Go-To Facial Products & Skincare Regimen

I'm a creature of habit when it comes to my skincare regimen. Although I love trying new products, I have go-to products I've been using for years. These products work well for my skin, which isn't overly sensitive but still prone to random acne breakouts if I neglect to take care of it. I've also added a few new products to my long-term regimen.

I've never had a professional skin evaluation but I'd say I have a combination of oil & dry skin depending on the weather.

The Body Shop Face Toners · L'Oreal Face Scrubs & Exfoliants · Cetaphil Face Cleansers

Clarisonic Mia:
 I use it once per day in the night to fully clean my skin and remove any extra dirt/oil or makeup. I'm not sure if there's any other product on the market that can clean this well and, according to the website, "Clarisonic has the power to clean 30x more age-accelerating pollutants than manual cleansing". I believe it.

Philosophy's Purity Cleanser:
This cleanser is somewhat new to me but it's a keeper! I've been using it for about 3-4 months and I love how it makes my face feel super soft. I use a small amount with my Clarisonic to clean and purify every night. Definitely recommend it if you're looking for a gentle cleanser!

L'Oreal Go 360 Clean Exfoliating Scrub:
For an inexpensive facial scrub, I really like this one. I use it a few times a week to clean and exfoliate my skin. I like that the scrubbing beads are very gentle on your skin.

Olay Makeup Remover Towelettes: 
I don't use these too often but towelettes are always handy to remove makeup after a long day or night out instead of getting in the shower. I typically use towelettes and then still wash my face with a cleanser to fully remove all makeup and oil/dirt. I also take these towelettes with me when traveling.

Body Shop Camomile Eye Makeup Remover: 
I've been using this makeup remover for over 10 years and it's my absolute favorite. I've tried so many others and hate how messy or oily some removers can be. This one is fragrance free, removes eyeliner & mascara instantly and very gentle on your eyes. Definitely recommend it!

Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar:
 I use this bar of soap every morning to wash my face and K has also hoped on the bandwagon. It's a gentle face cleanser so great for dry or sensitive skin and leaves my face feeling clean and hydrated before I start the day and apply makeup.

Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion: 
This is an at-home Microdermabrasion treatment that's meant to smooth dry & dull skin away to brighten your complexion. The instructions say to use only once a week but the results haven't been incredible so I'll probably discontinue use altogether when it runs out.

Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimizer:
Helps makes your pores look smaller and the tea tree ingredient is also very soothing. It's advertised as having a matte finish to prevent shiny skin but since I ran across Benefit's POREfessional, I've stopped using this product. The texture just doesn't compare or do the job as well as POREfessional

Body Shop Tea Tree Blemish Gel:
Not sure how well this works by itself but definitely helps with acne when used in combination of the other Body Shop tea tree products. It provides a soothing feeling for acne without drying out your skin and you can use it on the go.

Body Shop Vitamin E Summer Face Lotion: 
I bought this several years ago and rarely use it because I prefer my Olay daily hydrating moisturizer. I bought this product because it's supposed to provide a gradual tan for your face but I don't like the slightly shiny texture for everyday use so probably won't purchase again and looks like it's been discontinued by The Body Shop.

Body Shop Tea Tree Cleansing Toner: 
Love this toner. I only use it once or twice a week but I like the tingly and refreshing feeling that tea tree products give off. I use it to remove dirt, oil and any last remains of makeup. It's also great for oilier skin types to remove shine and help prevent acne without drying out your skin.


What are your favorite skincare products to clean and keep your face looking rejuvenated?

Glam Series: Benefit Cosmetics

Benefit has become one of my favorite cosmetic brands. I was always more a MAC & Clinique girl but I'm beginning to love more brands sold at Sephora & Ulta. Benefit offers a few unique (and great quality) products such as the POREfessional and High Beam Highlighter that help create that celebrity look every girl wants to achieve.

