IT’s that time of year again…the IT Cosmetics Friends & Family event! IT Cosmetics is rewarding loyal IT Girls with exclusive access to the semi-annual friends & family sale, an event that you don’t want to miss. The sale will be a combination of palettes, sets, and individual face products, in a variety of shades, formulas, and categories – there’s be something for every IT Girl!
This amazing sale is going on now, April 24, 2017 through April 28, 2017 (11:59pm EDT). Use the code Friends2017 to receive 25% off any $30 order + free ground shipping.
Happy Earth Day! Are you going outside today to enjoy nature? My severe seasonal allergies prevent me from being outside too much in the spring, but I might go outside for a little bit. I do need to plant some spring flowers!
Instead, I will celebrate Earth Day by enjoying natural beauty products. Below are a selection on natural products that will help you look amazing:
jane iredale Bronzer Refill ($44 USD) –Four complementary shades can be swept across cheeks and lips to contour and highlight for a luxurious look that’s made in the shade! Pair with their sleek refillable compact
jane iredale Amazing Base Loose Mineral Powder ($44 USD) — A loose mineral foundation that gives a sheer to medium coverage. Available in cool (pink undertone), warm (yellow undertone) and neutral shades.
These and much more are available at janeiredale.com
Packed with pure essential oils, the Lavanila’s Healthy Deodorant Collection ($14 USD) is free of aluminum and will last all day. Get superior odor protection with this award winning, 100 percent natural, freshly scented deodorant. Breakthrough natural technology fights odor effectively while soothing, conditioning, and nourishing the delicate underarm area. It goes on clean, with no sticky wetness, and delivers long-lasting, luxurious results.
Smell Spring fresh with Lavanila’s Healthy Fragrance Collection. ($58 USD) Each fragrance starts with a warm base of Madagascar vanilla and layers on a unique blend of pure essential oils for an exquisite expression of nature that captures a mood, a memory, or a moment in time.
Moisturize the healthy way with Lavanila Laboratories The Healthy Body Butter Collection, ($19 USD) which is a super soft, all-natural body butter absorbs instantly for deeply hydrated, luxuriously soft skin. 100 percent pure shea and cocoa butters blend with powerful antioxidants and essential oils for long-lasting hydration. Soft scents and a non-greasy formula create the ultimate indulgence. Layer with any LAVANILA Healthy Fragrance to enhance your scent experience.
Available at Lavanila.com
Ktchn Apothecary Facial Moisturizer Kit
Ktchn Apothecary Facial Moisturizer Kit ($45 USD) — This DIY kit contains everything so making your Facial Moisturizer is fun and easy as pour, heat, stir. It includes:
Ktchn Apothecary signature, multi-benefit extracts: Pure Aloe to hydrate & renew; 7 Restorative Facial Oils to smooth & restore, Finely Ground Oats to balance & soothe; and Natural Beeswax to fortify & protect
All-natural, plant-based preservative so there’s no need to refrigerate
A reusable, heat-safe glass beaker and stainless steel whisk
No-fail instructions so making your moisturizer is as easy as pour, heat, stir
A beautiful cobalt blue glass jar to store your freshly made moisturizer
Purchase at shop.ktchnapothecary.com
ZSS 30-Day Systems
Conserve cash and celebrate Earth Month with ZSS-Skincare’s limited-time beauty special: During the month of April, enjoy 50% off ZSS 30-Day Systems with code April50. ZSS Skincare is leading the way in clean beauty with recent National Solutions Beauty with a Conscience Award. All products are naturally-derived, pure, concentrated, contaminant-free and sustainable. The systems are:
Radiant Skin System – $64.50 (regularly $129) – Nourish, Protect, and Renew with this “better together” skin care system that brings out natural skin radiance, locks in moisture, and reduces the appearance of fine lines/wrinkles while protecting from damaging environmental aggressors. Formulated with the exclusive skin antioxidant Zeaxanthin, the Radiant Skin System is designed to complement your current skincare routine, and includes a daily supplements and a topical Nutri-Serum, which have been specially-designed as a synergistic system to provide healthy skin, inside and out.
