It's my favorite weekend of the year! The last weekend of summer! This summer was really rough for me. I was unemployed, trying my hand at freelancing and still looking for a full-time gig. I was challenged mentally, emotionally, and professionally so the fact that the summer is over and I start a new job in two weeks sounds pretty great.

It's not a surprise to me that I would start a new, incredible job at the start of my favorite season just as if I was starting school! The harmony involved in this is really satisfying to me.

I made my annual trip to Bath and Body Works and Target today to stock up on Fall scents and pumpkin/apple-flavored things. Everything is falling into place!

On another note, I was very absent from the blog this week and truthfully I just needed a break. I've been preoccupied and I was just moody this week; the last thing I felt like doing was writing. I think I have to admit that I have been suffering from a bad case of writer's block but I'm hoping a sense of routine will whip me back into shape.

For now, let's dive into the week!

PS: If you have not, you need to try the Nude Lips fragrance from KKW x Kylie. It is vanilla, musk, amber, and more warm notes that will make you want to cozy up in a blanket.

Links to Love

• Why do we get eye bags? 
• White Claw was obviously the drink of the summer and this is why
• Big beauty news: Revlon is looking for a buyer
• The correct order to apply your undereye makeup in
• Back to school weather and why we love it

What I Bought This Week

xoxo 
B

It is my time! August is over, summer is over and next week unofficially starts Fall. This is when I shine and this year is going to be a better Fall than all the rest. It's a truly fresh start for me! After a long 4-5 months of unemployment (storytime on that coming soon), I will be starting a new job in two weeks so it's like going back to school for me.

This Fall I also have a few weddings, some fun fall activities, a Jonas Brothers concert, and of course, my birthday. It's going to be a good season!

But before we get into the fun of Fall, we have to wrap up the summer with the last favorites post!

Monthly Favorites

Lilly Pulitzer Agenda

Urban Decay Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lipgloss

Kylie Cosmetics Sippin Pretty Eyeshadow Palette

Love Wellness Bye Bye Bloat

We are slowly but surely coming to the end of August and this week I had my first PSL of the season. Dunkin Donuts released their pumpkin goodies on Wednesday and on the way to my boyfriend's house, I picked up an iced PSL. I only had a few sips before it gave me a stomachache but it was so worth it. I almost walked into Bath and Body Works today too but I refrained.

In other news, I got a haircut in the salon for the first time in years (my friend usually cuts my hair in the house) and wow, I don't remember being this emotional about my hair. They cut it way too short and now my hair which used to be in the middle of my back is shorter than my shoulders. I did NOT want it that way and told him to just cut off a few inches, to give me a good, healthy trim but he did not listen. I didn't realize he was going that short until he got to the front of my head and then it was too late. I cried hysterically when I left the salon and didn't look into the mirror until hours later.

Hair is really emotional for me and I remember the last time I got my hair cut a little too short, I was a child and had the same reaction. I really like my long hair and am very attached to my 'hair routine' of being able to style it however I want. Thankfully my hair grows like a weed so, within two weeks, it'll probably be back to normal. It was just a rough day for me.

It was also rough on Wednesday when news broke that my favorite housewife of all time, Bethenny Frankel, was leaving the RHONY cast. I was with my boyfriend when I found out and I literally couldn't focus on anything else but being upset that my favorite boss was no longer going to provide epic one-liners every week. SO SAD. 

However, the good part about today was Taylor Swift's new album, Lover, was released. It definitely is a different Taylor Swift sound but more similar to 1989 than Reputation was. Red is forever my favorite album of all time but this is a really great one. Taylor Swift's music makes me feel 16 years old and I love it.

I'm currently binging Disney Youtube videos on a Friday night and plan to crash soon as I have a busy weekend ahead!

Links I Loved

What You Missed on Royally Pink

What I Bought This Week

I also bought a Lilly Pulitzer pen case and some diamond pens-- all for my new job that I start in a few weeks! I'm also on a huge Disney kick and BoxLunch had a 30% off flash sale so I picked up a Tinkerbell t-shirt and a princess cardholder.


Have a great weekend! 
xoxo 
B

I read "The Drowning" by J.P Smith a few months ago, thanks to NetGalley (as I've been getting all my books recently) and it surprised me in more ways than one.

