StriVectin Advanced Retinol Pore Refiner Review

This past month I have been using the new StriVectin Advanced Retinol Pore Refiner. Thanks to iFabbo, I had the opportunity for my pores to go from ick to ahh. Learn more about it here: http://bit.ly/1gE3Gni

Its technology and age-fighting benefits are to help minimize the pores and overall smooth out one's complexion. Having had some bad acne while growing up and also having large pores and blackheads, I have noticed a large difference after use.  A love-hate relationship grew throughout the years, even after trying lots of products. Consistency and continued use had to be the key.

After using the StriVectin Pore Refiner, I saw an immediate difference on my skin. Smoother skin was the biggest thing that I noticed. Usually retinol causes my skin to get a bit more dry but the additional moisturizing ingredients in this product helped ease that. This product overall is a must in my skincare routine. Many of the bumps and pores that I used to have are now less noticeable and even gone! :) LOVE LOVE the results and can't wait to keep using it throughout the winter season.

#iFabboMember #striveStory

Holiday Series: Holiday meals

It's time for some home cooking for the holidays! (Or there's always take-out too if you don't have time.) But for those that enjoy time spent in the kitchen, you have to check out RawSpiceBar. This monthly subscription provides a monthly theme along w/ 3 spices and recipes that would go along with the supplied spice packets. 

November's theme was Ethiopian

Sample recipes for the spices

Spices included the pumpkin pie spice, Berbere and Ethiopian motmots. I haven't heard of the last two before but this is definitely interesting and really "spices" up your holiday meals. 

The subscription is less than $10 a month and adds a nice "flavor" to your meals. 

(Note: RawSpiceBar provided the November subscription so I could review and share my thoughts with my readers. All opinions are my own.) 

 

Holiday Series: Stuff your Stockings!

Can you believe it's already December? Between Thanksgiving to Christmas, these couple of weeks is one of my favorite times of the year- spending it with family and shopping for others! I have only a few short weeks and quite a number of folks on my Santa list (lots of people who were nice this year apparently). Each year I usually like to give a mix of stocking stuffers to go along with the gift. It just adds a nice oomph to it.

For my beauty lovers, I love gifting them with useful beauty tools and beauty sets. A gal can never have more than enough glosses! Plus, I adore both so these are definitely on my wish list as well! 

Beauty tools:

-new compact mirrors!

-new hair brushes

These 2-in-1 combine a compact mirror and hair brush! From Olivia Gardens, these are available at Ulta for $3.49-perfect for your bestie and yourself!

Gift sets:

One of my fave beauty brands Vapour Organic Beauty is offering these three gift sets on Target.com! Obsessed with sets in general, I adore their multi-use sticks to provide lip colour and cheeks the same colored flush. Here are three with 3 different price points to match your holiday budget!

Available for $40, the duo set includes: Siren Lipstick in Plush, a dusty rose, and Elixir Plumping Lip Gloss in Mystery, a sugared plum.

Available for $50- this is the perfect holiday duo. With nude eyes and berry stain lips, you'll be the catch of the party! This set contains Aura Multi-Use in Instinct, a decadent pomegranate stain, can be used on both lips and/or cheeks and Mesmerize Eye Color in Chill, a silvered taupe, which brightens the eyes with a soft shimmering light.

What I love most about their products is that their colors are buildable so you can get a more intense look by layering on an additional coat of color. 😍

This is my favorite combo- for $70- the set provides Aura Multi-Use in Lavish, a gilded peach to get the perfect glow, Mesmerize Eye Color in Bliss, a smoky brown with a hint of violet and the Elixir Plumping Lip Gloss in Bon Bon, a golden peachy pink. These can be worn together or separately to help create your holiday look this month!

Use the code SHINE to save 10% at Target on select beauty items!

November Birchbox review

This month's curated Birchbox was with Tati from GlamLifeGuru on YouTube! I adored the picks that came in this box with lots of great essentials for the winter (even though it is around 70s in SoCal!)

Here's what I got:

The dry shampoo is now a staple in my #mommylife and excited to try this from Living Proof. Other essentials to keep looking revitalized from the sleepless nights is the Shiseido eye concentrate (goodbye bags!), Jouer lip enhancer (hello moisturized lips!) and the Avene hydrating serum (hello beautiful skin!). I honest feel like this box was made for me and couldn't have come at a better time!

Also excited to get the shadow stick from LOC-Birchbox's own line of Beauty products! It's a shimmery golden colour that is perfect for the night out and to instantly "glam" your look. 

