Waco’s Margarita and Salsa Festival falls around the same time every August, which I feel is a gracious birthday present to me. It’s like the sweet people in charge at Extraco Events Center pulled together and said, “Let’s reward these tired parents with a party for getting their kids through summer AND the back to school chaos.” They always pull a rabbit out of a hat by booking amazing talent, that never disappoints. Like this year with Gary Allan, which guarantees my location on August 25th.
Get your hands ready to clutch some pearls sister. I am a 39 year old gal who spent her early years in a tanning bed. And loved it. I even owned one. The search to find something as relaxing as laying in that tanning bed has been unsuccessful. There wasn’t a lot better than my skin warming while the fan blew on my burning skin, singing along with whatever song was playing. However, I did find a solution for a tan that doesn’t give you cancer and age you like the UV rays do. But please, I don’t want to hear about all the toxins being absorbed through the skin. Go elsewhere Fun&Beauty Police, just let me have my tan.
I hope that when my time is up, someone makes sure my sunless tanner is perfect before my body is viewed. Help a sister out…m’kay?
Here are a few of my favorites. I alternate them because sometimes my skin catches on to my silly ways, and occasionally stops participating with one self tanner. So, I’ll give it a break and use a different one for a bit.
My ol’ faithful…
The great thing about THIS one is you can see the bronze as it is applied. It comes with the mitt shown above and 2 latex gloves. You’ll need to put the gloves on, then the mitt. Spray the bronzer into the mitt, and then apply. As with all self tanners, let it soak in and dry for about 8 hours before you shower.
I don’t use it on my face, just up to my neck. For my face and neck, I use THIS ONE BELOW. I only use this about 1-2 times a week. On the days that I use this, it takes the place of my morning or night cream. If it is in the morning, I let it dry and then apply my sun screen. Apply with gloves.
My current self tanner is a tad more expensive, but it has lasted awhile and there is still plenty left! It’s by St. Tropez, and is a mousse. It is also bronze, so you can see where you have applied it and if there are any streaks to work out. It is always good to apply in a circular motion. Again, let it soak in and dry for about 8 hours before you shower. You can purchase it at Ulta HERE or Amazon HERE. You’ll want to purchase the St. Tropez mitt HERE for application. (If you are ordering from AMAZON , it is an add-on item.) The St. Tropez glove is lined, so you’re able to use it without a latex glove. It’s worth every penny! 
I also like St. Tropez Gradual Tan to prolong my bronze color. You can grab it at Ulta HERE or from Amazon HERE. I have really dry skin, so I mix some of this with my shea butter moisturizer when applying, otherwise I dry out too quickly. 
There you go friend, just in time for summer! Go bronze up…it’ll be our healthy secret that we are truly slathered in sunblock.
I have often wondered why it’s 2018 and I still don’t have a smart closet like the one on the movie Clueless. Remember Cher would get on a computer screen and create her outfit of the day? Be still my organized heart. So, when I heard about Amazon’s new Echo Look, I was thrilled to try it!
The Amazon Echo Look is a hands-free, voice-controlled camera and Style Assistant, it takes full length photos or videos of your look. The quality of photos is amazing, I’ve been super impressed! It has built in LED lighting and a depth-sensing camera that blurs out the background to make your outfit pop. (For the moments it is used as a “selfie stick” for group photos, you can simply edit the photo in the app to take the blur feature away!)
Simply download the app, set up the device and tell Alexia to take a photo or video, it then uploads directly to your phone! Truthfully, my favorite feature on the app is the ability to categorize my favorite looks for future reference on the brain-fog days when I can’t figure out what to wear. It also has a simple feature of creating collections within your wardrobe.
The Style Check feature is so cool! For the days that my fashion-forward gals are slow in answering my desperate text of, “Help! Which one?!”. All you do is upload two options in the app, and it will send you a second opinion from the Amazon Fashion Specialist almost instantly! Currently you can only get the Echo Look with an invitation, request one here! The Look also performs like a normal Echo Dot – playing music, etc.
Dressed for a Safari Themed Party. 🙂 These shoes are some new favorites from Nordstroms, they come in several different colors, if you wanna be twinkies and besties find your size here!
*For future reference, I’ll be sharing most Textured Threads post on our facebook page since this blog is mainly for writing. Click here to like and follow our Textured Soul facebook page for updates on favorite products and deals!
I love highlighter pens. Not just the ones on the school supply list, but the highlighter pens found at Sephora, Ulta, or Nordstorm (free shipping!).
If you were to put me away on a stranded island with one cosmetic…my under eye highlighter/concealer would be put in the bag. (A skin care item would be a good moisturizer with vitamins and sunblock, and chapstick with essential oils added into it. Don’t ask me to choose a book.) Under eye concealer just brightens your whole face, and freshens your whole look.
My love for under-eye brightening began when I worked at Glamour Shots. Yes ma’am, you read that correctly, I was an eighteen year old photographer at Glamour Shots, apparently all you need for the job is to have worked on the yearbook committee in high school. I can slap some sequins on you, fit you with a leather jacket, position your hands to hold the lapels, drop that shoulder, look right here through the camera, and…..Bam! One Saturday we were running behind in makeup, so I jumped behind a chair and started beautifying the customer. Glamour Shot’s secret to brightening those peepers was to coat a cornstarch/baby powder mixture under the eyes. I was hooked.
Here are my current favorites that I always circle back to…I use the first two daily. I usually apply highlighter after foundation and before bronzer. Which could be completely wrong, but…it works for me. Go play at the makeup counter to find your right color. Side note – if you are looking for a concealer for specifically under your eyes, go several shades lighter than your skin color. (Also – if you are over the age of 25, stay away from powders, which seem to gather in the creases of the eye.)
bareMinerals Well Rested Eye & Face BrightenerThis is my first step for brightening under my eyes, as it is so moisturizing. It’s like “butta”. As I creep closer to 40, gravitation pulls me towards all things that moisturize. You’ll love this. Swipe some under your peepers, and dab it in with your finger or a beauty blotter like this one here. If you use the beauty blender, wet it first, then wring it out, so it doesn’t absorb your expensive product.
Step 2: For a little extra coverage, I add just a little of this concealer (in the shade Chantilly) on top of the bareMinerals Well Rested, under my eyes, in between my eyes, and a little down the middle of my nose. On special occasions I’ll dive into the full contouring using this as well. I truly think the secret to blending is dabbing with your fingers. I use to be such a brush snob, and still use them often, but never for this.
Step 3: I found this in a friend’s makeup bag on a trip to Fredericksburg, and loved it. I’ll sometimes feel extra fancy and add a streak of this across the highest portion of my cheekbone. This has a slight shimmer, which I usually stay away from, but it’s not bad. The Cubby Stick is surprisingly moisturizing as well.
What’s your favorite highlighter/concealer? I always love a good recommendation!
xoxo – Brooke
P.S. If you need a Glamour Shots photographer, I’m retired. 😉