We had our gender reveal on Memorial Day and it was a success. In case you missed it on Insta, we’re having a sweet baby girl come October! I shared a video of the reveal on my stories and saved it under the baby girl highlight if you want to watch!
Read moreMy Current Beauty Routine
Let’s chat skincare & makeup!
So excited to be sharing my current beauty routine with you babes! I shared a complete tutorial over on my Insta stories @pinebarrenliving and saved it to my highlights as well! You will find all products linked below. If you are interested in any of the YL products, send me a dm or email and I’d love to chat about getting them into your hands! xoxo <3
AM SKINCARE
INDIE LEE BRIGHTENING CLEANSER
I started using this cleanser a few weeks ago and instantly fell in love. I LOVE the scent; it’s very refreshing especially for morning. It’s super gentle and doesn’t really foam which I like. I would say I have noticed a difference in the overall glow of my skin with this cleanser compared to the one I was using previously. I typically apply one pump to my dry skin and then rinse with warm water.
ONE LOVE ORGANICS SKIN DEW COCONUT WATER CREAM
This face cream is perfect for spring and summer. It’s lightweight, wears well under makeup, and keeps my skin soft and hydrated. I used it all summer last year and I’m excited to bring it back into my routine this year!
EVERY DAY MAKEUP
LAWLESS WOKE UP LIKE THIS FOUNDATION
Between my blog and my Instagram, I have raved about this foundation for a while now! It’s made with clean ingredients but it’s such a great quality, super luxe liquid foundation that you would never even know! You can read my previous review on it here. My light shade is Kalahari and my medium shade is Mojave.
LAWLESS CLASSIC TRANSLUCENT SETTING POWDER
Pairing the above foundation with this setting powder is the dream team. This setting powder keeps your foundation in place all day long. I love the matte finish but definitely want to try the bronzing finish for summer!
SAVVY MINERALS BRONZER
Savvy Minerals by Young Living has been totally worth the try! The bronzer I shared in my tutorial on Instagram today is in the shade Crowned All Over which is the lighter of the two shades they make. I don’t notice a ton of shimmer with it which is nice. If you want an all over glow, use a big fluffy brush. If you want a more defined contour, use a contouring brush. Because it’s a loose powder you might have to put on a couple layers to get your desired amount of color.
SAVVY MINERALS BLUSH
The Savvy Minerals blush in the shade I Do Believe You’re Blushin’ has become my go to. It’s not too pink or too warm. It has a little shimmer to it and is buildable!
SAVVY MINERALS HIGHLIGHT
I use the veil powder in the shade Diamond Dust as my highlight. It comes in a bigger container than the blush and bronzer so it will last forever (literally). It gives such a pretty highlight that is still subtle.
ANASTASIA BROW DEFINER
This is my ride or die brow pencil. I love that the tip is angled because it makes it easier to go with the shape of your brow. I use the shade medium brown.
URBAN DECAY PERVERSION MASCARA
Another ride or die, this mascara has been a favorite of mine for years. It lengthens and adds volume without getting clumpy. Definitely my favorite! I also love the urban decay primer but currently can’t find mine!
YOUNG LIVING LAVENDER LIP BALM
This lip balm is amazing. it’s only $4 and keeps your lips smooth and hydrated. I keep one everywhere and apply throughout the day.
URBAN DECAY NAKED2 BASICS EYE PALETTE
This palette is my go to when I need to do a full eye look. I love that the colors are all matte and cool toned. I’ve probably gone through 4 of these palettes over the years! Always a repurchase.
PM SKINCARE
YOUNG LIVING MIRAH LUMINOUS CLEANSING OIL
If you’ve been following for a while, you know I love a good cleansing oil. There are so many benefits to using oil on your skin, which I will share about more in depth in another blog post. I decided to give the YL cleansing oil a try and I was not disappointed! It removes all of my makeup, even mascara. It leaves my skin feeling super soft and nourished. I highly recommend this one!! I apply it dry and wipe off with a warm washcloth.
INDIE LEE BRIGHTENING CLEANSER
If I feel like my skin needs a little extra love in the evening, I will follow up with this brightening cleanser, but more times than not I just use a cleansing oil.