November is all about giving thanks and all those warm fuzzy feelings! While I'm particularly loving this box, I still can't wait to see what's in store for next month's!

Simple's Micellar Water Review + Q-tip Cotton Rounds

Have you tried magical water? I mean.. Micellar Water? Simple Skincare's latest product is this cleansing solution to her skin clean, hydrated and refreshed! It's better than using regular water as it doesn't clean as thorough and my skin still feels oily after. 

To use with the Micellar Water, the new Q-tips cotton rounds will help distribute it evenly on your face as well as pick up the  makeup/dirt you want to get rid of. I've been using Q-tips my whole life, so these rounds are a must have to my beauty closet.

(Products were sent to me for review purposes only. All opinions are my own.)

August Birchbox review

August has come and gone, but I am still loving my end of the summer goodies from my Birchbox. I chose the curated box with Nicole Ritchie and loved it!

The nail polish I can still transition to and wear in the Fall.

TKO Jump Rope Review

Looking for a fun, easy, low-cost workout? Then look no further, because all it requires is a jump rope. There's a reason why we all used o love it in elementary school- it's simple and effective. The TKO jump rope, available at Macy's, is one of the most effective and smooth ropes I have tried. TKO also specializes in fitness equipment such as boxing and weights. The jump rope comes with a soft rubber grip so it feels comfortable holding the handles and is 9 feet so length should be no issue. 

Jumping rope is an effective exercise that provides cardio benefits as well as toning muscles! It's simple and when done correctly, can actually have less of an impact on your knees than jogging. (that's always something I'm concerned about when thinking about my exercise routine) It's also great for HIIT workouts (high intensity interval training which are 10-15 minutes of intense exercise.) 

Best thing about jump roping? You can practically do it anywhere! In your backyard, hotel room, living room- just make sure there's no one around!

Check out YouTube for jump rope HIIT routines!

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

Fashion box: Sunshine Crate review

In case you didn't know already, I am a HUGE fan of subscription boxes, especially ones that provide value and great products. What I love about subscription "boxes" is its surprise factor. Based on a style profile, you can try products that they think would tailor to suit your personal needs.  

I'm already a subscriber to beauty boxes, so the concept transitioning over to fashion is appealing! There's already a few fashion ones but I love scouting new ones. The newest one I have learned is called Sunshine Crate, which provides a new "crate" of apparel to your doorstep. Depending on the size of your crate (either 3 or 5 pieces of apparel plus 1 additional accessory) you can choose a "chosen" item (or 2 if you get the 6-piece crate) from their select pool. The rest of the crate are surprises! These change about every 3 weeks so you can get new clothes pretty much monthly, without ruining your budget. 

Here is the latest July 4- piece crate which includes 3 apparel + 1 accessory... My chosen item is this sleeveless button down top from Potter's Pot. I love the plaid and sheer pattern. It's sleeveless - perfect for the hot summer weather and is longer in the back which I love!!

The rest of the crate comes with 2 other "surprise" items. I requested more button downs and generous giving tops and I got 'em! The baseball tee and raglan shirt looks are so cute and I love these tops!! They are super comfortable and casual to  wear on the weekend so I'm glad these were in my sunshine crate!

Here's my accessory- a simple bracelet to wear. 

If you're interested in learning more, check out sunshinecrate.com! They have clearance bags for cheap (surprise selection of clothes) as well as an accessory crate if you just want that!

Save the date!!

The next crate selection is Tuesday, August 18 @ 9 AM PST ! You can choose from the below 5 items:

I'm loving the striped nautical inspired dress and the yellow striped sweater even though it is 80 degrees where I am.

Here are the crates available:

4 piece -3 apparel + 1 accessory

6 piece- 5 apparel + 1 accessory 

Price ranges from $50-85 with about ~$5 shipping depending where you live

Check out sunshinecrate.com today!

Free Beauty Events for end of summer

Now that it's officially August aka the end of summer month, it's time to start doing everything you haven't had a chance to do yet before Fall comes! That includes any beauty events in your area! I personally like to scout the Internet for listings including using the site freebeautyevents.com. Check it out to see what opportunities are near you for a fun day out!

On their website, they also run a monthly giveaway so you can enter for a chance to win this amazing beauty basket. It includes summer essentials from Cover Girl, ROC, Elf cosmetics, Essie and more!

Enter today, or check out their blog for the latest product reviews and more beauty tips!

