Beauty – Page 6 – Mackenzie Billington

Skin Care Routine

July 20, 2015 by Mackenzie

* Updated Skin Care Routine here! *

Hey y’all! I get asked all the time on my tumblr about my current skincare routine. I’m constantly trying different products and testing out new things. Just to give y’all a quick lowdown of my skin- I have very oily, very acne-prone skin. I have finally found a skincare routine that I am happy with! Here is what I’ve been using & loving the past few months

The morning:

When I wake up, I start by washing my face with the Lush Fresh Farmacy cleanser. I reviewed it a few months ago along with my other Lush skincare products, and I still really, really like it. It’s very soothing on the skin and really helps calm any redness. It also lathers very nicely, which is something I like. After washing my face, I spritz a little of the Lush Tea Tree Water on. I am honestly not sure if this product makes the world of difference, but it definitely feels refreshing. Tea tree is awesome for keeping breakouts away and oil at bay. I then apply my Lush Imperialis moisturizer. I have almost finished the entire tub of it, but I don’t think I will repurchase it. I absolutely love the way it makes my skin feel, and it’s definitely a fantastic moisturizer. However, I would rather find a morning moisturizer that has SPF in it and is a little better for oily skin! I would still highly recommend it though!

The night:

At the end of the day, I remove all my makeup with some makeup remover. Then I wash my face with my Lush Coalface cleanser and warm water. I then wash it for a second time with Coalface, but this time, I use my Clarisonic skin cleaning brush. My Clarisonic is probably the best beauty related investment I have ever made. It really does the most awesome job of getting every inch of makeup off your skin. If you don’t cleanse your skin thoroughly enough and get all of the makeup off, it will lead to serious breakouts. I’ve only been using the Lush Coalface cleanser for about two weeks now, but I think I prefer it to Fresh Farmacy. It doesn’t lather very well, but I think it is much better suited for breakouts and acne. I would highly recommend it if you are looking for a good cleanser for acne prone skin that is perfect for traveling. After really cleansing my skin and removing all of my makeup, I apply my Burts Bees Herbal Blemish Stick to all of the breakouts on my face (I definitely plan on reviewing this product in detail soon). When that dries a little, I apply my Clean & Clear moisturizer to my entire face. I have only been using this moisturizer for a few weeks now, but I do really like it. I was previously using anti-aging products at night. Because my skin has been so angry these past few months, I’ve decided to switch to a nightly moisturizer that that is better suited for acne prone skin. I really do think it helps keep the breakouts away!

Once to twice a week, I use my Glamglow Powermud facial mask. After seeing tons of reviews and raves about Glamglow, I decided to give it a try. I do think it does a great job of really cleansing the skin and helping my pores. It’s not the very best face mask I’ve used, but I’m trying to finish it all up before purchasing another mask. When I finish this small container of Glamglow, I am going to head to Lush (shocker) and pick up on of the fabulous face masks they have!

So that’s my current skin care routine at the moment! Let me know if y’all have any product suggestions for oily/acne prone skin. I always love trying out new things!

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Wishlist

July 17, 2015 by Mackenzie

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

Y’all. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is here, and I am in love. Lately, I have been a little obsessed with matching pajama sets- so I couldn’t help but add these two pairs to my ‘wish list’ (especially the one with the doughnuts!! Does it get any cuter?). I was so excited to see that my fave Rebecca Minkoff ‘ Mini 5-zip’ purse was live on the sale- in five fabulous colors! My personal favorites are the Ash and Latte, but I could see the Port being gorgeous for the fall. I was also excited to see the Clarisonic brush up on the sale! It has honestly made the world of difference in my skin, and I would highly, highly recommend picking one up while it’s on sale. The shoes this year on the sale were rockin! From Tory Burch sandals to fun fringe heels, there were tons of options to suit every style and occasion. I also loved these classic riding boots that come in both black and brown. I will let y’all know what I end up purchasing from the sale, but for now, this is my wish list!

Let me know what your favorites from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale are! Hope you all are having a great week!!

