July Favorites

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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)

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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!

April Obsessions

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I cannot believe we are already at the end of another month. I feel like I was sharing my March Must Haves with you last week, but here we are! April was an interesting month for me. It was jam packed as I'm gearing up for bridal season and doing trials and prep for all of the weddings I have booked this year. Regardless, I managed to try more products this month than normal, so I'm here to share the things I was obsessing over this month.

Weleda Skin Food is a moisturizer that I've known about for years but never remembered to pick up. It has seriously been on my wish list for 2 years but I always manage to get something else instead. It wasn't until I started doing my skincare cleanout that I realized that it was a 0 (aka really clean) and I saw one of my favorite makeup artists to follow on Instagram (@katiejanehughes) use it in a live makeup tutorial underneath her makeup for glow. Once these both happened, I knew I finally needed it and I am kind of pissed at myself for living this long without it. First off, the smell is amazing and citrus-y and clean smelling. It is a very thick cream designed for really dry and even chapped areas. At night I like to add it just in the areas where I have dryness or fine lines. If I use it like Katie Jane does, I put it on my cheekbones under foundation to give me more glow and it works so well. Check out my latest YouTube video here when I show you how I use it before applying my makeup.

Thriftbooks.com has become my newest obsession! One of my favorite things to do is visit a used bookstore and peruse the shelves to see what they hold. One day I discovered Thriftbooks.com and it's like going to a used bookstore and finding exactly the book you wanted. I cannot believe how many different books they have. You can choose different levels of wear for different prices. I've gotten some great $20+ books for under $4. It's insane! I love to buy my cookbooks here because they are so much cheaper. Plus I feel good about buying used instead of new. My favorite thing is the wish list option because anytime I see a book I want, I add it too my wish list so I don't forget. If it's not in stock, I get emails letting me know when it is which is awesome! If you use this code here you can get 15% off your first order (P.S. I do not make any money off of these links)! 

I bought a Loreal Voluminous Lash Paradise mascara a few months ago because I had been hearing such great things about it but it never quite made it into my makeup bag to use until the last few weeks. I have to say I was surprised how much I like this one. It's supposed to be the dupe for Too Faced's Better Than Sex Mascara which I do not like, so I didn't have high hopes for Lash Paradise. I have to say I love it as much as the original Loreal Voluminous Carbon Black. The brush is nice and gives both length and volume similar to Voluminous. I'm happy to say it's not flaky like I find the Better Than Sex mascara to be. 

I know I've only had the Fenty Beauty Matchstix Matte Skinstick in Amber for 10 days, BUT I'M OBSESSED. If you missed me freaking out over it in my most recent YouTube video, click here to watch it. This cream contour stick is so blendable, but not only is it easy to use, it is the perfect shade for contouring. It creates the best shadow on the face and I love using it. I can tell you this is a product I will be using so much in the summer for a dewy, bronzed glow. I cannot wait. 

I am a member of Grove Collaborative and am obsessed with it. It's a company that specializes in more natural products for cleaning, body care, skincare, and more for your home! I like it because if I don't need anything that month I can delay my shipment as long as I need. Last month they gave me a free lip balm in my order and I am obsessed with it! It's not too greasy, but moisturizes my lips super well. I love the oval shape to it, because I can apply to both my top and bottom lips at the same time. The best part is that it is super clean! No toxic ingredients and has a minty refreshing scent. I love it! Click here for the Mint & Argan Lip Balm.  If you want to sign up for Grove, use this link to get a free 5-piece gift set! 

So there we have my favorites for April! Short but sweet. I can guarantee I will have many more favorites in May because I am testing out some awesome products right now. Leave a comment below and let me know what you loved this month!

Have a beautiful day,

Andrea

March Must Haves

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It's the time of the month where I share everything I've been obsessing over. I get so excited to write these posts for you because you guys seem to love them! As usual, if there is an Amazon link I trust I will share it and it will be an Amazon Affiliate link (feel free to scroll to the bottom to read my disclosure on that). If it's not an Amazon link then it is not an affiliate link. Now let's get to the good stuff! This month will be short, but sweet. 

Let's start with the best healthy cookie recipe you will ever make. I don't know if it's a good or bad thing that I can eat them all in 2 days, but let's be glass half full people and say it's a good thing. Laura in the Kitchen is my go to when I need a good recipe because she has so many and they never disappoint. I have shown these a few times on my Instastories and was waiting to share them with you in a favorites post. So go make them NOW. I would be shocked if someone could tell they were healthier without knowing before hand. 

Dr. Jart Cicapair CC Treatment: This has become an everyday must have for me. I have seen Michele1218 RAVE about this product for about a year and finally bit the bullet and decided to try it. I am obsessed. It is a physical SPF, gives me moisture and has pigment to color correct your skin. It doesn't look like makeup at all but makes your skin look so much smoother, healthier, and even toned. It's my last step everyday when I'm not wearing makeup and need SPF. Don't let the green color scare you, it quickly color corrects the redness in your skin, while being completely undetectable. 

