Seasonal Skincare: Transitioning from Spring to Summer

As spring turns into summer, we all prepare for the warmer temperatures. Pants change to shorts and women often wear dresses to beat the heat. There are many ways in which the season changes affect our daily lives, including skin care. When the temperatures begin to get warmer, it is important to consider seasonal changes to your skin care. An example of this would be the hydration that Squalane oil can provide. As the temperatures may dry out your skin, you can benefit from additional skin care therapies. 

Photo by Vitória Santos from Pexels

Products To Try

Every individual is different, so while one person may have dry skin during the summer, another may have oily skin. It is important to take note as to how your skin reacts during each season and add products accordingly. During the summer, Matrixyl and hyaluronic acid work well on the skin. Finding the Best hyaluronic acid serum and matrixyl products can assist in your skin care regimen. 

With matrixyl, you have a product that helps to reduce the signs of aging. The product contains Matrikines which is an anti-wrinkle complex. The skin is taught to behave differently, with the restricting of the papillary dermis network taking place. 

With hyaluronic acid serum, you have a product that provides much-needed moisture and hydration. Apply the serum in the morning and at night to see the best results. 

image credit

Creating Habits

Once new products have been purchased and a skin care regimen created, stick with it. Wash your face morning and night and take time to treat the skin. Over time, you will see quality results and want to continue to have glowing and beautiful skin. 

Set timers for yourself or try to clean your face at the same times each day. This will help you to create a habit that works so you can see long-lasting results! 

Does O'Keeffe's Foot Cream Really Work?

Have you ever seen a commercial for a product that is marketed in such a way that you really want to try it out for yourself? I have seen the commercials and online ads for O'Keeffe's foot cream for a couple years now and I've been so curious about if it actually works. O'Keeffe's is supposed to be for extremely dry, cracked feet so I wanted to see if it would help these overworked tootsies since I am constantly on my feet. I am almost always barefoot or in flip-flops or sandals, so I finally decided to give it a shot. I ordered it on Amazon a couple weeks ago (after adding it to my wishlist 2 months prior) and have been using it daily for about 9 days now. 

It comes in a small jar and I was expecting a super thick cream, but it's not like that. It is a bright white color and does not feel greasy or heavy and is completely odorless. It absorbs quickly and you can walk barefoot or put on shoes right after applying without feeling like you're slipping or sliding. I noticed a difference in the appearance of my feet as well as the feel after the first use. Even my daughters tried it and noticed instant improvement. My husband gives me a foot rub every night and he's amazed at how soft my feet feel. 

The product makes like a barrier around your skin that keeps it from drying out and it holds the moisture all day long. I'm used to applying lotion or cream up to three times daily, but only use this once a day. I don't know what took me so long to try it, but I am glad I did! The bottoms of my feet feel like I go and get a pedicure every day. It's awesome and I really do recommend it to anyone. You can find it here for under $10 and for an even better deal, you can get both the healthy feet and working hands cream combo below. It works out to less than $15. If you have Amazon Prime, you can get FREE shipping.

Seriously, if your feet are in need of some real help, you have to give O'Keeffe's for Healthy Feet a try. This one goes on my top 5 beauty must-haves list. If you decide to try it out, let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping by today! 

Top Beauty Gift Ideas 2015 #HolidayGiftGuide

If you are looking for the perfect gifts for all the special women in your life, you're at the right place. I want to share some of my favorite beauty products from 2015 that are perfect to put under the tree, stuff in stockings or doing a gift exchange with a coworker, family member or friend.  Regardless of your budget, there is something for all the ladies on your holiday gift list. 

First up is lip color. Susan Posnick makes an amazing moisturizing lipstick called ColorEssential. These lipsticks glide on so smooth with rich color and luxurious moisture. This is one lip color that does not dry out my lips and stays put relatively well. I love the color collection named after big cities like: London, NYC, Milan and Rio. What makes this lip color so special is that they adapt to any lip color which means in my case is a plus being brown-skinned. They retail for $21 each and can be purchased at SusanPosnick.com. 

Next up for you lips is a product from Fusion Beauty called Lip Fusion. It is a Plump & Shine lipstick that comes in some gorgeous colors. I really love how well this lip color goes on and that little tingle you get that lets you know your lips will look full and plump. It has a really nice shine and is perfect for those date nights out on the town. These scream Holiday Lips! You can purchase them at FusionBeauty.com for $29. 

Do you have an eco-conscious friend or family member? CLEAN fragrances are a smart choice. Just the name "CLEAN" makes me feel good and I am sure the special ladies in my life will agree. These premium products stand behind their name, CLEAN- Simple, Nostalgic and Conscious. The packaging is very attractive and is sure to make any woman feel extra special. They comes in a nice variety of fragrances, but I especially love the CLEAN Rollerball Collection which includes 5 scents; each can be worn alone or layered for a new experience. Prices range from $18-$69 and can be purchases at CleanPerfume.com, Sephora and ULTA. 

