Plump up with Algenist Concentrated Reconstructing Serum: Innovative and Effective!

Are you looking for innovative skincare that is scientifically based and proven effective? Look no further than the new Algenist line of skincare! So far, I have had a really great experience with the brand. If you missed it, a few weeks ago I reviewed Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm and Algenist Regenerative Anti-Aging Moisturizer.

What is Alguronic Acid and what does it do?

The story of the discovery of Alguronic Acid is an interesting one. Sometimes the best discoveries are the accidental ones! Algenist's research claims that Alguronic Acid is even more effective than proven skincare powerhouses Retinol, Vitamin C, and Hyaluronic Acid! This is promising news. There is a lot of potential here!

A team of biotechnology scientists in San Francisco, California, focused on developing microalgae-based renewable energy solutions, unexpectedly discovered Alguronic Acid, a powerful compound responsible for regenerating and protecting the microalgae cell. When scientifically tested, Alguronic Acid demonstrated significant anti-aging properties, increasing elastin synthesis by up to 32%* and cellular regeneration by up to 55%*.

Algenist is a brand based on Alguronic Acid. Actually, they are the first brand to introduce Alguronic Acid in the skincare market.

So, back to the serum! I am totally blown away by this serum! After about 6 weeks of testing, I can tell you that this product really worked for me!  To find out more details about the product and my experience, please keep reading!

July 2012 Product Launch from RoC: Announcement and Giveaway!!!

Part of what I love about being a RoC Ambassador is having preview access for new product launches from RoC! I am thrilled to not only bring you a product launch announcement, but also to host a Giveaway as well!!!

I am so excited about the pending launch of this new product: RoC MAX Resurfasing Cleanser. I love a good scrub and this one looks and sounds amazing!!! Nothing beats exfoliation for defying age and turning back the clock. I haven't tested out this item yet. But, stay tuned! A full review will be coming for the RoC Max Resurfacing Cleanser in July!!!

The Skinny:

•  Smoothing micro-spheres exfoliate away all traces of dirt, oil and dead skin that can interfere with absorption of anti-aging ingredients

• Powerful anti-oxidants vitamin C and E to help improve skin’s tone and texture, while revealing more luminous skin

•  Available at drugstores nationwide beginning July 2012 (5 oz. tube)

•  Suggested retail price: $9.99

 To find out more about this product and enter my Giveaway, please keep reading after the jump!

Frownies: Eye Gels (First Impression)

I know that I am going to sound like a broken record, lol, but here it goes! With my lack of sleep with having a 6 month-old baby at home, my tired eye area needs all the help it can get!

My Eye Issues:
Major lines and wrinkles are not my problem (not yet at least!). I have a few fine lines here and there; but, those mostly crop up when my skin gets dehydrated or neglected. Also, depending on sleep, allergies, and diet, I can sometimes get puffiness around my eye area. Last, but not least, I am plagued by dark circles. Concealer is my best friend.

I am so excited to try out some products from Frownies! I have heard of the Frownies brand for years, but just had never given them a try. Beautystat.com sent me an entire Frownies kit for testing. All opinions in this post are my own and based on my personal experience with the product. Because I am in the middle of doing so much skincare testing right now, I am not testing out the full Frownies kit. I am just testing out the Eye Gels and the Frownies Rose Water Hydrator Spray. Also, I do not have deep wrinkles. So, I am really not the target market for the other Frownies products anyway.  

To hear more about my initial impressions of the Frownies Eye Gel Patches, keep reading!

5 Shades of Grey: Inspired Polishes By Pure Ice

(image source)

Pure Ice releases another pop-culture inpsired polish collection: 5 Shades of Grey. I just had to post about these polishes as I am literally in the midst of reading the 50 Shades series (blushing! I know what ya'll are thinking.). I had to give into the hype and give the series a try. Mr. Grey certainly is no Edward. But, I must admit, the series is "interesting". While the character development is a bit lacking and not often believable, you have to give this series some credit for inserting such a taboo subject into the consciousness of the masses. But, does anyone else find Ana's "Inner Goddess" cringeworthy? lol!

All Mr. Grey references aside, I am a fan of silver and grey polishes. So, this set is totally up my alley!

