Sustainable Swap Goals for 2020

I mentioned in my IG stories, that this year one of my 2020 goals was to make sustainable swaps for everyday items throughout the year. (Click here for the list of my 2020 goals) In order to make this a goal that was easier tracked, I decided to make one swap each month in order to make it easier on my budget and more realistic. Enter my IG story that asked you guys for ideas on what swaps I should do!

You were so helpful and interested in this topic that I decided to make a blog post about it, sharing which items I’ve decided to tackle each. Stay tuned throughout the year because I will most likely share the items that I’ve purchased in order to make these swaps.

January: Last month, I ordered bamboo cotton rounds to replace the disposable cotton rounds I was constantly buying. I ordered them here and love them! They are much larger than a traditional disposable cotton round and great for removing makeup or using toner. I also love that this set of 20 came with a little bag to put them all in so it’s easier to keep track of them when you wash them in the washing machine!

February: This month, I focused on my gym bag since I shower there more during than week than I do at home and travel products can often involve A LOT of plastic. I purchased shampoo/conditioner and soap bars from a local small business that don’t come with any plastic packaging. When trying to come up with a way to carry them, I knew I didn’t want to purchase a travel soap container and wanted to get creative. I decided to use a Stasher bag that I already owned that I accidentally cut with a knife. haha yeah, DON’T do that. Don’t cut on your Stasher bag because you will get mad. However, I’m glad I kept it and was able to re-purpose it for this reason. This month, I also swapped the plastic bottle of hand soap in the bathroom at Mikey’s house for bar soap because it’s one less thing that will require re-purchasing product with plastic packaging.

The rest of the months goals look like the following:

March: Reusable produce bags for grocery shopping

April: Beeswax wraps to replace saran wrap

May: Bar mops/rags for cleaning counter tops to replace paper towel use

June: Trying to incorporate more bulk foods shopping so I am buying less products that normally come in plastic packaging for convenience’s sake

July: Dryer balls to replace dryer sheets.

August: A silicone straw for my keys so that I can use it when out of the house (I already have glass straws for home use)

September: Toothpaste tabs to replace traditional plastic tubes of toothpaste

October: Purchasing silicone bowl covers in place of saran wrap for items that need a tight seal.

November: Purchasing more stasher bags because they are expensive.

December: Still deciding on this one. It’s most likely going to be wrapping all holiday presents using only recycled materials unless I find a sustainable swap that I need to add. Most likely in that case however, it would be in addition to wrapping presents sustainably!

Have you made any of these swaps yourself? What am I missing? Comment below if you have anything to add or any ideas for me to try! Thank you to all of you who shared tips and ideas on Instagram!

Have a wonderful day,

Andrea

Disclosure: Amazon links are Amazon Affiliate links meaning that I make a commission off the purchase of the product through my link. I would never recommend a product that I didn't love and all opinions are my own. I am thankful for you choosing to purchase through my links, as it helps me create more content for Andrea Fontana Beauty. 

Recent Amazon Favorites

I don’t know about you but I love to see the random things people purchase on Amazon and what their favorites are. Here is my list of items I have been very happy with recently.

  1. Bamboo ‘Cotton Rounds"‘:

    As I mentioned on IG, as a way to track one of my 2020 goals of making more sustainable swaps in my everyday life, I am switching up something every month. In January I bought these reusable and machine washable natural bamboo cotton rounds and I love them! They are bigger than disposable cotton rounds which makes them great for removing makeup and applying toner!

  2. Glo Minerals Pencil Sharpener:

    If you love jumbo pencil-type lipsticks, i.e. Nars, Glo Minerals, etc, you need to have one of these pencil sharpeners. It’s the perfect size and works so well!

  3. Glo Minerals Suede Matte Lip Crayons:

    These are my favorite lip products for brides because they look so special, but are never too intense. The formula is perfect for a wedding day because they are comfortable but stay on really well. I love the shades “Monogram” and “Trademark” for my brides.

  4. Conair Fabric Defuzzer:

    This is another ‘gadget’ that every woman needs to own, especially if you are a thrifter! It’s a great way to clean up and bring some loved and pre-worn pieces back to life. Let’s also not forget how satisfying it is to shave your clothes and watch them appear neater. My people who love power washing and vacuuming will get this! haha

  5. Popsocket:

    I have been a faithful popsocket lover for a couple of years now and I have noticed how much more comfortable using my phone is when I have one. It SAVES your pinky. Now that I have the iPhone 11 Pro Max too it’s especially helpful because this phone is huge and heavy.

  6. Book Dart Bookmarks:

    I technically bought these for Mikey for his birthday to go with a book I got him but since the set came with 18, I asked if I could steal one and I am obsessed. If I ever lose mine I will buy my own set, because they are amazing. They are so thin and sleek in your book, but hold your exact line where you leave off…if you are one of those crazy people who can stop reading in the middle of a chapter!!! I am not…haha

  7. Washi Tape:

    There is something about washi tape that makes me super happy. I use it in MANY things. In my planner, to wrap presents, to decorate cards, etc. I just love having a diverse supply of colors so I can always have something that works on hand.

