HOW is it that time again already? Eeep.

july beauty favorites I howsweeteats.com

Okay, so. This month I finally got to tell you that I was knocked up which means the last THREE beauty favorites which nearly impossible for me. I wanted to tell you about things I was using/not using, but I didn’t want to tip anyone off for normal reasons’ sake. Thankfully since the news is out, I can share.

I wasn’t BS-ing you in those beauty posts by any means, it was all stuff I was totally loving and using that month. It just wasn’t my main focus. Since it’s summer, I’ve been wearing a lot less makeup in general. Except for a few moments where I’ve gone a little eye crazy (like right now, I’m wearing purple and black eyeliner and probably look like a clown or a lady of the night), it’s been pretty simple.

I’ve kept away from the two biggest things I’ve read that can be harmful during pregnancy: retinols and salicylic acid. I hadn’t even used retinol creams before, but I had just happened to buy a Paula’s Choice one at the end of March (since I’m still in search for a great nighttime moisturizer) and only used it once or twice at night. It’s been shelved since I saw a plus sign. (or in my case, a 3+ weeks sign.) As for the salicylic acid products: I have a philosophy clear skin one I was using as a spot treatment and I believe there is a little of it in my glam glow super mud mask. I haven’t used either – but thankfully I really haven’t had to. I’ve been pretty lucky with my skin. I don’t get hormonal breakouts very often and things haven’t changed much since I got pregnant. Yes, I’ve had a few pimples here and there. I HAVE continued to use the Burt’s Bees blemish stick, which has a more natural form of salicylic acid in it. My doc said it was fine, especially because I was using such a small amount. I’ve probably only used it three or four times though in five+ months.

This also means I haven’t used any other face masks either! I love doing masks – Eddie and I even do them together (I KNOW) – and I miss it. But it’s really not a huge deal and do I need to slather a bunch of chemicals on my face right now? Eh. There is no need at the moment. I can always make a homemade one if I really want it. I have a few moisturizing ones that are probably fine too.

I did cut out a lot of items I use regularly that have parabens – I had started doing this at the beginning of the year anyway. I realize I’m a total hypocrite with it comes to parabens. I’ve researched both sides, I’m not even positive on my stance yet. But I figure if I can use some products with more natural ingredients for everyday – why not? This means I’ve stopped using the body shop body butters AND my keihls creme de corps – both of which I’ve really loved. WAH. I’m sure that some of the eye shadows, lip products and blushes I use have parabens, but I don’t use them all every single day. Me = hypocrite.

july beauty favorites I howsweeteats.com

I think I’ve talked about this alba daily shade for two months now, but GAH – I love it. I mentioned in my pregnancy favorites that I’ve become even more of a lunatic about SPF than I was before. I’m really trying to avoid sunspots (if that’s even possible). I already have very fair, freckle-y skin, so I’m sure I’m prone. I’m still using this as my daily morning/day lotion. At night, I’ll use a pacifica body butter or desert essence body butter – but I’ve mentioned those a bunch in the past.

If I want a higher SPF, if I’m going to be at a pool or outside working out or spending copious amounts of time in the sun, I’ll wear my coola or sun bum sunscreen. Love.

Also, I finished that tube of hope in a jar SPF moisturizer for daytime. I liked it well enough and will probably buy it again. I’m still in desperate search for a night time cream I love. I should just suck it up and try the real hope in a jar, right?

july beauty favorites I howsweeteats.com

I’ve been using this toner for a year or two after finding it through Birchbox – this is probably my fourth or fifth bottle and I got my BFF hooked too – but it wasn’t until pregnancy that I really learned to love it. I liked it a lot before – I use it with an exfoliating cotton pad and it removes all dirt from my face. But THIS is truly the only thing I’ve been putting on my face besides cleanser and moisturizer at night. I tried another one of their versions a while back (the lemon?) and didn’t love it – but have repurchased this many times. It does seem to even my skin tone a bit and like I said, remove any dirt that my hands or clarisonic misses.

july beauty favorites I howsweeteats.com

Back on the topic of sunscreen, I am still LOVING this supergoop eye cream during the day! It doesn’t sting my eyes whatsoever if it migrates and I love the higher SPF. I know I mentioned this last month but I really really adore it.

july beauty favorites I howsweeteats.com

Return of my love! Not really a return for me… but to my favorites. This has been the biggest change because while I love the tarte moisturizer, in the summer I adore using the dr. jart BB cream and had also really started loving that it cosmetics CC cream. Both offer a tiny bit more coverage that this one, but both also have parabens. I liked switching all three up. So now, I’ve just been using the tarte on a daily basis.

For a little more coverage, I’ve continued to use the bare minerals bare skin foundation. I don’t use it everyday – just if I am really dressing up or going out or doing photos or something. I also have the tarte 12 hour amazonian clay foundation, and I like that too – but I think I like the bare skin better. It’s much more natural.

