Bring in the Aquaphor healing ointment….

Aquaphor healing ointment can be used to treat minor cuts and scrapes as well as chapped/cracked skin and lips.  During the cold weather it can also help ward off the effects of wind and cold weather.  It’s great for all seasons.  I love to keep in handy in my purse for the above mentioned cuts.  My daughter is the active one and there is not a day where you don’t see a scrape or cut on her so I can clean it off and apply just a bit of the ointment to protect the cut until we get home.

Another product that I am in love with from Aquaphor is  their lip repair treatment:

Florida beach fun can make kisses with my husband not so enjoyable when my lips get dry and chapped from hours spent playing in the sun.  Thanks to Aquaphor lip repair that worry is no more.  I use the lip repair several times daily and it keeps my lips smooth and soft, sneaking a sweet kiss from my guy is perfect and pain free!  My kids also deal with peeling lips from sun dry out during the summer and this is perfect for them as well.  They can apply a bit and go about their fun.  It truly is a lip saver.  During the hot, humid months here on the gulf coast we will be getting a lot of use out of the Aquaphor products and I am sure my skin will thank me!

WIN IT:

One reader will win a prize pack that includes a $50 Visa Gift Card, Aquaphor Healing Ointment, and Aquaphor Lip Repair. Enter using the rafflecopter form below!

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I did receive prize pack the same as being given away to try the products featured and as a thank you for my time. All opinions are my own and not influenced in anyway. For more on my policies please see my disclosure under the PR Friendly tab.

It’s true, one of the addictions I have is to make up. Although I guess I should rephrase and say to eyeshadow and lip products. Mascara, foundation, powder, concelear I can pretty much be happy with one or two. Bring on the eyes and lips and the need to have 20, 30, or say 300 different colors sets in. I am not sure if it’s a sickness or just the want to express myself in different colors but I am not happy with one quad of nude colors and one quad of pinks…give me all of them. I just recently ordered three different Coastal Scents palettes from Amazon after seeing one of them featured in a “how to make yourself look like Barbie” video.

*On a side note, the video was quite informative although not useful until a costume party rolls around. I did decide I do love the person behind the video and have subscribed to their YouTube Channel, MichellePhan has some great tutorials. Just sayin’*

Anyhoo, in the video she had a palette that caught my eye and immediately I just had to have it. Since I had been building up Amazon gift cards in my account I decided it was time to treat myself and treat myself I did. Check out my haul:

That is the Coastal Scents 78 Piece Makeup Palette and it has eyeshadows galore along with a few blushes to almost complete your look. Check out some of the bright colors they have! How fun is this going to be.

I also picked up the Coastal Scents 88 Color Palette, Warm lots of warm colors. So day or night you are covered. Smokey eyes, natural look you name it and it seems this palette has it.

Of course I had to grab up the Coastal Scents 88 Original Palette it has a lot of bright fun colors I want to play with. In addition to the three palettes above I also picked up the Coastal Scents Eclipse Concealer Palette because sometimes we need a little extra help looking our best. Especially when you can’t seem to sleep past 4:30 in the morning, that makes for tired eyes and sometimes dark circles. And if you live or visit the Florida coast you may get a little bit pink from the sun so you want to be able to even that skin tone out, I think this will be great to have on hand.  Now I am just waiting for the Coastal Scents 22 Piece Brush Set to come available, it’s had some great reviews.

I am excited at my little makeup haul and my daughter was equally excited because she got to help me clean out makeup which means she adds to her play makeup.  Makeup and I have a lot of fun, whether eyeshadow or my favorite lip product as featured here, it’s always fun to experiment with your look.  I definitely have a lot of experimenting coming with all these fun colors.  And these would make a great gift for mother’s day if your mom is into makeup!

What about you, do you have a vice (makeup, shoes, purses, books)?

*Please note the above are my affiliate links so if you use them to purchase I get a teensy amount, in other words you will totally be my hero by helping me add to my makeup collection.

