Beauty of B.B. Creams

B.B. creams have been around for awhile, but they've become really popular recently and pretty much every major cosmetics brand has come out with one.  I love B.B. creams because you can wear them alone when you don't feel like using multiple products.  You can also use them with foundation and primer for completely flawless skin.  B.B. creams are great at giving you the appearance of awesome skin since they cover up pores, even out skin-tone and help hide any blemishes, but still look natural.  They are now a must-have for my makeup routine.

Below is my take on a few different B.B. creams I've tried:

Boscia:

My absolute favorite so far!  It comes in just one shade, but it adjusts to match most skin-tones so it blends in well and completely covers up your pores and any acne scars, while still giving you sheer coverage.  It evens out your skin and can be worn alone.  It doesn't cake or look like you are wearing any makeup, which is a huge plus.  Sometimes, I use it with primer and foundation and it's amazing.

Clinique:

Horrible!  I love Clinique and was excited to see that they had a B.B. cream.  However, this is the worst B.B. cream I have tried.  The shades that it comes in do not blend in at all with my skin.  They look way too light and very obvious.  Another big problem is that the B.B. cream flakes and cakes only a few minutes after applying it so it looks like you have a lot of product on your face.  I also found that it actually settled into my pores and made my skin look like a dry, rough mess.  I did try the suggestions of warming it up on my fingertips before applying it, but that didn't help.  Overall, I found this B.B. cream just totally unflattering on my skin.


Garnier:

This B.B. cream is a good cheap alternative to some of the more expensive products on the market.  It comes in 2 shades that blend in well with your skin so that it is not noticeable that you are wearing any makeup.  It has pretty sheer coverage and does a nice job of camouflaging most flaws, and minimizing pores.  However, it doesn't make skin look as smooth as the Boscia does.  I recommend applying moisturizer or sunscreen BEFORE putting on this cream because applying them afterwards does cause the B.B. cream to smear and in some instances, can cause a lot of it to be removed so you end up having to reapply it.

L'Oreal:

Really like this one!  It's affordable and provides great coverage.  It comes in 4 different shades and is easy to blend.  A cool thing about it is that the cream itself has a pearly white appearance that changes color to match your skin-tone once you apply it on your face.  It doesn't cake and it really helps smooth out your skin.  When it's combined with foundation, it gives your face a nice glow.

Low-fat Holiday Treats with Torani Syrups

As a member of the SheSpeaks program, I had the opportunity to participate in the "Torani Holiday Cheers" program and try out Torani Syrups.  These syrups come in a variety of flavors including some classic holiday treat favorites.   The syrups can be used in your coffee for a low-cal sweet.  The flavors I received were the Sugar-Free Salted Caramel and the Gingerbread and both were delicious. 

I used my Torani syrups to flavor my coffee and I felt they were a great substitute for some of the tempting holiday desserts.  I'm trying to not overindulge in sweets this holiday season and these syrups arrived just in time.  The Gingerbread only has 100 calories for 2 Tbsp and the Sugar-Free Salted Caramel has 0 calories so they are both a nice alternative to the over the top sugary desserts that are all around us this time of year.  The flavors of the syrup really enhanced my coffee.  The Gingerbread syrup has the yummy mix of molasses and cinnamon and tasted just like I had a Gingerbread cookie in my coffee.   The Sugar-Free Salted Caramel reminded me of a caramel toffee type of brittle.  You can make all sorts of drinks with the syrups.  I chose to add the syrups straight to my coffee.  Below are my super simple drinks:

Gingerbread Cookie Coffee

1 cup strong brewed coffee
2 Tbsp Torani Gingerbread Syrup

Mix together coffee and syrup and you have the taste of a freshly made gingerbread cookie.

Salted Caramel Coffee 

1 cup strong brewed coffee
2 1/2 Tbsp Torani Sugar Free Salted Caramel

You can change up the amount of syrup you add to adjust it to your tastes, but I found that the above amounts give you just the right level of flavor.  

Try out your own drink combos by experimenting with different flavors.  Click on the link below for a discount on your Torani purchases and start experiencing a whole new way to drink your coffee.
 

10% off Coupon

Enjoy and let me know your favorite Torani Syrup recipes!

December Discounts!