Clear Skin System – $64.50 (regularly $129) — Calm, Clear, and Balance with this “better together” skin care system that helps detoxify and balance your skin while locking in moisture. The Clear Skin System minimizes blemishes, evens skin tone and calms dry, sensitive skin. Gluten-Free, it provides Pre and Probiotics to rebalance intestinal microflora and support gut immune health (the root of our immune system). It also helps to encourage optimal bioavailability of nutrients from both diet and supplementation. In combination with antioxidants zeaxanthin, alpha lipoic acid, milk thistle, green tea and pre/probiotics the Clear Skin System promotes optimal and balanced digestive health that encourages radiant clear skin. Designed to complement your current skincare routine, it includes a ZSS daily nutricosmetic dietary supplement packet and a topical ZSS Nutri-Serum, which have been specially-designed as a system to provide healthy skin, inside and out.
Hard Candy Glamoflauge Mix-in Pigment Makeup Drops
For my Hard Candy Glamoflauge Mix-in Pigment Makeup Drops in Medium 1, the winners are Tamra F and beautyboxsubscriptionreview! Congrats! I have sent emails to you both.
I didn’t receive entries for the Deep 1 and Deep 2 drops. So if you would like them for you or someone you know, leave a comment!
I am giving away 2 Medium 1 drops, a Deep 1 and a Deep 2 for a total of 4 products given away! They are all sealed and are a brand new product.
Here is the info on the drops:
Hard Candy Glamoflauge Mix-In Pigment Makeup Drops – ($7 USD) Highly concentrated liquid pigments that allow you to customize any face product for coverage or shade. Squeeze the dropper and add drops to any daily moisturizer or primer to create a custom foundation. The more drops you add, the higher the coverage. You can also add light or dark drops to any liquid makeup to custom match your skin tone.
If you would like to receive one, please leave a comment with the shade you would like to receive. If the shades don’t match yours, remember summer is coming! Also, if you have a friend or family member would match one of these shades, they would make a great gift!
Available to US residents only. I will draw winners on Friday, April 21st. Good Luck!
Drugstore products can be so fun to try. With a small investment, I know I can find effective beauty products and new heroes!
I was sent the products below for my honest review. Here’s what I think:
Bioré Charcoal Acne Clearing Cleanser
Bioré Charcoal Acne Clearing Cleanser ($6.49 USD) — A refreshing, daily liquid cleanser that achieves a deep, pore-clearing clean with without over-drying, stripping skin, or causing irritation. Natural charcoal absorbs oil, while salicylic acid treats existing pimples and prevents new ones from popping up.
What I think: My teenage daughter has been loving this! She has a bit of acne and usually treats it with a cleanser. This one has been working well. It doesn’t irritate her skin and it helps absorb oil and clear up acne. Plus, it’s very affordable!
Available at Drugstores and Mass Retailers
Spa @ Home by Masque Bar Oxygen Bubble Sheet Mask
Spa @ Home by Masque Bar Oxygen Bubble Sheet Mask ($9.99 USD) is a fun, yet effective sheet mask that immediately turns into an oxygen-rich foam, revitalizing skin with oxygen as it deep cleanses, exfoliates and moisturizes skin. They oxygen foam deeply penetrates into the skin to eliminate pore-clogging impurities to help prevent blackheads, and dead skin cells, while it helps brighten and uneven skin tones.
What I think: This is very different! When I opened the packet, it was black cloth, which surprised me. I applied it to clean skin, and it bubble up to a white foam. I removed it after 15 minutes and rinsed it off (per directions). My skin was a bit red in patches, but it did help with blackheads and pore size. I think this is perfect for all but very sensitive skin types.
Purchase at Walgreens & Duane Reade
Curél Hydra Therapy Wet Skin Moisturizer
Curél Hydra Therapy Wet Skin Moisturizer ($10.99 USD) — This revolution in wet skin technology doesn’t simply calm, smooth and soften, it also heals dry, flaky skin and restores your body’s ability to retain its own much-needed moisture. The water-activated properties penetrate deep into skin’s surface all happens in the shower – no rinsing required — so you can just dry off, dress and go!