INDIE LEE SQUALANE FACIAL OIL
Again, oils can do amazing things for your skin as long as you are using the correct oil for your skin type. For reference, my skin is pretty normal, sometimes dry in the winter and I get occasional breakouts that are hormone related (but this is rare). The squalane facial oil by Indie Lee is one that I have repurchased a few times. It’s lightweight, absorbs quick, and a little bit goes a long way. Most importantly, it’s non comedogenic meaning it will not clog your pores. It is great for all skin types because of it’s anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties.
YOUNG LIVING SANDALWOOD MOISTURE CREAM
With the weather getting warmer, I find myself reaching for this cream less and less. It’s super thick and a little bit goes a long way. If you have dry skin, you will 100% fall in love with this cream. It’s very hydrating and really locks in moisture. I think it will be my go to for winter, and whenever my skin needs a little extra TLC during the warmer months. The scent is amazing and I love that the ingredients are clean!
YOUNG LIVING LAVENDER LIP BALM
Again, I apply my lavender lip balm every night and love it even more than the Laneige lip sleeping mask.
YOUNG LIVING ROSE OINTMENT
The YL rose ointment is one of my favorite products they make. I use it nightly on my hands. It keeps them soft and smooth and I love that it nourishes my cuticles so well. The consistency is a bit hard, but once you warm it up in your hands it absorbs so nice!
As always, thank you so much for reading!
If you are interested in any of the Young Living products and not yet a member, please reach out to me and I can help you get started! email: megan@pinebarrenbeauty.com / insta: @pinebarrenliving
xoxo
The Best Resources for Switching to Non Toxic Products
My Favorite Resources for Switching to Non Toxic Products
Hi ladies! Today I’m sharing my favorite resources to use when evaluating the ingredients in my current products and finding non toxic alternatives. It’s been almost a year since I shared this blog post about my initial thoughts on switching to safer beauty products.
Since then, I have successfully replaced the majority of my beauty products with non toxic options that work just as good, if not better than the products I was previously using. I have also switched over the cleaning products in our home to plant based, non toxic options and couldn’t be happier with the results!
If you are just starting your journey to natural living, it can be super intimidating. Considering the FDA only bans 11 ingredients from being used in cosmetic products (where as Europe bans 1,300+), it is up to us to do our own research and determine what ingredients are and are not safe. So, where do you start researching? Here’s a list of some great resources that I’ve found to be super helpful when ditching & switching from toxic to non toxic!
THINK DIRTY APP
You’ve probably heard of this one, but the Think Dirty App is a great way to find out what's in your current products and if those ingredients are harmful or not. The app rates products on a scale of 0-10, 0 being not toxic at all and 10 being very toxic. You can scan the barcode on your products or type in their names, and can then read further about each ingredient. If some of your current products are super harmful, the app does provide options that are clean which is nice!
EWG.ORG
The Environmental Working Group has an app called Healthy Living powered by Skin Deep and Food Scores. They also have a website. The concept with the app is similar to Think Dirty, where you can scan or search your products, see their rating, read about the ingredients, and find safer alternatives. I like EWG a little better than Think Dirty because it also includes info on food! Their website also has TONS of articles and guides to help you make informed decisions!
FOLLAIN.COM
Follain is a website as well as brick & mortar store where you can shop for clean beauty products. Every brand they sell has to go through their approval process. They also have a list of restricted ingredients which is nice. You can read about their standards here. They are a great resource because you are able to shop confidently, knowing that you can trust they are selling brands who use clean ingredients in all of their products. They take the guess work out for you just in case you don’t feel like doing the research on your own!
THE DETOX MARKET
The Detox Market is another online & brick and mortar store where you can shop for clean beauty products. They partner with brands who fit their standards and pass their approval process. They also have a list of restricted ingredients. Again, they take the guess work out and you know you can trust them! Read more about TDM here.
ABOUT PAGES & BLOGS
As you come across brands you may want to try, make sure you read the about pages on their websites. After reading the about pages, you will have a pretty good sense of the brand and if you can trust that their products are what they claim to be. You will also be able to compare brands once you read a handful of about pages. Some may impress you more than others and some might be super basic, making you question their reliability. For example, I came across the brand Lawless on Instagram. When I read their about page, I was sold. I knew I could trust that their products are super luxe but also clean!
