The Beauty Spotlight Team: Favorites from Paula's Choice

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Lisa shares her Paula Begoun obsession as well as her top five favorites from Paula's Choice - take a look at what she thinks are the absolute essentials for great skin!

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Soothing My Sensitive Skin with Paula's Choice CALM: Plus HUGE Skincare #Giveaway

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The Struggle is Real! Keeping Redness and Irritation at Bay with Paula's Choice CALM:

Redness, irritation, and sensitivity...oh my! Skincare can be so complicated! Especially when you have combination skin that is somewhat acne-prone and sensitive. I want products that work for my fluctuating skin type, that don't flare up or cause breakouts, and that are also gentle. That is a tall order and often products fall short on at least one if not more of those three requirements. 

As a beauty blogger, I am constantly trying out new things. However, I have to tread lightly with my skincare testing. I have to add in one new product at a time and often I have to stop testing products after just a few days and discontinue if they cause irritation or flare up redness. I actually first got interested in blogging and the beauty community with my search for skincare that works for my complicated skin. Paula's products and her "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me" book have been instrumental in my skincare journey for years! 

My goal with my blog is to share with you the very best products that I have found that work for my skin. So, I am excited to share with you today about the Paula's Choice CALM Redness Relief Kit for Normal to Oily Skin. This kit was developed specifically to gently reduce redness and and signs of irritation with comforting and moisturizing formulas. 

My Skin:

My skin type is Combination (Normal to Oily) and I am sensitive and prone to redness and irritation. I am somewhat acne-prone. However, I must note that with the right skincare, I can almost completely keep breakouts at bay. But, if I use anything too rich or pore-clogging, the breakouts return. Also, when products irritate me, I don't just get red, I also get irritation bumps that somewhat resemble breakouts on my cheeks. I have often wondered if this is actually boarderline Rosasea. No, I have never been diagnosed with Rosasea, however, I do wonder...My skin is just so prone to redness and irritaion. Not just with products either! Even if I eat spicy foods, go out in the cold, or go running in the heat...guess what? My face turns bright red!

Exfoliation is particularly tricky for me. Great exfoliation keeps breakouts away. However, if I over-do exfoliation or use anything that is either too harsh or abrasive, that will flare up those pesky irritation bumps and redness on my cheeks. Do you know what else is tricky? I am in my early 40s. So, I am particularly interested in anti-aging products. However, effective anti-aging ingredients are often irritating. I want effective anti-aging products with powerhouse ingredients. However, it is not worth irritating my skin. Sigh. It is a vicious cycle and the struggle really is real!

Paula's Choice CALM Redness Relief Kit for Normal to Oily Skin:

For today's post, I am going to tell you about my experience with the Paula's Choice CALM Redness Relief Kit for Normal to Oily Skin. I have used this kit for a few weeks and am super excited to share these products with you! If you have Combination skin that is prone to sensitivity and redness, you are going to want to read more!

Paula's Choice Perk: 20% off plus Free Shipping for Pammy Blogs Beauty readers:
How about this awesome deal for Pammy Blogs Beauty readers:
20% off + free shipping with promo code: PRIMPSPRING
Click through this link to get discount!

Details and Giveaway:
To find out more about the amazing Paula's Choice Redness Relief Kit, please click "read more" below! Plus, click through below to enter the HUGE Skincare Regime Giveaway (valued at over $200!):

"Back to School" with Paula's Choice Skincare: Banishing Breakouts!

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"Back to School" with Paula's Choice: Banishing Breakouts!

While I am certainly not going "Back to School" this year, my daughter is and that signals change for the whole family. I find that this time of year and seasonal change always prompts me to revamp my skincare routine! 

After having 2 kids in the past 3 years, my hormones have certainly been on a rollercoaster! My combination skin has been very temperamental. Plus, my skin seems to have different needs in different seasons. Lately, my combination skin has been leaning towards oily and my breakouts seem to have increased slightly. I do not break out very often. However, I do get occasional small blemishes around my nose and on my chin. This is so frustrating! At 41 years old, I find myself in the dilemma of fighting both breakouts and signs of aging at the same time. Sigh! So, what is a girl to do? 

The good news is that Paula's Choice Skincare has a lot of great options for a multitude of skin types. I have been a fan of the line for years. Literally. Reading Paula's "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter" book many years ago was one of the factors that sparked my interest in skincare which eventually led me to becoming a beauty blogger with a skincare focus on my site! With Paula's Choice, I always trust that the products are well researched and formulated. I truly believe that you are getting high-end skincare from Paula's Choice for a great price! Plus, you can't beat the fact that Paula's Choice will consult with you on your skin and make great recommendations for your specific skincare concerns.

