Spring/Summer Beauty Haul & How I Live a Soft Life as a Single Mom
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It’s been a while since I’ve shared any of the beauty products I’m currently using and today that changes. I’m never one to go too crazy when it comes to buying cosmetics or fragrances. Instead I like to really test things out and see if I really enjoy them. And I find it easier to figure things out if I don’t have an overwhelming stash of products. Here’s what I’ve purchased in the past few weeks.
At Ulta I repurchased some of my favorites:
Ariana Grande’s Cloud Eau de Parfum. I wrote about this perfume in depth so you can click here to read that review.
Since adding Mugler’s Angel Eau de Parfum to my fragrance wishlist, I decided to pick up the travel version of the Alien Goddess as well. While both scents are unique, Angel is more unisex while Alien Goddess reminds me of the “feminine strength” of Chanel’s Coco Noir.
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I went to Sephora to try out a different shade of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation. I was originally matched in the shade 410W but I thought it was just the tinest bit too light. This time around the MUA recommended that I try shade 420C.
To be honest at the time of writing this blog post, I haven’t touched either samples. I’ve resorted back to my tried and true drugstore beauty favorites.
I asked the beauty advisor at Sephora if they were any new brands that she was excited about. She told me about Kosas and how the company infuses skincare into each product. She recommended the Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer and Daytime Eye Cream for me in the shade 7.5.
I just paused in writing this post to purchase the Kosas’ Cloud Set Setting Powder in the shade Softly. Stay tuned for a first impression here on the blog and over on my Instagram.
But back to the concealer and why I love it so much. It brightens (with caffeine & pink algae), soothes (with arnica & provitamin B5) and plumps (with peptides & hyalronic acid). With medium coverage I can use this not only under my eye but also to cover dark spots around my mouth and chin area on days I don’t want to wear foundation.
The advisor also recommended the Kosas brow pencil in the shade Brown Black. With castor oil to help brows reach full growth potential and Panthenol Pro-vitamin B5 to help revive brows, I do believe this product is worth the $22 price tag.
I also used 100 Sephora points to try out the Ilia Fullest Volumizing Mascara. It contains arginine and Pro-vitamin B5 which seems, the cross between cosmetics and skincare I mean, to be a theme of mine. Is this what beauty after 30 is all about? If it is, then sign me up!
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Now that we’ve discussed what’s new in my beauty cabinet, let’s have a chat about the latest social media trends for women: the “It Girl” aesthetic and living the “Soft Life.” You know, the woman who wakes up at 6:00 a.m. and does a round of yoga. Afterwards shemakes the perfect at-home iced coffee and spends the day checking off her monthly beauty maintenance appointments that can run a few hundreds (or thousands) of dollars.
First things first. I am not waking up that early to workout. Actually I prefer working out in the evening as it helps me to sleep better at night. I’m not a coffee drinker and my teacher salary doesn’t stretch that far. But if ya’ll have been here for a while, you know I don’t believe in one monkey stopping my show. Nope!
Over the last few years, I’ve learned to make the best of what I have no matter what. My hope is that the tips below inspire you to be YOUR OWN version of “That Girl” basking in her femininity with ease. Or perhaps after reading through my tips you will realize you’re already doing just that.
I budget every paycheck and track all my credit card expenses.
Yes. You read that correctly. Every paycheck has its funds allocated to go the proper accounts BEFORE that direct deposit hits my checking account. You can purchase a copy of my budgeting template here. It comes with detailed instructions on how to use it and you contact me via email with any questions you may have with implementing the system in your life.
I also keep a running list of all my credit card expenses so I can see what areas of my life are underfunded. Lately it’s been a few unexpected medical bills and one too many trips to Aldi and Publix.
Again this doesn’t sound much like “soft life” but it’s important as a single mom to know if and why you’re incurring debt and find solutions to fix that. Because of my tracking I’ve decided to participate in a flexible spending account for Ava and I’s medical expenses and make more use of my Instacart membership via curbside pick-up. It seems that I tend to spend more when I’m walking up and down the aisles (read “impulse buys”) vs having my items brought out to my car.
I put all my bills on AutoPay.
AutoPay? What’s soft about that you may ask. Well, for one it allows me to not worry about logging into any website every month to make a payment. I also never have to worry about late fees. Instead, I have more free time on payday to relax knowing that all your finances are in order.
But before you do this I recommend two things. First, use one credit card solely for these bills. This will allow you to easily earn points with your credit card reward company that you can redeem for things such as gift cards, cash, hotel discounts, etc.
My second tip would be to have a bank account where you “save” your bill money. This allows you to separate your bill money from your “fun” money making it less likely for you to overspend.
I invest in making my home feel both beautiful and comfortable.
Start with the room you’re in the most. For some it may be your bedroom or a den. For us, it was the living room where I wanted the theme to be colorful and inspiring. A gallery wall, a mounted 55” inch flat screen, and a comfortable throw blanket makes a night of Netflix feel like I’m relaxing in an eclectic New York styled apartment.
I use the discounts and perks provided by my employer.
I don’t care where I go, the first thing I’m going to ask at the register is “Do you all offer a teacher discount?” When Ava and I visited the Children’s Science Museum, I received 20 percent off admission. Red Lobster recently ran a Buy One Get One Free on all entrees (which is the only way I’m eating from that overpriced fast food seafood joint).
If you’re not sure what perks your company offers start by checking in your Human Resource department as they can point you in the right direction. Also ask your co-workers as well because they may know of discounts that aren’t widely advertised.
I use time saving apps.
Amazon Prime. Instacart. Handy. Curbside pick-up. Tele-Health/Therapy appointments. At this point I can’t imagine my life without them.
I stay stocked up on my beauty and food favorites.
With insane gas prices and inflation making even the most simple of outings just that much more expensive, if I can experience it at home then that’s my first choice. I love a good manicure and pedicure, but at $80-$100 a visit, I realized that I can achieve the same results with my press-on nail collection.
Publix has a new weekly sales posted every Thursday. I find their BOGO section a great way for me to stock up on favorite food and snacks items. I highly recommend looking out for such savings at your local grocery store.
I use local resources like public parks, the library, and community events and festivals.
You don’t have to travel too far outside your zip code to experience a vacation-like excursion. During the month of December, Ava and I visited quite a few Christmas light shows right here in West Palm Beach. Our local library offers different events and classes from toddlers to the elderly community. The beach is another favorite of mine that let’s me temporarily escape from the demands of being a working single mom.
To keep abreast of local events and festivals, I highly recommend signing up for Eventbrite. You can search for events within a certain radius and favorite local businesses and organizations to be the first to know when they upcoming events.
When someone invites me out for lunch, drinks, or coffee…I go!
I believe a huge part of a soft life involves being adorned, admired, and loved by others. So that means accepting that other people want to spend time with you and you being open to receiving the attention. It’s so easy for me to allow my anxiety to take over and have me wondering what should I wear, will I be bothering my sister to babysit, etc. But as you can see from this IG post, this one and this one too that it’s necessary to spend quality time with friends and family for both your emotional and mental health.