Favorite Summer Purchases

July 12, 2015 by Mackenzie

At the beginning of this summer, I did some serious closet cleaning. I went through everything in my closet that didn’t fit anymore or I hadn’t worn in the past two to three years. It felt good to finally de-clutter my life and get organized. After selling some of my old Lilly Pulitzer pieces that didn’t fit anymore, I had money to do a little shopping and purchase pieces that fit, and that I could get great use out of. This season I’ve been all about off-the-shoulder dresses and tops, pom-poms, bold colors, tassels, cut outs, crop tops, versatile, pieces, and heels/wedges! London has some great shopping, and I absolutely love living in the city. If any of y’all have any London shopping recommendations- let me know. So far I’ve been loving Topshop, Zara, and Mango!

Thank you so much for checking out my blog. I hope you all had a great weekend!

Lush Oxford Street.. Round Two

July 7, 2015 by Mackenzie

Oops.. I did it again. Couldn’t resist Lush Oxford Street.

‘No, you can’t eat it’

Y’all. Living a mile from Lush is seriously dangerous. It’s so hard to resist my favorite store every time I walk down Oxford Street. I picked up a few more things this week, and I have been loving them:

1.) ‘Shark Infested Custard’ bath melt

Is this bath melt not the cutest thing you’ve ever seen? An awesome Lush employee recommended that I give this fun little bath product a try, and at £2, I just couldn’t say no. Plus- it totally puts me in the mood for Shark Week! This bath melt smells incredible. It has a strong, and beautiful scent of vanilla/custard. It also has a slight scent of lemon. I haven’t used it in the bath yet, but I can already tell it is going to be extremely moisturizing. It melts just at the warmth of your fingertips, and I can’t wait to try it!! Sadly, this is an Oxford Street exclusive product, so it can only be purchased at that location!

2.) ‘Yuzu and Cocoa’ shower cream

Another fabulous Oxford Street exclusive product that smells just like the Yuzu and Cocoa bubbleroon. It has the most gorgeous orange and chocolate scent. This shower cream also has such a moisturizing and creamy consistency. I got the smallest size just to try it out, but I know I will totally be purchasing the full size (along with Lord of Misrule) to take back to the states.

3.) ‘Daddy-O’ shampoo

I forgot my Daddy-O shampoo back in TX, and I have been dying without it. This shampoo is rockin’. You can read my review on it here!

4.) ‘Sympathy for the Skin’ body cream

I have actually never tried a Lush body cream/lotion before. When I was chatting with one of the Lush employees about his favorite Lush products, he recommended this one to me. Not only does it smell soothing and amazing, it makes my skin feel so soft. This body cream has great ingredients like almond oil, fresh bananas, lemon oil, vanilla, and cocoa butter. I purchased the smallest bottle, but a little bit definitely goes a long way with this product. I bet it will last me the entire summer! One of my favorite things about this product is that the scent definitely lingers on the skin all day. I’ve tried so many body creams that smell nice for a few minutes, and then disappear. But Sympathy for the Skin definitely lasts all day! I would highly recommend it (and they sell it in the US)!

Thank you all for checking out my blog! I am sure I will be back at the Lush Oxford Street very soon..

Lush Oxford Street

July 3, 2015 by Mackenzie

I was just a little excited about visiting Lush Oxford Street

The Comforter bath bomb in a shower cream version

Lush shampoo bars are amazing

Are these Flamingo bubble bars not totally adorable?

Lush staff helping me select a face cleanser

My Oxford Street goodies

Lord of Misrule, HUGE bottle of H’suan Wen Hua, and Coal Face

Green magic in a bottle

Lush is my guilty pleasure. No shame. If you walk into the Lush store with me, it usually takes over an hour to drag me out. As soon as my mom and I arrived in London, I begged her to let me swing by the Lush Oxford Street just for five minutes. I was completely overwhelmed by the store and beyond excited. I will definitely be heading back next week to spend a full hour (or five) really checking out the three story oasis. My wish list from the Oxford Street location includes:

Lava Lamp bath bomb
Experimenter bath bomb
Supertramp bubble bar
Shark infested custard bath oil
Zen soap
Yuzu and cocoa shower cream
Comforter shower cream
Cup o’ coffee face mask
Key Lime lip balm
Damaged hot oil treatment
Waves solid shampoo

For this first visit to Lush Oxford Street, I picked up 3 products:

1.) ‘Lord of Misrule’ shower cream

I immediately went straight to the shower gels/creams and checked them all out. I was so excited when I heard they made ‘Lord of Misrule’ into a shower cream. I just had to try it out. It is very, very green in color, which is a little scary at first when you use it in the shower. Lord of Misrule has the most amazing fragrance. It is actually very hard to describe the scent, but you can definitely pick up the vanilla and pepper notes. Essentially, it’s magic in a bottle. I know I will totally be purchasing the largest size possible before I head back to the states at the end of the summer.