Another great resource to utilize when looking at a brand's website is their blog. I love the One Love Organic's blog because I found SO much useful information in their posts as I was doing my research. Another great blog is the one by Primally Pure. If a brand's site has a blog, read it!
A few bloggers I follow are really into clean beauty which is AMAZING. It’s so hard to find genuine reviews of clean products from bloggers. I feel like most bloggers aren’t aware of what’s in their products, and if they are they just don’t care enough to make a change. Here are two bloggers who do a great job with clean beauty reviews: Jess Ann Kirby and Jenna from Visions of Vouge.
One thing I have learned is that slow and steady wins the race. As you run out of current products, replace them with cleaner options. You DON’T have to ditch & switch everything at once. That can be super expensive and end up creating more waste than not. Another thing I have learned is that as long as you are doing the best you can for you, that’s all that matters. I have not fully transitioned all of my products over yet, and that’s okay! I’ve been on this journey for a year now and it’s definitely a work in progress. But, when we know better, we can do better. It all starts with research!
As always, thanks so much for reading! Feel free to reach out with any questions you may have.
& if you’re not already, follow my new lifestyle Instagram account @pinebarrenliving <3
xoxo
18 Week Pregnancy Update
18 weeks!!
Hi babes! It’s been a few weeks since I’ve shared a pregnancy update, so I thought now was a good time! I’m going to try to do these monthly but we’ll see how it all goes.
Since my first trimester update, not much has changed. I’m 18 weeks and 2 days as of today! The nausea I had been feeling 24/7 in the beginning subsided around week 16 which has been amazing. I feel like I can eat so much more now. As far as appetite goes, I’ve been open to whatever. The only thing that doesn’t sound great is seafood, but that’s probably because we had salmon like three weeks in a row haha. If there’s anything I’m craving it would be Mexican. Before pregnancy, I could always go for Mexican, and now it’s just the same x1000 lol.
As far as exhaustion goes,I’m still pretty tired, so I’ve been trying to get as much sleep as I can, while I still can. I’m a sleeper, and if there’s one thing I’m really nervous about when baby comes, it the lack of sleep. Fingers crossed this babe is like his/her mama!
I’m definitely starting to show a little bit more, but not as much as I thought I would be or as much as other girls who I know that are pregnant and around the same timeline as me. * Side note: this is why pregnancy is such a beautiful thing. Everyone’s bodies are unique and it’s amazing what pregnancy looks like on all different people! * In the morning, I have a little bump that could pass for a food baby haha. But at the end of the day, it’s usually pretty noticeable! It’s been weird because I haven’t wanted to buy a ton of clothes yet, because I’m not sure when I’m really going to pop and what will fit or look okay! So we will see how that goes when the time comes.
All of our appointments have been great and we go in a few weeks for the anatomy scan! I think I made it for like 21 weeks because then it’s one week before MDW, which is when we are having our gender reveal! Rob would be just as happy being surprised as he will be with finding out the gender. Needless to say, he’s going to be the one hiding the envelope from me for a week so I don’t open it too soon! We both want to be surprised at the gender reveal and I CAN’T wait to know if it’s a boy or girl so I can really start planning!
As always, thanks for stopping by!
xoxo
Sephora Spring Bonus Event
Get ready to shop beauty!
Hey babes! Today I’m sharing my picks from the Sephora Spring Bonus Event! I’m sharing what I’m purchasing as well as products I’ve tried and loved, and other good options that are on my wish list. All of these products are made with clean ingredients, so you can trust that they are safe for your skin. I personally don’t think Sephora has the highest standards for their “clean at Sephora” badge, BUT these brands are ones that you can forsure trust 🙌🏻 The sale runs now through May 6, so don’t miss out!
Rouge: 20% off with code HEYROUGE
VIB: 15% off with code HEYVIB
Insider: 10% off with code HEYINSIDER
As always, thanks for stopping by!
xoxo
Our Wedding Photos: Part III
Today I’m super excited to share our bridal party, family, and ceremony photos!
