August Beauty Favourites

I tend to use these products all. the. time. so they aren't just August favourites, they are my all time beauty favourites. I'll do my best to be back next month with some new products to share.

Garnier Micellar All-in-1 Cleansing Water

I really, really like micellar waters, and this one is in my top two, along with the wonderful Marcelle 3-in-1 Micellar Solution. This one is great! It takes off all makeup, waterproof included, does not sting, is not scented, and does not leave a residue on the skin. Let me know if you would like an in-depth review of the different micellar waters I have tried out - I have tried many!

Batiste Dry Shampoo

This is my go-to for days that I do not want to wash my hair, but am still styling my hair down. It keeps the oil at bay, isn't too chalky (as long as you use it right), and the scent is pleasing but doesn't linger all day.

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation

My favourite everyday foundation. This is great for oily combination skin as it doesn't get greasy looking and it sets really nicely. Also, SPF is a great addition for everyday.

NYX Micro Brow Pencil

This is almost identical to the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, but for a fraction of the price. I like that you don't have to sharpen it and also how thin the pencil is.

MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot (Painterly)

I have used this paint pot as an eyeshadow primer for quite a few years now. I've tried a few others, but I never end up liking them nearly as much. I really like how thick this one is and how it evens out your eyelid. Sometimes I use just this, set with a bit of translucent powder.

dōTERRA Pore Reducing Toner

This toner is my absolute favourite right now. It is perfectly calming, while still actually toning and smoothing your skin. I really like the dōTERRA essential oils, so I tried out some of the skin care and only this product really struck a chord with me. If you're interested in trying it out please let me know, I am a Wellness Advocate with dōTERRA and can help you place your order.

NYX Matte Makeup Setting Spray

I used to really like the Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray, and it's still pretty great, but this is a wonderful substitution (and it's less expensive). 

NYX Shine Killer

I use this as a primer in my t-zone. It's not super fantastic or anything, but it definitely helps with fighting the late-day shine. I have found I can go about 2 hours longer before having to powder my t-zone when I have this on versus when I am using nothing or a different primer.  

Real Techniques Blush Brush

These brushes are pretty much all fantastic. This is the one that I have been using for blush pretty much everyday, or at least when I am using quite a pink blush (as you can see in the photo).

Ben Nye Rose Petal Luxury Powder

You may have heard about the Ben Nye Banana powder, which is great... for the right skin tone. If you're a little more fair or a little more pink undertoned like me, try out this rose hued beauty instead. You'll love it!

Nivea Lip Care Lip Butter - Vanilla and Macadamia

Super moisturizing, and super tasty smelling. This is my favourite lip balm to put on at night, under lipstick, over lipstick to help with a drying colour, or any other time you can think of. It's great. 

Mary-Lou Manizer Highlighter

Another product that I have been using for many years, this highlighter is great. It's a champagne colour which is lovely on so many skintones and it lasts forever. I've bought quite a few over the years, but they definitely last a long time.

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer - Vanilla

In my opinion, the BEST concealer out there. It covers without being too thick and it doesn't crease. It's fantastic, and there are quite a few shades to choose from.

Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint - Namaste

I got this deluxe sample size as a point perk while shopping online at Sephora, but I didn't think I would like it nearly as much as I do. I haven't tried all the matte liquid lipstick formulas out there, but this is definitely my favourite formula so far. It's matte without being drying and I really like the sort of minty scent!

Naked2 Basics Palette

This palette is my favourite for everyday. I used to really like the first Naked Basics Palette, but I find this one has more usable shades for everyday (all six versus just 4 for me from the first palette). They're both awesome, though!

MAC Modesty Lipstick

This is a lovely, my lips but better colour. It's great for everyday but also pulls off the nude look when doing something intense on the eyes. 

What were your favourite beauty items in August?!

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Recent Beauty Buys (Makeup Haul: Sephora & Shoppers Drug Mart)

So, for the last couple of years I have been doing pretty good about using up beauty products that I have on hand instead of purchasing new, but every now and then I slip up and a bunch of products find their way into my possession. This is one of those times. I mainly stocked up on items that needed replacing, but there are a few things in here that were just because I wanted them.

Sephora
First up, Sephora. This all started because I received an e-mail about a promotion where online orders could get three deluxe Fresh samples. This is why I never open those e-mails. They work.

I actually only bought two items: a new NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla and the Nails Inc. Nailpure Nail Polish in London Court.

Then I used 100 points to get the Tarte Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint in Nude.