Publisher's Summary

My Thoughts

I don't know if it's just me but I have a lot of weird habits. I have an obsessive personality and crave routine so it's really hard for me to step outside my comfort zone. That is especially true when it comes to fashion.

I've said it before but when it comes to getting dressed I have to be comfortable. If I am not comfortable then my entire day is ruined and I will be in the worst mood. It has happened too many times before where I get dressed, leave my house and then want to cry because of the discomfort I felt. I'm pretty sure I've been like this since I was little and I don't see myself breaking out of this any time soon.

That being said, whenever I shop for clothes or get dressed for the day, I need to be comfortable and I have developed a very weird fashion habit to maintain comfort.

My weird fashion habit (one of many) is that I wear a camisole under every outfit. I have quite a number of the same black camisoles from Nordstrom Rack that I switch between on a daily basis. It doesn't matter what kind of shirt I'm wearing, I have a camisole on underneath. It bothers my mother till no end and it honestly bothers me too but I just can't help it.

You can see my cami peeking through!

I think the reason I always wear a camisole is that it holds me in. I think it smooths out my body, holds in my chest and makes bras a little more comfortable to wear. Maybe that means I need a better bra? Either way, when I don't have a camisole on underneath, I feel naked. I guess it's sort of a security blanket/barrier that helps me feel like I'm not jiggling all over the place.

However, I have been branching out and trying not to wear a camisole every single time I get dressed in the morning and with certain shirts, it is definitely doable. I think it has to do with the types of shirts I've been wearing and going forward I need to be more conscious that things are comfortable without a camisole.

Do any of you have a weird fashion habit like me or am I just a big weirdo? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo
B

My skin has been giving me a rough time this summer. My arms and legs are incredibly itchy, splotchy, and scabby. I don't know what happened but the moment the weather turned more hot than warm, my skin exploded.

I've spent the better part of the summer scratching my skin until it bleeds and I swear, I have scars from them. My legs are filled with dark, uneven marks that I simply cannot get rid of but I'll save that for another blog post.

While I knew my skin was dry, I knew the solution to my itchy skin was exfoliating. I needed to scrub off all the dead skin off my body but also keep up with it every week so my skin didn't get a gross build upon it.

Thus began my search for the perfect body scrub. I had previously tried the Herbivore Coconut Rose Body Polish and went through the entire jar within a few weeks. That is how I knew my body needed a good scrub but truthfully, I didn't want to pay the expensive price tag for a scrub that wasn't going to last too long. I needed more bang for my buck.

On my hunt, I tried a few different scrubs but of course, First Aid Beauty came through. FAB is a brand that caters especially to sensitive skin but obviously, anyone and everyone can use them. Whenever I've had a skincare problem, First Aid Beauty had a solution. It just so happened that they were releasing a new body scrub at the moment I desperately needed one.

The KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub with 10% AHA was released in June; I bought it pretty much immediately and have been using it ever since.



The scrub is specifically for people who have Keratosis Pilaris which is a skin condition that is sometimes called 'chicken skin' because of the scaly texture. You can read more about it here but this scrub is supposed to take that feeling away.

Bump Eraser has 10% AHA which helps loosen your skin, unclog your pores, and brighten the skin. It also has pumice beads to really exfoliate and get rid of the dead skin, while the Bisabolol will soothe the skin. The scrub has the clean stamp at Sephora so you can use this and know it's good for you.

Gross picture of the scabs on my arm from scratching/dry skin

It has a very gritty texture which feels so nice on your skin because you can really rub it in to remove all the dead skin. It leaves your skin super soft and supple, ready to take on the day.

I use this about 1-2 times a week depending on how my skin feels. There was a moment this summer where I had a nice tan and didn't want to exfoliate it off so I didn't use the scrub. My skin reacted very strong and very loud, making it known that I need to use this every week to keep the itch and splotches at bay. When I didn't use this, my skin was on fire but as long as I keep this in my routine, my skin eats it up.

I've never used a product like this; one that my body responds so well to and has completely changed my life. I cannot imagine my shower routine without this scrub because it has saved my skin and brought it back from a bad place.

First Aid Beauty has done it again and I can't thank them enough!

