Tackle dry skin!

November is the month to count your blessings and remember what you’re thankful for.
A few things I am thankful for are; chips & salsa, red wine (duh!), spray tans, Pilates, macaroons and nail polish.

BUT there are a few things that come with November that I’m not so thankful for, daylight savings, Thankful posts on Facebook and dry skin!

I can’t do anything about daylight savings, but I CAN ignore the Facebook posts and use amazing products to beat the dry skin and protect for future damage.

Here is a list of the products and tips that I’m oh so thankful for:

 

Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips $14.50

What’s worse than cracked lips? Nothing. I can’t stand it when my lips are dry and some lip balms can actually irritate the skin even more. Once you use it, you will understand why I’m so thankful for it! You can also use this product for split ends, cuticles and sunburns.

 

A tip from the makeup counter: Anything you use for your eyes you can use on your lips. If they need a little more TLC try using your eye cream at night for a few days.

Bliss Fabulips Lip SugarScrub $18.00

This shiz works! When your lips are cracked, flaky and dry it can make the best of the best lipstick or lip gloss look super unsightly. Winter is the worst for dry lips. Use this product and combine it with the Dr. Lipps Nipple Balm for amazing results!
Please don't over exfoliate, you should only use this product the max 3x a week. Over exfoliation can lead to damage of the skin, and make the area even drier than before. No bueno!

Fresh Life Body Oil $48.00

If you have problems with all over dry skin, try using a body oil. This particular one smells incredible and doesn't leave you feeling greasy. Take a nice warm bath at night then apply the oil all over for silky skin. This is also great for the girls who spray tan. Spray tanning can leave your skin drier than normal, use this to maximize your tan and add tons of moisture to your skin.

Laura Mercier Hand Cream $15.00

 

This product is super hydrating without being greasy. My hands have the worst time during the winter; they get so dry and even hurt! This is the go-to, always in my purse product. Get it, love it.

Working out

I know, I know. Once it’s cold out it is extremely hard to get out of the cozy house to work out. But, did you know that there are so many health benefits to sweating glistening? Sweating is a natural way to open your pores and hydrate your skin. My favorite workouts are running and Pilates. Running is free and it feels great to get outdoors, Pilates can be pricey but it’s such a great way to get your body lean and toned. Take this winter as a time to get healthy and to take care of yourself.  I’m really looking forward (and hoping) to not have my yearly freak-out in April when the weather gets warmer.

If you're battling a cold or allergies and taking medication, be sure to double up on the moisturizer at night. You might notice that those types of  medications can easily dry out your skin.

Some exciting news I'd love to share…. Introducing the fabulous Ms. Penny!

 

 

We found her at a pet adoption in PetCo, we locked eyes and the rest is history. Isn't she the cutest?! Always think adoption first!

 

Till next time...

xoxo- Kelly

July Favorites

I can't believe it's already AUGUST! Crazy how fast time flies! Pretty soon we'll be getting ready for the first of football season then BAM it's the Holidays!

Anywho - I thought I'd share with you my all time favorite (& not so favorite) things from the past month... Enjoy!

White nails: I think they are so chic and fresh. I've been rocking them all month long! If you want to do it right make sure you keep up with the chips and shine, if it's not well maintained- it can start looking not so cute and dirty.  My favorite is Essie in Blanc. You can pick it up at your nearest Walgreens or CVS.

Urban Decay -  de-slick Makeup Setting Spray Oil-Control: This shiz works!! If you live in the kind of climate I'm in, 102 degrees and 100% humidity this product is a must! It helps your makeup from moving and the shine from showing while giving your makeup a matte finish. I picked mine up from Ulta, but you can also find it at Sephora. 

Maybelline Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser: Lately I've been noticing that my skin around my eyes is kind of dull and my eyes look tired, so I picked up this product in "#60 Brightener" when my Mac Pro Longwear Concealer ran out. I love it! I dab the sponge around my eyes and use my beauty blender to work it up around my eye and bring it to my temple. It also can be used on the bridge of your nose and above your eyebrows for highlighting. The price is great and so is the product! You can find it at any drug store and amazon.

This FAB necklace! I can't wait to get my hands on this and wear it all day everyday, who knows I might even wear it to bed. Unforch it's on back order - just shows how great my taste is ;) If you love it you can still order it here to make sure you get it before it's gone forever!