(image source)

Have You Ever Tried a Sheet Mask? b.liv by Cellinique

My love of masking continues with these great sheet masks from b.liv by Cellnique Skincare!

Cellnique is a Malaysian skincare line that I have had great results with in the past. If you haven't had a chance, be sure to check out my previous Cellinique skincare review here: Cellnique Paramedical Skincare. The Seaweed Cleansing gel continues to be one of my favorite cleansers (especially in the mornings for its minty feel!). 

Sheet Masking is so different from applying a clay-type or scrub-type mask! These sheet masks are paper-like sheets that are soaked in gel/liquid type ingredients. You actually lay the mask on top of your skin and let all the skincare goodness absorb! Ya'll know that, in general, I love masks. Well, sheet masks are just "fun" to use! It feels as if your skin is just getting a huge "drink" when you use these.

To find out more, keep reading!

Get Glowing! with The Body Shop and Lily Cole: Collection Launch and Glow Products

What happens when activist/model/actor Lily Cole and Body Shop get together for a makeup collaboration? A flirty, fresh, and totally cruelty-free makeup collection is born.

I have been a fan and supporter of the body shop for almost 2 decades (showing my age here!). Their Banana Shampoo/Conditioner and Oatmeal Scrub/Mask are two products that I almost always have in my bathroom. So, with all my Body Shop love, I am happy to try out their new makeup collection!

(photo source: Body Shop)

This limited edition collection with its girly packaging and get-glowing products is not one to be missed! These products are just as cute as a button!

This fun collection features:

• Shadows that are not just in plain-old (boring, ha ha!) pan form, but formed into Shimmer Cubes! Like a sugar cube but shimmer! : $22.00 Each container contains 4 cubes. The one I tested contains Think Pink, Live Lilac, Go Violet, and Tint It Pink
• A shimmery primer that looks like little pearls: Pearl Radiance Primer 22
• Highlighting pearls with the cutest puff ever: Puff on Radiance
• Liquid Eyeliner in a pretty and vibrant violet:$13.50
• Lip and Cheek Domes (so cute!) in Pink me Pink and Crazy for Coral: $15.00.
• Mini Hi-Shine Gloss: Available in Go Pink, Go Wild, Go Play, and Go Naked

For more details on the collection and product reviews, photos, and swatches, please keep reading!

Get a Summer Glow with Pixi: New! Bronze Bloom Trio and Tinted Brilliance Balm

Get a great summer glow with these new items from Pixi: Pixi's Bronze Bloom Trio and Tinted Brilliance Balm in No. 4 Pretty Pink.

I like simple and glowy makeup for summer. With just a dusting of blush and bronzer, a swipe of this tinted balm, cream shadow, and some mascara. I am ready to roll for the day! Plus, there is just something that I love about the "big-ness" of this bronzer/blush palette! My blush and bronzer brushes are all quite big. So, I like a large pan size. You will get that with this blush/bronzer palette! 

For more details, photos, and swatches, keep reading!

The Beauty Spotlight Team: Weekend Links

Have you always wanted to try a Beauty Subscription Sample Service? Here is your chance! Pammy Blogs Beauty is hosting a giveaway for a special Glamour Magazine Birchbox!

OMG it's TDF KWIM? Decoder included in The Pink Sith Blog’s review of the Dior Addict Extreme lipstick in Incognito #316.

This was a week of beauty blog battles and Beauty Info Zone has another one to share. This time it’s Bare Minerals Ready Eyeshadows that are duking it out. Don’t you want to know who wins?

After fears about reaching beauty saturation point, Modesty Brown writes about the products she's recently finished and considers whether they're worth re-purchasing.

This week Visionary beauty details a lovely limited editionDior travel palette

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed celebrates the first day of summer by swatching a couple of items from the Essentiels de Chanel Fall Collection!  

Prime Beauty shares her secret for perfect lips: SENSAI The Lipstick--the luxury lipstick you don't know about---yet!

Jessika the polish insomniac shows off her favorite taupe eyeshadow for less than $3!  

London MakeUp Girl finally gets to grips with one of her long term items of longing.

Does Kjaer Weis Eyeshadow in Divine live up to its name? Find out in her review: Kjaer Weis Divine review.

Want to get noticed this summer? Perilously Pale shows you how with the hot summer shades in the Anastasia See and Be Seen Kit. Even better this set is a deal!  