If you're having skin problems or just need a really good body exfoliator, I cannot recommend the First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub more.

xoxo
B

Oh, Friday this week is so sweet! It was a wild week filled with so many different events and emotions so I am happy to say hello to the weekend! I got super exciting news today that really just made my entire week/month/year/life and I will share that soon but I can say that I won't be home 24/7 anymore ;)

I'm currently in bed, typing this, doing some freelance work, browsing the Nordstrom beauty section and watching Youtube on my television. My house recently switched to Verizon Fios for cable and there are now channels for Youtube and Netflix so since I don't have a smart TV in my room, I can watch these channels from the comfort of my bed. It has been a total game changer and I'm obsessed. I watch so much Youtube, like my favorite beauty vloggers but also watched Sleeping Beauty a few weeks ago since you can find the entire movie on Youtube.

Having Netflix on my TV has allowed me to binge Mind Hunter Season 1 to prep for Season 2 which was released today, and I restarted Gossip Girl since I just needed some Blair Waldorf in my life.

Fun fact, every August while I was in college my roommates and I would rewatch Gossip Girl from the beginning to prep for the new season. It was a ritual and honestly so fun. I think that's why I got the itch to rewatch!

Since this is another weekly wrap up, I will mention that we are one week closer to the unofficial start of Fall...

On that note, let's get into the week's loves!

Links I Loved

• Why are we obsessed with TV bedrooms?
• Fresh Beauty teamed up with an influencer to create a new Sugar Lip Treatment
• Warming office essentials when your office is freezing
• Find out why you are always bloated at the end of the day

What You Missed on Royally Pink

What I Bought This Week

Since my junior year of college, I have become obsessed with all things career. I loved reading career books and articles and just trying to better myself and be prepared for the real world. I was always really curious about learning about other women's career paths and how they became successful. It's a topic that I have always really loved so it shouldn't be a surprise that I've moved on from career books (I've read so many!) to career podcasts.

I've been listening to podcasts for a while (thanks Barstool Sports!) and when I saw so many publications or businesswomen releasing their own pods, I immediately subscribed.

In my time, I've listened to a bunch of podcasts, hundreds of episodes, and have changed my favorites multiple times. However, the podcasts I'm going to talk about today have remained my favorite for years. All of them are centered around interviews with successful women, whether they are entrepreneurs, fashion designers, political advisors, authors, and so many more professions. Another thing they all have in common? They are super inspiring.

If you're looking for a new podcast, love hearing about successful women and learning how to better your own career, or just need an uplifting story about success, you will love these podcasts.

Second Life by Hillary Kerr

Favorite Episodes: 

Superwoman by Rebecca Minkoff

Favorite Episodes:

Skimmed from the Couch by the Skimm

Favorite Episodes:

Work Party by Create and Cultivate

Favorite Episodes:

Girlboss Radio

This was the first career podcast I listened too and it remains one of my favorites. Girlboss Radio is part of Sophia Amourou's 'Girlboss' brand and that is definitely why I started to listen. Over the years, there have been a ton of changes to the podcast but the core message stays the same: helping women by inspiring women.

Favorite Episodes: *There are honestly so many and this is the oldest podcast which is why there are so many listed!! 

Last year I was so excited to read "Playing With Matches", the debut novel from Elite Daily editor, Hannah Orenstein. It met every single one of my expectations and was basically a delicious, modern romantic comedy.

You could expect my delight when I saw that Hannah was releasing a second book, "Love At First Like" and the premise was centered around social media and fake engagement, I was thrilled. Once we saw a real-life social media engagement play out, I was even more excited for the book. Luckily, I was able to score it on NetGalley and read it before it was released last week.

I have to say, I liked "Love AT First Like" even more than "Playing With Matches" -- clearly, I can't wait for Hannah's third book next summer!

Publisher's Summary:

Eliza Roth and her sister Sophie co-own a jewelry shop in Brooklyn. One night, after learning of an ex’s engagement, Eliza accidentally posts a photo of herself wearing a diamond ring on that finger to her Instagram account beloved by 100,000 followers. Sales skyrocket, press rolls in, and Eliza learns that her personal life is good for business. So she has a choice: continue the ruse or clear up the misunderstanding. With mounting financial pressure, Eliza sets off to find a fake fiancé.

