Mother's Day LipSense Giveaway!

Disclosure: I received samples to facilitate this review; all opinions expressed are my own.

I'm an admitted low-maintenance mama when it comes to all things beauty and wellness so when LipSense popped up in my feed, as I often do I gave it a quick glance and kept scrolling. Yet people kept raving about it. 

Enter my childhood friend and fellow mompreneur, Kara McElree. 

SeabuckWonders for Your Skin (& Giveaway!)

Disclosure: I received samples to facilitate this review; all opinions expressed are my own. 

My skin. Sigh. It was its best when I was pregnant both times (slightly better with Grayson) and now it's at its worst. I recently mentioned the health challenges I've been having the past few months, and my skin is the one that's bothered me the most, although it's the least serious of them all. I feel most confident with clear, healthy skin and while I've experienced brief periods of this throughout my life as I try to get things situated on the medical end, selecting natural skin care is important to me. 

The Best Lipstick for Non-Lipstick Wearers

Disclosure: I received a sample as a complimentary gift from BITE; all opinions expressed are my own. 

I was back at Wellesley College over the weekend for a 2-day event, and I figured it'd be the perfect time to crack open my BITE lipstick samples I received from Influenster. I've received many samples from Influenster over the years, and I had a bit of trepidation about this one. First, I've never really been an avid lipstick fan - I feel like you have to be committed to reapplying and as I've aged and become busier with the kids it's been simpler to just throw on lip balm and go. Second, as a brown-skinned woman I was unsure that the colors would work for my skin tone. I've received lipstick samples in gift bags before and most often the colors provided are not for dark-skinned women. 

Well Amuse Bouche Lipstick from BITE Beauty has officially changed my mind! Influenster didn't require a blog post for this sample, but I was so impressed I decided to do one anyway. 

Angel Faces: Celebrating Beauty From the Inside Out

I recently re-watched the movie Big and wondered aloud to Mr. Lovebird if I'd be willing to revisit my adolescence. It was such an awkward time for me and I decided I wouldn't want to go back. Kids nowadays have so much pressure put on them especially with the visual aspect of social media coupled with measuring up against unbalanced standards of beauty. Imagine having to navigate this with physical scars caused by trauma such as a tragic accident or abuse. There are many young people who are living with scars such as these and remaining strong in the midst of curious stares and mean comments is a real challenge, especially for girls who are already under so much scrutiny when it comes to developing a healthy body image. 

Back to School for Mommies with Furlesse (& 50% Off!)

Disclosure: I received samples from Furlesse to facilitate this review; all opinions expressed are my own.

I'm hurtling towards my 35th birthday and with Kindergarten kick-off under my belt it's time for me to really start paying better attention to myself. I have seriously slipped from my workout, water and product regimen this summer, and I still feel like my training wheels are on as a mom of two. 

Enter Furlesse. At only $19.99 per pack (and 50% off through 9/11/15!), these targeted anti-aging patches are a small way for me to start treating myself with care. Furlesse seriously has every area of your face covered! From "Elevens" to "Lipsticks" they are appropriately named for exactly the area you want to treat. Years ago I remember noticing eye wrinkles which, after consulting my mom, were actually due to dry skin around my eyes. She gave me some of her super expensive special eye cream, and they never appeared again. Have you seen my mom? We seriously look like sisters! And her mom had amazing skin, but I'm not just resting on my genes and am on the lookout for even the slightest wrinkle! I decided to give Rows a try on my forehead since the other areas aren't proving too problematic . . . yet.

Warning: super close up, awkward photos of my gray hair ahead!

The directions on the Furlesse packaging indicates that you can leave them on for an hour or overnight for maximum results. I wasn't sure I'd make it overnight, but I did! I was a bit itchy with it on, not in an irritant way, but in an "there's something on my face" kind of way. They reminded me of having whitening strips on: you can focus on other tasks while you're using them, but you're aware that they're there. 

Here's what happened:

I used two for extra coverage!