I am a girly girl, it’s something I happily share with everyone.  One of the things you will find in my bathroom that secures the fact I am a girly girl is the makeup.  After all can you really have too much makeup?  That’s a big resounding no for me.  I like to have light colors, dark colors, matte colors, shimmery colors.  I have to have colors for all occasions, times and outfits.  After all a true girly girl uses makeup like an accessory and knows the difference between daytime and night time looks.

Recently I was approached about reviewing PixiGlow, the new line in Pixi makeup.  Pixi beauty was started about 10 years ago by Petra Strand who has 20+ years experience as a makeup artist & product developer and real-world experience as a busy working mother of two. Pixi is truly about multitasking, flaw-fixing, youth-enhancing products for women on-the-go with no time to spare. Pixi’s mission is the same now as it was on the first day the Pixi store opened: simply to bring out the natural beauty in all women – to make women look like themselves, only better.  PixiGlow, in the line, was inspired by Disney’s Tinkerbell and was made to help women find their own glow.  They had me at glow.  I love looks in the spring/summer season that are light and shimmery, essentially making me “glow”.  This line does just that.

I noticed right off the bat the colors in this line were perfect now that the warmer weather has made it’s way in. Light and shimmery they just give you that warm weather feel.  When I wear makeup one of the things I don’t like is to look like a clown, meaning the makeup is so heavy you could find me starring center stage the next time the circus comes to town.  Pixi must have had me in mind when creating PixiGlow because it was shimmer city but in a classy way.  The first thing I tried was the Fairy Face Palette ($34.00).  The blush from the palette added just enough color to be seen without going overboard.  The eyeshadows in the palette were the same and with colors that can be used both day and night all your bases are covered.  While the lip colors in the palette are not shimmery they do compliment the tones of the shadows and blush.  This is great for me to throw in my purse when I know I am going to be gone all day and will need to freshen up my face.   I have to be honest this wins first place for me.

Next I tried the Magic Tink Tint ($16.00).  It’s basically a crayon for your lips.  I loved this because it goes on clear and adjusts to your bodies pH level and you get your own color.  Your own personalized color, so when someone asks “What is that color you are wearing?”  I can say “Toni’s Color”.  Both my daughter and I tried this to see what would happen….I got a bit of a brighter pink while hers was more subtle.  It is made using jojoba oil, peptides (which plump fine lines), vitamin E, shea butter, vitamin A and rose extract so your lips are getting a treat of soft goodness and perfect color.

Straight On Till Morning Liner ($14.00) is just that…a liner that lasts (or for me it did).  It’s a cross between dark brown and olive, it’s very complementary to each of the eye colors.  The key thing I loved about this liner was it’s ability to last.  I put it on for a date night with my husband and hit the sack the minute we got home without washing my face (don’t follow that example).  When I woke up the next morning it was still beautifully in tact and I was shocked.  Waterproof and long-lasting this liner should pass the test for staying standards.  I can’t with certainty say it will be there if you are out running or getting sweaty but let me know the results if you try that

PixiGlow’s Catching Shadows Crayon ($18.00) is a cream to powder eyeshadow to make your lids look luxurious.  With a very subtle and neutral color it does just enough to bring attention to your lids. Going on smooth, this look is great alone or as a starting point.  I have been using this during the day when I want to stick with a low key look and in the evenings I use it as a base color to build upon. Because it’s a neutral color I can use it with pretty much any color I want…pinks, browns, you name it.

My daughters favorite was the Fairy Dust-Moonlight Luster ($14.00), it’s made with pearl powder so you can get that bright look.  This eye makeup is so shimmery and it reflects light so draw attention to those beautiful eyes.  I personally wouldn’t use this all over my eye but I LOVED it for along the upper lash line.  It just adds a new dimension to your eye look and really brightens your eyes (or it did mine).  My daughter loved the shimmer it had and the fact it was “fairy dust”.  You could use this instead of liner when creating your look.  It’s a thicker line but it works.

Last was the PixiGlow Nail Colour ($8.00).  This color screams spring, it’s called pirouette pink and it immediately made me think of a ballerina.  If you are looking for a low key color this isn’t for you.  It’s not neon pink but it is bright and it’s a winner here especially with my daughter who loves girly nail colors.