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic tried out Milani's Powder Eye Shadows and thinks they might be just as good as MAC.

Paula, from Older Girl Beauty, talks about what every beauty girl dreads - throwing out makeup - thanks to a case of pinkeye.

Taffy for Your Hair? Yes! Stylin' with Surface's Taffy Whip

Hmm...Taffy in your hair? It sounds odd, right? Just go ahead and discard the notion that this product is like melted Taffy candy in your hair! Surface's Taffy Whip is a unique styling product! Oh, and the scent...it is amazing!!!

TAFFY WHIP:
Taffy Whip texturizes hair and rubberizes spring into curls with natural mushroom, corn and sugar fibers. Taffy Whip is an ideal sculptant for all types of hair whether short or long, curly or straight, wet or dry! This phthalate free product gets it’s sweet scent from a proprietary blend of lavender and vanilla bean. Taffy Whip boasts a 100% humidity proof formula, guaranteeing impeccable style and hold.

The first thing that I noticed about this product was the amazing scent!!! It is a super-sweet candy (fruity?) scent that just makes me want to eat the product (LOL, I promise that I refrain from *actually* eating the product). I can't totally place the scent. But, it reminds me of something! Surface states (see above) that the scent is from lavender and vanilla bean. But, honestly, I am not smelling the lavender. Either way, it smells amazing. The scent is strong and lasting too. When this product is out on the counter in the bathroom, literally the whole bathroom smells like Taffy Whip!

Anastasia Beverly Hills: See and Be Seen Kit

When I think of Anastasia Beverly Hills, I think of great brow products. Well, this brand has got much more than that! Their new for Summer 2012 limited edition "See and Be Seen" Kit is a collection of products for your lips, eyes, *and* your brows. Plus, after seeing this cute little box, I just couldn't wait to dig inside! Ya'll know me. I am a total sucker for cute packaging. The good news: the products inside are just as pretty!

Have you ever tried Anastasia Beverly Hills products? If not, the "See and Be Seen" limited edition kit is a great way to try out a variety of items from this line or to stock up on items if you are already a fan!

The Skinny:

• The "See and Be Seen Kit" retails for $44.00 (kit value is $80). 
•  It is available for a few more weeks at Sephora and Anastasia.net.  

Minerals Mate: Blending Tray for Applying and Storing Your Minerals!

Do you love your Mineral Makeup but hate the mess? Well, you might want to read this post! Minerals Mate has found a solution to this common mineral makeup maven's dilemma! Minerals Mate Application and Mixing Tray is a blending/mixing, application, and storage tray for mineral makeup (or any type of loose makeup pigments or glitters). What an inventive idea!

The founder of Minerals Mate is a fellow Atlanta native (go ATL peeps!). She was tired of all of the spilling from mixing and applying her mineral makeup. So, she developed this handy tray.

The Foundation Fairy: Omorovicza Complexion Perfector BB Cream SPF 20

My search for flattering foundations for Fair Skin continues with this review for Omorovicza's Complexion Perfector BB (Cream) SPF 20! Y'all know that BB Creams are all the rage these days. Since BB Creams essentially act as a super-powered foundation, I am going to feature my BB Cream reviews in my ongoing Foundation Fairy series.

Have you heard of Omorovicza?
Omorovicza is a brand that was inspired and born in Budapest when the company founders discovered the amazing benefits of the mineral waters. They decided to team up with the  Nobel Prize winning Hungarian Laboratory of Dermatology to create the Omorovicza product line which harness the power of anti-aging rich mineral water. Initially, the brand launched in Budapest with their first spa, now Omorovicza is available internationally at Neiman Marcus, Sephora, Bergdof Goodman, Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Liberty, and Lane Crawford.  Omorovicza has luxury spas around the world. I am already dreaming of visiting one someday (sigh!).

Want to hear more? Be sure to keep reading!

Makeup Wars: Battle of the Taupes!

The Battle of the Taupes is the first of (hopefully) many Makeup Wars amongst myself and some of my favorite bloggers! Yes, this is a new and unique post roundup link series hosted here on Pammy Blogs Beauty and my fellow blogger's pages.

*be sure to click on the "last shadow" and "next shadow" graphic!