  8. Gold Necklace:

    I bought this necklace to test out the quality and see if I like this trend of many layered gold necklaces and I’m pleasantly surprised with how much I love the quality of it. I was expecting my neck to turn green but thankfully it hasn’t! I never take it off along with my other gold necklace and it still looks beautiful.

  9. Stasher Bags:

    Stasher bags have changed my life and I have several now. I love how I can throw them into the dishwasher to clean them which not all reusable bags can do. They are great quality and I also love that they come in many different colors and shapes. Adding more to my collection is also on my list of sustainable swaps this year!

  10. LED Book Light:

    I have only had this book light for about a week but I’m already obsessed. It grips onto your book easily, is rechargeable with an included USB charger, and it has 3 light settings which are awesome! If you need a book light, I highly recommend this one!

Have you purchased anything from Amazon recently that you love? Tell me in a comment below! I am always curious!

Happy Valentine’s Day,

Andrea

Disclosure: Amazon links are Amazon Affiliate links meaning that I make a commission off the purchase of the product through my link. I would never recommend a product that I didn't love and all opinions are my own. I am thankful for you choosing to purchase through my links, as it helps me create more content for Andrea Fontana Beauty. 

Best Beauty Discoveries of 2019

In the past few years I’ve really tried to become more aware of how many beauty products I’m buying and trying to do more research before purchasing. While the amount that I have been trying has certainly decreased, I still managed to discover some pretty awesome products during 2019. Therefore, I give you my best beauty discoveries of 2019; the products that stand out and I continued to love after many uses.

  1. Weleda Skin Food Light

    I have talked about the Weleda Skin Food moisturizer many times on my blog, but in May I received the Light version (which I didn’t even know had come out!) for my birthday and I have used it for most of the year. For those of you who love the original Skin Food but want something lighter for the summer or because you are on the oilier side, I highly recommend trying the Light version. Same amazing smell!

  2. The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane

    I am super hesitant to use too much Retinol and too high of a percentage, but when I visited the Deciem store in Chicago this past September, I was really excited to find this Retinol suspension in Squalane oil. It’s way gentler on the skin but I still feel like it’s smoothing and perfecting the texture of my skin, including my mini wrinkles starting to form on my forehead (hello 30, I see you coming in 4 months…)

  3. The Ordinary 100% L-Ascorbic Acid Powder

    I was also really excited to discover this L-Ascorbic Acid Powder for another affordable price during my Deciem trip. Ascorbic Acid is Vitamin C and some Vitamin C products don’t end up being very effective because the shelf life of Vitamin C can be compromised when in liquid form. I love being able to control when I use the Vitamin C (I mix it in with my Weleda Skin Food Light during the day). Remember, Vitamin C is really important to use during the day because it is an Antioxidant and helps boost the protection of your SPF!

  4. Hylamide SubQ Mist

    Yet, another Deciem visit discovery, except this time in their product range Hylamide that is a price point higher than The Ordinary. I am obsessed with this toning mist as a pH balancer, hydrator and it just feels amazing after cleansing my skin. I love the rose aroma.

  5. Kaja Moon Crystal Sparkling Eye Pigment in Rose Quartz

    If you’re looking for an every day, one swipe cream eyeshadow product, look no further than this one from Kaja at Sephora. They have many different shades and the product is perfect for every day wear. They are all sparkly shades, but are so beautiful either on their own or paired with another eyeshadow on top!

  6. Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask in Smashed

    I was reluctant to put this one on my list because it looks like they have reformulated but this is one of my top products of the year FOR SURE. The smell of this product is amazing and it hydrates my lips unlike anything I’ve every tried before. I love the Smashed shade because it gives just a hint of rosy tint to make the lips look naturally healthy. I love using it as an every day lip balm, but also on my brides who don’t want a lipstick on their wedding day, but still want their lips to look nice and natural. Fingers crossed that when it comes back in stock, they haven’t changed the formula or gotten rid of the shade Smashed!

  7. Invisibobble Hair Ties

    I’m officially an Invisibobble convert. I am obsessed with these hairties, and while I initailly tried the knock off brand first, I can truly tell a difference with the actual Invisibobble brand hair ties. They don’t stretch out as easily and they feel more secure in my hair. I wear these every day for running, cycling, and every day use.

  8. Moda Brushes

    One of the best discoveries I made in 2019 was finding a new brand of brushes that I absolutely love. I have my friend Jodi to thank for this, as she introduced me when she started working for the company so SHOUTOUT to Jodi! I love how durable, soft and light all are the brushes are from Moda that I’ve tried. They wash and hold up well. I initially started using them on clients at weddings to test them out and not only did I love how they were performing but I was getting so many compliments on how nice they felt on my clients’ faces! They are also SUPER affordable. If you click the link in the title above, you can save 10% off!

  9. Physician’s Formula Butter Highlighters

    I certainly fell in love with these highlighters early in the year and used them throughout 2019. I love how natural they look on the skin; not gliterry by any means. They also last all day on the skin. I even gifted quite a few of these to friends because I loved them so much. All of the shades are awesome, but I love the Champagne one most.

