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Beauty Products That I’m Thankful For – The Beauty Council

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The Beauty Council

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!  Thanksgiving or the Holidays in general always excites me and I find that I am not only very happy and looking forward to making memories with my family but also a little on the emotional side as I remember past memories with loved ones who are no longer here.  While family time is important to me, I also consider my “beauty buddies” my extended family and the Beauty Council includes some of my favorite beauty loves.  Along with the Beauty Council, I bring to you Beauty products that I’m Thankful for… so grab a coffee, tea or cup of cocoa, have a seat and enjoy!

Beauty products that I am thankful for

I say this time and time again that finding and choosing a favorite product for me is kind of like asking me to choose between my sons.  Don’t get me wrong, I do have those that I cannot live without, but I also feel that I either love it or hate it and if I love it, I will definitely make use of it.  This year (2014) was all about either rediscovering old favorites or brands I stopped using or trying out products again that I haven’t used in a while.  I do have some new goodies on my list, but overall these are items that I know I have grown to love or have loved from the first use.  Some are newly introduced, others have been a favorite of mine for a while… but overall, these are the products I think I would thank the Beauty Gods for.

Beauty products that I am thankful for

Colour Pop Eye Shadows – These gorgeous shades with a weird and unique texture have captured my heart a few months back and I use them so often, how could they not be favorites?

Lorac Mega Pro Palette – I’m definitely thankful for this one, because I literally stalked the site to make sure I got my hands on this palette.  I’m thankful most importantly that I got a chance to get one… because it’s awesome.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Tamanna Dress Your Face Palette – I’ve been rocking out the colors in this palette consistently, how could it not make this list.  Gorgeous shades for year round and pretty much any skin tone.

Milani Baked Blushes – It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Milani, but their baked blushes or any of their blushes are definitely favorites of mine and great for everyday use.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette – Have you tried Hourglass Ambient lighting powders?  Well, this is a great set to try out some of these powders and fall in love as I have.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette – These are so gorgeous in the pan I don’t even want to use them sometimes… but they are worth it and you will fall in love with these too.

Jordana Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara – Hey, my lashes are so short and sparse but I have found the best “hands down” mascara on the market for volume and some length and it’s normally less than $4.00

Benefit’s They’re Real Mascara – Top 5 of my favorite mascaras.  A mascara that I can use on it’s own and it offers me enough length and volume so you can see my little wittle lashes. lol

NYX Matte Bronzer in Deep – We all know I love my Sunny Bronzer from NYC, but this one is definitely a favorite and perfect for my skin tone.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance & Coastal Scents Step One Eye Primer T – My Holy Grail Primer is from Too Faced but lately I’ve been crushing on my Coastal Scents Primer.  Definitely must haves that I can’t live without.

Teadora Nourishing Lip Butter in Dusk – a great asset year round but especially during the colder months.  I’m so glad that I got to try this lovely treat for my pucker.

Beauty products that I am thankful for

Bite Beauty Lippies – they have definitely stolen my heart this year from their lipsticks and high pigment pencils to their Agave Lips Mask.  Fabulous brand and awesome lip goodies.

Maybelline Color Sensational Matte Lipsticks – these are a new release and I own three of them.  So creamy, moisturizing and I love how awesome they feel on the lips.  Looking for a great matte lipstick, yup – check these out.

Milani Color Statement Lipsticks – my #1 love of lipsticks from the drugstore.  If you know anything about me, it’s that these are still my favorite.

Jordana 12 Hour Made to Last Liquid Eyeliner Pencils – I will pull for these before my Urban Decay 24/7 liners, because they really don’t budge on my waterline.  Less than $3.00 each these give high end eye liners a run for the money.  I can’t wait for Jordana to come out with a larger variety of shades.

New York Color Liquid Eyeliner in Black – If you watch my videos or follow me here you know this is an important one for me.  I’ve been using this eye liner now for over 6 years, before it became a cult favorite.  Back then, it was an affordable option that I loved and still do.

Paula Dorf 2+1 For Brows Kit – this is a new favorite but I’m glad to have had the opportunity to try it out because it makes doing my brows easy as pumpkin pie.

Color Switch Duo – The Beauty Gods know I have more than my fair share of makeup brushes and sometimes I’ll use 8 or more in one look.  This awesome little gadget allows me to switch between shades for blending or placing color and I can still use my same brush.  Of course, it is not meant to take the place of cleaning your brushes – you still have to do that, but it’s such a dandy tool.  A makeup artists’ dream.