Here is the scoop:
After some general discussion amongst bloggers on the love of and comparison across taupe shadows, the Makeup Wars group was born. We are a group of Makeup Bloggers (and Star Wars lovers) led by our fearless commander Christine from 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic.

We embark upon our first battle: The Battle of the Taupes. All blogs participating are reviewing and swatching their favorite taupe shadows. Taupe is a unique and much-loved shade by bloggers. Is it brown? Is it grey? Is it grey-brown? I know my eyes started to almost go fuzzy while trying to determine what shadows were actually true "taupes"!

I will showcase my very favorite taupe shadow in this post (a well as a comparison of said shadow to other taupes in my makeup collection). Also included in this post: Links to fellow Makeup Wars blogger's Battle of the Taupes posts! So, please visit the links in this post (see header graphic and links below) to see what taupes they are loving!!! That is the fun of this: Discovering tried-and-true taupes loved by various bloggers! :) 

Our group is unique!
There is something cool and different about the Makeup Wars group and concept. We are a group of bloggers from all walks of life, different colors of skin and hair, from across the country, and in different stages of life. We are bound by our love of makeup and our desire for blogging. I think it is a unique concept for us all to either review the same product for Makeup Wars or the same type of product (e.g., taupe shadow). Have you ever liked a product but wondered how it would work with a different hair type or color of skin? Have you ever read a favorite bloggers review but then thought, "But would this color work on my skin tone?" This group will have those answers for you!!! Variety is our strength! Collectively, we have a ton of great ideas and our discussions only increase our enthusiasm for the products we are reviewing! :)

To see my very favorite taupe along with links to fellow Makeup Wars Blogger's taupe posts, please keep reading after the jump!

Get Good Karma with BeneFit's Hervana Blush

There is just something about a blush from BeneFit. The adorable packaging design, the clunky box container, the lovely scent of the product. Each BeneFit blush almost seems to have a personality. The box design evokes a feeling. My mood determines which BeneFit blush I might want to grab. Feeling natural or classic? Dandelion. Looking for the wow factor? Grab Bella Bamba. You get the idea. These blushes were designed to be worn and to be collected. So many blushes in my collection end up going out of use over time, collecting dust. Not my BeneFit blushes though. BeneFit blushes beg to be worn and loved. I *heart* all the blushes in my makeup collection reguardless of brand or price. But, all my blushes are not loved equally. Somehow my BeneFit blushes seem just a little bit more special. They just have that extra "something" that makes them stand out.

I have mentioned many times before that I am a "blush girl". Somehow blush seems to "do it" for me more than almost any other type of makeup. Blush is my next-to last step when I am getting ready. It is the step that makes me go "ahh, now thats more like it! I'm ready!" So, when you combine my love of blush as a product with my love of the BeneFit brand with its cute packaging, lovely scented products, and great quality, you get one excited makeup shopper: Me!

My latest BeneFit boxed blush acquisition? BeneFit Hervana!

The Beauty Spotlight Team: "Whats In Her...???"

This week the Beauty Spotlight Team takes you into the beauty closet of Jessika, aka polish insomniac, to see what's on her polish station! 

Eye Love You! Roc Multi Correxion Lift Anti-Gravity Eye Cream

(image source)

I feel that the quintessential anti-aging/anti-fatigue skincare product is eye cream. A hands-down must-have! For me, nothing beats a good eye cream. Any product that promotes giving the user a more rested appearance has me taking note!!!

Also, I am typically willing to really splurge for a good eye cream. I will save money elsewhere in my skincare routine in order to pay for a good eye cream. Well ladies, I am so thrilled with this new eye cream from Roc. The best part? This is a drugstore eye cream ya'll! Granted, Roc is priced a bit high for the drugstore. But, still!

My Eye Needs:
I often express that my eyes are my "trouble area". No, I am not complaining about wrinkles. I am lucky, at 37 years old, to have fended off wrinkles thus far. But, it is only a matter of time! I do have some very faint fine lines that mostly surface when my skin is dehydrated. My eye issues are that of puffiness from fatigue, dark circles (hereditary, fatigue, lack of sleep-infant at home, and allergies), sensitive eye skin, and sensitive eyes. Also, my eye area is prone to redness. Often, I will like an eye cream, but it will sting my eyes. Or, it will be gentle. But, it won't "do anything" as far as anti-aging. So, what is a girl to do? It seems as if I am always trying out eye creams looking for the "next big thing" or my holy-grail eye cream.

