May KlutchClub

I got my May KlutchClub box today ! This fitness/health themed monthly subscription box debuted last month and instantly fell in love with the goodies. Last month I received a great box full of snacks, goodies, a drink and a PowerYoga DVD by Kristin McGee. This month my box cam packed with over $100 in products!
* ONE Coconut Water
* YogaDownload class
* 2 ThinkThin bars
* Hydroxatone wrinkle reducer
* Moving Comfort 2 gifts cards ($25 each)
* KlutchClub water bottle

Dye Ties aka hair ties

I saw these at the IBS show in April and was instantly drawn to these groovy dyed hair ties. I currently use these kinds of stretchy ribbon ties because they feel better than traditional hairties. (they're not as tight!) They were sweet enough to let me sample one and I use this whenever I tie my hair up! They also make fun bracelets.

Tone It Up meet & Greet in NYC

On May 9th, after my awesome day at the Fitness Magazine's Meet & Tweet, I got to meet the ladies behind Tone It Up! Hi Karena and Katrina!! Been a follower of their YouTube videos and their brand for over a year now and I live how inspirational they are. Their workouts are so so fun and effective in toning! They had Spring into Bikini Series last year and they're doing it again! If you haven't signed up yet, check out their site toneitup.com and join them on Facebook, twitter or their community! As an early bird, I also got a signed copy of their Beach Babe DVD! They were incredibly nice and had such a groupie moment! Took a picture with them and left with smiles on my face!

My May Birchbox

My Gossip Girl inspired Birchbox was so-so for me.. It seemed like random products together- tho I do like the brands individually. I guess I was expecting it to be a WOW since it was a themed box. Unfortunately, no wow factor here. And if you're a fan of GG, CW announced its finale half season in the Fall. (tear)

Contents include: Ojon, Caudalie, LipFusion balm, Arquiste parfum sample and an XOXO notecard.

Sephora's 15 Days of Beauty Thrills

We all love a thrill now and then.. So it would be amazing to win one of these amazing prizes from Sephora! Check out their Facebook page for more details or to enter go to: http://win.sephora.com

My first PeekPak

Recently I signed up and joined the PeekPak program, which is a completely FREE pack of yummy snacks and a beverage for you to enjoy. All you have to do is complete a survey at the end to get your next one. I cannot wait to devour my snacks and let them know what I think of each one. As you can see, I am getting about 6 products which is similar to what other paid foodie subscription boxes contain in theirs. Thank you to PeekPak and the companies in the box!

NIVEA's bridal kit

It's wedding season and if you or you know someone who's getting married, who's in the wedding party or who is even going to a wedding (and want to look their very best!), NIVEA has some great products to get your/their body exfoliated & moisturized. NIVEA has a slogan: Touch or Be Touched so naturally they carry skin care products designed for both women and men. They tout a "Bridal Kit" in which they recommend these products to use for the Big Day!!

For the Bride:
Touch of Reveal Lathering Body Scrub- this incredibly moisturizing body wash has exfoliating microbeads to gently slough away dead skin cells while leaving your skin silky smooth. It comes in a huge tube which makes it easy to hold onto in the shower and squeeze a good amount on your favorite pouf. This works up a great lather so you get the benefits of a body wash + scrub + moisturizer.

Extended Moisture Daily Lotion- Made for those with really dry skin, this is perfect to use after the shower to help hydrate your skin. It contains Provitamin B5 as well as their Hydra IQ Technology to give your skin long-lasting moisture. I used this and my legs and feet still feel good.

For the Groom:

NIVEA for men: Maximum hydration nourishing lotion- this contains sea minerals and from what I hear really moisturizes well for your face and the rest of your body. It's an easy solution for your guy who isn't into using fancy product when a one-stop shop is all he needs. The only thing I've heard is that he wishes the moisturizing lasted longer.

NIVEA for Men: RELAX Body Wash- This is also a 3-in-1 product in which you can wash your face, body and hair! This is a winner- because it smells incredibly nice and can be used for the entire body in the shower. It works well as a shampoo and body wash but for the face, and I quote "it naturally washes my face when I'm washing my hair" so no need to put additional product on the face if not needed. If only my skincare routine was that simple!

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

Check out more blogs @ TotalBeauty.com

Clark's Botanical Smoothing Marine Cream Review

I first learned and tried Clark's Botanicals through my Birchbox when I received a sample of their Intense Radiance Mask. I instantly fell in love with the soothing white-clay mask that brightened my skin. To complement the mask, I use their Smoothing Marine Cream that gently exfoliates and moisturizes my skin afterward. According to their site, the ingredients that are used are:
Glycolic Acid and Algae Extracts soften the appearance of fine lines, while Jasmine Absolute helps soothe and nourish stressed-out skin. So far, I have been pleased with using it. Although it leaves my skin a bit sticky, I definitely feel that my skin is benefitting from its botanical ingredients for soothing skin!