Lastly- There was a product that I didn't love this month :(

Yes To Grapefruit Even Skin Tone Mousturizer: I was really excited to purchase this product, even more excited about the price tag. Unfortunately, I don't love it. The smell is not great and the product it self is thin and doesn't really "brighten" my skin like it says it will do. I've read great things about this product in magazines, so I'll give it a few more days to see if it changes my mind. I hope it does!

Hope you all have an amazing start to your month!
Till next time!
xoxo- Kelly

Prime Time

Hey Ladies!

I'm so excited to tell you all about my glorious new beauty find! It's amazzzzzing!

It's the new Stay Flawless 15-Hour Primer from Benefit.
The reason it's so great is because it actually does what it says it'll do. On Saturday I put on my makeup around 10am and got home at 1am and I was shocked that my makeup actually held up and stayed in place!

With the weather all icky and hot outside it's good to use a product that will help your makeup from not creeping into your fine lines, moving and looking cakey- not fun.

Here is my Instagram pic :) Isn't the packaging adorbs?

There is a trick to make it work-
Swipe the stick on one side of your cheek and then immediately apply your foundation, BB cream, tinted moisturizer- whatever you prefer to use and then move from there. The primer itself dries quickly so it's important to use it in steps.

If you try it, I'd love to hear your feedback!

You can find it online and at your nearest Sephora or Ulta.

If you love the nail color it's Essie in Fiesta!

Happy Priming!

xoxo- Kelly

#summer

I'm back ladies! I have to apologize for my absence, but I promise I'll be better this time around.

Summer is officially in full swing! Tis' the season for longer days, warm nights and sitting pool side with  your favorite people with of course with your favorite cocktail (mine- obviously is a goblet of wine... duh) !

The next couple of posts I'm going to touch on a few things I'm loving about summer and how to prepare you for the BEST time of the year!

- The MOST important thing to remember is sunscreen. I recently received the Coola Organic Sunscreen in my birchbox and I loved it! It's moisturizing and not greasy. Make it a daily routine and you'll be happy you wont be rocking burnt skin and wrinkles. (Ew.)

- Bronzer! My absolute favorite bronzer is from Tarte, it looks amazing on your cheeks, temples and can also be used as a body bronzer. Its a matte color- so you wont be a disco ball on bright summer days. (Tarte- Park Avenue Princess) Use with the brush from this post for perfect contouring.

- A great summer read. I have a few books on my list for this summer- I'm in the middle of one that is called "French Women Don't Get Fat" and I love it! It's a quick read and very interesting. Pour yourself a glass of vino and "Do as the french do"! I'll be sure to keep you posted on my next reads!

 

 - Rock a bold hue. Neon is huge! I'm loving the bold lips this season. I think I say that every season... but anyway it's a great way to brighten up your look without trying too hard. If you choose to wear a bright color on the lips, please keep the rest very neutral and choose colors that compliment your skin tone.

 

Colors I'm loving at this moment


Mac- Candy Yum-Yum
Mac- Ruby Woo.. a classic
Smashbox- Pink Petal
Maybeline- Shocking Coral #870
Chanel- Rouge Allure Velvet in "La Favorite" #43
Chanel - Rouge Allure Gloss in "Insolence" # 57
Chanel - Glossimer # 149 (their normal gloss)






 I want to end this by saying I'm happy to be back in action and I hope you keep up with me and my amazing beauty finds!

Till next time....
xoxo- Kelly

Wake Up, Buttercup!

I'm not gonna lie, I have had many mornings wishing I hadn't consumed 24 a few cocktails on a work night. I'm usually waking up praying there is a snow storm, hail storm- actually ANY type of storm for work to be cancelled. That never happens. Ever.

So, I have to get up and use my secret tool to give me a glowing look that makes my eyes look like I've had more than a few hours of sleep.

Trust me, it works! Even if I had 10 hours of sleep, I still use it. It creates a dewy look and immediately brightens your whole face.

Please let me introduce to you...

Givenchy Mister Light $33

This item will always be found in my makeup bag. It's even great for covering blemishes!

How to use it? After foundation and powder are set, swipe the pen below each eye and blot with your finger to blend in.

 

ALSO...

 

I recently started using Mister Bright.

It's great to mix the Light with the Bright to create an iridescent glow under your eyes. You can also use alone on your cheek bones and above your eyebrow arches as a highlighter.