Read moreFirst Trimester Bumpdate
So excited to share all of my pregnancy details so far!
I can’t believe I’m already through my first trimester & will be 13 weeks on Wednesday! Since we just announced our pregnancy last week, I feel like there’s so much I have to catch you up on! So, I’m going to start from the beginning!
Backstory
If you’re new here, welcome! Rob & I got married this past October (I have an entire bridal category here on the blog if you’re a bride to be or want to see our photos). We have always dreamed of having babies and if it were up to Rob, we would have had our first yesterday. After getting married, I knew once the new year came, I wanted to stop taking my birth control pill simply because I had been on it for YEARS and was just over it. I’ve been v into all things natural living lately, so it just made sense for me to eliminate the one medication I had been taking consistently.
Well, I went off the pill in December, had one period, and then got pregnant. We went into it with the mindset of whatever happens, happens. We knew we were both ready to start trying but we didn’t know we would be so lucky to conceive right away! Everyone’s journey is different and everyone’s bodies are different. I know there are couples out there who are not as lucky and my heart goes out to them. We are so grateful and so blessed to be on this new journey together and I am so excited to take you guys along. I also thank you for being here! Just know that wherever you are in your journey of parenthood, you are not alone <3
Initial Symptoms
Besides a missed period, I first noticed my back breaking out and thought to myself WTF this never happens. So weird and when will it clear up?! Then, it was a Sunday and we went to breakfast, and after eating I said to Rob “I think I ate too fast, I don’t feel right.” On Monday, I went to eat lunch (buffalo chicken & rice, one of my faves) and could barely eat one bite. I felt so sick I threw my food right in the trash. Then, I thought to myself, I am 100% pregnant. Tuesday morning I took a test and right away it came up positive! I just stared at it for a little while haha, and then began to plan how I was going to tell Rob, which I talk about below in the Q&A! These initial symptoms have lingered throughout the first trimester. My back is still breaking out 🙄 I feel nauseous 24/7 but it seems to be getting better, and I’m just overall tired.
Our First Appointment
Up until our first doctor’s appointment, it seemed so surreal. I knew how I was feeling. I knew that the pregnancy test was positive, but it felt SO much more real after seeing our little babe during the ultrasound! It was the craziest feeling. I immediately started crying and then looked over to Rob who was also crying. He cried more at that appointment than he did on our wedding day 😜 There is truly nothing I can compare it to. I am so glad Rob was with me so we could experience it together! We are so thankful that everything looks great so far!
Q&A
What are you most looking forward to during pregnancy?
This is a question that I haven’t really thought about! I guess just seeing how my body changes (even though it can also be scary). I think it’s so incredible that we are able to create a brand new life and the experience itself is something that I want to enjoy as much as possible!
Biggest fear?
I guess my biggest fear is the birth process itself. I know they say not to have a birth plan because it never goes that way, and not that I do have any type of birth plan, but I do know I want it to be as natural as possible, meaning no epidural and letting my body go into labor when it’s ready, as long as there are no medical emergencies preventing otherwise.
Are you finding out the gender / Do you have a feeling about gender?
Yes!! We are finding out the gender! I am such a planner and surprises give me anxiety, so I need to be prepared in all ways possible lol. I’m sure waiting to find out would be the surprise of a lifetime, but I just can’t do it! As far as having a feeling about boy or girl, I honestly don’t know! When it comes to pregnancies in general, I never really have a feeling of boy or girl. Your guess is a good as mine! Maybe once I start showing I’ll have a feeling, but until then it’s totally up in the air!
Any cravings?
If there’s one thing I would say I’ve been craving, it’s ice cold drinks. I usually drink my water at room temp, but ice cold water has been something I’ve been wanting! As far as food goes, with the 24/7 nausea it’s been more of what sounds good and what I can stomach, aka bagels, rice, pasta, fruit … any carbs really. I’m hoping this will change as the weeks go by!
How did you tell Rob?