2.) ‘H’suan Wen Hua’ hair treatment

This wonderful product is probably my favorite hair treatment in the entire world, and that is no exaggeration. I can’t tell you how many times my sister and I have both repurchased this product (read my review for it here). The Lush Oxford Street location actually carries this amazing hair treatment in a huge size. If you purchase H’suan Wen Hua in the US, you can only get it in the 7.9 oz. size. However, in the UK, you can purchase it in a 15 oz. size! I hope they bring the larger version of H’suan Wen Hua to the US soon because it is heavenly!

3.) ‘Coal Face’ face cleanser

I love the Lush face cleansers, especially paired with my clarisonic skin cleaning brush. It’s a fantastic combo. I’ve been using Fresh Farmacy cleanser for the past few months, and I really do love it. However, my acne has been flaring up for the past 2-3 weeks, so I decided to change up my skin care routine. The friendly staff at Lush Oxford Street gave me a sample of Coal Face to take home and try. They told me it would be better for my oily, acne prone skin, so I decided to give it a try. I have really been enjoying Coal Face these past few days, and when my sample runs out, I will definitely be purchasing it! I surprisingly enjoy the fragrance of it, and it makes the skin feel very clean and clear (without over- drying).

I can not wait to check out Lush Oxford Street again this week. It’s incredible in there, and I am almost positive I will be broke by the end of the summer. If you are from the UK, let me know if you have any Lush Oxford Street recommendations! I will be sharing more pictures from my first week in London later this week! Hope you all have a fantastic Friday!

(P.S. Here are the details for my outfit because I got asked about them several times on my tumblr/personal instagram)

Romper (purchased here last summer) • Sandals • Earrings (back in stock!) • Sunglasses

May favorites

June 3, 2015 by Mackenzie

As the month of June begins, it’s time to share my beauty favorites from the month of May. I am a little bit of a beauty-junkie, and I am constantly trying new products. These are my favorite beauty products I have been loving this month:

1.) NARS Key Largo eyeshadow duo

These NARS eyeshadow duos are my favorite, especially for travel. I picked this little duo up on a whim, but I have been loving it so much. It’s a perfect peach and bronze combo that works for both day and night. I find myself wearing it pretty much daily with black liquid liner and mascara. The peach shade is matte and looks really nice with a tan. The shade on the right is a rich bronze that looks lovely in the crease of the eye. I think ‘Key Largo’ is a great duo for blue eyes! I will definitely be bringing this perfect summer duo with me when I head abroad.

2.) MAC ‘Margin’ blush

When I am picking up a new blush, I usually go for warm peaches and pinks. I was just browsing around at the MAC counter in Memphis, and the makeup artist there suggested that I try this blush. Initially, I was very opposed to giving this blush a try. It does look muddy and dull in the pan, however, it actually looks very natural on the skin. It really adds a nice glow and is perfect for everyday use. I think this blush would be especially perfect on tan skin and works great as both a blush and bronzer.

3.) Revlon colorburst lip balms

These Revlon lip balms are brilliant! I have three shades- Sweetheart, Cherish, and Mischievous. ‘Sweetheart’ is a bold, hot pink that is super bright and stays on the lips all day. ‘Cherish’ is a cool toned pink that is a little more wearable for daytime because it is more sheer. ‘Mischievous’ is a pale orange stain with a matte finish. Something that I love about these balms is that they are so easy to apply and require no sharpening. These Revlon balms also have the nicest scent. They smell so minty and fresh, which is great because I can’t stand lip products that smell bad! I definitely plan on purchasing more of these fun Revlon lip balms in the future.

