Sephora Sale Recommendations

The Sephora sale for VIB members (15% off) is happening now! So for my first post on this beauty page I asked my friend Kate to share a few products she loves and why (FYI: She is in Sephora at least once a week trying new things!). I get most, if not all of my recommendations from her so I am so excited to share her favorite products with you!

Below we both list our top 3 products and what they can do for you, if you have any questions feel free to message me on Instagram!

Tip: If you don't want to buy the full size of a product from Sephora, ask for a sample! They are more than happy to give you a small sample to take home and test out. If you still don't want to buy the full size, almost every product has a "travel size" for under $25!

Tori’s Picks:

• Cicapair™ Tiger Grass Re.Pair Serum: My entire life I have always had extremely sensitive skin, so when it came to trying new products I immediately broke out and could never try anything new for improvement. This gel-like serum by Dr. Jart has changed skincare for me. This product took away the redness and irritation I have always experienced by using it once a day before bed and I can now use facial peels which brings me to my next product.
• Doctor Dennis Gross Peel Pads: When using with the above serum, my face can now handle the extra strength at home peels (not as strong as you think). I try to do this two step peel at least once a week or when I’m starting to break out. It leaves my skin glowing, smooth and break out free!
• First Aid Beauty Moisturizer: This whipped like moisturizer instantly absorbs into the skin and doesn't leave you feeling greasy afterwards! This is perfect for sensitive skin and instant hydrates. After using for about a month i've realized the redness in my skin has calmed down and my face is slowly becoming less oily due to how hydrated it is!
• Fenty: Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation: I never would have given this a try but when a Sephora worker applied it to my face while getting my makeup done I will never use another foundation. It's made for girls with oily skin, leaving a matte finished look. I pair this with Laura Mercier's setting powered and the foundation stays put and matte ALL DAY. Go to Sephora and asked for a sample, you'll be running back to buy the full bottle in no time! For reference I'm using shade 270 for the summer. 

Kate’s Picks:

• Boscia Exfoliating Peel Gel: This product gets rid of any dead skin on your face, the best part is how gentle and low maintenance it is.
• Drunk Elephant Rise and Glow Duo: I’ve been using both products together everyday for about 2 months. I’ve noticed my skin has a glow and looks radiant. Both products are packed with vitamins to help brighten and hydrate your complexion.
• Sephora Collection Beauty Amplifier Mattifying H20 Gel Primer: I received a sample of this primer  and i’m never turning back. This product has an interesting gel texture which I only apply to my t-zone or where ever I have the most oil. This primer will blur out pores and reduce any shine you might have.
• Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil: Hands down my favorite brow pencil! It delivers natural hair like strokes, to help those of us who weren’t born with amazing brows, achieve a natural “I woke up like this” brow.

spin4 crohn's and colitis cures

Today I'm taking a little break from my usual posts and writing about something that has had a huge impact on me; the spin4 crohn's & colitis cures movement.

A few weeks ago, one of my best friends (Morgan) reached out to me asking if I could partner with the spin4 crohn's and colitis cures movement for a mini campaign to celebrate "International Friendship Day", I immediately said yes. Although I have a small platform on social media, I felt it was so important for me to share what this movement is currently doing for my friend and the other 1.6 million people currently affected by crohn's and ulcerative colitis.

Let's start with the questions most of you are probably asking:

What is crohn's & ulcerative colitis?

Crohn's is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract. Ulcerative colitis is also a chronic inflammatory condition but limited to the colon (large intestine). If you'd like to read a little more about this disease, you can head here.

Why am I so supportive of spin4 crohn's & colitis cures?

spin4 crohn's & colitis cures' goal is to find a cure and better the lives of patients living with crohn's & colitis, I would want nothing more than for both of those things to happen for Morgan. She was first diagnosed back in high school right before we were heading off to college. She spent our entire freshman year of college fighting for comfort & trying different treatments all while trying to achieve a normal 19 year old social life. 

