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Spring means it's time for a refreshed outlook on life and that doesn't end when it comes to your beauty routine.  Since you'll be showing more skin and being more social, it's a good idea to refresh your beauty supplies so you are pampering yourself on a daily basis.  Here are 5 of my must have products this Spring!

Somaluxe Brightening + Collagen Peptide Serum || This is a super impressive product when it comes to collagen in my beauty routine.  The collagen peptides in this brightening serum help lighten dark spots and even skin tone.  It's packed with vitamins, amino acids, and natural antioxidants that work to repair, brighten, and resurface skin. At 31 years old, my skin has been through a lot and it's starting to show! After several weeks of using this I noticed that my complexion seemed to glow and my skin tone looked really even.  It even made I look lifted and more alive. It was easy to add to my current beauty routine since I just applied this serum to my face after washing and before moisturizing.   

Somaluxe Rapid Facial Line Filler || This product is ideal around my eyes where I have fine lines and wrinkles starting to appear.  It uses hyaluronic acid to fill spheres and improve my skin's natural volume.   My wrinkles and fine lines actually have filled in and I see a big difference in the folds of my eyes which is where I was concerned.  I know everyone seems to want to get some type of surgery to take care of wrinkles but honestly, this is the ideal non-surgical alternative to fillers and pricy restylane treatments.

The really cool thing about both of the above products is that Somaluxe makes their products and ingredients 100% in the USA utilizing small batch production.  Their facility is in Oregon and it's actually powered using 80% wind energy and 15% solar power energy.  Seriously, they go out of their way to sustainably make these products and not destroy the land or work with suppliers that destroy the land.  Another great reason to add these 2 products to YOUR beauty routine.

TokyoMilk Perfume || I recently discovered TokyoMilk products thanks to a subscription box and now I'm hooked. Their scents are amazing. I loved their hand lotions so much that I wanted to get perfumes to match the scents. Their scents are light and airy and are a great size to keep in your handbag so you can reapply throughout the day.  Don't get me wrong - I love designer perfume but sometimes I get caught in a drooling dream world of using different scents are brands. 

Farmacy Honey Drop Moisturizer || What a fun product.  First of all, I'm obsessed because it comes in this beautiful jar with a little metal scoop that sticks to the top of the jar when you're not using it thanks to a magnet.  It's SO LIGHTWEIGHT and I struggle to find moisturizers that don't clog my pores.  I actually wear this under my makeup and it makes my makeup last longer throughout the day and it doesn't make my skin look greasy.  I haven't had breakouts in so long now since I've been using this moisturizer so I know it's keeping my skin nice and hydrated.

MoroccanOil Glimmer Shine Finish || I am obsessed with that silky sleek look of my hair after I get it done at the salon so I am stoked that I finally found a product that gives me that look EVERY time I use it!  Not only that but the smell is AMAZING!!!! It only takes a few spritzes of this spray to get a nice silky sleek gloss to your hair after styling.  Sometimes I reapply it throughout the day and especially on days when I haven't washed my hair because it actually gets rid of that mousey look!


Which of these products are you most excited to add to your routine?

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[Our Weekend] Date Night, Fall Decorating, + LipSense

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This weekend was pretty low key but still pretty eventful. I always share everything going on in my life on social media and not so much on here. I guess I just got lazy. But from now on I'll post weekly with everything that's happening. But if you aren't following me on social media yet make sure you do, especially SnapChat (EllenR886) because I try to keep it super funny!

 So it was time for our monthly date night and this time we had a gift card so we went to Greystone Public House.  This place is so beautiful and classy, both inside and out.  They also have a nice selection for Gluten Free and Vegan folks. 

 We started off with the veggie board which includes gluten free pita and squash hummus.  There were also roasted Brussels sprouts, carrots, and beets!

 I got a glass of white zin as well!

 For dinner I chose the Veal Porterhouse which was mouth wateringly amazing and I have to say it's the best meal I've had in a very long time.

 James got the slow smoked prime rib. It was fantastic. It literally melts in your mouth!

 Told you it was the best meal ever!

 For dessert we had the Chocolate Turtle Mousse! It was not only gluten free but very rich and filling.

This was out last date night as an engaged couple because our next one will be at the end of October after we get married.  Our date nights are planned out well in advance since we have crazy schedules with James' work having him on call every couple of weekends. 

When we got home we decided we'd have a fire and invite the neighbors over.  Of course I had already taken my makeup off but I figured a little lip color wouldn't hurt. So I decided to try out LipSense!

 Boring dull lips before....

 With LipSense you clean and dry your lips then shake the bottle of color.   Then you put three layers on with a 10 second break between each layer.  You swipe in one direction as you apply.  You keep your mouth open, you don't touch your lips, and you can use an oil-based makeup remover to fix any mistakes.

 Then after the color is on in 3 layers you can add the gloss.  It seals the color and moisturizes your lips. And if you want your color to last even longer you can re-apply the gloss before meals.  The colors I used were: Mauve Ice and the gloss was Gold Glitter.

