Better than the Beauty Blender

Sam & Nic have done it again! Those two darlings never disappoint. Their real techniques make up brushes are affordable, great quality, easy to clean and super soft. Now enter  The Miracle Complexion Sponge.   I am here to say, I will not be buying a beauty blender again.  The Miracle Complexion Sponge is used just like the beauty blender in that you can dampen it and apply your foundation. It is so soft and I adore the flat part, to press in the foundation and apply it around my eyes and nose. The point is great for concealer under the eyes and for blemishes. To clean it  just use some mild soap and water and air dry.

I highly recommend this sponge! It is a steal at $5.99! You can't beat that!

xo

I sold My Clarisonic!

Yes, it is true! I sold my Clarisonic! My sweet, wonderful Clarisonic is gone. Why, you ask? Well, I have found a cheaper, very gentle classing tool, that I am loving at the moment! It is the konjac sponge! If you have not heard about the konjac here is a little history. The Konjac Potato is a perennial plant native to Asia. It is found at very high altitudes. A natural food source, Konjac is 97% water, rich in minerals and is alkaline, pH neutral which leaves the skin in perfect balance.  I love the fact that it is between 7 and 10 dollars and you only need to replace it every 3 month. Since they are so cost effective, I usually buy two at a time, one for the shower and one for at my sink. My current favorites are the charcoal ( good for acne) and the Asian clay ( dry skin). The Konjac sponge gently exfoliates as it  cleanses the skin. So as of now I don't even miss my clarisonic and I have been SO happy with my little sponges :)

The Konjac sponge that I use if from Dew puff, and I get it on Amazon… Duh?

Here are some more benefits of Konjac~

Packed with minerals and antioxidants

100 % natural vegetable fibres

non toxic

vegan and cruelty free

100% coloring free, additive free and biodegradable

Let me know how you like it :)

Natural Skin Care and A discount code

In today's post I'd like to talk about an amazing natural  skincare line I came across. I have tried it ALL, from very high end to drugstore products, and never can find something that I stick with. My skin is very dry, sensitive and acne prone. I am also not getting any younger so I look for anti aging ingredients.   In the past year, I made the switch to all natural skincare.   In the search for a good natural moisturizer, I came across a recommendation to try Leahlani Skincare based out of Hawaii and found on Etsy. I was skeptical at first, but I decided to give it a try, and I am so glad that I did! The ingredients are natural and the prices were good, so I placed my first order. I purchased  The Aloe Day Cream, The Honey Love, and the Mermaid Mask.

 I have been using the Aloe Day Cream all summer and it is wonderful. It sinks into the skin, and leaves the skin so soft and hydrated with no sticky residue. It is a great base for make up application.  The Aloe Day Cream contains french lavender, Blue Tansy, Geranium and Chamomile essential oils which work together to gently balance hormonal skin flare ups. I have been suffering from hormonal breakouts, so I was truly excited about this balancing blend. 

 The Honey Love is a unique product that sparked my interest. I used to use raw honey to cleanse my face so this product was right up my alley. This product is great because it cleanses your skin with the honey and when you stir it up, you incorporate the crystals that lay on the bottom of the jar and it makes for a wonderful microdermabrasion scrub. If you leave it on the skin, it triples as a mask. It is a jar of pure perfection…. the ultimate in skin multitasking! It is made with a blend of essential oils, vitamins C & E, organic flower powders and Hawaiian raw honey.

Finally, the "super food" for the skin, the Mermaid Mask.  This mask is fabulous, it really is nourishing and soothing to the skin, it has amazing ingredients, to feed your face. It doesn't harden up and make the skin tight, it feels great when  washed off with a warm cloth. It contains  Hawaiian raw honey, Hawaiian spiraling  Chlorella, sea buckthorn, luminess algae and 15 botanicals. "Your skin will drink up this elixir and radiate from within." 

 You can read about Leah from Leahlani Skincare on her Etsy page and browse all her products. I can't wait to try the body oils, perfumes and more! I am so pleased with this line, I had to share it with you… Leah is offering a 10% off promo code to my readers when spending 30 dollars or more. Enter the code BEAUTYBETOLD at checkout!
click here to be directed to Etsy

The "no makeup" makeup look… aka everyday look

Hey everyone! What is your no make up make up look? The things you put on before you run out the door on a busy morning? What are the products you always reach for?

