xoxo
Be honest: when's the last time you really washed your makeup brushes? Recently I realized that it had been a little longer than I care to admit, which translates to breakouts and generally just plain gross. It was pretty sweet timing when the folks over at SOHO Beauty offered to send over a full set of makeup brushes, and it's even sweeter that the brushes are really nice. The bristles feel really great on my skin, and the comfy grip is a nice little touch. Plus, I like that the kabuki brush comes with its own little stand. Plus (again), they're all brand spankin' new and squeaky clean. My face can breathe a little better. And now, SOHO is giving one lucky reader the gift of new brushes ($100 value). Just click away below and cross your fingers because trust me, it's pretty nice having some fresh beauty gear. A winner will be announced on Wednesday, September 11th. Good luck! xoxo Shop It: SOHO Brushes
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Gorjana rings; L'Oreal Colour Riche Wet Shine Lip Stain in Infinite Fuschia and Endless Red; L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara Earlier this week I came clean about my drugstore beauty department habit, and last night I went ahead and indulged it. (In my defense, there's a fabulous "Madmen Swank" birthday party going down this weekend, and I intend to go all out, the perfect lipstick included.) The mascara was a no-brainer, grab and go purchase, but the lipstick took a little longer. Do I want a stick? A gloss? I'm new to this whole lipstick thing, but it makes the browsing that much more fun. (Have you ever taken a second to realize just how many options are out there? Bananas.) I made it home with two (couldn't decide) shades of L'Oreal's new Colour Riche Wet Shine Lip Stain. I must admit, the "stain" part scared me, but once I got home (or sat in the car actually) and tried it, I loved it! The Infinite Fuschia is more like a deep berry on me, and it completely changed my mind about bold pinks. Stay tuned for the pictures to prove it. And now, for the best part. Every time you spend $30 on select beauty products using your Walgreens Balance Rewards card, you can head to Walgreens.com/beautywithin to receive your complimentary beauty box. Filled with fun samples, the beauty box is just the little something you need to keep you in the know. I've got three new BB creams to slather on, a perfectly purse-sized sunblock, and a new razor to try out. Isn't it nice to be rewarded for buying things you would have bought anyway? Happy Friday, everyone! xoxo Beauty can be found anywhere if you know where to look and, more importantly, who to ask. Walgreens has Beauty Advisors in every store, making expert beauty advice more accessible than ever. With Balance™ Rewards, spend $30 in store on participating beauty products and get a sample box by mail with this season’s best beauty finds. Learn more at Walgreens.com/BeautyWithin Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Walgreens via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Walgreens.
Perhaps I'm easily amused, but sometimes there's nothing better than spending way too much time browsing a drugstore beauty aisle for a few new makeup bag additions. Come on, if you've never found yourself roaming through a drugstore beauty department on a lazy Sunday carrying a cheapie polish, a random lipgloss, two magazines, and a fresh tube of L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black (my go-to for years), then you haven't lived. (No? Just me? Get real, girl.) This post comes as both a full admission to my drugstore makeup addiction and an invite to fun girls' night out event with Walgreens. On Thursday, July 25th, head to your local Walgreens between 4 and 9 pm to chat with trained beauty advisers, pick up a few free samples, and score a couple of deals on L'Oreal products. (Go on, admit it - you could use a little summer beauty refresher.) And since you're heading out on a Thursday night, you might as well get dressed up, invite a few girlfriends, and finish off the night with dinner and drinks, no? And while you're at it, share your favorite summer beauty looks on Twitter with the hashtag #headturninglooks for a chance to win goodies from Walgreens and L'Oreal Paris. Can't wait to hear about your "Night at the W" and your sweet new beauty finds. xoxo Get the Look! 1. Zig Zag Wide Leg Pants $90 2. Zig Zag Blouse $72 3. Gold Mixed Bracelet $26 4. Black Ankle Strap Heels $31 5. Gold Pyramid Necklace $34 6. Faux Pony Clutch $51 7. L'Oreal Colour Riche Lip Stain and Nail Polish $6 - $10 Walgreens Night at the W - Head Turning Looks Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Walgreens via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Walgreens.
