WEIRD BEAUTY PRODUCTS THAT ARE ACTUALLY REALLY COOL

Who is that crazy JASON-looking person in the photo, you ask!?

Don't fret... it's me! And yes, I know I look ridiculous, but if you haven't figured that out by now, you need to spend some more time on my blog!

Today I am bringing you a look at some of

the WEIRDEST beauty products

I use and love! They are unique and exciting, plus they make my routine more fun. Check out the

video below

, and let me know if you have any weird products or tools I should try in the comments below.

• Hairgurt Strawberry Banana Masque- smells like heavenly fruit, and makes hair soft and smooth. Yummo! but don't eat it ;)

• Pureology Colour Fanatic Whipped Conditioner (Coming in March to Salons) An amazing new way to condition. It's light weight and gives hair major bounce.

• Light Therapy Mask Kill bacteria in your skin, and look like a cool welder while you do it.

• Boscia Luminous Black Masque Peel away dead skin cells with this amazing masque that leaves skin glowing.

• Facial Hair Razors Get rid of peach fuzz in a quick pain free way, and satisfy your 'ew gross' cravings at the same time.

• Piper Wai Natural Deodorant Stinky pits don't stand a chance with this stuff!

Thanks for watching and reading, xo

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PERFUME OILS 101

What are Perfume Oils?

Simply put they are the Creme de la Creme of perfume, with the most concentrated amount of fragrance suspended in an oil base. The formulas don't contain any alcohol so they don't evaporate quickly like traditional perfumes do.

Instead

the oil is warmed by your skin

and releases fragrance throughout the day. The formula is rich and luxurious and makes me feel as though I am a delicate lady of a previous decade. (Sidenote: Have you seen the BBC Series, 'The Paradise'? I just binged watched the whole series, and these perfume oils are exactly what the ladies wore back then!) The

fragrance oils are intended to be placed on your pulse points

, and to be massaged into the skin- becoming part of the wearers essence.

This means that every scent will smell 

slightly different on each wearer, 

and the result is truly unique. 

Here are my favorite perfume oils, that are highly recommended (

video

):

• The Blend by Fred Segal Custom Oils Buy one or more of your favorite individual notes, than layer them together for a completely custom fragrance. My top picks are 03 Vanilla, 07 White Tea, and 10 Citrus Zest. Check out these recipe ideas too!

• Kai Perfume Oil The perfect 'Beach Vacay' scent filled with Gardenia and White Exotic flowers. Reminds me of Hawaii every time I put it on.

• Inkling Scents This company makes small batch oil perfumes and has some amazing scents and packaging! I love the ink pot and feather quill display for a very lady-like experience. Favs scents include Unify and Sultry.

• Diptyque Do Son If you've ever smelled a Diptyque candle, you know just how heavenly their scents are. But the perfumes steal the show- and the Do Son scent has beautiful rose and floral notes. The lasting power is great on this one, and the packaging is perf.

• Nirvana White& Black Black is rich, warm and quite musky with notes of Vanilla and Candlewood. White is a lighter more feminine scent with notes of peony. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen know a thing or two about mystery, and these scents are a perfect reflection of their styles.

Have you tried perfume oils yet? Let me know in the comments below, smell ya later!

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GARBAGE THAT I LOVE // EMPTIES

There's a certain satisfaction when you finish a product... but if its a product you love sometimes that satisfaction is followed by sadness too! It's always hard to say goodbye.

Here are my latest

Garbage Can Loves

, if you will. The Empties that I used and loved to the bitter end- and ones that I am certain you'll love too. Watch the

video

below for a peak into my tried and true favorites.

Products Mentioned:

• St Tropez Bronzing Mousse

• Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

• Alterna Caviar Shampoo & Conditioner

• Murad Anti Aging SPF 30 Moisturizer

• Murad Acne & Wrinkle Reducer

• Batiste Hint of Colour Dry Shampoo

• Rimmel ScandalEYES Mascara

• MoroccanOil Treatment [Enter 'Moore Hair Design' as your salon referral to purchase]

• Image Vital C Serum (Spa Finder) [Review post here]

• Image Ageless Retinol A Cream

• ELF Blemish Powder... Discontinued, Boo! Similar here

• NYX Butter Gloss

• ShiSeido Ultimune Concentrate [Review post here]

• Simple Micellar Water

Thanks for watching, let me know in the comments below if you have any empties that I should try!