 My skin is NOT perfect like some people, so I always apply some kind of bb cream or tinted moisturizer when getting ready to even out my skin tone. I also HAVE to use concealer, I have dark circles, it's hereditary, no matter how much sleep I get. Ugh, I sound like a beaut don't I? So, I first apply my moisturizer, Then I apply whatever I am feeling that day. Sometimes it is my Dr. Jart bb cream, sometimes I reach for Laura Mercier or Nars, I do have a lot to choose from but I have been reaching for Smashbox camera ready BB cream a lot lately. It gives good coverage and looks natural. It primes, protects, hydrates, controls oil and perfects. If you have had bad luck with BB creams, you may want to give this one a try. They have lots of colors to choose from and I really like the formula.

The concealer I love is from the UK and I have to get it off ebay, so when I run out and I don't have it in time, I normally use the Maybelline fit me. Then,  I will pop on some bronzer to look alive.  I love  Tart Park Avenue Princess.

 I use some blush (I am a huge blush girl) and mascara. This month I have been using my stippling brush and applying the dream bouncy cream blush. I'm obsessed with the feel of this product, so squishy, lol.

Last, I will apply some mascara. I have been reaching a lot this month for the Clump Crusher mascara or The Rocket. They both are good drugstore mascaras for an everyday look. They look natural, don't flake or smudge.

Finally, for lips I just grab some gloss. My thin lips need some help so I use the Too Faced Glamour Gloss volumizing lip gloss and done!

Those are some of my staples for my no make up make up! I would love to know yours! Leave a comment below!

Battle of the Blue Eyeliners

Here are 3 blue eyeliners I have tried… one my hand from left to right are 1. HoneyBee Gardens- Blue Jeans, 2. Trish McEvoy - Arabian Nights, 3. Maybelline master drama-sapphire blue


I love the look of a blue eyeliner, although a subtle look. The picture

 below is not one that I would wear during the day, it is a bit to dramatic for me.  The Maybeline is a great choice because it gives great color and it is from the drugstore, it doesn't smudge and last a long time. The Trish McEvoy gel eyeliner is expensive, that is the downside. It has a very soft application and glides on so nice. You barley have to give any pressure while applying. The color is a dark blue and is beautiful. The last one is the honeybee gardens. I love the color it is like a green blue. It is a natural eyeliner. It glides on smooth, however it did smudge on me. :( I do have oily eyelids, but I did prime them before applying, so I am not sure if it is just me or just the formula.

Dramatic blue cat eye

Natural Deodorant

Hello all and Happy Spring! Finally some warmer weather and sunshine!

 I wanted to talk today about Natural deodorant. How fitting since he weather is getting warmer :) I feel like natural deodorant has gotten a bad wrap. I get that it is not for everyone. Some people really need the strong stuff, especially when exercising.  I don't sweat much, so the natural stuff works great for me. I also love the fact that they are free from chemicals and work along with the body. Regular deodorants contain lots of chemicals including aluminum. Antiperspirants also block the body from releasing and purging the toxins through the sweat glands and end up storing them in the tissue around the armpit area and the breast. So, It's best to try to convert over to the natural side!

Searching for a natural deodorant can be tricky and takes some time to find one that suits you, and your funk! What works for me may not work for you, but here are some of my recommendations.

The first to fight the funk is…. FUNK BUTTER!

 Their website states" You've got the funk, we've got the butter.

The odor-absorbing power of baking soda is behind this natural product, with microfine vegetable powders and Kaolin clay to help absorb moisture and keep you cool. It's exfoliating, moisturizing, and equally effective under arms or between toes. This product boasts one of our longest shelf lives, and a little goes a long way.

