Leah Tackles

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR HAIR WHEN HEAT STYLING | DRUGSTORE REPURCHASE ITEM!

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Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I hope that you are having a fantastic week! LeahTackes.com (that’s the blog you’re on!) turns THREE YEARS OLD on Sunday! Which means I will also be celebrating a birthday ; ) so stay tuned for a post next week! I get a lot of questions about my haircare routine, and I thought that sharing one of my go-to repurchases would be a great place to start.

TRESemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer

 

 

Why I Love It

I have been using this heat protectant for years on a nearly daily basis for any heat styling that I do to my hair. I have included it in blog posts here and here but thought that it deserved its very own post because it is a must-have to me! This sprays out evenly and covers a lot of hair at once, so it’s easy to quickly spray into my hair even when I’m in a rush. The smell isn’t overpowering, but it’s a very refreshing fruity scent that I do enjoy. I never skip this step because I do curl my hair a lot, and also use a blow dryer and occasionally a straightening iron which all can be very damaging especially on my long, fine, color treated hair. Using this product guards against heat damage and friction from styling tools. This doesn’t make my hair feel sticky (my pet peeve is the nape of my neck feeling sticky!) or heavy.

Key Ingredients

This product has panthenol and glycerin which help to condition, biotin to strengthen, and cetylpyridinium chloride which give you the heat protection.

My Routine

I hold this several inches away from my hair and spray all over, focusing on the ends of my hair which tend to be dry. I style my hair as normal and then finish off with hairspray (shop my favorite is here) and a little oil on the ends (shop my favorite is here).

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TOO FACED MASCARA MELT OFF! DO YOU NEED IT? FOLLOW UP REVIEW

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Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you had a wonderful weekend! If you’re a regular reader of this blog or if you watch my YouTube videos then you know that I love wearing waterproof mascara to avoid makeup smudges and to hold a curl when I curl my lashes. If you wear waterproof mascara, you probably know that it is a huuuuge pain to remove! Today I want to share a product that I did a first impression video and demo on back in June of last year to let you know how it fits into my current beauty routine.

 

Too Faced Mascara Melt Off

 

 

First Impression and Demo Video

Follow Up Review

Do I use this every day? No, and I do find that it’s an “extra” step so I do not use this every day. I use the Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water (I use the one with the blue cap) on a cotton round held to my eye  to remove my eye makeup most days. However, I do like to use the Too Faced Mascara Melt Off a couple of times a week because the mascara builds up little by little when it isn’t completely removed. I LOVE the way my lashes feel after using this! My lashes feel super soft and completely free of any mascara gunk.

Do You Need This?

You could use other things to remove waterproof mascara and condition your lashes such as coconut oil, baby oil, petroleum jelly, or olive oil, but that is going to be a lot messier. I personally like this product because I can get the oil directly onto my lashes and not deal with the mess dripping on my face.

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THE DRUGSTORE B.B CREAM YOU NEED TO TRY!

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Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Some days I get super excited to do my makeup and want to do a full face of makeup but other days I just want (or need) a go-to that is fast but leaves me with a pretty look that lasts all day.

 

L’Oreal Skin Beautifier B.B Cream

 

 

This B.B cream claims to prime, correct, hydrate, and perfect. With “beautifying beads” inside are encapsulated pigments infused with an ultra-light lotion with antioxidant Vitamin E. This comes out of the tube as a white lotion transforms to your perfect shade.

Why I Love It

This is easy to apply with your fingers or a foundation brush (I like the Sigma F60). I love that this gives me a natural look that looks like bare skin. This is easy to apply in only a minute and then a little under eye concealer and boom you’re done! I have combo/oily skin so when I saw this said “hydrates” I was nervous but it wears very well on me, even my oily prone t-zone! I have been using this product for three years, and originally included it on this blog in 2014 (here and here).

My Routine

I still use a primer when I use this (I use Benefit PoreFessional) but then I dot this on my face and then blend it in with either my fingers or a foundation brush. You can also apply this with a sponge (I like the Beauty Blender). I do set this *lightly* with loose powder (I use Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder) and if you want a little more coverage you could use a powder foundation. I wear this in the shade fair, but it is also available in light, medium, and deep.

