Holiday Shopping Guide 2014: Gorgeous Holiday Gift Sets from L'Occitane!

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Holiday 2014 from L'Occitane with L'Occitane

The Holidays are Amazing at L'Occitane!!! No matter if you are a long-time fan of the brand or if you are totally new to the brand, the Holiday Gift Sets are a great way to explore the brand and find deals on items or lines that you already love! 

As many of you know, I have a bit of a love-affair with L'Occitane. I really celebrate the entire line from skincare, to fragrance, to bath and body products, to the Mens lines. It is all really just so good! There is just something so special about these products. I get great results with the skincare and find the fragrance and bath and body scents to be so appealing. 

For the Holidays, L'Occitane has a wide offering of Holiday Sets in a variety of price points. Skincare sets, a new Fragrance Collection: Arlesienne, Men's sets, and bath and body treats: something for almost everyone on your list! 

I have a few Holiday sets from L'Occitane to share with you today: the 13 Desserts of Provence Gift Set, the Divine Skincare Collection, the Cade Collection, and the Arlesienne Collection. These gift sets are all beautifully packaged! Just add a bow and a gift tag and your gift is all ready to give! To find out more about all of these amazing sets, please click "read more" below!

Holiday Shopping Guide 2014: Fragrances for Everyone on Your List!

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My Holiday Shopping 2014 Gift Guide continues with some great ideas for affordable fragrance gifts! I don't know about ya'll...but, I always love to both give and receive fragrances for gifts. The good news is that there are so many affordable options out there! Today I am going to highlight an affordable fragrance idea for 3 general categories: Men, Women, and Teens. 

For a Woman: Halle Berry Wild Essence: 

This sensual and sophisticated perfume was designed to capture the raw and natural beauty of a woman. This decidedly sexy fragrance has notes of fresh citrus and floral. To me it is predominately floral with added warmth. There is something comforting and soft about this scent. Notes: Top Notes: Sicilian Bergamot, Black currant, Mandarin Zest. Heart Notes: Freesia, Linden Blossom, Cotton Flower, White Roses. Base notes: Silk Musk, White Patchouli, Crystal Amber, Sandalwood Bark. Retails for $28, HalleBerryFragrances.com. You can also find this fragrance in package deals at Walgreen's for a really great price!

For a Man:Nautica Life:

Nautica LIFE is a romantic blend of uplifting freshness, mysterious aromatics, and seductive woods. With notes of Living Sea Salt, marine Seamoss and Natural Violet Leaf, Nautica LIFE unleashes a revitalizing splash of energy while creating a blissful feeling of magnetism and seduction. Top Notes: Sea Salt, Ivory Coast Ginger, Heart Notes: Natural Sage, Provence Lavender, and Violet Leaf, and Base Notes: Hinoki Wood, Tonka, and Marine Sea Moss. This scent is such a classic men's scent to me. It is powerful and clean. Nautica Life retails for $48.50 and is available at Macy’s.

For a Teen: bodycology's Moroccan Sunset: Nothing beats affordable fragrance mists for teens! Especially fruity sweet scents like this one! Granted, you do not have to be a teen to love these. ;) I know that I sometimes tend to gravitate towards "younger" scents for daytime and like to layer fragrance mists with my finer perfumes. Moroccan Sunset by bodycology is a exotic mix of sweet passionfruit and blooming hibiscus. The best part? bodycology has some amazing gift sets in a variety of scents this time of year! So, you can layer your favorite scent with foaming body wash, moisturizing body cream, and a fragrance mist!

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Gracefully Grounded: Beauty Box Five November 2014 Box Opening!

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Hey Beauty Box lovers, it is that time again...time for my monthly Beauty Box Five Box Opening Post! As a huge fan of beauty sample boxes, I always eagerly await the arrival of my various box subscriptions. It is always interesting to see who has the "best box" each month. Not to mention, I love discovering all the new beauty products tucked inside! :)

What is Beauty Box 5?

Beauty Box 5 is a monthly subscription service that delivers 4-5 deluxe or full sized cosmetic samples to your door for $12 a month. When you subscribe to Beauty Box 5, each month you get a beauty box delivered right to your door! The boxes contain everything from makeup to beauty accessories to skincare, fragrance, bath & body items, and even nail products. Beauty Box 5 is a great way to discover new products or get yourself out of a cosmetics rut!