 Even though I was dressed super casual I felt super glammed up.  So what is LipSense? It's a long lasting liquid lip color that is guaranteed for 4-18 hours.  It's waterproof, smudgeproof, kiss proof, and doesn't dry your lips up. It's also lead-free, wax free, gluten free, vegan, kosher, and is NOT tested on animals. 

 So I thought it was really unique that this makes my lips tingle when I put on the color.  It's because of a cosmetic grade Denatured Alcohol which is in the tube to create a bacteria free environment. Once the gloss is on the feeling goes away though.  It's normal for the first two weeks of use.

 You can even mix colors with each layer.  And to remove you just use an oil-based makeup remover. 

 The weather has been nice and cool lately (hello Fall!) so we had a fire again. 

So the porch is ready for Fall as well. I got rid of the potted herbs and wiped everything down real well and it's perfect for hanging out on cool nights. 

 

And of course it's time to decorate for Fall!

 I even made little potted flower arrangements out back.

 Here's our front door!

How was YOUR weekend? Do anything fun?

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Ohhhhh Sun Exposure...

Everyone who knows me knows that I love the sun. In fact, Google Earth actually caught me laying in my backyard last summer tanning.  I'm not even kidding. 

See?


Anyways, the sun makes me happy. Feeling it on my skin makes me feel alive and happy.  The warmth makes me feel so comfortable and secure.  The smell of the heat almost makes me giddy.   I recently read in a book about aging that your body NEEDS the sun.   More specifically it needs 15 minutes of unfiltered sun exposure a day to get the nutrients and vitamins it needs. 


Obviously that doesn't mean to burn yourself or anything, but that walk to and from your building each day is giving you some exposure that your body needs.


While reading that book I got paranoid and thought "Oh my God, so the only way to protect my skin from cancer is to completely cover up everything at all times, but how is that possible??!"  It's not really all that possible.  But the good news is that it's not necessarily a bad thing if a sliver of the sun hits your arm here and there.   Obviously all kinds of sun exposure can contribute to cancer depending on the person and their skin but it's the sunburn that really ups your chances of skin cancer.    So when you see me post about laying out in my backyard, catching some rays - there is NO need to reprimand me.   I have proof that I protect myself. I really do! In fact anytime I've ever laid out whether it's at home or at the beach, I've covered myself with sunblock AND I still get a beautiful healthy looking tan.  So yes... my proof... I put it all in this blog post to prove to you that I do take care of myself, while still enjoying what makes me feel alive and happy.  


So without further ado, here are the ways and products that I use to help protect my skin.

For my Face
My face is the last thing I ever want to burn because I want to avoid wrinkles as long as I can but also - who looks good with a red face? No one!  So I use CeraVe Sunscreen for the face.  It's an SPF of 50 and I reapply it every hour.  I love the consistency of it.


For my Hair
I love my hair color and I spend good money to get my hair cut and colored every few months.  So of course I don't want that to go to waste. If I am out in the direct sunlight I wear a head wrap.  I don't care how un-sexy it makes me look.  It protects my hair from fading and getting highlights that I don't want. The sun can do just as much damage to your hair as it can to your skin. And when I'm casually gardening I wear a gorgeous sun hat.


For my Body
I got news for you - if your sunscreen has anything less than SPF45 it's basically useless.  I use SPF 70 and I still get a nice color with NO burn.  Sun Bum is my favorite because it smells amazing and sprays right on.


For my Lips
I laugh when I DON'T see people put something on to protect their lips when they lay out.  Red and blistery lips are THE WORST.  So I found this awesome new stuff in one of my magazines and I tried it a few weeks back - I LOVE IT! It's by Supergoop and it comes in your typical lip applicator. You can even use it as a protective top coat over your favorite lip color!


So see? I'm not an idiot.  I'm rather smart when it comes to sun safety!


What do you guys use?

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My Weird "Thing" with Hair Ties {{+ a giveaway!}

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I don't know if any of you have noticed but I ALWAYS have a hair tie on my wrist.  

Seriously. Ever since I can remember I have always had to have one on me in case I need it.  Throughout the day I often tie my hair back to keep it out of my face whether it's for 5 minutes (the walk to my parking garage) or for an hour during a workout. 




Just look at all the photos of me with a simple black hair tie on my wrist.

I told you!!

I am so weird sometimes but I just HAVE to have hair ties with me.   I do wear them quite often...for instance:

- working out
- running errands
- cooking
-walking to /from my parking garage for work
- non-hairwash days
And plenty of other random times. 

I often wonder how people can live their life without a hair tie on their wrist.  I'm not even kidding! I really do wonder that from time to time. 






Well Goody has went and made some gorgeous items that will look much better than plain old black on my wrist and in my hair.  Introducing the NEW Goody Winter Wonderland Collection!

These are perfect for holiday festivites or to gift as stocking stuffers.  The headwraps are soft and lacey and add some sparkle to any look.  I love the pastel elastics and the sparkly hair ties.   

