So I tried a natural beauty line...

I love testing and reviewing beauty products for this little blog. I've always loved makeup, but it wasn't until my high school days that I really started to explore and try new products. Ever since then, I fell in love with all things makeup, and I love trying to find the best quality products for your buck. A little while ago, I got an email in my inbox from Rebecca with Beautycounter. Beautycounter is essentially a more natural line of personal care and beauty products that focus on high performance makeup and skincare without all of the icky chemicals and bad-for-you ingredients that you'll find in so many U.S. makeup products. "Better beauty" is what they're all about!

Now I've said it before, but I'm not super crunchy - I just like making healthier swaps when the product quality is equal and the effort is minimal. Meeting with Rebecca about Beautycounter was incredibly informative and so enjoyable. She shared with me the alarming difference between how many chemicals the United States bans from our beauty products versus Europe and other places. I've heard this before, but it's definitely something to take into consideration before putting certain products on our skin. Skin is our largest organ, and it's with us for life, so I'm all about taking care of it!

Rebecca let me try several of the makeup and skincare products from Beautycounter, so I thought it might be helpful if I shared what I tried and my thoughts on how they performed and if I think they're worth buying! Let's get into it, shall we? 

(P.S. If you're interested in purchasing any of these products, I will link them, just be sure to choose Rebecca Tompkins as your consultant. I do also have a social open with her, so when you go to check out,  just select the "Everyday Emily Blog" social.)

Oh, one more thing, and I promise I'll get into the good stuff. Beautycounter also offers a Band of Beauty membership which gets you free shipping on orders over $100 as well as other special product credits and offers. It's only $29 to join!

Makeup:

• Velvet Eyeshadow Pallette in Classic - This was hands down my favorite product I tried. The shadows were pigmented, applied beautifully, and I loved the shades. At $50, I would say this is priced just right for a high quality eyeshadow palette. 

• Satin Powder Blush in Date - I love a good blush, and I really think it can transform your look. In my opinion, never skip blush in your beauty routine! This blush in the shade "date" was SO pigmented, and it blended out nicely.

• Radiant All Over Bronzer in Dune - If you like a really pigmented bronzer, this probably isn't for you. But if you're like me, and you just want a natural looking bronze effect, this product is great! I just applied this in a 3 shape on my face (temples, under the cheekbone, and on my jaw line) and I really enjoyed using this bronzer. 

Skincare: 

• Cleansing Balm -  If I'm being honest, I wasn't crazy about this product for my skincare needs. I used it one day to remove my makeup and cleanse my face, but I just didn't prefer the thickness of the product and the feeling it left on my skin. It's important to note that I only used this one time - I might feel differently after continued use. I would also assume if you have really dry skin, this product would be the bomb. Everyone's skin is different, and this is still a nice product that's definitely worth trying! (This is the beauty in working with a consultant to test the products before your buy!)

• Overnight Resurfacing Peel and Nourishing Cream Exfoliator - This peel was was so nice, and it was gentle enough for my sensitive skin. I applied it before bed, and when I woke up, I exfoliated with the Nourishing Cream Exfoliator. My skin was soft, and these would be great products to implement into your skincare routine to keep your skin fresh and revitalized each week.  

• Sugar Body Scrub in Lemongrass - This was nice, and it smells so lovely and fresh. Sugar scrubs are really nice to use when you want your skin feeling soft and exfoliated.  

Recap of my thoughts:

• Quality and performance of all of the products I tried was equivalent to my non-natural beauty and makeup products and overall really impressive. Color payoff of the shadows and blushes were nice, and I would definitely implement these products into my beauty routine. 
• Beautycounter products are a safe, clean, and quality line of natural beauty and skincare. Along with the quality product comes a higher price tag, so that's just something to keep in mind as your pursue switching out your products. The price of some of these products is pretty similar to what you'd find at Sephora!
• If you're looking to "clean" up your beauty routine, I'd look no further than Beautycounter for beautiful and quality products. 

