This is a Sponsored Post thanks to U by Kotex – Save The Undies
What makes me feel confident?
As much as I try to exude confidence in myself, sometimes I know deep down in my heart I need a little push and shove to bring out the best in me. I’m not gonna lie, there are days that I just want to crawl into a dark hole and hide out, but I’m lucky that I have a handful of confidence boosters to get me through it all. To me, feeling confident in myself is much easier when I have these little things that make the negatives of the World disappear, if only for a second. Everything you’ll see in this post are just a few of my favorite confidence boosters. While colors may vary, shades, scents or even the accessory of choice may change, there is one thing that I keep handy dandy for always… and that’s my U by Kotex (definite lifesaver) and of course, My Family. Every woman has a list of Confidence Boosters in their life, products or people that make them feel like they can rule the World… and here are mine.
My Family (my husband and sons) are my biggest confidence booster. Come on… look at those smiles, they melt hearts and bring sunshine to my cloudy days. I never knew True Love until I met my husband and then had my children and because of this – I consider them to be my biggest support system and they make me feel confident in who I am as a Woman, a Wife and a Mother.
Like all women, handbags and shoes are an addiction and for me… a great handbag and a gorgeous pair of stiletto heels help to put a little pep in my step. Since I’m a very busy mom, a larger tote that can carry all of my essentials (as well as my confidence boosters for the day), is a must. The bigger the better.
I think a sweet and sultry perfume and a signature red or nude lipstick definitely adds to my feeling confident. And, since I am also a huge Gold color addict, Cosmetics that are in gold packaging tend to be what I like to pull for when I’m looking for a little extra somethin somethin for the day. Gold screams luxury to me so it doesn’t matter if it’s a high end brand or drugstore buy – if it is in gorgeous gold packaging, I will rock it out to give me a little swagger.
A gorgeous golden highlight graced across my cheekbones, the perfect contour and gorgeous fluttery lashes are a go-to and probably the one thing I rock out often if I’m looking to wear makeup. These essential are what keep me feeling great about myself, giving me the tools to be comfortable in my own skin with a little bit of sparkle.
Last but not least and one of the most important things to have for any time of the year are the Girly Essentials or feminine products. The new U by Kotex® Ultra Thin Pads with 3D Capture Core, has a one-of-a-kind center that locks away wetness to help stop leaks. These thin little products keep my monthly friend at bay and I can go about my days confident in knowing I have saved my undies. Visit the U by Kotex Landing page and find the samples that best fit your mission to save the undies. Click on the “Get Sample” button and enter your mailing information if you are interested in giving these a test drive for yourself for free.
With new technology and science constantly evolving – skin care has definitely improved over the years. Now, serums and cleansers, moisturizers and more are available for those looking for younger, brighter, youthful skin. I have used quite a few different brands and types of skincare over the year, but Exuviance has definitely given me the opportunity to try out something unique and cool. The last week I have felt like a scientist and I think it’s pretty cool – lol.
This duo combines the power of our nighttime transformer, Evening Restorative Complex, with the 100% pure active formulation of Vitamin C+ Anti-aging Booster for a potent anti-aging cocktail that combats the visible signs of aging.
Now I have heard of Exuviance before, recently actually… but have never tried any of the products they offer, so this gave me the opportunity to see if this worked for me. Like I mentioned previously, it kind of reminds me of doing a science experiment because you take one product and mix with the other. I was impressed by how easy it all came together and how simple the product was to mix and use.
Exuviance Illumination Duo combines the power of our nighttime transformer, Exuviance Evening Restorative Complex, with the 100% pure active formulation of Exuviance Vitamin C+ Antiaging Booster for a potent antiaging cocktail that combats the visible signs of aging.
The Evening Restorative Complex I received is made for normal/combination skin. It is clinically proven to repair the signs of aging. PHA/Bionic Complex plus antioxidants improve fine lines and texture. Retailing for $48.00 (on its own), it includes 1.75oz/50g worth of product. Dermatologist-developed and created by Drs. Van Scott and Yu, this product is non-comedogenic and allergy tested.
– Evening Restorative Complex is clinically proven to improve overall skin texture, tone, and appearance – 90% saw smoother skin after 4 weeks of using Exuviance Evening Restorative Complex – Vitamin C+ Antiaging Booster amps up the effects of the Evening Restorative Complex, helping to fade the look of dark spots while improving firmness and smoothing wrinkles
The powerful Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA) Gluconolactone in Evening Restorative Complex decreases lines and wrinkles, evens skin tone and improves roughness and texture. Lactobionic Acid – a potent antioxidant – inhibits wrinkles from forming, plumps and firms the skin, and enhances clarity. This bionic blend of PHAs, along with botanicals and Vitamins A, C and E, delivers full-strength anti-aging benefits without drying or irritation, even on the most sensitive skin types.