Want to find out what is in my Beauty Box Five box this month? Please click "read more" below!

Neutrogena Face-to-Face Blind Foundation Challenge

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Neutrogena Face-to-Face Blind Foundation Challenge:

Have you ever really wondered why you love a particular foundation? Sure, a lot has to do with coverage, finish, and wear...but, how much of it is brand identity and using products from brands that you are loyal to? What an interesting question! If we strip away all that we know about a foundation brand-wise, and just investigate aspects of the product itself, we really do get a truer picture of the product itself. 

I have to admit, I dig this entire idea. Really, I know how brand loyalty impacts me as a consumer. There are some brands that I really get excited about. We are talking fan-girl excited. Brands that I highly anticipate everything that they release. How much of that comes into play when I try their products? Lets all just admit...packaging and marketing does work. We do buy into brands that we already have a positive affinity with. So, if we strip all of the packaging and marketing and brand image away and just look at the actual product itself, how does it measure up? I know that I want to know!

The Challenge: Foundation A vs. Foundation B:

So...recently, I participated in this super fun challenge from Neutrogena. They wanted us to do a blind test of one of their foundations face-to-face with a leading competitor's foundation. The foundations arrived in bottles with all identifying information removed. They were simply labeled Foundation A and Foundation B. Now, as a Beauty Blogger with a vast foundation collection and knowledge of packaging...I will have to admit that I immediately recognized the bottles and was able to identify the brands based on the bare bottles. I mean, I already have both of these foundations in my collection. However, with that said, I didn't know if Neutrogena was maybe trying to "throw us off" with the bottles and maybe switched the formulas inside. So, even though I had a strong suspicion as to which was which, I still didn't really know.

So, I proceeded to test the products. First, I tested Foundation B for a few days (at least 2 consecutive days) and then I did the same with Foundation A. While testing, I kept in mind the coverage, the finish, and the overall wear of the foundation.

To find out more details about these foundations (including what they were!) and find out which I prefer, please click "read more" below! 

The Beauty Spotlight Team: Weekend Links!

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Check out Prime Beauty's list of The Best Beauty Gifts Under $25! Grab your sneakers and go! 

It's time to streak with Urban Decay Naked on the Run Palette Review and Tutorial by Phyrra. 

If you ever wondered whether Urban Decay Stray Dog and Suspect were dupes for Burberry Midnight Brown and Pale Barley, then take a look at their glimmering swatches, and review on Lola's Secret Beauty Blog. I think you will agree that all four shades are gorgeous, but would you consider them similar enough to justify having all four? 

It's that time again – holiday gift giving. Beauty Info Zone has several gift guides to help you choose. If you know a Glam Girl then check this one out but if your list has more Practical Fashionistas then we can help you there too. 

If Guerlain Un Soir à l’Opéra is the collection Sunny from Mostly Sunny was looking forward to the most, Burberry Winter Glow has turned out to be the best surprise! Come check out the swatches of 6 drool-worthy pieces !  

The Painted Rogue is addicted to both ballet and pretty pink-coral lip products! This week she's combining the two with a tale of the adorable Ballet Monster who gave her a Lancôme Lip Lover in Rose Contretemps!  

Pammy Blogs Beauty has found the perfect tool for super quick and easy hair volume that lasts: the VOLOOM! 

Perilously Pale shows us her favorite Holiday Eyeshadow Palettes and will have you drooling! 

Find out why China Glaze Choo-Choo Choose you is the lastest polish to make polish insomniac's Top 20 List! 

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Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Dermalogica's Limited Edition Skincare Sets!

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What better time of year than the holidays to re-vamp your skincare? Think of it as an early New Year's Resolution! Well, I am so excited that a few of my very favorite skincare brands have released Holiday Skincare Sets! Not only are these sets an incredible value, but also they are a great way to try out a variety of the products from the brand. No matter if you are new to the brand, or a loyal fan, you are bound to find a new love tucked inside these boxes of skincare goodness!!!