Beautisol Self-tanning mouse review

There's one more month of summer.. and if you haven't gotten your #goals tan yet, it's time to try out a self-tanner. In particular, the Beautisol self-tanning mousse. The kit comes with an applicator mitt so it wont get on your hands when applying. It's basically an apply, wait and wash off-kind of routine which makes it super easy to use. 

I personally use this for my legs so I can get an even, gorgeous glow when wearing skirts and dresses. It's been an incredibly hot summer so far, so this product is a Beauty & All That must-have!

New at self-tanning? Don't worry! There's lots of great info and how-to guides on the website: beautisol.com

Interested in getting an amazing tan this summer? Get yours today!


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

Target Beauty Boxes Recap

In mid-July Target released 2 beauty boxes for back to school season. Each were $5 and included a $3 off coupon to use in stores. Overall, a great deal for each box! Here's what's inside:

honor Roll box:

Head of the Class box:

July Birchbox- Bright & Beachy box

It's time to get Bright & Beachy this month! Birchbox's curated box contains the following items to get you equipped for your summer, beachy vacays:

Stila's stay all day liquid lipstick- this bright pink shade gives you the POP of color to get someone's attention. If it's too bright, mix it with a nude color to tone it down a bit. 

Juara's Radiance Enzyme scrub- to get your skin glowing, you gotta exfoliate first. This scrub is amazing and smells great too!

oribe Après Beach spray- made my hair actually feel "beachy" with just the right amount of shine and glow.

balm desert bronzer- love this brand and this bronzer is very wearable as a contour as well.

supergoop serum- allergic to this so couldn't try it :(

Beauty Event listings (free!)

It's the summer and if you're looking for local beauty events in your area, check out the site- http://freebeautyevents.com/ to learn what is going on. You can search by zip to see your local listings which makes it easier to view. 

This site also has a great monthly contest that you can enter to win this awesome goodie basket of products from L'Oreal, Revlon, Neutrogena and more!

Check out the site for more info!

June Birchbox and Ipsy Reveals

In June I enjoyed my Birchbox and Ipsy box/bag due to the variety of products received. My favorites from Birchbox include the skyn Iceland eye gel pads.. helps reduce the bags I have been getting for my lack of sleep and the Emi Jay hair tie extra!

From my Ipsy bag in June, themed Swim into Beauty, I loved the vanilla scented Body Butter from Lavanila and eyeshadow stick from Trestique.

My July goodies are coming just around the corner. Can't wait! I already saw a sneak peek of my July Ipsy bag and can't wait to get them in person!

Acure Organics review

In case you haven't heard of the brand Acure Organics before, they offer natural and organic skincare and haircare products to help you feel your very best- natural!

They recently sent me a few samples to try their line and I am psyched about everything I have used already. 

First, items for the shower routine: 

Mint and Echinacea Stem Cell Shampoo & Conditioner for fine, limp hair- loved how invigorating my hair felt during the wash and loved how it looked and felt afterward. Wasn't oily and felt good and conditioned afterward. 

Argan cell stimulating Body Wash- a moisturizing body wash left my skin feeling smooth after the shower

Advanced triple moisture system Body Lotion- already loving how my skin felt after the shower with the body wash, the lotion reinforced it. I particularly used this for my legs that get dry easily.

Items for your skincare routine:

Oil control facial moisturizer- I adore this light-weight moisturizer especially for the summer. It provided me enough moisture on my face so it didn't feel too dry in the Cali heat as well as enough oil control for my oily/combo skin. Winner!!

radical resurfacing treatment- this serum was a nice nighttime "treatment" for my skin. Have not been using too many skincare products in the evening lately so this felt comfortable to use. My skin felt smooth and nourished after use.

Argan Oil- a staple oil that I believe everyone should have in their beauty closet- this was very similar to other Argan oils I have tried before. Perfect to use in lieu of or additional to a moisturize.

Thanks to Acure Organics for letting me sample these goodies! Looking forward to trying more of your other products to incorporate into my skin and body care routine! 

RBX Active Capri Leggings Review + Coupon

This summer is all about being active and getting fit! To help with some of my personal goals, I've been looking at adding new workout pieces to my wardrobe. Capris are my favorite kind of bottoms because they can be worn pretty much all year long! (Savings!)

Here's a pair of the Digital Cameo leggings from RBX Active's Power Collection:

What I love about this pair besides the fit, is the awesome abstract pattern! This bright neon and grey coloring is sure to get the attention of other fitness fashionistas while making you feel confident while working out. 