The Exuviance Vitamin C+ Antiaging Booster retails for $72.00 and you get 10g/0.35oz worth of product. This targeted treatment is formulated to restore firmness, smooth lines, diminish the look of age spots and protect against future damage. This particular product is powder like and can get a bit messy so take your time working with it and use the attachments that come with the booster for ease of use.
The Vitamin C+ Anti-aging booster is quite unique and unlike any other product I have tried before. Each night I take just a few shakes (a small scoop is included if you want to go that route) and mix it with the daily moisturizer before applying to my face.
The 100% pure active formulation of Vitamin C+ Antiaging Booster contains Vitamin C, an essential co-factor in collagen synthesis, known for its power to strengthen skin’s matrix, improve firmness and smooth wrinkles. Plus, we’ve added our patented super antioxidant, Aceta-C™, to enhance the natural antiaging effects of Vitamin C, amplifying its skin-protecting and pigment-evening effects. Together, they help fade the appearance of unwanted dark spots, and strengthen skin’s defenses against future discoloration and signs of aging. (What does 100% actives mean? The formula does not contain water or fillers, etc. All the ingredients are benefit ingredients.)
I haven’t used these products long enough to see any visible results, but I have definitely enjoyed using it the last week. While it was a bit intimidating to use at first, after putting it together for the first time, it was simple thereafter. My skin does feel moisturized and I like that the product itself does not have a strong scent. The moisturizer is a great creamy like consistency – that similar to body lotion, with a little more body. Application is easy and it soaks into my skin nicely and quickly so that I’m not worried about the product sitting on the surface over night. Since I do have severely sensitive skin, I did notice that I had a slight reaction to the product, leaving my face a little red and irritated, but I noticed it only happened a few times and for the most part, the products worked well and overall did a pretty good job. I’ll come back in a month and do an update as to the progress.
You can purchase the duo on the Exuviance website for $77.00 – which is a $43 savings from purchasing it separately so I highly suggest that you purchase them together as a set. Stay tuned for more information and update in the coming month once I have had more time to use the product.
I am an OG Monthly Subscription box/bag person… having been one of the first subscribers to Birchbox, Ipsy (then My Glam) and even one of the first for Glossy Box in the US, so I’m always stoked and excited to try out new Monthly Subscription services, especially if they are beauty related and offer Full Size goodies. This month I had the opportunity to get a new Monthly Box in my mail and I was definitely excited since we all know I’m a lip product junkie.
Lip Monthly is a $10 a month beauty subscription. You can select to have your Lip Monthly membership be monthly, every 4 months or yearly. You will receive approximately 3-4 Full Sized Lip Products or Beauty Products and 1-2 Sample Sized products. This box includes primarily lip products, but they are looking to include at least one bonus item that may not be a lip product in future bags. Keep in mind, this subscription is just a couple of months old and still working out all the processes so at their early stage, we can expect a couple of small hiccups.
This month’s theme is Lips 101 – focused on getting ready to go back to school and enjoying the lovely summer weather. There were a total of five products in the August Lip Monthly Bag… however, I did receive an extra product as an additional Press Sample to show you other products that you can get in your bag. Check out my Open Box Video embedded below (and the excitement as I see each product) or click here to watch directly on YouTube.
Every month LipMonthly’s experts travel across the country to find the best products in retail stores, so you don’t have to. We will bring you the best deals on the market, in our beautifully designed packaged boxes. All that’s left for you to do is try them on!
I was super excited to see that Lip Monthly had City Color Cosmetics – since I am not able to easily get my hands on this brand. This is the City Color Cosmetics Be Matte Lipstick in Phoebe and retails for $3.99. This product is a full sized item.
The next item I received was the City Color Glossy Kiss Lip Gloss. I could not find the name of the product or the actual product or cost on City Color Cosmetics website. This was a bonus item sent to me, so not everyone who got a Lip Monthly bag would have received this. The lip gloss is really nice, has a nice color to it and I love that it smells like Jolly Ranchers. I’m not sure if this product is new to City Color Cosmetics or not yet released or a discontinued item. But, I’ll be sure to update once I know more.
The next goodie I got in my bag is the City Color Cosmetics Lip Balm in Ultra Pink. This lip balm retails on the site for 2.99 and is a moisturizing lip balm with a lipstick-like texture. It also has a lot of pigment and offers a bold color on the lips.
The City Color Magic Balm was an interesting find in this August bag. It retails for $3.99 and is not available on CCC website just yet. I have been told this is a new product not yet released. It is a moisturizing balm and at first I thought that it just offered a sheer wash of color on the lips but after using it on my lips and waiting a minute, I looked at my lips to find that the color pigment actually increased and became a deeper shade. I guess that is where they got the “magic” part from.
