Review: CapriClear Coconut Oil Spray

CapriClear Coconut Oil Spray is described as an innovative over- the- counter treatment that combats dry, flaky, irritated skin.  It boasts just one supremely soothing and emoillent component: all natural, 100% fractionated coconut oil.  It is known as the purest and most stable form of coconut oil and provides reliable skin care without the fragrance.  

Retail: $19.99

Oils are so good for relieving dry skin, but the one downside is the application.  I hate feeling greasy and slippy for the next hour until it dries.  But CapriClear alleviates that.  First off, it comes packaged in a spray bottle so all I had to do was spritz it on.  It's so lightweight that if you want to rub it in you can, but you don't really need to because it absorbs pretty quickly.  It is perfect for those that don't like or can't handle a strong scent because it is colorless and totally odorless.  

This has been great for my skin through the transition months where the weather has been up and down.  I have sensitive skin and this has keep it hydrated and smooth, and because it's so gentle, I've been able to use it daily with no irritation.  In fact, I spritz it on after shaving to help soothe and calm my skin.  Secretly, I wish it had just a tinge of coconut scent (because it's one of my favorites :) but overall, I love this spray and it's worked well for my skin. 

Free of:

- Preservatives

- Additives

- Dyes

- Fragrances

- Parabans

- Sulfates

- PABA

 Available at:

Walgreens, CVS, Ultra, Harmons, Bed Bath & Beyond, Amazon.com, drugstore.com and Askderm.com.

Sally Hansen Fall 2015 Collection

It's all about the details and this fall, my nails have been killin it.  This season Sally Hansen has partnered with some of the industry's best designers like Prabal Gurung, Tracy Reese and Rodarte to bring us nine awesome new shades.  

 

Leaf Peeper from Prabal Gurung for Sally Hansen

Retail: $7.99

I adore this shade and I've already received several compliments on it.  It's a rich mauve and perfect for any look.  Each shade is formulated with an expert quality formula to give your that salon finish.  They contain chip resistant strength, gel-quality shine and a built in base and top coat.  I love it because it cuts down on the time it takes to do my nails and the finished look is just as good.

Concrete Jungle from Prabal Gurung for Sally Hansen

Retail: $7.99

I'm obsessed with this color.  I'm always surprised when I come across a shade I don't already own something similar too, and this is the only one of it's kind in my collection.  It's a soft, slate gray that is great for fall and even for winter.  It goes on a bit sheer at first, but after a second coat it is just gorgeous.  And I love the built in glossy finish.  No top coat needed!

 

THE PARTNERSHIP
Prabal Gurung collaborated with Sally Hansen for the tenth consecutive season to create three exclusive nail polish shades to compliment his Fall 2015 collection, which is a graphic, modern take on effortless glamour.

THE SHADES
The exclusive Prabal Gurung for Sally Hansen collection includes: Complete Salon Manicure in Concrete Jungle, Complete Salon Manicure in Midnight Affair, Complete Salon Manicure in Leaf Peeper


THE DESIGNER
A focus on quality and innovation has placed Gurung at the forefront of American fashion with designs worn by leading ladies including First Lady Michelle Obama and The Duchess of Cambridge, to name a few. In 2010 he was the recipient of the Ecco Domani Fashion Fund Award and selected as runner up for the 2010 CFDA / Vogue Fashion Fund. In 2011 Gurung was honored as one of USA Network's Character Approved Award recipients, named goodwill ambassador of Maiti Nepal, a finalist of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award and was the recipient of the 2011 CFDA Swarovski Award for Womenswear. Prabal Gurung was the official 2013 designer collaborator for Target and in September 2014 launched footwear on the Spring 2015 runway.

THE PARTNERSHIP
For the nineteenth consecutive season, Tracy Reese collaborated with nail color leader Sally Hansen to create three exclusive nail colors that complemented her Fall 2015 Collection.


THE SHADES
The exclusive Tracy Reese for Sally Hansen collection includes: Complete Salon Manicure in Yummy Yam,  Complete Salon Manicure in Maasai Red,  Complete Salon Manicure in Winter Sky

THE DESIGNER

In 1996, Reese launched her eponymous collection to rave reviews. Perfect for the modern woman, Reese’s debut showcased ultra-feminine, polished pieces layered with intelligent nostalgia, charm and glamour; a distinctive look that the designer has since become known for.
A member of the CFDA since 2000, Reese has severed as a member of the Board of Directors since 2007. She is also a key player in selecting recipients to receive grants from the CFDA’s AIDS-Fund initiatives.

 

THE PARTNERSHIP

For the fifth season in a row, Rodarte has once again turned to nail color authority Sally Hansen to create three limited edition Complete Salon Manicure nail polish colors. The designers’ highly anticipated Fall 2015 Collection served as a muse for Sally Hansen’s nail color creations. The Fall 2015 nails are inspired by translucent color and the subtlety of watercolors.

THE SHADES

The exclusive Sally Hansen inspired by Rodarte collection includes: Complete Salon Manicure in Gold Glass, Complete Salon Manicure in Beige Glass, Complete Salon Manicure in Rose Glass

THE DESIGNERS 

Sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy launched Rodarte in 2005 and quickly became known as the go-to house for couture, known for their intricate hand stitching and romantic details.  They have won numerous fashion awards such as the 2008 CFDA Swarovski Emerging Womenswear Designer award and the 2008 Swiss Textiles Award.  Leading ladies like Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Keira Knightley, Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Obama, Chloe Sevigny, Tilda Swinton, Elle Fanning, and Reese Witherspoon have all worn Rodarte’s idiosyncratic yet sophisticated styles.

Have you snagged any of these shades?  Do you have a favorite?

Fall Favorite: Carmex Moisture Plus Ultra- Hydrating Lip Balm

Carmex always gets it right.  This fall the brand got ultra sassy and released new packing for their line of Moisture Plus Ultra- Hydrating Lip Balms.  Inspired by the colors from Pantone's official color forecast as well as prints and textures straight from the runway, the collection is perfect for the fashionista in all of us. 

The formula is as effective as always.  It's made with Aloe, Vitamin E and shea butter to moisturize and soothe chapped lips, and SPF 15 for added protection.  

I'm a huge fan of Carmex and have tried several of their balms in the past, but I especially love these!  Aside from the slim stick and cute designs, I love that these are vanilla flavored and have a sweet vanilla scent (my favorite!).  They have a thick, rich consistency, but stills feels lightweight.  They glide on smoothly and feel immediately soothing on my lips.  The formula goes on clear so they have the added bonus of giving you that subtle, glossy sheen.   

One balm retails for just $2.49 so hurry and stock up!

Click here and scroll to the bottom for a coupon to get $.75 off any of these new patterned balms!

Have you tried Carmex?  What did you think??

Fall Favorite: Jennifer Bradley Cosmetics

If you haven't already, you need to update that make up bag for fall.  It's TIME.  PR recently sent over the latest eye shadow gem from Jennifer Bradley: Drunken Olive.  It is the brand's newest fall shade and my latest crush.      

It was my first time working with Jennifer Bradley cosmetics and after a little research, I learned it was created by former actress, singer and model, Jennifer Bradley.  Using her personal experiences with makeup and skin issues, she created the only Medical Grade Skincare line paired with a personal Cosmetics line developed for sensitive skin, and designed to work for everyone.  

Flash

No flash

I'm a big fan of Drunken Olive.  It's a deep olive green with a gold/copper shimmer, and
unless my eyes were playing tricks on me, I see a hint of dark green shimmer as well. 

It was all around close to perfect.  The texture was smooth and applied easily over primer.  I chose to wear it solo on my lid with a highlighter on my brow bone, and it blended nicely.  And I was happy to see it didn't smudge off during my workout at the gym.  I like this shade because a few swipes achieves a slightly bolder look that's still appropriate for the office, or you can go heavier and add some liner for the ultimate fall smoky eye. 

Have you tried Jennifer Bradley Cosmetics?  Are you interested?

Review: ScarAway Silicone Daily Discs

 

Retail: $29.99 for box of 24

Despite the many spills I took growing up, only one was bad enough to leave me with a lovely reminder.  A big ol' scar smack dab over my eye, right on the brow bone.  It's faded somewhat over the years but is still pretty visible of you're looking hard enough. So of course I was curious when PR contacted me about trying ScarAway Silicone Daily Discs.   

The discs are for scars up to 1" inch in diameter and are directed to be worn for 12- 24 hours per day.  They use advanced technology that is a specifically formulated silicone which mimics the natural barrier function of healthy skin.  research suggests that silicone acts to hydrate scar tissue, which in turn works to soften the scar, reducing excessive scar formation and causing it to fade.  It is also advertised as being able to protect the delicate scar area and help alleviate itching, burning and pain that sometimes happens with scaring.  

Now, because my scar is on my face, I had difficulty following the directions exactly.  For starters, I definitely did not wear these for 12 hours + a day.  Even though they are clear, they were still visible on my face and I wasn't going to wear one to work.  And because my scar falls in such a difficult spot (through the middle of my brow bone to about the top of my crease), the 1 inch circle disc proved to be slightly too big and difficult to situate.    

But generally, the discs were easy to use.  Each night, I washed my face (they advise staying away from cleansers containing lotions or oils), and dried off.  Next, I cut a disc in half and pressed it firmly over the area, then wore it to bed (for 6-8 or so hours).   By morning, I woke up with it still in place.  No slipping or shifting, and surprisingly, I didn't experience discomfort while sleeping.  It peeled right off too, no worse then a band aid.

Before

After

  

The directions advise some people will see results in 4-8 weeks.  My results were more gradual and happened closer to 8 weeks.  Most likely because I deviated slightly from the recommended path of application, but fortunately I still saw a moderate improvement and slight reduction in size. 

Most notable, however, was the skin became smoother and less thick.  I used to dread getting my eyebrows done because the aesthetician had to work through the scarred area in order to shape them and, as if the (threading) process isn't painful enough, the constant tugging at the area did NOT feel good.  Now, it seems easier for her and less painful for me.  I feel like they might be more effective on newer scars (mine is several years old) but I did see a difference and am happy I got to work with them.     

*Product is latex & drug free*

 

Available at: 

Amazon, Drugstore.com, CVS, Walgreens, Duane Reade, HEB Fred Meyer, Meijer, Harmon's, Harris Teeter, Shopko/ Pamida, Pathmark, and NEXCOM

FreeBeautyEvents: October Giveaway

Is it just me or are these FreeBeautyEvents giveaways getting better and better? FBE is one of my favorite beauty websites because it's an awesome resource and a great way to snag some killer free samples. Each month the site gives away a bundle chalk full of the industry's latest must haves, and you definitely don't want to miss out on your chance to win!

The October Beauty Basket Giveaway includes products from Simple Skincare, Sally Hansen Miracle Gel, Revlon, ELF Cosmetics, KISS, SheaMoisture and more! The Contest runs from now through 10/31/15, winners will be chosen on 11/5/2015 and notified by 11/15/2015.  Entering is simple!  Visit FreeBeautyEvents on Facebook (don't forget to like them!) or enter directly on their website.

Besides the monthly giveaways, the site also offers great beauty advice and product reviews on their blog.  Like any of the products you read about?  Keep your eyes open for your chance to stock up!  Easy as 1-2-3, just enter your zip code into the site's search bar to find out which locations in your area might be handing out samples.  It's a helpful way to keep up to date with the beauty events happening in your town.    

  

 

Get more on FreeBeautyEvents.com:

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Glossybox: October Reveal

 

 Every month Glossybox wows us with their glamorous, luxury beauty picks.  But one of the elements I love most is the box itself.  Each design is carefully thought out and crafted to celebrate a special theme that takes your overall experience to the next level.   

"This magnificent October Box, created by the world famous illustrator Jamie Lee Reardin is a masterpiece, bringing you playful French Illustrations surrounding five sensational beauty products"- Glossybox

 

(L-R) Lesley of CityChickStyle, Jamie Lee Reardin, myself

I was so excited to meet the lovely Jamie Lee in person and get an up close look at her gorgeous designs!

 

  

Jamie Lee's personal fave!

 Now for this month's goodies!  Let's check them out.......

    

 

 Retail: $59.00 .51 oz. (full size)

 Vorte Vu Oh Lighten Up! Intensif Treatment Spot Creme

Licorice, bearberry and daisy flowers are just a few of the natural ingredients found in this delightful Votre Vu cream.  Designed to brighten, diminishes the appearance of age spots and fights everyday environmental aggressors. 

 

Lollipops Make Up Paris Nail Lacquer in "Voyage à Paris"

Retail: $10.00 .4 fl oz. (full size)

Statement nails are all the rage this season and Lollipops Make Up Paris has created just the right shade to keep you trending from workout to night out with this quintessential red hue!

 De Bruyere Paris red Lip gloss

Retail: $17.50 .17 oz. (full size)

Reminiscent of the famed Moulin Rouge, stand out this season with this bright, Parisian- inspired, highly pigmented red lip gloss. 

 

 Sabe Masson Le Soft Perfume 

Retail: $25.00 (full size)

Designed for the "on the go" girl, this fragrance was developed in Paris with natural ingredients- free of alcohol and parabans.

 

Overall I thought this month's box was amazing.  So many full sized products and I loved the statement red hues!  It's definitely one of the most glamorous subscriptions on the market and I recommend all beauty addicts check them out!