Lavenderwalls & Me...: July Favorites...and One Sad Regret

BUT, I have to say, what helped make July fantabulous were my favorites,...and that is for real! In this past month, I made a lot of discoveries and re-discoveries. I focused on exploring new things, improving with the help of others, and finding joy in some favorites of my past!

Maine Root Handcrafted Beverage- Spicy Ginger Brew

One word...YUM!!! Ginger beer is by far one of my favorite sodas of LIFE...and I'm picky about drinking soda! This particular one by Maine Root is deliciously spicy, which is what I look for in a good, solid ginger beer. It is fair trade certified, and simply made with no yucky ingredients. Although mildly sweet and perfect for summer, beware that this drink does contain a lot of sugar, so if you choose to indulge, indulge in moderation. Go check out Maine Root's website for more inspiring details about this company and its other uniquely delicious flavors!

First off, shout out to my girl Moni!!! All the beauty in the picture above were ALL gifted from her to me through her travels to San Antonio and Austin. I am appreciative of how she understands my love for skulls and one-of-a-kind artsy things! All four pieces were crafted and sold by the wonderful creators we have in Texas - doing what they are passionate about and sharing it with the rest of the community. I'm not sure of the vendors for the yellow skull and the coasters, but the mask came from a Houston-based artist at D&B Funky Creations. I am just loving the way these are fitting into the rest of my home decor!

DERMAdoctor Total Nonscents Ultra-Gentle Brightening Anti-Perspirant

This stuff has been a blessing in my life!!! Maybe a little TMI, but I have struggled to keep my underarms looking vibrant (?)... radiant (?)...normal (?)....I don't know how to describe it. My armpits aren't weird or anything, but I just wanted my skin to look better in that area. So, I was overjoyed and excited beyond belief to try this product upon discovery. In the past month, I have really noticed that my underarms are brighter and more even in tone. However, I do recommend pairing this with a deodorant that is more fit to control odor. I just use the DERMAdoctor after my shower at night, and in the morning, I use whatever deodorant I have on hand. SO, ...if you are going through the same struggle, don't be embarassed. Hop over to Ulta or Sephora and give this a shot!

Philosophy The Microdelivery Triple-Acid Brightening Peel - Dual Action Peel Pads (12ct.)

Something else I have been working on in the month of July has been my embarrassingly ashy elbows. They're inexplicable. They're not pretty. They're just a work in progress. I have tried regular exfoliation. I have tried constant moisturizing...It seemed like nothing was helping my elbows. Then, I was at Sephora one day and came across these pre-saturated peel pads. I had used these before on my face about two years ago, and I remember really liking how they helped improve the appearance of my skin. So, I thought, "Why not for my elbows?" So I did just that. I bought this box, I use a pad about twice a week on my elbows, and I can definitely tell a difference. Like I said, my elbows are still a work in progress. There's still a long way to go, but I think I will continue using this product and hope that one day, just one day, my poor elbows will look normal.

With the amount of traveling I have been doing the last couple of months, these individually wrapped brush wipes are great for a quick refresh! No need to involve water, rinsing, or the time commitment required for your brushes to dry. One thing I will caution is the fact that these wipes leave a oily residue on your brushes. The formula is such so that the towelette doesn't dry up too quickly and allows you to clean off more than one brush. Just make sure to wipe them down with a dry towel or tissue to remove the extra residue and your brushes will be good to go.

I've had these two foundations in my collection for a while, but it wasn't until recently that I have been frequenting both as my go-to summer foundations. Weightless, easy to apply, and beautiful coverage all best describe what to expect when using either one. Both offer a light-medium coverage that is buildable and long-lasting. Vitalumiere Aqua is water-based and has SPF 15, so perfect for looking flawless in the sun. However, if you are attending a special event or taking pictures, you want to ensure that you avoid SPF so not to draw a whitecast or reflective quality in your photos. Therefore, the Genius Gel foundation is a great option, but please note that I advocate some sort of SPF on the face under any other circumstance. Bottomline, these two are both solid foundations for summer and you can't go wrong with either one!

Reunited and it feels SO GOOD! I used to own this product and loved it, but then I heard someone say don't spend the $22 for the same qualities and purpose you get from the Maybelliene Great Lash clear mascara. Whoever that someone was was not completely wrong. I have been using the clear mascara for a couple years now, and it gets the job done. However, as I re-discovered so clearly in recent weeks, the clear mascara just can't compete with the Anastasia brow gel. Here's why. With the brow gel, the formula is not as goopy and thick as the mascara. But more importantly, when paired with the brush/wand, the perfect amount and execution on the brows is really what makes the difference in setting your look. Although not a deal-breaker, I would make the investment if I have the means to.

I GOT CURLS FOR DAYS!!!! No joke! Believe me when I say that there are very few curling irons and wands that can curl my Asian hair and keep it curled for longer than 3 hours - especially if I walk out in the Houston jungle of humidity! Hot Tools makes my favorite heat stylers because they can reach a very high temperature, which is not so great for the hair, but necessary to really get my hair to curl. However, I was having the hardest time getting a hold of their curling wands. Then, being the avid YouTuber viewer that I am, noticed several channels talking and demonstrating the curling wands from Nu-Me and just about every review was positive. In addition, many YouTubers received coupon codes from Nu-Me that offered viewers a very deep discount (I'm talking 60% off) for certain items. The one I got, Curl Jam 3-in-One is pretty awesome.

The set comes with a curling wand base and 3 barrels.

With a quick twist, you easily lock the barrel of your choice into the base, flip the switch, and wait for it to heat up. What's also great is that the cord swivels where it meets the base so you don't get tangled up as you curl your hair.

In addition to the curling wands, this set came with a flat iron! Not as good as Chi straighteners, but it get's the job done.

A word of caution, if I may share... The curling wand gets super incredibly hot, and therefore Nu-Me includes a heat resistant glove to ensure you don't burn your hand while doing your hair. It is up to you to wear it, but I will say when the thing burns you, if this thing burns you, it hurts. Just ask my right forearm =)

Other than that, I LOVE this set!

Bumble & Bumble Thickening Dryspun Finish

One thing I definitely don't want after curling my hair is a rigid overdone appearance. I like to keep my hair looking easy and relaxed but still styled. In comes this spray. Lately, I have been using the curling wand, loosening the waves with my fingers or brush, and then evenly running this product through my hair to help build a volumnized and effortless look and add a beachy texture. This stuff is also great when you want to just liven up second day, straight, flat hair. To be honest, I had a little buyer's remorse when I first purchased the spray thinking that this, like many other products, won't do anything to my hair. Gravely proven wrong, this is probably one of the most used item on my counter!

SAD SAD REGRET!!! - Crest Be Dynamic Lime Spearmint Zest Toothpaste

I am just SO saddened by the fact that this did not work as I wanted it to. The packaging looks vibrant and attractive and the flavor sounded enticing, so much so that I was excited to try this toothpaste. Who gets excited about toothpaste??? Unfortunately, outside of the look of the tube and fairly tasty flavor, this was a dud. Maybe I am used to the foaming action of my Aquafresh toothpaste, but this one by Crest made me feel like I was brushing my teeth with water. Once you brush it onto your teeth, it's like there's nothing there. And if that wasn't annoying enough, this toothpaste does a horrible job at making your mouth feel refreshed. You can taste the light lime flavor, but that is all you will get. So, no. Crest's lime flavored toothpaste was a fail...big UNdynamic fail!