What I think: Wet skin moisturizers are such a cool idea, and this one really works! The only thing is I usually forget to apply it right after my shower, before I dry off! When I do, my skin is so hydrated, which I need after a shower because my skin can get so dry. This leaves my skin feeling silky.
Available at Drugstores and Mass Retailers
Ban Roll-On Deodorant
Ban Roll-On Deodorant ($4.99 USD) — Traditional antiperspirant/deodorants merely mask odors and reduce odor-causing sweat in general, while Ban’s breakthrough technology specifically targets and virtually eliminates odor that other antiperspirant/deodorants may leave behind. Ban Roll-On Deodorant glides on easily with a formula that provides an outstanding 24 hours of invisible protection against odor wetness.
What I think: I have this in Powder Fresh, and it smells nice, but this deodorant isn’t strong enough for me. I need clinical strength. But my daughter can use it and although she prefers stick deodorants, she likes this one. It works well.
Happy Easter! I hope you had a great day with friends and family! I had a low key Easter, and made a ham dinner for my family.
My faves this week are perfect for the warmer seasons. They include a great blush/highlighter combo, a brightly-colored ponytail extension, and a hydrating face moisturizer:
Mally Beauty’s Effortlessly Airbrushed Blush & Highlighter ($35 USD) — Skin that looks luminous, flawless and airbrushed – without a filter! Mally’s made it a reality with this perfectly paired blush and highlighter. The true color blush adds a natural looking, multi-dimensional flush as the golden highlighter delivers flattering radiance to every skin tone. Available in Perfect Peach (above) and Pretty Pink
What I think: This is such a gorgeous duo for a nice spring/summer glow! The blush gives a natural glow and the highlighter really shines! My favorite trick is to apply it to the tops of cheekbones and across the brow bone in a “C” motion for that lifted cheek appearance. This includes a two ended brush as well.
Hairdo 23″ Color Splash Pony ($59 USSD) — Choose from your natural hair tone bursting with highlighted and dip-dyed pastel ends: blue, pink, light green or lavender. This is made with Tru2Life heat-friendly synthetic hair that can be flat-ironed, curled or blown out. The pony includes a smooth strip of hair that wraps around the holder and fastens it in with a hook-and-loop strip to conceal where the ponytail meets your own hair.
What I think: This is such a cool idea. Fun colored hair is popular now with people of all ages. And hair extensions is an easy way to try it out. This is super fun for going out, too!
Purchase at Extensions.com
Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Face Butter in Mango
Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Face Butter in Mango ($40 USD) — This indulgent whipped butter, which contains Josie’s 100% Pure Argan Oil, is designed specifically for the face and lightly scented with mango, leaves skin youthful, glowing, and nourished. Rich in essential fatty acids and vitamin E, it contains a blend of watermelon seed oil, shea butter, aloe, and cucumber extract to smooth, firm, and replenish skin. Clinically proven to increase firmness and hydration while visibly improving the appearance of pore size and facial fine lines and wrinkles.
What I think: This smells amazing, like a fresh mango. It is also hydrating without being greasy. Perfect for the spring and summer. I also really love that it doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin.
As the weather gets warmer (and rainier), the cleansing and styling products I use become essential in achieving frizz-free styles. My hair gets dry and frizzy this time of year!
I’ve been using new hair care products to tame my ‘do. Here are my new faves:
Put an end to unruly, frizzy hair with John Frieda Frizz Ease 10-Day Tamer Pre-Shower Treatment ($12.99.) Perfect to use any time of the year, this at-home, pre-shower treatment will prevent the damp air from putting a kink in your style. The Tamer uses an exclusive 3D Texture Transforming Technology, penetrating into the hair’s fiber and taming each strand from the inside out. For up to ten days, it will keep your hair smooth and silky. I love using this in the summer, when humidity is really high. It does help the frizz!
Repel the frizz with a daily dose of moisture using John Frieda Frizz Ease Daily Nourishment Shampoo, Conditioner and Leave-in Conditioner ($5.99 each.) This triple threat collection provides humidity resistance, breakage reduction and improved conditioning to keep your strands continuously soft, silky and smooth. No frizz or flyaways, just touchable, manageable hair.
Goldwell Kerasilk Color Shampoo ($27.99 USD) — protects your color longer, turning it from dull to dazzling. Its formula moisturizes hair while also shielding it from fading. With Keratin and Tamanu Oil.