Being Morgan's roommate freshman year truly gave me insight in to what an IBD patient's life is like, and let me tell you, it's not easy. To give you an idea, Morgan would get intense pain in her stomach randomly which has almost caused her to faint a handful of times. You can see how this could alter your social and everyday life. I watched Morgan struggle with symptoms daily until the doctor could find a treatment that worked for her and although she is doing much better now, she shouldn't have had to go through the pain and side effects that she suffered through. That's why I am informing you about spin4 crohn's & colitis cures today so you can work towards a cure with us and maybe even save someone from having to go through what Morgan experienced.

How you can help = spin4 crohn's & colitis:

spin4 crohn's & colitis cures is an indoor cycling relay to find cures for the 1.6 million people living with this disease. This is unlike any other fundraiser i've ever been to. As soon as you walk into the room you are immediately celebrating the strides you are making as a team to raise money for such an amazing cause. It's a fun, high energy experience that truly makes you feel as though you are working towards making a difference. 

What you get: 

1. An event t-shirt you won't want to take off (not kidding, I wear mine weekly to work out) 

2. A soft towel you can use over and over again (or maybe even for your next spin4 event!)

3. Ability to earn more swag once you reach "VIP" status

4. A party on a bike with your friends (it's seriously so much fun!) 

Are you ready to find an event near you? 

Find my bike!

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

The last thing I want to do is think about fall since we finally have nice summer weather. BUT the Nordstrom Anniversary sale early access (for card holders) starts July 12th and you won't want to miss it! If you don't have a Nordstrom credit card you can access the sale July 20th and snag a few of the items that are left.

Why am I writing about this sale? Because last year I purchased the majority of my fall wardrobe for a fraction of it's original price and the pieces lasted me all fall/winter. This is by far my favorite sale and allows me to purchase signature pieces I wouldn't normal buy without this sale.

Below i'm highlighting my favorite pieces as well as a few trends you will see everywhere come fall. I hope this helps you navigate the sale, let me know what you purchase!

Clothing 

Shoes

4th Of July Outfit Ideas

Top | Similar Denim Skirt | Neutral Slides

4th of July is a few weeks away but it doesn't hurt to start looking for your outfit now! I love this LA Hearts crop top, it fits the days theme perfectly without being too over the top. The crop style will keep you cool during the day and the feminine belle sleeves give you just enough coverage for the night. I paired this fun top with my favorite denim skirt and neutral slides, for a more festive look you can add blue sandals to complete your attire. 

I've linked a bunch of outfit ideas for you to browse below, let me know what you get! 

Rodan and Fields X ToriRost Special Offer

I usually always stick to drugstore products when it comes to makeup and skincare but i'm quickly learning that investing in your skincare is the key to flawless skin. I recently had the opportunity to really give Rodan and Fields a try thanks to Casey (she has the best skin!). I started with the Lash Boost and Redefine Regimen about two months ago and I can't wait to share my results with you! 

 Before you get started on reading my post, Casey has a special deal for you starting today! 

You will not only save on your first purchase, but start your own journey to younger healthier skin!

Contact Casey:

Email: caseyann127@gmail.com

Instagram: @caseyann127 

Facebook

CODE: ToriRost to save $$

Lash Boost: Let me start by saying I was skeptical of ANY lash products. I heard they make your lashes fall out, they stop growing, and any other bad review you could possibly think of. I also started lash boost thinking my lashes couldn't possibly get any longer due to the fact that they are already very long BUT I was completely wrong. I was missing fuller lashes and in just 3 weeks I could see that my lashes were growing as well as starting to fill in. This product did exactly as promised with no side effects and when I stopped using the product my lashes didn't fall out, instead I still had long and full lashes!

Applying Lash Boost is simple, you swipe a small amount of the gel above your lash line on top of your eyelid. This allows the gel to sink into your skin and start working on your lashes overnight. In 2-3 weeks you will start to see your results! Check out my pictures below for a before and after update! 



Redefine Regimen: In your 20's you're suppose to start using anti-aging products because this will effect how your skin ages in your 30's, so I was super excited to start this routine and see how my skin could improve. I told Casey I wanted to keep away wrinkles, big pores and fine lines in which she insisted I give this line a try and I'm so happy I did!