The three Fresh deluxe samples I chose were the Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask, the Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil, and the Sugar Nourishing Lip Balm Advanced Therapy.

Finally, I was supposed to get five free samples, but it seems the Sephora Collection Mud Mask Purifying & Mattifying didn't make it into my box. The four samples that did make their way to me are Mandarine Glaciale by Atelier Cologne, Black Opium by Yves Saint Laurent, Benefit's Goof Proof Brow Pencil Easy Shape & Fill,  and Bumble and Bumble's Surf Foam Wash Shampoo and Surf Creme Rinse Conditioner.

Shoppers Drug Mart
Next, Shoppers Drug Mart. There was a 20x Your Points event if you spent $75 or more on beauty products and I had a bunch of items that had run out or were about to. So these are mainly repurchases of favourite/everyday items. Also, I really like the Shoppers Optimum points system, and generally try to take advantage of these events.

Items I picked up (all available at Shoppers Drug Mart, but also linked for convenience):
Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent
COLAB Dry Shampoo in New York 
Vichy Pureté Thermale One Step Cleansing Micellar Solution 3 in 1
NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Taupe
NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray
NYX Matte Finish Setting Spray
Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation in 810 Classic Ivory
Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush

Have you tried any of these items? What have you picked up recently?

Marcelle Makeup and Skincare Haul

I won an Instagram contest hosted by London Drugs and Marcelle and this is what I got! I was super excited when they DM'd me letting me know I had won, and it was super nice heading to my nearest London Drugs (which I frequent often) to pick up my prize. I used to work in the beauty department there (many years ago) and my manager, Sherri, is still there and we had a nice catch up.

All of these products are Marcelle products, because it was a Marcelle giveaway. My absolute favourite micellar water is from Marcelle, and it's actually the only thing I have really tried from Marcelle (I was surprised when I realized this!) Receiving a full bottle was a prize enough itself, so all these other products are a bonus and I cannot wait to give them a try!

Included in the giveaway prize (London Drugs linked when possible):
Volum'Xtension Magnetic Mascara
Xtension Plus Mascara
Ultimate Fringe Effect Mascara
Kohl Eyeliner - Black
Make-up Removing Cleansing Cloths
Gentle Makeup Remover for Sensitive Eyes
3 in 1 Micellar Solution
Moisture Lotion
BB Cream Beauty Balm in Light to Medium
BB Cream Matte in Light to Medium
CC Cream SPF 35 in Light to Medium

Have you tried any of these? Any favourites? Anyone else like the micellar water as much as I do?! Would you like to see reviews of any of these products?

Living Life Lately

So, it looks like I didn't post anything in June. I guess that's what happens when you're busy living life!

I have been up to a lot in the past month, and this last week especially!

We had our engagement party, which turned out to be a great evening, complete with some DIY projects like this tassel garland.

I did makeup for a couple weddings, and attended a few as well.

 Chelsey Dawn Photography

Chelsey Dawn Photography

Laura-Anne Photographer

I bought many succulents for our wedding centrepieces, I repotted a couple succulents and cacti, and I prepped the small terracotta pots for our centrepieces.

In this last week, I did graduation makeup and hair for one of my dance students and attended her graduation in Hepburn, SK.

On Wednesday, Dan I attended the free screening of The Wizard of Oz at the Bessborough Gardens to celebrate 30 years of the Sasktel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival. The weather was absolutely beautiful and we had a fantastic time!

Then, on Thursday morning, I was off to Gravelbourg, SK to get ready to celebrate my best friend's wedding. The weekend went by so fast, but it was absolutely beautiful. Friday was Canada Day, but we were so focused on the prep for the wedding that we didn't do much celebrating with the red and white. The rehearsal dinner was a tasty barbecue, though, which is very Canada Day-esque.

Tann put so much thought and work into every little moment and detail, and not bit of that was lost in the total effect of the day. She was the most beautiful bride I have ever seen, and I definitely had trouble keeping my eyes dry. I cannot wait to have her stand beside me in December as my matron of honour.

We even started the wedding day with a mimosa bar courtesy of yours truly while we got ready.

After a fantasticly fun night of celebrating and dancing, we all pitched in to take down the decorations at the town rink, and then Dan and I were off to head home.

How was your weekend? What have you been up to lately? Did you do anything for Canada Day/are you doing anything for the Fourth of July?

Homemade Bubble Bath with Essential Oils

I thought I would share a super simple recipe for homemade bubble bath that I have been using recently. Most bubble baths available in the store are full of harsh chemicals that are simply not good for you. There are many benefits to making your own products at home, the main one being that you can control what ingredients you come into contact with and filter out any chemicals you're not okay with.