The material is incredibly soft and absorbs sweat to keep you feeling dry. It's also stretchy for comfort and looks incredibly smooth so you can look your very best!! 

See more styles from the Power Collection here: http://www.rbxactive.com/t/power-collection

Want your own pair? The RBX Active capris are sold at department and sporting goods stores as well as specialty retailers. You can also get them here.

For a limited time only- through 7/31/2015- you can save 25% using the code Active25 at checkout on rbxactive.com (BONUS- free shipping on orders over $50!)

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

May Birchbox and Ipsy Reveals

For the month of May, I got the following in my Birchbox and Ipsy subscriptions.

Birchbox: Chosen sample was the Naobay moisturizing lotions

Ipsy bag: Jetsetter themed 

Each subscription is $10/month and includes free shipping. Each box/bag will vary in products depending on the style profile/quiz provided to them. I'm pleased with both subscriptions this month as I enjoy the variety. (I don't mind double moisturizers either since I love using them.)

Stay tuned for my June reveals!

Looking for beauty events in your area?

I absolutely love going to local beauty events to learn more about new products and meet others who share the same interest- beauty! There can be local events that aren't well advertised in which case I check out the site- http://freebeautyevents.com/ to learn more. You can search by zip to see your local listings. 

They also have a monthly contest in which you have the chance to win this amazing gift basket! This month's  Beauty Basket Giveaway includes products from Hawaiian Tropic, Simple, Essie, CoverGirl, Beyonce Fragrances and more!

For more details and to enter- go to http://www.freebeautyevents.com/contest !

Swoon Beauty tool review

Ever get frustrated that you can't get to the bottom of your lipgloss? Look no further, the Swoon Lip Gloss Pickup Artist beauty tool available at Sephora is here! (Mobile readers, click here.) 

This applicator tool is longer than the usual wand that most glosses come with so you can reach the bottom of your gloss tube. You also don't need to use this rubber-based tip applicator for the entire time, as it comes in its own tube (shown on the left) for storage.

Just like makeup brushes, the Swoon for Sephora tool is a must-have for all gloss-wearers, gloss-lovers, gloss-everyone! I've also discovered it's multi-uses include getting to the bottom of other sample products, eye cream tubes, etc. It's also pointy, sturdy and easy to clean so definitely reusable, especially with its $12 price tag. Definitely worth the investment! 

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

The Makeup Show in NYC May 3-4, 2015

The Makeup Show is celebrating its 10th year and this weekend's show in NYC will have several events to help celebrate!! There will be lots of workshops, educational seminars, tours and much more. Check out the page: http://www.themakeupshow.com/nyc/10-year-anniversary/ to get more info! The actual show itself is on May 3 & 4 and there will be lots of excitement surrounding the exhibits. (More details here.)

Here's a sneak peek of some special products that several brands will debut at the show to commemorate the anniversary:

INGLOT: Here are 5 new matte lipsticks that will be sold during the show. Gorgeous!! They're moisturizing with avocado & macadamia oils and Vitamin E.

Auraline Beauty: There will be 5 brow tints including clear to get your brows looking WOW!

TEMPTU: This limited shade bronzer is perfect for summer!! Who doesn't want that goddess glow look?

Crown Brush: gotta love brushes! Especially crown brushes which are so affordable and of high quality! This brush set, called FORM and FUSE, is meant for shading, contouring and blending. 

Mehron: Cream and Powder Blush Set-  Each set has 8 gorgeous cheek-worthy colors to make you blush the right way. These are limited edition palettes and perfect for any skin tone.

See you at the Makeup Show in NYC!!!!

April Ipsy Bag review

This month, Ipsy was themed Beautifully Bohemian. The multi-colored straw bag is gorgeous and different from previous bags which I love! I got to add a few new colors to my makeup stash including theBalm's neutral eyeshadow and Hikari's blush. It's a nice pop of pink to get that blushing glow.  Also have a new nude glossy from Starlooks. 

Not a fan of scents so didn't care too much for it. I was hoping to get a makeup tool so hoping May will finally bring me an amazing bag! :)

Get your Ipsy bag today for $10/Month.

Cappelli Straworld's Pack A Hat Spring/Summer 2015 Review

The Pack A Hat from Cappelli Straworld is back this season and they're bringing metallic in! (Check out last year's Pack A Hat here.) This season, enjoy the awesome hat and pouch combo in new neutral colors with a metallic sheen. They're perfect for all your summer getaways, for the weekend day trips and even for everyday use! (Color shown here is Natural.)  Get yours today!