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Thank you, as always, for reading! Please let me know in the comments your favorite B.B cream or C.C cream : )

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PLAN AHEAD SO EVERYONE GETS THEIR BEAUTY SLEEP…EVEN WITH SICK KIDS! | SICK JUST GOT REAL.™ + VISA GIFT CARD AND PRODUCT GIVEAWAY

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Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you had a great weekend! Last year I had the opportunity to work with Pfizer Consumer Healthcare and I spoke about how as a beauty blogger I share on my blog (that’s right here!), my beauty and lifestyle YouTube channel, and on my social media a lot of “picture perfect” versions of reality. Are these pictures fake? No, not exactly, I do share things that I love and pictures of my family, but of course these are just the edited, carefully selected pictures not including the background clutter, poor lighting, and general chaos that is also going on! Today I would like to lift the veil a bit again and remind you that it’s really smoke and mirrors. This post has been sponsored by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare and as always all thoughts and opinions are my own. I would never accept money in exchange for a positive review.

 

 

 

Plan Ahead Tips

 

 

I try to always arm myself with the basics *before* a cold makes it’s way to our house because with three young kids, two who are in school, and one who is always along for the ride for drop offs, shopping trips, and extracurricular activities, sickness is inevitable.

  1. Have healthy snacks that you can grab and your kids can grab to try to “pack” them with as many vitamins as possible to fight off the “Ew”. *Tip: If you’re having a rough day, gummy fruit snack packs have a lot of vitamin C so ignore the mom guilt and toss them a fun snack ; )
  2. Teach good hand washing habits and make a hand washing chart to hang in your bathroom! We laminated our chart so that we can use dry-erase markers to mark down good hand washing habits each week.
  3. Try to pack lunches, brief cases, backpacks, and snacks the night before! Also pick out clothes ahead of time for both yourself and your child! I find if I pick out a nice outfit the night before I am more likely to rock it the next day instead of grabbing for something comfy and less put together when I’m sleepy that morning!
  4. Don’t be the mom running to the store at 11 O’Clock at night frantically reading boxes of medicine trying to find what you need, have your medicine cabinet stocked ahead of time. Seriously, this took me awhile to actually do but it makes such a difference and you’ll thank me later when you’ve gotten a decent night of sleep even with a sick kiddo ; )

 

#SickJustGotReal

 

 

My daughter is five (and a half!) and recently she came home from school and pretty much started throwing a tantrum that could put her toddler brother to shame, so I figured she just needed a little connecting with mom after being at school all day, but when I came back to the couch and found her nearly asleep before 4P.M I knew something was up! Sure enough, she turned down some of her favorite dinner choices, flushed, and got a fever. My dad, a retired M.D, has always suggested Children’s Advil® to me over other brands, and he has turned me into a bit of a brand snob about it because it works great for all three of my children. Below in this post I include information about three of my go-to Pfizer Consumer Healthcare products.

 

Recognizing the “Ew” 

Did you know that playground equipment in the shade carriers more bacteria because the suns ultraviolet rays kill bacteria? How about that only half of students wash their hands after using the bathroom-and of those who do many don’t use soap? Desks in classrooms often have more germs than a toilet seat and if eating at the desk occurs that number of germs multiples. Kids often touch 20 objects per minute and touch their face as many as 50 times per hour. Do you or your child use an iPad? The screen on an iPad has up to 192 million bacteria.

“I Need To Use a Sick Day, Boss”

Parents miss 126 MILLION workdays annually caring for a sick child which amounts to 40 BILLION dollars lost.

Find out more on the Sick just got real.™ website!

Information about Pfizer Pediatric products

 

 

Kids get sick no matter how much you do to prevent it.  The pediatric brands of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare are there with three solutions – Children’s Advil®, Children’s inevitable ® and Children’s Dimetapp® – to tackle the “ew”iest of symptoms.