Ingredients/Supplies
Container(s) to put your bubble bath in - I got mine at Dollarama!
2 parts vegetable glycerin
4 parts castile soap
4 parts distilled water
1 part almond oil (optional)
Essential oil(s) of your choice for scent - make sure they are meant to be used on skin, they're not all equal! (optional - I used lavender)

Directions
It's as simple as combining the ingredients, gently stirring, then moving in to your container. If you are using essential oils, please make sure you use a glass or metal container, as plastics and essential oils should not mix. Also, make sure the essential oils you choose are safe to use on your skin - not all are made the same, and some are only meant to be used as a candle alternative.

In the directions I stuck with a ratio, rather than actual measurements, because it doesn't have to be exact. If you want a jumping off point, the first time I made this I did 1/4 cup vegetable glycerin, 1/2 cup castille soap, 1/2 cup distilled water, 1/8 cup almond oil, and 20 drops essential oil; this yielded about two of the bottles I pictured.

That's it! When you go to use your bubble bath, gently roll the container to help disperse the ingredients, as it will settle a bit when left to sit. Don't shake vigorously, though; it will get super bubbly!

Have you ever made your own bubble bath? Would you add or remove anything? What scent would you like to try?

P.S. If you would like to know what essential oils I like to use, or if you have any questions, please send me an email to sarah.sweetspontaneity@gmail.com!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting brands that support Sweet Spontaneity!

Sephora VIB Sale Haul

This is a little late, but I still wanted to share what I got from Sephora during the VIB Sale. I am really trying to use up my makeup, rather than adding more, but there were a few things that I consider staples that needed replenishing.

Makeup Forever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation
Phew! That's a long name. I actually haven't used this foundation in over a year, since I have been using up foundations I have on hand and have found others that I really like, but I recommended it to two friends that I will be doing wedding day makeup for, so I decided to order some for myself again. I bought two shades, one which is for those two friends (they have similar skin tones) and one that I thought was perfect for me, but it turns out I'm actually not the palest ever when it comes to this foundation - who would have thought?! I was already planning on mixing the two to get the perfect colour for my friends, so that's what I've been doing for myself too. I like it a lot, but I'm not sure if it's actually a favourite.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer
This is my absolute favourite concealer. I typically have two shades on hand: Chantilly and Vanilla (the two lightest shades). Chantilly is my winter colour/perfect for undereye highlighting and Vanilla is my skin tone matching shade. Since we're heading in to the warmer months, I only picked up Vanilla this time around. It's always so satisfying to me to have a newly opened product - it's such a big shift going from scraping the sides of the container (only to have to dip in a couple times) to having a brand-new, super full tube.

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream
I have to admit something. I have really been off my eye cream game lately. I have been a huge fan of eye cream since I was 18 or so. I generally have 2 or 3 different ones on the go at a time. They're fun to try, and they're that little bit of luxury in your everyday routine. However, I have really been trying to actually use the beauty items I have on hand as well as save my money for a few different goals. I guess that turned in to me finishing up my last eye cream and not replacing it? I don't even know when it actually happened, all I know is that it's been a few months or more. It was fine for the first little bit, but lately I have definitely noticed my eye area being more dry, concealer not applying as well as it should/usually does, and the fine lines have been really prominent. Once I made the connection I knew I needed this eye cream to help get me back on track. Within a few applications I was already seeing a difference in hydration and now, a couple weeks in, I already feel back to my usual smooth, healthy, and hydrated place.

Did you get anything from the Sephora Beauty Insider, VIB, or VIB Rouge Sale? What items are your essentials to stock up on when this sale comes around? Please let me know in the comments!

Lush Bath Haul

I have gone a little bit crazy lately with purchasing Lush bath products. Working downtown and close to the mall where Lush is located is definitely a major factor in this, but I'm not complaining. I've been a fan of Lush for quite a while, but I haven't purchased many bath bombs before. My bathroom doesn't have a bath tub, and while there is one in the house, I just didn't make the effort to take many baths before. That, however, has changed. After watching one way too many Lush hauls/raves on YouTube I ended up throwing caution to the wind the last couple of times I was browsing through the store on my lunch break, and here's what I got.

Butterball Bath Bomb - "Beautiful butter cream hydration for dry skin"
This bath bomb is my favourite, and one of the ones that I have, in fact, tried many times before - I first tried it in the form of Butterbear at Christmastime :). I love how the cocoa butter leaves your skin feeling super hydrated after you get out of the tub! (I like this one so much I bought more than one!)

