this bronzer in the shade 739 Ticket to Brazil. I also did a review of this product here. This is a great drugstore bronzer that is extremely inexpensive. This isn't my favorite bronzer, but I like to use it when I want a more natural look that isn't quite as shimmery and glowy.

This bronzer looks pretty matte at first, but as you can see by the swatch below it is actually shimmery. I don't reach for this product very often, just because when I do decide to wear bronzer I like to go all out. This product is very pretty though and can also be used as eyeshadow.

Here's the swatch of the bronzer! It looks very gold and shimmery in this picture, however when applying it to the face it doesn't look this vibrant.

Elf Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder

I heard pretty good reviews about this contouring blush and bronzing powder duo online so I picked it up awhile back in the shade antigua. I did a review about it here. The packaging of this product reminds me of the Nars packaging, because they are both matte black. This product is very affordable and easy to use. I don't use the blush in this duo because it is way too pink for me and I'd probably end up looking like a clown. I used to use the bronzer a lot before I had other bronzers, but I don't find myself reaching for it quite as much now. 

As you can see, these powders are extremely pigmented- like crazy pigmented! Pigmented to the point where you have to be careful about how much you apply on your brush. They do blend easily though, which is great. The brown shade can be used for bronzing or contouring. It has the smallest amount of shimmer too it, but it's barely noticeable. This shade is a bit too dark for me so when I use it, I use a slight hand blend a lot to make it look more natural.

Wet n Wild MegaGlo Illuminating Powder

This product reminds me of the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick that I have, but way more affordable. One of the downsides of this product is that it cracks and breaks easily... as you can obviously see. It's the main reason why I never use this product anymore. The top twists off and powder always spills out everywhere... it can get pretty messy. I have this illuminating powder in the shade 348 starlight bronze.

Here's a swatch of these powders. They aren't quite as pigmented as the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick but they are still beautiful colors. I would swirl all these colors together to make a nice shimmery bronzer. You could also use this product as a highlighter if you focused on the tops of your cheekbones.

The Body Shop BB Cream + Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation

I have the shade 04 in the Body Shop BB Cream, which matches my skin perfectly in the Summer when I have a nice tan. However, during Fall/Winter/Spring my skin is much lighter so this BB cream doesn't match my skin anymore. It was annoying that I could only use this product when I was tan, but then I discovered strobing. It's basically contouring and highlighting with liquids. I apply this BB cream on the hollows of my cheeks where I would normally apply contour powder. I find that using liquid products will make the contour and highlight last longer! 

I have the Rimmel Lasting Finish foundation in the shade 203 True Beige. If you want to read my full review of this product than click here. This product is the exact opposite of the BB cream. It matches my skin great during Fall/Winter/Spring. It's too light during the Summer though, so this works great as a highlighter. It works differently than a powder highlighter does. Instead of adding a shimmery glow, it brightens and lifts your undereye area. 

Here is a swatch of the foundation and the BB cream. It's hard to see the BB cream because it matches my skin pretty well right now. I definitely recommend to use foundations that are too light or dark for you for strobing! That way you can get more use out of the product!

I hope you all enjoyed this post! What are you favorite bronzer, contour or highlighter products?

Thea ♡ 

Urban Outfitters Long Weekend Sale ♡

2016
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Hello everyone! I have another fashion sale collage of my top picks! Urban Outfitters is having a long weekend sale where they are doing 25% most of there sales items. I picked out my top 20 clothing items on sale that I think are super cute for the Summer. I love their rompers and dresses but they are usually extremely expensive. You should stock up on them over the Memorial Day weekend since they're on sale! Also check out my Forever 21 sale post to find my top picks under $20 at Forever 21.

Thanks for reading!


