my jacket + leggings  ||  harper leggings + headband  ||  my tula favorites (use code KAILEE for 20% off)

I don’t know about you, but January always seems to be a month of reflecting for me. Looking back on things I accomplished, and changes I made to better myself. If you’ve followed along here for a while, you know that one of my big focuses for this year was to take better care of my skin. As I was looking back on that, I noticed that there were some clear front runner products that helped me to do just that this year, along with some other beauty items that have become my true favorites. My beauty routine is pretty simple because most days I don’t have a lot of time. So I thought it would be fun to round up my top 12 beauty products of 2018 for you, and share why I’m loving them!

TULA HYDRATING DAY + NIGHT CREAM :

When it comes to my beauty routine, there is a definite favorite for me that earns the top spot. The Tula Hydrating Day + Night Cream. It should come as no surprise to you because I am constantly sharing about it. I promise you it is really that good. Utah winters are rough, especially when I’m use to the California air. This has SAVED my skin and kept it soft and smooth. I love that it gives you such a moisturized soothed feeling without leaving that greasy shine some moisturizes give. If you are going to add one thing to your skin routine this year, I highly suggest this one! And don’t forget to use code KAILEE for 20% off of it and my other Tula favorites I’ll share here!

TULA PURIFYING CLEANSER :

You are going to be seeing a lot of Tula on this list because it truly is my go to. I love the way it makes my skin feel and the results I get from it. The purifying cleanser is no exception. I love the gel texture! My face feels so clean and refreshed, but it doesn’t leave you with that tight dry desert face feeling after using it like a lot of other face washes. It is full of probiotics to help nourish your skin to give it such a nice glow. It is so affordable too, especially with code KAILEE for 20% off!

TULA EXFOLIATING WIPES :

Speaking of exfoliating, if you haven’t tried these wipes, do yourself a favor and snag some. They are my FAVORITE for traveling. They are a tiny little wipe but they hold some serious power. Haha. You basically take the wipe and use rub a serum side all over your face. After that, you switch to the exfoliating pad side and start rubbing. You will be SHOCKED at how much gross dead skin and makeup residue this little wipe can remove. I LOVE the way my skin feels after using them. It is the perfect option for when you are in a hurry or traveling to just be able to throw in your bag.

TULA TONER :

I told you Tula would be on repeat on this list! The last Tula product to make my top list is the toner. It is such a simple product that packs a punch. It is great at kind of refreshing your face and really evening out your skin tone before applying your makeup. I’ve been using it for years and have really seen the impact it makes on fine lines and skin tone.

GLOPRO MICRONEEDLING TOOL :

While the cream takes the cake for favorite product, this 100% wins my favorite little beauty tool right now. It is just like my micro-needling appointments, but less intense. The best way I can think of to explain it in an easy to understand way is to think of getting your lawn aerated. This tool does basically that exact same thing to your face! It rolls a whole bunch of tiny needles over your skin, allowing all those amazing nutrient filled products to get deeper into your skin and do their job, while triggering your skin to heal + produce more collagen while it’s at it.  I was hesitant on if it could stand up to spa appointments. But I am here to tell you the results you’ll get from regular use are AMAZING. I absolutely love it.

CLEANSING SPIN BRUSH :

I’m sure most of you already know all about the cleansing spin brush and use it in your routine. But I had to include it. I love that it gives you such a deeper feeling clean while still feeling gentle. It is supposed to give you a 6x better clean than just washing with your hands. Sign me up! My favorite is take it in the shower to wash my face while my conditioner sits. I love that it smooths out my skin and kind of preps it for evenly applying your makeup.

PMD :

A PMD or Personal Microderm Device is something every single one of you should invest in, especially as you get into your 30’s and up. It is basically like taking the benefits of a dermatologist appointment into your own home! It exfoliates deep into your skin, and helps take away any sun spots or scars you have + also helps to reduce acne. The suction it uses even helps to reduce fin lines + wrinkles. So you’ll see brighter tighter skin just from using it regularly.  All those benefits lumped into one tool is amazing! I am loving the results I’ve seen from using it.

SUNLESS TANNING :

I don’t know about you, but for me, a good self tanner is a game changer. With naturally very light skin I need all the tanning help I can get, without actually sitting in the sun. I feel like I really did my research and trial and error this year, and have 3 favorites!

First up is the quick and easy, these tanning wipes. The color tone is perfect and they are really pretty user friendly. I love them for traveling, or when I’m tanning my arms and legs and don’t feel like I need to get it perfect on my whole body for a swimming suit. The BEST thing about them is they don’t leave that tanning smell.

Second is this lotion. I have never trusted the dang tanning lotions. They always transfer onto your clothes, and the color reads so orange. Not with this one!! It is the prettiest color and SO easy to apply. Plus you cannot beat that price.

Last up is my new favorite gadget, the at home spray machine. It seems very overwhelming at first, but after a few practices it is really so easy to apply evenly. I am able to do it mostly myself, or have had Joe help me for those harder to reach areas. I just do it in my shower and have loved having it in my beauty line up.

similar top  |  white jeans + similar here  |  lip scrub  |  harper headband + similar outfit

LIP SCRUB :

Apparently we are following a trend with the exfoliating, because this lip scrub fits right in too. What can I say, I love smooth fresh skin, and that applies to my lips too! I’ve always loved a good lip scrub. Who doesn’t love silky smooth lips?! I love that with this one, you put it on just like a lipstick and can wear it all day because the little exfoliators disappear. Once they are gone it just leaves a soft rose tint to your lips and they feel amazing! And the smell! Oh my gosh you’ll die.