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GIZMO SNOOP: SIGMA SPA BRUSH CLEANSING GLOVE

Cleansing your makeup brushes is a crucial

step that can often be forgotten or postponed too long. Skipping this vital step will not only cause your brushes to not last as long, but it will also prevent the best application of the products themselves. Not to mention the bacteria growth and possible skin irritations and acne that comes from smearing said bacteria all over your face. #AmIRight?

I've posted about

my favorite way to clean my brushes before

, but today I'm snooping out a fun new tool to aid in the process even further.

Sigma Beauty

makes these unique

cleansing gloves and sink mats

, that protect your hands from taking a beating while scrubbing, and they also help to get the job done quicker and more efficiently.

You should be cleaning your liquid/cream 

brushes every 2-3 weeks, and your powder brushes every 6-8 weeks. 

The gloves and mats are made from a high quality silicone that have many different textures built in.

The textured bits are designed to loosen dirt and makeup from your brushes

and then to help reshape the brush before it dries.

I love using this, and it really does make the job quicker and more fun, while saving my hands from getting to raw and dry. I have the

Express Glove

which works great but sometimes can be hard to get a handle on once things get slippery. Next time I buy,  I'll go for the

sink mat

which has suction cups and requires no hands at all!

So if you want to take better care of your brushes, I highly reccomend this gizmo! Thanks for reading, xo

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REAL LIFE: SHIRODHARA TREATMENT

As an avid spa-goer I am always looking for unique treatments to try- and the

Shirodhara

is one that I have wanted to experience for years but never had the opportunity. Until now!

I was lucky enough to have a

Canyon Ranch Spa

onboard my cruise ship recently, so I took the opportunity to embark on a spa adventure that I am excited to share with you.

Canyon Ranch has many beautiful locations

and is well known for its' celebrity clientele and upscale services. The cruise ship versions of the spa was equally beautiful and offered all of the spas signature treatments.

First of all, you might be asking

what is a Shirodhara treatment anyway

? It's a relaxation-focused treatment that has been used for thousands of years in India. The Ayurveda technique traditionally uses warm herb-infused oils on the skin and hair, and let me tell you- it's like a little taste of heaven!

The experience starts out similar to a massage or a facial- where you lie face up on a table (either a massage table or a specially designed table that has a trough system near the head that drains the oil). Typically you'll be in a darkened room, with relaxing scents and music surrounding you, which is wonderful in and of itself!

Your head is tilted back slightly, usually over a rolled towel to aid in the process and avoid oil making it's way down your face. The technician will then began

a small stream of warmed oil dripping from a specially designed pot

, that is hung a few inches above your head. The stream of warm

oil will hit your 'third eye' or the center of the forehead

, and drip its way back into your hair and scalp.

The warm oil is designed to promote healthy blood flow to the face and scalp

, which will relax the muscles and nerves almost instantly. I felt as though my senses were heightened and I could really FEEL the oil make it's way past every nerve ending on my scalp. For those of you who love having your hair washed at the salon, this is like the version dreams were made of.

"I could really FEEL the oil make it's way past every nerve ending on my scalp"

For about 20 minutes the oil stream slowly drips over your head, but you'll wish it never stopped! Once the oil does stop running, your scalp will tingle with a cooling sensation that is also refreshing and energizing.

The technique is said to relieve headaches and tension

, as well as boost energy.

Next, your therapist will massage the oil into the scalp and hair for another 20 or so minutes... again heaven. Depending on the practice of the particular spa you are at, you may also get an arm and foot massage while the oil soaks into your hair.

After the treatment is over- you'll be a greased up ball of relaxation. Some people choose to leave the oil in the hair for a few hours, while others will want to shower right away. (I showered FYI, and needed several helpings of shampoo to rid all of the oil out of my hair)

I felt very relaxed throughout the day following my Shirodhara, and I didn't have a single headache during my cruise, which is very rare for me! Although I am sure being in a stress free environment helped a little with that too!

Overall I loved my experience, and would definitely do it again. If you have the chance- try it at least once. xo

PAINT THE TOWN WITH THESE NAIL COLORS

Winter 2016 is all about

moody colors that are rich in pigment

when it comes to nail polish. The look is chic and sophisticated, and acts as the perfect Winter accessory.

I've rounded up my favorite colors from brands that I trust and use the most. I'm currently wearing the Ciate blue pictured above, and get so many compliments on the shade! I know you'll love it too.