Goldwell Kerasilk Control Intenstive Smoothing Mask ($44.99 USD) — use a mask to help give your hair moisture. The mask is for unmanageable, unruly and frizzy hair. Smoothes for long-lasting manageability control and shine.With Keratin and Liquid Silk.
KMS MOISTREPAIR Leave-In Conditioner ($23.50 USD) To keep your mane hydrated, use KMS MOISTREPAIR Leave-In Conditioner to instantly detangle hair, condition and provides moisture to the strands. Spray the product onto towel-dried hair as styling prep then comb through. WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT IT?
• Instantly detangles
• Weightlessly conditions
• Instant moisture and combability
BosRenew Volumizing Dry Shampoo — ($19.95 USD) –Leaves hair soft with lots of volume and never flakes. It is formulated for fine to medium hair. Removes dirt, excess oil and product build up. DHT Inhibitors help maintain healthy hair and scalp. Keeps hair color safe and lasting longer by lengthening time between washes.
Available at BosleyPro.com and Ulta.com
L’ANZA Keratin Healing Oil Treatment
L’ANZA Keratin Healing Oil Treatment ($30, $44, or $74) The L’ANZA Keratin Healing Oil Treatment builds body & strengthens your hair follicles. An ultra-healing blend of Keratin Protein and Phyto IV Complex combine to leave hair incredibly soft and smooth with a healthy, radiant shine. Free of sulfates, parabens, gluten and sodium chloride.
I did try these, but all of the shades I received were too dark for my skin tone. The lightest one was Medium 1, so I tested one out. Here is the info on the drops:
Highly concentrated liquid pigments that allow you to customize any face product for coverage or shade. Squeeze the dropper and add drops to any daily moisturizer or primer to create a custom foundation. The more drops you add, the higher the coverage. You can also add light or dark drops to any liquid makeup to custom match your skin tone.
I am giving away 2 Medium 1 drops (I received a total of 3 of these), a Deep 1 and a Deep 2 for a total of 4 products given away! They are all sealed, too. If you would like to receive one, please leave a comment with the shade you would like to receive. Available to US residents only. I will draw winners on Friday, April 21st. Good Luck!
Now on to the review:
These photos show a dropper of Medium one on my hand, then rubbed in a bit. Now, these are made to mix with moisturizer or other skin care product. The natural finish of the product is matte and highly pigmented.
In the left photo, I blended the makeup a bit and the one on the right, I added moisturizer to it. It covered nicely and looked natural on!
I think this is a really cool idea for foundation. By adding the pigment drops to primer or moisturizer, you can skin a step in your routine and get out the door faster. You can also control the amount of color you add. I think these are an affordable way to customize makeup!
It is warm and sunny today in Kansas City! I’m happy that spring is here and that it isn’t raining for a minute!
My faves this week include a shimmery illuminator, a body was infused with beer, and hair products that give volume.
ybf dripping bling illuminating crème
ybf dripping bling illuminating crème ($24.50 USD) — Glisten up and illuminate your world, girlfriend! ybf puts the perfect amount of beautiful, balanced light right into the palms of your pretty little hands with this luminous sparkle compact filled with decadent, ultra-silky, illuminating crème! With a simple dab of your pretty little finger, you can apply your very best light reflecting,
silky crème to highlight your most fabYOUlous features!
What I think: First of all, the compact is gorgeous! The jewels in the compact are really pretty. When it’s opened, the compact has a plastic cover to keep the cream protected. The cream it’s gives a nice shimmer to the cheekbones, under the eyebrow, or wherever I need a glow.
BRÖÖ Craft Beer Barber Hydrating Shower Session ($5.97 at Walmart ) A wash that’s perfectly balanced to gently cleanse and nourish the hair, body, face, and beard? Yes! Work yourself into a lather with Broo Craft Beer Barber Shower Session Hydrating Wash. Infused with real craft beer, because actually, beer really does make you better looking! Crazy? For ages, people have rinsed with beer, as a home-brewed remedy for strong, shiny hair and healthy skin. The B vitamins and proteins in barley nourish, while antioxidants in hops flowers fortify.