(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)
Check out more blogs @ TotalBeauty.com

FRAAS- Fall/Winter preview

If you love scarves, then you have to check out the beautiful cotton, viscose, wool, and cashmere FRAAS scarves. I got a preview of their Fall & Winter collection and not only are they beautifully made with gorgeous colors, they also feel really nice. Definitely look forward to getting them for the winter months. Enjoy the sneak peek!

Hello colors!	More beautiful options here with ruching and some hat/glove sets. Especially love the scarf with winter-themed words!

Here are some more light-weight scarves- perfect for the Fall!

Gorgeous capes and shawls. My fave is this basic black w/ faux fur.

Beautiful infinity scarves! Loving the multicolored ones here!

Here are the men's scarves- make great gifts!

BlissMoBox: Hellooo, morning!

My May BlissMoBox was themed "Hellooo, Morning" and can I say that it has definitely brightened up my morning after trying these goodies! The assortment from the 7 brands has definitely peaked my interest as I love trying different healthy snacks. I'm was most excited about trying the Mayesa Cacao (cacao beverage- think chocolate) and the Slice of Life vitamins (they're gummies)!! The upfront granola was delicious, healthy and definitely tasty. I'm saving my Hemp Hearts when I get my Siggi's greek yogurt. :) Will also be saving my Go Raw Energy Bars after my workouts this month. I'm pretty pleased with this month's box and look forward to future BlissMo boxes!

MPG Sport Review

I recently went to a Spring preview for MPG Sport, (MPG stands for Mondetta Performance Gear), and saw their new tanks, bottoms and new YogaToner pants. At first glance, I fell in loved with the bright colors and fashionable styles. I love that the tanks are versatile in that you can wear them as your workout gear but they look good enough to wear them outside of the yoga studio or gym. The detailing in the clothing is also impressive. Check it out below:

From their current Spring/Summer line

I got to try two tops that I thought would be great additions to my fitness wardrobe- the Ziggy tank and Bolero sweatshirt. The Ziggy Tank in Regal is a beautiful royal purple that has a tank + built in sports bra. Its beautiful twisted bottom pleated is different which is why I love it. It's slightly longer than most tanks which is great when wearing hip hugging bottoms. I'm also loving the material - which gives a smooth silhouette and absorbs sweat fast!  The Bolero sweatshirt is the most comfiest ever! It's got two pockets so you can store your keys, ID, $, phone while you're out. It's thin enough for layering but also good enough to keep you warm. Can't wait to check out their new products to add to my expanding fitness wardrobe. :)

Image from MPG site: Ziggy Tank

Image from MPG site: Bolero sweatshirt

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

Check out more blogs @ TotalBeauty.com

BlissmoBox: Natural Nibblers

Whoops, I received my April BlissmoBox towards the end of the month but didn't get a chance to share. I selected the natural nibbler snacks box and received goodies from organic lollipops to delicious chocolate bars. I couldn't stop myself from tasting all these treats. Here's what I got:

Here's a look in my box:

Definitely ate the YogaVive Apple Chips first as well as the delicious Rapunzel chocolate. I've tried the Food Should Taste Good Multigrain chips and Yummy Earth lollipops before and definitely like them a lot! BlissMoBox did a great job in putting this assorted natural nibblers box together.Stay tuned for my review on May's Morning box!

Atopalm Skincare for Sensitive Skin

My skin is pretty sensitive so it's important that I use products that don't contain harsh chemicals such as SPF active ingredients!  I recently learned about Atopalm and got to try their Moisturizing Cleansing Wipes and Daytime Undermakeup Moisture Cream.

I've been loving the cleansing wipes in general as a quick and easy way to clean my face & neck after a sweaty workout. But I have been using these during the day when my face is feeling a bit oily, instead of just using oil blotters. My face of course feels completely clean after using an Atopolam Moisturizing Cleansing towelette and my skin feels incredibly soft afterwards.

If you're looking for a lightweight, moisturizing cream to help calm your skin, you should try this from Atopalm. It's lighter than a cream and a little more heavier than a serum. It leaves a nice matte finish and feels refreshing on my skin. I use this before I put any concealer or powder and makes it last a lot longer! So far, I'm very impressed with both products and will be checking out their site: www.atopalm.com for more products to try!

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

Check out more blogs @ TotalBeauty.com

Dating Rules From My Future Self Starring Shiri Appleby

Dating Rules From My Future Self, is a web series on YouTube that I found out about in the beginning of February. Featuring one of my fave actresses Shiri Appleby (think WB's Roswell), the show is about her future self giving her current self dating advice via texts. Technology and dating?!? Whats not to love about this show ? I actually watched the entire series in one sitting, given that it was addictive and there were only 9 eps in total (each was roughly 9-10 minutes long). So they had a contest and I was completely psyched that I won!!!!!! I got some goodies from Schick, Revlon & Shell but I also had the opportunity of a lifetime- a 15 minute conversation with Shiri Appleby. I was completely "star struck" over the phone but she was really nice and easy to talk to. It was so fun to talk to her about her dating tips and her view on dating today. I really appreciated that she also let the conversation go over almost half an hour and even asked me what I thought on some of the questions too.