For the women who are obsessed with keeping their skin in excellent condition, the Instrumental Beauty Sonic Facial Brush is a winner. You can check out my in-depth review here. The Instrumental Beauty Sonic Facial Brush can be purchased at select drugstores and at InstrumentalBeauty.com for $80.00 and the Yardley Nourishing Elements Soap can be found at drugstores nationwide for $4.99 for a 3-pack.

One of the best stocking stuffers for your teens has got to be related to nails. KISS Nails and Nail Art Kits are the perfect idea. Affordable, fun and easy-to-use, you just can't go wrong! There are so many color and design options to choose from. Now your teen can have a fabulous holiday manicure with minimal effort. KISS Nails are available at Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Rite Aid, Kmart and other retailers.

This last item is one of my absolute favorite, must have beauty tools, the KISS InstaWave Automatic Curler. This curling heat tool is so easy to use and is perfect for anyone who desires gorgeous spiral curls or waves. Please check out my full review here. You can purchase the Instawave ($59.99) at KISSInstaWave.com or at retailers including: Target, Ulta.com and Amazon.com. It's a fabulous styling tool and I highly recommend it if you are currently looking for something great to curl your hair.

I received product samples in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own as always. 

Back-to-school Beauty Essentials from KISS & Instrumental Beauty #AD

In less than 2 weeks, my kids will all return to school. My girls will both be at the University of South Carolina and are very excited for the year ahead. They have been hustling around shopping for those last minute must-haves and beauty products are very high on that list.

Lucky for them, they have some great items we received for review to get them ready to head back. First up, it's all about the fabulous hair styles. Although both of my girls have curly hair, my younger one straightens hers and likes to add some curls for a more polished look. The KISS InstaWave Automatic Curler is the perfect tool to make quick, easy waves and curls. What makes this tool so great is that it works on all hair types. It even works on my silky hair that usually won't hold a curl for very long. I posted a review before if you want to check it out. You can purchase the KISS InstaWave at KissInstaWave.com for $59.99. Any young lady would love this item and it would make a great gift for your favorite college student heading away to school this fall.

Along with great hair, you can't forget to take good care of your skin. My older daughter goes through some trying phases when it comes to her face. The Instrumental Beauty Sonic Facial Brush is the perfect thing for her. The best part about using a sonic facial brush is that it removes dirt and impurities traditional face-washing can easily miss.

The cleaner your skin, the healthier it looks and feels. My daughter has used her facial brush a couple times so far and can feel a big difference. She's so pleased that it hold the charge for a long time and has a built-in timer that alerts you when it's time to switch to another part of your face. Go here for a full review of this item. The Instrumental Beauty Sonic Facial Brush can be purchased at select drugstores and at InstrumentalBeauty.com for $80.00.

My younger daughter, Brie loves playing with color and especially when it comes to her nails. KISS imPRESS Manicure ($7.99 / Walgreens) is an easy way to get a fabulous mani with minimal effort. With so many colors and designs, you can have a fresh new look as often as you would like.

Here is what Brie had to say:
When I first saw the Kiss brand imPress press-on manicure nails, I was very excited to apply them to my own nails because of how beautiful and professional-looking each pattern of nail tips was. When applying the nails, the process was very simple. Directions were included both in and on the box, but I did not really need them because all that I had to do was clean and prep my nails with the included nail file, then remove the sticker from the back of the nail tip, and finally stick it onto my fingernail firmly for about 30 seconds. Due to the variety of sizes of nails included, I was able to select one to fit each of my fingernails with ease. I received several compliments on my manicure, and many people were shocked to find out that it was a stick-on manicure that I did myself due to the high quality of it. Although the application process was easy, several nails began to fall off after a few days. That may have been due to me not pressing the nails on securely enough in the application process, which I will definitely keep in consideration next time I apply the nails, likely in the near future. This nail product is very practical and professional overall. 

She is planning to play around with the KISS Salon Secrets Nail Art Starter Kit ($9.99 / Walgreens) this week. Since she is already and artist, this art kit makes her very giddy. I'll post at a later date with what she came up with.

I received sample products in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own as always.

New beauty favorite: Lypsyl Intense Protection Lip Balm

I have a confession: I’m a lip balm addict. I can’t go a day, even hours without it. I carry one in my purse, keep one in my make-up bag at home, have one (or two) stashed in my kitchen junk drawer and few other spots around the house. I have tried various brands over time and have my beloved favorites. I received a sample tube of lip balm that I had never heard of before called, Lypsyl in Original Mint. It’s a Silky Swedish Beeswax lip balm and contains organic shea butter and coconut oil. Just that description alone made me want to try it out for myself.