What I think:
Walmart stores nationwide and Walmart.com
Oscar Blandi
Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Texture & Volume Spray ($25 for 4 oz. and $11 for 1.5 oz.) — Build lasting body and texture with a dry weightless formula that provides flexible hold and keratin protein strength. Each strand is provided with extra grip needed for full volume styling.
Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo Powder ($11.00 for 1.0 oz travel size / $21.00 for 2.5 oz.) — Natural rice, oat and tapioca starches absorb excess oil and aid styling without weighing hair down. Perfect for increasing volume at the roots and correcting style when you overdose on styling product.
Oscar Blandi Dry Teasing Dust ($23 for 0.38 oz.) — Achieve instant volume without damaging hair cuticles from traditional teasing. Silica controls oiliness while giving your hair that second day look with an instant root boost and matte finish.
What I think: A great way to get volume, tilt hair away from head and spray the Pronto spray from roots to ends. The Pronto powder works well on separated sections of hair, lightly squeeze onto the root of each section and massage into scalp for mega volume at roots. The Teasing Dust can be sprinkled directly onto roots in wide section of hair from the front of the head. For added texture, work product through hands, then rake through hair. These are lots of ways to created lots of volume in flat hair!
I love trying new seasonal skin care, and Yes to and H2O+ both have an assortment of new products that will make skin look great!
I was sent the below products for my honest review:
Yes To Cotton Comforting Facial Wipes
Yes To Cotton Comforting Facial Wipes ($5.99 25 wipes) — Yes to taking a cotton to wipes that help soothe, hydrate and protect ultra-sensitive skin. Infused with cottonseed oil that helps prevent irritation. I find that this removes all of my makeup and hydrates my skin!
Yes To Coconut Ultra Hydrating Micellar Cleansing Water
Yes To Coconut Ultra Hydrating Micellar Cleansing Water ($8.99 7.77 fl oz.) — Yes to coming clean with coconut extract and micellar water to remove makeup, cleanse and moisturize skin all-in-one, without rinsing. I love how completely this cleans my skin and gets makeup out of my pores!
Yes To Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Peel-Off Mask
Yes To Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Peel-Off Mask ($15.99 USD) — Yes to your favorite LBM (little black mask) with detoxifying charcoal to peel away impurities for clear skin.Formulated with charcoal and tomato extract to help eliminate dead skin and excess oil, helping to leave skin naturally clear. Built-in YES blender Detox Applicator allows for easy, hands-free, mess-free application. Make sure you apply a thick layer so it will peel off. Thinner layers are hard to peel.
Learn more at yesto.com and purchase at Ulta, WalMart, Walgreens, CVS and RiteAid
H2O+ Oasis Lip Gel
H2O+ Oasis Lip Gel in Cloud Wine ($12 USD) –A Lip Gel that features an innovative gel texture and a minty fresh flavor. Smooth, hydrate, and finish with a plum watercolor tint that packs a punch of shine, right in the kisser. Also comes in 4 other colors. This color leaves a dark plum stain on my lips and feels so hydrating.
Lemongrass Vetiver On The Move Body Butter Stick
H2O+ Lemongrass Vetiver On The Move Body Butter Stick ($15 USD) –Hydration and nourishment in a solid stick format with a sparkling lemongrass scent. Deeply moisturizes and nourishes skin, featuring Coconut Seed Butter and Coconut Oil. Sunflower Seed and Lemon Peel oil to help soften and condition. Travel/TSA friendly. Formulated without Parabens, Mineral Oils, and Pthalates. This is such an original moisturizer. I apply on dry areas of my body like elbows and knees and rub in to hydrate. Very different!
Aquadefense Protective Matcha Moisturizer SPF 40
H2O + Aquadefense Protective Matcha Moisturizer SPF 40 ($44 USD) –An ultra-light, non greasy fluid for broad spectrum protection from sun exposure. SPF 40 blocks 97.5% of UVB rays while broad spectrum coverage also protects against UVA rays which can accelerate skin aging. Featuring Matcha Green Tea and Rice Bran extracts, it protects against skin damage and moisture loss without leaving any white residue.
Forty, Flirty & Fabulous 