Beauty products that I am thankful for

Be Delectable by Cake Beauty’s Lemon & Cream Hair & Body Mist – I need to get the rest of the scents, but these are fabulous.  A light mist of yummy on the body or hair makes for a showstopping entrance.  Yes, this is affordable and no it does not replace my love for perfume, but this is great for every day.  My favorite body mist.

Freeman Feeling Beauty Facial Masks – I pictured the Facial Brightening Mask but most of them are favorites of mine and considering I have super sensitive skin, I’m very thankful that these work pretty well for me without any issues.

Michael Todd Soniclear Cleansing Brush – Last year I had many issues with my Clarisonic.  While it does work for others, it just did not work for me and it was difficult to find something similar that would wow me.  This cleansing brush is gentle on my sensitive skin, anti-microbial and most importantly – it’s purple. lol

Argan Oil & Coconut Oil – pictured is one of my favorite Argan Oils from BebeLush. Used in combination with my Dr. Bronners coconut oil, these products have definitely improved my skin’s texture, look and overall appearance.  These oils have made a huge difference in my skincare and used alongside some of my favorite serums, it’s because of these products and caring for my skin that I no longer need foundation and concealer.

DermOrganic Hair Products – pictured is the Leave-In Spray Therapy which I use often, but DermOrganics products have really been a huge asset in how awesome my hair is.  Soft and manageable and my curls are pretty.  My hair loves these products to the end of the earth.

Dove Pure Care Dry Oil – African Macadamia Oil, Coconut Oil and more.  Yes, I knew I would love this product.  The ingredients alone scream volumes of why I love it so much… so no explanation needed. lol

Be Delectable Triple Moisture Body Lotion in Strawberry & Cream – one of my all time favorite body lotions because who doesn’t love to smell like vanilla and strawberry?  Moisturizing with shea butter, coconut oil and aloe vera, this is one that I know I will continue to love for years.

So – my very very long list of products is finally over.  I know, I know… I need to start learning how to narrow down my options.  But, there is nothing wrong with options and I’m thankful that I’ve had the opportunity this year to try out so many awesome products.

Happy Thanksgiving loves and don’t forget to head on over to the blogs below and check out what made my buddies thankful list. <3

Signature Honey


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InstaNatural Age-Defying Skin Clearing Serum

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I’m a huge fan of Instanatural products having tried a few of the products they offer in the past and still continuing to use some of them.  Recently I have been using their Age Defying Skin Clearing Serum for flawless and youthful skin and here are my thoughts on this product.

InstaNatural

PRESS SAMPLE

Retailing for about $38.00 (currently on sale on Amazon for about $24.00), this serum includes 1 fl oz worth of product and comes in a pretty attractive dropper type bottle.  With 20% Vitamin C, this formula contains professional strength ingredients to offer a powerful antioxidant that repairs damaged skin and protect against future damage.  Like some of my favorite Vitamin C serums, this product also contains Hyaluronic Acid which helps to boost the skin’s ability to retain moisture – which is important for my dry skin. Together these two ingredients work well to renew skin and reduce the signs of aging to include wrinkles, fine lines and hyper-pigmentation. This particular serum is a gentle formula and suitable for all skin types – even oily skin and glides on smoothly, absorbs quickly and won’t irritate or burn your skin.  Made in the USA & Cruelty Free, this serum does not contain harmful ingredients such as alcohol, parabens and sulfates.

InstaNatural

 

Ingredients include: Deionized Water, Organic Aloe, Vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate), MSM, Vegan Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide), Retinol, Olive Oil Squalene, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Rosehip Seed Oil, Carbomer, L-arginine, Pink Grapefruit Essential Oil, Tea Tree Essential Oil, Lavender Essential Oil, Ylang Ylang Essential Oil, Organic Gotu Kola, Wildcrafted Horsetail , Wildcrafted Dandelion , Wild Geranium , Phenoxyethanol, Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin

Used in combination with my normal skin care products, I apply this serum at night to help rejuvenate and soothe my skin and prep it for the next day.  This serum is not too heavy – liquid like in texture with very little scent.  It applies nicely and soaks into the skin quickly allowing me to be able to apply my other skin care products shortly after.  Like any of the vitamin c type serums I use or have used, I have noticed similar results but I love using this product in combination with my favorites because it works just as well if not better.