Twilight Bath Bomb - "Peaceful lavender bathing under the stars"
I really like the deep, rich, calming scent of this bath bomb. I also really like the pink colour!

Sex Bomb Bath Bomb - "Brazen jasmine flirts with your senses"
So, I'm really not a fan of companies using the word "sex," or sexual innuendos, in the names of their products. I just find it unnecessary, not creative, and somewhat crass, which leads me to usually not invest in products with names that fit this bill. However, when I do buy products with names such as this, they are so fantastic that I am able to let their marketing mishap slide (Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara is another that I hate the name, but really like the product). This bath bomb has such an amazing scent that I just couldn't pass it up. Also, the scents used in this bath bomb are known aphrodisiacs, so I can't hold the naming choice against them too much.

Floating Island Bath Melt - "Creamy lemon and sandalwood luxury"
I haven't tried this one yet, but I am excited to! I really like the scent (sandalwood is one of my favourites), and I have heard great things about the melts.

Dragon's Egg Bath Bomb - "Citrus sherbet-scented firecracker"
This scent is so great - citrus is super up-lifting and invigorating, so I am looking forward to using this one in a mid-day bath. This one is also full of fun surprises while it fizzes!

Avobath Bath Bomb - "Skin softening lemongrass and avocado soaker"
Lemongrass is great for sore muscles, while also having a zesty, citrus scent. This is another bath bomb that's great for the morning or mid-day, but I wouldn't recommend it for night time - you'll be too wired!

Even with these other bath bombs, Butterball is still my favourite. What's yours? Do you like any other Lush products? Can't wait to hear your opinions!

Urban Decay Naked2 Basics Palette

I am a huge fan of the Urban Decay Naked line of cosmetics. I have the Naked2, Naked3, and Naked Basics palettes (and have had all the others in my virtual shopping cart at least once before... #moderation). I honestly use each palette at least twice a week, and I have hit pan on 3 colours in the Naked Basics palette, with serious dents in the other colours. It was when I had actually used every last bit of the shade Naked2 from the Naked Basics palette that I finally let myself pick up this new addition to my addiction. (Side note: I really wish Urban Decay would sell Naked2 as a single shadow. I probably would have bought it 3 times over already.)

When this palette first came out, I wasn't too sure if I would really like it. I find I go quite neutral in my neutrals (? - that's a thing, really), but if I lean one way or the other it is ever-so-slightly warm. So, I was thinking that I should just pick up the original Naked Basics palette again. But, upon closer inspection, I made the decision to try this new one. I found with the original Naked Basics palette that I didn't use much of Venus (soft, off-white demi-matte) or Crave (deepest, darkest brown/black matte), so I essentially only had 4 working colours of the 6. I tapped my brush into those two every now and then (Venus more than Crave), but they're not showing much use even still. The Naked2 Basics palette, however, has 6 usable shades for me. The lightest shade isn't so light, and the darkest shade isn't so dark.  I anticipate using the four middle shades most, but I think I will get a bit more use out of the two end ones than the corresponding ones in the original Naked Basics palette. The only thing I will say is that the original Naked Basics palette caters a little more to people with extremely fair skin (#gingerproblems) - the colours allow for a barely there natural eye if you want it, whereas the slightly darker shades in the Naked2 Basics make it a bit more noticeable that you're wearing eyeshadow. Non-translucent friends needn't worry about this, though :).



Ok, now on to quality. These shadows are up to par with the standard of the Urban Decay shadows in their other palettes (I haven't tried many of their singles, so I can't really speak to them yet). Urban Decay really does a good job of their mattes. These shades are all buttery, blendable, and perfectly pigmented. I wouldn't change a thing!

Something that I learned when checking out the info on Sephora when writing this post is that the Naked Basics palette was created to coordinate with the Naked palette and the Naked2 Basics palette was created to coordinate with the Naked2 palette. Makes so much sense, yet I didn't know it until now. I mean, I've been using my Naked Basics palette with my Naked2 and Naked3 for a long time, and I think it works great with them, but I'm excited to try out the Naked2 Basics with my Naked2 to see if it's that much better. Kinda cool!

Have you tried out the Naked2 Basics palette? What did you think? Have you tried any of the other Urban Decay Naked products? I'd really like to hear your opinions!