Before I go, I just want to highly recommend, taking an hour or so to meet with Rebecca. She is passionate about better beauty, and that's something I absolutely want to support. You can follow along in her Facebook group, Journey to Better Beauty. I hope you found today's post helpful, and be sure to click here to shop with Rebecca Tompkins and select the social "Everyday Emily Blog" at checkout! 

XOXO, 

Emily

Mascara Care for Life with Ashley Gutschow

Today's post is SO exciting, because I'm sharing our first ever guest post with Ashley Gutschow! You might notice we have the same last name, and that's because she's my husband's aunt! Ashley is so stylish, and she's always dressed to perfection. She loves beauty products as much as I do, and you can tell girl's done her research on today's topic - all things mascara!  Ashley will be breaking down different types and brands to help us find the best products for our lash needs! Ashley's lashes always look great, so I can't wait for you to read the results of her research for the best mascaras out there!

"My name is Ashley Gutschow.  I'm a Christian, wife, mom and makeup enthusiast.

Why do I take time to research mascara?  Eyes are my favorite part of the makeup routine.  Some say it's the brows that are the most important (yes, they're important), but I maintain the most important are your lashes.  If done correctly, no one will even notice your brows.  I have very long but thin lashes.  Always have.  So finding the perfect mascara has always been a challenge for me.  I've finally found the right match and want to share why with all of you!

Wet mascaras:

Most people use wet mascaras. You can tell because they 'pop' and leave a little bit of product that's wet on the end of the wand. You have to wait until the product dries on your lashes until applying more to get optimal results. This is the best choice if you're looking for that long, glossy glamorous look. 

Downside: Wet mascara can be tough to work with.

Upside: Dried wet mascara can be beautifully buildable giving you length and volume if worked correctly.

Dry mascaras:

Who knew there were dry formulas???  If you bought one on accident you may have wondered if you bought an old or bad mascara and written it off.  WRONG!!  Dry mascaras are awesome for building volume.  Why?  Because you don't need to wait for the formula to dry on your lashes.  You can build the volume on the bed of your lashes immediately.  Typically this doesn't result in clumpy lashes.  This is my personal favorite.

Downside: Dry mascaras by nature are flakey. You really have to find the product that is right for you and work with it.  Not all dry mascaras are created equal.

Upside: Dry mascaras can really give you a natural thickness and length to your lashes.  The flutter effect is amazing.

Tubular lashes:

If you have few lashes, a tubular formula might be right for you.  Ok, but what the heck is a tubular mascara?? Well, the formula literally wraps around your lashes creating a tube.  The cool thing is that the tube extends creating a longer glossier look.  This mascara is awesome because it will not budge all day long...like all day long.  So if you have genetically deep dark circles under your eyes, I recommend this formula because you will never have to worry about flakes or raccoon eyes.

Downside: You really can't build this formula, one very thick swipe and your are done.

Upside:  Easy peasy removal.  Water is all it take.  You will see the tubes come off in the sink.  Don't let it freak you out - those tubes are not your eye lashes!!!

So what are my brand picks?

Wet:

• 'It's So Big' by Elizabeth Mott 
• 'Great Lash' by Mabeline

Dry:

• 'Stratosphere' by Lune+Aster
• 'Clump Crusher' by CoverGirl 

Tubular:

• 'Lash Curling Mascara' by Trish McEvoy

Tips:

• To make your mascara last a wee bit longer, place it in a coffee mug filled with warm water.

• To take off your make up, do not use the coveted makeup towelettes.  You'll find yourself mindlessly tugging at your eyes and eyelashes.  Never tug at your eyes and lashes....  just go on and use the Neutrogena Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover.  A gentle swipe or two, and you're done.

• To make sure you've covered all your lashes, sweep the backside of your lashes in an upward motion. Not only will the wand grab all the lashes but it will help to curl.

• Lastly, we all take great pains to grow our hair, get rid of wrinkle, acne, scars... why not focus on our lashes too?  Y'all Rodan + Fields lash serum is no joke.  Invest in this product.  If you do, it really won't matter what mascara you wear."

Thanks, Ashley for sharing everything we could possibly need to know about mascara in today's post!

