Facial wipes are practical to clean my face when I get home from work and I want to start my workout as soon as possible. When I stumbled on this recipe, I thought that it would be a good place to start changing my beauty routine that I will hopefully benefit from in the long run.

As with most things, making homemade facial wipes seemed like a daunting and complicated task. Turns out, it’s probably as easy to make then it is to go out and buy facial wipes! Seriously, it took me less than 10 minutes and the results were the same if not better because it left my skin feeling soft, and it makes me feel better that I know exactly what products I’m putting on my face! I don’t think I will ever go back to buying makeup remover wipes unless necessary (i.e. I’m traveling and forgot to bring my own).

I used the same recipe, but instead of baby soap, I used Dr. Bronner’s castile soap I’ve read that it’s a great brand for natural product, and wanted to keep my wipes as natural and organic as possible. One thing that I will mention though is that the wipes did sting my eyes a little bit if I wasn’t careful when I removed my eye makeup. Something else to consider is to make sure that your container is VERY clean. Since you will use the wipes on your face, you wont want any bacteria growing inside. I washed my glass container with boiling water and a bit of vinegar, and made sure to wash my hands before putting the cotton swabs in.

I have more recipes that I am trying out so let me know if you are interested in more DIY beauty products! If you try this recipe, make sure to tag me @SeppyforLove! Or if you have recommendations for recipes that I should try!

The post Beauty { Homemade Facial Wipes } appeared first on Elle is for Love.

I have my goals for the year, broken down into categories. From this ‘master list’, every Sunday night, I sit down and set my goals for the week. This week, a few of the things that I will focus on are to learn how to make homemade makeup remover, research how to grow my blog, and to continue reading in bed every night, and meditate before bed. These are the little things that make life a little bit sweeter, and that get me through the rough days.

On another note, with the changing weather, it’s only normal to change your beauty routine and to reach for products and colors that seem more appropriate for the fall. Here are the best colors for the fall, and a few go-to products that can also be used in the summer. I like having versatile products because it can be used more often throughout the year rather than being limited to one season.

Although the tendency is that for the fall, the choice of colors become a lot deeper, I still reach for lighter but matte and neutral hues. What are some your go-to fall colors for the fall, whether in beauty or in fashion?

{ Face  & Eyes }

Maybelline Color Tattop | ‘Bad to the Bronze’ (25) Milani Baked blush | ‘Glow’ (04) NARS palette | ‘Laguna’ & ‘Orgasm’

{ Lips } 

MAC | ‘Brave’ Milani | ‘Matte Blissful’ (62) Rimmel | Diva Red (500)

{ Nails }

Revlon | ‘Vixen”
OPI | ‘Russian Navy’
Essie | ‘Spin the Bottle’

The post Beauty { Best Colors for the Fall } appeared first on Elle is for Love.

{ Hourglass Ambient Lighting }

I held off on buying this palette for MONTHS because of the price (my partner in crime, Kristina, will attest to this!) and I was SO excited when I finally got it. This was quickly followed with disappointment. I don’t know if I haven’t used it correctly but I’ve used with a full face of foundation, with tinted moisturizer on my face, or even with minimal face powder, thinking that the highlight would show up differently, but nothing. It barely shows up on my skin, which is so disappointing (and useless…). I know there’s been a big hype for this palette, but I’m not a fan and wouldn’t recommend splurging on it.

{ Josie Maran | Argan Enlightenment Illuminizing Veil } 
I have a slight obsession with highlighters because they make such a big difference on making your face look more lively and healthy looking. This highlight barely has any color payoff and doesn’t do very much on my face. I like a highlighter that can be seen, but doesn’t require a lot of product. I had to pack on this highlighter and it barely showed up.

{ Bite Beauty | Agave Lip Mask } 

I was looking for a lip mask to put on before bed so that my lips are soft by morning. I’ve been using Vaseline for the longest, but wanted to switch for something more natural. I love Bite beauty lipsticks, and thought the mask would be great to try, but my skin doesn’t absorb the product. I wake up and the mask is still sitting on my lips.

{ BareMinerals | Highlighting Concealer }

I was looking for a setting powder that would double up as a highlighter to brighten up the under-eye area. I had high hopes for this concealer, because I usually love BareMinerals products. But it didn’t do very much, other than crease my UD concealer when it usually doesn’t.

{ Too Faced | Boudoir Eyes Soft & Sexy Eyeshadow palette }

The texture of these eyeshadows are buttery, but I got bored really quickly with the color selection. The color payoff isn’t terrible, but I found that when applied on my eyelids, a few of them looked similar, and I just didn’t feel as though I was able to do many eye looks with this palette. I had to add a lot of product for it to show up a tiny bit on my eyes.