It's important to keep yourself safe from the sun, and this hat is UPF 50, which means this opaque material acts as a shield to only allow 1/50th of the UV rays to pass through. The material is quite soft and flexible, and from what I can tell, looks tightly woven.

The hat is easily storable inside the adorable clutch and is roomy to include all your other beauty essentials!

You can also get free shiping when you get your Pack A Hat here: http://www.hartfordyork.com/product/7499/womens-hats-ss


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

Plum Organics series: Nutrition Bars, Mish Mash, Hello Morning reviews

My Plum Organics quest continues with the Reds and blues. On two separate shopping trips, I picked up the "blues"- Mighty 4 blueberry nutrition bars and Morning Mish Mash in blueberry oats and  quinoa and the "reds"- Hello morning Oatmeal in Apple, cinnamon and quinoa and again the Mighty 4 nutrition bars but in a strawberry (with spinach) flavor.

These are great for tots and also for mums to enjoy as well. With only 4-6 servings in each box, I feel like I am always stocking up on every trip I go to the market. It would be amazing to get these in BULK sizes (think: Costco!), especially the apple, cinnamon and quinoa oatmeal where I can easily eat 2-3 packets in a sitting.

The flavors are simple, delicious and wholesome! Look forward to trying some other products, including their Kids Go Bars in chocolate chip! Yum!

April Birchbox Review

This month, Birchbox teamed up with Rifle Paper Co. to create these beautiful boxes and special add-on products (in which I didn't purchase.) The 2 curated boxes were in partnership with the show Mad Men (which I didn't get also.)

Instead I got these 2 boxes below which I'm not too crazy about since there's dupes! (The Beaver shampoo/conditioner)

My favorites from both boxes are:

Jouer lip and cheek tint!

Cynthia Rowley's Brightening Illuminator 

LAQA & CO's Lip Lube

Definitely going to select a sample choice next month! Haven't joined Birchbox yet? Join today! 

As always, each review of your product will earn you 10 points that you can accumulate to use in the Birchbox shop (50 points per month= $5!)

Last Lost Gloss Toss with Swoon Beauty and Sephora

Got too many lip glosses? Yes, it's a legitimate problem that many beauty addicts out there have. This Saturday, April 18 from noon to 4pm join Swoon Beauty & Sephora to toss out that last lipgloss that you're almost done with!

If you're lucky to live near one of these three Sephora locations, swing by to say "buh-bye" to your finished lipgloss tube.

- NY Times Square

- FL Miami Beach 

- CA Santa Monica 

 In return, you'll get the Swoon Universal Lip Gloss Scoop & Applicator and a $25 Sephora gift card! The Swoon beauty tool is part scoop and  part applicator that can be used to replace the applicator in your current glosses. It's longer and can help scoop the remaining gloss that's sitting on the bottom of your tube. Win- win!

Check out www.getscoop.com for more info or get this Swoon Beauty tool at sephora for $12! 

KushyFoot Spring/Summer 2015 Review

This Spring and Summer, make your tootsies comfy and fashionable while wearing your favorite shoes and kicks! There's tons of styles out there- peep toes, sling backs, regular heels, etc. and it's important to keep your feet protected with kushyfoot socks. :)

From top (clockwise), here are the NEW styles:

- Lace Top Toe Covers- each pack comes with 2 pairs and are made for sling backs. The lace covers your toes and then there's a clear, thin plastic strap that goes behind your heel where the sling back is. A bit of the lace may show but it's ok since it's so fab!

- Peep Toe- each pack comes with a pair of stretchy socks that don't have any cover for your toes at all. Everything else gets covered so you can show off your pedicure! 

- Knee High with cotton sole- this works for kinds of shoes but will look cute with heels as it is covers your legs up until your knees. The extra cotton sole padding makes it breathable and gives it a nice oomph of comfort. 

- Foot Cover with cotton sole- for your everyday heel, these foot covers have the extra cotton sole to give you the perfect comfort you're looking for.

If you're more of a flats/ sneakers kind of gal, these two options will be amazing to add to your sock collection. The Athletics cushioned foot covers are perfect! These are as low-cut as you can go and they provide the coverage you need. I love to wear my flats so the KushyFoot foot covers are a new staple in my sock drawer. Each pack comes in 2 pairs - shown here is the black/white stripe and a solid black. Tip: These are also great to put in your carry-on or purse if you have to walk barefoot at the airport security. 

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