How do you BENEFIT? by martinis-bikinis featuring benefit makeup

 POREfessional Pore Minimizer:
Works great to minimize your pores and prime your skin before applying foundation. It's an oil-free formula that has vitamin E so it also helps to add another layer of protection. This is a fairly new product to me (that I was convinced to buy after reading great reviews from other bloggers) but I'm really loving how it works because I have bigger pores on my cheeks and forehead.

High Beam Complexion Enhancer:
This is a shimmery pink liquid highlighter that helps to create a nice glow. It's often called "supermodel in a bottle" and great for all skin tones. I use my fingers to lightly dab and blend it onto my cheekbones to contour and create a shimmery glow.

I got 2 sample size Benefit products: the Watt's Up Highlighter and They're Real Mascara free for my birthday for being a Sephora Beauty Insider so I've been using these two since December.

 

  

Watt's Up Highlighter:

This a cream-to-powder highlighter that helps create a champagne glow. I mainly use it on my browbones but you can also use it on your cheekbones to get that "wow" factor.

They're Real! Mascara:
This silky mascara lengthens, curls, and volumizes your lashes and lasts all throughout the day. I love the brush head which has staggered bristles to boost volume and separate lashes which helps to prevent clumping.

Hoola Bronzing Powder:

This is a great contouring powder bronzer that can also be used to highlight features on your face. I use a light amount on my cheeks, chin and forehead and it helps give you a natural-looking tan. I hate looking pasty white in the colder months.

Joining Jordan today for the Glam Series. 

The Glam Series: Hair

Current hair color: blonde highlights and low-lights

Natural hair color: dirty blonde/light brown 

Hair type: thick/wavy

Preferred hair style: blow-dried straight

My blow-drying process typically looks like this: I clip my hair up and blow-dry in sections. It gets quite frizzy at first and slowly the heat tames the frizz and waves. It takes me about 15-20 minutes to go from wet & wavy to dry & straight.

I can usually get my hair about 95% straight from blow-drying and then use the flat-iron to straighten out any extra frizz which takes a minute or two. 

Hair secret: Keratin treatments approx every 6 months to tame frizz and waves.

Since I started getting Keratin treatments about 2 years ago, I use Keratin products to prolong it's effects. Most Keratin products can be a bit pricey but you can find the Organix product line at any drug store for half the price. I use both Keratin Complex by Coppola and Organix Keratin Therapy shampoo and conditioners. (Organix smells better and is cheaper).

Redken Hair & Scalp Treatments · Keratin Complex Hair Care · Chi Blow Dryers & Irons

Keratin Replenishing Treatment: I use this as a
blow-drying treatment. I rub a penny size amount throughout my wet hair before blow-drying. It's supposed to open cuticles and infuse keratin proteins and emollients into the hair

Ionic blow dryer: I recommend any Ionic or Tourmaline blow dryer. Mine works great and has cut blow-drying time in half since I upgraded from a cheap hair dryer.

Chi Hair straightener: This is my baby and wouldn't recommend a better flat iron. They are also becoming more reasonable in price from places like Ulta & Sephora.

Hair serum: I own a number of different brand hair serums. These are the perfect final touch after styling/flat-ironing to calm any fly-aways or frizzies.

I've got straightening my hair down pat but still totally suck at curling my hair. I just bought a new curling iron and really need advice on how to get some nice, loose curls.

Joining Jordan today for The Glam Series.

    What's your hair secrets?

Makeup Products & Brands I Live By

I used to mainly buy Mac makeup & cheaper pharmacy brands, but I've been testing out different makeup brands from Ulta and Sephora and now I have a variety of go-to products that I love and use on a daily basis.

Urban Decay Eye Shadow · Tarte Face Makeup · Stila Lipstick

Smashbox High Definition Concealer: ($22) This concealer works great for covering up blemishes and dark spots before applying foundation. The consistency of it is long-lasting throughout the day and the tube also lasts a long time making it worth the price.