Not in the market for new skincare? Well, these make awesome gifts, too! Sure, it can be hard to purchase skincare for someone else. The good news is that these sets were packaged with a specific theme or customer in mind. This really helps to take the guesswork out of your selection. For example, do you have a frequent traveler on your gift list this year? Well, the "Our Favorites Gift Set" would be perfect as it contains all travel sized best-selling items!

Dermalogica's Limited Edition Holiday Gift Sets: 

• Active Moist Gift Set (this is the one I got! see below for more): $58.00
• Body Therapy Essentials Gift Set: $25.00
• Our Favorites Gift Set: $35.00
• Skin Smoothing Cream Gift Set: $60.00
• Super Rich Repair Gift Set: $80.00

Dermalogica's Active Moist Gift Set: Box Opening!!!

The kit that most intrigued me was the Active Moist Gift set. Primarily because I had not tried any of the items in the kit yet...and ya'll know that I love to explore skincare (especially from one of my favorite brands *cough* Dermalogica *cough*). So, today, I am going to share my Dermalogica Holiday Gift Set Box Opening!!!

Inside the Active Moist Gift Set:

• Active Moist (Full Size! 3.4 oz) is Dermalogica's top-selling oil-free moisturizer for Oily/Combo Skin. Even though my combo skin does tend to get drier in the winters, I still love oil-free moisturizers in general. Active Moist is formulated to hydrate and smooth your skin while improving texture. 
• Soothing Eye Makeup Remover (deluxe sample size, 1 oz): My eyes are so sensitive. In the winter they seem to get even more so with the dry air and me constantly battling a cold or sinus infection (it seems). This product promises to dissolve makeup without irritation.
• Intensive Eye Repair (deluxe sample, 0.1 oz): This is an ultra-rich eye cream with nutrients like Vitamins C and E and Grapeseed Extract. It targets dehydration lines (me!!!) and increases skin's elasticity. This totally sounds up my alley. I am excited to try it!

Did any of these sets pique your interest? Are you buying skincare gifts this year? I would love to know!

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Easy and Quick Volume for your Hair with VOLOOM!

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I am so excited to tell you guys about an *ah-ma-zing* new hair tool for creating super-easy volume: the VOLOOM! 

I will admit, before trying the VOLOOM, I was skeptical. I have tried countless options over the years to try to give volume to my long straight and pretty much flat hair. From bump-style molds to pin in my hair, to teasing combs, to spray in products...nothing really gave me that volume that I craved (and none of these solutions were as easy as the VOLOOM). 

Enter the VOLOOM...Quite simply, the VOLOOM is a clamp-style iron that creates a waffle type pattern in your hair. This waffle pattern gives your hair amazing and lasting "lift". It is an absolute no-brainer to use. It is quick and easy and the volume lasts for days. For real! 

How to Use:

The VOLOOM is so easy to use! You want to start using the VOLOOM right below your part. Section off a small amount of hair (about an inch thick) about an inch *below* your part line. You want to go below your part because you need a smooth section of hair to hide the waffle pattern the VOLOOM makes. Then, just clamp the iron into your hair for a few seconds about a centimeter away from your scalp and release. Be sure not to get too close to your scalp as the iron is HOT. Repeat this process a few times going further down on your head. I tend to do about 4-5 clampings on each side of my head. If you want or need more volume, do more. You can also clamp around the crown area of your head or really wherever your style needs that volume. Just be sure there is smooth hair on top to cover that waffle pattern. That is it! It is really that easy. It honestly does not add that much time to your getting ready routine. It only takes a couple minutes to do this whole process.

image source: VOLOOM

I am amazed at the gorgeous volume the VOLOOM gives my hair. My Before/After pictures really don't even do it justice! The volume is noticeable and fabulous. I have never gotten such great results with a volume product. Even my husband noticed the extra volume in my hair the morning after I used this device for the first time. He said "Your hair looks great! It is like...puffy (lol, Men!)". I can't get over not only that this device gives great immediate results, but also that the results last for days. So awesome!