Fellow entrepreneur Blake seems like the perfect match on paper. And in real life, he shows promise, too. He would be perfect if only Eliza didn’t feel also drawn to someone else. But Blake doesn’t know Eliza is “engaged”; Sophie asks Eliza for an impossible sum of money, and Eliza’s lies start to spiral out of control. She can either stay engaged online or fall in love in real life.

My Thoughts

Lately, I have been completely fascinated by the jewelry world. I follow a bunch of jewelers on Instagram and dream about owning fancy, expensive jewelry -- or even just being in the jewelry world in some aspect, professionally.

Eliza and her store "Brooklyn Jewels" made me long for that world even more! You would think Hannah was a jeweler herself the way she described Eliza's life, career, and the jewelry she sold. It was so descriptive and specific, you felt really emerged into that world.

The real turning point in the novel comes when Eliza accidentally posts herself wearing an engagement ring on her Instagram, and business starts booming. The charade that Eliza has to keep up is anxiety-inducing, nerve-wracking, and insane. You start to wonder how this would ever play out in real life and how you yourself would react if something like this happened... or maybe it's just me who felt like that.

Throughout the book, I started to come up with predictions of how this would play out but quite frankly, what I expected to happen did not happen, and I was pretty ok with that. I liked not knowing how everything was going to turn out for Eliza and Blake -- it kept things interesting and kept me interested in the story.

I won't give too much away but you're kept guessing and hoping until the very end for Eliza to get what she wants and deserves... it's such a sweet, interesting story with the backdrop of career, love, and social media.

Hannah's writing completely jumps off the page and you could tell how much she has grown from her first novel. Each character is developed, the plot is near perfect, and truly interesting. It might be because I'm from New York, in tune with social media, and love romantic comedies but I couldn't get enough of the book and never wanted it to end. For some reason, I also got emotional during it and I'm not sure why.

If you need an easy read that is interesting, modern, and well put together you will totally love "Love At First Like." I feel as if it's a story all young people could relate to in some way or another.

xoxo
B

I never felt this way about anything in my fashion or beauty wardrobe until one lipstick fell into my lap. Charlotte Tilbury's "Bitch Perfect" was a color I was always intrigued by but more importantly, the name caught my eye.




A weird fact about me is that I love the word "bitch". It's probably one of my favorite words ever. It can definitely have a bad connotation but I truly love to use it in a positive, empowering way. Bitch is just another word for powerful or standing up for yourself. Bitch isn't bad... which is why I love the lipstick name "Bitch Perfect."

My Power Lip

Bitch Perfect is one of Charlotte Tilbury's more popular shades and it was definitely the most talked-about before Pillowtalk came along. It's also the first shade I ever purchased and that's why it's my power lipstick.

This lippie is a peach toned nude that has a traditional satin cream finish. The lipstick applies like a dream and leaves the most beautiful peachy pink color behind. Before trying this lipstick, I don't know if I've ever felt this way about a lipstick.

It matches every beauty look, can be a casual or more dressed up lip, and looks good on a variety of skin tones. After a few wears, this quickly became my favorite lipstick and it became the lipstick I wore when I wanted to feel good about myself.

I almost started to think of it as a lucky lipstick. I wore it to every big day at work, every interview I went on, and whenever I just needed to feel good about myself. It made me happy, feel confident, and I always felt better whenever I applied it. I think it's a combination of the name but also how perfect it looks on me! It's not too pink, not too peach or too nude -- it's utterly perfect.

Bitch Perfect and Pillowtalk

Bitch Perfect (L) Pillowtalk (R)

Bitch Perfect is still my power lipstick to this day but I definitely switch it up with Charlotte Tilbury's "Pillowtalk" because that is the most universally flattering shade, although it does tend to lean a little more brown nude than pink so sometimes I reserve it strictly for the cooler months. However, despite everything, Charlotte Tilbury produces my favorite lipsticks, my power lipsticks and I can't wait to continue to find new shades that make me feel powerful and confident!

Do you have a power lipstick shade?
xoxo
B

Happy Friday! I am excited for the weekend after what seemed like a relatively short, uneventful week. I've been really unproductive the past few weeks because I was getting out of a funk and now I'm trying to get myself back on track. Everything has been lacking from blog content, I was behind on my emails and just not motivated. This week I felt a little better so I think next week will be even better.