So, when Rob & I got engaged, he involved our nephew Cooper (proposal post here) and ever since then, I knew I wanted Coop to be the one to tell Rob when we were going to have a baby. SO, the morning I took the test and it came back positive, I called my brother in law since he wasn’t working and Dana was, and had him text Rob to say come over for dinner tonight. Then I went over there with the positive test in a box and told Cooper exactly what he had to do when Rob got there. When Coop gave Rob the box, he said “I’m going to be a big cousin Bert!” as Rob was opening it. It was so cute and Coop did great! Rob’s response was a tad underwhelming LOL but nonetheless he was excited and totally not expecting it!
As always, thanks for reading and thanks for sending in your questions! I plan to do monthly blog posts with updates, so stay tuned!
xoxo
The Prettiest Tunic For Spring
Spring is in the air! Finally! And I’m soaking in the warmer temps and clear skies for as long as they last. Along with spring weather comes spring clothes. I’m super excited to finally replace my sweaters with tunics and leggings with dresses. I was going to try to create a spring capsule wardrobe, but I found that I don’t really have the patience for it or the ability to narrow down my choices lol. Instead, I will be sharing a spring must haves post, and possibly a spring/summer shoe round up. There are tons of great shoe options out right now so I’m feeling like that would make for a good post!
For now, I’m sharing this outfit that will certainly be on repeat. This tunic is the it tunic of the season. It seems like everyone has it in white, but I fell for the sage green color as soon as I laid my eyes on it. It’s so beautiful and screams spring. I love the flowy fit and eyelet details. The back is open (but not too open) and the sleeves balloon out a bit. It looks great with distressed denim and white denim, as well as cut off shorts tucked in or tied up, and you can even wear it as a dress/coverup if you’re short like me! I’m wearing my true size small and it will be perfect for my growing bump! (In case you missed it, I’m pregnant! Read more here!)
As always, thanks for stopping by!
xoxo
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We're Expecting!
Ahhhh! I am SO excited to finally announce that Rob and I are expecting our first little babe this October! This has been such a hard secret to keep, but of course we wanted to make sure all was well before announcing. We are definitely feeling all the feels, but most of all, we are beyond thankful that everything looks great so far. We are so excited for this new chapter to begin and we cannot wait to meet our little babe!
I personally am so excited to expand my content into the world of motherhood. Being a mom is something I have dreamed about since I was a little girl and I am so blessed to be on this new journey with my soulmate by my side. Rob is going to be the best daddy and I can’t wait to see him with our little one! Our hearts are so full right now, and I only imagine they will get fuller with time!
Now, let’s talk details! I’m officially 12 weeks today, and it’s been a crazy first trimester to say the least! You may have noticed I’ve been a little MIA, especially after posting pretty consistently in January. I’ve just been SO tired you guys. I thought I was tired before, HA. This is a whole new kind of tired. And the nausea has been killer. Like it lingers 24/7. Luckily, I never actually got sick, but feeling sick all day, every day isn’t the easiest thing to deal with as I’m sure you can imagine. It gets better as the weeks go by, so I’m hoping I get some energy back as I enter the second trimester!
With that aside, our favorite part of pregnancy so far was getting to see our little babe on the ultrasound for the first time! Rob and I both cried. It’s such a surreal feeling that I can’t put into words. It made everything seem so much more real! Rob literally cried more during that appointment than he did on our wedding day 😜 but I couldn’t ask for more. He is SO excited to become a dad and I know he’s going to be the absolute best.
I’m going to do a few polls on insta stories to gauge your level of interest in pregnancy related posts, so make sure you’re following me over there if you aren’t already. This is a whole new world for me, but I’m open to sharing my experience if that’s something you girls are interested in! I know I love reading pregnancy and motherhood related posts, so I’m hoping you guys do too! With that said, I will follow up with a Q&A post next week! If you have any specific questions, drop them in a comment or send me an email (megan@pinebarrenbeauty.com) and I will be sure to answer next week!
xoxoxo <3
Our Wedding Photos: Part II
Today I’m sharing our bride & groom portraits! I’m so obsessed with how they turned out!