I am very impressed with the PixiGlow line and have made it part of my daily beauty routine most days.  The colors and subtle glow are sure to stay with me throughout the warm weather seasons.  Whether it’s for a daily look, a girls night out, or a date night this line of beauty products will be used often by yours truly…well if I can keep my daughter from stealing it.  You can pick up PixiGlow at Target or at Pixiebeauty.com (along with other Pixi products).  Get a look that is right for you and bring in the warm weather with a glow!  This line would make a great gift idea for a birthday present or upcoming Mother’s Day.

First up Ultra Sheer Moisturizer ($54):

Ultra Sheer Moisturizer by SkinMedica is very simply what it says it is. A morning and evening moisturizer that I used under my makeup for daily moisture needs, it was light feeling, which I love. I do not like moisturizer that feels oily and heavy. Being oil-free (this particular moisturizer) it’s great for me during summer because I am prone to breakouts and have to use oil-free products on my face. Containing vitamins C and E your face is protected and nourished with the Ultra Sheer Moisturizer. I really am enjoying it and love that a tiny bit goes a long way, so don’t use a lot. I only use it on my face but you can use it on your neck and décolleté as well.

Next up is the Tri-Retinol Complex ($55):

The Tri-Retinol Complex is an anti-aging treatment that is sustained release so it works while you sleep. It, like the moisturizer, is light and airy. It went on smooth and a little went a long way. You only use this in the evening, on your face and neck Be sure to use something that has an SPF of at least 20 because it can make your skin more sensitive to sun (I bring out the 50 for my face). I noticed over the last month not a big change but a small hint of firming, which I hope is a testament of what is to come. You only use a single pump (which is a tiny amount) for your face, don’t overdo it!

Overall I am impressed with the feel of my skin from the moisturizer. My skin is getting a nice cool drink of water before my day starts and again before it ends. The subtle change from the Tri-Retinol Complex is making me excited to see where my skin goes from here. I am sure if I used it every single day the first two weeks the change would have been different. I have gotten better the last two weeks and look forward to making it a regular part of my skin care routine and having healthier (and prettier) skin!

WIN IT:
One reader will win of each of the items I reviewed in this post which is a $109 value! Enter using the rafflecopter form below

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Disclosure: Thank you to La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre and/or representing PR firm who provided product for both review and giveaway.  No other form of compensation has been given.  Opinions, as  always, are my own thoughts and honest.

X Out is from the makers of ProActiv, which is a big name in skin clearing, and is made especially for those teens who don’t want to do more than one step when it comes to clean skin.  X Out is a 1 Step process that is geared toward busy teens according to their FAQ page “School, homework, sports, clubs, dating, the internetz—we get it. So we designed X Out™ to fit your crazy busy lifestyle by doing all the acne fighting you need in just 1 step. That’s why X Out™ is the anti-hassle, anti-drama, anti-breakout wash-in treatment. It’s the acne help you need.”

I don’t know about your teen/tween but mine wasn’t thrilled at the aspect of doing 3 or more steps to keep his skin clean and breakout free so when we were approached about doing the X Out test drive it was an easy decision.  It hasn’t been a month quite yet since we have been using it but I have noticed a difference.  He was lucky to just be entering the stage of skin problems so he really didn’t have much to conquer.  He did have a few bumps and over the last couple of weeks using X Out during his morning shower and right before bed I noticed them go away.  Smooth sailing (and skin) makes X Out and easy choice for my tweens skin care needs.

His thoughts on X Out were “I like it because it’s only one step, and it’s easy”  No truer words were ever spoken.  X Out works in other ways than just a 2 Minute wash.  We used it as a spot treatment for the bumps that were trying to appear and away they went.   You simply dab it on the area and leave it overnight.  You can also use X Out as a 10 minute deep cleansing mask, which we haven’t tried that but I am all for masks!

We were very impressed with the ease of use and the clearing of the minor skin bumps he had.  X Out will definitely be something we use continually (and I have two more kids coming up). Now you can enter to win a 60 day supply of X Out for your house! Simply enter in the rafflecopter form below.

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I wrote this review while participating in a testdrive campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of X Out and received a X Out product sample to facilitate my review, one to giveaway, and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

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• Skin Care Lessons With My Soon To Be Teen. X Out Test Drive (juststopscreaming.com)

My son is just starting to have to deal with problem skin and while he is lucky and doesn’t have to deal with really bad acne, I want him to start now to hopefully prevent it from becoming bad. That is where X Out comes in. It’s a 2 minute 1 step wash that is going to fit my son’s busy lifestyle while working deep in his skin to stop and keep away break outs. The 1 step part is what really sold us, my son isn’ t going to want to stand there and do 3-5 steps to keep his skin clear..what can I say, he likes the quick and easy and that is just what X Out seems to be.

There are 3 ways you use X Out:

• As the twice daily wash. This is what will clean your skin and keep it clean.
• As a spot treatment overnight to treat any acne that pops up
• As a mask to get an even deeper clean. Simply leave on for 10 minutes then remove with warm water.

With spring/summer just around the corner sweat and oils make their appearance and that is something flawless skin doesn’t mix well with. X Out is here to help keep my teens face clean and fresh with just twice a day 2 minute washing. When used twice a day X Out is working deep under the skin in the pores to get all the “dirty” out. X Out has the acne fighting power of benzoyle peroxide with a sulfate-free solution. X Out also provides a QR code to scan so your teen can be entertained while washing. So, we’ll be trying this over the next couple weeks and I’ll be back then to let you know my soon to be teens thoughts on using X Out!

I wrote this review while participating in a test drive campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of X Out and received a X Out product sample to facilitate my review, one to giveaway, and a promotional item to thank me for participating.  All thoughts are my own and not influenced by reception of items.  For more please see my disclosure.

That is the look I have had for the past 1 year and 5 months, which in Toni hair dying length is EONS..  So, today it was time to lighten up.  A fresh look for 2012, when possibilities are all I need.  I almost had a panic attack when I found out my stylist was no longer at the salon, come to find out the salon closed and she is working from her home or your home which you prefer.  I have to say, being able to stay in my PJ’s and get my hair done in the comfort of my home was a bonus.  So today, yours truly here, went lighter for 2012.

Blonde suits me much better anyways, I have many a blonde moments so it was time to go back to this color.  Not to mention I love that it brings out my eyes.  2012 is going to be a great year I can just feel it, so it was time to brighten up the look.  Now I’m ready to run full force in 2012!  I am a serial dyer so in a few months, it could be black cherry….only time will tell but for now I am loving my blonde!

So, do you like?  What about you, have you ever dyed your hair?  

It’s Friday and I am starting something new in the new year. If you want to join in please do, it’s so much fun learning what other people love. I am going to post “Friday Favorites” each week. I hope to vlog it every week but that will depend on time I have of course. Very simply, it’s a post to share my favorite things with the world!

This week it’s all about the lips..no my favorite things are not lips but rather something to make them “SHINE”. Want to know what I am talking about?  Watch the video then…

So there you have it, I adore M.A.C Cosmetics glass line. High shine, long lasting what more could lips ask for? Here is a complete list of the different lip glass products (not the colors but different types):

• Tinted Lipglass
• Viva Glam Gaga Lipglass
• Gareth Pugh for M.A.C. lipglass
• Glitter and Ice Dazzleglass
• Creamsheen Glass
• Dazzleglass
• Lustreglass
• Plushglass
• Pro-long wear lipglass
• Pro-long wear gloss coat
• Clear lipglass
• M.A.C. & Marcel Wanders Lip Gloss

I am sure more of M.A.C.’s products will be on my Friday Favorite’s but this is the first thing I thought of when this segment came to mind.   Please feel free to join in next Friday and share something favorite of yours…or heck, join in today and share your link in the commets below.

Do you have a favorite lip product?

*I was not asked to post this and the product featured in this post was purchased by me, I wanted to share because it’s one of my favorite products.