What I love about the VOLOOM:

• It is super duper easy to use! Plus, it is also super quick. 
• The volume *lasts*...for days! I have honestly never used any volume product that has worked this well. Normally, any added volume I give my hair falls flat mid-day. Not the VOLOOM results! The VOLOOM lasts until I was my hair again, which is typically 2-3 days!
• I believe that this device is either similar or less damaging to your hair than teasing. Yes, it is a very hot heat device. However, you only apply the heat for a few seconds and only need to use the device every few days/

The Skinny:

• You can get the VOLOOM for "3 easy payments" of $43.33 plus Free Shipping. Yes, it is expensive. However, it works!!! There is nothing else on the market like it!
• The VOLOOM is available here
• The VOLOOM comes with free gifts: 3 clips (they work great while using the VOLOOM), a teasing brush, and a heat protector case.

Do you have any great tricks for giving your hair volume? Does the VOLOOM sound like something that you would like to try?

#VOLOOM
#IFabboMember

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Loxa Beauty: Products for Hair!

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Have you heard of a great new e-commerce site called Loxa Beauty? If you are looking for a site for shopping options for higher-end professional products, you should certainly check out Loxa Beauty! They have products for hair, nail items, makeup, skincare, and beauty/hair tools! They actually offer over 3,000 top salon products. Now that is selection! Plus, you can trust that the products are authentic.

I had the opportunity to try out a couple of Loxa Beauty's best selling hair items: Sebastian Halo Mist & Joico Power Whipped Foam:

• Sebastian Halo Mist ($18): Halo spray is a pure weightless shine spray that offers UV protection that leaves hair silky, shiny. How to use: Mist on damp hair and blow dry for a sparkling smooth finish. For maximum shine, spray sparingly over dry hair. For finer hair, spray into palms and smooth evenly over hair from mid-shaft to ends. I love using shine sprays! I have had great results with this one. Here is how I use it: I just mist in the air and then "walk" myself through the mist head-first (tilting my head where I want the shine to "hit"). This product gives beautiful shine and protection without weighing my hair down nor making it look or feel "greasy". Plus, it is so easy to use! Such a nice last-step in my hair routine. :)

• Joico Power Whip Whipped Foam ($16.99): A concentrated, whipped styling foam that creates maximum density and incredible volume that lasts even in high humidity. This creamy, luxurious feeling foam will lock your style in place for up to 72 hours. How to use: Shake can well and dispense into hands. Rub together and distribute evenly through clean, damp hair. Style as desired. I am always looking for ways to both add volume to my style as well as to increase hold. This product does both! I apply it after washing and towel drying my hair. I use about one handful of this product. I focus the product application to my root area. Then I follow up with drying my hair with a round brush. This product gives my hair bounce, hold, volume, and some shine. I am super happy with my results!

Next time you are in need of some professional products, be sure to scope out Loxa Beauty! :)

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The Beauty Spotlight Team: Weekend Links!

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The new Kérastase Paris Discipline haircare line is a fabulous secret weapon to tame frizzy hair, and Lola's Secret Beauty Blog thinks it is an absolute must-have collection for anyone who fights frizz and fly-aways.

Cleansing is the hottest topic in skin care right now, and Carrie from eyeliner on a cat is totally into it. She wants you to Dish on Your Favorite Cleansing Products and Methods!.  

Phyrra shares her picks for the Best Cruelty Free Blushes! See what shades will give you that lit-from-within glow we all want.

You'd think Sunny from Mostly Sunny has seen it all and isn't quite easily impressed, but she did nearly need to breathe into a paper bag when she saw Guerlain Un Soir à l'Opéra ! Feast your eyes on 9 out of the 10 pieces, and get carried away by Guerlain's holiday magic!

Win It!!! Pammy Blogs Beauty has found a new everyday perfume favorite! Be sure to check out her review of Georgia by Robin McGraw and Enter to Win!!!

Jessika from polish insomniac shows us there is a red for everyone in the Gwen Stefani for OPI Holiday 2014 collection... and some awesome glitters too!

If you like the idea of winning cosmetics, gift certificates, fashion and more then follow Beauty Info Zone and their Sunday Scoop each week. Giveaways galore for your entering pleasure. Blog-adventuring is serious business - you need to make sure you have an amazing party at your side!

Who would The Painted Rogue rope into her adventuring team? Come check out some of her very favourite bloggers - you might find a new favourite beauty adventurer too!