Read moreBlush Sweater for Valentine's Day
Happy February first!! As fast as January flew by, I’m happy it’s over because it means we are one month closer to spring! The weather has been crazy lately, i.e. today it’s snowing and next week its supposed to be 60 degrees. What?? I’m over the back and forth 🙄
ANYWAY. Enough about the weather. Today’s look is the perfect casual look for Valentine’s Day. It doesn’t scream v-day, but it’s festive enough! This blush sweater is super cozy. It comes in a few colors and it’s under $100. I got my true size small and it’s naturally oversized so no reason to size up! The material is super soft and it’s great quality for an every day sweater. I paired it with distressed denim and booties for a casual look, but it would also look cute with white denim and heels or tall heeled boots if you want to dress it up a little!
Speaking of Valentine’s Day. Rob and I usually go to dinner at our fave restaurant because they always have a v-day special! We honestly haven’t went out on a date since the wedding because we’ve been so busy with work and the house and the puppy etc. that when we do have time we just want to chill. So I’m definitely looking forward to dinner!! I also wrote this post last year about how I really feel about Valentine’s Day - I know people either love it or hate it lol. Click here to see if I’m a lover or a hater, although you probably can take a guess and be right haha.
As always, thanks for reading! Happy Friday!
xoxo
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The Secret to Long, Healthy Hair
If there’s been one question that I get pretty often, it’s how do I keep my hair long and healthy? First things first, I have always had long hair. I did give it a healthy cut it a couple years ago and it hasn’t been as long since, but we are making progress. My one major tip for having long AND healthy hair is less is more.
LESS IS MORE: HEAT
I typically let my hair air dry and I am lucky that it looks decent when doing so. I will only blow dry it if I am short on time and need it to be done for wherever I am going. I also try to only curl my hair on days when I am taking blog photos or when I am going out. Second and third day hair sometimes needs to be touched up, but I try to let it go as much as possible. I also keep my curling iron on a low heat setting. The only reason you should use high heat Is if you have thick, coarse, ethnic hair, as per advice of my hair stylist. Another must when it comes to using heat on your hair is being sure to use a heat protectant, I love this one!
LESS IS MORE: PRODUCT
When it comes to product, I try to use as little as possible. Keep in mind, everyone has different hair types, and what works for me might not work for you. BUT, when I was using hair spray and texture spray every day, then brushing it out, recurling, and spraying again, I felt like it was drying my hair out and causing damage to the ends. Now, I only use hair spray for blog photo days or when I’m going out (this one is my fave). I rarely use texture spray, especially ones that have the word “dry” in them. I do love dry shampoo (this one is my current go to) but I try to use it sparingly. This has totally been trial and error because I used to be a hair product junkie, but I have found that using less product works best for me!
LESS IS MORE: BLEACH
If you’ve been following for a while, I’m sure you remember when my hair was balayaged. No matter how hard your stylist tries maintain the integrity of your hair, I personally feel like bleach eventually takes its toll on your hair, especially the ends. This is why I decided to go back dark. I feel like my hair looks and feels so much healthier, not to mention I feel like my old self again. When I get bored, I get it glazed, typically a few shades darker than my natural, and over time it fades, then I get it glazed again. I’m sure i’ll be tempted to do balayage again at some point, and it will be a hard choice to make, but i’d rather have dark, healthy hair, than blonde, compromised hair.
VITAMINS
Another reason why I feel like my hair is so long and healthy is because I take the Olly Beauty vitamins. When I decided to go back dark, I also started taking these vitamins, in hopes that my hair would grow quicker and be strong again. Even my stylist noticed my growth and we came to the conclusion that the vitamins played a big part in it!
SALON QUALITY SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER
Last, I believe in using a salon quality shampoo and conditioner. My favorites are the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day, and the Living Proof Full. I am currently using the full shampoo and phd conditioner. The full shampoo is great because I feel like it’s the best at removing product build up (hair spray, dry shampoo, pollution, etc). The phd conditioner is my ultimate favorite because it leaves my hair feeling so silky and smooth! Investing in salon quality products might be the change you need! The drug store brand products don’t always contain the best ingredients and can sometimes be the reason for damage.
I hope you found this post helpful! If you have long, healthy hair, leave your tips in the comments as I would love to hear them!
xoxo
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