July Favorites

July goodies

Since tomorrow is August 1st (it really is terrifying how fast time starts to go as you get older...), it's time to share my July Favorites.

But I should preface this post by confessing that I've already written about every item on my list before - some of them pretty recently, actually.  I just don't have it in me to fake a favorites list of new items, though.  These were my honest to goodness favorites this month, so I'll share them but just keep the blabbering to a minmum.

Or try to anyway.

I do tend to ramble. 

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream (you can tell how much I used this from all the smudgy fingerprints on the tube... sorry about that!)

My favorite face product this month was definitely the Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream.  In reality, this is pretty much a glorified tinted moisturizer but it has better coverage than most of the others I've tried. It also has SPF35, which is nice for summer (though I do layer it over a dedicated sunscreen SPF50.  But you know me  - totally paranoid about the sun.) And it applies really well with my fingers so I get it in on in a hurry and get out the door.  Perfect product for summer.

The Fair shade also works well on super pale skin, which is also terrific.

Bare Escentuals Ready Shadow Duo in Hidden Agenda

Bare Escentuals Hidden Agenda Duo swatches: Stealth (l.) & Undercover (r.)

A few weeks back, I got the latest installment of a Bare Escentuals TSV with the Ready Shadow Duo in The Hidden Agenda.  I raved about it at the time - well, it's weeks later and I'm still totally obsessed. The duo includes two satin shades - Stealth, a light peach; and Undercover, a deep charcoal.  I feel like it's a somewhat unconventional pairing but the shadows look beautiful together - really sophisticated but subtle. You can buy the duo by itself on the BE website, and it's totally worth the $20.

Adorable packaging alert! Benefit's Coralista & The Balm's Betty-Lou Manizer

Benefit Coralista (l.) & The Balm Betty-Lou Manizer (r.)

Coralista (l.) & Betty-Lou Manizer (r.)

My favorite cheek combination for the month was The Balm's Betty-Lou Manizer and Benefit's Coralista. I mentioned when I got Betty-Lou that it was too dark and orange for me to use as an all-over bronzer, but I love using it over my cheeks bones like a traditional blush for a pretty sun-kissed look. It's so beautifully shimmery that it totally delivers that just at the beach glow.

To really sell the I've been playing in the ocean all day look, though, I add a little bit of Coralista on the apples of my cheeks and blend it into the Betty-Lou. It kind of has that almost-sunburned look that I really like for some reason.

Just perfect for summer.

More super cute packaging! The Balm's Mary-Lou Manizer

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer swatch

When it came to highlighter, I wore the Balm's Mary-Lou Manizer pretty much exclusively in July.  It has a gorgeous golden sheen that I think would work year-round, but there's something especially pretty about it for summer.  In general, I just tend to wear warmer looks this time of year and Mary-Lou works with pretty much all of them.

MAC Pleasure Seeker Lipstick

MAC Pleasure Seeker Lipstick swatch

Finally, my go-to lip color this month was MAC's Pleasure Seeker from the Heavenly Creature collection.  It's just a gorgeous peachy shade - my every month favorite - and it's a glaze finish so it's smooth and easy to wear.

Another perfect shade for summer.

What were your favorites this month?  And am I the only one who's really starting to get excited for the fall?  (It's my favorite season, in case you were wondering.)