Signature Honey

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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EASY HALLOWEEN MAKEUP: Bella, Guardian of the Faeries – The Beauty Council

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With a love for pixie dust and mystical creatures alike, Bella, a human girl wished she could become a faerie.  Without wings but a heart pure of love and beauty, the Faerie Queen welcomed Bella into their woods and asked her to be the Guardian of their Forest, protecting the winged creatures she loved so dearly.
The Beauty Council
Who says that a human creatures cannot be a part of a mystical world?  Join me in this easy Halloween makeup tutorial as I join my fellow friends from The Beauty Council for a Halloween Makeup extravaganza.  This makeup creation was one that I thought of last minute, knowing I wanted to create a look that was both simple and easy to do for those who needed a costume in a pinch of time.  Pair this with your favorite hooded cape or a gorgeous lace scarf and you are good to go.  This look is meant to be mysterious, sultry, smoky and just a tad bit dark.  Don’t forget to check out the other looks from the gals from The Beauty Council for inspiration too, links all posted below.
Bella Guardian of the Faeries
Meet Bella, Guardian of the Faeries and honorary faerie at heart.  Pull out your favorite purple shades and get ready to create an eye look that is easy but sultry.  Check out my video tutorial embedded below or watch directly on YouTube here.

To create this look, I added a dark but bright purple shade over my natural brows to create a whimsical look.  To create my eye look, I chose shades of brown and purple and blended them all over my eyes to give that sultry and smoky look I wanted to achieve.
Bella Guardian of the Faeries
Products used:
  • Milani Brow and Eye Highlight Pencil – Vanilla & Taupe
  • Coastal Scents Step One Eye Primer
  • Anastasia Beverly Hills Tamanna “Dress Your Face” Palette – Bengal (transition shade) and China Rose (inner corner highlight)
  • NYX JESP in Black Bean
  • Sedona Lace 168 Pro Palette
  • Jordana 12 Hour Made to Last Liquid Eye Pencil in Black Point
  • NYC Liquid Eye liner in black
  • Benefit They’re Real Mascara
  • KISS Lashes in 05
  • Colour Pop lip liner in Grind
  • Colour Pop lipstick in Grind
  • L.A. Girls Glazed Lip Paint in Tempt
Bella Guardian of the Faeries
I love Halloween and dressing up but I realized that it is a good thing to do a simple look for those that may be finished with work late or that don’t have much time to spend on creating their costume.  Head on over to your local costume store and pick up a cape in the color of your choosing and throw it on with a fierce smoky eye or glittery eye look and your costume is complete.
Bella Guardian of the Faeries
Bella Guardian of the Faeries
I’ll be posting one or two more Halloween tutorials in the next week and these will be fairly easy to replicate as well.  Stay tuned.  Don’t forget to stop on by the links below and check out the other creations from the rest of the lovely ladies from The Beauty Council.  Wishing you all a fun and safe Halloween.
Signature Honey


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Miracalis Anti-Aging Moisturizer Cream

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I swear my blog is filled with moisturizer and skin care products that you can pick and choose from, but with my sensitive skin I’m always on the hunt for a product that will offer me great moisture while still giving me the anti-aging benefits needed to look younger.  A good anti-aging moisturizer is always a great addition to my skin care regimen and I am on the prowl to find one that I am in love with.

Miracalis

Miracalis Anti-Aging Cream is a thick but smooth moisturizer.  Retailing for $60.00 (on sale right now for $36.00 – 1oz / 30ml) this product offers moisturizing capabilities for you and works especially well for those with extra dry skin.  Since I have severe eczema, I am always worried that a new brand or one I have not heard of before could cause me a flare up.  However, I did not experience any flare ups or sensitivity break outs while using this product – major bonus.

Miracalis

Ingredients:  Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyl Dimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Prunus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acrylamide/Sodium Acrylate Copolymer, Mineral oil, Trideceth-6, Dimethicone, Saccharide Isomerate, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Tripeptide-10 Citrulline, Tripeptide-1, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyetanol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ubiqinone 50, Squalane, Sodium Carboxymethyl Betaglucan, Aloe Vera Gel, Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Lodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Sodium EDTA, Persea gratissima (Avocado) Fruit Extract, Daucus carota sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Curcurmis sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Panax ginseng (Ginseng) Root Extract, Tilia cordata (Linden Tree) Leaf Extract, Tromethamine

This cream is said to rapidly reduce wrinkle depth with case studies that show a decrease of 17% after 15 days of use and up to 32% after 28 days.  I did not notice that my wrinkles have diminished (they are all still there), but I did notice that my skin seemed like it looked plump and my wrinkles were not as deep as they were before using this product.  I also noticed my skin feels quite moisturized and the moisture will last for hours.  While the product is a bit thick, it smooths on and soaks into my skin quickly.  Instantly my skin feels moisturized without causing a greasy feel.