Here's a hint: Have your funk butter for sometime and its a bit dry? Add a few drops of oil and stir... voila! good as new ;) "

The second, and the one I am currently using Alvera All Natural Aloe and Almonds deodorant. It smells nice, However it is wet when you put it on since it is a roll on, so you kind of have to do the funky chicken around the bathroom to dry it, or my favorite way ~ put it on right before blow drying your hair and kill two birds with one stone! Dry pits, dry hair!

The third suggestion is Lavilin, This is the one I plan to try next after my Alvera is gone. I am going to get the cream but they do offer a roll on as well. This deodorant claims one application will be enough for days! That sounds awesome to me!

Click this link or copy and paste into your browser

 https://www.vitacostrewards.com/jRHHoJT 

to save $10.00 on your order at vita cost. My FAVORITE place to get all of my natural and organic products!

Clarins Gentle Renewing Brightening Peel

What type of exfoliation do you prefer? Do you like the physical exfoliators, or the chemical exfoliators, or do you not exfoliate at all?

The physical exfoliators are the scrubs that have exfoliating beads or rough particles that slough off the dead skin. I happen to like both the physical and the chemical. It just depends on my mood :) I  keep a facial scrub in the shower and manually scrub once a week.

The Chemical exfoliator is a liquid that exfoliates the skin by wiping away dead skin cells to unclog pores and reveal a brighter complexion. They normally consist of AHA's or Gylcolic acid. All you need to do is soak a cotton pad and swipe the solution all over your face.

My skin is super sensitive and prone to breakouts. I have to be very careful what I use on my skin. My favorite Chemical Exfoliator is by Clarins and is the Gentle Renewing Brightening Peel. It is not a "peel" so don't let that word scare you. It is like a toner but with the benefits of a peel, to basically lift aways all the dead skin cells on the top layer of your skin. It is very gentle, it doesn't sting and it doesn't irritate my skin at all.

The ingredients are ~

• Tamarind fruit extracts exfoliate and brighten
• White nettle flower extracts have astringent capabilities
• Mimosa tenuiflora extracts help soothe skin

This Peel is directed for use only 1 to 2 times per week after cleansing.  I highly recommend this product!

Flat Irons!

Let's talk about hair baby! It's been awhile, right? My sweet cousin Cathy was asking me a question about flat irons, so this post is for you Cathy!  The main goal for flat ironing the hair is to get it sleek and straight right? They make it so complicated with all the different kinds and different prices, then through in words like, Ceramic, tourmaline, titanium, infrared heat, negative ions, say wha? It's not that complicated, I promise. First, start with a shampoo that is SLS free, use a good oil to lube up your hair ( that sounded weird) Like Argan oil, and never flat iron wet hair, that is a no!

Use these guidelines to choose your flat iron:

Ceramic: good for thick to thin hair, frequent use, normal or moderately damaged hair.

Example: Chi flat iron around $90


Tourmaline : Thin to Coarse Hair, normal to Damaged, frequent use


Example:  the GHD flat iron,  around $155 but we are talking semi precious stones people, tourmaline doesn't play. It is crushed and fused together or layered on top of the ceramic to give it that negative ion boost, it is healthy for the hair, and creates less damage, and gives the hair some TLC.  It is worth the extra bucks.

Which one will you choose?

Love you Cathy!

Luvocracy and a Givaway for 10 credit!

Hi Everyone! So, one question…. how much do you love Pinterest? LOVE it right? That's what I thought. Now, I am going to introduce something new to "Luv," it is a social website that you can pin items that you like to different boards, but actually BUY the products, brilliant! You can follow people that you "trust" and then see what things they like and if you like it you can purchase it directly on the Luvocracy  website. I love how you can see what other people like and try their favorite things.

I have created a Spring and Summer board that shows my favorite fashion looks, shoes, accessories as well as beauty must have's for the warmer season ahead. Now here comes the fun part. Luvocracy is giving away a $10.00 credit towards your first purchase to one of my lucky readers! How much do you Luv that?

Here is how to enter the giveaway…. You must click on this Luvocracy link http://www.luvocracy.com/kraft and sign up through my link. ( yes, it's free) Check out my Spring and Summer board! You will "LUV" it "TRUST" me! Can't wait to trust you all on Luvocracy as well!