Also, looking for a full-time job is a full-time job in itself and that is where I am putting all of my focus right now which is why things have been semi-quiet around here.

I've also been reading up a storm!! I've finished like four books in the past two weeks and it's pretty insane. I haven't read this much since the summer going into my junior year of high school when I discovered Twilight (LOL). I purchased a Kindle because I get all of my Netgalley books through Kindle (I've been reading on the app on my iPad) so I figured it was time. I am going to do a full post on it and compare it to my Barnes and Noble Nook soon so keep an eye out!

However, this week was also really hard because of everything happening in the news and in our country. I am beyond exhausted and sad and frustrated. It is scary and I want it all to stop.

Summer is winding down and I got my first glimpse of fall this week when I spotted Pumpkin Spice Cheerios in my grocery store; I don't recommend them because they taste gross. There are rumors that Starbucks is releasing their pumpkin spice lattes on August 28th so you know that I'll be first in line.

My mind is a jumble of thoughts so I'm just going end it here!

Links I Loved

What You Missed on Royally Pink

• Current Favorite Beauty Products: Drugstore Edition
• Beauty in Review: Top 4 Favorite Lipglosses

Have a great weekend everyone!
xoxo
B

Back in the day, I loved a good drugstore beauty product. Maybelline was my favorite brand and I loved the accessibility and affordability of all the brands. Over the years though, my love of higher-end brands took over and I couldn't be bothered with anything at the drugstore.

I found that nothing was innovative or exciting and a lot of the brands had price increases; why buy a $20 foundation when I could buy a $30 one at Sephora? I just didn't see the appeal anymore. Also, I hate shopping inside the drugstore, at least in my neighborhood. I find that the displays are confusing, you can never be too sure if something has been opened/swatched, and sometimes my drugstore didn't have the most up to date collections. There's always Ulta but I'm not big on Ulta, to be honest.

However, my feelings toward all of that have started to change as I've seen the drugstore vastly improve and release a few exciting things over the past few months.

I've been experimenting with more unique drugstore brands that aren't always readily available -- they take a little more work to locate and I'm fine with that.

As of right now, these are my current favorite finds from the drugstore!

Makeup Revolution Conceal and Define Concealer

I was definitely a little late with this purchase but better late than never. I was in the market for a new concealer and had been meaning to try this as it's been compared to Tarte Shape Tape. I picked it up a month or so ago and have been using it very consistently. It's definitely full coverage, not drying, and has a very large doe-foot applicator. It sits beautifully under the eye and I've really been loving it. They just released a hydrating version so I will definitely be picking that up as well. The best part? It's $7. I'm also very curious about their Conceal and Define Foundation.

Thayers Rosewater Toner

Pacifica Alight Clean Foundation

Makeup Revolution The Wants Palette

Bliss What a Melon Overnight Mask

What are your current favorite drugstore products?
xoxo
B

I haven't enjoyed wearing lipgloss since I was around 12 years old because every formula out there was goopy, sticky, and super tacky. It got stuck in my hair and would make my lips feel really gross. I could never find a gloss that worked but that is probably because lipgloss wasn't really on-trend for a while.

Kylie Cosmetics High Gloss

Bite Beauty French Press Lipgloss

Laura Geller Nude Kisses Lip Hugging Lipgloss

Buxom Lip Full-On Plumping Lip Polish

Happy Friday! It was another wild week here in my life and sure to be another wild weekend. I have my best friend's casual engagement party tomorrow and my Godson's birthday on Sunday -- a weekend with family and friends is definitely the best way to spend it.

I am super excited that Mercury is out of retrograde and that August is finally here! I would say that August is my favorite month of the summer because it is basically the Sunday of summer aka Fall is around the corner. Bless us all!

While it was a hard week, emotionally and mentally, it's all for a positive reason. I have a lot of fires burning and I'm hoping one works out... I will surely keep you posted.

For now, here's the roundup!

Links to Love

• The Nanny is the best sitcom ever
• New Yorkers share their best hangover tips
• The best beauty products beauty editors tried in July
• Fake followers are hurting everyone, including brands
• Beauty brands are struggling hardcore to become the next Glossier
• When Harry Met Sally is a true Rom-Com classic

What You Missed on Royally Pink