And of course, I’m still using my too faced milk chocolate soleil bronzer LIKE CRAZY.

july beauty favorites I howsweeteats.com

Another repeat: this sugar advanced therapy lip balm. I’ve said it before but I consider myself to be a lip balm connoisseur. (Yes, it’s sad.) I can’t find ANYTHING else I love like I love this. Yes, it is ridiculously priced. But I just can’t find anything close. Not even the dior creme de rose which I’ve loved forever. I use this every night. I try to buy it on sale or with a coupon. I don’t put it in my purse for fear of losing it. It’s really the only thing that has been soothing my dry lips.

I have a sample of the SPF version and it’s great too – but I can’t bring myself to spend that on a balm I’d blow through continuously, so I still love Burts Bees for daytime. This stuff… ugh. Just so good. I’m anxious to know if you’ve tried it. I first did after mentioning it on my wish list last fall and you guys were split down the middle: some loved, some hated. I’m clearly in the love camp. Oye.

july beauty favorites I howsweeteats.com

This tarte lipstick in whimsy has been my go-to color this month. I’ve either worn clear gloss… or this. So adventurous! I’ve had this since last summer but I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it here. I’ve talked about it on instagram because anytime I’m wearing it, I always get asked what it is. It’s very blue based, which I love. It’s bright but not ridiculous like candy yum-yum. These lipsticks are soft and kind of velvety, but also kinda feel like lipstick, so beware. They are not drying though. Well, this is the only shade I have, but it’s not drying. I feel like it works with everything.

july beauty favorites I howsweeteats.com

Something new! I finally cracked and bought one of these josie maran coconut water eyeshadows.

OMG. It is incredible. I don’t know if I’d do the other shades, but this is perfect. It’s in playa del pink. I feel like it’s a cream version of urban decay sin, which I talk about all the time – it’s been my go-to neutral shimmer eye shade for years. I’ve been using this on my eyes with just mascara, some tinted moisturizer, a little blush and lipgloss – and that’s it.

july beauty favorites I howsweeteats.com

See how shimmery? It’s nuts. And it lasts all day. I put it over the nars shadow primer and it doesn’t crease… like ever. I’ve also used it over a mac paint pot and it doesn’t crease.

july beauty favorites I howsweeteats.com

This shampoo has been one of my biggest changes since getting knocked up! After deciding I should try a more natural shampoo without a bunch of crap, I threw a tantrum and then bought this after reading reviews. Shampoos like this rarely do anything for my hair, but I’ve loved this one. I do have the conditioner version but am not a fan. But remember in April when I talked about the alba hair mask?? That’s because I was pregnant… and it is awesome! I’m currently out of it but love this shampoo with that conditioner.

I haven’t colored my hair or anything since getting pregnant, so no worries about color fading or anything.

july beauty favorites I howsweeteats.com

I did, however, cut my hair as you may know, which has been awesome but actually kind of requires me to DO my hair and somewhat style it. Many days I’ll use the beach waves spray I talked about last month. But other days when I’ve been keeping it straight or using a curling wand, it definitely needs a boost at the roots. If I’m on second day hair I’ll use some dry shampoo (batiste is still my fave). I’ll also use some of this loreal boost spray at the roots and rub it in well. It gives a little lift – especially if I tease it a bit! I found it at Target.

Of course.

july beauty favorites I howsweeteats.com

Totally random, but um, I love this stuff? My cousin told me about it a few months ago. I can find it at whole foods, it’s ridiculously cheap (like $2) and it smells so good. I’ve never been nutty over the weird smelling alcohol travel hand gels. I’m usually just good with washing my hands. Plus my mom has a horror story where she used an anti-bac gel then put in her contacts and it’s scarred me for life. But this stuff is awesome. Works after being at the grocery store or something like that. LOVE the scent. And that it’s a spray! Fits perfectly in my purse.

july beauty favorites I howsweeteats.com

One thing that was really weird during the omg-I’m-nauseated-24/7-months in pregnancy was perfume. I couldn’t burn candles or spray perfume, it all made me sick. I could wear rollerballs though (and the beach perfume from last month was okay, probably because it smells like CHILDHOOD) because they weren’t as offensive and didn’t seem like I was swimming in fragrance. I am still crazy over the nirvana white! Which is so weird, because I just assumed the black would be my favorite. I bought the black first and while I do love it, I think I like the white more? It’s consistently been what I’ve wanted to wear. I love it for summer.

july beauty favorites I howsweeteats.com

That’s it! I realize I don’t have a ton of favorites this month, but I really wanted to focus on the things that I’ve changed, things I’ve have been constantly using since April and what I feel more comfortable with now that I’ve got a bun in the oven. This month has also been nuts with work and moving, so makeup has been on the backburner. I’m sure next month I’ll be back to my old ways… I can already feel it.

Now share share share your favorites!

{as usual, none of this is sponsored and all of these products were purchased by me. i am not affiliated with any of the companies above, nor do i accept free products. just love to talk about what i like, makeup junkie to makeup junkie. there are a few amazon affiliate links above. thank you for being here!}