The Guerlain Météorites Perles D’Étoile may just be the prettiest balls you've ever seen. Perilously Pale shows us why these Holiday 2014 Meteorites are her latest obsession. There are so many holiday collections out that it's hard to narrow down which ones have the best steals and deals.

One of Prime Beauty's favorite brands Too Faced has some beauties that you might find hard to resist. Looking for a new foundation?

14 bloggers joined 15 Minute Beauty with their foundations of choice. See if there's a new one that calls your name.

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Georgia Eau de Parfum by Robin McGraw launches on HSN: Review and Giveaway!

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Don't you love it when you stumble upon a new fragrance favorite? Sometimes there is just that "special something" about a scent that makes it so appealing. I have tested quite a few perfumes lately and this new release Georgia by Robin McGraw is absolutely fabulous and it really stands out! While I enjoyed this scent from the moment I first applied it, it was my husband coming home, hugging me, and saying "Wow Honey, you smell really amazing" that sealed the deal. I have many, many perfumes in my current rotation and 90% of them get no notice from the Hub, lol. Well, not Georgia! It got the husband's approval right away! ;) Georgia has become my new go-to everyday scent! Yes, I do want to smell amazing! Plus, as a life-long Georgia girl, I will fully admit to loving the name.

The Scent: Georgia by Robin McGraw
This botanical blend encompasses a strong feminine quality, expressing empowerment, elegance, incredible strength, and sensuality. This sensuality begins with bursting zesty citrus and a floral bouquet followed by middle notes of soft sophistication. A sensual dry down completes this composition of strong femininity.

I love the way the fragrance notes in this perfume blend. There is no specific note that jumps out at me. It truly is a complex blend of many notes that I love. The combined effect is feminine, sexy, and sophisticated. To me, the scent is neither too young nor too old, it is just right. It is a nice balance. It is decidedly floral with deep musky and almost somewhat powdery tones. As I mentioned, it is almost hard to pull out specific notes that I love since they all blend together so beautifully to create the Georgia scent. I will tell you that I do tend to gravitate towards musky floral fragrances like this. When I wear this, I feel like I smell beautiful and lovely. In addition, wearing this scent makes me feel sophisticated and put together. 

To find out more details about this amazing new scent, Georgia by Robin McGraw, please click "read more" below. Plus, don't forget to enter my Giveaway!!!

Makeup Wars: Beauty Wishlist!

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It is time for another Makeup Wars! This time the Makeup Wars bloggers are sharing their Holiday Beauty Wishlists! I love writing this sort of post. It is my chance to dream over makeup that I have been lusting over. Plus, I always get great ideas from reading my fellow Makeup Wars blogger's posts! Let's get right to it, shall we? Here is my list:

 

Makeup Wars: Beauty Wishlist! with FormulaX, Sephora, Tarte

• Benefit Cosmetics Cheeky Sweet Spot Box O' Blushes: Um, hello. A blush palette filled with Benfit's famous boxed blushes? Yes, please! #1 I am a blush fanatic. #2 I *heart* Benefit's boxed blushes. So, this is a no-brainer for me. I want this! Even though I do have most of the blushes included individually, I still want this for the following reasons: I love traveling with blush palettes, I love the convenience of a palette, and frankly I just seem to love collecting blush palettes (I am a nut) and I am obsessed with Benefit! ;) Plus, how stinkin cute is it?

• Tarte Away Oui Go Portable Palette & Collector's Set: Makeup sets that have good travel or on-the-go implications are always a draw for me. This set offers so much convenience! With this set, you can customize your palette to take with you! Specifically, it contains 4 gorgeously coordinated and interchangeable eye and cheek palettes (16 full size eye shadows and 4 full size blushes), a collectable and cute plush palette case, 3 deluxe size lipglosses, and a deluxe size mascara. I love a set like this where every single item and shade included is totally wearable for everyday! This set is an amazing deal for how much makeup you get for the price! Plus, I love that you can just grab one of these little palettes and have a completely coordinated look. Such a time-saver! :) 

• Clarisonic Pedi Foot Transformation Set: My feet need all the pampering they can get! As much as I would love to get a spa pedicure every week, it is just not in the budget nor do I have the time. So, I am all about easy home solutions for my feet. I am always seeking out ways to keep them soft and callous-free. This device looks amazing!!!

