It's Here...The Belk Beauty Event

*Today's post is in collaboration with Belk.  All opinions are my own.

Spring is finally here and one of the ways I like to welcome spring is by freshening up my beauty routine with some new products!  Lucky for me, and all of you, the Belk Beauty Event has kicked off and they have some of THE BEST beauty products!  Talk about perfect timing..

The Belk Beauty Event is happening now through April 1st and you can shop so many amazing beauty brands on Belk.com or at any Belk store.  Not to mention Belk will be offering free gifts with purchase, special offers & events, an exclusive Belk tote with purchase, and so much more!  I don't know about you, but I always love additional incentives for shopping!

Picking out the right beauty products can be overwhelming at times however, if you visit a Belk store there will be plenty of Belk Beauty Specialists on hand to help you select the right products for you.  They are so knowledgeable on the latest beauty trends including the best skincare products, foundation, lipstick, mascara, eyeshadow, bronzer, etc.

Being able to shop some of the best beauty brands during the Belk Beauty Event really excites me and it should excite you too!  Some of the amazing brands that are included in this event include Kiehl's, Philosophy, Laura Mercier, Clinique, Bobby Brown, Elizabeth Arden, MAC, and Urban Decay (to name a few).

I'm excited to share what I picked out from the Belk Beauty Event so let's chat more about two of my favorite brands...Kiehl's and Philosophy!

Starting with Kiehl's...I picked up the Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate and the Ginger Leaf & Hibiscus Firming Mask.  I've tried numerous Kiehl's products before, all of which I was super pleased with, but I have never tried either of these until recently.  I must say, I love love love both of these products.  Being that I am in my late 30's it has become much more of a priority to take excellent care of my skin and when I find a product that works, I tend to stick with it.  

Although it has been a short time since I started using these products, I can tell you that I know I will see a positive difference in my skin over time.  My skin has responded so well to both.  The Powerful-Strength Line Reducing Concentrate has both Vitamin Cg and Hyaluronic Acid which are both key ingredients to help minimize the look of fine lines & wrinkles and to give your skin a smoother texture and overall glow.  This product is a MUST my friends!

The Ginger Leaf & Hibiscus Firming Overnight Mask is a must have too!  I've never used an overnight mask before but I'm completely smitten with this mask.  This mask smells so good and in the morning my skin feels smooth, refreshed, and more firm! A little goes a long way and I actually recommend rubbing it into your skin versus letting it sit on the surface.  I truly think you will love this mask as much as I do!

Now let's talk for a moment about Philosophy and the two new products that I picked up at the Belk Beauty Event.  I've always loved Philosophy...their products are amazing and over the years I have mainly used their lotions and perfumes.  I've worn Amazing Grace perfume for years...it is one of my absolute favorites!

I decided to try Philosophy's Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser and their Made Simple Moisturizer.  What I love about the one-step cleanser is that it melts away my makeup (even eye makeup), it cleanses my skin, and it tones my skin all at the same time.  It breaks down makeup build up and deep cleans pores as well...what more could you possibly ask for from a daily cleanser?!

Follow up your cleansing routine with the Philosophy made simple moisturizer. This moisturize is lightweight and it leaves your skin feeling smooth and hydrated.  It is a great daily moisturizer as well and the perfect compliment to the one-step cleanser.

Have you tried these Keihl's or Philosophy products?!  I'd love to hear what you think about them.  What will you be shopping for at the Belk Beauty Event?!  If there are any products that you think I should try please let me know...I still have some shopping to do and will be taking full advantage of this event.

As always, thanks so much for stopping by...I hope you have a great day!

My Daily Makeup Routine

FOUNDATION || CONCEALER || LIQUID EYELINDER || TRANSLUCENT POWDER || PUMPED UP MASCARA || BRONZER || EYESHADOW || BROW POWDER || BLUSH || FELINE MASCARA || HIGHLIGHTER

FOUNDATION BRUSH || POWDER BRUSH || BLUSH BRUSH || BEAUTY BLENDER || DUAL EYESHADOW BRUSH || BROW BRUSH || LIP PENCIL 

I'm excited to share today's post...my daily makeup routine!   One of the questions that I get asked most is about my makeup and what I use each day.  I don't wear a TON of makeup and my routine is pretty straightforward and rather simple too!

As I made these collages, I actually forgot to put in the CC Cream that I use before applying my foundation and I just realized that I left it off.  Instead of redoing everything, I'm linking my CC Cream HERE!  A CC Cream is great for color correcting your skin prior to applying your foundation and for me, it helps reduce the redness in my skin and it also moisturizes my skin as well.  Essentially...applying my CC Cream is the first step.

I've shared my daily routine on Instastories so if you also follow along with me there, stay tuned as I will continue to share some makeup tips and tricks there as well!  Ultimately I'd love to be able to put together a full video for you all with my routine from beginning to end...hopefully I will accomplish this sooner than later as I know many of you would love to be able to have me visually walk you through my routine.  So stay tuned for that too!

In the meantime, I am going to walk you through my routine as best as possible...let's get started!

Prepping my face:  I prep my face with SkinMedica's Vitamin C+E complex & I also use Origins ginseng eye cream.  I then apply a thin layer of my favorite CC Cream.  I use my beauty blender to blend it into my skin before applying my foundation.

The foundation:  Next I take my flat top foundation brush and apply a thin layer of my favorite foundation, Estee Lauder's Double Wear foundation.  Once my foundation is applied, I use my creaseless concealer and apply some of the concealer under my eye with my finger.  I then use my beauty blender to blend out the concealer.  After blending, I "bake" my concealer by tapping on a layer of the Laura Mercier translucent powder under my eye.  I let the powder sit for 5 minutes as I am finishing the rest of my makeup before dusting it off with my powder brush.

Natural flush, bronzer & highlighter:  My absolute favorite blush is this amazonian clay 12 hour blush...I have several shades of this blush but my favorite is "natural beauty"!  I apply blush in an upward motion on my cheekbones with my french boutique blush brush.  I then use the same blush to add a smidgen of contour slightly under my cheekbone with my Bronze Goddess bronzing powder.  I also apply a little bit of the bronzing power to my temples, hairline, and jawline.  Lastly, I will add a bit of highlighter on the top part of my cheekbone/temple, under the eye area, with my Hourglass Strobe Lighting powder in Euphoric.

Simple everyday eyes:  I've used this Chai Latte quad eyeshadow palette FOREVER and I only use the crease color within my crease...it is really all that I need for a simple everyday eye.  I use my dual eyeshadow brush to apply my shadow.  I've had my eyebrows microbladded, you can read my post about microbladding HERE, so I only need to touch up my eyebrows with all small amount of brow powder.  My favorite brow powder is the Anastasia brow powder duo.  I use my build a brow brush to apply the brow powder.  I line my the top of my lid with this Expert Liquid Liner.  If I do line the lower lash line, I do not use liquid liner but instead a dark brown or light black eye shadow to create a much more subtle line.  To finish my eyes, I typically apply 2-3 coats of mascara with two different mascaras...both in glam black and blackest black.  My first coat is with this Voluminous Feline Mascara and my second coat with this Volum' Express Pumped Up! Colossal Mascara.

Finishing touches: Often times I finish by lining and filling my lips in with this ColorStay Lip Liner in "mauve".  I line and then fill in my lips with this pencil for a more matte natural look.  I also love this gloss in Dancing Star topped with this gloss in Celeste.  When wearing a more bold lip, I love a great red lipstick and my favorite is Russian Red!

My routine takes no more than about 10 -15 mins!  Please let me know if you have any questions...I'm more than happy to answer them!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by...hope you have a wonderful Friday!

Fragrance Holiday Gift Sets with Belk

Today's post was sponsored by Belk.  All opinions are my own.

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

Fragrances C/O Belk

Woman by Ralph Lauren Gift Set || Romance by Ralph Lauren Gift Set

Nothing makes me feel more beautiful throughout the holidays than getting dressed up for an evening out with Peter.  We love this time of year together and as a family.  From the traditions, to the parties, to the meaning behind each holiday...it is just such a special time!

We already have some fun holiday events on our calendar and of course I'm trying to stay ahead by pre-planning my looks.  From my dress, to my heels, to my accessories, to the fragrance that I will wear...every detail matters when prepping for a holiday event.

Before slipping into my holiday dresses, I will complete my routine with a classic beautiful scent like Ralph Lauren Woman or Ralph Lauren Romance from Belk, two of my absolute favorite feminine fragrances.  Woman by Ralph Lauren embodies the essence of modern femininity with a delightful fruit and floral scent and Romance by Ralph Lauren has a woody floral scent with a touch of musk.  Both fragrances are so classic, timeless, and feminine...the most perfect beauty accessory for any woman.

Not only are these fragrances the perfect finishing beauty accessory for a special event but they are perfect for every day wear as well.  I know many of us are planning ahead and starting to do some holiday shopping and Belk will be my go-to destination for gift sets including these Ralph Lauren fragrance gift sets.

This beautiful Woman by Ralph Lauren 2-piece gift set is under $100 and this 4-piece Romance by Ralph Lauren gift set is right at $100.  Both are such beautiful gifts for the lovely ladies in your life! This is such a great value for the price!

I encourage you to shop Belk this holiday season as they have so many wonderful gift sets that are perfect for every person on your holiday check list!

I'm off...I've got some shopping to do!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day!

How I Keep My Teeth Pearly White with Tom's of Maine

Today's post is sponsored by Tom's of Maine.

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

Let's talk pearly whites!  I'm always asked "How do you keep your teeth so white?" and today, I'm going to share a bit about my experience using Tom's of Maine Luminous toothpaste.

There are so many whitening toothpastes available but there are some specific reasons that I decided to start using Tom's of Maine.  All of their oral care products are made with no artificial colors, flavors, fragrances or preservatives, nor are they tested on animals.  Tom's of Main Luminous White™ toothpaste is their most advance whitening toothpaste, it's safe on your enamel, AND safe for every day use.  It's also gluten free!  This natural toothpaste packs a punch and whitens within 2 weeks by removing more surface stains than regular fluoride toothpaste.

I've been interested in using more natural personal care products so I was thrilled to try Tom's of Main Luminous White™ toothpaste for a two week period and report my results!  And WOW...my teeth not only feel super clean with each brush but I can absolutely tell a difference in how white they are.  I LOVE the taste of this toothpaste too.  Every time I use it, I truly feel like I am using the best toothpaste available for my teeth...my Dentist would be proud!

If you've had interest in trying a natural whitening toothpaste, I highly recommend Tom's of Maine Luminous White™toothpaste.  Next time you are in Whole Foods or another natural food store, you should pick some up and give it a try...I stand behind my experience and I truly believe you will have a great experience using it as well!

I've been so pleased that I'm going to try more natural products from Tom's of Maine!

Have you tried this toothpaste or any other products from Tom's of Maine before?!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a beautiful smiley day!

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Immortelle Divine Collection - My Skincare Regimen with L'Occitane

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

PRODUCTS C/O L'OCCITANE 

Let's talk AMAZING skincare!  You all know that I only talk about beauty and skincare products that I truly love and believe in and today I will be talking about my new found love for L'Occitane.  I've always heard amazing things about L'Occitane but it wasn't until this past April that I started trying their products.

I was lucky enough to meet the L'Occitane team at the rewardStyle conference back in April and they were so delightful and I left my meeting feeling so excited to learn even more about their products.  They were very generous and kind...they gifted me some of their most popular products and I couldn't wait to get home to try them.  Let's just say, I immediately fell head over heels for this brand and their incredible products!  The rich history of L'Occitane as well as their values is truly admirable too.

When asked to try their new Immortelle Divine collection, I immediately said YES, YES, YES!!!  There was no doubt in my mind that this collection would be nothing short of amazing and I was right.

Most of you know that I am in my 30's and I get a lot of questions about my skin and skincare routines.  We could chat forever about why I started truly taking care of my skin in my early 20's and the importance of doing so but what I will say today is...if you haven't already started using an anti-aging regimen, NOW IS THE TIME!  And L'Occitane's Immortelle Divine regimen would be a great place to start!

Let's dive into the collection and the specific products that I have been using!

Immortelle Divine Cleansing Balm - this balm removes makeup so easily and it even breaks down waterproof makeup!  It is delicate on your skin and leaves your skin feeling clean and radiant!  I love that it is enriched with immortelle essential oil as well as Vitamin E!  If you are looking for the perfect first step to an anti-aging ritual, this is it!

Immortelle Divine Foam Cleansing Cream - this cleansing cream is simply divine...no pun intended!  Use this after you have removed your makeup with the cleansing balm.  No makeup to remove, no problem as this can be your first step! It left my skin feeling ultra clean yet hydrated.  My skin felt so soft and appeared more radiant after using this cream for the first time.  A little goes a long way with this cream.  This cleansing cream is definitely a MUST!

Immortelle Divine Cream - the creme de la creme of creams!  Award winning, this cream helps fight visible signs of aging.  Being that I am in my 30's, it is so important for me to use an anti aging cream each and every night.  I couldn't be more impressed with the powerful natural ingredients of this cream.  If you are looking for an effective anti aging cream, I highly recommend this one!

Immortelle Divine Eyes - this eye gel helps reduce the appearance of fine lines as well as dark circles and puffiness.  Again...a must in my beauty regimen!  As a busy working Mom of two, I often times don't get enough sleep so I lean on an eye gel that helps conceal my tired eyes and Divine Eyes does an amazing job.  The skin around my eyes feels hydrated and smooth!

Immortelle Divine Youth Oil - this may be my absolute favorite out of the regimen that I have been using.  Although it would be tough to pick because they all play such an important role in caring for my skin.  But the Divine Youth Oil truly makes my skin feel renewed.  I use a couple of drops on my skin before bed and when I wake, my skin looks youthful and has a beautiful glow.  I also use this through the day to waken up my skin if it needs to be refreshed a bit.  I will take just a tiny bit of the oil in my fingers and pat it on my face.  I cannot get enough of this oil!  A little also goes a long way so you can get a lot of use out of one bottle.  I will be using this oil for years to come!

It's easy to see why I love L'Occitane's Immortelle Divine regimen...I've been so happy with each product and my skin has responded so well to this regimen.  I'm truly pleased with my initial results and cannot wait to see the evolution of my skin with L'Occitane!

Have you tried L'Occitane before?!  What are some of your favorite products?

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!

Glowing Skin with Sephora inside JCPenney

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

Getting that beautiful glow isn't always easy and sometimes we need a little extra help!  My skin has been rather dull lately and a bit dry from the summer heat and I've been wanting to try some new products that would help me achieve beautiful, healthy glowing skin.

I recently teamed up with Sephora inside JCPenney at our Mt. Juliet, TN location to experience a skin makeover and to learn more about how superfoods, like Argan nut, can play a beneficial role in our skincare routines and our overall skin health.

Having access to a Sephora store inside JCPenney is so convenient and their staff is very knowledgeable about the variety of skincare products that they offer.  You can also sit down with a Sephora beauty expert and have them educate you about the various skincare lines that they carry and even give you your own skin makeover!

I met with Katie, Area Education Manager, for Sephora inside JCPenney and we spent a couple of hours together...she taught me more about several Josie Maran products and how they can help improve my skin health and give me a healthy glow.

One of the first products that she used was the Josie Maran Nirvana Hydrating Treatment Mist.  She cleansed my skin and then sprayed the Nirvana mist all over my face.  It's great for most skin types and it is intended to hydrate your skin and set your makeup.  You can also use it throughout the day to refresh your skin!  It was light and felt amazing on my skin!

She then used the Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil, which is great for dryness, fine lines and wrinkles.  It is 100% natural, organic, and antioxidant-rich...a true superfood for your skin.  My skin just soaked the Argan oil in and left it with a beautiful glow.  A little bit goes a long way so you don't need to use much.  It is also great for your hair and nails!  This is by far one of my favorite products that Katie used!

Before applying foundation, Katie applied the Josie Maran Surreal Skin Argan Finishing Balm.  The balm can be used as a makeup primer and it goes on smoothly, is lightweight, helps set your makeup, and it gives your skin a beautiful radiant glow.

My skin feels clean, hydrated, soft, and it definitely has a gorgeous natural glow!  We finished my look with Josie Maran's Vibrancy Argan Oil Foundation Fluid.  It gave me a silky smooth flawless finish!  What I love most about this foundation is that it has pure Argan oil in it and it leaves my skin looking radiant with a beautiful healthy glow!

My makeover gave my skin new life...it felt refreshed and I definitely achieved a very healthy glow.  I'm excited to continue using my new Josie Maran products!

If you want to learn more about what types of products are best to use based on your skincare goals, I highly recommend that you spend some time with a beauty expert at your local Sephora inside JCPenney.  You will receive personalized attention and feel well more equipped to care for your skin!

Special thank you to Katie and the Sephora inside JCPenney team at the Mt. Juliet location for making me feel so welcomed and for teaching me how to achieve a beautiful healthy glow!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by...hope you all have a great day and please let me know if you have any questions about the products that I tried during my makeover!

Going CocoNUTS for Kopari Beauty

*Today's post is in partnership with Kopari Beauty.  All opinions are my own.

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

KOPARI BEAUTY PRODUCTS

coconut body oil || coconut melt || coconut body milk || coconut crush scrub

I've always known that just about anything with coconut oil has tremendous benefits for your skin, among other benefits, so when Kopari asked me to try some of their products I raised both hands and immediately said YES!

I have always heard that Kopari products are amazing but I've never tried them.  I'm so glad that I have now because I am hooked! 

Their products are soooo dreamy and here's why...they are made with 100% pure organic coconut oil, their products are made with the safest ingredients possible, keeping it as natural as possible, they don't use sulfates, silicones, parabens, or GMO's, they smell DELICIOUS, and they WORK!  My skin feels so soft

The coconut body oil, organic coconut melt, body milk, and coconut crush scrub are four of my absolute favorite Kopari products.  I love spritzing the body oil on my body for smooth hydrated healthy skin.  My absolute favorite is the coconut melt!  The coconut melt is multifunctional...it can be used as a hair mask, body moisturizer, makeup remover, dry shave oil, under eye treatment, bath boost, and baby butter.  It's simply amazing...trust me, you will LOVE it!!!  I'm also going to order the coconut body glow as well because I want to keep my summer glow as long as possible!

I'm a big fan of Kopari and their products will now be a part of my daily routine...it feels great to know that I am treating my skin (and my hair) to the very best!

Have you tried Kopari products?!  If so, I'd love to know what you think.

As always, thanks so much for stopping by...have a great day!