Ease those aches and pains, while reducing a child’s fever fast with Children’s Advil®, a great solution for kids as young as 2 and up to 11. Children’s Advil® comes in several great-tasting flavors, including: Sugar-free Dye-free Berry, Bubble Gum, Grape, Blue Raspberry, Fruit and Dye-Free White Grape flavors. There’s also Infants’ Advil® White Grape, which provides unsurpassed fever relief (among OTC pain relievers) with a syringe for easy dosing for children 6-23 months.

For your child’s cough, trust Children’s Robitussin® Extended-Release 12 Hour Cough Relief to control and relieve symptoms all-day or all- night. Available in grape or orange flavor, for children ages 4 and up. Please note that while most Children’s Robitussin® products can be used starting at age 4, some are only for children age 6 and up.

Children’s Dimetapp® Multi-Symptom Cold Relief Dye-Free eases your child’s stuffy and runny nose, while quieting a bothersome cough. All in a great-tasting grape flavor that’s dye-free, for children 6 and up.

Giveaway

If you would like to win a $25 Visa gift card and additional Pfizer Pediatric products please enter my giveaway!

Giveaway Rules

-Must be 18 years old

– Must be a United States resident

-Must be subscribed to this blog (it’s easy!)

 

 -Must comment on this post! Tell me a story about #WhenSickGotReal in your house! 

-Must “like” Sick just got real.™ Facebook page

-Must “like” LeahTackles Facebook page

Bonus Entry Opportunities

-Follow LeahTackles Instagram

-Follow LeahTacklesBeauty Instagram

– “Pin” this blog post to your Pinterest and follow LeahTackles Pinterest

This giveaway ends on March 8, 2017 and the giveaway winner will be contacted by me. The giveaway winner will have 24 hours to respond before I randomly select a new winner.

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MICRODERMABRASION AT HOME? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!

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Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I hope that you are having a wonderful week so far! Last week I talked about how shaving your face can have anti-aging benefits and is a regular part of my skincare routine (you can read about that here). Today I thought that I would share another skincare post because it is so essential to take care of your skin and it makes a huge difference in makeup application, too.

 

 

 

What Is a PMD?

A PMD is a microdermabrasion tool that you can use in the comfort of your own home to get the same results that you get in a dermatologists office or a skin spa.

Why I Love It

Microdermabrasion is a great way to safely but effectively remove a layer of skin to reveal younger looking skin by getting rid of dead skin, increasing blood flow, and boosting the bodies production of collagen and elastin. Microdermabrasion can also help fade the look of sun spots or discoloration, acne scars, enlarged pores, and fine lines. I have had microdermabrasion treatment done at a skin spa, but the PMD pays for itself after a couple of uses! The PMD uses a patented spinning disc technology along with calibrated vacuum suction. I love the PMD because it also helps for my skincare products to absorb more into the skin, and we all know that skincare products cost a pretty penny, so to me this is a *huge* plus!

My Routine

I use the PMD weekly, usually on Sunday when I have a bit more time to dedicate to my skincare routine. I start by shaving my face (again, read about that here) and then immediately use the PMD. I hold the skin tight and in upward strokes use the PMD on my neck and face. I avoid the eye area for the most part but do ever so lightly do it near where fine lines and crows feet appear. I also love to use the PMD to exfoliate my lips! Another great spot to use the PMD is your hands because both your neck and hands are telltale areas that show aging. *Note: The PMD comes with a very helpful instructional DVD as well as several different discs for both the face and body. You can see more tips from the PMD website here.

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Have you ever tried mircodermabrasion? Let me know your favorite skincare tools in the comments! And please don’t forget to subscribe!

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HOW TO CLEAN AND DRY YOUR MAKEUP BRUSHES QUICKLY!

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Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you had a great weekend, and if you’re off today that you’re enjoying your long weekend! If you’re like me and you put off washing your makeup brushes until all of your brushes are dirty and you can’t put it off anymore then this post if for you. We all know that washing your makeup brushes is important because not only will your colors muddle if the brushes are dirty, but it isn’t sanitary and can lead to skin breakouts which nobody has time for.