The Giveaway ends March. 24th and the winner will be announced on April. 1st. Giveaway rules


Good Luck and Happy Spring!

Detangling Spray

Hi Everyone! Do you have issues with tangled hair when you get out of the shower? I always have a spray detangler on hand for myself and my kids. It is not fun when you go to brush you or your kids hair, especially the girls, and hear the complaining because of the knots and tangles. It can be painful!

The first tip to know to avoid tangles and knots in the hair is to apply your shampoo to the scalp and massage it in, let the shampoo coat the rest of the hair and rub into the underside of the hair near the neck. Try not to bring the hair up to the top of your head and rub all around, that will cause knots. No bueno!

In addition, use a good conditioner in the shower and brush it through with a wide tooth comb before rinsing.

After you get out of the shower towel dry the hair and apply a leave on conditioner or detangling spray and comb through.

The detangler that I have been loving is also a heat protectant, so it protects the hair from blow drying as well. It smells so wonderful, very island like, it has a coconut smell that I adore. It is called Beauty Protector and I got it from Birchbox.  However, I also have heard wonderful things about Unite 7 seconds detangler and Its a 10 Miracle leave in.  I plan on buying the Unite after my Beauty Protector is gone so I can compare! Stay tuned!

I also think it is very important to get a good paddle brush to comb through the hair really well to aid in getting out the knots and tangles. Hope this post helps! xxoo

The cutest bracelet and a coupon code!

Hey Everyone!

I hope you all had a beautiful weekend! I wanted to share with you today the cutest bracelet I had gotten for myself and my daughter for Valentine's day. Yes, I bought myself a gift for Valentine's day. I seriously have a habit of buying for myself, while I am buying for others! It happens at Christmas time too! Do you all do that? I tell myself it's okay to treat myself, it's practicing self love :) So, remind yourself of that when you buy something for yourself while buying for others, you deserve it! Be your own best friend!

So, onto the arm candy. I found this adorable shop on Etsy called Tom Design Shop and fell in LOVE.  All the jewelry is adorable, but I chose the gold bangle with a lowercase initial attached. I plan on ordering more. It's so cute layered with your initials or maybe with your kids initials.

Here is the description from Tom Design Shop….

"This charming bangle bracelet is made with a tiny, gold plated, lowercase initial charm, and a gold plated self-closure bangle. Simple enough for everyday wear, and looks great stacked and layered with multiple bangles. Also makes great gifts for bridal parties, birthdays, Valentine’s, graduation or any special event!

Debbie at Tom Design shop was nice enough to give my reader a code to get 20% off! Click HERE to be directed to their shop on Etsy. At Checkout enter code ILOVEDEALS

Let me know how you love their shop! 

February Favorites

Hi Everyone! We are one step closer to Spring and it can't come fast enough! This has been such a cold winter, but that will make us appreciate Spring that much more! That is the beauty of living here and experiencing all 4 seasons. I have had some beauty favorites in the month of February that I thought I would share with you.

First up is a, drum roll please, you guessed it,  mascara! I had to try the new L'oreal Butterfly Mascara.

At first I didn't like it at all. It was to wet and made my lashes clumpy. But after I opened it and it sat for about a week, I tried it again, and LOVED it.  So don't give up on your mascara if at first you don't like it, try, try again!
It's really black, it didn't flake, it wasn't hard to remove and just gave a great lifted voluminous effect. Definitely, the mascara I have been reaching for all month long.

Another drugstore winner for me was the Maybelline Dream bouncy blush. I am a HUGE fan of blush. I LOVE it! I may even put too much on, but I don't care, hehe.
 I have heard mixed reviews on the dream bouncy blush, but decided to see for myself, and I am so glad I did. I put it on with my real techniques stippling brush and applied a little bit of a powered blush on top to set it in place. I like the glow of a cream blush and the dream bouncy did just that, worked like a dream. My new favorite cream blush. Maybelline, you did it again.