• Marc Jacobs Hi-Shine Polish [in Jezebel & Gatsby]

• Butter London Lacquer [in Toff & All Hail The Queen]

• Ciate London [in New England Fall]

• Essie [in Starry Starry Night]

What colors are you loving right now? Let me know in the comments below, xo

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3 NEW WAYS TO CURL YOUR HAIR

I'm always striving to come op with fun new ways to style my hair. After all, 13 years in the beauty industry can get a little repetitive...

Today I am sharing a few

new ways to use your heat tools

, they are creative and a little bit out-of-the-box. Each way will produce a curl, but hopefully they are curls you have seen or tried yet.

Take a look at the video below for your

lesson in creative curling

. [PS- this episode of Studio5 was filmed in front of a live studio audience, which was SO exciting and fun. The energy was fantastic! As part of the fun, I was able to pluck three ladies from the audience, whom I've never met and ask them to join me on TV! They were such great sports and I had so much fun meeting them, so thanks ladies- you all look gorgeous.]

1- 

The Mermaid Curl

Using a 1 inch wand or curling iron, twist wrap the hair in horizontal sections to develop ribbon curls with a twist that are slightly undone and not uniform. This produces an 'off duty' looks that is casual and relaxed. Practice the wrap technique by first looking at your 'pulse', then twist your wrist to look at your 'watch' before wrapping around the wand, and repeat to the end of the strand. [using 25mm wand form

Nume

]

2- The S-Wave

Using our flat iron, take thin horizontal sections and guide them into an 'S-pattern'. Tap the flat iron over the shape to heat it through, and then use clips to secure the wave while it cools. Repeat in the opposite direction to the end of the strand. The result is a vintage type finger wave look that is great for a formal night out. [using Megastar flat iron from

Nume

]

3- The Bantu Curl

Section hair into 2 inch triangle sections, and apply heat with the flat iron to heat the section through. Twist the hair into small buns around the head, and secure the ends with a booby pin. After cooling, release the buns to reveal bouncy textured curls that resemble natural curl.

Thanks so much for reading and watching, see you all soon!

MY TOP 15 PRODUCTS OF 2015!

Yay- we've made it through another year! Can you believe it?

Today I am bringing you one final post and

video

 for the year... it's my

TOP 15 PRODUCTS OF 2015

. These are the creme de la creme, if you will. The products I loved, used and recommended most this year.

Take a look at the

video

below, and shop any of the products mentioned in the links following the video.

Products Mentioned:

• Voloom Iron [First Impression Post]

• Bamboo 48 Hour Volume Spray

• Batiste Hint of Tint Dry Shampoo

• Simple Micellar Water

• Philosophy Hope in a Jar Foundation

• Philosophy Ultimate Miracle Worker Eye Cream

• Benefit Roller Lash Mascara

• Physicians Formula Rose Blush

• The Balm Mary Loumanizer

• Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream Parfum [Review Post]

• Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser

• Colour Pop Ultra Matte Lip

• Mario Badescu Rose Water

• Boscia Konjac Sponge [Review Post]

• Bold Metals Oval Shadow Brush [Review Post]

Here is to a wonderful New Year, I'll see you all back here in 2016. Let me know what type of posts or videos you'd like to see this coming year in the comments below. THANK YOU for reading, xo

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THE STOCKING STUFFER I CAN'T STOP LOVING

This year I got a stocking stuffer that I have been loving so much I wanted to quickly share with you what it is. I've talked about my chronic underarm sweating in the

past on this blog

[sexy, I know] but I've never tried a

Dry Spray Antiperspirant

before, until now.

Santa gave me a bottle of the

Dove Dry Spray

- and I am so happy with it. It's an aerosol spray that goes on clear and dries super quickly. I have the Cool Cucumber scent which is light and fresh, but there are a few other scents I am excited to try as well.

It's a 48 hour antiperspirant, but I still apply it everyday in the AM since I need a little more help. My favorite part of this dry spray is that it is super conditioning and moisturizing, and feels really nice on the skin after shaving. And because it is clear if doesn't leave any markings on your clothes! Can I get a 'hallelujah' for that please!? I feel like this is a must have when wearing your dry-clean only clothes, because removing white marks is never easy on nicer fabrics. It keeps me just as dry as my regular cream deodorants, but without the waiting time after application, and without those weird clumps of product left on my skin... you know what I'm talking about.