HAIR MASK :

When it comes to top beauty products we can’t forget hair. Having done hair for so many years, I’m always looking for things that will really strengthen my hair and make it healthier. One of my favorite things to give your hair that boost it needs, especially in the drier months is a good hair mask. It nourishes and moisturizes your hair, giving it a healthier shinier look.

my jacket  |  curling iron

CURLING IRON :

If you are in the market for a new curling iron, this is for you. I try to avoid extended heat on my hair as much as possible, to keep it healthy. This curling iron stays evenly heated and gives you quick amazing results, so you aren’t having to redo the same hair over and over and causing further damage.

BLOW DRYER :

This blow dryer has been a game changer for me and the only one I’ll use on my hair. It uses a controlled heat level so it is never over heating your hair, but has a wide air stream so it still dries your hair quickly. It has something called an ion generator as well so it never gives you frizzy hair. As someone that has naturally curly hair, this is SUCH a great feature to have.

That sums up my top beauty products of 2018! I’ve noticed as I get older, my focus is really on products that focus on health. Whether it is healthier skin or hair, these products have had such a positive impact. So I wanna know, what are your favorite beauty items?!

my top + jeans + hat  ||  harper dress + leggings + cardigan + headband

Raise your hand if you have an irrational fear of the dentist?! If you would’ve asked me that a few months ago, I would’ve been the first to shoot my hand up. You guys the dentist TERRIFIED me! So much so that I just put off going, and even dealt with some uncomfortable bite issues, because I did not want to go! My girlfriend had the same crazy fear, and told me she promised that if I went to Dr. Ellis over at the Smile Studio, all my thoughts of the dentist would be completely changed. I can’t even begin to tell you how right she was!! It has been such an amazing experience and I’m so happy I put on my big girl pants and gave him a shot because I am in LOVE with the results!

A little over a month ago, I shared some of my favorite things about Dr. Ellis’s office in this blog post. With so many of you sharing that dental anxiety I had, he answered some of your most asked questions to help calm your nerves and know whats best for your situation! Today I’m finally going to take you in to see a little more detail on what it is that I had done, both for function and cosmetics, and answer some of your questions!

… FUNCTION …

First up, lets talk function. Growing up, I never went to an orthodontist. I didn’t have crooked teeth or anything, so in my mind (and probably my parents) there was no need for anything more than a dentist. How I wish I would’ve known what I know now! I could’ve just had an expander and solved the problem, which is probably why I’m so picky about my kids orthodontist and dentist now!

So since we’ve established how much I dreaded the dentist, I didn’t want to go in unless I had to. I found out about Dr. Ellis’s SMILE VIRTUAL CONSULT and thought I’d give it a try. Basically all I had to do was take a selfie of my smile, and send it in to him, along with my concerns. Once Dr. Ellis receives it, he records a virtual consult video for you.

You guys, it was incredible. I’m not talking quick little five second video. He went through in detail what he saw with my smile, addressed my concerns, gave me a cost range, and the plan he would recommend. He showed me comparisons and was able to give me an idea of what my final result would look like. I was SO IMPRESSED. That entire consult that would’ve taken me a 45 minute drive, minimum 30 minute appointment, and then 45 minute drive home, I was able to do from the comfort of my bed! FREE OF CHARGE!!  If you are considering his amazing office, but don’t live in Utah County, I still HIGHLY recommend starting off with the smile consult. You may end up needing only a couple of appointments making it totally worth the drive.

So let me tell you a little about my consult. When it comes to my bite, it was uneven. When I would bite down, my teeth on the top and bottom didn’t match up in the back. But like I said, I wanted to avoid the dentist, especially MAJOR JAW SURGERY, so I just dealt with the issue. When I told Dr. Ellis this was something I wanted to fix, I was shocked to find out it could be fixed with somethings as simple as adding veneers. By getting veneers, I was able to broaden or widen my smile, to get the adjustment my bite needed to match up. It has been SUCH a difference!

… COSMETIC …

Another thing I worked with Dr. Ellis on was my gum line. I’ve never liked how much my gums covered my teeth, especially on the front left side. My teeth looked smaller and I just wasn’t happy with it. I had the procedure done when I was 21 to fix them, and unfortunately that wasn’t a success. I felt like I have waited so long to just have my gums be even throughout my mouth and I couldn’t be happier with the results I have now. Dr. Ellis used a painless laser to raise my gums on the left side to match my gum height on my right side.

In addition to the gums, I also had some veneers put in the front. My two front teeth have been chipped and needed repair (but remember I avoided the dentist at all costs) for a while. I love the clean, even, broad look it gives my smile. It just seems bigger and brighter now, without losing the natural look.

Last but not least was whitening to finish things up. Since I didn’t veneer all my teeth, whitening my other teeth was necessary to tie everything together. Whitening was what we got the most questions on, and Dr. Ellis answered them for you over here. There are many types of whitening procedures that he offers in his office. I chose the “in-office whitening”. It takes about two hours in the office, but gives you about a two week boost of whitening. Compared to the normal take home trays.

my skirt + top + clutch

I’m so happy with the help of Dr. Ellis, I was able to overcome my dental fear! Dr. Ellis really is the best at what he does! If you follow him on Instagram, you can see some of the amazing smile transformations that he has created over the years. What I did is not necessarily for everyone, but I wanted to share, because I wish I would’ve known sooner! I love the results and HIGHLY recommend him and his team for any dental needs if you are in Utah. Many of his patients travel from out of state for his services as well, which shows you how great he is! Not only are they professional and so educated in their trade, but they are all so sweet. You will leave feeling like part of their family!