  10. Loreal True Match LUMI Glotion

    It is no secret that I fell in LOVE with Glotion this year. I went through many bottles and mixed it into my foundation 99% of the time I was wearing makeup. I love how it mixes with foundations, looks great under foundation, or even on it’s own! I like the light shade because of the pink tones and I can’t recommend it enough if you like a dewy and glowing skin look.

  11. Pixi Glow Mud Mask

    I have tried a LOT of charcoal, gray looking masks to clean the impurities out of my skin, but none have every worked as well as this one. One of the coolest parts is that you can see where your problem spots are as it’s drying. To me this shows that it’s actually drying and pulling out the impurities if it can recognize the troubled spots. I received this one as a gift from Pixie, but I was so excited to receive it because I had been wanting to try it. I wasn’t disappointed when I started using it.

  12. Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm

    I rarely discover lip balms that I like because I’m super picky and here I am with two for the year! This one came in a kit, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have tried it out. It is super expensive for a lip balm and how much of it you get, but I love this one. It feels so good on and I can tell it is actually moisturizing my lips, not just coating them and making them more chapped.

  13. The Ordinary Coverage Foundation

    For the price of this foundation, I didn’t think there was a chance I was going to love it, but boy do I! It is the perfect mix of coverage, while still looking natural. It builds well and mixes with my Glotion if I want it to be more luminous of a finish (it has a pretty satin/matte finish). Highly recommend giving it a shot if you’re looking for a good and affordable foundation.

Did you discover any products this year? What stood out to you? Tell me below so we can all share our recommendations!

Have a great day,

Andrea

Disclosure: Amazon links are Amazon Affiliate links meaning that I make a commission off the purchase of the product through my link. I would never recommend a product that I didn't love and all opinions are my own. I am thankful for you choosing to purchase through my links, as it helps me create more content for Andrea Fontana Beauty. 

The Glow Mud Mask from Pixie was sent for PR purposes, however all opinions are my own and I was not paid to talk about this product.

Current Favorites

Beauty

  1. Bobble Hair ties: I have been so curious about the Invisi-bobble hair ties that I have been seeing everywhere. People swear by them, but for some reason I just didn’t understand the hype. This past Sunday I went to the Grand Opening Sale for Apricot Lane Jackson and I noticed that they sold them indiviually for $1 so I knew it was a great time to try them! I am so obsessed now. They even pass the test for when I’m running. I think it’s some kind of sorcery because they hold my hair back so well and tightly, yet you cannot feel them. They are SO comfortable on my head. The only thing that I notice is that they do crease my hair a little, which they claim not to do, but I don’t really care about that because I’m so obsessed with the comfort.

  2. Milani Baked Blushes: If you do not own at least one of these baked blushes you are seriously missing out on one of my favorite drugstore makeup products EVER. Luminoso is a cult favorite because it’s a stunning peach glow but I’ve recently fallen in love with Rose D’Oro because of the slightly deeper color and gold shimmer. They are long wearing and have SO many colors. Plus who can go wrong with that price?!

  3. Physician’s Formula Murumuru Butter Highlighters: Another standout find from the drugstore are these butter highlighters. The texture is a cross between a mousse and powder. They blend so easily on the skin, last so long, and are the perfect amount of glow. If you don’t like glittery highlighters, you should definitely check one of these out. I’ve been loving ‘Champagne’ which is a gold shade, but the other shades are pretty too.

Fashion

  1. Chiringuitas Sandals: I have been so obsessed with these sandals that my dad bought me back from Brasil for my birthday. They are the most comfortable flats I’ve ever owned. They don’t rub and I don’t get blisters from them if I walk a long distance in them. They feel like one of those shoes that get more comfortable the longer you wear them. I’m not sure if you can get them in the US, but I do know that they are similar to the Pons Shoes and you can get those easier here. You can see the pair I’m obsessed with in the photo above!

  2. Acrylic Earrings: I don’t have a link for the pair I have specifically because I bought them in Grand Rapids at Rebel GR. I wanted to share them though because I love how light they are for summer. I have one ripped earlobe, so I can only wear stud earrings that are big enough to cover the hole/rip but light enough to not pull on the rip. Sorry if this is TMI. haha It’s a serious struggle though! If you can get to Grand Rapids check out all of the lovely earrings they sell. If you are not able to get to GR, I highly suggest looking into a pair of acrylic earrings if you like funky statement earrings that are light and comfortable to wear!

  3. Levi’s: I can’t get enough of them! I own three pairs now that all have been thrifted for under $7 each! I love the higher waist and relaxed fit. They are so much more comfortable than the jeans I have been wearing. I also love that they aren’t crazy stretchy and tight so I feel like they breathe a little bit better in the summer. I have been obsessed with my black pair especially that I cut to ankle length and frayed because they are slightly wider legged at the bottom. I highly recommend checking out your local thriftstores if you want to score some already broken in, comfortable, yet stylish Levi’s.

  4. Sun Jellies bag: I am absolutely obsessed with my large white bag that I got again at Rebel GR. It’s the perfect summer bag. I’ve used it as a pool bag, a produce bag at the grocery store, a regular purse, and more! It’s so versatile. As you can see in the photo above, I jazzed mine up with a little vintage thrifted scarf. I use a Glossier pouch to put all of my small important things like medications, my wallet, etc. This way I have a little privacy if someone were to look into my bag (since it doesn’t close and is see-through haha).

