my sister swears by...

Even before my blog was published, I knew I wanted to create a space for my big sister, Amy, to share some of her advice when it comes to all things...........well...when it comes to ALL THINGS. Amy and I are 13 months apart, and although we share the same sense of humor, fake British accents and genetic makeup, we are incredibly different. When we were younger, Amy was a quintessential tomboy. She could always be found at the top of a tree or knee deep in a swamp. She's carried that same earthy spirit into her adult life and her approach to beauty reflects that. Her beauty philosophy is almost always minimalist (I've literally never seen her blow out her hair) and she embodies the term au-natural. When I say au-natural, that doesn't mean Amy doesn't wear makeup...even the tomboys among us, need a little help from time-to-time, and I've never known my sister to shy away from a cat-eye when the occasion arises. Amy is a globe-trotting (currently residing in Italy), trend-setting, working mother of two young boys. She strives to look put together and authentic, and yet, half of her beauty routine obsessions can be found at the local pharmacy. The following is a quick list of what my sister swears by and I think you'll swear by them too. Enjoy!

In my sister's words:

1. BareMinerals Complexion Rescue:  Amazingly light, silky and easily spreadable, this bb/cc cream saves the day, every day, transforming my seriously flawed skin into an even-toned oasis. Bonus: It comes in 16 shades, all with an SPF of 30.
2. Maybelline Lash Discovery Mascara: My eyelashes are super fair therefore, sans mascara, I’m a dead-ringer for that guy from the movie Powder. Enter Maybelline’s Lash Discovery, a mascara with a wand so fine it can get right up into those roots and back down again without clumping, making my lashes look ohhh-so-naturale.
3. Godefry Instant Eyebrow Tint: The annoying days of coloring my brows with a brow pen and then checking my damn weather app for rain in the forecast, are a distant memory thanks to Godefry’s Instant Eyebrow tint. For me, this product is a game changer. I just mix it up, apply to my brows and BAM! I’m back in business. The whole process takes about 5 minutes and lasts a month. 
4. Blistex Medicated Lip Balm SPF 15: I don’t do lipstick. Lip balm is a must though and this is the only one I care about. It's lightly scented, smooth, long-lasting and sun-blocking. No frills. Total fulfillment. 
5. Kiehls Gently Exfoliating Body Scrub: This grapefruit-scented, fine scrub gets my late 30-something skin feeling so teenage-y that even I wanna touch me. Enough said. 
6. Shiseido Facial Razors: I’ve got face fuzz, a lot of it, and waxing gives me ingrown hairs. These cool Japanese razors don’t. In fact, shaving with them (yep, shaving) not only eliminates my gross facial hair, but it also exfoliates my skin, leaving it super smooth and prepped for my moisturizer. Lasts about a month. 
7. Olive Oil (any old brand): FOR EVERYTHING…..(at least here in Italy), but especially: dry, unpolished nails. Hold on to those knitting needles cuz I’m about to channel my dead grandmother here… I dab a little on a paper towel, start blotting at the base of my parched nails, moving up to the tips, and marvel in their glorious re-emergence.
8. Bumble and Bumble Creme de Coco: I don't spend money on shampoo- any old thing will do, but when it comes to moisturizing this thick, coarse mane, sky's the limit. Luckily this conditioner doesn't break the bank. I'd buy B&B's Creme de Coco conditioner purely for it's delicious scent-- one so pleasing that when I leave it on my hair, I'm momentarily whisked away to Kokomo. Upon returning, a mere few minutes later, my hair smells beachy and feels straight up sexy. 

There you have it, Amy's easy peasy go-to beauty tips. Stay tuned for more advice from my sis....who, by the way, is currently lounging beside me (in CONNECTICUT for two weeks!!!), maxin and relaxin in my good ol' college pjs pretending like she AIN'T got two crying kids downstairs. But like I always say, ignorance is bliss.