Within 2 weeks I noticed my skin was incredibly soft, hydrated and my pores were slowly shrinking. The fine lines in my forehead were less noticeable and I even received complements that my skin looked so much better. I was shocked to receive these results and even more shocked that other people were noticing my skin too!

Read how to use this line step by step.

Step 1: Cleansing Mask
First you gentle exfoliate and let mask dry for two minutes before cleaning off. This mask draws out impurities from your pores without taking away the moisture you need.

My thoughts: This mask truly does feel as though it's working as it dries. I can feel my face becoming more firm as the mask works to pull out impurities.

Step 2: Pore Minimizing Toner
Swipe this pore-clarifying ingredient over your skin to remove excess dirt and minimize your enlarged pores. This alcohol free toner gentle exfoliates to remove dead skin cells, reducing those annoying pores.

My thoughts: This toner picks up any dirt I didn't wash off during step 1, leaving my face to feel even more clean. I also noticed how much this toner has helped downsize my pores, I even stopped noticing them myself!

Step 3: Overnight Restorative Cream
This extremely hydrating cream helps replenish the skin for visibly firmer, less-lined looking skin.

My thoughts: If I had to choose a favorite product from this entire line, this night cream would be it. I truly believe the fine lines in my forehead disappeared from the magic of this cream. I woke up to brighter, firmer, and more hydrated skin and I could tell the difference after a week. I even tried to not use this cream for a week to see if it truly worked and my lines were more deep and noticeable without the cream, I couldn't believe it!

Morning Cream: Redefine Triple Defense Treatment 
This cream is infused with SPF 30 and peptides to work on those fine lines while you work during the day. The strong SPF shields your skin of harmful rays to decelerate the signs of aging that appear overtime and the optical brighteners minimize skin flaws allowing your skin to glow.

My thoughts: This cream feels like a protective barrier for my skin during the day. I never burn and my face is smooth, hydrated and bright all day long. If I buy any product from Rodan and Fields for the rest of my life it would definitely be these two AM/PM creams. I can really see a difference by using both products.

If you have any questions feel free to reach out to Casey, she is extremely helpful and knowledgeable in her products. Her Instagram feed speaks for itself with the amazing results she has posted and continues to receive from her customers. 

Contact Casey:

Email: caseyann127@gmail.com

Instagram: @caseyann127 

Facebook

Thank you for reading!

Memorial Day Sales You Need To Know/ Overall Trend For Summer

I can't believe MDW is here, does anyone else feel like May just flew by?! I'm heading to the beach for the weekend but I will definitely be online shopping with all of the great sales going on! I've rounded up my favorite sales below so you can shop them easily!

Abercrombie - 40-60% off tees, dresses and more!

ASOS - 20% off site wide with code: EVERY20 ends 5/23!

Calvin Klein - 40% off site wide! 

Forever 21 - 30% off with code: EXTRA30
Macy's - 20% off with code: MEMDAY - 5/23- 5/28

Nordstrom - Their half yearly sale starts 5/23 - 6/3 (Get dad a father's day present!)

Nordstrom Rack - 25% off at their Clear the Rack event
Sephora - Up to 60% off
Shopbop - 40% off and free shipping

I picked up this really cute overall dress a few weeks ago at Forever 21 for just $23! It's extremely lightweight and perfect to pair with any shirt. For this shoot I paired this incredibly soft Abercrombie tee underneath and when it's a little chilly out I usually will pair a white, or pink long sleeve tee underneath. I love pairing dresses with sneakers or espadrilles for a more casual look, my go to are these Sperry sneakers or these espadrilles. I've linked my entire outfit below along with shirts you can  place under this versatile dress. I hope you enjoy! 

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Mother's Day is just a little over a week away! Did you pick out your gift yet? If not, i've rounded up some of my favorite gifts from face masks to home goods so that you can find a gift for every mother figure in your life! Shop my picks below and let me know if you found this helpful!

I also wanted to share a few things below from The Little Market. All of their products are handmade by artisans from around the world, truly making each product a unique gift. Not only are they unique but they are also helping generate income for the artisans and their families, giving them a better quality of life. My favorite gift might be the personalized candle, what's a better gift than that?!