Products I Use To Wash My Brushes

 

 

My favorite way to wash  my makeup brushes is with the Beauty Blender Cleanser Solid, I also will use the Beauty Blender Cleanser but prefer it for my sponges and the solid for my brushes. It is also fine to wash your brushes with a foaming antibacterial hand soap, and if I run out of my Beauty Blender Cleanser Solid I will do this.

My Routine

I set my brushes on the left side of my sink and a clean towel on the left side of my sink along with my Benjabelle Sunflower Brush Tree. I have blogged about the Benjabelle Sunflower Brush Tree here. If I am washing a larger brush I do it by itself, but I will wash smaller eye shadow brushes a few at a time. I wet the brush and then swirl it into the Beauty Blender Cleanser Solid or I put a little soap into my other hand and swirl the brush in circular motions in my hand. I rinse the brush until the water runs clear. I then hang the brush from the Benjabelle Brush Tree. I love the Benjabelle Brush Tree because it helps the brushes to dry much faster, but if you do not have one you can roll one end of a hand towel and lay the brush so that the brush head is angled down. *Note: Never tilt your brush so that the bristles are up after washing because if water gets into the barrel of the brush it can damage your brush. You can read more about that here.

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DON’T EVEN BOTHER WITH OTHER NAIL POLISH REMOVER! JUST BUY THIS…

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Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I hope that you felt extra loved yesterday for St. Valentine’s Day and that you’re having a great week : ) I recently shared how I get Salon Quality Nail Treatments at Home and I try a lot of nail care items because I do my own nails. I decided that although it may seem like a silly item to dedicate an entire blog post to, I truly think that I have a nail polish remover that you *NEED* to try!

Cutex Spa Formula Nail Polish Remover

 

 

Why I Love It

This 98% acetone nail polish remover takes off my nail polish, even glitters and hard to remove polish, so much faster than any other nail polish I’ve used before. I love that I don’t have to use tons of cotton rounds or really scrub to get my polish off. This nail polish remover also claims to remove gel nails but I don’t typically wear gel polishes. Cutex Spa Formula Nail Polish Remover is not only fast-acting but it contains conditioning oils which is a nice bonus, too.

My Routine

I use cotton rounds or cotton balls to remove the polish off of my nails. It has been so nice not having to avoid glitter polishes because I don’t want to struggle to get them off, because with this it doesn’t take long at all! If I am wearing hard to remove polishes, such as a glitter polish, I will hold the cotton round on my nail for 20 or 30 seconds and then lightly rub to get the polish completely off.

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If you like random “must try” product reviews like this, please tell me to keep them coming! If there is something else beauty related you’d like to see, please let me know that as well! Thank you for reading! xx

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SHOULD WOMEN SHAVE THEIR FACE?

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Hi there! Happy Monday!

If you’re part of “Bachelor Nation” and watch shows such as the ABC network hit The Bachelor, then you probably know Michelle Money. I am a huge fan of Michelle’s, and have learned a lot by watching her different YouTube channels. Several years ago I saw a video where Michelle showed how she shaves her face (watch it here) and after seeing that I did a little more research and today I want to share with you WHY and HOW I shave my face.

 

 

Why I Do It

I have very fine, blond peach fuzz on my face but after seeing the video tutorial Michelle showed I was intrigued. One thing I found both in Michelle’s video as well as other articles I found on the topic, was how men typically look younger because shaving their face regularly is a form of exfoliating their face on a very regular basis! Regularly exfoliating is a great way to really amp up the function of the skincare that you’re already using, too, because it allows products to really be absorbed into the skin.  I love that my skin looks beautiful and smooth, plus this makes makeup apply flawlessly. Essentially you are removing a layer of dead skin cells, so dermaplaning like they do at skin spas, but for only a couple of dollars and in the comfort of your own home. And just like shaving your legs will *NOT* make the hair come back thicker or darker, the same is true for shaving your face this way… that is a myth! Your hair on your face will come back in exactly how it was when you started!

