Rachel's Beauty Essentials

I'm really relaxed when it comes to my beauty routine, a combination of good genetics and God's grace, has given me fairly good skin that doesn't require much upkeep outside of everyday maintenance.

For that very reason, I've always been very low-budget and low-maintenance with my beauty routine. I follow a three point plan;  Cleanse, Moisturize and Perfect.

Click through for the details on each item and the final look~*



Cleansing: Ghanaian Black Soap.

The only soap that i trust 100% with my oily skin is Ghanaian Black Soap. I bought it in the market when I was in Nigeria and I got a 3-5 pound heap for approximately $5. It's perfect because it cleanses my skin but doesn't dry it out. Without it, it's always hard for me to find a soap that cleanses without being overly dry or without leaving some kind of residue. Ghana got it right with this soap, shout out to them!



 

Moisturizing: Shea Butter & Coconut Oil.

The most important part of moisturizing is getting water on and into the skin but a key part is sealing the moisture and that is where oils and butters come in play. Coconut oil is for more humid and hot day and Shea butter is for dry and cold days. In the darkest and coldest days of the winter, Shea butter seals the moisture in to the max, keeping my skin supple and ash-free. Coconut oil is really light and works great for hot summer days.

The Coconut oil is $6 at your local Trader Joe's, and I got the Shea butter in Nigeria for about $5. Great for your skin and your wallet!



Perfecting: E.L.F Baked Bronzer, Brow Pencil & BB Cream, Revlon's Midnight Swirl  & R.K Lipstick.

This is the final step, perfecting. This is all about the little touches that'll add some glow to my skin. First things first, the BB cream. This BB cream from ELF is the bomb.com and only $6!

I don't wear foundation on most days but I like something that gives me a bit of coverage with a matte look and this is perfect! Gives me a light, matte and slight dewy look. It's perfect for everyday wear.

Next, is the ELF Instant Lift Brow Pencil in dark brown. This is a decent dupe of the Anastasia Brow Wiz. Not perfect but as long as I get my eyebrows threaded on a regular basis, this works great. For $3, it's a steal and lasts much longer than it's pricier counterpart.

Next, I add a little shimmer on my cheekbones with the Baked Bronzer (Bora Bora) from ELF. I love the extra gold highlight that this bronzer adds to my skin. It''s also only $3.

On a day to day basis, I've started sticking to a nude brown lip with a gloss. Ruby Kisses is a really good drugstore brand that I've been using for a few months. Before I discovered RK, I used to use Mac & Bobbi Brown lips but I've found that for everyday use,  less expensive brands do work just as well. For a bit of gloss, I do a top coat with Revlon's Midnight Swirl and then I'm good to go! RK is about $4 and the revlon lipgloss is about $5-10, if you can find it in any stores.

   

 

Behold, the final product!



 

 

I really love my routine because it's simple, easy, fast and fortunately, cost-effective (I really only splurge on fragrances, haha).

What are your beauty essentials? Drop a line in the comment box!

Love & Light

Rachel.