Herbivore Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clarity Mask: If you read my post about Curate + Co (I'll link it here in case you didn't) I was gifted this amazing mask by the wonderful owner Christina. This one has also found its way into a permanent position in my skincare routine because it's amazing. It's completely clean and effective for keeping my skin smooth and blemish free. I love how the Blue Tansy has Azulene which reduces inflammation, so if I have breakouts it calms them while getting rid of them at the same time.  If you can, please use the link in the title to purchase it and support Curate + Co, an amazing small business that I love! If you are only a die-hard Amazon shopper, here is the link for that as well.

Pacifica Rose Flower Hydro Mist : Yes, this one made it two months in a row. I debated not mentioning it but the reality is that I am still obsessed and I used it almost every day in March. It feels so good on the skin and I cannot get enough of it. I love how refreshed I feel every time I spray my face with it and it smells so good. If you're looking for a good refresher try this one out!

Lancome Matte Shaker in Beige Vintage (270): I have been loving this lip product, mainly because it is so light (literally feels like water on your lips) and gives the right flush of color. The staying power isn't great, but that doesn't really bother me. I'm excited to try more shades. 

As you guys know, I recently cleaned out my skincare products and the best part is that all of the skincare listed above is clean and passes my chemical-free test! My every day makeup clean out is still on the horizon so remember that when I recommend any makeup from now on. 

What were your favorites this month? Did you discover anything good? Leave me a comment below and let me know!

Have a beautiful 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. 

Books I've Read in 2018 #1

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Welcome back! 

I used to share my favorite books in my monthly favorites post, but you guys requested that I save them for a quarterly book post instead. Seeing as one of my goals of 2018 was to read more, I think this is a great idea because I actually have a good sized list of recommendations. I will always include my favorite cookbooks as well, because those are a huge part of my life. #extremecookbookaddict

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Each title will be a link to the book for you to purchase to make things easier for you! These links will be amazon associate links that allow you to purchase the book at the same price but support Andrea Fontana Beauty at the same time! (Mega thanks to all who use these links as you keep my wallet ready to support my love for testing new products and recipes). But to the books we go!

"The Heart's Invisible Furies" by John Boyne:  This was the first book I devoured in 2018. I say devoured because I was sucked in from the first 5 pages and barely came up for air until I reached the last of over 500 pages. I was captivated by the story of Cyril Avery and I hope you will be too. I mentioned it a few times in January, but am sharing again because they recently released a more inexpensive paperback copy and I highly recommend you go get it! 

"Better than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives" by Gretchen Rubin:  Gretchen Rubin wrote "The Happiness Project" which I remember being super popular but I never read it. I liked the overall message of this book about the wrong and right ways to develop new habits for yourself, but I don't know if I would follow the specifics. It sometimes felt a little repetitive. Overall, I recommend it if you struggle with creating new habits and would like to gain some perspective on how to be better at it. 

"You are a Badass" by Jen Sincero: I feel like this book was super popular last year and it lived on my 'To Read' list on my phone but never made it further than that. I came across it when I was scanning my dad's home library (we're talking like thousands of books to read...aka heaven), picking out new reads for my trip to Florida in February. I loved this one and see why it was so popular. It was quick and easy to get through (I only deem books this if I can read them in a week) and I found myself needing to take notes because there were so many quotes I needed to remember. I feel like this is one that I will want to have a copy of on hand for future reference.

"Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World" by Michael Hyatt:  I already have a permanent copy coming in the mail of this one because I checked it out from the library and know that I will want this one for future reference. If you are trying to sell a product, business, anything you NEED this one. Especially bloggers! I cannot recommend it enough. A very wise woman who I met when I joined a Women's Entrepreneurship group recommended it and I cannot put it down. It's full of important info from 'How to write your bio' to 'How to Keep Conversations Civil'. I just love it. 

And now for the cookbooks....(TOP 3)

"250 True Italian Pasta Dishes: Easy and Authentic Recipes" by John Colette & Nancy Ryan: If you love pasta you need this one. There's a section on quick 30 minute dishes, recipes for fresh pasta, and more. I use it most when I have a few specific veggies or protein that I need to use up and want to create a quick and delicious pasta dish. I just look up my ingredient in the index and I usually have a few recipes to choose from. It was inspired by one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Chicago called Quartino. 

"Eat Beautiful: Food and Recipes to Nourish Your Skin From Inside Out" by Wendy Rowe: This one was written by one of my favorite makeup artists and highly recommend it for those of you who are into skincare and makeup. I firmly believe in nutrition being a huge part of your skincare routine so this is a must have for me. It's divided into seasons and the beginning of each sections highlights ingredients of the season and how they benefit the skin and body. Wendy eats according to what is in season, so I love this one for those of us who try to do the same! Thank you always to my best friend Emily for gifting me a cookbook last year on my birthday that is so ME!