How I Do It

I don’t have a set schedule doing this, but typically try to do this about every week or every other week. I use the Tinkle (yes, “tinkle”) brand eye brow razors to do this, but most “eye brow razors” will work for this. *Note: I NEVER use these “eye brow” razors to shave my eye brows and think that you should keep razors FAR away from your brows! Pluck, wax, or thread of your brows please! I begin with clean and dry skin, use a single-blade, single-edge razor, hold my skin taut with one hand, and then shave in upward motions holding the razor at a 45 degree angle. I avoid around my eye area, my eye brows, and anything too close to my hair line, focusing on my cheeks and by my ears. I also love to do this before I do microdermabrasion which I do at home using my PMD. After I shave I skip toner and I make sure to use a lot of moisturizer so that you skin isn’t dried out.

Final Thoughts

I don’t think this is a “must” by any means. Please only do what you are comfortable with. I suggest starting with just a little bit, perhaps the peach fuzz on your jaw line, and then see how it goes for you. If you’re under 18 years old please ask your parents before you begin incorporating this into your skincare routine. If you do decide to try this, always be careful and make sure to clean the blade after and don’t use a dull blade on your face because just like your legs a dull blade will make you more likely to nick yourself.

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Thank you for reading and please leave any requests or questions in the comments below! I want to talk about what YOU want to hear! xx

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NATURAL CREAM CONTOUR MADE EASY!

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Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

In the summer I tend to stick to a powder contour since I have combination/oily skin, but lately I’ve been loving doing a very subtle bit of contouring with cream products to help define my features. I have used several products, and for every day use I have found my favorite that I keep going back to because one product gives me my contour, highlight, and blush.

Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Palette

 

 

 

Why I Love It

This product contains four .08oz cream products to contour your face and you only need a tiny bit of product to get a lot of impact. I like to apply these products using the Beauty Blender Blusher (the medium sized Beauty Blender) or with brushes. When I use brushes I use a brush like the Cover FX Dual Ended Contour Brush for the contour and highlight and a small stippling blush like my very favorite cream blush brush the E.L.F Small Stipple Brush (the BEST $3 investment you’ll make all month, promise!) to stipple on the blush. I personally tend to use the brushes more because I find it easier to not mess up my foundation this way, but the sponge technique does blend seamlessly which looks airbrushed and lovely.

My Routine

After setting my foundation and concealer with a loose power (I like the Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder) I use the the contour color to contour my cheekbones, nose, and temples, the matte highlight when I want to highlight the bridge of my nose or between my cheekbone and jawline, the shimmery highlight for the tip of my nose, cupids bow, and cheek bone, and the blush to brighten the apples of my cheeks.

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If you have any questions, as always please ask! I love talking to you in the comments! Please don’t forget today is the LAST DAY to enter my giveaway!! You can enter to win a Target Gift Card and ChapStick goodies here!

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THE PERFECT TAUPE/GRAY NAIL POLISH

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Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you had a great weekend and that you had a fun Super Bowl Sunday if you’re in the United States! Today I want to share the nail polish that I’ve worn several times in a row because with the nail polish collection that I boast, that is pretty rare.

 

Essie “Miss Fancy Pants”

 

 

Why I Love It

Neutral nails are very popular right now, but finding the perfect color for your skin tone can be quite the challenge. I have tried so many neutral shades, and I’ve finally landed on one that seems to compliment my skin, and it’s a beautiful taupe-y gray that I think would compliment a lot of other skin tones as well.

My Routine

I apply a coat of Revlon Quick Dry Base Coat then apply two coats of the Essie “Miss Fancy Pants” polish and then my Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat. I find that this nail polish lasts well without chipping on me for several days, but I can’t seem to make it last a week! I will say that I am pretty tough on nails (read: I wash a lot of dishes!) and that this does seem to last better on me than some of my other Essie polishes. I am a huge fan of Essie’s color selection, but the staying power is hit or miss for me, but this one I’ve been pleased with.

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What is your favorite nail polish brand? I absolutely love nail polish but haven’t bought anything new in awhile..enable me ; )

Thank you, as always, for reading! xo

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