For this review I tested out Roc's Multi Correxion Lift Anti-Gravity Eye Cream. For my previous review of Roc's Multi Correxion Anti Gravity Moisturizer, please click here. For my Eye Cream review, keep reading after the page break!

Win It! Birchbox Giveaway (Special Glamour Magazine Birchbox)

Ya'll all know how much I love my monthly Birchboxes? Well, I am so excited to bring you a Birchbox giveaway!!! Yes, you guys have a chance to win a special edition Birchbox!!!

To celebrate their “Five Senses of Summer” July issue (on stands now), Glamour has partnered with Birchbox to stimulate the senses of beauty junkies everywhere.
 What is in the box?

• See It: stila and Color Club to showcase the latest cosmetics trends 
• Hear It: Custom designed headphones and a Glamour edited "prettifying" playlist on Spotify – plus a month of free premium service on Spotify in every box
• Feel It: AHAVA and Alterna® for skin and hair that feels silky smooth
• Smell It: Oscar de la Renta fragrance to keep you uplifted 
• Taste It: LÄRABAR and Tea Forté for your snack cravings

To enter to win, please keep reading for contest details and entry form!

Taget Beauty Sample Bag opening: Arrived today! Whoo-hoo!

Hey dolls!

Just a quick post here to let you know that my Target "Beauty is my Bag" Beauty Sample Bag arrived today! It seems to be the week for beauty sample posting! :)

If ya'll missed out on signing up for a Target "Beauty is my Bag" sample bag, be sure to keep checking (stalking) the Target website and Target facebook page for the next beauty bag. These seem to be coming out quarterly or one per season. The last one for Spring was a combo deal where you got one with a Target order. But, there was no purchase necessary for this one (or any of the previous bags besides the Spring one). That is right, this bag was totally free! What is better? The samples are just fab and the bag is totally cute! With all of the paid beauty sample subscriptions out there, it is nice to see what a nice bag one can get for *free*!

So, what is in the bag?

Nail of the Day: Revlon Colorstay in "Buttercup"

I am sure I am "late to the party" with these new Revlon Colorstay Polishes. After admiring them every single time that I visit the drugstore, I finally decided to try them out!

These polishes promise "11 day shatterproof wear". Now, I did not buy them thinking that I could actually go 11-days without needing to change my polish. I mean, if a polish lasts 3 days then I am pleased! 11 days sounds crazy-long! But, I would be happy with any polish lasting longer than 3 days. For best results, Revlon suggests using their Colorstay base and Colorstay top coat for extended wear. So, of course I picked those up too. Actually, I needed a new topcoat. Normally I use Seche Vite (which I totally love); but, I am almost out. So, I might as well try the Colorstay!

(photo source)

This review and NOTD is for the Colorstay Longwearing Nail Enamel in Buttercup and the Revlon Colorstay Longwearing Nail Enamel Base Coat and Top Coat.

Giveaway!!! Total Beauty Collection June 2012 Sample Box

I have a new giveaway for you readers! 

After much success with their first Total Beauty Collection Sample box, Total Beauty is offering a new Total Beauty Collection box for June! June's box goes on sale June 18th! The great thing about the Total Beauty Collection boxes? No subscription necessary! Boxes are available throughout the year as samples become available. They sell until they sell out! 

Each box costs $15 and contains 4-6 deluxe samples from top-rated brands. Also, they occasionally throw in bonus gifts! The June box contains 5 great samples from Murad, Zents and Skindinavia. Plus, they included two bonus gifts from Zents and Sole Society. Readers can purchase and/or sign up for on sale notifications at Total Beauty. I have not had a chance to preview this box. But, I really liked the last Total Beauty Collection sample box. So, I am hoping this one will be good too!

 Here is a sneak peek of the box:

For details on how to enter to win, keep reading after the jump!