• Sephora Favorites Perfume Sampler: Sephora offers this every year and I have always wanted to get it! It is a boxed set of 14 samples of Sephora best-selling perfumes plus a certificate for one full sized bottle. So, you test out the perfumes and then can go back and get a free full size of your favorite scent with the certificate. Genius! It is the perfect fragrance gift!

• Formula X Paint the Town: This is an amazing collection of 22 nail polish minis! From glitters to nudes to classics...there is a ton of variety here! I love Formula X Polishes and this kit is an amazing value and a great way to try out a ton of shades for an amazing price!

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Be sure to check out my fellow Makeup Wars Bloggers' Beauty Wishlists below! I know I can't wait to see! :)

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The Beauty Spotlight Team: Perilously Pale Shares her Khaki Eye Shadow Collection

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Christa from Perilously Pale is a bit of an eyeshadow addict. She love's the variety of shades and finishes available and the endless creativity you can express through eye makeup. She finds herself wanting every variation of her favorite shades and is excited to share with us her Khaki Eyeshadow Collection complete with swatches of all the shades.

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Healthy and Shiny Hair at any age with Roux's Anti-Aging Line: Review and Giveaway (5 winners!!!)

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Keeping my hair looking and feeling healthy can be quite a challenge...especially as I get older! My hair is heavily highlighted, long, and I often rely on heat tools. I am picky with my hair products. Plus, I invest a lot in my highlights. So, I want my hair to look as shiny and healthy as possible. Luckily, good hair products don't have to cost a fortune. You just need to know what works for your hair. Today I would love to share with you the fabulous Roux Anti-Aging Product Collection.  These products are giving my hair exactly what it needs! Plus, I have a Giveaway for 5 Roux collections (5 winners will each win an entire Roux Anti-Aging collection!). To find out more, please click here!!!

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My Morning Beauty Routine with AmLactin and Contest!

Sponsored Post Affiliate Link Press Sample: This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of AmLactin. The opinions and text are all mine.

My mornings are so busy...and they start early! I am a stay-at-home-Mom with an 8 month old baby boy and a 2 year old girl. With two little ones in diapers, there are many demands for my time and attention. Through trial and error, I have found the best way for me to get ready in the mornings is to wake up before everyone to shower and start my morning routine. After spending ten minutes with my much needed cup of coffee, I head to the bathroom to begin my morning beauty routine.

My bathroom is my own little spa-retreat in my home. It is my "happy place". My little vacation from the demands on my time. My morning (and evening) beauty routines are my time in my day where I focus on myself and give myself a little much-needed pampering. With that said, I do not have a ton of time in my morning routine. I need to get into the bathroom and get washed, moisturized, and ready quickly...before the littles wake up!

With limited time, I need to use products that work quickly and effectively. I honestly do not have time to waste on products that don't perform. That is why I love using effective products like AmLactin. As I get older, my skin gets more and more dry. AmLactin is the solution for dry skin! AmLactin's powerful alpha-hydroxy therapy exfoliates and hydrates my skin in one step. It is not only effective, but also a time-saver!

My Morning Beauty Routine: A Typical Day:

So, lets go through my routine! As I mentioned, coffee is essential. After reading emails catching up on social media and drinking my coffee, I head to the bathroom to get going with my routine. First, I jump into the shower. I was my hair every/other day or every 3 days. I only go every 3 days when I simply don't have time in the mornings to wash/dry my hair. My shower time order of products/procedures: wash body with bar soap, wash hair, condition hair/or apply hair mask (let penetrate while I finish my shower), shave my legs, rinse conditioner/hair mask, wash body with body pouf and shower gel (yes, lol, I wash twice: must remove conditioner residue and I adore shower gel scents), wash face with cleanser and Konjac sponge, and finally...dry off!

As soon as I get out of the shower, I apply moisturizer. I am currently using and loving the range of products from AmLactin for body moisture. I find that these products are best when applied immediately after your shower while your skin is still damp (pat the skin dry with a towel and then apply).

My AmLactin® Products: I use a combination of these products during my daily morning routine.

