6 Nail Polishes That Look Good On Everyone for Summer

So y'all...I didn't mean to take yesterday off.

Here's what happened:

My 4th of July was nice and relaxing, despite the afternoon storms. The fireworks started and I watched them on the roof with my neighbors. The coolest thing happened--no one was on their phones! It was great.

Afterwards, some idiot(s) decided to do professional fireworks (I think they're illegal in GA) off the roof. It was so loud and scary to see and hear that up close. My apartment was shaking because it was so loud. Someone called security on them. They stopped. And start back at FOUR AM. 4am!!!!

So yeah, no new post yesterday. I needed some sleep!

But today I'm back and sharing with you some universally flattering nail polishes. You don't have to get these exact brands, just the general shade is the idea. Think of these as the basics. And you don't have to put them on fingers either if the color is too much, just try the toes. It's summer, after all.

Ballet Slippers, Essie

One of THE most popular, award-winning, and best-selling pale pink polishes. This is a fave for brides and every day wear. Depending on your skin tone, this may pull more neutral than pink.

Topless and Barefoot, Essie

This wins for a universally-flattering nude. It looks especially great with a tan. I'm wearing it today. I love this with a gold glitter on top. For lighter skin, think of this as when you don't want your hands to be noticed, just clean-looking.

Mulberry, Tenoverton

This mauve shade just works. If you had to get two polishes from this list, grab this one. The new Essie gel polishes--the ones in the funny-shaped bottle--have similar mauve shades.

Milly, Dior

To me, it isn't summer unless I've got a coral polish on! This one pulls a little less orange and a little more pink. It just works on everyone.

Terra-Coppa, Sally Hansen Miracle Gel

Would you believe a bottle of this is sold every 3 minutes? This is my "wild card" shade--y'all know I'd usually insert a glitter polish here, but I wanted something different. And this is a beautiful rose gold polish--the pic is NOT doing it justice.

Rouge Essentiel, Chanel

This is the second polish, if you had to only get 2, that everyone should own: a classic red. L'Oreal makes one similar, as does nearly every brand. If it feels too austere on hands, a pedi of this is so classic and chic. 

Which of these would you wear?

A Summer's Day of DIYs

Y'all, how can it possibly be July? I feel like summer is flying by.

Are you already on vacation for the 4th of July? I'm unfortunately not, but I still had a good weekend and didn't let the storms get me down. Instead, I got my hair done, picked up some pink peonies (my fave) and dreamed of a beachy day.

Y'all know me--I love to make my own beauty products, so I was thinking about what DIYs I could make for a summer's day. I thought this would be a fun post--what do you think?

DIY Gummy Bear Shower Jellies

The first thing you need to do is shower before hitting the beach or whatever body of water you want to visit, right? These are so fun to make and use. I love these fresh out of the freezer.

DIY Snow Cone Sugar Scrubs

The hardest part will be picking which scent to use! Use these all over your body for glowing skin AND before shaving.

Pineapple Solid Sugar Scrub

You need to make sure your feet are super soft before wearing those sandals, right? How adorable is this? AND it's solid, so it's great for travel!

DIY Watermelon Toner

This isn't sticky--it's simply refreshing for your skin. Keep this in the cooler and spritz on your face and skin as needed.

DIY Vanilla Sea Salt Beachy Waves Spray

So whether you made it to the beach or not, spritz a little of this in your hair. It smells SO good.

DIY Soothing Sun Mist

Skin feeling a little parched? Spray this all over any areas that need soothing.

DIY Leave In Conditioner/ DIY Detangling Spray

Back from the beach and your hair is dry or damaged from the heat? Try one of these. Truth time: I actually use the leave in conditioner while I'm at the beach.

DIY Beachy Bath Soak

This feels amazing after a day in the sun. I use this even in the winter when I've got the summer blues!

DIY Makeup Solid Lotion Bars

Let's keep that skin oh so soft with these solid lotion bars. Make them any shape you want! I chose makeup because I'm slightly beauty-obsessed.