After a short phone conference about my skin and my skincare concerns, Paula's Choice recommended the Resist Essentials Kit for Wrinkles + Breakouts. I really enjoyed my skincare consultation! I feel that I got great feedback and some good tips for product use. The Skincare consultant really knew the right questions to ask to probe my skincare needs and concerns. So, the Resist Essentials Kit that was recommended contains the core products that you need for a good skincare routine for normal-oily skin. The kid includes the following four products: cleanser, daily exfoliant, day moisturizer with SPF, and night moisturizer. In addition to the kit, they also wanted me to use the Resist C15 Super Booster (which I have used previously and am already a fan of), the Clear Regular Strength Acne Treatment with 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide, and their new Resist 1% Retinol Booster. 

My Skin:

Before diving any deeper into the products, lets talk a bit more about my skin and my skincare concerns. I have combo skin that is currently combo-oily. My skin fluctuates seasonally and hormonally. So, I vary between normal/combo-dry/combo-oily. It is complicated! I am in my early 40s. So, I am certainly interested in age prevention. I am lucky that I only have a few fine lines at this point. However, I want to keep signs of aging at bay! Plus, I also battle breakouts. I need products that are effective in regards to anti-aging that also do not break out my skin. In fact, I need treatments to prevent breakouts. My biggest skincare complaint is that I have super dark under eye circles. Honestly, I forgot to mention this during my skincare consultation. So, nothing was specifically recommended for this. I totally should have mentioned this when talking to them! Oh well.

So, lets get to my review! To find out more details about each of these products and to hear my first impressions, please click "read more" below! Plus, be sure to scroll down the bottom of my post to find out about a fabulous 20% off Perk discount that I can offer for my readers!

Paula's Choice RESIST Skincare for Wrinkles + Breakouts:Review and Giveaway ($75 Giftcard)!

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I am so excited that I get to talk with you all today about one of my very favorite skincare brands: Paula's Choice! 

Background on Paula and Paula's Choice:

For those of you that don't know Paula "The Cosmetics Cop" or the Paula's Choice brand, let me introduce you! Paula Begoun is one of the main inspirations for why I started getting into reading product reviews and writing them myself! I stumbled across her amazing book "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me" over 10+ years ago. The book is a reference volume of 100s of cosmetics and skincare product reviews by brand. I instantly became hooked on reading product reviews before buying. The reviews are written based on the product formulations. So, the products are evaluated based on the integrity of the ingredients (rather than personal reviews).

I feel like I owe a lot to Paula as she was such an inspiration to me! I have always loved testing out and trying products. I am so happy that I stumbled upon her and her brand! She really did inspire me to be a beauty blogger! :)

Not only does Paula Begoun have a fabulous beauty product reference book, but also she has an amazing skincare and makeup line: Paula's Choice. Her products used to be staple items for me years ago. I found her skincare to be very effective while not irritating my sensitive skin! I still like her products. However, I had not used them in awhile. I do so much product testing (especially with writing this blog), that I switch up my skincare frequently. So, I was absolutely thrilled when Paula's Choice contacted me again to do more reviews! 

Paula's Choice RESIST Line:

Oooooh! Ya'll...I just love diving right into an entire skincare line! Now, I have tried a couple of these products before from the Paula's Choice RESIST line, but I have never tried out the entire line at once. How exciting! When I jump into testing a full line, I tend to add products in one at a time until I am using the complete line. 

Without further ado, lets jump right into my review. I am reviewing Paula's Choice RESIST Advanced Kit, the RESIST C15 Super Booster, Paula's Choice RESIST Instant Smoothing Anti-Aging Foundation, and the Paula's Choice the Nude Mattes Eyeshadow Palette. Plus, you can find out more about how to enter my Paula's Choice Giveaway for a $75.00 Giftcard! Please click "read more" below!

Makeup Wars: Favorite Foundations

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It is time for another Makeup War! This time the Makeup Wars bloggers are sharing their favorite foundations! 

My Skin:

Just for reference, lets talk about my skin! I always like to know a product reviewer's skintone and skin type. I am extremely fair and have sensitive skin. Many makeup lines (especially drugstore) do not have shades light enough for me. Often, in the lines that do go light enough, I am the very lightest shade. My tone is neutral-cool, sometimes a cool tone is the best match and sometimes neutral works better. It just depends. I admit, it is hard to match skintone! Often I think something matches, and then I take it home, and realize it doesn't. There is so much trial and error here. I find that the true test is looking at your foundation in natural light and checking it against your neck and jawline. My go-to blogger for foundation recommendations? The fabuous Phyrra! I find that I often wear the same shade as her or close to the same shade.