3 Easy Makeup Looks to Transition from Day to Night

Awhile back (okay, a long while back) I had my friends Maria and Veronica over for a little makeup photo shoot that I had dreamed up. I haven't talked about this too much on here before, but I am a freelance makeup artist and I wanted to play around a little while getting some photos to add to my portfolio. I decided to go with three different looks that build upon one another: "no makeup" makeup, a day look, and an evening look.

"No Makeup" Makeup Look

This look is really all about the skin. If you perfect your base you really don't need much more makeup, and the makeup that you do add doesn't need to be as heavy to compensate. Maria has great skin, so it wasn't hard to create an even base with a medium coverage foundation and under-eye concealer. I added a light application of mascara, a very light contour, and brushed through her brows to make sure they were going in the right direction.

Day Makeup Look

For the day look I wanted to build upon the "no makeup" look (which, in reality, could absolutely be a day look itself) so I added in a bit of smudged pencil liner on the top lash line along with some soft matte brown shadow in the crease. I also added a bit of peach blush and then curled her hair.

Night Makeup Look

And the final look! I added a darker matte brown to the crease, deepened the liner, added a bit more mascara, added plum blush, added highlight, applied lipstick, and pinned back one side of her hair.

What do you think?! I really wanted to do these looks to show how it doesn't take much to transition a look from day to night, that a "night" look can still look quite natural, and also that simple is really still very beautiful! Thanks so much to Maria and Veronica for helping me out with this project :)

*All photos by Veronica Neufeldt

My Evening Skin Care Routine

After sharing my Morning Skin Care Routine with you I figured I had better share my steps at night as well!

1. Cleansing Water - I start off by removing all of my makeup with this Marcelle Cleansing Water. It's important to remove your makeup before actually cleansing, so that you can clean your skin, rather than just move around that layer of makeup on your face.

P.S. The one that I linked to is actually different from the one I have pictured. Funny story - this is my absolute favourite cleansing water. Bioderma has nothing on it. There, I said it. Anyway, at one point I kept seeing my lovely cleansing water on sale, but the tags kept saying "clearance" and since I knew the products weren't close to expiring I kind of freaked out thinking that they might have decided to discontinue the product. Next thing I know I'm heading to every London Drugs, Shoppers Drugs Mart, and even Target (before their exit from Canada) near me to stock up on as many bottles as I could carry. I knew I would have to find another brand to replace it, so I tried out different ones that failed miserably, but I did so while I still had my favourite brand to take over when the other ones failed. At a much later date I was browsing the cosmetics aisle at Shoppers (a favourite - but expensive - habit of mine) when I came across a bottle like the one I linked to and then it all became clear - they were just re-releasing the product in fancier packaging so they had to clear out the older ones. Imagine my relief! I have yet to try the new one because, as I said, I am pretty well stocked on my old favourite. As far as I can tell it will be the same - the naming changed slightly, the packaging seems to have vastly improved, and I know the cost went up, but it's still very affordable in my opinion. Once I try it out I will be sure to share about it. Also, if you ever want to hear about my process of trying to find a replacement cleansing water let me know! I tried out quite a few brands (Bioderma is still awesome - it's definitely my second favourite).

2. Cleanser - Just the same as my morning routine, I enjoy using this Garnier cleanser at night. This is the one I use if I'm washing my face at the sink, but if I shower I generally use a scrub or a different cleanser that I keep in my shower (I have so many cleansers in my shower - it's bad!).

3. Toner - Another item that is the same as my morning routine, this ProActiv toner does the trick, but I'm going to try out a different toner once this one is finished up. I used the toner from the seaweed line at The Body Shop previously and someone's comment on my Morning Skin Care Routine reminded me of how much I enjoyed it, so I might go back to that. If you have any other suggestions, though, I would love to hear, I'm still not totally decided! By the way, if you're interested in trying out the seaweed line, I highly recommend getting the Seaweed Skin Care Starter Kit so you can try a bit of everything. I bought it twice!

4. Serum - Currently my nighttime serum is the Ren ClearCalm 3 Replenishing Night Serum. I bought this on a whim online from Sephora one time, and it's not horrible, but I'm really just using it to get through it. It looks like this exact product has been discontinued, but it has been replaced by the ClearCalm 3 Replenishing Gel Cream - maybe the new product is better? I really enjoy gel-like consistencies, so it actually sounds pretty appealing.