DIY Shimmer Spray for Beachy Waves

What makes this spray different is the shimmery highlights it gives to hair.

Which of these would you make?
I'm taking tomorrow off from blogging, so HAPPY 4th of JULY!!

Summer Goodies But First a Fail

Y'all, I swear I had the best intentions. Isn't that how it always is?

For the first time in a long time, I painted my nails, did my hair, put on makeup, and even threw on some jewelry for good measure. And I filmed a video, something I haven't done in ages either. It was great and I felt like my old self again. And then I accidentally erased the video. Y'all, I wanted to cry for about 2 seconds. All of that effort--I wanted to make a great blog post and video instead of just a picture.

Have you ever had that happen to you?

So instead of a fancy video, I present to you my Summer FabFitFun box in picture form. Better than describing it via charades or something, I guess? Seriously though, this was a nice box for the season and a steal at $49.95. By the way, I bought this, just as I have every one of these for the past couple of years, so it's not sponsored.

Here is what I got:

$54

This gorgeous ruana is going to be the star of your beach trips. Wear it as a poncho or wrap it around your waist as a sarong – either way, you'll love the versatility of this piece. I haven't fooled around with this yet. Wish I could have picked the pattern--there were 3.

$35

Drink up! This gorgeous glass water bottle will change the way you hydrate forever. Also, the convenient 500 mL size makes it easy to take on-the-go whether you're traveling or heading to the gym. I'll be honest, I know glass is better than other materials, but I'm scared I'm gonna break it.

$24

Protect and nourish your skin with this sheer, lightweight sunscreen. It contains broad spectrum SPF 50+ UVA/UVB filters and is enriched with powerful antioxidant and soothing Avene Thermal Spring Water. Love this brand so can't wait to use this.

$30

Glow, girl, glow! Originally formulated for high definition filming, this highlighter will give you the radiant picture perfect finish, every single time. It's lightweight, velvety powder formula goes on flawlessly yet remains invisible to the camera. Loved Cargo for years--random fact: they were the primary makeup brand used on the movie Clueless!

$29

Moisturize and soothe any dark circles and fine lines with this eye cream. It has certified organic grape and carrot juices blended with essential fatty acids to hydrate and nourish the eye area. I'll try this but my mom is a huge Juice Beauty fan so she will probably get this.

$20

Hair today, even better hair tomorrow! Your second (and third) day hair just got a major boost. This award-winning dry shampoo with oat milk is loved by celebs thanks to its powerful cleansing action, and natural absorbent microspheres which eliminate dirt, oil, and odors. A quick spray and your mane instantly regains volume and texture without white residue. I love this!

$28

Pack your bags and hit the road (or the skies) in epic style with this gorgeous passport cover and luggage tag set. The metallic vegan leather duo featuring printed lettering will have you looking chic wherever your adventures take you. There were 3 things you could get--a craft and a food one. I kind of am not into this--as I have plenty of luggage tags from past boxes. Meh.

$58

This necklace is a gem (literally)! Handmade and assembled in India, the necklaces feature stones with different attributes to help you live every day with positive intentions. My stones are white and mean focus or something. It's a cute dainty necklace. We didn't get to pick the color.

Vital Proteins’ Marine Collagen is an unflavored drinkable collagen powder that can be easily added to any beverage, hot or cold, for a healthier complexion and a life of vibrancy. Gluten free, sugar free, and non-GMO, the Marine Collagen Peptides contain 10 grams of natural collagen protein in each serving. I have taken collagen supplements but never in powder form. I'm excited to try!

If you'd like $10 off your first box, use my code: http://xo.fff.me/fK3xk

Which of these did you like the best?

PS: I am still blogging, y'all! It's not going anywhere, so go back and see what posts you might have missed. I've missed your face around here. 

Summer Spa DIY...In a Hurry!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. 

All opinions are mine alone. #SimplySmooth #CollectiveBias 

Time for a Summer Spa diy...in a hurry! For this, we are hitting the highlights on the body that need that extra attention during the summer: body, hair, and feet. As much as I love really sitting down and doing the whole spa-at-home experience (cucumbers on my eyes, for example), summer is just too busy. These four steps will have you refreshed and smooth in no time. First, a trip to Target is in order for supplies for waxing and pampering.