4.) Bath & Body Works ‘Maui scrub’

I got this summery, little scrub for my birthday and I’ve been loving it! With notes of coconut, hibiscus, and mango, it smells so tropical. This body scrub also does a fabulous job of exfoliating (which is great if you spray tan and/or use self tanners). I am a little bit in love with everything from the Bath & Body Works Hawaii collection, especially the lotions and body sprays!

5.) Essie ‘Bikini So Teeny’ nail polish

This has been my go-to nail polish for the past month. It reminds me of the beach and really flatters any skin tone. This cool blue polish also looks great on the toenails as well! It’s a really nice color for the season, and I would highly recommend it for anybody looking for the perfect summer nail polish!

Thank you so much for checking out my blog. Let me know what your May favorites are!

The Lush Lowdown – part 2

May 28, 2015 by Mackenzie

Lush Fail #1 – Black Stocking

I was really optimistic about this product when I first purchased it. A cute heart shape bar that will make me tan? Oh yeah! However, this product ended up being more of a flop for me. Though it does have a nice scent, it’s incredibly difficult to use. When you rub it onto the skin, it is extremely shimmery, streaky, and hard to rub in evenly.

Pros: has a nice smell, similar to licorice. It also has a nice bronzy color.

Cons: Applies unevenly, and is very difficult to blend. Looks streaky on the skin.

Lush Fail #2- American Cream Conditioner

The sales associate talked me into purchasing this conditioner for my dry, coarse hair. After smelling it, I was sold. It is honestly the most delicious smelling conditioner I have ever come across. It definitely reminds me of a vanilla and strawberry milkshake. However, when it comes to how well this product works, I am less than impressed. I had to apply a very large amount to my hair for it to even work as a conditioner whatsoever. After getting of the shower, and brushing through my hair, it felt very frizzy and dry. When I looked at the ingredients I noticed it has sulfate, something I don’t usually put on my hair. The conditioner is such a light formula and I would not recommend it for thick, coarse hair.

Pros: Smells amazing- best scented conditioner I have ever used. The scent lingers throughout the day, which is something I do really like.

Cons: Very light and not moisturizing enough. You have to use a large amount for it to even work at all. I would not repurchase even though the smell is amazing.

Lush fail #3 – Shower Jelly

I originally purchased this seasonal shower jelly for my mom for Christmas. It came in a gift set. She really didn’t like it, so she ended up giving it to me. I was really excited to try it because I’ve seen the shower jellies many times in the store and have always been tempted to try them. The smell of this specific product is interesting. It’s not exactly pleasant, but it isn’t necessarily bad either. The consistency is the weirdest aspect about it though. It feels like jello. My main issue with the product though is that is kind of difficult to use. I’ve tried many different methods of using it, and nothing seems to work because it is so slippery. When I pinch a small amount and try to use it as a shower gel, it slips out of my hands. I have even tried putting a small amount on a loofa, but that didn’t work for me either. The shower jelly just wouldn’t lather at all for me, and I felt like it would just bounce off my skin. I don’t think I would repurchase another shower jelly again!

Pros: It’s a really fun, unique product that’s definitely worth trying. They’re also really fun to touch!

Cons: Didn’t really work for me. I don’t feel like it really cleaned or lathered. Instead, it would slip onto the floor or bounce right off.

Lush Skin Care

I’ve always been a drugstore skin care fanatic, trying every cheap face wash and moisturizer on the market. All have worked, but none have really been a ‘holy grail’ for me. When I was in Lush back in the the winter, I was given a sample of a skin care product to try- Coal Face. I was a little freaked out by this black rock I was suppose to rub on my face, but I decided to give it a try. After a few weeks, I noticed great results. I also liked that the Lush product didn’t irritate my sensitive, acne-prone skin. I decided it was time to switch from the harsh drugstore products I had used for year to something more gentle and organic for my skin. What I noticed is that Lush is really not much more expensive than your typical drugstore products. I went into Lush recently to pick up some skin care products, and I have been loving them. Here is a review on my Lush skincare routine:

Step 1- Fresh Farmacy Cleanser

In the past, I have only ever used liquid cleansers in a bottle. It has been an adjustment to switch to a cleansing bar, but I really, really love this one. My sister, who also has the same skin type as me, has been using this product for months now. She recommended it for me, so I decided to choose this specific cleanser. It is light pink in color and has a nice scent. It is made with calamine, elderflower, and lavender oil, so it’s incredibly soothing on the most sensitive skin. To apply it, I hold the bar under warm water and then rub it between my hands. I put the bar back in a small dish by the sink and then rub my hands on my skin to apply the product. Then, I use my Clarisonic skin cleaning brush to help the product really clean my skin. One of my favorite things about this product is that my skin feels incredibly clean after using it. I think it’s really awesome that you can actually choose the amount you want to pay for each bar depending on the size. I decided to buy $10 worth, which is a pretty decent amount. When I got home, I cut the bar into 9 different pieces. I know my sliced up bar of Fresh Farmacy will last me a long time, and when I do run out, I will definitely, definitely repurchase.

Step 2- Tea Tree Water Toner

Before purchasing this product, I had never used a skin toner before. After hearing tons of raves and recommendations about the Lush Tea Tree Water, I decided to give it at a try. It doesn’t have much of a fragrance in my opinion, but it feels very refreshing on the skin. The ingredients in this product include tea tree water, grapefruit water, and juniper water, so it is awesome for oily and acne prone skin. To use this product, I spritz the toner onto a cotton ball after cleansing my skin, and then I rub it to my skin, concentrating on the t-zone. The Tea Tree Water feels really light and soothing on the skin. Within just a few days, I noticed a huge difference in my skin. I would recommend this product for anybody looking for a great toner that really helps with breakouts and oil!

Step 3- Imperialis Moisturizer

This moisturizer is a life saver. It is a balancing moisturizer for combination skin. It’s super soothing because it includes lavender flower, shea butter, olive oil, elderflower, and tons of awesome ingredients! It has really helped the oil production of my skin without making my skin necessarily dry either. I use it twice a day right after using my toner. The Imperialis moisturizer leaves my angry, sensitive skin feeling soft and healthy. Plus, it does’t break my skin out at all, which is awesome! It’s a little more on the pricey side in comparison to the cleanser and toner, but it is well worth the money. The only thing I don’t love about it is the packaging- I would prefer the moisturizer to be in a pump bottle. When I run out, I will definitely be purchasing some more.

Thank you so much for checking out my two part Lush series! Have a great day!

The Lush Lowdown – part 1

May 27, 2015 by Mackenzie

It’s no secret- Lush is my favorite store. Every time I go, my sister has to pretty much drag me out because a ‘quick stop’ usually turns into a 5 hour adventure of my smelling everything in the entire store. If you aren’t familiar with Lush, it’s a wonderful and fresh, handmade cosmetic store. Everything is incredibly unique and smells heavenly. The best part- they use all fresh ingredients and do not test on animals. I have been a huge ‘lushie’ for the past few years, so I wanted to share with y’all my opinions on some of my favorite (and least favorite Lush) products that I have purchased over the years! I decided to make this a two part post because it is quite lengthy. Part one will be my favorite products and part two will be my Lush skin care routine and my least favorite Lush products.

#8. Ocean Salt

This glowing, blue mystery is one of Lush’s best selling products- and for good reason! It is a product I have repurchased 3-4 times now. Ocean Salt is an exfoliating scrub that smells just like summer. It makes me feel like I’m at the beach and it makes my skin feel very soft and clean!

#7. Sultana of Soap

This little soap bar is one of my newest Lush products- I picked it up this past weekend, and I am loving it. I was so torn when choosing a soap bar, so I asked the girl working there which soap was her favorite. She recommended ‘Sultana of Soap’, and I am so glad I took her advice. Don’t be afraid of its strange appearance. It’s made with dried apricots, but I don’t really pick up that scent. To me, it smells very creamy with a hint of fruit. What I love most about it is how moisturizing it is. When you hold it, you can feel it melting to the warmth of your hands. It’s incredibly creamy, and makes your skin feel so soft. I will definitely purchase another Sultana of Soap after finishing this piece.

