International Salon & Spa Expo

Once my youngest brother went on his church mission, my mom decided to pursue a dream she's been talking about for years. She signed up for cosmetology school :) She graduated from cosmetology school and passed her test back in December, and I'm so proud of her for it! 

Love Beauty & Planet

Since my mom started cosmetology school and has recently become a licensed cosmetologist (congrats mom!), I've been far more conscious of what I use in my beauty routine. She's passed on a lot of great tips, tricks, and products to help keep my skin and hair healthy. What I've learned is that I'm a sucker for a great product with an amazing scent :) 

Unboxing the September Bless Box

Does anyone else just love getting mail? It's gotten to the point where Ryan will save his packages, and let me open them :) Luckily this box had me written allll over it, and I couldn't wait to bust open this adorable Bless Box! 

A Natural Tanned Goddess

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CreateYourSunshine #WetSkinIsBestSkin #CollectiveBias

The older I get, the more I've focused on healthy skincare. The biggest issue I come up against is scaly skin, with how dry the air is in Utah. I swear my skin wasn't such a desert when I lived in California! ;)

I've also become extremely aware of how often my skin is exposed to the sun. The rays not only cause burns and wrinkles, but also can lead to skin cancer. So scary! I have used a sunless tanner the the past few summers, since it provides an amazing glow. But, now JERGENS® has come out with a new product that takes care of all my skin needs! 

The JERGENS® Natural Glow® Wet Skin® Moisturizer is an in-shower gradual tanner, that moisturizes my dry skin while also giving me a beautiful glow! It helps me avoid all the self-tanner hassle. When I'm done with a shower and while my skin is still damp, I rub this moisturizer into my skin! The color takes about 3-5 days to develop, that way I can control the the shade I want for my glow.

I picked up the Light to Medium shade from my local Walmart, to get started :) Prior to these pictures I have used the product 2 times, which means that I'm finally getting away from being stark white! haha

JERGENS Natural Glow Wet Skin Moisturizer needs to be applied when the skin is still wet, as that is when you can really see the benefits of both moisture and natural color.

Another massive benefit to this product is that it does not get on your towels! Hip hip hooray! That is one of my biggest gripes when getting spray-tanned or using a sunless tanner, it stains all of my towel and clothes. Right after using the The JERGENS Natural Glow Wet Skin Moisturizer, you can pat off the excess and head out the door! 

Now that our backyard is well on it's way to being done, we are throwing more backyard parties which means I gotta look the part! The JERGENS Natural Glow Wet Skin Moisturizer makes me feel confident in my skin and gives me peace of mind. I can now feel like a smooth tanned goddess without all the harmful sun rays, and that is priceless!

What summer event do you have coming up that you're excited about? And want to look like a glowing goddess for? :)

Dewy + Hydrating Spring Makeup Routine

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company, all opinions are mine alone. #InspiredHydration #CollectiveBias

Did you know that drinking enough water is essential to your skincare routine? Gosh, I have such a hard time meeting that daily quota but I'm doing my best! My go-to pure & crisp drink is smartwater®, which I pick up from Target while I'm doing one of my weekly Target strolls :) 

With springtime on the horizon, I love all the fresh flowers and sunshine outside. It inspires me to wear brighter colors, make flower arrangements, and serves as a reminder to keep my skin and body hydrated! Snag the 6-pack smartwater from Target and pick up some makeup while you're there so you can follow my hydrating & dewy springtime makeup tutorial! 

Makeup Shopping List

Moisturizer (preferably with SPF)

Hydrating skin primer

Foundation with SPF

Mauve creamy matte lipstick

Neutral makeup palette

Golden-pink blush

Volumizing mascara

Golden face highlighter

Glitter liquid eyeshadow (I picked up a rose gold shade)

Makeup finishing spray

smartwater

1. Hydrate!

Gotta hydrate your skin with a moisturizer that seeps into the skin, and has SPF to protect your biggest asset! Make sure to grab some vapor distilled smartwater to hydrate yourself as well :) 

2. Prime your skin & use beauty blender to apply foundation

I use an illuminizing primer all over to make my skin look dewy and fresh. Then use a damp beauty blender to apply your favorite foundation with SPF all over your face. You'll pat the foundation into your skin so it has more staying power. 

3. Highlight browbone & inner corners on eyes

Use your favorite neutral eyeshadow palette for the next couple of steps. I used a light shimmery pink  to highlight my browbone and the inner corner. 

4. Deepen the crease 

Use a fluffy brush and find a warm brown tone on your palette, then apply that to the crease. Lightly go back and forth along the crease then use the windshield wiper motion and go upwards to blend and 'smoke out'. 

5. Glitter the lids!

My favorite part! This rose gold formula is pretty creamy, so I applied directly to my lids and then patted with my ring finger to blend into the crease. The shimmer gives the illusion of being wet, which is perfect for this hydrating makeup routine. 

6. Highlight your pretty face

Finish your face makeup with more pretty shimmery highlight! Spring is all about being bright, shimmery and happy ;) Apply this to your upper cheekbones, down the center of your nose, and along the Cupid's bow. You want the high points of your face to be reflective and gorgeous! 

7. Blush it up

I picked up a golden-pink blush that would look good on any skin tone! Smile, and apply lightly to the apples of your cheeks with a fluffy brush. 

8. Apply your lippie

With how much shimmer and glitz I have going everywhere else, I toned it down with the lipstick choice. I picked up a creamy matte mauve shade that will complement the other shades I've used, while still adding some dimension.

9. Lashes & finishing spray!

Finish with a dewy finishing spray, and your favorite volumizing mascara! This look is perfect for any spring occasion, I'll be wearing this on vacation to go bike in Central Park in NY :) 

10. Hydrate with smartwater!

While wearing this look in Central Park, I'll need to bring my smartwater so I can hydrate during the sunny day. 