5. Eye Cream - This Hydrating Eye Cream from Bobbi Brown is fantastic! I use it at night because it is a little heavier - it's still totally wearable during the day, but I like to use different ones in the morning and night to get different benefits. This used to be a pain to get in Canada, especially living in Saskatchewan, but I did a little looking around online while writing this post and it looks like you can now get Bobbi Brown shipped to Canada, so that's awesome! When I first found this eye cream I bought it in Las Vegas and I had been waiting for months to be able to buy it. My second jar was bought once Bobbi Brown was finally carried at my Sephora in Saskatoon, but it still couldn't be ordered online.

6. Moisturizer - The Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins came in that first set I bought with the GinZing Moisturizer, and I have been hooked since. I still haven't had to replace my first jar because I sometimes use pure coconut oil as a moisturizer at night instead, so I don't go through it as fast. They have two formulas, one for combination-dry skin and one for combination-oily skin. I don't know if there was an option with the set, but I ended up with the one for combination-dry skin and, even though I definitely am more of the combination-oily skin type, I really like this formula. It's super moisturizing for night and even though it feels a bit heavier when I put it on, I wake up with lovely, dewy, youthful, glowing skin and that I am absolutely a fan of. The smell is super great too!

Do you have a different skin care routine from morning to night? What are your favourite products? Any recommendations for something I should try?

**This is not a sponsored post - all items mentioned were purchased by me for use by me. All opinions are 100% my own**

My Morning Skin Care Routine

I love everything beauty related, but I have realized that I don't share much in this area on the blog. I'm hoping to change that, starting with today's post!

A little bit of my beauty-related history for you: I have kind of been beauty crazy since I was very little. I remember being about five or six getting ready for a dance show. Mom would get a brush ready with my makeup and tell me where to apply it. I would take the brush, run to the bathroom mirror, apply the swipe, and run back for more. My grandmother would also teach me all about beauty at a very young age whenever I would have a sleepover with her and she took me to my first manicure when I was about five years old. I grew up loving makeup and learning all about it as my parents slowly let me wear it to school and also when I would apply it for dance. I ended up working in the cosmetics department at London Drugs for a couple years while going to university, and after that I worked as a product representative for a makeup line. I am no longer working directly in the cosmetic industry, but I do a bit of freelance makeup for weddings and events - it's mostly just word of mouth right now, but I'd love to do more in the future!

And now on to my morning skincare routine! I have used some sort of variation of this for years and years, but these are the products I am currently using for each step.

1. Cleanser - If I'm showering in the morning, I usually use one of the scrubs that I keep in my shower, but if I'm not showering in the morning I like to use a super gentle cleanser. Since I remove my makeup before bed, I don't have to worry about having something targeted for makeup removal, but this cleanser from Garnier does a wonderful job of making my face feel fresh, even if I'm trying to get a bit of makeup off on those mornings that I wasn't that thorough in removing my makeup the night before. I have used this cleanser for years. It is so simple and I love the fresh smell. I have tried higher end cleansers and just keep coming back to this one.

2. Toner - I used ProActiv for a very short time but for some reason I was left with a huge amount of the toner. I actually enjoy this a lot, but this is my last bottle and I'm not too sure if you can get the old formula now that they have re-formulated their line. I'll probably be switching this out once it's done, because I'd like to give some more natural solutions a try. If you have any toner or toner substitute suggestions please let me know!

3. Serum - This is the step that I sometimes don't do, simply because I don't have any on hand. I do think that serum makes a huge difference, but it's also the first step for me to drop for the sake of time, space, or money. I am currently using the Intensive Renewal Serum from Arbonne and it is fantastic! I have used some of this line before, but I hadn't used more than a sample of the serum and I wish I had gotten it earlier. It helps my moisturizer go deeper, it helps regulate my skin, and it adds to a more radiant complexion.

4. Eye Cream - I tend to switch up eye creams a lot, but I've gone back to the Corrective Eye Creme from Arbonne more than once. The product goes so far, with only half a pump needed to do both eyes. I have noticed the skin around my eyes is firmer, plumper, and fine lines are reduced.

5. Moisturizer - I bought the Origins GinZing Energy-boosting Moisturizer in a set from Sephora and the moment it was gone I had to return to purchase the full size product. A little bit goes a long way with this moisturizer, and I love the smell - especially in the morning when I need a bit of a pick-me-up. The gel-like consistency allows the product to sink in quickly, and there is no oily or greasy residue on the skin.

Those are my favourite morning skin care products in the order that I use and apply them. If you would like more of a review about any of the products I have mentioned, please let me know! I would also be happy to go into more depth about my skincare process and why I go through the steps that I do and the benefits each step provides, just let me know!

What are your favourite skin care products for your morning routine?