Lifestyle

  1. Silk Sleep Eye Mask: I used to sleep with an eye mask every night but that was probably over 10 years ago. In June, with all of the rain and thunderstorms we saw here in Michigan, I was struggling with really bad tension headaches and migraines. I happened to stumble upon this mask and it has changed my sleep at night and helped with headaches. It looks like a simple black silk eye mask, but the insert comes out so you can freeze it. When I get a bad headache or migraine, I need darkness, pressure and something cool over my eyes. I used to use a wet washcloth, but I hated how it always moved around and got stuff wet. Enter this eye mask and it exerts just the right amount of pressure on my orbital bones to help with the headaches. I also have been loving it for warm summer nights, to cool me off so I can get to sleep easier.

  2. Welly Bandages: I discovered these on IG and due to an unfortunate finger injury, I picked up a few different ones on a Target trip and I love them for multiple reasons. First the patterns are fun. I don’t know about you, but plain beige band-aids are gross and boring to me. Second, I love the tins that they come in. They are definitely perfect to be reused later to hold small items in your purse. Lastly, I love that you can buy different kinds for different uses. They have a set for fingers and toes, a waterproof set, ones just for blisters, hydro-colloid blemish bandages. Plus they are called Bravery Badges, which I think is a really great name if you’re buying them for your kids.

What have you been loving recently? Have you tried anything that I mentioned above? As always, I look forward to your comments on this post!

Have a great weekend,

Andrea

Disclosure: Amazon links are Amazon Affiliate links meaning that I make a commission off the purchase of the product through my link. I would never recommend a product that I didn't love and all opinions are my own. I am thankful for you choosing to purchase through my links, as it helps me create more content for Andrea Fontana Beauty.

S.O.S. #5: Common Beauty Mistakes You Need to Know About

I have missed writing my Science of Skincare (S.O.S.) posts, so I’m back today with one that I think everyone needs to read! If you have ideas for future S.O.S. topics you want me to tackle, please leave a comment below or message me with your idea. To see previous S.O.S. posts click here.

In this new world of influencers it can be difficult to distinguish who we can trust to get our information from. My recommendation is to ALWAYS do your research yourself. Even if you’re getting your information from ME! haha You know yourself best. If someone is constantly promoting specific brands but doesn’t seem to know much about the product, etc, be wary of what they are saying and look into the product a little further before you purchase it.

These warnings are what have inspired this post. While I am a complete product junkie at heart, I also have a license in skincare and a bachelor’s degree in Human Biology. I am constantly seeing people promoting products and giving wrong information. Am I perfect? NO WAY! But I am always thinking of what I can do to teach healthier skincare so I want to give tips where I can for those who want to learn!

With that being said, here are some common beauty mistakes that I’ve recently seen on social media that I want to talk about. At the very least, I hope you learn from this how easy it is to spread bad information and to think twice before doing what the internet tells you, (even including this post)!

Mistake #1: You don’t need an SPF during the day if you put on an exfoliating product at night.

I often see people talking about how you should put exfoliating products on at night because if you use them during the day, you need to wear an SPF with them…while technically it’s true that you need an SPF during the day if you apply them, you still need one if you apply it at night! This means if you apply an exfoliating product (i.e. scrubs, toners, chemically exfoliating night mask, etc) you need to wear your SPF for DAYS afterwards, even if you only apply it once. (P.S. that shouldn’t be a big deal though because you wear your daily SPF though….right?! haha). Let’s dive into this a little further.

The reason you use these products at night is because while you are sleeping your body does most of it’s repairative work. So your expensive serums and moisturizers are best to be used at night. We often exfoliate at night before applying these products so that we get better product penetration and max effectiveness.

When you exfoliate your skin you are ridding the top surface of it, from dead skin cells. This means you are exposing fresher, newer cells that haven’t been exposed to the sun. THIS is the reason you need to be wearing your SPF consistently after an exfoliation. It’s not like the exfoliating ingredients are going to magically make you burn if the sun hits them.

If this process doesn’t make sense to you…PLEASE message me and I can explain this further. Sun protection is the NUMBER ONE way to prevent damaging and aging your skin.

Mistake #2: Using a mist a the end of a skincare routine.

I get that mists are a big thing right now, and they can be extremely beneficial for hydration and calming your skin, but if you apply them after moisturizing, you’re wasting the product. Light mists simply cannot penetrate over products with a thicker viscosity. When structuring your skincare routine, you want to use the thinnest products first, and move towards thicker ones, leaving your oils and heavy creams for the end. They will have such a hard time absorbing and won’t give you the skincare benefits you are thinking you are getting.

Mistake #3: Rubbing my face is the best way to apply products.

The way in which you apply a product can often be JUST as important as the product you are applying. Think about how often you do your skincare routine. For most of us, that is twice a day. If you are pulling on your skin twice a day, over time that is going to leave some serious damage to your skin. We already have to do so much to combat aging, why add to it?