Last night I found myself aimlessly roaming around the beauty-crack-filled shelves of Sephora. I knew that I needed new Bare Minerals foundation, but every time I'm surrounded by beauty products, I can't help but search for the new game changer for my skincare and makeup routine. Although I left with only the foundation (and maybe a new purse-sized perfume), I thought I'd share a couple of products that I've been loving lately. This 3Lab "M" Cream is currently my undereye saver. Definitely the favorite find in my #LuckyFABB swag bag, it is luxe and pricey, but oh-so-noteworthy. I apply it under my eyes most nights before bed and in the mornings before I apply my makeup. It hides noticeably tired eyes and has (I think) improved the overall quality of the skin under my eyes. After the seemingly miracle cream, I apply Olay's tone correcting CC Cream. Before Lucky FABB, I was a fan of the BB creams, but I wasn't familiar with any of the CC (color-correcting) creams. This one goes on with an easy-to-blend consistency and doesn't leave me feeling greasy like many other creams. (Plus, it's an everyday SPF 15 that I don't have to think about.) The final step for "putting on my face" is the Bare Minerals foundation. Six years ago when I first moved to Los Angeles (pretty much a desert) from Louisiana (super duper humid), my skin definitely freaked out. I switched from the drying powder that I was using before to the Bare Minerals formula and haven't looked back since. (I swear by the stuff.) After that, of course, there are bronzers, blushes, highlighters and such, depending on the day, but that's a whole separate post. I'd love to know - what are some of your favorite face essentials?
xoxo P.S. - Today is the last day to enter the Subtle Luxury Summer Giveaway! My Style Diaries was started with one thing in mind: your wardrobe. And shoes. And jewelry. Lots of jewelry. OK, so that's three things. And it was only a matter of time before it branched out to cover complete style, including a huge part of your (and my) personal style: beauty. I'm excited to start a new series on the blog to chat about beauty products that I'm currently loving, using, or lusting after, appropriately named Beauty Talk. With summer weighing heavy on the brain, there's no better beauty product binge to start out with than the ever-elusive beach waves. You know you've drooled over the pictures. That model off duty (ahem, Gisele) or beach-loving babe and her lust-worthy, looks-so-easy beach waves. I'm lucky enough to live by the beach, and I love the soft waves I get after a day spent in the salt air. Wanting to recreate the look, I've tried just about every pre-packaged "ocean spray" I can get my hands on, and above are a few favorites that have stood the test of time. (Bonus: They're also perfect for spritzing while you're at the beach.)
Bumble and Bumble's Surf Spray is pretty much the holy grail. Perfect for beginners (or my fine hair), a few spritzes go a long way, and the smell is amazing. The Kevin.Murphy version is a bit pricy, but it leaves me with nice, conditioned waves. (A problem with ocean or salt sprays is the dryness that ensues. A little leave-in conditioner or dry oil spray usually helps.) The third, a spray by Wella, is a bit on the lighter side, and I've found that it's pretty easy not to overdo it. I usually spritz one of these when my hair is just about dry, and pulling my hair into a loose pony with a wide elastic (like the Emi-Jay ties above) can help to tame my frizz without leaving deep ponytail lines. If you're looking for an easy way to achieve those model-esque beach waves, I'd definitely recommend these, but I'm interested to know: what's your favorite way to create beach waves? xoxo If the holiday hustle and bustle has you feeling a little less than refreshed, then this weekend is the perfect time to recharge. Blame my Southern roots, but for me, nothing says relaxation better than a hot bath, so it's no surprise I get pretty excited about luxe new bath products. If you're like me, you definitely need to add Prestiche's line (the "Mineral Treat" in Lavender is a personal fave) to your pre- or post-holiday de-stress repertoire. Head on over to Prestiche.com to stock up on a wide array of gimmick-free, yummy-smelling goods, and you just may find that a little well-deserved "me time" is just the ticket to get you back in the holiday spirit. Oh, and use code "nikki60" at checkout to receive 60% off of everything sitewide. Yep, 60% off. Good times, kids. Hope everyone has a great (and relaxing) weekend!
xoxo The world of beauty products is vast and ever-changing. From drugstores to specialty retailers, the countless products and tools can make your head spin. Though there are thousands (millions maybe) of new products on my list to test, here are a few tried and true favorites that will always be found in my makeup bag. What are some of your favorite beauty products? xoxo 1. Bag: TLC and You
2. Make Up For Ever Microfinish Powder To Go $15 3. L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara $8 4. Benefit Erase Paste $26 5. E.L.F. Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder $3 6. E.L.F. Studio Powder Brush $3 7. Bare Escentuals bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation $26 8. Smith's Minted Rosebud Salve $8 9. Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Eyecolor in True Gold $13 10. Benefit Hollywood Glo Highlighter $24 |