After doing a little research I noticed that many brands are now creating Dry Spray options- so I am thinking that this will be the new wave of under arm care that will become super popular. So far I've seen Axe, Degree, and Dove all offer a Dry Spray option, and you can pick those all up at any

Kroger

store for around $6.

Let me know in the comments below if you've tried a Dry Spray yet- and what are your thoughts?

*post sponsored by Lunchbox. opinions are always 100% my own

THE REAL GIRLS GUIDE TO THE KYLIE LIP KIT

So if you haven't heard about the highly anticipated

Kylie Lip Kit

... you may be living under a rock. But just in case you missed it here is the skinny: Kylie Jenners' famously plumped lips gained lots of attention over the last year. And like any Kardashian would, Kylie decided to cash in on said fame and create her own line of lipstick.

After months of waiting and anticipating the arrival of the Lip Kit, finally the day came when it was to be released. Chaos surely ensued.

Kylie's hundreds of thousands of fans crashed her website and the Lip Kits sold out in under 1 minute. It was madness- I should know, because I was just one of the zillion people trying to buy the kits. But lucky for me, I was quick on the trigger and was able to buy ALL three of the first run colors.

I am the first to admit that I am not a 'Kylie-type' beauty with pouty lips, perfectly contoured cheekbones, and lashes for days. I am just a regular gal, mother or two, and wearer of natural makeup. So my experience with the Lip Kit may be slightly different than others out there... and I am guessing you can relate, and that's why you're reading this.

So here is the scoop from one REAL girl to the next:

The pigments are unreal

, and give amazing coverage in one swipe. I tend to think that matte liquid lipsticks are too dry- but surprisingly

these are moister then most

. They are a true matte however and dry to a powdery finish. The scent is a strong Vanilla type flavor, and I find it to be better than other liquid scents on the market. They wear very well and will hold up through mild eating and drinking. I like to add a gloss over the top midday and freshen up the color without having to add more lipstick.

The true star for me however is actually the lip liner

that is included in the kit. The liners are smooth

as butter but don't smudge and give amazing color as well! I have a hard time finding liners that I love, and I LOVE these. I wish they were twist-up and didn't require sharpening, but that is my only complaint.

The real draw back for me are the colors themselves

. With only three options, you are pretty limited at this point in the production. I bought all three- but really only wear Candy K on a regular basis, and will probably never wear True Brown K, seeing as it looks almost black on my coloring. I tend to think these muted colors look better on darker skin tones, so I am hopeful that more colors will be available soon.

So is it worth it?

I am going to say that buying your favorite color, is all I would recommend. At $29 each, you definitely don't need all three. You can get the same look with the

Colour Pop Ultra Matte Lip

for only $6 and they are equally as awesome!

Thanks for reading! xo

MAKE YOUR PEEPERS POP WITH DOLL LIKE LASHES

I typically just wear my own lashes on a daily basis. I just don't have the extra time to put on falsies, as I know a lot of you don't have the time either. But that being said, there is nothing that makes a look come to life, and go from 'pretty' to 'WOW' like a set of false lashes!

They have the ability to wake up the face, brighten the eyes, and of course give the appearance that your were blessed with Bambi-like genetics. 

This Holiday season I have many parties to attend, as I am sure you do too. I always try and give myself plenty of time to get ready for them, so that I can really enjoy the process and the excitement of the season. And that means I bust out my falsies!

Lately, the trend of

Doll-Like lashes

has been big, it's such a fun trend especially for a party. I've teamed up with 

Ulta Beauty

 to bring you a round up my three favorite types of lashes to wear that all give your peepers a dollish effect. These lash brands all make high quality products, that are comfortable to wear, as well as look amazing. 

wearing: Eylur Vegas Nay Classic Charm

Recommended lashes, pictured above;

• Eylure Vegas Nay Classic Charm Lashes // full max curl

• Kardashian Beauty Gaze Lashes // with center accent

• Ardell Glamour Lashes // pointed cutouts

The trick to fake lash application

you ask? Well, heres a couple of them:

1-

Trim them slightly

smaller than the width of your eye. Nothing is worse than the edge of the lashes stabbing into the corner of your eye. Cutting them just a tad shorter will ensure more comfort.

2- Make sure the

two outer edges of the lash have a nice dollop of glue

 on them. This is where the lashes really need to bond the most.

3- WAIT to apply the lashes until the

glue is tacky, not wet

. This is crucial for a good bond!