Lotion Me! Vaseline's Total Moisture Lotions

What would I do without my body moisturizers? Body Lotion is one of my most frequently used-up products. Body Moisturizers are the true "work horses" of my body skincare routine. I have dry skin that is prone to irritation. So, daily application (and usually multiple times per day) is a must for me! Yes, I could go with a "fancy" body lotion. However, I primarily rely on body moisturizers that are inexpensive and easily accessible at the drugstore or grocery store. I use them up too quickly to spend a lot of money on them!

Vaseline® Total Moisture® lotion is non-greasy, fast absorbing and offers Stratys-3 TM multi-layer moisture complex, infusing moisture at the top, core, and deep down layers of skin(1).  Available in three variants, new Vaseline® Total Moisture® meets a variety of skincare needs.

For more about these Total Moisture lotions from Vaseline and Moisturization Tips (from Vaseline and Me!), keep reading!

June 2012 Birchbox: Box Opening!

Can you believe that it is time for my monthly Birchbox Box Opening post? Time just seems to be flying by these days! Summertime is one of my absolute favorite times of year. Long, warm, and sunny days filled with pool-time, dog walks, and now baby-activities too! Hectic schedules give way for thoughts of summer vacation planning and packing for the beach. Even if I can't get out of town, I mentally take a break. So that might mean just stopping by CVS to load up on celebrity gossip and beauty magazines for an afternoon of reading on the back porch under the ceiling fan with a big glass of lemonade!

Apparently the folks over at Birchbox are like-minded! The June box has a "Jet Set" theme. How perfect for this time of year and my general frame of mind! This month's box is packed with travel friendly items that you can put right in your carry on bag.

The Scoop on Birchbox:
Birchbox is a monthly beauty sample subscription service. For $10 per month, you get a beautifully wrapped box full of 4-5 deluxe size (and the occasional full sized) luxury or boutique beauty products. It is a great way to discover new beauty brands and get out of a makeup/skincare/haircare rut! Plus, it feels as if you are unwrapping a little present! It is my monthly gift to myself and I just love it! I have subscribed for over a year and have just been so happy with the service and the items I have gotten in the boxes. Beyond the boxes being a great value, they are fun! I honestly have found some great new brands and some new favorite products through my Birchbox sample subscription. 

I admit to having many beauty sample subscriptions (cough, beauty sample junkie, cough) and Birchbox remains my favorite! Curious what has been in my previous Birchboxes? Check out those posts here: Birchbox Introduction Post, Jan 2011 Birchbox, Feb 2011 Birchbox, March 2011 Birchbox, April 2011 Birchbox, May 2011 Birchbox, June 2011 Birchbox, July 2011 Birchbox, August 2011 Birchbox, Sept 2011 Birchbox,  Oct 2011 Birchbox,  Nov 2011 Birchbox, December 2011 Birchbox, January 2012 Birchbox, February 2012 Birchbox, and the March 2012 Teen Vogue Birchbox, April 2012 Birchbox Box Opening, and May 2012 Gossip Girl Birchbox Box opening.

I loved last month's Gossip Girl themed Birchbox (and I am a total Gossip Girl fan too!). So, my expectations for this month's box are extra high! Is this month as good as last months? Keep reading to find out what was inside my June 2012 "Jet Set" Birchbox!

Roc's You and Improved Challenge: Vote Now!

As a Roc Ambassador, I get updates on all of the breaking Roc Skincare news. Here is the latest from my friends at Roc:

The RoC® You and Improved Challenge is now officially open!  Through the power of RoC® RETINOL, four finalists who already saw the look of lines and wrinkles fade from their faces received a head-to-toe makeover – courtesy of the RoC® Style Squad- to match their newfound confidence.

Roc asked their Facebook fans to tell us why THEY deserved to win a transformation to look 10 years younger, and now the top Finalists are revealed! 

So, go vote for who you think should win the RoC® You and Improved contest! The Roc winners will receive expert skincare advice from dermatologist Dr. Erin Gilbert and a styling session with celebrity stylist Marcellas Reynolds as part of the grand prize.

To vote, just go here and click on  a finalist’s entry and click the “Cast Your Vote!” button; you may vote for one finalist once per day. Voting ends at 12:00 pm EST on June 20, 2012.

New from Neutrogena Cosmetics: Bright Eyes and Moisturized Lips

Neutrogena has long been one of my favorite skincare and makeup lines. So, I was super excited when BzzAgent started a Neutrogena Cosmetics campaign with some great new products!!! I like Neutrogena's approach to enhancing natural beauty through good skincare and cosmetics that let your natural beauty shine through. During the Spring and Summer months, I like to really lighten up my makeup and go for an uber-natural look. What good timing!