Tarte 12-hour Coverage Foundation: ($38) I've tried a number of foundations and this one (made with amazonian clay) by far provides the most coverage which I like since I tend to apply makeup in the morning and do not have the time to re-apply during the day.

Gel Eyeliner Pencil: ($8 Avon or Ulta brand) I like how gel eyeliners apply smoothly and thicker/bolder than regular pencil liners. Even better, the cheap Ulta brand works just great for me.

The Original Naked Palette: ($52) If you're not already familiar with Urban Decay's Naked Palettes, they are the bomb! These palettes are great because they offer a great variety colors to get a casual daytime look or a more bold nighttime look.

Maybelline Falsies Mascara: ($6.99) I've tried mascaras that are 10 times this price and I always come back to this one. I use Falsies on a daily basis but I also have some Mac mascaras that I use for more bold/nighttime looks.

Stila Color Balm Lipstick: ($22) This is my most recent makeup purchase and I love the colors that they offer if you're looking for a rich, moisturizing lipstick that is long-lasting.

Clinique "True Bronze" Powder Bronzer: ($26) I LOVE this bronzer and use it every day... I literally don't leave home without it! After applying foundation, I dust a light amount all over my face to get rid of the pale/flat look that foundations can cause especially on lighter skin. This bronzer gives your face a nice refreshed glow to start the day (or night).

Mac Eyeshadow Pigments: ($15) I own a variety of these power shadows and use the lighter/neutral colors on a daily basis for work and the bolder colors for going out with friends. You can find pretty much any color you're looking for and they last quite a long time so it's definitely worth the price. 

Urban Decay Primer Potion: ($20) I don't always remember to apply primer, especially when I'm rushing in the mornings but I definitely love how it works and it really helps to prolong your eye makeup and prevent creases.


Joining Jordan today for The Glam Series.

    What face makeup do you live by?

Skin Cleansing Systems: Clarisonic Mia vs. Olay Pro-X

I had been using the Olay Pro-X for about 6 months until my lovely girl friends gifted me a surprise upgrade to the Clarisonic Mia for my birthday in December.

My routine has been to use the cleansing system with a gentle cleanser once per day, typically in the night to remove any extra makeup and oil/dirt on my skin.

The Mia was an upgrade indeed as you can see the brush head is much bigger than the Pro-X with a lot more density to provide a deeper clean for your skin. 

For the price difference, you would definitely hope for better results when you compare the Pro-X at $30 retail and the Mia at $125 retail.

I'm not by any means bashing the Pro-X as I really liked it up until I received the upgrade so I would still recommend it if you are looking for an inexpensive cleansing system. It works just fine but you get what you pay for ;-)

As for the Mia, I really like how it thoroughly cleans my skin and makes it feel super soft especially when used with the Clarisonic Gel Cleanser that came with it.

The other great thing about the Mia is that there are several brush head options you can purchase depending on your skin needs such as deep cleaning, sensitive skin, and acne cleansing. So far, I've stuck with the normal brush head and it works perfectly fine for me.

I'm curious to hear everyone recommendations or experience with skin cleansing systems.

Joining Jordan today for The Glam Series.

Influenster's Violet VoxBox Product Reviews

I found out several weeks ago that I got selected to review the Violet VoxBox and it finally arrived in the mail with lots of free goodies to test!

Inspired by this season's dark, moody florals, the Violet VoxBox is for the beauty queens of Influenster Nation. If you're not familiar with Influenster, it is a free service that sends goodies for you to test so you can share your thoughts with your social networks. The Violet VoxBox is the second box I received and I'm loving being an Influenster member so far.

These are the items I received in the Violet VoxBox:

Sally Hansen Triple Shine: ($4.99) This is a great quality nail polish that I'll definitely use often. The orange color isn't ideal for the holidays but it will definitely be great for the Summer and Fall months. The polish texture dries shiny/glossy, true to it's name, and doesn't chip easily so it's perfect in my books.