I also got a Jesse’s Girl product in my bag this month. This Jesse’s Girl Lip Gloss Lip Lock retails for $4.99 and is a sheer pink with light shimmer. It’s a gorgeous gloss but a little on the sticky side (definitely not a fan of sticky), but overall – it’s a fun shade that I can definitely make use of or pass on to my sissy for her fun. This lip gloss is in the shade Lickity Split.
Last but not least is the Monthly Mix Up item. It is a Pixi by Petra Lid Last Shadow Pen in Gentle Gold and retails for $18.00. The shade is one I know I’ll get some use out of I love the high price point.
Overall, I think this bag is pretty cool – so much so I actually subscribed and signed up. I love that it offers you a collection of lip goodies, which is great. This will make it much more favorable for me knowing that there shouldn’t be much of an issue with shipping as other Monthly Subscriptions have had in the past due to items that include Hasmat items that cannot be shipped air to me in Hawaii. I have heard from a few people that they had issues with Lip Monthly the first few months, but as I mentioned in the beginning, like any subscription service, you can expect to be a few kinks as they work everything out to be much smoothly. When I first started with Ipsy (then My Glam), shipping and products were an issue back then and it took some time to really get things running smoothly.
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I love that Lip Monthly has a little card that lists the products in the bag as well as the price point so you know the value of your bag. I also like that they sent a little cosmetic bag as a part of this month’s bag… because I have seen that others have gotten little boxes to hold their products in previous months. While it does remind me of Ipsy a bit, I do like the personal touch and appreciate it. Since you can cancel this box at any time, I think it would be worth it to try it out at least a month or two and see if this is something you’d be interested in.
I’ll be honest… now that I’m a mommy and a mommy of boys for that matter, I’m not much interested in boy bands. But, hearing about those that are popular today reminds me of New Kids on the Block, NSYNC and Backstreet boys. It amazes me at how much boy bands have grown over the year and how creative they have become. Never did I think I would hear about a Makeup Collection from any of them, so it was cool to hear that the popular band One Direction was due to release a few Limited Edition Collections. As of August 11th, they are now available at a few locations and this awesome little kit comes in three different collections for the One Direction fans at heart.
The irreverent attitude and colorful style of a new generation takes on a glamorous form in Makeup by One Direction. The world’s biggest pop band debuts a limited-edition cosmetics collection by Markwins International, launching mid-August 2014 at Macy’s and select other major retailers worldwide.
Much like the One Direction band members themselves, this prestige makeup line is fun, bold and a tad mischievous, featuring vivid shades, premium formulas and chic, collectible packaging and components.
US RELEASE DATES: Macy’s – August 11th Stage Stores – August 25th Dillards – August 25th Beauty Brands – August 25th Lord and Taylor – August 25th
International release dates… TBD
I got the Take Me Home Collection. It’s a gorgeous collection filled with wearable and neutral toned shades with pops of color. The collection includes:
One Direction Liquilights glow gloss in Kiss You. This gloss is a sheer bright (almost neon) orange toned gloss with micro shimmer. I wish I could provide a swatch for you to see but unfortunately the doe foot applicator was MIA when I opened the package, so I am unable to use it. The color looks gorgeous though and it would be a great shade to rock out during the remainder of the summer months.
One Direction Nail Varnish in Live While We’re Young. This is a gorgeous clear polish with different size and color hex shaped and circle glitters. This would be a beautiful topper over your favorite nail polish. Filled with rose gold, gold, green and blues – this will surely be a favorite of mine.
Nude Sheer Pink Lipstick in Last First Kiss. This lipstick is a sheer medium toned pink. Unfortunately mine came a bit melted in the tube and the tip of the lipstick arrived smashed, but overall the shade is sweet.
One Direction 4+1 Eye Shadow Palette. This palette offers 4 neutral toned shades and one funky and fun gold glitter. I am very impressed with the shadows, they are soft, buildable shades with nice pigmentation in one swipe. The gold glitter is a cream/gel like consistency that offers you a sweet pop of color when you want to jazz up your look.
If you like neutral tones, I think this would be a great palette, whether you are a beginner at makeup or have been using makeup a while – I think you’ll enjoy the simplicity of this palette and the pigmentation.
Little Black Dress Volumizing Mascara in Perfectly Black is also included in the collection. I think it’s great that this little tin includes so many fun goodies to create a look. The brush of this mascara is basic but the mascara is truly black. While I have small lashes and this did not work for me, I know that it will be a great beginner mascara for anyone.