We'll grab some waxing supplies from Sally Hansen, like the Sally Hansen Wax Strip Kit Face

or the Sally Hansen Wax Strip Kit Body. You've gotta have smooth skin for the summer, right?

Here are a variety of options: Sally Hansen Wax Strip Kit Face, Sally Hansen Wax Strip Kit Body, and Extra Strength All Over Body Wax Hair Removal Kit. It's everything you could need to easily remove unwanted hair. And for up to 8 weeks! Now let's get into the Summer Spa!

Coconut Water Pads

I like to refresh the skin on a hot summer day with these cotton pads soaked in coconut water. Just wipe them where you would like to feel refreshed. Tip: Keep these in the fridge!

Strawberry Hair Smoothie

Next, it's time for the second summer body concern, hair. Hair gets dry during the summer, thanks to the sun and can get product buildup. Depending on hair length, I like to mix a 1/4c to 1/2 c of conditioner with a drizzle of honey and 1 pureed strawberry. Apply to hair ends and leave on for about 20 minutes before washing out. 

Waxing Time

While the hair mask is on, it's time to wax. What is so great about the Sally Hansen Wax Strip Kit Face, is that it has strips in 3 sizes and is mess-free. 

Just warm the strip in your hand before following directions for application. to remove unwanted hair.

For those that want to remove hair from the body, try the Sally Hansen Ouch Relief Wax Strip Kit. 

But not everyone likes wax strips, so for those, there's the Sally Hansen Extra Strength All-Over Body Wax Kit. The wax smells really nice as well. Dermatologist tested and salon tested. All are easy to use.

Click here to see Sally Hansen how to videos and more information.

Orange Crush Scrub

Finally, the last area that needs pampering in the summer would be the feet. Get them exfoliated and soft by mixing 1c Kosher salt with 3 drops orange essential oil, 1/4c oil of your choosing. Do this in a foot spa (fancy term for a bowl large enough for feet). On clean feet, massage the scrub onto feet and then wash away thoroughly.

And that's an easy summer spa day! 

Have you tried Sally Hansen waxing products before?

Soft, Smooth Summer Skin: How To

I can tell it's summer in Atlanta when I see waves on the pavement and there's a stickiness in the air. For a brief moment, life slows down. I can never decide if it's the heat that makes life move slower or if it's a chance to appreciate things more. I can tell it's summer when an extra cube of ice is added to my sweet tea. In the summer, complicated routines become simple--no busy school or activity schedules, clothes are comfortable, even my makeup and skincare changes.

I know a lot of us are like that, and not just in the summer, but always. We know we need to take care of our skin, but we want everyday skincare that is gentle and kind. Cetaphil is perfect. It works for the most sensitive skin--many of you have been recommended this over the years by me.

Here's what I do: I use Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer, which has SPF 15. I have dry skin that needs hydrating no matter the temperature. But in the summer I cannot stand feeling sticky or greasy from lotions. I use the Cetaphil DailyAdvance Lotion. There's a reason why it's recommended by more dermatologists and pediatricians than any other cleanser and moisturizer brand. Then, to wash away the day, I use the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser. It leaves skin clean, but not stripped, gentle and #Beautiphil. 

They also have Daily Face Cloths for Men. You can find Cetaphil at drugstores and other mass retailers.

Save up to $4 on Cetaphil now!

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How do you feel Beautiphil? 

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Quick Tip to Get Ready Fast

When was the last time you had a fun night out? For me, the fact that I can't remember means it has been too long. I recently (finally!) got a chance to do so...but it was on a week night. And I had to leave right after work, which means I didn't have long to get ready. I looked a mess--hair in a bun, makeup had worn off...you get the picture.

In case you didn't know, if I'm not blogging it up, I'm a nanny to two of the most amazing little girls. They make me double over in laughter pretty much daily. I love how they see the world--it blows my mind sometimes. So naturally I'm on my feet most of the day, running around barefoot inside or sweaty shoes outside. That doesn't put my feet in the best of shape. 