Here are some of her tips that she shared with me:
* Her favorite "relationship" in her acting career- with Max on Roswell :)
* Recommends going to the gym to meet people
* Great date ideas? Going to an open house to learn more about himself, what he thinks, what he envisions. (Love this one!) Finding out what he likes to do helps too! Dinner and a Movie is also great because there's the opportunity to talk during dinner and then relax during the movie.
* She definitely considers herself old-fashioned and to advises you to be polite since the guy is probably more nervous!! (I agree- Politeness always helps no matter what!)

Thank you to Shiri & Alloy Entertainment for making this all happen!!
Of course, like all fans.. we wanted to know what was going to happen next with the show. And just a few days ago, they announced on their facebook page that there will be a Season 2!! Congratulations Shiri!! So excited that there's fresh, fun content online instead of having to watch it on TV. Super excited to watch it and cannot wait to see what the future Lucy (Shiri's character) has in store for current Lucy!If you haven't seen it already, check it out here:Dating Rules From My Future Self.

International Beauty Show recap

Back in April, on Earth Day, I went to the International Beauty Show in New York to check out new hair, nails, and many other beauty products. Held at the Jacob Javitz Center again, the show drew a huge crowd! I got to learn about products from new and familiar brands, including Temptu PRO, Stila, and Lavera, and watch lots of demos. I also had an amazing time checking out so many new products!

In addition to the IBS Show, I was able to attend the International Esthetics, Cosmetics and Spa Conference on the lower level in Javitz. I felt that was geared more towards Spa professionals but I still enjoyed checking out the new products -lotions, tools, even bathrobes and slippers- that were showcased.

Stay tuned for more pics!

WELCOME to the 2012 IBS NEW YORK show!

Agadir- Argan Oil Hair Treatment

Macadamia Natural Oil

CROWN brushes!

View from the Press lounge ;)

CND Shellac- they were even offering manicures!

STILA

Clear's Scalp & Hair Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner

It's important to have a strong foundation in many things, and especially for my hair, I make sure my scalp is nourished, conditioned, and massaged daily. A new brand to the US called Clear has a line of shampoo and conditioners whose philosophy is to feed your scalp- literally. Its Nutrium 10 technology blends 10 vitamins and nutrients that help "restore scalp's natural moisture balance." There are 6 different types of hair issues that that Clear has addressed in their products- Moisturizing Dry Scalp, Strong Lengths, Complete Care, Damage & Color Repair, Volumizing Root Boost, and Total Care (which I tried). After using the shampoo and conditioner, my scalp doesn't get as flaky or itchy, which occurs sometimes when it feels dry. My strands feel cleaner, stronger and I love how it feels now. My scalp definitely feels better conditioned now, thanks to Clean!!

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)
Check out more blogs @ TotalBeauty.com

Caudalie's new VINOSOURCE favorites

I recently attended a special preview of Caudalie's new VINOSOURCE collection. VINOSOURCE is meant to bring moisture back to your skin, because we all know that hydrated skin always look best! I got to sample the different formulas, from their creams to serums to fluids in this line.

My personal favorite is their SOS Thirst Quenching Serum because 1) it makes my skin feel moisturized and 2) it makes my skin feel silky smooth. Although my skin is oily, I still use this serum because I know I can't overdry my skin, which will cause it to become more oily. After using this product this past week, my skin has felt more balanced. I'm also loving the Moisturizing Matifying Fluid which helps give my skin a matte finish as well as help control my oilies throughout the day. Most of the ones I've tried always made my skin feel clogged, but this one felt light and moisturizing. (not pictured)

If you're not a fan of a serum or fluid formula, I recommend their Moisture Recovery Cream. It has a rich, velvety texture to leave your skin moisturized and silky. Caudalie offers different formulas and great products to help keep your skin supple. :)

(Disclaimer: I received product from this company to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

Check out more blogs @ TotalBeauty.com

Marika Miracles Slimming Capri Legging review

Look slim in the gym w/ this pair of capris! The past couple of weeks I have been wearing the new Marika Miracles leggings that is made if elasta-tight dry-wik fabric and shaped to give you your best look. (working out and yoga!) It has a high waist band to help slim and support your core while you are exercising. It comes in black which is perfect for everyone. Even after high-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions, my legs feel dry with the dry-wik fabric and mesh sides to help make it breathable. Each pair costs $60 but if you use the special promo code: MIRACLES,  you can save 20% Off on full priced Marika Miracles products. So excited to check out their tops, like the waist cincher tank! :)

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)
Check out more blogs @ TotalBeauty.com

Happy May! (Fitness Magazine's birthday)

I cannot believe it is already May! So many fun things happened in April that I haven't even shared yet (but I am working on it!) However today is the first of May and Fitness Magazine declared it "Fitness for All." I was lucky to participate in one of their VIP workouts today at the Crunch gym. celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak was teaching a typical 5 factor class and boy was it intense. It was awesome though! I was too busy catching my breath to take any pictures but here's an amazing gift bag from them for all attendees! thank you Fitness Magazine and Happy 20th Birthday!