It's amazing.

 

Givenchy Mister Bright $33

 



 

You're welcome.

xoxo- Kelly

#HappyThanksgiving

I wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and share a few things that I am thankful for.

Friends & Family:

Nothing beats having an amazing family and great friends! I wouldn't be me if it weren't for the people in my life. I am truly blessed to have such a great and supportive Fiance. I am also thankful for my mother and dear friends who that have been there for me through thick and thin.

Makeup value sets:

Tis' the season to stock up on gift sets and makeup brushes! Sephora has amazing makeup lines in affordable value sets. It's also a great way to try new products or a new beauty routine without shelling out the dough.

Here are a few that are on my wish list:

Tarte Carried Away Collector's Set: ($54 valued at $512)

Not only do you get a fancy travel case, but it also comes with several eyeshadow quads, lip gloss, mascara, finishing powder and a face brush. Get it by clicking here. Another thing that is great about Tarte is they do not test on animals!

NARS Kiss Mini Larger Than Life Lip Gloss Coffret: ($55 valued at $94)

In this set you will find five beautiful lip glosses in this seasons hottest hues and a fancy tin to carry them! P.S. NARS happens to be my favorite for lip gloss!
Click here to check it out.

You can also find awesome brush sets, lip pallets and face essentials- check out www.sephora.com!


Falsies:

Ardell false eye lashes:

Ardell Eyelashes $4.99

 

They're a perfect way to glamour your look!

You can find them at any Sally Beauty Supply Stores.





A few more to be thankful for: Mystic Tans, facials, Spanx, wine, fashion, nail polish and anti-aging moisturizers.

Happy Turkey Day!

xoxo - Kelly

Lashes To Die For

Here is my eyelash extension story: I woke up one Saturday morning super excited to have luscious lashes like Kim K. Well, it was probably the worst 2 hours of my life. Not only did I NOT know it took 2 hours, but during the time your eyes are taped up like you're undergoing LASIK surgery-- they're painting burning glue on each lash one by one.
I will never condone eyelash extensions. Ever.
P.S- I'm pretty sure my natural lashes are damaged. And I've only gone once!

Sorry for the rant!

Here are a few much easier and painless tips to get gorgeous lashes.

Step 1. Get a good eyelash curler like this one:

The reason I say get a good one, is because if you get one not so great it can actually cut your lashes or even rip them out. Gross. Make sure the top curler is pressing on the rubber piece on the bottom before each use.
Shiseido Eyelash Curler ($19, can be found at select Sephora stores or online.)

Step 2. My favorite mascara of ALL TIME :

This mascara is the bomb.com! Yep, I said it. The comb is awesome, it catches every eyelash and you literally don't need to put anymore than 1-2 swipes. Talk about fast! The texture is creamy and won't flake off. Online it says to pair with their Maximizer Mascara, but honestly try it alone first.
Dior New Look Mascara ($28.50 and can be found at specialty department stores and Sephora.)

Here is another mascara that I really like and it's pretty similar:

See, I'm not just a label whore buyer. One of my girlfriends uses this, and it makes her eyelashes look amazing! I've used this several times and it reminds me a lot of the Dior (minus $18).
L'Oreal Telescopic ($10 and can be found at Walgrees and CVS Stores.)

Step 3. Even though some nights are a blackout, be sure to take off all your makeup! This includes your eyes. I don't go expensive on this, because A.) It's all the same and B.) it would cost a fortune to keep this in stock. I usually go with this because it's easy and travel friendly. You will be amazed to see that just by being diligent about removing your eye makeup - how much longer your eyelashes will look!

This is from Neutrogena and maybe costs about $10 and can be found at CVS, Walgreens and Target.

 

Love your Lashes!

 

xoxo- Kelly

Pretty Lips

Yves Saint Laurent has done it again! Their new lip colors are amazing!
I recently snagged their Glossy Stain in Rose Pastelle #18 and their Sheer Candy Glossy Balm called Tangy Mandarine #10. When I put them together I fell in love!

How to use: put the lip stain on first, let it sit for about 30 seconds. Next, use a lip brush (or don't) and go over the stain with the glossy balm. To dramatize your look do a smokey eye and use a bronzer on your cheeks. 
Go to your nearest Sephora or Neiman Marcus to check them out!

Pucker up ladies!

xoxo- Kelly