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 Disclaimer: All thoughts, opinions and photos are my own :)

Forever 21 Memorial Weekend Sale ♡

2016
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |

Hey everyone! I hope you all are enjoying your Memorial Day Weekend so far! I had a teacher work day on Friday so I get to have a 4 day weekend. Forever 21 is having a Memorial Weekend sale of an extra 30% off sale items with the code EXTRA 30. They already have a summer sale going on now with discounts up to 75% off. I also got  an email from them for free shipping with no minimum with the code VIPFS through May 28, 2016. Make sure to hurry and buy some cute summery clothes! I picked out a few of my favorite sale items from Forever 21 that are all under $20! Hope you all have a great weekend ♡


Disclaimer: All thoughts, opinions and photos are mine :)





Spring Break 2016: Bikini/Swimwear Trends ♡

2016

Spring Break officially starts today for me! I am not going to the beach over Spring Break, because I am going college touring. I know a lot of people go to the beach over break, so I made a list of all the different swimwear trends for Spring and Summer! I love buying swimsuits, because there are so many fun prints, patterns and styles. I really think that there is a swimsuit for everyone and every body shape. I hope you guys have a great Spring Break and that you find some inspiration from this post. Check out my Pinterest bikini board to see more bathing suits that I'm loving for the Spring and Summer! ♡

Light Blue Bikini Top- TopShop
Maroon Wrap Top- Suboo 
Halter Coral Bikini Top- Mikoh
Strappy Black and White Top- Mikoh
Black Crochet Halter- Style Moi
Triangle Bikini- Look Book Store
Blue Tie Die Halter- Beautiful Halo
Bralette Bikini- Rip Curl
Crochet Trimmed Bikini- Kiini
Pink One Piece- Tart
Black and White One Piece- Etro

Strappy Backs-
Lately I have been loving bathing suits with really intricate straps on the back! They look really  cool and fun, and they also form really pretty designs. Fun strappy backs add a nice touch to an otherwise plain bikini top. 

High-Neck Lines-
High neck lines are extremely popular right now, and swimwear companies are finally adopting this trend! It gives good coverage while also looking super cute and stylish.

Crochet-
Crochet has also come into style, and there are some crochet bikini tops that can also be worn as barrettes and crop tops! Crochet bikini tops are perfect for the Spring and Summer and are always made in pretty designs. 

Bralettes-
These are super comfortable and really cute. They give a sporty and athletic look and offer good support.

One Pieces-
One pieces are back in style! There are some really cute one pieces with cute straps and fun prints. One pieces also give you a lot more coverage and won't slip off you if you are doing a lot of swimming and water sports.

Stores-
Here are some of my favorite swimwear stores! Some are more pricier, and some are more cheaper.

L. Space- www.lspace.com
Victoria's Secret- www.victoriassecret.com
Athleta- www.athleta.com
Pac Sun- www.pacsun.com
Mikoh- www.mikoh.com
Acacia- www.acaciaswimwear.com
Lookbook Store- www.lookbookstore.co
Target- www.target.com
Triangl- www.triangl.com
Stone Fox- www.stonefoxswim.com
Moana- www.moanabikini.com
Forever 21- www.forever21.com

Thanks for reading my post! I hope these trends have helped you in picking out your swimsuits for this Spring and Summer ♡

Disclaimer: All thoughts, opinions and photos are mine :)


Spring Break Beach Essentials + What to Bring in Your Beach Tote ♡

2016
Spring Break is on its way, and I know a bunch of people who are going to the beach! Here is a list of things that I think are must haves for going to the beach and bringing in your beach bag. I hope everyone has a fun Spring Break and gets a nice, relaxing break from work or school! If you haven't already, please take my survey for a school project I'm doing on cosmetic animal cruelty (click here). Thanks and enjoy! ♡




Towel (John Robshaw)- 
Definitely don't forget a towel when you go to the beach! This one is really cute, because it has fun little tassles and patterns on it. You will need a towel to dry yourself off with if you go swimming obviously, or to just lie on the beach with. 

Hair Ties (Emi-Jay)- 
Bring extra hair ties in your makeup bag, because you may want to put your hair up if it's really hot. Also if you don't want to get your hair wet then you'll want to put your hair in a bun. I like the cloth hair ties, because they don't leave creases in your hair, and they come in pretty colors and patterns.

Lip Balm (EOS)- 
Chapstick is great to have at the beach, because the heat can dry your lips out, so it's important to moisturize them. Also, some chapstick has SPF in it, which will protect your lips from getting chapped and burned.

Tote (Lilly Pulitzer)- 
You should bring a big tote or beach bag with you, so you can fit your towel in it, as well as all your other essentials. This one from Lilly Pulitzer is really beachy and vibrant!