The thing about the Goody Ouchless Winter Wonderland Elastics is that you get the same great hair tie and all day comfort.  They are made to last through 100 ponytails which is 10 times more ponytail per elastic.  So stocking up on these will last a fair amount of time. 

The Goody Ouchless Winter Wonderland Headwraps are soft and stretchy and are great for dressing a relaxed look up a bit.  They don't slide off my hair either...it's a miracle!

The Goody Ouchless Winter Wonderland Ribbon Elastics are soft and stretchy and these are great to wear on your wrist when you don't want the look of a boring old hair tie.  They do a great job holding my thick hair back. 

They even have a Goody Winter Wonderland Value Pack that comes with 20 elastics, 4 ribbon elastics, and 10 bobby pins.   It only costs $5.49 so this is perfect for gifting.

And one lucky winner will get a sample pack from Goody!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Fake A Sun-Kissed Face

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Yes, it's true - I'm being fake, except I'm actually doing it for health reasons since it's not good to bake in the sun all day.  So to fake a sun-kissed look I use some of my favorite products from Borghese!

If you are craving a dewy sun-kissed look - these Borghese items are perfect.  The Perfetta Radiante perfecting makeup gives skin a healthy glow all while toning and protecting it against UV rays.  It's full of vitamins for your skin so it will help you look pretty not just now but later!    The Eclissare Color Eclipse ColorRise Blush in Stunner is a soft rose gold that shimmers and shines.  It goes on so smooth too!  Eclissare ColorStruck Lipstick in Swoon makes lips pop while Edge lets you go nude! Shiny, smooth, and chic!

See the thing about exposing your skin to real sunlight is that it can cause wrinkles, fine lines, aging spots, and obviously moles and possible skin cancer.   So any way that you can avoid it and fake a tan is a much better alternative.  I also use self tanning lotion over my entire body, including my face.   So to have makeup that amplifies that even more is such a luxury.

What do you use to help fake a sun-kissed face?

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Some of My Favorite Skin Products This Week

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Lately I've been using some amazing products on my skin despite the heat and it's been making a huge difference. 

Fango Active Radiance Facial Oil - This stuff is a blend of botanical oils like Sweet Almond, Avocado, and Grape Seed to hydrate and protect skin.  It also is packed with anti-oxidant rich vitamins to help soothe dull and dry skin as well as nourish and restore lipid loss that happens with aging and the environment.  My skin glows and is so soft now.   It even has helped the elasticity of my skin.   And it's not gunky or oily at all and absorbs right in!
 

Fango Active Mineral Micellar Cleansing Water - This mineral water cleanses skin without rinsing.  It saves me time and energy.  It's infused with skin soothing ingredients like Grape Seed, Avocado, and Sweet Almond and calms my skin after an intense day.  It doesn't dry out my skin either, instead it leaves it super soft and smooth.  The Micellar technology uses gentle micro-particles to trap impurities like a magnet and cleanse the skin while clearing pores.  It's even a make up remover and skin toner all in one.

What products do you use on your skin in the Summer?

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My Hair + Naat Brazilian Keratin Daily Care

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So I have been using Naat Brazilian Keratin Daily Care on my hair the past few weeks and I am absolutely in love with it.  It works with all hair types to repair cuticle damage.   The Green Keratin is the main ingredient in this line and it helps seal hair cuticles to reduce volume and frizz.  That's perfect for summer humidity and my hair! It also strengthens hair fibers while leaving my hair shiny and soft. I can't believe how healthy my hair is now! It's also free of sodium chloride.  

The mask was such a treat for me to pamper myself with in the shower.  Honestly I feel like I got salon-quality results from using this line of products at home.  I also noticed my hair's volume was turned down a bit so I didn't have to leave the house feeling like I had my hair flying every which way because of the rainy weather or the humidity in the air. 

I also have to say the smell of this line is AMAZING!!!!   It stayed with me for several days after washing my hair.   Everyone has been commenting on the soft feel of my hair.  I am so in love!    I wash my hair every other day and sometimes every 3rd day.

 

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A Safer Tan with Cocoa Brown

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So I did something huge recently.  I booked an appointment with a dermatologist.  I also stopped using tanning beds.   Of course I couldn't say goodbye to my tan that easily.  So I vowed to find a tanning product that was safe but would keep me tan and feeling great.   So I started to use Cocoa Brown Gentle Bronze Gradual Tanning Moisturizer.  Until now, I have been afraid to use products like this because I was worried it would leave streaks or stain my hands and clothing.  

 

I am IN LOVE with this stuff!  Not only does it leave my skin soft and hydrated but it doesn't have an icky smell and helps me build my color up each day to a nice gentle bronze.  It's so easy to apply and it only takes a couple minutes until I can get dressed. I saw results within the first few days. 

 

Someone at work even told me it looks like I was at the beach!  Success!  It seems to work perfect with my complexion anyways and I love that a little goes a long way.   I am so in love with this Gradual Tanning Moisturizer!    I just wanted to share this little tip for those of you out there that want to do the same and be more careful with your skin and the sun!

 

 

 

 

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