Gifts for the Girls

Hi!
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I certainly did! I spent
my vacation in lovely, freezing cold DC.

However, I did make it home in time for Black Friday shopping with
my mama. This has become a ritual for us to make it to Macy's/Lakeside
Mall and do tons of our shopping. We love our Macy's shopping!
While there we found some great gifts and gift ideas for all our gal pals.
These ideas are a little bit of lux without breaking the bank. I'd love to
know what some of your go to gifts are for the holiday season.

1. Kate Spade Wickford Monogram Mug, $15
2. Coach Poppy Eau de Parfum Rollerball, $22
3. Teavana Holiday Favorites Tea Gift Set, $35
4. Bath and Body Works 14.5 oz 3 wick candle, $9 (code HAPPYMONDAY)
5. Julep Mrs. Claus, $9.99

Clean, Fresh Makeup with a Pop of Color

If your anything like me, some mornings I just don't feel like putting a whole lotta

make up on. I'm way more into watching some TV and drinking coffee in bed until

I absolutely have to get up. Lately I've been just doing a BB cream and powder 

and/or a light foundation with mascara and a touch of blush. It takes all of five 

minutes maybe. 

But for just a little POP or PUNCH, I've been swiping on a bold lip color. These below

are my faves. They are easy to put on without liner, but I'm pretty sure I need a 

mirror for all of them. They all last for a few hours and are very moisturizing/non 

drying. I just bring it along with my in my bag for quick touch ups throughout 

the day. 

Skin routine

Skin routine by ashley-russo featuring elizabeth arden

Hey guys! Just wanted to share my nighttime routine. I'm the kind of girl that doesn't put a ton on my skin every night. Sometimes I will add an item or remove one, but this is my routine as of now. My routine it simple and to the point. Hope you like!

1. I use coconut oil to remove my makeup. It's super cheap and has great benefits for skin. It also has many other uses: hair mask, cooking, etc.
2. I put just a dime size amount of of Purity on my Clarisonic. I've used Purity for at least 3 years, and I will never go back to another cleanser. It gets rid of everything without drying or irritating skin. I love this thing. It's made a huge difference in my skin, it's so much smoother and clearer. But to warn you, your skins gets worse before its gets better. Give it a few weeks, you will love the difference.
3. This step is optional. I only do it about 3 times a week as a mask for 5 minutes. The Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask. It has benzoyl peroxide with can irritate skin. Mine however is not very sensitive so it doesn't irritate mine, but it will dry it out if I use it too much. This is also great for spot treating, it really helps keep me clear when I'm having a breakout.
4. I mix my Alpha Hydrox Enhanced Cream with Glycolic Acid and Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream for an amazing moisturizer. I love Alpha Hydrox products, this one gently exfoliates. I also find it was helped with blemishes. This is my second jar and its very affordable at about $12. Then I take a little more of the Eight Hour Cream under my eyes and on my lips.