Next up is a body wash. There is an organic market right up the street from my house that I am obsessed with. I go at least 3 times per week, sometimes more. I am like a kid in a candy shop with health food stores, I will get my drink, walk around a look at all the natural products, smell the oils, look at the books, buy a new tea ( another obsession my tea cabinet looks like the shelf of a grocery store) and yes, pick up some groceries. On one of my market hauls, I bought THE BEST body wash ever. It smells like a creamsicle. Remember those as a kid? The orange Popsicles with the vanilla cream in the middle? They were my favorite! Well, this body wash smells just like that. Best of all it  is natural with no yucky chemicals.  I'M. IN. LOVE. By the way, I am craving a creamsicle, I may just bribe the kids to get them instead of their normal choice of scribblers!

Andalou Naturals Mandrin and Vanilla Body Wash, with aloe vera and mandarin vanilla, ahhh, smells SO good. I can't wait to buy the lotion.

Last, but not least, my MyChelle Fabulous Eye Cream. I have tried my share of eye creams, and this one is not the cheapest but not the most expensive either. It is priced right in the middle and works better at hydrating than the more expensive brands I have used. I like that it's all natural, and it smells really nice and floral and we will see if it helps with the fine lines. Stay tuned.

What have you  been loving this month??

Insta Awake!

Rimmel Nude Eyeliner 005

Hey Guys! Hope you had a great weekend! Ours was good and filled with 5 basketball games, a birthday party, a sleepover, and some school projects. Needless to say, It was busy and it was so nice to enjoy the warmer temperatures, we needed a little break of the cold and snow!

Today I wanted to talk about a little trick to fake that you had a good night sleep :) I'm sure all you moms out there can appreciate something that can make you look a little more rested!  I sometimes pull this trick to open my eyes, and try to look a little more awake. It is a simple trick of lining the waterline of your eye with a nude eyeliner and also curling the eyelashes to open up the eye for "wide eyed" look. The eyeliner I choose to use is the Rimmel Nude eyeliner. It is a creamy eyeliner, and is a great price. You can find it anywhere Rimmel is sold. I purchased mine at Ulta.

I also curl my eyelashes, not everyday, but when I remember :) The eyelash curlers that I love are the Shiseido and the Shu Uemura, they both are great, they grab the lashes at the root and give them a lifted appearance.

Rapsberry Lemonade cake

I know this is a beauty blog but cake is beautiful don't you agree??  In honor of my daughters birthday, I decided to post a cake recipe. We have had so many cold and snowy days, I am thinking spring and what screams spring and summer better than strawberries and lemonade?

 This one is a wonderful cake that should be in your recipe box. It is the perfect summer cake that is light and full of flavor. It is easy to prepare and you can make it a day ahead of time ( minus the cool whip step), because it gets more delicious as it gets colder. My family loves "poke"cakes and I have made so many variations but this one is a top favorite next to the lemon lime and basic strawberry of course. A no fuss cake that is easy to bring along to your next holiday gathering or barbecue. Enjoy!


Raspberry Lemonade Cake via Betty Crocker

 12 servings

 1 cup very hot water 1 box (4-serving size) raspberry-flavored gelatin 1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® white cake mix 1/2 cup frozen (thawed) lemonade concentrate 1/4 cup water 1/3 cup vegetable oil 4 egg whites 1 container (12 ounces) Betty Crocker® Whipped vanilla frosting 1 cup frozen (thawed) whipped topping 1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries, if desired Lemon peel strips, if desired 1. Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with baking spray with flour. In small bowl, mix hot water and gelatin until gelatin is completely dissolved; cool slightly. 2. In large bowl, beat cake mix, 1/4 cup of the gelatin mixture, 1/4 cup of the lemonade concentrate, the water, oil, and egg whites with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes. Pour into pan. Reserve remaining gelatin mixture and lemonade concentrate. 3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Poke warm cake every inch with fork tines. Remove 1 tablespoon of the reserved gelatin mixture to microwavable custard cup or small bowl. In another small bowl, mix remaining gelatin mixture and remaining 1/4 cup lemonade concentrate; pour slowly over cake. Cool completely, about 1 hour. -

Here's to Spring!