Foundation is an essential part of my Makeup Routine. I will fully admit that for everyday, I often opt for just a light dusting of my favorite powder foundation: MAC's Studio Fix in NC 15. However, when I have more time, or just really want to perfect my skin, I use a liquid foundation or a heavier-coverage BB Cream. My go-to BB Cream these days? Clinique's Age Defense BB Cream in Shade #01. My current favorite liquid foundation? Urban Decay's Naked Skin in Shade # 0.5. It looks so natural, the color match is fabulous, and it just makes my skin look great! In addition to these listed above, there are many other foundations that I love! Here are all of the ones that I am currently loving and always reaching for! What I pick to wear on a particular day just depends on the type of finish and coverage I am looking for. :) 

Makeup Wars: Favorite Foundations with Neutrogena, Laura Mercier, Urban Decay

So, here are my current favorite go-to and most-reached-for foundations (in no particular order):

• Clinique's Age Defense BB Cream in Shade #01
• MAC Studio Fix in NC15
• Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup in Shade 0.5
• NARS Sheer Glow in Light 1 "Siberia"
• Laura Mercier Silk Cream Foundation in Soft Ivory
• Paula's Choice Resist Instant Smoothing Anti-Aging Foundation in Level 0 Porcelain
• Le Metier de Beaute Classic Flawless Finish Foundation in #1
• Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup in Classic Ivory

Do you have super-duper fair skin like me? What foundations do you like? I would love more recommendations! What foundations are "missing" from my collection? 

Be sure to click on the thumbnail links below to see what foundations my fellow Makeup Wars bloggers are using and loving! :)

Shop the Post:
Here are my Faves:

XOXO!!!

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Some items were press samples and some I bought on my own. 
I have purchased many of these over and over! :)  

Top Ten Tuesdays: Top 10 Concealers

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Concealers are near and dear to my heart. As anyone with deep/dark hereditary dark undereye circles knows, concealer is a game-changer! Gone are the days of hearing the dreaded "you look tired" comments...a great concealer can banish pesky dark circles!!! So, needless to say, the main focus of my concealer search is finding good concealers for the under eye area. My criteria? I need opaque coverage and heavy pigmentation. Plus, the formula can't be too drying nor too moist. If it is too drying it can accentuate fine lines and if it is too moist it will not be long-wearing enough. Also, the shade must be right! I have uber-fair skin. So, I need porcelain shades and/or color corrective shades.

Top Ten Tuesdays:
For those of you not familiar, Top Ten Tuesdays is a blog link up series where Top Beauty Bloggers share their Top 10(ish) items in a given category. As a list lover, I love to both write these posts as well as scroll through the other Top Ten Tuesdays blogger's lists! What a great way to find out about products that Beauty Bloggers really use and love! Be sure to click through the thumbnails at the bottom of this post to see what my fellow Top Ten Tuesdays bloggers are loving for concealer! :)

So, lets jump right into this week's Top Ten Tuesday feature: My Current Top 10 Concealers!!! 

Ok, so most people probably don't even have 10 concealers in their makeup collection. Well, I am not normal when it comes to concealers, lol...plus, I am a beauty-blogger and makeup lover! Concealers are my jam. Sure, I love my blushes, I adore my palettes...but, my concealers? I can't live without em! I am constantly testing new ones in hopes that it will be "the one"!

Top 10 Concealers with IT Cosmetics, Maybelline, MAKE UP FOR EVER

Please click "read more" below to hear more details about each concealer as well as see more photos and swatches! 

Makeup Wars: Complexion Helpers (Summer Foundation)

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It is Makeup Wars time again! This time the Makeup Wars bloggers are sharing their favorite "Complexion Helpers" or Favorite Foundations for Summertime. 

What are Makeup Wars?

Before diving into my picks for Favorite Summertime Foundations, let me tell you a little bit about Makeup Wars. The Makeup Wars Bloggers are a group of top beauty bloggers that publish coordinated bi-weekly posts. The Makeup Wars bloggers collectively pick topics to blog about (e.g., Top 10 Products, Beauty Pampering, etc). Then, we publish our posts at precisely the same time and link up through the graphic links and thumbnails at the top and bottom of our posts. It is always so much fun to see what products this group of top bloggers is using and loving! 

Foundation in Summer???