4-

Place the lash in the center of the eye first

, then push the corners into place and attach the tacky glue to the base of your lashes [never on the skin itself].

5- Give a quick fanning motion to the eyes with your hand to help the

glue dry quickly before blinking

.

That's it! Thanks for reading today- I hope your party prep includes some fun lashes too! xo

brought to you by Style Hunters for Ulta Beauty

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THE ONE PRODUCT EVERY WOMAN SHOULD BE USING

Retinol.

If you haven't added a retinol to your regimen by now, you're missing out on the single best ant-aging ingredient ever. That's a bold statement, but it's true.

Retinol should be your first line of defense, when it comes to anti-aging

. It's a product that has been proven to actually do what it says, and is both available in prescription strengths and over the counter varieties.

So what does it do? Simply put,

Retinols aid the skin in cell turn-over

, keeping it looking new and fresh. They also

thin-out the skin slightly

which makes fine lines and wrinkles appear more shallow. Retinols also

help to keep pores tighter and smaller in size

- which goes along way in making skin appear youthful.

One such product that I have been using and loving these days is the

StriVectin Advanced Retinol Pore Refiner

. It is a lightweight daily anti-aging moisturizer, with powerful pore refining properties.

This stuff goes to town on your face, and instantly smooths and shrinks pores. But over time the results are that much better, because that Retinol has a chance to do it's best work on your face long term. The scent is pleasant, and the consistency is really lightweight, non greasy and smooth. It works great under makeup during the day, and can also be used at night during your skincare routine for better results. I like to focus it in the center of my face, where the pores are largest, then blend outward and upward.

Now remember that anything with Retinol in it will be pricey. Effective ingredients always are. But when it comes to your face, using high quality products is an investment that will pay off in the long run. I hope you'll give it a try!

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ADD SOME SPARKLE TO YOUR HOLIDAY LOOK

I have 12 Holiday parties to attend this December! Can you believe that? It's a little overwhelming to be honest- but I am super excited to celebrate the season in style.

This is the time of year I love to add a little bit of sparkle into my makeup routine. It's just too fun not to! I stopped by Studio5 TV to discuss 3

easy sparkly touches you can add to your everyday makeup

, that will bump up the glam factor, and add just a hint of glimmer.

Check out the

segment

below.

Products Used:

• NS Minerals 'Pixi' Pigment // Using the I-Shadow Everything Brush Remember to use a warm tone and keep it subtle to avoid looking like an icy blast from the 90's.

• Mary Lou Manizer by theBalm // Using It Cosmetics Fan Brush Again use a warm color, and concentrate the color on the tops of the cheekbones and around to the temples.

• Buxom Lip Polish in Dominique Try adding your gloss just to the center of the lips (imagine creating a dime sized circle of the gloss that would lay over both the lips) for a look of fuller lips.

I hope you'll try at least one of these sparkly touches for you Holiday get togethers this year, xo

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HOLIDAY FUN-BUN HAIR STYLE HOW TO

Hello my loves- I hope your December is off to a great start! It's hard to believe we are already at this point in the year, but I am happy to report that I am 80% done with my Christmas shopping! That has never happened this early in the game... winning!

Today I am excited to team up with Nexxus and Target to bring you a fun

Holiday Hair Tutorial.

When brainstorming the look I wanted to create, I decided that I wanted to wear a more casual and playful style, versus something elegant for the Holidays.

I don't have too many chances to wear a sleek updo, but I can rock a

fun-bun

at pretty much any event I have this season. The other great part about this style, is that

it works for almost all hair lengths

. And you'll see in the video that adding a clip-in extension to the look helps if you're lacking thickness or length for creating the perfect messy topknot.

Take a look at the

video

below, and let me know if you are going to try this style for your Holiday parties!

Products Used: (all available at Target // Save 10% with code: SHINE thru 12/5)

• Nexxus Therappe Shampoo

• Nexxus Humectress Conditioner

• Nexxus Encapsulate Serum

• Nexxus Maxximum Hairspray

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial, and it inspired you to try something fun and new for your Holiday party. 

Be sure you tag me in your pics if you try it out, I'd love to see! And I am now snapping away on Snap Chat, so please come follow along with me: TheBeautySnoop is my handle. xo

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*post sponsored by Lunchbox. all opinions are 100% my own. 

HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME // YOUR NEW FAVORITE PRODUCTS ARE CALLING

Oo-wee today's video is full of amazing

FAVORITES

! I haven't done one of these in way too long- so today's round up is bursting at the seams with all of the things I have been loving thru Fall.

Take a look at the

video

below, and enjoy some of my crazy rantings while you're at it!

Products mentioned in video:

• Ban.do 'Rebel' Bobbi Pin

• Ban.do 'Girl Talk' Bobbi Set

• Ban.do 'Love' Bobbi Pin

• Breathing Black, by Piper Payne [GIVEAWAY for signed copy below!]

• Avon True Color Purple Eyeshadow Duo in Crushed Orchid

• Michael Kors Rose Gold Parfum

• Up & Up Luminous White Teeth Wraps

• Sephora Ultra Shine Lip Gel

• ELF Smoothing Serum

• Stowaway Creaseless Concealer

• MaskCara Duel Sided I-Shadow Brush

• Jord Zebrawood Watch

• Cricket Jeweled Eyelash Curler

• Cynthia Rowley Violet Eye Liner

• My Pillow [code: 'google' for the 2-for-1 pricing]

Have you tried any of these favorites? Let me know what I need to try next, and don't forget to enter the giveaway below! xo

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

CRACK THE COLOR CODE: PICKING YOUR BEST HAIR COLOR

Last month I put the call out for ladies who were seeking help determining their best hair color. It is often a really confusing topic, and one that many women ask me about when they are sitting in my chair at the salon.

After some great submissions on instagram, I picked three ladies to help me explain the steps to great hair color. We had so much fun at the salon with these makeovers, and today you'll get to see the 'after' looks as well! But first, here are the guidelines for picking the right hair color for your skin tone:

• Keep the hair color within two levels lighter or two levels darker than your naturally occurring hair at this given time. This may mean a harsh reality check for some women who claim to be blonde, because they were blonde as a child- but are no longer ACTUALLY blonde.

Remember that these levels range from 1-10. 1 being black and 10 being pale blonde. You fall somewhere along that spectrum, and should stay within two levels in either direction of where you fall.

Keeping within these two levels ensures that you won't have an exorbitant amount of maintenance time at the salon, and that you aren't messing with 'nature' too much. Nature is usually right, amirite?

• Next, take into account your underlying skin pigments for the most flattering tone within your level. Here is a handy chart to help you determine your underlying pigments. This helps when buying foundation too!

By looking at your veins on your wrist, you can get a good idea of what tone you skin carries. Using these tones to determine which hair colors will look best on you will help ensure beautiful results. Here are my

suggestions for hair colors based on your skin tone.

COOL // PINK UNDERTONES

• Beige Blondes

• Neutral Browns

• Mahogany Reds

NEUTRAL // YELLOW UNDERTONES

• Honey Blondes

• Warm Browns

• Orangey Reds

WARM // OLIVE UNDERTONES

• Cool Blondes

• Ashy Browns

• Violet Reds

Here are my beautiful new friends before we dived into color makeovers. They all had good hair to start with, but just need slight tweaks to make their locks really POP. To see their after looks, watch the video below. 

Thanks for stopping by today! Hope you learned something new.

SUPERSTART YOUR MORNING SKINCARE

One thing that many women overlook in their skin care routine, is products designed for daytime care. We all know the importance of cleansing, toning, and treating at night - but often we skimp when it comes to morning care.

And although evening rituals are still uber important, lately I have been singing the praises of

products that are designed to jump-start the skin in the AM

as well

.

One such product that I have been using and LOVING is

SUPERSTART Skin Renewal Booster

by Elizabeth Arden. I was totally intrigued by this product

when I saw it in the Best of Beauty issue of Allure magazine recently

, so when they offered to send me a bottle to try - I was super excited!

When the skin’s surface layer is damaged your skin may not be able to retain moisture, it can lose its natural protective defenses and, ultimately, lose the ability to renew itself. This is where SUPERSTART comes into play.

Designed to go on the skin in the morning prior to your moisturizer and/or serum, it will

even out skin tone and texture

- plus it make the other skincare products you put on afterward absorb more evenly and work better.

The scent is wonderful - it’s light and fresh, and beyond that, 

the formula 

gives such a nice glow to the skin.

It is made up of a probiotic complex that optimizes skin’s microflora to strengthen its natural defense.

It contains flaxseed extract and grasswort which both help to keep the skin's surface layer smooth and hydrated.

