Perfectly Pretty in Pink Valentine’s Day Gifts

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perfectly pretty in pink valentines day gifts

I like to ditch the candy and flowers for Valentine’s Day—they’re pretty overpriced for the holiday! Don’t fall into that trap (unless you really want to), go for these gorgeous pink gifts instead. They’ll be around long after your chocolates and flowers are gone…

clarisonic sonic radiance

Clarisonic Sonic Radiance Brightening Solution Kit

I often have people ask me if I think a Clarisonic is worth the splurge, and my emphatic reply is always—YES! If I get a little lax on using mine, I can definitely tell a difference in the way my skin looks and behaves. Last summer, the Sonic Radiance set was introduced as an easy way to cleanse your skin to its brightest complexion yet. Since you’re cleansing your skin (or at least you should be) both morning and night anyway, take advantage of that time with a special dedicated cleanser for the morning, and a dedicated cleanser for evening use. When combined with use of the included Brightening Activator Serum, you’ll remove skin impurities, encourage faster cell-turnover, and brighten skin discoloration in just minutes a day. (The new Radiance brush head is super luxe and plush, too!) $249 ($314 value), sephora.com  [Read more…]

Perricone MD — No Makeup Skincare — No Lipstick Lipstick & No Blush Blush Review, Photos, Swatches

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perricone MD No Blush No Lipstick

Perricone MD No Makeup Makeup

Sometimes I don’t want to wear makeup at all, but at the same time I want to look polished and not like I rolled out of bed. I’ve figured out a few tricks by now, but these new products from Perricone MD make it so easy. Their No Makeup Skincare line at Sephora is already a big hit, and I recently tried two of the products out to see if they live up to the hype. Let’s go!

Perricone MD No Lipstick Lipstick

No Lipstick Lipstick

First up is No Lipstick Lipstick. It really isn’t a lipstick (hence No Lipstick)—but it’s actually an anti-aging lip treatment that lends a glossy, smooth finish in a shade that’s like your lips—but better. I find it to be very nourishing and hydrating, and it almost feels like a lip butter. Perricone MD is known for their luxe skincare products, so it’s only natural that they’d include some of those innovative ingredients in their color cosmetic offerings.

It’s a solid-to-serum product, and contains hyaluronic acid and tocotrienols to add suppleness. It also contains a non-chemical mineral-based SPF 15 to protect against UVA and UVB rays, so you know I’m happy about that. (Sunscreen for LIFE!)   [Read more…]

Holiday Gifting: Perfect Stocking Stuffers

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nivea stocking stuffers

This is the final countdown to get that last minute Christmas shopping in, how’s yours going? The one thing I always forget is stocking stuffers, and by the time I go back—it’s all picked over and not what I would have liked to give. So do yourself a favor. Get thee to Target and pick up two of the best (and most useful) products that I found. (I even bought a few to stash away, because it’s NIVEA—and you can never go wrong.) Check these out!

nivea kiss me set

NIVEA Limited Edition Kiss Me Keepsake Tin

I’ve been singing the praises of the Lip Butter tins for over a year now. First, they taste and smell delicious enough to eat (but please don’t), and they keep my lips feeling soft and comfy, despite wearing the most drying of matte lipsticks. With the heater on this time of year, my lips look scaly and cracked sometimes when I wake up in the morning. NIVEA Lip Butters put an end to that madness. While this tin I picked up on has the Raspberry Rosé Kiss flavor, there are some other delicious flavors available for individual purchase. Also try Caramel Cream Kiss, Smooth Kiss (great for guys), and Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss. Also, tuck that Kiss of Shimmer balm in your handbag for effortless lippie touch-ups on-the-go with plenty of moisture. $4.99, Target (Comes with 2 Lip Butters, and one Kiss of Shimmer Lip Balm Stick.)

nivea creme

NIVEA Creme Travel Size Tin 1 oz.