Overall you need to be doing more patting and less rubbing when applying, but if you want to know the proper way to apply different types of products, PLEASE read my post “How to Touch Your Face” here. I think this one is really important. When in doubt, always remember to use less pressure and move in an upward and outward direction.

Remember, take everything you read on the internet with a grain of salt, ESPECIALLY when it comes to your health. Do your research. Not everything works the same for everyone. But learn to establish good habits for yourself. You owe it to yourself.

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea

Alert the press! I'm actually talking about hair! (...plus a Formulate + Co. Giveaway)

You read that right. I, Andrea Fontana, am talking about hair today. Why is this weird? I don’t know much about hair. I know I work in the beauty industry, but I’m an esthetician which means I am NOT licensed in hair, and honestly don’t know much about hair because it really doesn’t interest me.

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I’m excited to be collaborating with a haircare company that is changing the game and making shopping for shampoo and conditioner easy for even the hair incompetent like ME! I personally have very straight and easy to manage hair. I can take a shower, let it air dry, and not have to straighten, de-frizz, curl, or any of the other things so many women do. I know how lucky I am, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have areas I want my hair to improve. My hair can be dry in the winter, have dandruff issues, get staticky (is that a word? haha), get greasy at the roots, lie super flat, and more.

I was so excited when Formulate + Co, emailed me and wanted to do a collaboration, mainly because I never know what I’m looking for when I’m shopping for new shampoo and conditioner. I love how the process was completely custom yet super easy…there’s even an app for it!

Either download the app, or visit their website and you can begin the process. I told them where I live (genius if you ask me, since weather can be so determining in hair health), the current status of my hair, whether I colored it (I have never), and what improvements I’d like to see. I even got to pick my scent and decided how strong I wanted it to be (yes! it’s THAT custom).

So here’s what I chose for my hair goals:

  • Prevent thinning (I mean doesn’t hurt right? haha)

  • Lengthen

  • Oil Control

  • Volumize

  • Hydration

Then, I chose to the scent Freshly Squeezed (a sweet orange delicious citrus scent) and chose to have it strongly scented because I looooove citrus smells!

Overall, I’m obsessed with my shampoo and conditioner. I try to only wash my hair every few days and ever since I started using these custom products I’ve been able to wash about every 3-4 days which is great! I do use dry shampoo sometimes if I’ve worked out and want to ‘clean’ my hair, but I really feel like I’ve noticed help with my oil control, yet my hair has felt hydrated. I honestly haven’t noticed much static in my hair which could be that it hasn’t been extremely cold yet this winter, but who knows!

Here are some other details that I love about this process:

  • All shampoos/conditioners are always sulfate-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, & cruelty-free. They are technically not vegan because they source their keratin from wool, but if you want it formulated vegan you can get it that way!

  • If you want to make changes to your next bottle, it’s really easy to control your settings in the app or on the website.

  • If you want to omit certain ingredients because you’re vegan, allergic, etc, you can ask them to not add them! (Super cool)

  • The packing is beautiful in your shower and I love that they have pumps! This made transferring to my travel bottles really easy for showers at my gym.

Now for the exciting part… Formulate + Co is giving away a free custom Shampoo & Conditioner set to one of my readers! All you have to do is click the link below to enter! (The giveaway closes on December 26th at midnight so hurry up and enter ASAP!) Even if you don’t win, you will receive a $5 off coupon for entering, so I highly encourage entering!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

I purposely wanted to end this giveaway around Christmas to be able to gift one of you an extra gift this year! Thank you to everyone who reads my blog and supports Andrea Fontana Beauty all year long. You guys are the best and I am so grateful!

Have a beautiful day and GOOD LUCK!

Andrea

July Favorites

I'm back with favorites and I'm excited to share the ones I have this month. I polled you guys over on Instagram and while a lot of you like the video format from last month, most of you prefer the written format, so I'll probably return to this format and film a YouTube favorites video every so often. 

This month is short but sweet, but I hope you enjoy it.

The only skincare product that is new to me recently is this Green Apple Brightening Gel Cleanser by Juice Beauty.  When I went through my skincare product detoxification, my cleanser rated so high on Think Dirty. This one is a ZERO and I love it. I feel like I've hit the jackpot. It's loaded with antioxidants which is really important in protecting your skin. The brightening is due to the citric (lemon) and malic (apple) acids! I love how this has left my skin feeling cleansed well (coconut oils) and brightened. I highly recommend it if you are someone who struggles with an uneven skin tone.

Every spring/summer I seem to revisit my lipstick collection and pick out lipsticks that I forgot about. This one from Maybelline (Shade 945: "Stormy Sahara" is one I realized that I've never talked about but is a classic shade from them. If you're a light/medium skin tone and looking for a good rosy/nude check this one out. 

This next favorite is also a lip product but on the higher end. Back in the spring when I did a Sephora and Ulta haul I mentioned this NARS Power Matte Lip Pigment in 'Walk This Way'. I am so amazed by the formula of these. They feel like water going on, but are packed with pigment and go on so easily. They dry down to being virtually undetectable and wear so nicely on the lips. I love this shade too, because it's just enough of a pop of color to be noticeable but isn't obnoxious and bright. 