• AmLactin® Moisturizing Body Lotion: This product contains 12% Lactic Acid. It is pH-balanced and encourages natural skin renewal through exfoliation. It works deep within your skin and offers long-lasting moisture retention. This product works well to leave your skin feeling comfortable as well as soft and smooth. This lotion is unscented and lightweight. So, it is ideal for use over my entire body.
• AmLactin® Cerapeutic™ Restoring Body Lotion: This lotion contains intensely hydrating, triple action, patented ULTRAPLEX® formula and three essential ceramides to gently slough off dead skin cells and strengthen the skin's protective moisture barrier. This formula heals extremely rough, flaky, dry skin and provides instant, visible results and 24-hour relief. Applying ceramides to the skin topically can help replenish the skin's vulnerable moisture barrier. This lotion is unscented, light weight, and fast absorbing. I like that this lotion gives your skin the added boost of ceramides.
• AmLactin® Ultra Hydrating Body Cream: This rich cream is AmLactin's ultimate recovery therapy. This cream is especially helpful for healing severely dry areas like elbows and feet. I struggle with extremely dry areas on my feet and this cream as well as AmLactin's Foot Cream are staples in my routine for healing my dry skin on my feet and preventing cracks or deep fissures. Truly, nothing works better than this cream for this purpose! Thanks to clinically proven, patented, triple action ULTRAPLEX®, this moisturizing formula with rich humectants and creamy emollients gently exfoliates and intensely hydrates for long-lasting moisture and serious relief.

​Completing my Morning Routine:

To complete my morning "get ready" routine, I get dressed and either put my hair in a pony tail on no-wash days or let my hair air dry. I apply my facial sunscreen and body sunscreen to any areas that will be exposed to the sun. Then I quickly apply my makeup. Usually, it is just the basics: under eye concealer, a bit of powder foundation or a bb cream, blush, a sheer wash of nude or champagne eye shadow, mascara, and lip balm/gloss. At this point, the kids have probably woken up and it is time for breakfast! When I wash my hair (and let air dry), I often can't get to styling it until the baby goes down for his morning nap. Hey, I do what I can! ;) There is only so much time in the mornings, lol!

AmLactin on Social Media: Be sure to follow: facebook and twitter

Every week, AmLactin is hosting a giveaway on their Facebook page: See their page for more details.

People everywhere are talking about AmLactin Alpha-Hydroxy Skin Care. And for good reason – it does what it's supposed to do. No overpromises or puffery. Their formulas with clinically proven alpha-hydroxy acids gently exfoliate and intensely hydrate dry skin to help it return to a healthy, natural state. For long-lasting moisture and serious relief. Get serious care for softer skin.

Contest:

Tell us about your beauty routine for a chance to win $1000! Comments submitted may be displayed on other websites owned by the sponsoring brand. Comment below for a chance to win $1000

People everywhere are talking about AmLactin alpha-hydroxy skin care. And for good reason – it does what it’s supposed to do. No overpromises or puffery. Their formulas with clinically proven alpha-hydroxy acids gently exfoliate and intensely hydrate dry skin to help it return to a healthy, natural state. For long-lasting moisture and serious relief. Get serious care for softer skin.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of AmLactin. The opinions and text are all mine.

My Skin Loves: Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant

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Raise your hand if you love exfoliation. Me, me, me (hand raised and waving)!!! For so many years I neglected to exfoliate. Well, shame on me! I was missing out. Over the past few years, I have really discovered the benefits of really good exfoliation. As a woman now in my 40s (OMG, how did I get to be 40 already? lol), good exfoliation is more important than ever. Not only does exfoliation keep my skin clear, it also has a brightening effect on my skin and it seems to be holding wrinkles at bay as well! 

