You guys!  This was my last weekend as a “single” medical school wife!  For now at least.  After today, Vishnu will be done with his boards and a free man!  I can’t wait to have my husband back.

I used this weekend to prep for our upcoming trip to Turks and Caicos.  I can’t believe it’s almost here!  You better believe we’re ready to lay by the pool/beach and sip on some cocktails.  More on that to come!

So today I want to showcase a few of my new favorite beauty finds because they’re pretty awesome.  I’ve actually found a lot of my favorite makeup and hair care products via blogs, so I thought I would do my part and (hopefully) return the favor.

First up we have the Desert Essence Coconut shampoo and conditioner.  As you know, I’ve been using a few Desert Essence skin care products (one of them being the face wash in the back of the picture) for a while now and absolutely love them.  So when my cousin told me about this particular shampoo and conditioner, I knew I had to try it.  This stuff has the same effect on my hair that the coconut oil treatment I do has, especially with prolonged use.  The combination of Jojoba and Olive oil leaves my hair silky, soft, and super moisturized all without weighing it down.  And the smell?  It’s out of this world!  I think I need to buy the Coconut Hand and Body Lotion so that every inch of me smells like paradise.

Next we have Suave Professionals Moroccan Infusion Styling Oil.  Honestly, the only reason I bought this was because I had a coupon.  I didn’t have high hopes for it because I’ve heard that nothing comes close to the “real” stuff.  Well, I was wrong.  This stuff is liquid gold.  I apply about three pumps to damp (just washed) hair and style as usual.  My hair is noticeably smoother and softer to the touch.  And I think using this before heading out in the humidity is helping to tame the frizzies.  Also, this stuff smells incredible as well!  I think the Desert Essence + Suave combo is perfect for my hair (which is naturally wavy and coarse). 

And last but not least we have the Revlon ColorStay Foundation for combination/oily skin.  I know I’ve blogged about my love for more expensive foundations, and while I still think the Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick is a great product, my wallet doesn’t necessarily agree.  After a little bit of research, I settled on this particular drugstore foundation.  I was looking for something with good coverage and a matte look and feel.  Oh and I also wanted something that didn’t aggravate my acne prone sensitive skin.  Too much to ask?  Not really because this foundation fit the bill in all respects.  It’s comparable to the high end stuff, has a soft finish, and keeps my skin shine free for over eight hours.  And for anyone who cares, I use a foundation brush to apply because I don’t like the idea of using my fingers. 

The only problem with drugstore makeup is being able to find the right shade.  Luckily, the Target associate working in the makeup aisle let me try on a few different shades.  All of the bottles I wanted to try ended up having broken seals, so before she tossed them in the damaged pile, she let me experiment.  She even helped me pick the right shade.  I love Target!

Well, there you have it – my three new beauty product favorites.  Share some of yours in the comment section!

Happy Monday!