For this month’s beauty post, my niece Haley has offered to share some of her top beauty picks from her blog:

From the time she was a little girl Haley has been creative and artistic, so I was not a bit surprised when she announced she wanted to go into the beauty industry. I have loved watching her grow in her abilities as she navigated her way into adulthood.

Her faith in God is refreshing for a young person, and shines through every aspect of her life. I’m so proud of the woman she’s become and honored that she would share her pro tips with my readers! Thank you Haley!!

Haley’s Top Ten Pro Beauty Picks:

1. Anastasia Ultimate Glow Kit Gotta have that glow, right? It’s no secret that Anastasia is taking over the highlighter game and while the most recent release has some mixed reviews, I am all for it. Yes, it is more glittery than the others, but it has a couple secrets. One, is that once you get it, gently rub off the top layer of each color, because there’s a thin film over them. Another, is to spray your highlighting brush with setting spray before using them to really get that “ultimate glow” look. Also, use a densely packed highlighter brush instead of a fan brush. Once you get used to using this palette it is a lot of fun.

2. Tarte Double Duty Lip Sculptor 

   I love a deep lip in the cold months. I more recently picked this up in “Rogue” and love it. It’s that perfect deep berry color. While I like the matte lip look, I still am all for my creams and glosses, and this combines them both. Definitely line your lips for this one though… I made the mistake of not doing that the first time I wore it and it very much feathered. Also, as this one fades it fades evenly and nicely, not spotty like some others can. I can usually go all day and only have to reapply once with minor touch ups after a meal.

3. Joico Curl Co-Wash 

   I have recently fallen in love with a good co-wash. I have thick, coarse, wavy-curly hair and grabbed this as soon as it came out. Joico also makes a moisture and a color protection co-wash. I get it, co-washes aren’t for everyone. I don’t wash my hair every day (to be completely honest I normally go about 4+ days) and if I do wash my hair sooner than 4 days time, I use this. If you are someone who washes their hair every day, please give this a try for every other day. Daily washing is hard on your hair and really hard on your color. It’s creamy instead of sudsy, but it really does clean and condition your hair.

4. Moroccan Oil Treatment 

   Okay yes this is one of the more expensive items on here, but if you’re looking for a good hair oil, this one takes the cake. Besides smelling great, it smooths beautifully and makes your hair feel super silky. I normally put the tiniest bit on after I have curled my hair to help soften the curls and the hair after applying heat. Occasionally I’ll put it on before I blow dry my hair but I like the result I get as a finishing product better. With this cold and dry weather it’s great! On the bright side, the large sized bottle of this would last you ‘about’ forever!

5. Stila Shape & Shade Contour Duo 

   I more recently made the switch from powder contouring to cream, and very much prefer cream contouring. It’s easier to blend and I feel like it gives me more control. I love this duo because you get huge amounts of both shades, although I will admit I hardly use the highlighter. Still worth it to me for the amount of contour cream I get! I suggest doing a swatch test before buying this one… I ordered it online and ended up taking it back because it was very yellow on me. It’s very creamy and easy to start off light and build to whatever depth you desire all while staying put throughout the day!

6. Sexy Hair h2no Dry Shampoo 

   Keeping in the spirit of clean hair, this one is hands down my favorite dry shampoo! It works on all hair colors (yes, even you raven haired girls!) and feels amazing. When it comes to dry shampoo, you definitely get what you pay for, so you want to invest in a good one. It smells great, goes on clear, and doesn’t leave your hair feeling gritty, or your scalp feeling itchy. Your hair just feels soft and clean. Works just like every other dry shampoo, simply spray it in sections and comb out any excess.

7. Too Faced Hangover Rx Primer 

   Ah winter time… when rosy cheeks are actually the result of suffering from freezing windburn. To protect against harsh winter wind, a good primer is the way to go, and this is one of my favorites. It does smell faintly of coconut, but that goes away quickly. I have combination skin that changes fairly often and this keeps right up with it. I cannot tell you how soft my skin feels immediately or how much better my makeup feels from this. I also love that I can wear it alone, and my face looks fresh all day.

8. Amika The Wizard 

   Paraben free and safe for all hair types and colors, this is a winner in my book! Really, this entire line is, and I have been greatly impressed by everything they make. The Wizard detangles, conditions, protects from heat, wind and UV rays. It leaves hair so silky and shiny, and smells incredible! As a matter of fact, everything from them smells so good, that they even make a room spray. A little goes a long way for incredible looking and feeling hair. I promise you’ll be hooked!

9. Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener 

   No, this isn’t a concealer. In fact it almost looks like it goes on sheer and has a bit of shimmer to it, but the shimmer is where the magic is, because when light hits it, it reflects back which covers the appearance of dark circles. I wear glasses so I pretty much always have dark circles under my eyes, but this does a great job of covering them. It’s super lightweight and can be worn alone or under foundation. But play around with it, I actually prefer to put this on after my foundation.

10. PRAVANA Nevo Lived In 

    It’s no secret that I love texture products, and I really love PRAVANA. I grabbed their texture powder and it immediately went to the top of my list. It feels so velvety soft, and creates some great separation. It’s buildable, so you can go from day to evening easily. If you plan on pinning your hair up at all, shake a little of this into your hair first to help create a good grip for the bobby pins. If you’re teasing your hair, a couple shakes of this before you tease will help that lift stay all day and night. This is a product that you’ll only find in salons so you may have to do some research, but it’s worth it.

For more beauty tips and a sweet, light-hearted blog, make sure to check out Coffee Together!