My last beauty favorite is a nail polish that has been the only thing on my toes for the past year. The color looks especially great in the summer. I'm not sure if you can still get it anywhere besides this website I found, but the Essie Metallics Collections in 'Nothing Else Metals" is the best shade. It's a silver/lavender shade that looks so great on toes. It matches everything and really looks great with a tan in the summer. 

A food favorite for the month is one that I tried a long time ago. I can't remember where I tried this brand for the first time, but when I went on Amazon to buy them I ended up getting this variety pack that was AMAZING! These bars are free of the top allergies; peanut, dairy, gluten, tree nut, soy, egg, fish, shellfish, & sesame. While I try to stay away from processed snacks, these are relatively clean and I like them every once in a while especially now that I'm gluten free. The Chocolate Chip crispy squares and Strawberry granola minis were definitely my two favorites, but I really enjoyed all the flavors. 

So those are my favorites from the month of July! I told you they were going to be short and sweet! What have you been loving? Leave a comment below and let me know.

Have a great August,

Andrea

Disclosure: Amazon links are Amazon Affiliate links meaning that I make a commission off the purchase of the product through my link. I would never recommend a product that I didn't love and all opinions are my own. I am thankful for you choosing to purchase through my links, as it helps me create more content for Andrea Fontana Beauty.

June Favorites (Beauty)

Well it's officially the beginning of a new month which means it's favorites time! I'm changing things up this month and decided to do my favorites as a video instead of a blog post! Leave me a comment below if you prefer watching instead of reading my favorites! Thank you for watching! Also make sure to comment below what your favorite products were this month! 

Here are the products and links I mentioned in order of appearance:

NYX Honey Dew Me Up Primer https://amzn.to/2zd0UE3

NYX Dewy Finish Makeup Setting Spray https://amzn.to/2NwZFD4

Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow https://amzn.to/2tVa6rW

Jordan Samuel Skin etOILe with Retinol Treatment Oil https://jordansamuelskin.com/products...

Coola Suncare Organic Sunless Tanning Anti-Aging Face Serum https://amzn.to/2lUofAY

Pacifica Rose Flower Hydromist with Kombucha https://amzn.to/2KzCZ7k

Acure Argan Oil & Pumpkin Shampoo and Conditioner https://amzn.to/2tUKdbM

Burt's Bees Milk and Honey Body Lotion https://amzn.to/2MTD56v

 FTC: All products were purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own.

Disclosure: Amazon links are Amazon Affiliate links meaning that I make a commission off the purchase of the product through my link. I would never recommend a product that I didn't love and all opinions are my own. I am thankful for you choosing to purchase through my links, as it helps me create more content for Andrea Fontana Beauty. This does not affect the price that you pay.

Have a wonderful start to July,

Andrea

Changing things up this month and decided to do my favorites as a video instead of a blog post! Leave me a comment below if you prefer watching instead of reading my favorites! Thank you for watching! Also make sure to comment below what your favorite products were this month!

Dre Does DONATING!

I've never been so excited to post on Dre Does. Don't get me wrong, I love my makeup, but today's post is something special.

If you know me personally you know how much I love my hair. I was blessed with silky, smooth, easy to deal with and straight hair... (Thanks mom and dad!) I don't have to use heat on it unless I want curls, so it barely gets damaged and grows super quickly. Basically my whole life I've had medium to long hair...mostly super long hair to my waist though if I'm going to be honest. I'm the girl who freaks out when I have to get a trim because I hated losing any length. It was the one thing I was always known for; long, dark, healthy hair, so it became a security blanket in a way for me.

I will be turning 25 in a few short weeks and I got to thinking. I don't know if it was a quarter life crisis or what, but I wanted to do something different with it. I started looking at pictures of shorter haircuts and I realized something. I am so freaking blessed to hit 25 and be able to choose what my hair will look like. There are so many women my age and even younger that are diagnosed with cancer and may not get to see what 25 looks like. For this reason I decided I would chop off enough to donate my hair to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program. I feel like it's a birthday gift to not only myself and I couldn't be happier! 

Pantene Beautiful Lengths is a wonderful program that donates wigs for FREE to women undergoing cancer treatment. They can only accept hair that hasn't been chemically treated so I knew I had to donate mine. I have proudly never even gotten a single highlight on this head in my 25 years and knew that since most women can't say that, I should do my part! I highly suggest checking out the program especially if you don't color your hair. Grow it out and let it be a part of something that will bring a smile to another woman's face. As women we have to empower and support each other and I think this is a great way to support those going through difficult journeys. 

Click the link below to visit the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program, check out the requirements and more!

Pantene Beautiful Lengths 

Now for some pictures! Shout out to LC the greatest stylist in the world and a wonderful friend. I showed her 18 million pictures, described something that made no sense, and she somehow managed to give me the exact cut I had pictured in my head. You are so beautiful and talented!

This is me pretending that I wasn't freaking out on the inside. 


This is a facial expression that more realistically shows how I was feeling. 


When it's going to a good cause you can't help but smile from ear to ear!


Thank you LC!!



And what's a new haircut without a selfie to show it off better!