People StyleWatch December discounts are here just in time for the holidays!  There are some awesome retailers participating this month, including some of my personal faves, such as BCBG, Kenneth Cole and White House Black Market.  Thanks to the Style Hunters Network, I'm happy to share these great deals from the pages of the magazine with you guys.

Happy Shopping!  Feel free to post some of your best finds!

From Dec. 7 to Dec. 25, enter “PSW15” at checkout for a 15% off discount on the piggy bank featured in the issue. bcbg.com

From Dec. 7 to Dec. 23, present this page in stores or enter “KCPSW” at checkout for a 20% off discount on full-price merchandise.

From Dec. 7 to Dec. 23, enter “13010” at checkout for a 20% off discount on full-price merchandise.

From Dec. 7 to Jan. 11, enter “StyleWatch” at checkout for a 20% discount on the clutch featured in the issue. Justfab.com

From Dec. 7 to Jan. 11, enter “PSW4ES” at checkout for a 20% off discount on the bag featured in the issue. mimiboutique.com

From Dec. 7 to Jan. 11, enter “PSWHOLIDAY” at checkout for a 20% off discount on the necklace featured in the issue. maxandchloe.com

From Dec. 7 to Jan. 11, enter “PSWDEC12” at checkout for a 20% off site-wide discount. windsorstore.com.

From Dec. 7 to Jan. 11, enter “FRENCHSECRET” at checkout for a 20% off discount on the item featured in the issue. vabienlingerie.com

Gold and Black for the Holidays!

 

 Beauty Morsels:  Holiday Looks

Gold and black is a great combo for the holidays.  The gold really catches people's attention, without being too flashy.  It gives just the right amount of sparkle/shimmer and will help you shine at any party.  I love these shoes because the cute bows on the shoes add the right touch of fun, while still being chic.

Victoria's Secret Stores: Tips to Avoid Getting Denied Use of Your Coupons

I love Victoria's Secret and I spend a lot of money there on pretty much all of their merchandise, especially online.  As a result, I end up getting many of their coupons and offer cards in the mail.  These are great to use to save money on lingerie, clothes, beauty products, etc. and even for free items.

However, Victoria's Secret associates are notorious for trying any which way they can to deny you the use of your coupons.  They always have some bogus reason for not allowing you to use a coupon and I'm honestly really sick and tired of dealing with this BS.  I have no idea why they take it as a personal insult whenever a customer has a coupon and always want to tell you that your purchase doesn't qualify.  You immediately see a shift in their attitude as soon as they see your coupon.  It's ridiculous and I've never had these types of problems at other stores when redeeming coupons.

Just this past weekend I encountered a problem when I went to use my "$10 off any purchase" card on a body mist that was exactly $10.  It's a long story, but here are the basics:

As soon as the employee saw the card, she said I had to make a purchase of over $10.  I told her the card didn't say that and that no minimum was specified.  I also told her I had called customer service and they verified that I could use the card on an item that was $10 before taxes.  I also informed her that customer service said to call them from the store if there were any issues.  She just totally ignored me and continued to argue in an obnoxious and rude way.  Without even scanning the card, she claimed the register wouldn't let her ring up the transaction.  I didn't budge and was about to call customer service, but she finally said she'd do it as a "one-time courtesy", and warned me that I couldn't do this next time.  Again, total BS.  She scanned the card, and, guess what?  The register took it with no problems.  

I know they get away with doing this because many customers just let it go and that's why they continue doing it, but I wanted to post my tips for making sure you don't get turned away.

Tip #1

Read the rules and exclusions carefully to make sure your purchase actually qualifies.  You can't argue or insist on something if you are in the wrong.

Tip #2

Call customer service to check that your understanding of the offer is correct.  Once they verify the info with you, they will tell you to call them from the store if you experience problems.  Have this number handy when you go to the store: (855) 866-5810.

Tip #3

Don't back down if you are following the rules of the offer/coupon.  Inform them of the stated rules and let them know you already contacted their customer relations team to confirm that your purchase qualifies.  These associates are well aware they have no right or justification for denying most coupons, but will try to see if they can get away with it.

Tip #4

If the associate is still refusing to honor the coupon, call customer service from the store and have them speak to the associate.  The employee will have to honor the coupon.  Usually, it doesn't go as far as calling customer service, though, but it's nice to have them to fall back on, just in case.

It's unfortunate that most people have to go through such a hassle to get their coupons honored.  This bad customer service is what really turns me off from shopping at the stores and I almost dread getting offers in the mail because of the ordeal to redeem them.  