Here are the items that I got to test out from Neutrogena: the Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfector (a multi-tasking concealer), the Nourishing Eyeliner (retractable eyeliner), and the Revitalizing Lip Balms (tinted lip balms). What a great assortment! I think I even found a new favorite here. :) Curious about these items? Then keep reading after the jump.

Get the Look! Pistol Annie's CMT Hair

With the CMT’s last night—some of Country's greatest looked all glammed out!

Even if you are not a country music fan, you can appreciate the fashion, makeup, and hair looks from the evening! No, I am actually not a country music fan (and I even live in the South!). But, I tend to watch awards shows just for the fashion inspiration! :)

Celebrity stylist, Sherri Jessee shares her tips on how you can "get the look" of the CMT’s!


Nothing says Country like sexy hair! The highlight of last night’s CMT awards was a performance by Pistol Annie. This red-hot trio is comprised of Ashley Monroe, Anagleena Presley, and Miranda Lambert.

It’s easy to get the look by following these simple steps shared by celebrity stylist, Sherri Jessee:

• Emulsify an egg-sized amount of RUSK Being Sexy Mousse together with a dollop of RUSK Being Sexy Cream to create the perfect bodifying cocktail and distribute evenly through damp hair.

• Use the super-powerful Volare blow-dryer to blast dry your hair and create volume.

• Lightly spray the top and bottom of 1” sections with  RUSK Being Sexy Hairspray to provide heat protection and long lasting hold before curling on a 1 ¼” ceramic curling iron.

• Pin each curl and allow to cool (now’s a great time to get your face on!)

• For tighter curl as seen on Ashley, use only your fingers to lightly separate.

• For Angaleena's glamour waves, brush through with a soft bristle brush.

• Emulate Miranda’s style by sweeping over to one side and secure with a few bobby pins.

My Home Spa: Adovia Purifying Mask

Being a stay-at-home Mom of a 5 month old baby, I need a little self-pampering! But, the demands of an infant and a single income family means that trips to the spa for facials and massages are few and far between.

So, I continue my search for great spa-like products that I can use at home. Even a few minutes soaking in the tub or laying down with my eyes closed and a facial mask on...these little treats can really revive a tired new Mommy like me! Over the next few months, I am going to be posting about all of my various at-home spa-like treatments!

I have become a bit obsessed with facial masks lately! They truly are the perfect 20-minute treat. I find that it is not only easy, but also extremely relaxing to apply a mask before bed. Plus, it really doesn't take that much extra time.

My Skin Background: 

My skin, generally speaking, falls into the normal-dry category.  But, with the warm-hot weather, I am feeling a bit more oily lately. Plus, since having a baby, my hormones are a bit whacked and I have been getting daily oily breakthrough in the t-zone area. This means my skincare must be switched up a bit! My skin rarely breaks out. But, I am a bit "congested" on the chin area. Not zits per-se, but little bumps/clogged pores. In addition, my pores are somewhat large throughout my t-zone region.

My latest mask? Adovia Mineral Skincare Purifying Mud Mask!

Get Bronzed for Summer! POP beauty's Butterfly Bronze Blush and Kabuki

This time of year, I always want a bit more color. Since I really don't "tan", I rely on self-tanners and bronzers to get my color. I really have not had much luck with self-tanners on my face. So, I stick to self-tanners for the body and bronzers for the face! Our face and body must match, right?!?!

I literally swooned when I saw this POP beauty Butterfly Bronzeblush Bronze & Blush Palette and Kabuki set in this month's Ulta mailer. It is a HUGE split pan blush/bronzer duo. The design in the powders is actually a butterfly pattern. So pretty! Nothing says Spring/Summer more than butterflies!

Not to mention, this Bronzeblush palette is HUGE! I don't know why, but I always feel that blush and bronzer products should be on the "big" side. Anyone else with me on that? I think I feel that way because I prefer a larger brush for blush and bronzer. This way it fits better in the pan and you get a ton of product!

For more about POP's Bronzeblush Palette and Double Duty Kabuki, please keep on reading!