The scent is mild, which I like… I can barely smell anything if at all.   I have applied this cream both as a part of my day (morning) and night moisturizer but I prefer to use it at night.  While it does soak in quickly and I don’t have that greasy feel like I mentioned, for some reason I just feel like it is thicker than I would like to use during the day.  I apply several products to my skin both day and night and this is usually the last thing I apply so during the day – I try to use a lighter moisturizer.

Miracalis

Overall I’m impressed with the moisture my skin gets from this product.  I have noticed my skin feels softer, is plump and some of my fine lines and wrinkles do not seem as deep as before.  While I do believe it is important to invest in your skin care and anti-aging products, I do think that the cost of this little jar when at full price is quite hefty… but if you can purchase it at discount or on sale, it’s definitely worth it.

Signature Honey

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50

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It’s no lie that I’m a huge fan of Dermalogica products, even if it has been quite a while since I’ve had it in my skincare regimen.  Dermalogica always offers products that I know I can add to my routine without worrying too much that it will cause my very sensitive skin to react harshly.

Dermalogica dynamic skin recovery

PRESS SAMPLE – IFABBO

Recently I have had the opportunity to test drive the Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50 ($65.00 1.7 fl oz) and used this product as my daily moisturizer.  Since it has a high SPF, I was very excited and couldn’t wait to test drive this product.  Having used Dermalogica products in the past, I was excited to give this product a run and see how it would work for me.

This medium-weight daily moisturizer contains a new formula upgrade that accelerates the product’s SPF from 30 to 50, yet uses 50% less chemical sunscreen agents – a massive increase made possible through advanced Oleosome technology. Oleosomes are naturally occurring spheres of emollient oils and Vitamin E found in Safflower seeds.  these unique molecules are used to deliver active ingredients such as sunscreens directly to the skin surface, and release them over time to ensure maximum skin benefits.

Dermalogica dynamic skin recovery I have been using this product for a month and while it offered me awesome hydration and my skin remained moisturized, I did have minor eczema flare ups during the time of use.  Now, I don’t necessarily consider this a negative since my flare ups can happen at any time and with any product.  Sometimes I can be out in an area where their Air Conditioning unit needs to be cleaned and it will flare up – so it may not necessarily be the product itself.  I love the texture and feel of this lotion and it really offered my skin great moisture making it feel soft and supple.

Dermalogica dynamic skin recovery Dispensing this product is easy and the packaging is sleek and easily stored in your skin care cabinet or vanity.  This product is formulated without artificial fragrances, colors or parabens and let me just say… it feels great when smoothed on the skin.  I’m usually a bit afraid to use skin care products with a high SPF rating because I know that it will make my face or skin feel really sticky and a lot of times, the product doesn’t soak into the skin as much as I would like, leaving a funky film on my face.  In this case, this product is nothing like an SPF skin care lotion I have tried before.  It soaked into my skin nicely and as I mentioned, left my skin feeling very soft.

Dermalogica dynamic skin recovery Not too thick, not too thin but a pretty nice consistency.  You can tell as you start to rub the product in that it may have sunscreen in the product, but it also blends in nicely allowing for a fresh and soft canvas for applying makeup.

In addition to shielding the skin from ongoing solar assault, Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50 reduces hyperpigmentation, and contains a patented polypeptide which helps to stimulate collagen synthesis, as well as antioxidant White Tea polyphenols to help regulate collagen degradation.

Dermalogica dynamic skin recovery

Ingredients

Active ingredients: Avobenzone (3.0%), Octinoxate (7.5%). Other ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Carthamus Tinctorius Oleosomes, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Dimethicone, Dimethyl Capramide, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Oil, Rose Flower Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf/Flower Oil, Citrus Medica Limonum Peel Oil, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Algae Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Lecithin, Glucosamine HCL, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysilicone-11, Glycine Soja Protein, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Decyl Glucoside, Polysorbate 80, Urea, Galactoarabinan, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Polysorbate 60, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Linalool, Eugenol, Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol, CI 77891

Overall, I’m impressed with this moisturizer and love that it keeps my skin feeling soft and moisturized all day long.  While I would use an additional primer over this product if that is something you do prior to foundation, I think that this product could be used as a base on your skin prior to makeup application.  I love the SPF benefits of this product – especially since I live in Hawaii and sun is a given year round.  The price point is about average for Dermalogica products, but it’s definitely worth it considering the brand is great and offers great skincare products.  While I will not be using this as my main source of moisturizer moving forward, I will definitely be using this in combination with some of my favorite skin care goods.

Interested in learning more about what Dermalogica offers?  Head on over to their website and check it out: http://bit.ly/DSRSPF50

Signature Honey

 

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