LC also recommended some new products for my hair and once I've mastered my favorite way of getting this beachy and messy style myself I will be sure to update you all on how I do it and what I use.

My friends please consider donating your hair! I've decided that for every year I'm lucky enough to be on this earth I'd like to donate my time or money in a different way; a way to give back and turn getting older into something exciting. Leave your suggestions for any ideas and please send me your pictures if you too donate your hair!!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre






Dre Does April Favorites

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Can we forget about the fact that I missed March favorites? Great! Let's get to the good stuff! The end of April means tomorrow begins May. Happy May to all of my fellow May babies out there! Isn't it the best month of the year? ;)

Korres Lip Butter and Lip Butter Glaze in Pomegrante: Ok, I try not to buy into the hype of all the products I read about on the internet but when I came across a four-pack of Korres products at my local Marshall's for $12, I figured the universe was sending me magical beauty signs. These two products are full size and retail for at least $12 each. Sadly it looks like the Lip Butter Glazes are discontinued but you can find them on eBay and amazon still. I'm obsessed with these both. They are both extremely smooth and buttery on the lips and I can see why people are so obsessed with them. I love the original Lip Butter for a sheer coral tint and the Glaze gives a slightly more pigmented coral look. The colors are beautiful and the texture is devine. Wish me luck in not buying every shade.

NYX Butter Gloss in Angel Food Cake: Clearly I have a thing for products with the name Butter (Paula Deen would be so proud!) The absolute perfect 'your lips but better' shade for every skin tone. It's like a nude slightly more amped up with a nice mauve undertone. All of these glosses are an amazing smooth texture and the color payoff is great. I own at least 7 of them I believe and I love them all,  I just always make sure to have this shade on hand! 

'The New Classic' by Iggy Azalea: I preordered this album the second I heard Fancy for the first time and the rest of it is nothing short of amazing. I love her attitude, fashion, music, etc. Beyoncé can be the queen but Iggy is most certainly the Goddess. Listen now friends.

La Roche Posay's Thermal Spring Water: I was in Sephora one afternoon picking out a toner and the beauty advisor recommended this thermal water in place of one. Normally I think they're just pushing products but since you cannot buy this in Sephora, I figured it must be a good product and I continued further research at home. I bought a massive bottle on amazon and I'm loooooving it. It has Selenium in it which has natural healing and antioxidant properties. I want to use it a little longer before I do a full review but expect that in the next few weeks.

Amika products and Digital Thermal Styler: Incase you missed my last post, I reviewed four Amika hair products and this styler that I recently picked up at America's Beauty Show in Chicago. It's nothing short of a love affair. Click here to see that post since it goes much more in depth!

Sam & Libby for Target Flats: These are my new go to spring flats. I purchased them months ago in January at Target and I can't get enough of them. The design is super comfortable and they go with everything. The base color is black but there is a metallic gold sheen to them that jazzes them up a bit. I especially love the little spikes on the heels. This is my current favorite cut of flat because the top comes up far enough so they stay on your feet yet don't rub anywhere. I hate having to break in flats and getting blisters but these so far keep me blister-free!

I hope you all had a wonderful April and are ready for my favorite month of the year! Happy May friends!

Have a beautiful day, 
Dre


Dre Does an Amika Review


I don't even know where to begin when it comes to this brand, so let's just begin with how I discovered it! When I was at America's Beauty Show in Chicago a few weeks ago, we kept seeing people walking around with bags that had this beautiful flower print. I noticed that they said Amika and since many booths were giving out free bags, I told my friends we needed to find the Amika booth and get our hands on these beautiful bags! When we found the booth we were greeted by a beautiful eye catching display and really friendly Amika representatives. All of a sudden we were offered free stuff and the opportunity to try out products and get our hair done. We obviously jumped on the offer and I immediately fell in love the products and the styling tools. The Obliphica line is centered around the Sea Buckthorn Berry (aka Obliphica) which grows in Siberia, one of the harshest climates, and is loaded with antioxidants, essential amino acids, beta-carotene, Omegas, flavonoids, and Vitamins C and E. I ended up purchasing a dry shampoo, texture spray, heat protecting hair serum, hairspray, and straightener. 

Perk Up Dry Shampoo
This is the product that initially drew me into the line. I am so picky about my dry shampoos and before this one I was never happy with what I was using. As a brunette I hate the white cast that they generally leave, but the thing I hate most is the dirty feeling that is left after spraying them into your hair. This dry shampoo however is amazing! I will never use anything else. The clear formula makes it a breeze to apply and work with and I'm being 100% honest when I say you can't feel anything in your hair. This is because this dry shampoo, unlike most that are out there, contains no aluminum shavings so your hair still feels clean after you use it! They use a rice starch to absorb oils instead, leaving your hair feeling soft and clean instead of heavy and dirty! This also helps you get more volume which is something I am always trying to achieve.

Undone Texture Spray
I've never been a fan of adding any product to my hair when I curl it because it typically weighs my hair down, dries it out, or makes it feel dirty. This texture spray is a serious game changer. With no salt in it, it definitely won't dry your hair out. It also uses zeolite, a natural mineral, to build serious volume. Once again you can't feel this product in your hair which is my favorite thing about the line. I really like adding this to day two curls because it refreshes them and makes them look put together again. I also love spraying it in before I do a top knot bun to give my hair that extra texture to make a bigger and better bun! 