XOXO,

Emily

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Monday Conversations No. 4

Photo by Third Floor North Photography

Happy Monday, Friends! I hope you're on a beach somewhere today soaking up some rays. Though I'm in the office, I'm determined to make this Monday the best it can be.

Did you check out all of the posts from last week? I shared about our trip to Alaska, the perfect girl's night in idea, and how to style a midi skirt to work for you! 

This past week, I had a Blue Apron box delivered. If you don't know what Blue Apron is, it's a meal subscription service that delivers all of the ingredients for a few recipes, and all you have to do is cook! I'm typically a Hello Fresh gal, but I had $20 off Blue Apron, so I decided to give it another try. Some of the meals are funky (and quite frankly I do prefer Hello Fresh), but you just can't beat the convenience of not having to plan a single meal for the week. It's my favorite, and I've got another box coming on Wednesday! If you're interested in trying out Blue Apron, either leave me a comment or message me, and I can send 5 people a free delivery! 

I've really been into watching Facebook live beauty videos, and  Nicole Huntsman makes the best beauty "get ready with me" videos. She sells Younique beauty, but she's so confident and fun to watch, and I've loved testing out her techniques in my own beauty routine. 

Have you ever heard of The Barn at Post Oak candles? They're a candle company based in Simpsonville, South Carolina, and their branding is so beautiful. I ordered one of their surprise boxes, and I cannot wait to get it in the mail! I LOVE supporting local businesses. Do yourself a favor, and be sure to check them out! 

Last, I am getting so excited about a collaboration that I am working on this Saturday, and I can't wait to share more with you next week! 

That's all for this Monday, but I hope you'll be inspired, and share what you've been loving with me in the comments! 

XOXO, 

Emily

Midi Skirt Style

Necklace: Spectrum | Shirt: Belk |  Skirt: Loft | Shoes: Nordstrom Rack (Similar) 

Have you gotten on board with the midi skirt and dress trend yet? I've been seeing them all over the place. I'll be honest, I love them, but they definitely aren't the easiest thing to wear. I thought I would share a few of my little tips for styling a midi skirt today!

This blue midi skirt is perfect because it hits me just a few inches below my knee. In my opinion, this is the key to wearing a midi skirt, otherwise the midi skirt will be wearing you, and you definitely don't want that. I love all things Loft, so it's no surprise this $25 Loft skirt (on sale!) didn't disappoint!

Another key to wearing a midi skirt well is pairing it with some type of shoe with a heal. The heal elongates your legs, and this prevents that "stumpy" look you might notice when you throw on a longer skirt and look at yourself in the fitting room mirror with your bare feet. Give that skirt a second thought. Pairing it with a stiletto sandal or a cute wedge can make all of the difference. I paired this look with my nude strappy block heal from Nordstrom rack.

I of course can't end this post without giving my dear sweet photographer and friend, Ashley with Third Floor North Photography, a shout out for collaborating with me in this post! Ashley is one of my best friends, and if you asked me to describe her in a few words, it'd be loyal, spontaneous, fun, and well, she's always up for a good time! Her photos are amazing, and she is just so darn fun to work with. If you're a local blogger needing photos, message Ashley and follow her on Instagram! She's simply the best, and I'm 99% sure that you'll gain a new friend after working with her!  Thanks for the photos, Ashley!

XOXO,

Emily

Girl's Night Tea Party with Teabloom

Want to impress your friends on your next girl's night in? I've got just the idea for you! Invite a few of your closest friends over one night for tea, make these lemon bars to serve with it, and  be sure to watch Princess Diaries or the Crown for the ultimate girl's night success!

Sure, you could serve regular old tea, but have you ever heard of blooming tea? It's basically a beautiful and elegant tea experience that tastes just as good as it looks! I tested out Teabloom's heart shaped tea today, and it really is a fun experience.

It's as simple as brewing regular green tea, but the little tea round you get from the package blooms into a gorgeous flower. You'll want to use a glass teapot or pitcher when you make this.

I used one of my great grandma's tea cups that I am obsessed with, and it was so fun to do all of this on an old antique tea cart that my grandma gave me!

Be sure to check out Teabloom, and I hope today's post gave you a fresh new idea for girl's night!

XOXO,

Emily