Goody Athletique Adjustable Headband: ($6.00) I'm happy that they sent me a headband because I use them regularly to pull back my hair to wash my face or for working out. This one is great because it's adjustable unlike all the other ones I own.

"Not Your Mother's" Clean Freak Dry Shampoo: ($5.99) I use dry shampoo weekly since I only wash my hair every couple of days. I find this dry shampoo works just as good as another brand I was using from ULTA. It has a nice smell which is hard to find for dry shampoos so I'm really happy I received this item to test and will use again as the price is affordable.

SoyJoy Dark Chocolate Cherry: This baked whole soy & fruit bar is all natural and gluten free. I'm more of a savory than sweet person so I'm not the best person to review SoyJoy bars but I saved it for when I was craving something sweet after dinner and I really enjoyed the rich chocolate taste at only 140 calories.

Montagne Jeunesse Red Earth Clay Mask: ($2.49) I tried this mask tonight after taking a shower and it left my face feeling "baby soft". The mask is different to all others I have tried because it's looks like a paper cutout that's saturated with the red earth clay. You place the cutout over your face for 10-15 minutes. I really liked how the clay made my face feel afterwards but the cutout was slightly too big for my face so it was a little awkward applying it. I'd be interested to try more of their masks.

*I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes and all reviews are my true and honest opinion of the above products.*

Product Review: Self-Tanning Lotions

I've done the tanning bed thing along with spray booths & airbrush tans but my most recent craze is self-tanning lotions. They're aren't harmful for your skin and you can somewhat control how much or little of a tan you get.

I aim for a gradual & natural look...nothing crazy just prefer not to be the color of the wall, that's all. So far I've tried 4 different sunless tanning lotions with very different outcomes/effects.

My #1 Pick:

Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer
(Retail price: $9.99)

For the price, you can't go wrong and it gives me the gradual/natural look I want. You can slowly build your tan over time if you use it as your daily moisturizer.


So Bronze Tinted Lotion 
(Retail price: $29.99)

It's quite pricey and I think it worked too well or maybe I shouldn't have bought the Medium/Dark lotion because I almost turned into a different race. It also dries very quickly so it's hard to spread/rub it evenly onto your skin. I may or may not try the Light/Medium one in the future.

Ulta Bronze Self-Tanning Lotion with SPF
(Retail Price $8.99)

Didn't notice any color difference in my skin so won't be purchasing this one again. Note: I bought the Medium Deep lotion color which had no effect on my skin.

Banana Boat  Sunless Tinted Lotion 
(Retail Price: $7.99)

Barely worked. Didn't notice any major color difference, however I did buy the Light/Medium Color so I might try the Medium/Dark in the future.

Any other recommendations for sunless tanning products?

Healthy Snacks Under 100 Calories

Looking for snacks that are not loaded with calories or fat? 

Here's my go-to list:

~ Sabra hummus (2 tbsp = 80 calories)

~ EAS Protein Shakes (I use this as a meal replacement for breakfast or a pre-workout snack)

~ Nature Valley Thins (80 calories)

~ Laughing Cow Cheese (35 calories)

~ Blue Diamond Almonds (100 calories)

~ Babybel Gouda cheese (80 calories)

~ String Cheese (Approx 70 calories)

Anyone have any other suggestions for low calorie snacks other than fruits and veggies?

Mary Kay® Glamor Look VoxBox

My VoxBox arrived in the mail last week from Influenster and I love the Mary Kay® products they sent me to test. I was happy to try a new makeup brand since I mainly use Mac, Urban Decay and Clinique along with some cheaper brands such as Revlon and Maybelline.

The Mary Kay© kit came with:

~  Lash Love Lengthening Mascara (I ♥ Black)
 ~ Mary Kay Lash Primer

~ Cream Eye Color in Violet Storm

~ Cream Eye Color / Concealer Brush

~ True Dimensions Lip Stick in Pink Cherie

I was impressed with the quality of Mary Kay's makeup products. My favorite is the lipstick ~ I love the smooth/creamy texture which is moisturizing like a chapstick and I really like the color they chose to send me (Pink Cherie).