My Skin:

Before jumping into this review any futher, let me give you a bit more background on my skin.  I have classic combo skin (normal-oily in Spring/Summer and normal-dry in Fall/Winter). I get everything from dry patches to oily spots depending on the fluctuation of my skin. I just turned 40 a few months ago. So, I am *very* interested in anti-aging skincare. I have no major lines or wrinkles yet (whew!). I want to fend those off for as long as I can! So far, I just have fine lines that crop up around my eyes (especially when my skin is dry). I do occasionally break out. Not all the time, but I do get breakouts still. Typically, breakouts are on my chin and occasionally by my nose. I have a few dark spots that arrived with my pregnancy. Luckily, these are gradually fading (but still bothersome). My biggest skincare complaint? My very dark under eye circles. I have hereditary dark circles plus allergies and a general lack of sleep. So, my poor eye area looks haggard! Finding good eye creams and concealers is one of the main reasons I am into skincare and got into beauty blogging! ;)

I recently added an awesome exfoliating product to my skincare routine: Dermalogica's Daily Mircrofoliant. This product has been around for quite some time now and seems to have a bit of a cult following. I actually remember trying a small sample of it years ago and wish that I had started using it regularly back then! I have been using this Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant for a few weeks now and am completely obsessed with it!

Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant:

This is such a unique product. Believe me, I have a ton of products in my skincare arsenal and in my regular skincare routine...and none of these products is even remotely similar to this product. Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant is in a category by itself: it is a powder exfoliant that you use after you wash your face. What an interesting way to exfoliate!

To find out more about this amazing product, please click "read more" below!

Makeup Wars: IT Cosmetics CC+ Radiance Palette and Face Brushes

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It is time for another Makeup War! This time, we are doing things a bit different! The Makeup Wars team of bloggers are all trying out the same amazing palette and brushes from one of our collective favorite brands: It Cosmetics!

See how this It Cosmetics CC+ Radiance Palette and Brushes Work! Across Skin Tones and Types:

What is extra special and unique about that? The Makeup Wars bloggers are a diverse group. You are going to be able to see and or hear about how this palette and the brushes work for a wide variety of skin types and skin tones.

Makeup Wars: IT Cosmetics Brand Feature! with It Cosmetics

My Skin:

So, what is my skin tone and type you ask? I have super duper fair skin. I am usually the very lightest shade in foundation (if it even comes that light!). I am neutral-cool toned. My skin is what I call "classic combo" skin. I am normal-dry in the cold weather and normal-oily in the warmer months. So, I get everything from dry patches to oily spots. I do not break out that often. However, I do go through phases here and there where blemishes are a problem. I blame the wild fluctuations of my hormones (in the past 3 years, I have had two babies...so, yes, lots of hormones!). 

To find out how I liked this amazing CC+ Radiance Palette and Face Brushes (the Heavenly Luxe Ball Brush and the Heavenly Luxe Angled Radiance Brush) from IT Cosmetics, please click "read more" below!

The Beauty Spotlight Team: Weekend Links!

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Lola's Secret Beauty Blog loves a gorgeous vampy lip, and Tom Ford Lip Color Matte in Black Dahlia is utter perfection!

 Is this nail polish special enough to come in a collector's box? Check out Marc JacobsMidnight in Paris on polish insomniac.

Sunny from Mostly Sunny doesn't even paint her nails that often, but she NEEDED some Rescue Beauty Lounge in her life! Feast your eyes on her picks including Not Your Baby, Scrangie 2.0, and Oliveto ! They are about as exquisite as nail polishes get!  

Phyrra shares her Winter Morning Beauty Routine. Find out how to change up your routine for the dry weather!

It's giveaway time at Beauty Info Zone. If you are interested in hair that's soft and manageable then it's time to see what product from Ecru New York you could win and love  

The Painted Rogue NEEDS YOU! :-D This time it's for her epic Guide to Battle-Ready Red Lipsticks and, while she has a lot of lipsticks, it's your suggestions that will make this guide as complete as possible. Come on over and share your favourite killer red lipstick!

Do you want to make your eye pop? Choosing the right eye shadow shades is a big part of the secret! 15 Minute Beauty has this guide to picking the right eyeshadows for your eye color! Make your eyes shine!  

Prime Beauty knows one of the first places to show age is your neck. Keep turkey neck at bay with StriVectin's new Advanced TL Neck Tightening Cream and win a jar for yourself!

The arrival of Fall means it's time to put away your summer scents and reach for the warmer, spicier, sexier scents of fall. Perilously Pale shares her Fall Fragrance Guide to introduce you to new perfumes for Fall 2014. Affiliate Link