Where would you wear this look? Where would you bring your smartwater to hydrate?

Cheryl Lee MD: Dry & Itchy Skin Relief Kit

My skin is so sensitive with the dry mountain air and Utah irritants floating around. My face, lips, and arms get the brunt of it! Cheryl Lee MD Skin Care has created a hypoallergenic and non-toxic product that soothes sensitive skin, with their TrueLipids technology. There are multiple kits available depending on what your skincare needs are. For example they offer the following kits: Ultimate Eczema, Cracked Hands & Feet, Cuts & Scrapes, Diabetic Skincare, KP Calming, and more! 

I've been using the products that come with the TrueLipids Dry & Itchy Skin Relief Kit 3-4 times a week for the past 2 weeks and am excited to share what I think of each product!  

TrueLipids Relieve & Protect Ointment

This product was perfect for my really raw skin areas such as my elbows, knees, and heels. I would put this on before going to bed, throw on some socks (on just my feet of course ha), and let it work it's magic throughout the night. My trouble spots were visibly better, my skin felt softer, and less irritated.

TrueLipids TrueTherapy Cremide+ Cream

This has become a staple in my nighttime skincare routine. My upper arms is where I experience minor eczema and KP, so I used this Cremide+ Cream in that location. After using this product consistently the past couple of weeks I've seen a huge improvement. It's seriously night and day difference, and I'm excited that it's been taken care of before the summer season hits!

TrueLipids TrueLips Lip Balm

I carry this stuff with my everywhere now! I love how it seeps into the skin as opposed to just sitting on top. It helps to heal, hydrate, soften, and protect; which is exactly what my sad dry lips need.

TrueLipids Perfecting Lotion: Hydrate, Correct & Perfect Lotion

I've been using this as my nighttime face lotion since my face gets so dry! I apply this after cleansing and using toner. I've seen that my skin has less redness to it and is less itchy/irritated which is a huge plus in my book.

I've been extremely pleased with this Cheryl Lee MD kit. I've used a fair amount of dermatologist prescribed skincare, and this is right up there with the same quality of product. Gotta take care of your skin since it's the biggest organ you've got! ;) 

TrueLipids Dry & Itchy Skin Relief Kit c/o Cheryl Lee MD Sensitive Skin Care

Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Mask Follow-Up

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #Lights2ClearSkin #CollectiveBias

I've now been using the Neutrogena® Light Therapy Acne Mask for the past month, and have definitely seen some improvements! The combination of the Neutrogena® Light Therapy Acne Mask treatments, using Clean & Clear® Makeup Dissolving Facial Cleansing Wipes, consistently washing off my makeup before going to bed, and moisturizing; made for a clearer face :) This technology used to only be offered in dermatologist offices for upwards of $500 a treatment, I'm excited that Neutrogena was able to bring it to the masses at such an affordable price point. 

The photos in this post don't have any re-touching to cover up zits, because there aren't any to cover up! I'm incredibly happy with the results. In studies that were conducted, results were found in as little as a week of using the product. How crazy! I picked up all my products at Walmart, and the Light Therapy Mask comes with a 30-day/1-month Neutrogena® Light Therapy Acne Mask Activator. It is only 50 cents a day for the refill, and they can easily be picked up at Walmart as well. 

I followed the instructions of wiping off my face with the Clean & Clear® Makeup Dissolving Facial Cleansing Wipes, putting on the mask, and letting the mask run its course! So easy peasy. The light therapy has a dual mode of action, the blue light kills 99% of acne-causing bacteria while the red light reduces acne inflammation. While I did get some giggles from the boys at how I looked with the mask on, jokes on them because my skin is nice and clear ;) 

Are you willing to try the Neutrogena® Light Therapy Acne Mask to help squash that stress acne from the holidays?

How to Treat Your Skin During Holiday Stress

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #Light2ClearSkin #CollectiveBias

Even though I'm looking forward to the holidays, does it stress anyone else out?! All the pressure of decorating, shopping for presents, and the temptation of sweets unfortunately makes my skin break out. Between the stress and dry winter air, my skin is not happy with me! I'm excited to try out the new Neutrogena® Light Therapy Acne Mask, since it has the same technology that was previously only offered in dermatologist offices for $500 acne treatments. 

I picked this up in the acne aisle at Walmart, right next to all the Neutrogena products. First I opened up the box to pull out the instructions and take a look at all the fun goodies! The product is pretty straightforward and easy-to-use. 

The mask comes with a 1 month supply/30-day Neutrogena® Light Therapy Acne Mask Activator, which has a countdown indicator which shows that you have 30 uses left and when activated it does an automatic countdown of the 10 minutes per use. Every 30 uses, you would pick up a new activator at Walmart for an affordable $14.97 (.50 per day)! 

Before starting my light therapy session, I used the Clean & Clear® Makeup Dissolving Wipes to clean up the makeup and residue off my face in one good swipe! It is gentle on my skin, and is so effective that I don't have to do a basic rinse on my face. 

The mask is lightweight, and has a nice eye slot so I could read magazines while passing the time! I plugged the mask into the activator and followed instructions to start my 10 minute session. In a clinical study, there were noticeable results on participants after only 1 week of use. How crazy awesome is that?! 

Even though I'm literally glowing, the UVA/UVB-free light is not hot at all! What I'm stoked about, is that the light targets acne-causing bacteria without using harsh chemicals. My skin is so sensitive, and this light therapy doesn't aggravate it, which is a huge plus in my book!  

I plan on using this mask for the next month, and I'm looking forward to showing you the results! Does your skin break out during the holiday months? Are you looking for an easy-to-use and fast acne treatment? Try the Neutrogena® Light Therapy Acne Mask with me!