It has a very unique tube that is shaped differently that the average round barrels of most lip balms. It also has the most adorable yellow honeybee that used as a slider to dispense the lip balm. So cute! But how well does it work? It goes on super smooth with no sticky feeling and leaves your lips feeling completely quenched. I find that even if I eat or drink, the product keeps my lips super soft and moisturized. That’s amazing since I almost always feel the need to apply more after eating. It wears really well under lip color. I think it even extends the wear of my lipstick.

Lypsyl Intense Protection lip balms come in 3 flavors: Original Mint, HoneyBerry, and the Ultra Soothing Chamomile & Honey (ARV $2.99). They can be purchased at Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Duane Reade and ShopRite stores. If you are looking for a very moisturizing, long lasting lip balm, you must give Lypsyl a try! I am so glad I found a new favorite. I will have to stop by my local Wal-Mart or Walgreens to pick up a couple extra for my daughters. Find Lypsyl on the web and on Facebook for product promotions and updates.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All opinions are 100% mine as always.

Fresh & Natural Make-up Looks for Moms from Susan Posnick Cosmetics

Spring is here and this is the time when I treat myself to a couple new items for my make-up bag. I am a minimalist for the most part when it comes to daytime make-up. I don’t believe in looking too “made up” unless I’m stepping out for the evening or going somewhere others will see me. Susan Posnick cosmetics seem to really fit the look I am aiming for; clean and polished. I have been using the Colorflo mineral foundation and blush, as well as the ColorCoated mascara and ColorEssentials Lipstick. I am currently into nude lip color and Susan Posnick’s ColorEssential Lipstick in Dubai (SRP $21) has become my go-to favorite. I wear it over my lip balm and find that it never dries my lips out the way some other premium brands can. It has a light sheen with a creamy finish.

The ColorCoated mascara (SRP $24) gives my eyelashes enough fullness for a brighter bolder look, while keeping them looking natural and soft. This is very important to me since I don’t care for that false lashes look in the daytime hours when I’m in Mom-mode.  I love how easy it is to remove at night and leaves little to no residue behind. I have not experienced any flaking, so this product would be great for contact lens wearers.

You can order Susan Posnick Cosmetics online and be sure to follow on Facebook and Twitter for product promotions and updates.

I received product samples for review purposes. All opinions are my own as always.

DerMend Review #ad

Do you have the type of skin that is so dry that you have literally tried every product available? Unfortunately, I have THAT type of skin. It can become very costly trying so many things and you end up not using it or tossing it out. I finally found the solution that has practically transformed my skin and makes it look radiant. DerMend Alpha+Beta Hydroxy Therapy Moisturizing Body Lotion has been a lifesaver.

I have to admit that I didn't really like it the first couple times I used it. I am so glad I continued with it because it has healed my summer sun-tanned skin. I think all of the time spent at the pool and beach were taking a toll on my arms and legs. They started looking a bit cracked like a desert—NOT a good look at all! I see a noticeable difference after using the product for 3 whole weeks. I tried it on my son's body since his skin is more on the dry side and he got the same results like I did. This lotion is so moisturizing and protects so well that when you take a shower or wash your hands, you can feel the protective barrier on your skin. It's not in a residue kind of way. I have noticed that the product has helped my skin shed a layer to reveal the glow beneath.
I am sure this lotion or cream would be great if you work in the any field that requires constant hand washing. It's perfect for moms with newborns. I remember always having the driest hands when my kids were babies.

DerMend product details:
The unique formula delivers glycolic acid and salicylic acid in an elegant cream and lotion, which work together to help your skin slough off dead cells, while the formula’s rich ceramides can help it feel new again. MassageDerMend® Alpha+Beta Hydroxy Therapy Moisturizing Body Lotion ($26.49; 12oz bottle) twice a day to affected areas or as directed by your physician, and apply DerMend® Alpha+Beta Hydroxy Therapy Moisturizing Cream ($17.99; 4.5oz tube) on extremely dry areas such as elbows, knees, and heels.

DerMend® Alpha+Beta Hydroxy Therapy Moisturizing Body Lotion and Moisturizing Cream absorb quickly, leaving skin feeling smooth, never greasy or slick. Plus, they are fragrance-free and non-comedogenic – targeted relief for the areas that need it most!

DerMend® Alpha+Beta Hydroxy Therapy Moisturizing Body Lotion and Moisturizing Cream are available online at www.lovelyskin.com

I received product samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own as always.