NIVEA Creme is an icon! This mini 1 oz. size is perfect for travel or handbags, and is the ultimate multi-tasker for dry skin. It’s nice and rich without feeling too heavy or greasy, and works fantastically on elbows, arms, legs, feet, hands, you name it! Kiss cracked, dry skin goodbye with NIVEA Creme. While you’re at it, pick one up for the guys—it’s great for them too! Get a load of this—it’s a whopping .97 at Target! When you fall in love with it (and you probably will), there are larger sizes available to buy year-round.

This post is in partnership with NIVEA, however all opinions remain the author’s alone, and do not reflect those of the brand.

5 Easy Steps for Healthy Winter Skin

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snow

Many people think that just because summer is long gone, they can slack off in the sunscreen department. This is simply not true! Often, the winter rays are even worse for skin, especially once they reflect off of the snow and onto your face. But how do you keep yourself protected since it’s not exactly necessary to apply thick, waterproof sunscreens this season?

nivea cold weather must-haves

Not only can UV rays be stronger in the winter, but your skin can be at its driest and most sensitive. Here are a few tips that will not only make your skin more comfortable this season, but will also keep it protected.

  • Regularly exfoliate — Gentle, regular exfoliation is great for removing the itchiest of dry skin. It will also help your skincare products work more effectively. Your moisturizers can do their best work!
  • Take shorter, less hot showers — I’ll be the first one to admit I love a steaming, hot shower when it’s cold, but it also strips the skin of essential moisture, leaving your skin even dryer than it already was. Turn down the temperature, and take a shorter shower or bath.
  • Multi-task with your daytime moisturizers — For daytime, try switching up your routine with Eucerin’s Daily Protection line of moisturizers for face and body. These gentle, effective formulas offer both daily broad-spectrum UV protection and deep hydration, with a lightweight feel. Great for even those with sensitive skin, I recommend Eucerin’s  Moisturizing Face Lotion with SPF 30, and Daily Protection Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 15 for the body.
  • Avoid dry, chapped lips — Just like you’re multi-tasking with your skincare products, do the same for your lips. Try NIVEA’s “A Kiss of” line of lipcare products. They offer UV protection and comforting moisture to even the driest of lips. My favorites—A Kiss of Cherry with SPF 10, and A Kiss of Strawberry with SPF 10. They also offer a slight tint to the lips, bonus!
  • Switch to more mild soaps — Detergents and soaps can strip your skin of essential oils. Change your laundry detergent and body washes to sensitive skin formulas!

What are some of your winter skincare tips?

This post is in partnership with NIVEA. All opinions are those of the author, and do not reflect those of the brand.

MAC Nocturnals Collection Tastitints Lip Conditioner Review, Photos, Swatches

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mac nocturnals tastitint lip conditioner set collection

I always love the mini sets that MAC puts out for the holidays, and this year is no exception. As part of the Nocturnals Collection, MAC released these mini Tastitints among an assortment of pigments and lip gloss sets. The Tastitints are somewhat lip glosses, but I think they almost have more of a balm-like feel, with a sheer tint and flavor. Let’s take a closer look…

mac nocturnals collection tastitint set

Nocturnals Collection Tastitints Mini Lip Conditioners

There are four flavors/shades:

  • Mintessence — sheer milky white with sweet mint flavor
  • Sugared Vanilla — sheer soft beige with sweet vanilla flavor
  • Taste of Paradise — sheer poppy pink with fruit punch flavor
  • Dash of Lavender — sheer mauve with herbal lavender flavor [Read more…]

Quick Pick Under $5: Maybelline Baby Lips Dr. Rescue

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Maybelline Baby Lips Dr Rescue

For under $5, I picked up the latest from Maybelline’s Baby Lips lineup, Dr. Rescue at CVS. Available in six sheer shades, Baby Lips Dr. Rescue provides a little bit of a soothing, cooling sensation due to the addition of menthol in the formula. It promises 12 hour hydration, but I honestly can’t go 12 hours between lip balm applications! I reviewed the core Baby Lips lineup ages ago, and I was a fan. Turns out, I like Dr. Rescue too. This one goes in my purse, joining two other lip balms of the moment. A girl can never have too many on hand. (Right?)

I picked mine up in shade Berry Soft, but I’ll probably pick up another soon—Soothing Sorbet looks like a shade I’ll love. Find your favorite shade at CVS, Walgreens, or ulta.com.