What are some disappointing high-end beauty products that you wouldn’t recommend? What are some ways that you can buy less makeup to enjoy what you already have? What is your ‘purchasing’ policy when it comes to makeup? Make sure to share your suggestions in the comments below!

The post Beauty { 5 High-End Products Not Worth Buying } appeared first on Elle is for Love.

I need to be even more aware of what I buy, and gradually get rid of things that I don’t use. Your possessions can become mental clutter, and the more I got rid of stuff, the more relieved I felt. I still have more that I can get rid of, which I will be doing as I settle into my new place.

On a more positive note, I realized (yes, it was a month of realizations) that I take really good care of my things, which is one of the reasons I have so much stuff. I still have clothes from 10 years ago that are still in amazing shape.

Anyway, it’s the end of the month, time for monthly favorites! One of my favorite videos to watch on YouTube, and I’m so excited to finally have my first August Favorites video! Make sure to share some of your favorites from this month, whether it’s related to fashion, food, beauty, or even favorite memories of this month.

If you have any recommendations of products you’ve been loving this month make sure to leave a comment below or share it with me on social media @SeppyforLove!

The post { August Favorites | Video } appeared first on Elle is for Love.

The same goes for beauty: it’s better to invest in a few key items that usually require less product anyway, that are better quality, and that you will have fun using.

Here are my top 5 high-end products worth buying, because of the quality, the color pay-off, but also basic items to have in your beauty stash! These are products that I’ve purchased with time and I consider them as splurges. 

{ Face | Urban Decay Flushed Palette }

Bronzer and blush add subtle color to your face and make you look livelier. This palette is great for the color payoff, the buttery texture, and the color choices. I’ve recommended this palette to a few people and they’ve loved it. And considering you get a bronzer, blush and highlighter, the price is reasonable!

{ Eyes | Lorac Pro }

Your eye makeup makes a difference in your overall look, even if you just apply an eyebrow highlight and a deeper crease color to define your eyes. Small touches go a long way, without having to overdo it or spend too much time on your eyes! One of my favorite palettes has been the Lorac Pro. A lot of beauty gurus and makeup artists swear by this palette, and for good reason: it’s buttery, the choice of colors is amazing, and the colors can easily be combined for a day or night look. If you are going to invest in one palette, this is the one that I would recommend!

{ Highlighter | Becca }

Highlighter is one of my favorite parts of my beauty routine. A good highlighter makes a huge difference. This Becca highlighter in Opal is my latest addition to the collection, and I was obsessed after the first time I used it. It’s very pigmented and buttery, so there isn’t any fallout when you apply it on your cheekbones, and it’s a beautiful champagne color that adds a beautiful glow to your face.

{ Concealer | NARS }

A good concealer makes a HUGE difference in your makeup look. It’s one of those products that you can use alone but will have a dramatic impact on your face, which is why it’s important to invest in one that’s easy to apply and blend, has good coverage, and will also help brighten your eye area! The NARS is a classic one because of its’ formula and coverage, and the applicator that makes it so easy to throw on in the morning.

{ Lips | Charlotte Tillbury }

I’ve been obsessed with this lip pencil since my boyfriend got it for me. It’s creamy, applies perfectly, and is an amazing day-to-day shade that goes with any makeup look and any outfit! I love this lipliner so much, and although it’s a bit pricey, I’ve made such good use of it. Apply some concealer, a bit of blush and this lipliner all over your lips, and you’re good to go!

What are you some high-end beauty products that you would recommend? How do you make sure to keep your makeup spending reasonable while investing in a few key items? Make sure to share your suggestions in the comments below, or tag in Twitter or Instagram posts @SeppyforLove!

The post Beauty { Top 5 High-End Products Worth Buying } appeared first on Elle is for Love.

But with every changing season, we have to adapt what we wear, what we eat, and what beauty products we use, to make sure that we are taking care of our bodies. In the summer, there are a few beauty essentials that are really important to include in your routine. There are also a few other bits that are simply fun to incorporate to keep your makeup simple but fun.

{ 1. Sunscreen}

This is an obvious one that we tend to forget. This particular sunscreen from Vichy is liquid and does not sit on top of your skin but rather gets absorbed. I don’t like the feeling of sunscreen, even less on my face. But this alternative is great because you can mix it with your morning moisturizer and you wont feel like you have sticky sunscreen on your face!