I Wish is a warm chocolate brown crayon that can be used on the eyes or the body… though I do suggest that if you plan to use on your eyes – you reserve the product for eye use only since that is such a sensitive area. The crayon is pigmented and glides on really nicely. I love the color payoff and it can also be used as a base for your eye shadows.
This cool little collection also comes with some fun stencils that you can utilize with your brown crayon or shadows. I especially enjoy using them with the cream glitter in the eye shadow palette.
A total of five sheets with little stencil designs make creating looks fun and exciting. Simply apply to a part of your body like your face, arms, etc. and use like you would any other stencil. It’s easy and the designs are super cute.
I used the gold glitter cream in my palette to create the little design using the diamond stencil. I could have used some help in applying and creating my design but I know this will be a fun tool for anyone.
Overall – I think this little collection is definitely sweet and cute. It comes with so many goodies and it would make a great addiction and gift for a One Direction fan. I’m very impressed with the eyeshadow palette and the quality of the shadows. I’m also super impressed with the variety of products included. I’m also totally digging the collections tin – if I was a teen, I would probably turn this into my “fan girl” box where I stored cards, magazine clippings and more. Oh my – do teens even do that still? Can you tell my age? lol
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Find out more about the availability by checking out the Makeup by One Direction’s Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/MakeupbyOneDirection. When I do any makeup looks using some of the products that come in this cute little tin, I’ll be sure to post it here on my blog.
It’s no secret that I’m a hopeless romantic. Disney movies, love stories, soul mates – they are all things I believe in and having found my own Happily Ever After… I whole heartily know that true love exists. I also know that sometimes it doesn’t just happen over night and it takes time and patience. Because of this – I have always been fond of love stories, Disney tales that promise forever with true loves kiss and Prince Charming who comes and saves the day. Call me a kid at heart, but all of these stories had to come from somewhere.
“Once Upon a Time…”
After lots of planning, my friend Beth and I decided to collaborate and bring to you inspired makeup looks from the T.V. show Once Upon a Time. I chose Regina, The Evil Queen. Let’s face it, she’s literally the epitome of beauty. While her evil demeanor makes for a great story line, she is much more than her character is often portrayed. She does care, is not as heartless as she would like people to think and at the end of the day – she just wants to be loved. She has had a variety of makeup looks and costumes through out the seasons, but I wanted to create a look that spoke sultry and sinister all at the same time. I didn’t have much to work with and didn’t want to buy any costumes, so I utilized what I had to create a similar or inspired look to the one pictured below. While my costume does look different, I still wanted to portray a similar look for this video and tutorial, so I squeezed into the smallest, tightest dress I had – it was a task, I’m not gonna lie. lol Check out my makeup tutorial embedded below or click here to watch directly on YouTube. Be sure to keep scrolling to check out all the photos, but beware – I wanted to share as much as I could with you… so this post is pic heavy.
This image is from Pinterest – I own no rights to this image. http://www.pinterest.com/pin/576038608561555241/
Products used:
Brows – Cailyn Gelux Brow Gel
Eye shadow Primer – Urban Decay Primer Potion
Shadows –
Coastal Scents Revealed Palette (2nd row – 3rd shadow from the left – taupe/silver shade)
While Regina (Lana Parrilla) wore many different looks, her most dramatic ones are always the ones that catch my eye. I created a dramatic silver/chrome smoky eye with a brown transition to add warmth to the look. While this look is dramatic and sultry – it’s still very wearable and easy to create.
While I do think that sultry dark dramatic smoky eyes are sexy – not many like to rock it out with a bold red lip and my lips are certainly bold. lol You can mix up the look by using a nude lipstick. In my July Favorites video – I am using the same eye look but wearing Pops from NYX. Check out the video here to see a different way you can wear this eye makeup look.
Do you like the scenery for my photos – the ones where I’m wearing the cape? I want to thank my sissy Harmony for coming and helping me film my intro/outro for my tutorial as well as taking my photos for me. We had to hike through the rain forest to get to our location… while we certainly enjoyed ourselves and our sisterly bonding time, it was definitely a journey in the very hot Hawaii heat. I’m very thankful for all her help in putting this together. Thanks Harmy!
“And she lived… Happily Ever After!”
I hope you guys enjoyed the video and the photos. Thanks for taking the time to read, watch and check it all out.
Last but not least and one of the most important things to have for any time of the year are the Girly Essentials or feminine products. The new U by Kotex® Ultra Thin Pads with 3D Capture Core, has a one-of-a-kind center that locks away wetness to help stop leaks. These thin little products keep my monthly friend at bay and I can go about my days confident in knowing I have saved my undies. Visit the U by Kotex Landing page and find the samples that best fit your mission to save the undies. Click on the “Get Sample” button and enter your mailing information if you are interested in giving these a test drive for yourself for free.