There was a bit of a mark/indentation upon removal so if you're preparing for an event I'd say don't expect to pull it off and be on your way. Definitely give time for your face to settle similar to when you wake up with a pillow mark and your skin has to fluff back up. Make sense? Overall my results weren't very dramatic, I think because my furrows aren't visible without effort. If I start to notice resting face lines I'll pull out my Furlesse strips to try again.

If you wanted to, you could even Furlesse your entire face like this (or this!):

Curious about how they work? They simply hold the skin taut in place smoothing out unwanted lines. They are hypo-allergenic, BPA-free and latex-free. Also, the creator Cathy Tousley is a mom of 3 was inspired to create Furlesse after stories of fellow moms using tape to smooth their wrinkles. There had to be a better (and non-invasive) way, right? To see how easy they are to put on check out the videos here. 

Now's the perfect time to try Furlesse: visit their website to shop directly as well as find a special 50% off sale ending tomorrow, September 11, 2015 over on their Facebook page. Follow them on Twitter and Instagram too!

 

P.S. I'm on a mission to get Mr. Lovebird to also try Rows, but don't tell him! I think I'll sneak them on him for April Fools' Day 2016 after Nia's somewhat similar failed April Fools' Day attempt earlier this year when she wanted to put stickers over his eyes while he slept O_o

Tropical Time-Outs with Vitabath Pineapple Sunset

Disclosure: I was provided samples to facilitate this review; all opinions expressed are my own. 

This morning as I groggily made my way to the airport airport at 4a.m. I was greeted with a morning forecast of rain and 48 degrees back home in Portsmouth, NH. I nearly turned back around to stay in New Orleans! In April we were still dealing with similar temperatures when we returned from our family cruise, but there's a trick I'm using to hang on to the warm, Caribbean memories:

I'm a Vitabath fan and Pineapple Sunset, one of their new scents this season, takes me right back to the beach scenes I've been soaking up the past week. With a blend of sweet pineapple, sun-kissed melon and passion fruit laced with coconut and cashmere musk, the rich body wash transforms my showers into an indulgent, mommy time-out. 

But of course little ones rarely let moms have things to themselves so Nia's already used the body wash for her bubble baths! It's fine by me since Vitabath's Fragrance Collection formulas are free from sulfates, parabens, propylene glycol, DEA, TEA, mineral oils and silicone. Also, with a combination of Vitamin A, B3, C, E and Pro-Vitamin B5 I know I'm doing something good for both of our skin. 

I save the Fragrance Mist for myself and especially like how it contains moisturizing Vitamin E but doesn't leave my skin oily or a residue on my clothing. I tend to stay away from most sprays as the alcohol-laden formulas are very drying, but this is one of the few that I can trust. 

To purchase Vitabath visit their website and be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter for the latest product news.

Building My Mama Confidence with L'eggs

Disclosure: I received a promotional item to facilitate this post. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Growing up I distinctly remember my mother's ritual for dressing up: watching her put on her make-up and carefully select her outfit was such a joy that I observed in silence hoping that someday I could do the same. Now as a mom I'm experiencing this times 2! It's my first mother's day with two children and with an almost five-year old daughter I find myself falling into the same routine as she's become my little shadow peppering me with questions along the way. 

I recently had the opportunity to bring L'eggs along with us on our family's spring break cruise and knowing there would be a formal night they were a welcome addition to my wardrobe. I still remember my mom sending me into the store as a pre-teen to pick up L'eggs Silken Mist for her at our local grocery store when she'd discover a run in her favorite pair. 

It was as though I (proudly!) became my mother when I slipped on my pair of L'eggs Silken Mist for the cruise's formal night. While Nia enjoyed her dinner at the children's camp onboard, Mr. Lovebird took a picture of me and Grayson before we headed to our own dinner:

And of course we had to get a selfie:

These days while we're still acclimating to our relocation from NYC-metro to Portsmouth, NH I'm finding that the key to success in our transition is just getting out there! We definitely experienced this on our cruise and were just invited to participate in our local mall's fashion show that took place yesterday. I confidently had my L'eggs on hand, but ended up wearing more casual outfits - something we're literally just now warming up to here in the north. We had such a fun evening meeting new families and chatting with the crowd - having two bubbly kids definitely helps as an icebreaker!

Nia was a little nervous at first but quickly took command of the show!

With their run resistant formula and control top, L'eggs adds a touch of confidence for special occasions. They are true to size and very comfortable adding the right amount of sheen to your perfect evening!

Be sure to follow L'eggs on Facebook and Twitter for latest product news. 

How are you celebrating this Mother's Day?
 

 
P.S. Stay tuned on Instagram this weekend when I'm dressing up again for my first New Hampshire formal event since our big move. As a mom it's so exciting to step out and glam up for these rare occasions!

Belli Celebrates Moms with an AMAZING Giveaway!

Happy May! A few weeks ago I shared my review of Belli Skin Care and now that it's officially May with Mother's Day fast approaching I'm excited to share a HUGE giveaway for moms that Belli is hosting:

Starting today through May 31 visit www.belliskincare.com for a daily giveaway from Belli's featured brand partners. Then on May 31 you can enter to win the grand prize: a prize from each brand valued at $1,500! In addition to this contest there is also one running on Belli's Facebook page where you can win a matching $1,500 prize by uploading pictures or video of you and your mom. The one with the most likes will win all 29 prizes!

Here's a few of the amazing brands giving away daily prizes:

• Belly Bandit
• Preggers
• BabyBjorn
• For Two Fitness
• bebe au lait

Definitely follow along on Facebook and visit Belli's website to enter today! Good luck mamas!

Lovebirds' First Family Cruise: Beauty Prep with Belli & CapriClear

Disclosure: I received samples to facilitate this review; all opinions expressed are my own.

Post-partum skin and a tropical vacation emerging from the dead of one of the most awful New England winters ever is a tricky mix! It's incredibly dry here in New Hampshire and thanks to Belli Skin Care and CapriClear Moisturizing Spray I've been using the product lines the past few weeks as I prepare my skin for warmer temperatures.  My skin has lost its glow that I had during pregnancy, but I still very much feel postpartum due to hormonal adjustments I'm going through - I have a few breakouts popping up lately.

Thankfully Belli has a few amazing products in their arsenal that are helping and are also gentle, free of harmful parabens, sulfates, dyes and artificial fragrances. Lately, the Revitalize Eye Brightening Cream (MSRP $39 for 0.5oz) is what I need the most as Grayson has been in a wakeful period going on nearly two months. I'm also a contact lens wearer and am especially cautious about what goes around my eye area. The cream is light going on and while my bags and circles haven't completely dissipated, it works even as a moisturizer, soothing and refreshing this delicate area.

The Pure & Pampered Body Wash (SRP $13 for 6.5oz) is turning my two-minute showers into a mini-spa experience during this cherished and very brief time. Made with cucumber, green tea, lavender and chamomile, it has a gentle scent that I find calming. Having kids has also made me read labels carefully, and when I saw Ammonium Laureth Sulfate in the ingredients list, knowing that it's a low risk sulfate, I appreciated Belli's response when I asked if they'd ever consider removing it: 

The Cosmetic ingredient Review (CIR) has fully assessed this ingredient and found it to be safe.  And, it passes our teratology and LactMed screening processes which means it does not have a known link to birth defect or miscarriage and is not harmful if passed through breastmilk.

The ingredient serves a couple of purposes. It is an anionic surfactant and thus lowers the surface tension of water, making the water spread more easily.  It also serves as a detergent.

We have two main requirements for an ingredient at Belli.  1) That it’s safe and 2) That it adds to the effectiveness of the product. We believe ammonium laureth sulfate meets those requirements.

My skin is parched this winter and while regular lotion doesn't quite cut it, Belli's All Day Moisture Body Lotion (SRP $17) is a keeper! How do I know this? At the end of the day if my legs are ashy under my pants I know the lotion was too thin. The All Day Mositure Body Lotion feels rich and indeed keeps me moisturized all day. The citrus scent is stronger than the Body Wash, but I like it as the final "wake-up" step before heading out for the day. 

I keep it simple when I wash my face, but I am careful to moisturize daily. Part of this is sun-safe practice and part of it is because my foundation is blended into my moisturizer giving me and SPF protection. While the Healthy Glow Facial Hydrator lacks SPF, the impressive ingredient list helps me feel like I'm nourishing my skin: grapeseed oil and vitamin C. It's good stuff that's not too heavy, but feels so lush! 

In addition to my face and body, I hone in on the most prominent challenging area that I have postpartum: my belly. In the first few weeks of pregnancy I wrapped my belly to help the puffiness go down, but am amazed by how slowly it's taking the second time around despite me being active. My body is really holding onto extra calories for baby!

Enter CapriClear Spray-On Moisturizer (SRP $19.99 for 5.2 fl oz; $10.99 for 1.9 oz ). It's 100% fractionated coconut oil meaning that it's extra pure, free of preservatives, additives, fragrances, parabens sulfates, PABA and other items. I'm stickler for a good spray bottle that mists evenly and CapriClear does so perfectly. As it's touted for stretch marks I find myself spraying all over right out of the shower as well as in my hair on wash day. I even use it before I wear my waist trainer and it helps with the tone of my tummy. 

You can find Belli products at your local buybuyBaby as well as online at www.BelliSkincare.com while CapriClear is available at Ulta, Harmons, Bed Bath & Beyond.

What's your troublesome post-partum skin concern? I'm so glad to be getting back on track!

Making Green Choices with Little Twig and Eco-Me

Disclosure: I received products to facilitate this review; all opinions expressed are my own.

Returning to New England is prompting me to make some small but significant changes in my family including "going green." I grew up in a very non-green household (there were 4 kids in my family and we ate on styrofoam plates regularly and did not recycle), but now with my own family I'm of the mindset that when we know better, we do better. 

I'm very much aware of the sulfate-free, paraben-free movement, and I've been thinking about where I can make eco-friendly changes within my family. One of those includes being more conscious of which products we use. Long term I'd like to eliminate plastic toys and plastic food storage completely from our household, but for now when Little Twig and Eco-Me reached out to try their baby products and dish soap I was excited to start there. I'm all about the kaizen way!

Little Twig Calming Lavender Baby Wash and Lotion are free of phthalates, sulfates, paragons, synthetic fragrances (a hidden source of endocrine disrupters I've learned), nut, soy and wheat. Bath time should be a safe space both physically and chemically, and during Gray's bath time it's been calming knowing I'm doing something good for him. 

Additionally, the product smells so luxurious - I've even taken to using it for myself and have enjoyed the extra bonus of aromatherapy for me during his bath time. I call that a mommy bonus! Grayson suffers from eczema so after giving the lotion a try I found I preferred just the body wash for him and the regular post-bath ointment that his doctor recommends. 

In the kitchen, although I've shared the honest snapshot of the chaos in our last place, I've been determined to make sure each night the dishes are washed up. 

While it's definitely been proven that running the dishwasher is more efficient and eco-friendly than hand washing, I'm often left with quite a few items that are hand wash only. Since I love to cook homemade meals for my family these usually include grimy pots, pans and bowls. I was a bit nervous if Eco-Me's Natural Plant Extracts Dish Soap would be able to handle everything as my conventional dish soap does, but I'm pleased to report it's done the job!

I'm nearing the end of my supply and am ready for more! Additionally, I'm thrilled that it's a "mompreneur" product created by two moms who were concerned about making sure they had non-toxic products for their family. 

Besides the fact that it works, the smell is fantastic! I find myself even washing my hands with it when I return home just because of how pleasant it is. It's composed of all natural ingredients that re food-grade and derived from plants including vinegar. 

Want to do start to make the switch for your family too? Here's where you can find the products:

Little Twig Calming Lavender Baby Wash is available at www.littletwig.com in a 8.5oz bottle (MSRP $12.50) as well as 17oz (MSRP $17.50) and 34oz (MSRP $31.99); the Calming Lavender Baby Lotion is available in a 8.5oz bottle (MSRP $12.50) and in 2oz bottles packaged in travel sets). Visit here for store locations. 

Eco-Me Natural Plant Extracts Dish Soap is available in Citrus Berry, Herbal Mint, Lemon Fresh and Fragrance-free; it's available in 16fl oz (MSRP $5.99) at www.eco-me.com and retailers nationwide.  

Are you making green changes in your family or have you already? What was the transition like?

Getting Gorgeous 2014 (Just in Time to Have My Baby!)

Disclosure: I was invited to Getting Gorgeous and given a gift bag; this post was not required and all opinions expressed are my own. 

Last year I attended Getting Gorgeous with Nia and this year I (kinda) attended with Grayson - that is if in utero counts!

Audrey and Vera threw another outstanding event and the size of it along with the brands represented was definitely my speed. And somehow, just like last year it was a beautiful day! I slowly waddled my way into the city, stayed just long enough to make a few rounds, say hi to my blogger friends then headed back to get Nia from school. It was the perfect day - take a look . . .

I was excited to learn that Jersey City is getting a huge Stop & Shop hub for grocery delivery! Our current grocery options are pretty bare

I stopped by the amazing-smelling Vitabath booth and took a quiz to find my signature scent - turns out it's Original Spring Green

Handing in my scent quiz {Image credit: bellamyblue.com}

I last remember Calgon from the 80s - well they've changed! The brand's updated and so refreshing. I look forward to indulging in their newest scents I took home

Summer Infant's innovative baby monitors were on display (hello wifi capability!) as was something I've been seeing get quite a bit of buzz lately...

The Pop 'n Play Portable Playard is EVERYTHING!

Pausing for a quick selfie with blogger buddy Nichol of Five Little Words

Of course I had to stop by the Pampers booth! We planned/are using Swaddlers starting out with Grayson until transitioning to cloth:

{Image credit: bellamyblue.com}

Pampers offered hand and foot massages too! Just what I needed to relax

Title sponsor V05 offered on-site salon hair styling and product sampling! I had nostalgic memories of the hot oil treatment my mom used to give me as a kid, and it's so exciting to see how the product line's evolved - stay tuned for a fun giveaway! {Image credit: bellamyblue.com}

This was just a sample of the swag bag - I took home lots more including these amazing Passion Roses which lasted FOREVER! {Image credit: bellamyblue.com}

Thank you Audrey, Vera and all the fab sponsors for a wonderful time - it was the perfect daytime getaway for this pregnant mama!

{Image credit: bellamyblue.com}

What's your trick or tip for feeling gorgeous? For me right now in newborn stage it's attempting getting a daily shower! Ha!
 


P.S. Curious about Getting Gorgeous 2013? Click here!

Lovebirds' Summer Beauty Review: BB Cream Comparison Vlog

Has it cooled down where you live? It definitely has here, and I'm so thankful especially since my skin looks like an oil spill happened when the weather heats up (speaking of hot check out this hilarious NSF rant about the recent heat wave)!

Anyway, today I'm reviewing Garnier's BB Cream which also promises to help reduce shine, and I compare it to the other BB creams I've tried as well as show you how I do my "under 5-minute face." 

Products mentioned in this vlog review:

clockwise l to r: 1//2//3//4//5//6//7//8

Do you have a favorite BB cream or are you still skeptical? 
 
 

Introducing: Lovebirds' Summer Beauty Series

Those of you who follow me on Instagram see all the fun events I go to here in NYC - I love being a blogger here! With this comes tons of products to try via swag bags as well as products I'm sent to review and others just to have. I could set up a shop with all the products I have, and it's such a dream compared to when I was in college spending what little I could squirrel away from babysitting jobs at the local CVS because I just *had* to have the latest shave gel or nail polish. Now I rarely buy toiletries!

I thought it would be fun to highlight some of my favorites products that I've been using over the past few months on myself and my Lil Lovebird. From hair and make-up products, to bodycare and hair removal systems I promise to give you my honest opinion.

Here's a sampling of what I'll be reviewing the rest of the summer . . .

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Honey Curls The Hair Honey Oil Blend {Image Credit}

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Are you a product junkie like I am? Which products are you loving this summer?