Win It: NIVEA Smooth Kiss Lip Butter Review & Giveaway (10 Winners)

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ivea smooth kiss giveaway

Win the NIVEA Lip Butter Collection for smoother kisses!

I am the self-proclaimed Queen of All Lip Balms, and I’ve officially found the Queen of All Lip Butters! Earlier this year, NIVEA released a collection of four new Lip Butters that are so good, you’d swear you could eat them. (But don’t!) I’m officially all about them.

With delectable fragrances/flavors like Raspberry Rosé Kiss, Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss, Caramel Cream Kiss, and an unscented/unflavored variety, Smooth Kiss—I’m finally able to get the smoothest, softest, most hydrated and kissable lips possible! The really cool thing is, that even though the scents are delicious, the fragrances aren’t the annoying, cloying kind. No worries if you can’t stand a sickly sweet flavor, because these yummy varieties are more like essences than true flavors. You should have no problem finding one to love. It was hard for me to pick a favorite, but I’d have to say the Caramel Cream Kiss won me over most! These adorable little tins are sure to leave your pucker soothed, and feeling well-cared for.

Features & Benefits…

  • Shea Butter — proven to increase skin suppleness and skin elasticity
  • Almond Oil — helps soften and soothe even the most delicate skin
  • NIVEA’s Hydra IQ Technology — unique, vitamin enriched formula blends superior moisturizers with technology to create a light, protective layer of long-lasting nourishment for smooth, healthy-looking lips

These retail for a budget-friendly $3.99 at drugstores and mass retailers nationwide, and you can also try your chances at winning the collection here! Because guess what? 10 Beauty Junkies Unite will win all four of these fantastic NIVEA Lip Butters!

Giveaway details & how to enter…

Prizes: Ten (10) winners will receive the NIVEA Lip Butter Collection (4 flavors). [Read more…]

NYC New York Color Applelicious Glossy Lip Balm Review, Photos, Swatches

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new york color appleicious glossy lip balm

I don’t own many pieces from New York Color, but these lip balms are worthy of your time! With a darling moisturizing apple “core”, the Applelicious Gloss Lip Balms offer a healthy dose of shine, hydration, and a slight tint. This is a winning combination in a lip care product for me.

new york color applelicious lip balm

Applelicious Pink, Apple Blueberry Pie, Big Apple Red, Chocolate Apple

Available in 10 shades, this drugstore favorite is a decent size for the price—and it retails for about $3. It’s quite a steal! Not even the slightest bit sticky, Applelicious glides on easily and feels buttery smooth. The one caveat for you may be the initial apple fragrance. The most “apple” thing about these is the scent of them in the tube, and the apple core. While the scent does not linger long, there is a little bit of a synthetic apple taste for a few seconds. This is a blessing and a curse. Fans of truly flavored lip balms might be a little disappointed, and fans of flavor-free lip care products will likely be pleased. [Read more…]

L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Versailles Romance Collection for Spring 2013 Review, Photos, Swatches

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Ooh! How pretty! L’Oréal Paris just released a collection of pretty pastels for spring, in the Versailles Romance Collection. I fell in love at first glance, and purchased three of the nail polish shades before these even arrived at my door last week. So imagine how much ooh-ing and ahh-ing I did when I finally had them all in my hot little hands! They scream spring, and just looking at the hues makes me happy.

Here’s a closer look at the Colour Riche Nail Colors, Nail Lingerie, and Balms that make up Versailles Romance…

L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Nail Color Versailles Romance Collection

These polishes are GORGEOUS. Especially the two that have a light pearl finish! (Crème Puffs, and Pistachio Dream.) What I’ve found about L’Oréal’s polishes, is that for drugstore, the formula is pretty dang good. While I did need three coats for a few of these pretty pastels, they do deliver a streak free finish. Additionally, their polishes tend to wear about 4 days before signs of stress appear, and that’s usually on the tips from clicking away on my keyboard. For about $5.99 each, I recommend skipping all of the expensive pastels out there right now, and go for these instead. [Read more…]