{ 2. Moisturizer }

A good moisturizer that gets easily absorbed in your skin and wont leave you feeling sticky. Especially with the hot weather, you don’t want anything to sit on top of your skin that will just melt away. My favorite is the Clinique ‘dramatically different moisture lotion’ surge because it’s lightweight but does the job amazingly!

{ 3. Blush with shimmer }

Another easy product to throw on but will give you that perfect summer glow to add to your tan. The shimmer in this Milani blush is very subtle but adds the prettiest natural glow to your face.

{ 4. Nail polish }

I love bright colors for my nails in the summer, whether it’s for my toes or my hands, it’s such an easy and fun way to make an outfit more summery! I especially love this Essie shade (‘peach daiquiri’), a pink-coral color. To make the color stand out even more, I use a white base color.

{ 5. Chapstick with UV }

Another ‘obvious’ one but that I often forget: chapstick with UV protection. The skin on our lips is also prone to getting a burn (I’ve already had one and it’s not fun…) so don’t forget to put some UV protection on your lips too! I try to keep this one in my purse all the time to make sure that I re-apply throughout the day.

{ 6. A pink lipstick }

With the heat, there are just some days that I don’t want to put any makeup on my face. But a nice light pink lipstick, a bit of mascara and a shimmery blush, and you’re go to go!

{ 7. Hair frizz control }

Tame the mane with some oil in your hair! My favorite is argan oil – it works wonders, especially on my thick locks. I put a few drops in the palm of my hands, rub them together, and then lightly comb through my hair, focusing mostly on the tips and the top of my head, where the frizz is the worst.

What are some of your go-to summer beauty essentials? Make sure to share them in the comments below!

The post Beauty { Summer Essentials } appeared first on Elle is for Love.

I learned to be a conscious consumer mainly by watching my parents. By no means am I perfect (and I definitely have way too much makeup…) but I’m learning to be increasingly aware of what I own to avoid repeat purchases and to balance out price and quality. I’ve also learned how to multi-task items, especially when it comes to beauty products. Some of the tricks I’ve learned over the years include:

{ 1 } Lipliner as a lipstain: This is one my favourite beauty tricks because it’s such an easy way to create a nice pout that will last all day.

{ 2 } Highlighter as eyeshadow: why not use your favourite pink or gold hued highlighter on your eyelids as an easy eyeshadow. Or better yet, use it to highlight the arch of your eyebrow to make your eyes look bigger.

{ 3 } Eyeshadow as highlight: any gold or pink shimmery eyeshadow can be used as a cheek or eyebrow highlight!

{ 4 } Lipstick as a cheek stain: pop a few little strips of your favorite pink or red lipstick and blend it out with your finger.

{ 5 } Concealer as an eyeshadow primer: concealer creates the same effect as an eyeshadow primer, it creates an even color base, and the shadow sticks better to it than your eyelids.

How are you a conscious consumer? Do you use the same product in a number of ways? If you have recently posted a nifty trick on how to multi-task a beauty product, tag me @SeppyForLove on both Instagram and Twitter!

The post Beauty { Multi-Tasking Products } appeared first on Elle is for Love.

{ Start with your canvas! Make sure to hydrate your lips a little bit }

I love wearing color on my lips, but to be honest, I’m too lazy to maintain it throughout the day, especially because I spend most of the day in front of a computer at work.

But instead of giving up, I like to find easier alternatives to do things that I like, while adapting them to my lifestyle. I use this easy lipstick trick almost any time I want to add a pop of colour to my lips because it’s a no-brainer and so easy to maintain throughout the day. This trick creates more of a lip stain look, which doesn’t wear off as fast, and I don’t have to worry about getting it all over my scarf or water bottle…or teeth.

To get the lip stain effect with the lipstick you already own, dab the lipstick all over your lips instead of swiping, and then use your ring finger to blend it all together. At this point, you can use your finger to swipe the product around to make sure that the color is all over my lips. This ensures that there’s enough product on my lips to show the color in a more tame way, but it’s a thinner layer that stays on the lips longer.

{ Apply by dabbing your lipstick in spots all over your lips }

{ Blend with ring finger }

{ You’re left with a more subtle and longer lasting lip stain }

My favorite lipsticks to use for this trick are MAC Rebel, Revlon Color Matte, Milani

What are your favorite lip colors? Have you tried a bold lip? If you try this technique, make sure to tag me @SeppyforLove on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, I’d love to see your pictures!

[ Photo credits | Saba Sabati ]

The post Beauty { Easy Lipstick Trick } appeared first on Elle is for Love.