5 PRODUCTS I AM LOVING.

1. BENEFIT 'ERASE PASTE' | 2. LIP FUSION XXL | 3. OLAY REGENERIST | 4. GRANDE LASH | 5. TARTE 'SMOOTH OPERATOR'

It's been a while since I did a product haul! These 5 items are currently in heavy rotation in my beauty routine. In fact, I have been using all of them for a few months now (some even longer!) and they are all products that yield real results for me that I would highly recommend to friends & fam...aka you guys. HI! Lemme break it down.

1. BENEFIT 'ERASE PASTE': This stuffff. You guys. My friend Ashley introduced me to this little miracle worker and I love it so much. It covers the puffiest and most tired of eyes. Sometimes I wear just this on a day off and I feel totally fine showing my face in public. I got it in 'Fair' because I like for my under-eye area to be lighter than the rest of my face.

2. LIP FUSION XXL: I ordered this pretty recently and have been using it religiously. It makes your lips plump almost instantly, but my favorite part about it is that it has long-lasting effects giving you fuller lips the longer you use it. All about those Kylie Jenna lips.

3. OLAY REGENERIST MOISTURIZER: I have been using Olay for-ev-er. I used to sneak pumps of my mom's night cream when I was little and now it is a constant staple in my routine. I have pretty dry skin so I definitely need moisturizer, but I hateee to feel greasy. This is heavy enough to use at bedtime, but also light enough that I can use it in the morning under my make-up. Plus, you can just scoop it from CVS. Love a good drugstore buy.

4. GRANDE LASH SERUM: I have raved about this before, but I am still loving it and still seeing results so I had to include it in this post! I use this at night before bed and I swear you guys, my lashes are so long that even the girl that does my eyebrows asked if I had lash extensions. It works.

5. TARTE 'SMOOTH OPERATOR': This is another fave I have had for as long as I can remember. I apply it with this brush after I put on my foundation and concealer, but before my bronzer. It sets everything, removes shine and keeps my make-up in place longer.

So there you have it. Also, I have been thinking about doing a make-up tutorial. Any interest? Ooh you girls keep me young. Kisses!

GIFT GUIDE FOR HER: UNDER $100.

1. R+F SUNLESS TANNER / 2. BEAUTY COUNTER CLEANSER + BEAUTY COUNTER DAY CREAM / 3. GRANDE LASH SERUM / 4. BUSINESS CARD HOLDER / 5. 'GOOD THINGS' POUCH / 6. BAG CHARM / 7. LEATHER JACKET / 8. SCARF / 9. NIKE SNEAKERS / 10. INITIAL CHARM

Let's be real, it is always a good time for a gift, but now that it is officially gift-giving season, I am putting together a few giftish guides for you to peruse. I am also poor, so here is a cheapie version to kick things off.

1. R+F SUNLESS TANNING FOAM: Ok guys, if you follow me on Snapchat (@harrisonsapp4), you saw this baby arrive. As you know, I am dead serious about self-tanning. I have tried it all, every cream, every towel, every paste (??)...I love this foam. It is light, it dries almost instantly and it gives the kind of deep color I crave year-round. PLUS, at $24, it is the perfect addition to your stocking.

2. BEAUTY COUNTER CLEANSER + DAY CREAM: If you haven't started hearing about BC yet, you definitely will be soon. The buzz behind this 'safer choice' in beauty is pretty strong and the best part is that their products are living up to the hype.

3. GRANDE LASH SERUM: A friend got me hooked on this lash serum that is far more affordable than some of the others out there. I have noticed a considerable difference in the length and fullness of my lashes, and I haven't even finished my first tube. 

4. BUSINESS CARD HOLDER: This doesn't really need an explanation, but I feel like this is such a great gift that is often overlooked. I have a little gold croc version that I love, but am planning to stock up on a few more so that I have one in every bag. As a blogger looking to grow my baby brand, it's SO important to carry my cards on me at all times!

**SIDE NOTE/EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT!** 

I have partnered with my beautiful friend Callie Riggs (@callieriggs) to start curating a collection of the coolest, newest and most unique companies and products for women. Our website is #comingsoon, but for now you can follow us on Instagram @likeloveneedit! Can't wait to get this baby up and running!

P.P.S. How annoying am I today?! Make sure you check back December 5th for my MAYJ giveaway!

SUMMER SAVERS: BEAUTY HAUL.

Hi my beach babes! (In a previous life, my AOL screen name was beachbabe42000...can't.) Summer is comin' in HOT and that means a whole mess of new beauty issues to tackle. Have I ever mentioned that I have the largest hair in America? More than once I have contemplated the Britney rage-shave. More than once. Anyway, I have been dabbling in products, new skincare, new hair-glosses, new shampoos and new gadgets and these are the ones that are here to stay[cation] with me this summer.