But I like to take time out for myself when I can. In this case, I had just a few minutes to get ready before heading out--I was going to a screening of a new tv show and a party after. I wanted to wear my cute sandals, but my feet had other ideas. They looked awful. It's those little things, those little details, that make me feel more comfortable. I can be very shy in public situations, and having those details taken care of really helps. 

It helps me feel more confident. I grabbed my Amopé™ --you can use this particular one wet or dry--and quickly exfoliated my feet. I added some lotion to my feet and continued getting ready. A little lipstick here for color, a touchup of polish on my toes, a jingle of bracelets, and it all came together.

Just a few minutes later and I was out the door. My little details continued with my sandals I found that I'm currently obsessed with. I am (like most of us) into tassels this summer on everything. I've put them on bags, key chains, and even earrings. I need a crafting intervention.

My dog Charlie wanted to come with me (as always), and I wished I could have taken him. I mean, how cute is this little guy? I had to include a pic.

That night ended up being a fun one. And something I need to do more often. When I was complimented on my sandals, I didn't feel self-conscious because of my feet, thanks to my Amopé™ Pedi Perfect Wet & Dry Rechargeable Foot File.

What tips do you have for overcoming shyness?
Or being in social situations?

This post was #sponsored by Amopé™ as part of an influencer activation for the #AmopeCrowd and Socialstars™. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review, but all opinions are my own. #doyouamope

20 Summer DIY Beauty Ideas

You asked for it, and you got it! Here are 20 DIY beauty ideas perfect for summer! Make these for gifts, make these on a rainy day, make these with the kids (aunt of 6 over here, and nanny to 2 and these are fun recipes), and best of all, make them for yourself! They work well beyond summer. Let me know your faves in the comments!

Pineapple Solid Sugar Scrubs

Use these to exfoliate your feet/body

DIY Cupcake Bath Bombs

A fun twist on the regular bath bomb

DIY Pina Colada Foot Scrub

Your feet will thank you.

Sea Salt Shaving Scrub

Use this before shaving for softer skin

DIY Soothing Sun Mist

Spray this on for relief after a day in the sun

DIY Peaches and Cream Milk Bath

This Georgia girl loves this bath in the summer

DIY Bubblegum Lip Scrub

Keep lips get dry even in the summer. And because it tastes good!

DIY Leave-In Conditioner/ DIY Detangling Spray

Seriously, don't buy these again. Make them!

DIY Lemonade Solid Sugar Scrub Cubes

Love the sugar scrubs but not the messiness? Try these.

DIY Watermelon Toner

So refreshing on the skin and not sticky!

Snow Cone Sugar Scrubs

If this doesn't say summer...

DIY Banana Coconut Smoothie Hair Masque

Hair fried from the heat? Try this.

DIY Orange Crush Salt Scrub

This smells amazing. Your skin will love it.

Beachy Bath Soak

Time to relax and get soft skin in 1 step.

DIY Cherry Ice Cream Solid Sugar Scrub

It looks like ice cream, doesn't, it?

DIY Vanilla Sea Salt Beachy Waves Spray for Hair

A twist on the regular beachy waves spray

Coconut Lime Sugar Scrub

Because not everyone likes lemon

DIY Fizzy Foot Soak

Try this after dancing at summer weddings

DIY Lemonade Mint Sugar Scrub

Because it's all about lemonade this summer

DIY Shower Jellies

Just like LUSH but at home!

FYI:

• Some of these have vitamin C, so always wear sunscreen if you're going outside, and don't forget to do a skin patch test if sensitive
• All recipes created by me. I have shared over 300 here. 

Which one are you going to try first?

Extra Elle:

Had a quick trip to my hometown, got to see a little of my family, but did not enjoy the 113 degree heat index!

Want More Summer Posts?

• Summer Beauty Hacks
• 10 DIY Sprays
• 5 Summer Hair Masks
• 4 Beachy Waves Sprays