Beauty Archives - A Side of Sweet

Pretty Conscious Skincare Review

As you know, I’m always looking for skincare products that will make my skin look and feel the best. It’s also important that these products are cruelty-free, all natural and eco-friendly. That’s why I’ve been loving Pretty Conscious skincare. They are a small Latin-x owned business that makes botanical beauty products that are perfect for sensitive and problematic skin. The founder, Charlene, actually started the company because nothing she could find worked for her son’s severe eczema.

They craft all-natural, luxurious, vegan & cruelty free products that smell great and make my skin happy.

Here are my favorites:

Guide to Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Charm, beaches and world-class food! Everything you need to know about where to eat and what to do is in this guide to Carmel-By-The-Sea, California.

We love, love, love Carmel-By-The-Sea and try to go every couple of months. It’s an easy getaway from San Francisco but it feels so different! There is world-class dining on every block. It’s the “beachiest” destination in Northern California with its serene white sand beaches. The city is surrounded by wine country and there are many tasting rooms in downtown Carmel. There’s so much to do! In addition, it might be the cutest town of all time, with rows and rows of perfectly manicured cottages and charming shops.

This is THE TIME of year to visit Carmel! The tourist crowds have thinned and the weather is at its best. There’s really no excuse. Here are some things we love to do when we’re in town.

Read on for what to do in Carmel-By-The-Sea…

Boost Your Beauty at Macy’s Union Square

Upgrade your beauty routine this weekend at Macy’s Boost Your Beauty event here in San Francisco. It will be a fun day of pampering and sweet deals!

I’m a self-professed beauty product junkie. My makeup cabinet is overflowing with skincare products and every type of makeup imaginable. I love the process of applying makeup and I love how I feel when I’m able to learn a new makeup technique. I also love having my makeup done by a professional! So much love haha. :)… Read More »

I Tried 10 Eye Creams and Here’s What I Learned

Are eye creams worth the money? Should you choose an eye balm or eye cream? Lucky for you, I’m obsessed with eye creams – here’s my review of what’s on the market.

It’s no secret, I’m a skin care junkie. My bathroom cabinet is filled with rows and rows of serums, creams, crèmes, balms and more. I consider an eye cream one of the most essential parts of my skin care routine. By keeping the delicate skin around my eyes hydrated and protected, I’m preventing fine lines from forming and helping my makeup go on more evenly.

In my search for the perfect beauty cream, I tried 10 different eye creams currently on the market. Here are my honest reviews of each meticulously tested product…

P.S. – If you enjoy my photography style, check out my Instagram account!… Read More »

7 Essential Skincare Ingredients for Your Routine

A look at the best skincare ingredients to keep your face looking great – from Vitamin C serum to retinol. Even probiotics are great for your skin!

Fact: my skin care routine takes longer than my makeup routine. It’s typically 4-5 steps, and I like to take 1-2 minute breaks between the steps to let the active ingredients soak in. In my mind, it’s all worth a few extra steps to prevent aging and keep me looking my best. This obsession isn’t cheap, but taking care of your skin is an investment. Luckily, many products only need a tiny amount per use, so a small bottle can last months. What I’m spending still works out to be cheaper than trying to undo aging later with lasers, fillers and Botox.

I’m now in my early thirties, and my skin looks better than it did in my twenties. It’s brighter, smoother and I have about the same amount of fine lines. I’m always on the hunt for new skincare ingredients to add to my routine.

Read on for the favorites that have a permanent place in medicine cabinet. I’ve also given product recommendations for each based on what I use myself…. Read More »

Best Red Lipstick and Tinted Lip Balms

The best red lipstick and tinted red lip balm for every occasion. Read on for reviews of Nars, Sephora, Benefit, Too Cool for School, and e.l.f. cosmetics red lip products!

My red lipstick post. AKA the post with a million pictures of my face. Apologies for that in advance. Rather than just give you a list of red lipsticks and tinted lip balms that I’ve tried and like, I thought I would go through every one I own and actually show you how they look on a real person.

Wearing red lipstick is intimidating. I’ve been ‘trying’ to wear red lipstick for almost two years! I started with a tinted lip balm and worked up to a burgundy lip tint, both of which are listed below. It wasn’t until this fall that I finally took the plunge to an actually red lipstick. It’s amazing how rocking a red lipstick instantly makes me feel more glamorous. Now that the holiday parties are in full swing, I can’t get enough! I have a few that I’ve had forever, like the Benefit Benebalm, and some new fun ones I picked out at the Sephora Store at JC Penny.

For each product, the photo furthest to the left is my natural lip color with just plain lip balm on. I thought it would be helpful to have a comparison!