The lash primer and mascara looked great on my eyes. I've never actually used Lash Primer before but I can see the difference in the density of my eyelashes, which aren't usually very thick or long. The mascara brush is different from all others I have tried and is designed to prevent clumps.

The Cream Eye Color was super easy to apply. The color - Violet Storm - looks like a dark purple but, when applied, it goes on very lightly so it works good for my skin complexion.

I will definitely be purchasing some more eye colors for everyday use.

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes

What's your experience with Mary Kay® products?

Adios Bellas!

Summer Must-Haves

With the holiday weekend in just a few days, I wanted to share some of my summer must-haves and fave products for 2013.

#1 - Mix and match bikini tops & bottoms from VS.

#2 - Banana Boat Sport Performance Sunscreen - I swear by this sunscreen and have spent 5+ hours in the sun without burning.

#3 - A Nice Big Beach Bag - I got this one for free after spending $70 at VS. It looks small in the photo but it fits everything I need - 2 towels, a change of clothes, snacks/water bottles and everything else you need to take with you to the beach or pool.

#4 - Waterproof Mascara - I use Maybelline Volume Express Turbo Boost and it works great.

#5 - A Cute Hat - I found this Straw Fedora for only $9.99 from Charlotte Russe.

#6 - Self Tanning Lotion - I've been using ULTA brand (and Jergens Glow in the past) to get a little head start. It doesn't make you look like Snooky. Promise.

Joining the Wildcard Wednesday Linkup today for the first time...

What's your must-haves for fun outdoors in the sun?

Todays Trends: Customize Your Glasses

I was recently contacted by Firmoo to get a free pair of eye glasses to review on my blog. I opted for the sunglasses since I live in Florida and pretty much need them to survive.

If you haven't heard of Firmoo yet, they are an up and coming eyeglasses store online that offers fashionable and affordable prescription and non-prescription eye-wear.

I chose Wayfarer style frames with 60% grey tint.

The Firmoo wesbite allows you to customize the style and color of your frames & lenses and provides exact specifications for all frames so there is no uncertainty with sizing etc. You can also upload a photo of yourself to see how the glasses look on you before you purchase. The pricing is also very affordable compared to any (brick & mortar) optical store I have been to before.

Just so you know, Firmoo is offering First Pair Free to all my friends/followers/family. Basically, you can get any pair of glasses for free by paying shipping only. I think this is a pretty good deal.

I'm very happy with this newest addition to my accessory wardrobe and will be wearing them a lot  since they can pretty much match most of my outfits :-)

As I mentioned above, I was given a free pair of sunglasses from Firmoo to review on my blog but did not receive any additional compensation. All opinions expressed above are my own.

Product Review: Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil

A couple months ago I received this small purple bottle along with some items that I ordered online from ULTA. I had no clue what Maracuja oil was so I put it to the side and kind of forgot about it. Last week I decided to do some research online.

Turns out Maracuja oil is a nighttime facial moisturizer. After reading about all the benefits mainly the 3 listed below, I decided I must try it:

Smoother: Moisture-rich formula replenishes & hydrates skin
Firmer: Nutrient-rich essential fatty acids repair & rejuvenate skin
Brighter: Vitamin C awakens skin for a healthy, radiant complexion

I have been using it every night for the past week and I LOVE it!  It makes your skin extremely smooth and is perfect for this time of year when the cold weather tends to dry out your skin. It isn't oily and absorbs very quickly also it doesn't have a bad smell...it smells okay. For the past 10 or so year, I was using an Oil of Olay facial moisturizer daily and nightly and so far I prefer how my face feels and looks with Maracuja oil, at least for the nighttime. 

Instructions: After you get out of the shower, rub 2 to 3 drops into the palms of your hands and then spread evenly on your face and neck.

Downside: The tiny bottle of Tarte Maracuja oil is $46 retail at Sephora and Ulta, which is a huge bummer!!