Heat Defense Serum
We should always use a heat protectant before heat styling and I love this one. It's light and doesn't make my hair greasy. Free of parabens and artificial colorings, it is 95% silicones to protect your hair from heat damage. It's also great at taming frizz, which is necessary as we're approaching summer! I apply it when my hair is still damp, even if my hair is just going to be air drying. Sometimes I'll even use the tiniest amount to smooth random fly always or frizz if I'm wearing it straight or curly. 

Touchable Hairspray
If you like a strong but flexible hairspray that doesn't feel crunchy, this is it! It doesn't dry your hair out and does a great job of holding styles. The Obliphica is not only great for your hair but it helps give your hair shine as well. It goes on dry, which is really unique and awesome too. 

All of these products have the amazing Obliphica smell which is to die for. Your hair will smell amazing even going into day two. I couldn't be happier that I tried all of these products out! I would recommend all of them for everyone but if I had to pick two favorites I would definitely say the dry shampoo and the texture spray. They are life changing for someone who wants good smelling, good for your hair, clean, and light products. 

Digital Titanium Heat Styler
This is a miracle straightener! I can completely curl my entire head in 10-15 minutes with curls that will last at least 2 days! I've never been able to do this before so this has made getting ready in the morning quicker and more fun! The negative ions seal the hair cuticle creating smooth and silky curls. It also heats up in about 5 seconds which is insane. I got a ridiculously great deal at the hair show, so I paid less than half the price for this, but even at its original price I recommend it if you're looking for a new styling tool!

Overall, these products and the styling tool have made my hair look amazing. Now I don't have extremely damaged hair because I've never dyed it and don't normally heat style it that often, so my hair is healthy to begin with. However, the Amika products have taken my hair to the next level, making me look like I just got a blowout at the salon, when in reality it took me 20 minutes at most in my own bathroom. You can visit the Amika website at www.loveamika.com to learn more about the products and tools. You can also use a salon locator to find where you can purchase products near you! 

Have a beautiful day,

Dre




Dre Does an Ipsy Review

I'm back with a review on my March Ipsy Glambag and it was an awesome bag this month! I only received four products compared to the normal amount of five, but as you'll see in the totals later, this didn't decrease the value of the bag at all. Three out of four of the brands were higher end products which is great to see! Below is a summary of all the products and the bag.

The bag this month was really unique and featured the artwork of the artist Klari Reis. The design was inspired by the neighborhoods of San Francisco and I love the unique print. I think this is an awesome aspect of this months bag! 
First product up is the Marvelous Moxie Lipstick by bareMinerals in the shade Get Ready. It's a great natural shade that will look good on most skin tones, as it isn't extremely cool or warm. I absolutely love the formula of this lipstick and would definitely look into purchasing more after trying this mini one. As a typical woman I'm obsessed with the cute little size of this lipstick and I think it's a great shade and size to keep in your purse for everyday wear since it can match any makeup look and outfit choice. This 1.5g mini lipstick is valued at $7.71 (full size is $18). 
Next up is the Chella Felt Tip Eyeliner in Indigo Blue. It claims to be water resistant, smudge proof, and stain resistant as well, while being free of parabens which is awesome. While I found all of these claims to be true when I wore it, I did have a problem with the application using the felt tip. When you swatch it on the back of your hand it has great flow and pigmentation, but when you hold it up to your eye to draw a wing like I did, I found the tip didn't get enough saturation so it took a long time to get an exact fine tip to my wing. The color is gorgeous however and I received many compliments on it, so I'll definitely keep testing it out! This is a full size product valued at $24! This brings the total so far to $31.71.
Next I received a Love in Rio Eyeshadow Trio from NYX Cosmetics in the shade Voodoo Love Spells. I really like these shades. It's a great little everyday palette as there are two mattes (the darker shades) and one shimmer (the lightest). While these shadows aren't the most pigmented that I've ever tried from NYX, they are still good for that everyday eye look. This is the full size palette and it's value is $6.00, bringing my bag total to $37.71 so far!
Pixi is a brand that I always seem to swatch and look at when I'm in Target, but due to their larger price tag (for Target) I have never actually bought anything from the line before. I'm a sucker for face primers so I was really excited to see this really deluxe sized sample in my Glambag. It has a great sheen to it but it doesn't make you look oily. It doesn't have that silicon texture that a lot of primers have (i.e. Smashbox photo finish and Benefit's Porefessional) so if you don't like that, I recommend trying this one out. It has a subtle pink undertone to it, but it doesn't show up when blended out on your skin. I really like the smooth texture it gives my skin before applying my foundation. This deluxe sized sample is valued at $9.00 so my grand total value of my March Ipsy Glambag is $46.71! This is an awesome value for only getting 4 products! It's the second highest valued bag that I've gotten so far! Good job Glambag :) 

As usual I've linked my previous month's bags and my link to sign up if you're interested! 


Have a beautiful day,

Dre