1. LIVING PROOF NO-FRIZZ SHAMPOO: As I was saying, my hair has a very rude, very REAL tendency to become large and in charge at even the slightest bit of humidity. The fact that I attended the College of Charleston is ridiculous when you take this information into consideration. I have dedicated years of my life to taming this beast, and so far, the Living Proof No-Frizz line is my very best bet, aside from salon-grade procedures, of course. You can find it online, or in-store at Sephora & Ulta.

2. EMJOI MICRO-PEDI: Like any good gel-fanatic, I get my nails done almost every 2/2.5 weeks, but I cannot say the same for my pedicures. I like to stretch them out a bit further, because a. I am poor, and because b. I can touch them up myself much easier in between. The main reason for that has been my intro to the micro-pedi. This mini machine is like a battery operated pumice stone (no tired hands!) and it has worked miracles on my piggies. When I DO finally cave and treat myself to a real spa-pedi, they barely have to scrub at all and my pedicurist calls my feet "baby feet!" This little guy is definitely worth the price, which conveniently is less than ONE pedicure. Now walk it out.

3. RODAN + FIELDS: This is a new one for me, and what a game-changer. As I have mentioned before, I have combination skin...meaning it's conveniently both dry and sometimes oily. COOL. I am constantly trying to mosturize without overdoing it and causing breakouts. Now that I am in my (EW) late-twenties, I am also concerned about fine lines and preventative care. Thanks a lot, Ultra Tan. My sweet friend Jillian had mentioned that she was working for R+F and I could not have jumped faster at the chance to try the line. Mind you, these are the same docs that came up with Proactiv, so my expectations were pretty high. So far, the results have absolutely lived up to the hype. My favorite regimen has been the mini-facial. The mini-facial includes a microdermabrasion mask, night renewing serum and a lip renewing serum (one of my faves!). Since using the mini-facial regimen for about 3 weeks now, my skin has felt SO soft, has not dried out (!!), has held my spray tan more evenly and has looked so much more rested. I am out of my samples and I am PANICKED PEOPLE. 

Want to try it for yourself? Click here, complete the Solutions Tool and send the results over to Jillian. [jillianringram@gmail.com] If you are interested in hearing more, make sure to mention GAC as my readers will get a special discount!

4. LOREAL EVERPURE BLONDE TREATMENT: This product is a 3-5 minute mask that promises to banish brassiness from your blonde. So far, I have been using it about once a week and have definitely noticed an added shine in my color. Anything to lengthen the time between expensive trips to the salon! I got this at Target for around $7.

5. BOSS BABE BODY SCRUB: You guys have heard me rave about Boss Babe before, but this is so much more than just your average exfoliant. Yes, it removes dry, dead skin and leaves a baby soft layer of magic underneath, BUT it also banishes hateful cellulite, stretch marks, and makes your skin into a perfect canvas for your level 3 bronze spray. What? I do nothing below full-on bronze. Sorry not sorry.

What are you even waiting for? Go get your beauty on. I am off to a doggy fashion show tonight, so I need to polish these paws for sure. Happy Saturday, GILTIES!

SUMMER STAPLES: PRODUCT EDITION.

Happy weekend, Gilties! I feel like as a girl, every season brings a new set of beauty-related issues, which always leads to a new product haul at my house. I told you, I can find literally any excuse to shop. It's really not something to be proud of. Here are a few of my current must-haves when it comes to getting purty:

1. Boss Bitch Body Scrub
Did you guys watch Big Rich Atlanta? Be honest, we all did. Enter BRA's HBIC, Ashlee Wilson Hawn. Ashlee deemed herself a "boss bitch" from day one on screen, and she is just further proving it now with the launch of her new exfoliating body scrub line, Boss Bitch Body.

 Basically, this stuff is crack for the body. Made from goodish things like coffee (yes) and coconut oil (double yes), exfoliating with this scrub will smooth your skin, reduce the appearance of hateful dimples that start with a "C", and give you that "I am a part-time borderline super model" glow. Who doesn't want that? Also, I am a sucker for cute packaging. I have been using this before I apply my bi-weekly tan towel and have noticed a major difference in how evenly my tan is developing. My favorite so far is the Grapeseed Coconut. Buy it, try it. You may never say "I don't want no scrub" ever again. Boss on, bitches.