#6. Lip Scrub

If I had to recommend one product from Lush that absolutely everyone would love, this would be it. The Lush Lip Scrubs are out of this world. I got the limited addition flavor, Santa, back in the winter. The three permanent flavors in the line include Mint Julips, Popcorn, and Bubblegum. I would highly recommend the Mint Julips one; it smells so minty and refreshing. These lip scrubs not only smell incredible, but they also do a great job of exfoliating and getting the dead skin off of my lips.

#5. Face Masks

A face mask was my first purchase from Lush. They are definitely worth the money, and they real do make a difference. My favorite part of them is that there are tons of options depending upon your skin type and skin needs. Because I have very oily and acne prone skin, my favorites are Cupcake, Love Lettuce, and Cosmetic Warrior. Cupcake is my favorite because it smells delicious and really helps with breakouts. The only bad thing about them is that they do expire because they have fresh ingredients. They have a shelf life of about a week or two, so it’s best to use them as soon as you can and to keep them refrigerated. Also, when you have 5 empty lush containers, you can get a face mask for free!

#4.) Daddy-O Shampoo

Purple shampoo? What? It definitely looks scary in the bottle, but is one of the best hair products I have ever used. This violet colored shampoo is perfect for blondes. As a lot of y’all know, I color my hair (that is actually naturally dark brown). A few weeks after coloring my hair, the blonde will start to turn brassy. This shampoo really does a great job of toning my hair and helping my color look refreshed. Not only does this help with color tone, it makes my hair feel so soft and healthy. It has a very nice, organic smell that I actually really enjoy. I purchased the small travel size, just to try it out. When I finish this bottle, I will definitely be back to repurchase the full size!

#3.) Shampoo Bar

I have tried 3 of the Lush shampoo bars now, and I think they are absolutely brilliant. They are incredibly unique, and I would highly recommend them if you are looking for a fun hair product to try. The main reason I love them is because they are so perfect for travel. You don’t have to worry about spills or messes; you just throw them in a bag and you’re good to go. There are also tons of options for these shampoo bars depending on your hair type and scent preference. Out of the ones I have tried, my very favorite is by far is called Jason and the Argan Oil. This one has a beautiful rose jam scent. I remember the first week I purchased it, I walked around the house holding it up to my nose. This rose jam scent is my very favorite out of all the scents at Lush. I have had this shampoo bar for almost 3-4 months now, so it lasts a really long time (which is awesome for only $10).

#2. H’suan Wen Hua Hair Treatment

I can’t pronounce the name of this hair treatment either, don’t worry. My sister and I have both been through 2-3 containers each of this product- it’s a miracle. It does a great job of adding hydration and health to dry, damaged hair. Put it on your hair 20 minutes before hopping in the shower, and then rinse it out. I only apply it to the bottom half of my hair, and I notice a huge difference in my hair after using it. I try to use this product once or twice a week. The only thing I don’t love about this product is the smell. It is made with vinegar and banana, and you can definitely pick up that combo when you use the product. However, it’s still the best hair treatment I have ever used, and I would highly recommend it for anybody looking for a perfect hair mask!

#1.) Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner

And the winner goes to…. Ro’s Argan Oil. This is the most heavenly product I have ever used in my entire life. I will definitely be repurchasing this product as long as they continue to make it. When I went to Lush this past weekend, I convinced my sister to buy this body conditioner. She was a little hesitant at first because it really isn’t a common product that most people keep in their shower. The reason I decided to purchase this product for myself a few months ago was because of the smell. It smells exactly the same as the rose jam scented shampoo bar, Jason and the Argan oil. Ro’s Argan oil is incredibly moisturizing, and you don’t even need to use lotion after showering. You leave this product on in the shower like you would a conditioner for your hair. I apply it to my body and then let it sit. After a few minutes, I rinse it off. It really works wonders for dry skin and leaves your skin soft and beautifully scented for the entire day. If I could only pick one product from Lush, it would most definitely be this. It’s so unique and has the most incredible fragrance.

Thank you all so much for checking out my blog! Hope you all are having an awesome Wednesday!

(Also- feel free to comment and let me know what your favorite Lush products are!)

Check out part two of this series, which includes ‘the misses’ and my Lush skin care routine: