Tips for Softer Skin for Spring and Summer

Hey Guys,

It seems sort of odd to me that I’m posting about achieving softer skin for spring and summer when there is a few feet of snow on the ground where I live. But, it is nearing the end of April , and I am confident that spring WILL get here soon.

We all start showing a little more skin once the warmer weather arrives; softer skin can often make you feel more confident! I wanted to share with  you guys a few awesome products I’ve found and tips I have for achieving softer skin as we approach the spring and summer months.

Enjoy the video:

 

Thanks for reading and watching! Products are listed in the bottom bar of the video.

Love,

Lauren

Current Favorite Sensitive Skincare Products!

Hey Guys!

This winter I have really had to work hard to find products that were good for sensitive skin. I’ve had lots of irritations , allergies and dry skin which has made using beauty products sometimes difficult. I put together a video showing you guys what some of my current favorite skincare and beauty products are for VERY sensitive skin.

Here are some of my current beauty favorites. Hope you enjoy the video!

These are links to some of the products I mentioned above:

Original Sprout

Simple “sensitive skincare experts”

Boots Skincare

Aveeno Baby

Thanks for watching !! Be sure to subscribe and thumbs up the video if you enjoyed watching.

Love,

Lauren

A few of these products were sent to me to try by PR. I was not paid to promote any of these items and am not sponsored by any of the companies. All my opinions expressed is my honest feedback.

My Favorite Beauty Picks from December and Gift Ideas for you!

Hey Guys,

I have a special treat tonight. :) I am going to give you an inside scoop into my most used products from the past month! These are all beauty/health related items that I have been using almost everyday for a while now. I figured they would all make great gifts or stocking stuffers if they are things I love enough to use everyday!

Philip B. Peppermint & Avacado Volumizing & Clarifying Shampoo. I LOVE this stuff. I don’t know if I’ve ever actually used a clarifying shampoo, or if it’s just that I’ve never used one this good. After using this , my hair feels so soft, clean, and full of volume!! I love the way the peppermint tingles the scalp and has such a refreshing smell!

Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil.  This cleansing oil takes off makeup effortlessly, keeps my skin feeling hydrated, and has the neatest warming sensation when you first apply it. It warms up as you put in on your face, and smells like sweet apricots. It’s amazing. I’m hooked.

Pevonia Botanica Ligne Nyphea Dry Oil Body Moisturizer. I am also in LOVE with this dry oil body moisturizer. I have had the driest skin I’ve ever had this season. My body constantly has been seeking moisture. This is an easy spray on body oil that smells absolutely amazing and leaves your skin soft and hydrated!

Pattern Citris Moisturzing Body Wash. This smells so invigorating and fresh and feels so creamy and nice on your skin! Again, with my dry skin, I’ve been seeking the best products for my skin. Pattern body washes contain no parabens, no artificial fragrances, colors or dyes. They leave my skin feeling moisturized instead of dry. Also, these come in some great scents!! I encourage you to check them out.

pattern citrus body wash

Scunci Knotted Ponytailers. These are a brand new product for scunci. They keep ponytails in place without creating the dent or crease in your hair. They are definitely my favorite style ponytail holder. They come in fun colors and you can find them right now at CVS. The middle picture here are the knotted ponytail holders. :)

image004.jpg

 Eyeko Skinny Liquid liner. This is my GO TO liquid liner right now. I love them!! They are richly pigmented, easy, simple, and have the perfect marker thickness for drawing on your liner whether you want it thick or thin. These are sold at Sephora and I will recommend them to everyone! :)

Zaggora Hot Pants!!!!!! These are just the BEST! The absolute BEST! I cannot rave enough about how much I love these workout pants. They squeeze you in and make you burn up to 4x the calories. They help reduce cellulite and by making you sweat more. 84 % of women say that they’re skin was smoother after using these for 4 weeks. Need I say more? I would love to get more of the Zaggora gear!

To be continued tomorrow….I will be back with some more of my favorite and most used products!! :)

Love,

Lauren

 

(Note: Some products were provided by PR for consideration. I was not paid for this review. All my blogs reflect my honest opinions and ideas. )

 

 

Stocking Stuffers -Face Masks and Body Care Part 2

Hey Guys!

Today I want to continue sharing some awesome face mask and body care products for your skin! These would make great stocking stuffers for a skincare enthusiast.

Votre Vu Tarte D’Amande Body Souffle. This body cream is so luxurious and delicious. It smells sweet almond frosting. It contains coconut oil , shea butter and macadamia oil.

Epicuren Hydrating Mineral Mask.  This face mask helps calm , soothe and hydrate the skin. All skin types can use and benefit from this product. It contains aloe leaf juice and shea butter.

GUD from Burts Bees Body Butter.  These butters say they make skin “moft” moisturized and soft. They come in the scents vanilla flame, orange petalooza,  and floral cherrynova (my favorite).

Montagne Jeunesse Face Masks.  These masks come sold individually and can be found at most drug stores. I’m a face mask nut and LOVE doing masks so having a variety of them to try is a lot of fun! There are many to choose from including a warm exfoliating crystal masque, a deep cleansing white chocolate mask, a green tea peal off masque and more!

Hope you all are having a great weekend! I’ll talk to you tomorrow with more from my gift ideas. Check out my facebook page for more info and constant updates!

 

My Top Two Sunscreens for Body – Summer 2012

Hey Everyone!

Just the other day I shared one of my favorite sunscreens for the face, and emphasized how important it is to wear sunscreen EVERYDAY!

Today, I wanted to show you my two favorite sunscreens for the body. This summer I have really been obsessed with making sure I have sun protection. I have started getting a little more wise in the “skincare” and “sun” department…so I’ve been wearing sun protection every single day I know I’m going to be outside.

These two sunscreens make it easy to want to apply them (because they smell amazing!!!) They feel light and sheer.

The Austrailian Gold Sheer Coverage with an SPF 30 comes in this spray that is easy to mist all over your skin. It feels lightweight and smells SO GOOD!! I want to put it on everyday just because I love the smell.

The Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration SPF 30has a creamy lotion type feel. It smells and feels  just like a lotion, so you won’t even know you’re wearing sun protection. It has that really delicious coconut smell. :)

I love both of these so much. I would highly recommend finding them if you are looking for a good sunscreen that has an amazing smell and leaves your skin feeling soft and breathable. These are not heavy or sticky in any way. :)

Love, Lauren

 

Products were sent from PR. I am not affiliated with the brand or paid for this review. All opinions are my own.

 

Don’t Ask Questions… Wear Suncreen! A Facial Sunscreen I Love

Hey Guys,

I know that for some people getting in the habit of wearing sunscreen (especially on your face) can be really hard. But- wearing sunscreen is really one of the absolute BEST THINGS YOU CAN DO for your skin! Protecting yourself from the sun will is one of the top anti-aging tips I can give you.

I recently have been obsessed with making sure I apply sunscreen all over my face. I used to think that a little sun would help get me a tan, but the older I get , the more I realize I am comfortable getting my glow from bronzer and gradual self tanners.

Neova is one of the latest skin care brands I have been able to try out. One of my favorite things that they make I am discovering is their

DNA Damage Control™ [SILC SHEER 2.0 | SPF 40]

This ultra light silky sunscreen is a tinted to give you a little coverage and help even out your skin.

Here are the amazing benefits:

  • Offers superior protection + cosmetic benefit in one advanced formula
  • Defends against broad spectrum UVA/UVB rays.
  • Restricts the appearance of sun-inflicted damage
  • Illuminates and brightens with a tinted, pearl finish.
  • Water Resistant {80 minutes)
I LOVE this sunscreen and have been wearing it under foundation or concealer every single day. It retails for $40. Find out about more products from Neova on their website!
Do you wear sunscreen? What favorites have you found??
Love,
Lauren
Some of the images and text are from Neova.com
Products from Neova were sent from PR. I am not affiliated with the brand or paid for this review. All opinions are my own.

 

How do you Treat your Skin? Shave, Sugar, Slather with Perfectly Posh

A few days ago I said that you should take ONE day a week and try to make an effort to treat yourself to a face mask. That’s great for your face, but what about your body? How do you TREAT the rest of your skin?? I wanted to also challenge you to take one day a week to follow this three steps for smoother , healthier, softer skin!

Here’s how you can treat your skin at least ONE day a week:)  

  1. Shave. This one we all do for obvious reason… we shave so we are not hairy and have smoother more touchable skin. But- shaving also helps exfoliate your skin, which is good for getting off dead skin cells and exposing younger , healthier skin.
  2. Sugar. Use a sugar body scrub to exfoliate all over your body. Do this after shaving to really help soften and further exfoliate. I have been loving Perfectly Posh‘“SUGAR FIX”. It is an all over sugar body scrub that contains honey and almond and leaves my skin feeling amazing!
  3. Slather. Here’s the fun part…apply a body butter or lotion all over your body, (preferably something that is skin nourishing and smells good). Then, put on big fuzzy robe and wait a while…when you take off your robe to get dressed, your skin will feel soft and incredible. Also from the Perfectly Posh line, I have been using “paper moon slather body butter”. It smells absolutely incredible, light and sweet and I love the consistency. It’s not sticky, just rich and hydrating.

Hope you all are up for the challenge of softer skin…I have been doing these three things as often as possible and it’s been making my dry skin feel a lot more hydrated and smooth. 

The products I listed in this post were samples given to me to try by  Laura of Perfectly Posh. Definitely go check out the website  and facebook page. She was very kind and helpful in telling me about these products. I have been using them almost on a daily basis. I was really impressed by both this sugar scrub and body butter. I loved the quality and the price. The other great thing about all of these products is that they are: 

• Paraben-free and paraffin-free
• SLS-free
• Gluten-free
• Soy-free 
• Use essential oils and fine pthalate-free fragrances
• Natural: Full of butters, oils, and other nourishing ingredients
• Preserved with gentle, effective vitamin E

You can also request a free sample by “liking” Laura’s Perfectly Posh Facebook page. 

Hope you’re all having a fabulous week. Talk to you soon.  

Love,

Lauren

Treat Your Skin – Make Face Masks a Weekly Routine

Once a week I treat my skin to a cocktail… a FACE MASK cocktail. I have found that treating my skin to face masks at least once a week helps it stay clearer, feel more refreshed, and brightens my skin tone. If I could do this 2-3 times a week I would because I think it really helps purge the skin of impurities and is also good for relaxation. But- realistically, I get to this special treat once a week.

I would encourage you to find a few good face masks, and try to carve out a half hour to an hour, once a week where you can pamper your skin.

A few of my favorite masks are: 

  • Masqueology face masks. These masks are easy to apply that have cut-outs of eyes, nose and mouth and contain different properties such as brightening, anti-blemish, lifting and firming, pore minimizing and more. You leave them on your skin for about 20 minutes. After, you can simply peel it off and go; there is no need to wash your face.
  • Pangea Organics Japanese Matcha Tea With Acai & Goji  Berry Mask. This mask contains Organic matcha tea powder, Organic goji berry extract,  and Wildcrafted seaweed. This mask is gritty and has lots of clumps in it. After you leave it on your skin for 10-15 minutes , you massage it into your skin to help exfoliate and get rid of dead skin cells. 
  • Feed My Skin’s Pumpkin Peel Masque.  The glycolic acid in this  transforms dull, lifeless complexions into more youthful skin. pumpkin also contains more than 100 beneficial nutrients. The packaging is labeled so that it appears like nutrition facts. The masque smells amazing, just like fresh pumpkins and spices and it feels tingly and soothing on the skin. I can’t wait to try another one of Feed My Skin’s amazing masques!!
Have you tried any face masks or scrubs that you absolutely love? How do you treat your skin?
 
Love, Lauren

 

Guest Post: How to get a Red Carpet Glow!

How to Get a Red Carpet Glow

By Lee Ann Buttery

 

 Sure, celebrities have an extremely flexible budget where they can splurge on the best foods, most luxurious cosmetic and skin care products on the market, and indulge at the most lavish spas on the globe.  So perhaps we can attribute their seemingly flawless faces to their routine facials and high-end cosmetic collection, but as for the rest of us commoners, we too can emulate a celebrity-esque glow even on a humble budget.  Continue reading to get tips on how to achieve a red-carpet worthy glow that would even make the Kardashians green with envy.

  1. Diet- the overall appearance of your skin is largely contingent on what you put in your body.  Your face (and body) is bound to reflect health and vitality if you consume a balanced diet rich in good fats, omega-3’s (i.e. salmon, flaxseed), antioxidants, whole grains, protein, fruits and vegetables- especially dark, leafy veggies.  Moreover, if you avoid junk food, you’re doing your skin a big favor.
  1. Sleep- they don’t call it beauty sleep for nothing.  Aim to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night and do your best to hit the sack before 11 p.m.  In sleep mode, your skin renews itself during the hours of 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. a.k.a. “beauty sleep.”  So you might have to tape David Letterman episodes henceforth.
  1. Drink Up- water and green tea that is.  You’ve heard it before- aim to gulp down at least 8 glasses of water a day.  This will help flush toxins and impurities out of your body.  Sipping 3-4 cups of green tea a day is also very beneficial for your skin as it’s loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.  Thus, will help to impart a healthy glow.  Drinking too many cocktails can sabotage your skin and of course, your health, so try to limit alcohol consumption to no more than once a week. 
  1. Exercise- as basic and simple as it may sound, breaking up a sweat will help release toxins out of your body and thus help your skin radiate.  So get movin’!
  1. Proper Skin Care Regimen- a good skin care regimen that is customized for your personal skin type is essential in achieving a red carpet glow.  You might be thinking duh right now, but too many people use the wrong products for their skin type. If you’re unsure what your skin type is, then check out our website for an online analysis Mario Badescu Skin Care.
  1.   Do a DIY Spa Treatment- If you can’t afford a facial at the spa, then feed your skin with a mask that can be concocted with glow-enhancing ingredients straight from your kitchen.  For instance, apply honey on your face and leave it on for 30 minutes, then wash off with lukewarm water.  Great for any skin type, honey will cleanse your pores and help tighten your pores.  If you have dry skin, apply mayonnaise on your face (avoiding the eye area) and leave on for 20-30 minutes.  This will help tighten your pores and moisturize your skin.
  1. Makeup- with makeup application, the key is ‘less is more’ for a dewy glow.  On a clean face, apply a lightweight moisturizer followed by a primer before you apply makeup.  Choose foundation that is suitable for your skin type.  If you have normal to oily skin, opt for a liquid or powder foundation.  If you have normal to dry skin, choose a liquid or cream foundation.  You can even mix in a drop or two of moisturizer in your foundation for a dewy look- but this tip is best for dry skin types.  To avoid looking cakey, go very light on the loose powder to set your foundation.  For a gorgeous glow, blush is a must.  If you have normal to oily skin, use a powder blush, and if you have normal to dry skin, opt for a cream blush and apply on the apples of your cheeks and blend toward the temples. 

 Lee Ann Buttery is a Licensed Esthetician and Professional Makeup Artist based in the Princeton, New Jersey area.  She also works for Mario Badescu Skin Care.  A couple of her favorite Mario Badescu products are the Vitamin C Serum and the Seaweed Cleansing Soap. One of her passions in the skin care industry is acne treatment.  She is a busy mom of a baby son and is an unashamed Britney Spears fan. 

photo from : skbeautyexpert.wordpress.com

The Mulit-Use Beauty Product You Probably Have at Home- Vaseline

Hey Guys,

Before you start thinking… Vaseline? Who cares about Vaseline.. it’s nothing special. I just wanted to point out some things to you today about this very basic beauty product. 

I came across an adorable new Vaseline product called lip therapy. It is so tiny and

 cute and is the perfect size for your purse. :) I usually like anything if it is in an itty bitty size container.

 It’s a great lip product, to help protect and keep moisture in. I also use this at night before I go to bed to keep my lips extra hydrated.

 

I also was reading recently that Marilyn Monroe used to use Vaseline on her face to keep in young and soft. Supposedly, Vaseline is too thick and will not sink in and clog pores. Instead, it sits on top of the skin creating a barrier so that pollutants from the air can not get in,  and moisture from the skin can not escape. I have never tried this…but I’m curious.. have you tried using it this way???

Besides for dry lips, cracked elbows and knees, dry skin, and softening cuticles, Vaseline also has many other uses. I found a very interesting article if you are interested in more ideas for vaseline! http://www.mythirtyspot.com/2011/09/20-uses-for-vaseline-girls-best-friend.html

photo from  mythirtyspot.com

The most interesting of all of them, was using vaseline on your eyelashes at night to help them thicken and grow. HAVE YOU TRIED THIS?? Does it work?? I’m curious to find out!!

Love, Lauren

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