Do you wear foundation in Summertime? Me? Not usually. I really go much lighter with my makeup overall for Summer. Typically, I skip foundation and just stick to some concealer and a little bit of powder. However, when I do wear foundation in the Summer, I totally go for different foundations than I do in the colder months. My skin's needs change seasonally. Therefore, my foundation requirements change as well! My skin is much more oily in the Summer. Plus, I prefer to wear foundations with a lighter look and feel in the Summer. 

Sooooooo...what are my two picks for Summer Foundations??? What products are my go-to "Complexion Helpers" for the Summer Season? You are just going to have to click "read more" below to find out! ;)

Spring Beauty Favorites!

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It has been awhile since I have posted a favorites post! There are just so many products that I am loving for Spring right now that I just had to share!!! This month I am all about products that help me get ready quickly, lip products for both color and moisture, and fabulously gentle anti-aging skincare products. 

We are in the midst of trying to sell our house. So, I find that I am always trying to get ready super quick. I need to be ready to get myself, the baby, and the dog out of the door at a moments notice, lol...stress! Also, since I am no longer nursing my baby, I can finally dive into some great retinol-based anti-aging products. The great news? I have found some that produce fabulous results with no negative side effects! Yay!!! Lips? Bring on the color!!! I am all-about looking natural and putting the pop-of-color no my lips. It is actually much quicker to do a simple eye and bold lips. Plus, I just love the lip shades this Spring! So fresh and pretty!

Spring Beauty Favorites with Paula's Choice, Tangle Teezer, Neutrogena

NEW Products in Resist Collection from Paula's Choice: Anti-Aging Foundation and Antioxidant Serum

I am always on the hunt for great foundations for fair skin and for anti-aging skincare that does not irritate my sensitive skin. So, I am very excited to try out these new items from Paula's Choice Resist Collection of anti-aging products! 

Paula's Choice is a brand that I trust when it comes to skincare. If you missed my recent Paula's Choice review for her new eco-friendly Earth Sourced line, be sure to check it out here. Not only am I am fan of Paula's products, but also her book, "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me" was one of my very first inspirations in the world of beauty and product testing. That book really taught me how to evaluate products and to critique them based on ingredients and claims. The book is now updated and in it's 10th edition. I highly recommended it! 

The Resist Collection of Anti-Aging Products:
The Resist Collection of Anti-Aging Products from Paula's Choice promises to smooth wrinkles, build collagen, and fade dark spots.   

I tested out the Resist Ultra-Light Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum and the Resist Instant Smoothing Anti-Aging Foundation. Keep reading to find out all the details on these products as well as find out how I liked them! 

Makeup Wars: Travel Makeup: What is in my Travel Makeup Bag?

It is time for another Makeup War! This time the Makeup Wars bloggers are comparing what is in their Travel Makeup Bag.

I really struggle when it comes to packing clothes for a trip. Actually, I am a terrible packer. I tend to overpack and it takes me forever to decide what to bring. With that said, I am actually pretty good when it comes to makeup packing! I have developed a bit of a system for makeup packing that seems to work every time! Plus, I have a handy new makeup bag that really streamlines the process.

Makeup Wars:
What are the Makeup Wars? The Makeup Wars bloggers are a small group of top beauty bloggers with a serious love for makeup. We mutually pick topics (e.g., Favorite Red Lipstick, Best Fall Look, Most Repurchased Items) and blog-blast our posts at precisely the same time every other Monday. We include a graphic link at the top and bottom of all of our posts so that you, the reader, can scroll through all of our blogs reading different blogger's perspectives on the same general concept. Get a pen and paper ready! I always seem to make my makeup wishlist while reading through all of the Makeup Wars blogger's posts!

Find out what I pack in my Travel Makeup Bag!

Giveaway: Earth Sourced Skincare from Paula's Choice: 6 Winners!!! Enter to WIN!

It is Giveaway time!!!

Recently, I reviewed the fabulous new Earth Sourced natural skincare line from Paula's Choice. If you missed my full review, please feel free to check it out! As a long-term fan of Paula and the Paula's Choice brand, I am excited to see them venturing out into natural and earth-friendly products! I love how they combined natural and effective ingredients into formulas that are truly gentle and good for your skin.

Giveaway News!
The folks over at Paula's Choice are offering a wonderful Giveaway opportunity for Pammy Blogs Beauty's readers! :) They are giving away 6 prize packages of the entire Earth Sourced line (the three products pictured in this post) to 6 lucky Pammy Blogs Beauty winners!

To find out about all of the Giveaway details and to enter to win, please keep reading!