Review: Physicians Formula CC Cream

From tinted moisturizer to BB Creams and now onto CC creams… what will be next? Maybe DD creams for the drab and dull skin, haha… All jokes aside, the buzz is that DD Creams are going to be next!
I have tried many bb creams with much success, so I wanted to try a cc cream. I didn't want to spend a lot of money so the new Physicians Formula Super CC+ line was a great option because it was only $14.00!  I really love PF products. I especially love their bronzers, blushers and eyeliners. So, needless to say, I was excited to go to Ulta to try their new Super CC+. For those of you that are new to CC creams, they are a color correcting balm. However, this one is a color correcting and concealing cream.

Overall, I was not impressed by this balm. It was much like a tinted moisturizer, which I liked, but the color was a bit off, and it was too "cakey". I felt like it settled into my fine lines. It did last throughout the day but,  I generally was not impressed by the finish of the product.  Everyone has different expectations of their foundations, tinted moisturizers, so this product may be a win for you, however it was not a winner for me!

Yogurt face mask

I love to make homemade face masks. The girls like to do it with me and we have a spa night together.... I just love having my  girls to do that kind of stuff . My boys are so special and adorable, with their curious little minds, however they probably would be more into mud masks than this yogurt mask I am about to talk about!

It is important to try to incorporate natural products into your beauty routine, and this mask is all natural ~ just as far as your refrigerator and pantry! It combines plain Greek yogurt, because it is thick and creamy, as well as raw honey, to help with dryness. My skin is dry, so I put the full fat organic Greek yogurt and raw honey in, but if you have oily skin, use the less fat yogurt and you can leave out the honey if you wish and add some lemon juice.

Yogurt has antibacterial properties and its lactic acid content clarifies pores, soothes inflammation and softens the skin. The probiotics present will help with acne and eczema. Honey is a natural antibacterial and moisturizer.


Organic Yogurt Face Mask

1/2 cup Plain full fat organic Greek yogurt ( less fat if you have oily skin)

1 tsp. Organic Raw Honey

(oily skin) add 1 tsp fresh lemon juice

Mix together and leave on 15 to 20 minutes. Use a soft warm cloth to remove.

Happy Spa Night!

How do you start your day?

How do you start off your day? Do you drink a warm cup of coffee or tea? It always feels so good to have a warm beverage first thing in the morning. I use to drink tea every morning, but I try to limit my caffeine intake, and I  realized that I actually need caffeine in the afternoon rather than in the morning. So, I replaced my morning cup of tea with a warm cup of water with the juice of half a lemon.
Sometimes I put a little bit if raw honey, but most days I just drink the lemon water plain.
Starting your day off right will help you to feel good and make healthier choices throughout the day.
The benefits of lemon water are outstanding. It is way better for your body than a cup of coffee or tea loaded up with cream and sugar, which is the way I would drink it!

Here are some health benefits of drinking warm lemon water:

~ High in Vitamin C and Potassium ~ boosts your immune system, wards off colds and illnesses, helps control blood pressure.

~ High in pectin fiber, aids in weight loss and helps fight sugar cravings.

~Aids in digestion ~ helps loosen toxins in the digestive tract.

~ Balances your PH

~ Prevents hydration (hydrates the lymph system ) and adrenal fatigue.

~ Clears skin from the inside out

~ Promotes healing with it's anti inflammatory properties.

Lemons also can change your mood, their beautiful bright yellow color and uplifting aroma, will lift you up and give you a positive jolt, without the caffeine!

2013 Favorites

Favorites of 2013! I tried many products in 2013 and this post is going to be my VERY favorites of the year. The things I reached for most, and what I really enjoyed. I hope you find this post useful and maybe you will find something new to try out!

Favorite Tinted Moisturiser :

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser

BB Cream:

Dr. Jart Black Label Detox and Smashbox Camera Ready

Concealer: Super hard to find because it is sold in the UK. Try E bay

Collection 2000

Highlighter:

 The Balm Mary Lou Manizer

Blush:

Benefit Coralista

Mascara:

Maybelline the Rocket and Estee Lauder Sumptious Extreme

Body Wash:

anything from Pacifica

Face Wash:

Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Balm

Face Masque:

Mint Julep

Hair Masque:


Macadamia Deep Repair Masque