And while the science is wonderful - what we all really care about are the results! And you’ll love the results on this one… it’s

instant gratification with noticeable results

from the first use. My favorite kind of product to use and recommend!

Learn more about

SUPERSTART in this video:

Have you added a morning booster to your routine yet? Let me know in the comments below, xo

*

This post was sponsored by Elizabeth Arden through their partnership with POPSUGAR. While I was compensated by POPSUGAR to write a post about SUPERSTART Skin Renewal Booster, all opinions are my own.

SNEAKY WAYS I USE MY FAVORITE LOTION

Well peeps, I realized that I had not one, but three different varieties of the Cocoa Radiant Vaseline in my medicine cabinet. Obviously I am a believer! I use them in their normal functions to hydrate the skin, but I also use them for other unique ways too.

Now that it's colder, I always amp up my moisturizing routine- the Cocoa formula is always the one I reach for because I LOVE THE SCENT. It's warm and rich, with a hint of yummy. And it has prescriptions strength ingredients, without the prescription. Here's how I use them:

Intensive Care Lotion

: This guy is a staple for my kids' skin. It is always what we use post-bath, because the scent is wonderful- but it is also rich and hydrating on their sensitive skin.

• SNEAKY TECHNIQUE: I use this lotion as a Barrier Cream when applying my faux tanner as well. I works so great to protect your palms and the bottom of your feet from getting tanner on them, and then leaves them silky afterward.

Spray & Go

: I have talked about my obsession with the Spray & Go Moisturizers on this blog a few times [here & here if you want to see me gush] I use it daily for quick application of moisture on my legs and arms.

• SNEAKY TECHNIQUE: Use it to hydrate knees, elbows, and feet prior to applying your tanning lotion or mousse. It is light weight so it won't interfere with the saturation of your tan, but it will also help to protect over-saturation and dark spots on these drier thicker areas of skin. [here are my rules for the perfect faux tan]

Petroleum Jelly

: This stuff is crucial in my household during the cold and flu season. When my kids have a runny nose, they always get sore, raw skin on their upper lip from blowing. I apply the Vaseline to the area to calm and protect the skin. The Cocoa scent is ideal because it smells nice when applied right under your nose.

• SNEAKY TECHNIQUE: I use Vaseline as eye makeup remover, and have for years! A tub lasts forever and it works so good removing stubborn mascara and liner. Plus it leaves the skin around your eye plump and hydrated, just avoid direct contact with the eyes of course.

What ways do you use your Vaseline? Be sure you scoop up some of this goodness next time you are at Target, talk to you soon, xo

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*post sponsored by Lunchbox, all opinions are my own

3 MINUTE BOLD & NATURAL BROWS

If you have been living under a rock the last year, you may have missed the memo; but BOLD brows have taken over the world once

instagram

photo at a time! It really has been a big shift in the world of beauty, and I for one hope the trend never leaves.

Bold brows make you look younger

and they single handedly take your look from 'eh' to 'POW' in less than 3 minutes. [If you are looking for speed stick with powder... pencil requires more time]

I have softened my brows up over the last few months however, and am not drawing them as heavy as I did when this trend first emerged. I feel like that is often the case for trends... we go BIG at first, then start to see the light and pull it back slightly over time. [contouring... I am talking to you! Can I get an Amen!?]

So here is a really quick and

easy tutorial

on achieving

natural bold brows

with Ulta Beauty

.

Products used [all available at Ulta Beauty]:

• Anastasia Highlighting Duo Pencil

• Anastasia Brow Powder Duo

• Anastasia Brow Wiz Pencil

• Anastasia Clear Brow Gel - If you are going to buy one thing... make it this one!

• Bold Metals Angled Brush

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*this post was created in collaboration with StyleHunters and Ulta Beauty

EASY HALF UP HAIR STYLES

The

half-up hairstyle is making a big comeback these days

. We are seeing the look both on red carpets and in real life in a major way. But not everyone is embracing the trend yet... so here is my recommendation: TRY IT ANYWAY!!

You may feel awkward at first wearing these looks if you haven't tried them before, but once you embrace half-up styles as a mainstream look, you'll find that you have so many options and your creativity can really play a big part. The options are endless... Just ask

Pinterest

.

Take a look at the

video

below, and see a few of my favorite ways to style half-up hair, with Studio5 TV.

What half-up styles are you loving these days? xo