We earned these offers through making previous purchases and I don't see any reason why we should be shamed or made to feel bad about taking advantage of the coupons that are sent to us.  As long as you abide by the stated rules/polices, it's not their business to prevent you from getting a good deal.

I hope these tips help you guys use the offers that you've rightfully earned.  Feel free to share your Victoria's Secret store experiences in the comments section.

Makeup Remover, Cleanser and Moisturizer All-in-One

One of the keys to good skin is making sure you completely remove your makeup.  Makeup that's left on your face can clog your pores and make them bigger, not to mention cause you to break out more. However, sometimes it's just such a hassle because you often have to use multiple products to really get rid of the makeup.  In the past, I've had to use a cleanser followed by a makeup remover and a separate eye makeup remover.  It's a lot of steps, which I was getting tired of especially when I come home late and just want to crash.  

I needed a multi-tasking product and I finally found a great one with the AVEENO ULTRA-CALMING Makeup Removing Wipes.

These are great because they are very gentle on your skin and don't cause any irritation even if you have acne-prone skin like I do.  They can also be used to remove eye makeup, particularly mascara, which I always find difficult to remove.  They don't sting your eyes like some other products do.  With other makeup wipes, you have to use a separate eye makeup remover for that reason, but with Aveeno, you can use it all over your face and get your makeup removed in one easy step.  

It may sound weird, but I feel these wipes truly live up to their name because your skin actually feels soothed when you use them.  I came home late last night and was exhausted, but when I used the wipes, I instantly relaxed and my skin felt better.  The wipes act like a cleanser to clean your skin while removing makeup and you get the added bonus of moisturizing your skin at the same time.  After I use these, my skin is soft and has a dewy appearance to it, which I really like so I sometimes use these in the morning in place of my usual cleanser.  Some people have complained that the fragrance is too strong, but I personally like it and don't find it bothersome at all.  Another plus is that you can take the Aveeno anywhere so even if you're on the go, you can still make sure you treat your skin well.

Create Smokey Eyes in 5 Minutes!

Smokey eyes are one of my go-to makeup looks because of the smoldering effect they give your whole face.  It's something that works for all eye colors and can transition your look from daytime to nighttime.  Although, it may seem like it takes a lot of effort to achieve a smokey eye, it's actually really easy to do and with these tips, you can get the effect even if you're in a hurry.

5 Steps for 5 Min. Smokey Eyes

Step 1: Pick the Color

Choose one color for your smokey eye and pick a matching eyeliner. 

Step 2: Prime your Lids

Use an eyeshadow primer on your lids, followed by a thin layer of foundation.  Then sweep on a nude or light shimmer colored shadow.

Step 3:  Lining your Eyes

Using your eyeliner, draw a line around your eyes. If you don't have steady hands or your eye blinks too much to draw a straight line, simply make small dashes as close as possible to your lash line and then connect them.  This is a great way to avoid mistakes.  I line the inner rims of my eyes for a really dramatic effect.  Blend with a q-tip.

Step 4: Eyeshadow

Sweep a layer of eyeshadow close to the lash line with an eyeshadow brush.  Add another layer of     eyeshadow and blend upward so the color fades evenly from your lashline to your crease.

Step 5: Polishing Touches

Use a q-tip to blend or clean up any eyeshadow.  Finally, apply two coats of mascara and you're good to go!

Fragrances to Warm Up Your Winter!

I love wearing perfume especially during the winter and fall months because the scent is just strong enough for those cold days and nights, but it's not as overpowering as it is during the summer.  Perfume also makes a great holiday gift especially because it's something that makes someone feel pampered and sexy.  It's really one of my favorite things to put on before going out and I love experimenting with different scents so I am beyond excited that the Style Hunters Network is giving me the chance to try out some perfumes from the Coty fragrance line!  Below are the fragrances that I'm going to be receiving:


 

           

I've never tried any of these fragrances before so I can't wait to see what notes they each have.  Once I get the perfumes, I'll update this post to give you all the details about the scents and how long the wear lasts.

In the meantime, you can also enter the "Wrap Up Your Fragrance Contest" below for a chance to win a trip to LA (my hometown) and experience an awards show or red carpet event. These events are always a lot of fun to attend so good luck! 

Visit www.wrapuptheperfectfragrance.com to enter.