Dry Shampoo (Batiste)- 
If your hair gets greasy or sweaty, you can spray some dry shampoo on your hair. This will make your hair smell good, and will also make it look fresh and clean.

Water Bottle (Kate Spade)- 
It is extremely important to hydrate yourself when you're at the beach, because you lose a lot of water when you sweat. Water has many important functions, and it's important to drink half your body weight in ounces every day. 

Flip Flops (Aeropostale)- 
You want to bring shoes that you can easily slip on and slip off, so that you don't have to worry about a bunch of straps when quickly taking your shoes off at the beach. You also don't want to bring expensive shoes, because your shoes will get dirty and sandy when you walk on the beach.

Hair Brush (Tangle Teezer)- 
When your hair gets wet, you want to use a comb or a brush specifically for wet hair when brushing it. Wet hair breaks a lot easier than dry hair, so you want to be careful about the brush you use. The Tangle Teezer brush is great at untangling your hair, and the bristles aren't very rigid, so they won't pull out your hair.

Mascara (Maybelline)- 
If you wear makeup while at the beach, make sure it's water proof! Even if you don't go swimming in the ocean, wear waterproof makeup, because you don't want it to sweat off. 

Magazine- 
Bring a book or a magazine to read while you lay out in the sun, so you have something to do! The beach is a great place to catch up on some reading.

Phone Case (Lifeproof)- 
If you bring your phone to the beach, put a waterproof phone case on it to protect it from getting damaged if you accidentally get it wet. You can also bring a plastic sandwich bag, slip your phone inside and seal it, which will keep your phone dry if your fingers are wet. Don't try this when you go into the ocean though, because water will diffuse through the seal into the bag. 

Sunglasses (Steve Madden)- 
Sunglasses are a stylish way to protect your eyes from the sun. There are a bunch of different styles to choose from, and there are certain frame shapes that will flatter certain face shapes. I like mirrored aviators personally!

Sunglasses Case (Madewell)- 
Bring a structured sunglasses case, to keep your sunglasses from getting smushed or breaking in your beach bag.

Sunglasses Strap (Lilly Pulitzer)- 
Use a sunglasses strap to keep your sunglasses always on you. This will prevent you from losing them, and you won't have to carry them everywhere if you don't feel like wearing them on your head all the time.

Makeup Bag (Pour la Beaute)- 
Bring a makeup bag or a small cosmetic bag in order to store things like makeup and hair items. You may want to bring a plastic one, which won't get damaged if it gets wet and water won't sink through.

Nail Polish (Dior)-
 If you get bored at the beach you can also paint your nails. While they're drying you can read your magazine or book.

Sunscreen (Banana Boat)-
 Sunscreen is a must if you're going anywhere sunny! It's important to get a sunscreen with a high SPF.

Bronzer (NARS)-
 If you want to bronze your face a little, then you can brush on some powder bronzer, which will give you a healthy glow. 

Shirt (Billabong)- 
Bring a loose fitted tank top or t-shirt, so you can easily slip it on and off of your swimsuit. You don't want to bring a tight shirt, because it will feel uncomfortable if the swimsuit your wearing under it is still a little damp.

Highlighter (Benefit)- 
Bring a highlighter if you want a little shimmer and glow on your face!

Bikini (Beautiful Halo)- 
Of course you need a swimsuit if you are going to the beach! I really like this blue high neck bikini!

Shorts (Nike)-
Bring athletic shorts to slip over your swimsuit. Jean shorts will be uncomfortable to put on after you've been in the ocean.

Sea Salt Spray (OGX)- 
To add texture and volume to your hair, spray in some sea salt spray. This makes your hair look perfectly tousled and beachy.

Baseball Cap (Roxy Go Live)-
Bring a hat to cover your face, which will prevent your face from getting burned. There are some really cute caps from Brandy Melville and Urban Outfitters!

Other-
Playing cards, frisbees, beach balls, volleyballs and soccer balls are perfect things to bring for a fun day at the beach. 

Thanks for reading! I hope this list helped you for your Spring Break! ♡

Disclaimer: All thoughts, opinions and photos are my own.