"Bobby Flay Fit: 200 Recipes for a Healthy Lifestyle" by Bobby Flay: I know this one probably doesn't come as a shock, but I'm still cooking from it all the time. I have so many favorite recipes from this one and while it's only a few months old, based on the wear and tear it looks like I've had it for years. If you don't want to sacrifice flavor for health and want to get more into using different types of spices I highly recommend this one.

What have you read so far in 2018? Comment below and let me know! I'm always looking for more book recommendations!

Have a beautiful weekend,

Andrea

February Favorites

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Hello I'm back! 

In case you missed all of the sunsets, head over to my Instagram to see all of the fun I had on my Florida vacay!

I'm back with some favorites from February that I can't wait to share. Originally I was going to include some book favorites because I have been reading a lot, but I polled you guys on Instagram and you decided you wanted a Quarterly Book Post instead, so look for that at the end of March. I feel like I mention this in every post, but if you want to have a say on the content I create, follow me on Instagram and vote in those polls!!

If links below are Amazon links, they are affiliate links. If you choose to use them, I earn a commission off of your purchase. This in no way affects the price that you pay, but supports me as a blogger and I so appreciate you if you choose to use them! If the link in this post isn't for Amazon, then it is not an affiliated link. I just like to be upfront with you! Anyways, now onto the faves!

I have been driving a lot recently and love to listen to podcasts during this time. One of my all time favorite bloggers Sydney from The Daybook, recently started a podcast with her business partner and I knew I had to listen. No shocker, I am absolutely obsessed. It's called What The Eff Podcast and it's about going after your dreams and figuring it out as you go along. I cannot recommend it enough. Sometimes they have guests, sometimes they interview each other, but every episode is amazing. Check it out here!

I can't remember how I found out this Newsletter but I love it. It's called the Girl's Night In Newsletter and you get an email every Friday morning (as if Friday wasn't exciting enough) and it's full of recommendations; recipes to make, things to do, books to read, articles to read, etc. As I get older and spend less time out on a Friday night, I really like the ideas it gives. Click this link here to sign up for it!

Next, let's talk some products. First up we have the Pacifica Rose Flower Hydro Mist. I bought this in a rush at Target when I was picking up last minute things for my vacation and I became obsessed. It has that amazing rose scent, but I used it constantly whenever I wanted to refresh and cool off my face, especially at the beach. I loved it. It also has Kombucha and essential oils in it which I find pretty cool (Side note, I'm learning how to make Kombucha Tuesday night and could not be more excited!!) It's 100% vegan and cruelty free and also formulated without SLS, petroleum, parabens, and sulfates!

I always use a lip treatment with an SPF when I am on vacation or in the sun, so I went back to this amazing one for my Florida trip that I've loved for a long time. The Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Tulip has a berry pink tint to it, which I love to give my lips moisture, color, and protection in the easiest way! I can't recommend this line of lip products enough for warm days!

Let me be a broken record and say I LOVE SHEET MASKS! haha that probably comes at no surprised, especially if you read my last post on Travel Tips. I have been using them so much recently and again I think they are great to have on hand. Here's a great set to get you started if you want to try some out. 

I want to mention my SPF that I have been using for awhile and was my go to in Florida. The Algenist Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid SPF 50 doesn't smell like traditional SPF, doesn't feel like traditional SPF and I love it. It protects so well and I can't recommend it enough. I am all about formula and finish when it comes to the SPF for my face and I love how this one doesn't feel greasy at all but still nourishing. 

Lastly, I want to share a drugstore foundation you've probably heard me talk about but I've been loving for awhile now. The L'Oreal Pro Glow Foundation is medium coverage and build-able and gives a really nice glowy finish. I'm normally a NARS foundation girl all the time, but I am happy to have found a great drugstore foundation to have as an affordable option.

So that's it for February! What were your favorites this month? If you've fallen in love with something be sure to leave it in a comment below!

I hope you have a great start to the new month! I'm starting my March off with a Launch Party tonight for a Beauty Bar I did makeup for! Then I'm headed for a weekend away visiting my best friend.

Enjoy your weekend loves,

Andrea

Holiday Beauty Gift Guide

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Happy December! I asked in an Instagram story poll if you'd rather see a holiday gift guide or current favorite beauty products post first, and here is what you chose! I had so many things to share, so I thought I'd mix things up and try a different format by filming a video for you guys! I didn't realize how many times I could say um until I had to edit them out! haha!

Below I've listed all of the products with links. If you like this format let me know and I'd be happy to start doing more of these for you. If you have any gift recommendations that you want to share with everyone be sure to leave a comment below. Have fun shopping for your loved ones!