2. HOOLA Bronzer by Benefit

I realize I am super late to this party as this product has been around forevs, but I found myself without a bronzer when we landed in London sans-luggage. On Delta's dime, I finally succumbed to the call of this cute little HOOLA bronzing cube by Benefit and my mind has been blown. We are home now and I haven't gone back to my Bobbi Brown bronzer once. Perfect shade, perfect size, perfect little brush included. 

3. Style Therapy: Keratin Paddle Brush

I also ended up buying a new brush in London due to luggage-gate 2014, and this keratin-infused paddle by Remington was the one that caught my eye. I've never had an actual keratin treatment, but have always wanted to try it, so I thought for only $9.99, this would be a worthwhile experiment...it was. I have been using this brush for about two full weeks now and can totally tell a difference. My hair is very frizz-prone and since using this, it has been fairly tame and is shinier now than it ever has been. I love a drugstore find and this one might just take the cake.

Now that we are scrubbed, tanned, toned & tressed, let's go enjoy this pretty little Saturday before it pours again, shall we? Drinks on you. What? You definitely owe me after all of that information.

GRAY SUNDAY.

I had every intention of doing an outfit post today, but it is currently monsooning in Atlanta, rain forest style, and has been all weekend. I swam to work yesterday morning & we were dead, dead, dead. Rain tends to make people forget that they need to find a new apartment. Since I've been trapped inside, I have had some idle time to browse around and these are the latest items I am coveting:

1. This ear cuff from Baublebar keeps calling me back to it.

2. These Rag & Bone booties have been torturing me for a while. Very much needing.

3. I got a sample of this Perricone MD OVM skin cream & after using it for a week, am dying to buy a full-size jar. 

Back to packing. We leave Thursday, so today I took my sweet Coco kitten to my Mom for safe-keeping until we get back. My apartment is a little quiet and lonely tonight without her! Let's all try and forget that tomorrow is Monday, deal?

Packed & ready for Grandma's.

T-HAIR-APY.

I am officially on Lake Summit time, so please excuse the super late post. Along with completely ignoring the clock on my iPhone, this is the one week out of the year where I let my hair do whatever it wants and go totally bare-faced, aside from sunscreen. The lake is where I recharge my batteries from the inside out & that includes giving my tortured tresses a break.

Tonight at my favorite place on Earth.

 Basically, my lake hair routine consists of three steps: condition, condition, condition. No really, that’s pretty much it. I have super thick hair that I usually wash every 2-3 days, but while I am in the mountains, I try to forgo shampoo completely. Giving up the suds gives your hair a break from being stripped of the natural oils that help keep it healthy. I also give up all heated tools for the week, which is a pretty serious sacrifice for a curly-haired fool like me.

When I know I am going to be in the sun all day, I usually coat my hair with John Frieda Sheer Blonde Conditioner to protect my color in the heat. I apply it to damp hair using a wide-tooth comb and then sweep it all up into a bun or a hat. After a day on the water, I usually just rinse my hair and then apply a dime-sized amount of my favorite Living Proof No Frizz Conditioner. If you have thick/frizz-prone hair, this stuff is like liquid gold. Post-shower, I just apply Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Styling Cream, braid my damp hair and sleep like Rapunzel.

The end result: Au Naturel.

So the secret is out. I definitely did not wake up like this. Thanks a lot for pointing that out, Beyoncé.

HEALING WATERS.

Are we all still alive after a Star Spangled Hammered weekend? Recovery is imminent and there is no better place to do it than the lake. I woke up in DC this morning, tonight we are flying back to ATL, and from there I will be making the three and a half hour drive up to NC to spend a few days of our annual week at Lake Summit. Basically, I am family hopping from the BF's to mine. Put me in a lounge chair on the dock immediately. I am exhausted just talking about this day of travelish things, but in preparation for the most relaxing and carefree few days of the year, I couldn't resist sharing a few of my lakeside essentials:

Marysia Swim Scalloped Bikini / Tory Burch Thora / Mara Hoffman Tote / Stella Dot Necklace / Fedora / Ray Ban Aviators / Supergoop SPF30 / John Frieda Sheer Blonde / Beach Towel / Uganda Be Kidding Me

Last year, being very casual.

Hope everyone had a Happy 4th! I'm off for three more days and fully intend to soak up every minute…starting now, with this airport Blue Moon.

STAR SPANGLED TANNER.

Happy 4th, babies. The only thing more American than rocking your red, white & blue is doing so with a solid bronzed glow. Let's face it, nobody is singing Country songs about pale legs in cut-off shorts. I like to consider myself a self-tanning connoisseur (HELLO...I have a certificate from Ultra Tan that says so), and these are a few of my all-time faves for long-lasting and natural looking color:

Just add shorts & sunnies, and you are a festive Fourth of July vision.
Bronze on, beauts.