Leah Tackles

URBAN DECAY NAKED HEAT PALETTE YAY OR NAY REVIEW

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you had a great weekend, and maybe you are even still on a long weekend, and that you’re excited for the holiday tomorrow if you’re here in the United States.

Urban Decay is well respected in the makeup world, and is most famous of their Naked eyeshadow palettes. The Naked collection has grown exponentially in the past few years, and now there is a brand new line called Naked Heat. I knew as soon as I heard the name of this collection teased before even seeing pictures that I would probably love it, because the word “heat” made me think of clay oranges and sunset reds which I love but are lacking in the other Naked eye shadow palettes. The collection also has new lipsticks and eye liners.

 

 

Packaging

If you’re familiar with the Naked Smokey palette, then this packaging is very similar to that. The hard plastic is easy to clean, the magnetic closure keeps these beauties safe, and has a beautiful gradient of golds, reds, and oranges.

Swatches

Ounce, Chaser, Sauced, Low Blow, Lumbre, He Devil

Dirty Talk, Scorched, Cayenne, En Fuego, Ashes, Ember

 

How gorgeous are these? This palette is a nice mix of mattes and shimmers, and the warm colors are stunning. The shades swatched well with both finger and brush swatches, but more importantly looked beautiful on the eyes. The matte shades especially are buttery and easy to blend.

My Thoughts

Simply put, this is the kind of product that ignites (see what I did there?!) my love for makeup, and makes me excited to get ready each day. I like that I can do a gorgeous, deep look, a basic neutral eye (“Chaser” is a perfect blending color), or a one-and-done shadow look with one of the gorgeous shimmer shades (“Dirty Talk” in the crease is STUNNING). I am swooning, and I think they knocked this one out of the park. I give this a very big YAY!

 

No Filter, No Flash, and Natural Lighting

 

 

Shopping Information 

This is available on UrbanDecay.com, Sephora.com, Ulta.com, Macys.com, Nordstrom.com, and will be available in stores July 13th.

 

I hope that this review was helpful for you! If you would like me to do a tutorial on my LeahTackles YouTube Channel, let me know! Have you gotten this palette or do you plan to? Let me know! xx

 

 

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

COPY MY LOOK! | SUMMER 2017 MAKEUP LOOK

& 1 Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you had a great weekend! Hailey, my six year old, had her dance recitals over the weekend, and on Friday her dad and I got to take her out to dinner afterwards on a special date without her little brothers ; ) I created a summer look that I wore to her recital and dinner, and today I will be sharing the products I used with you.

 

Benefit Porefessional Primer

L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation

Kat Von D Lock-It Concealer in White Out

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder

Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder

Benefit Hoola Lite Bronzer

The Balm Blush in Down Boy

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop 

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette

L’Oreal Lineur Intense in Black 

CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara Water Resistant 

Maybelline LashSensational

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow in Taupe 

Nume Curling Wand

Bobbi Brown Lip Liner in Nude

Jeffree Star Liquid Lipstick in Celebrity Skin 

Thank you, as always, for reading! I hope that you enjoy seeing EVERY product that I wore for this look! I have a simple makeup look coming for a Wednesday, so don’t forget to subscribe! : ) xx

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

BEAUTY TREND- THE SILICONE MAKEUP SPONGE! YAY OR NAY?

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I hope that you are having a great week so far. If you know me, you know that I love trying out hype products (remember my Starbucks Unicorn Frappuccino video?! Watch it here)  and as a self-proclaimed marketing nerd, find them fascinating. The Sillisponge by the indie makeup brand Molly Cosmetics, the first well-known silicone makeup sponge, became a sensation in late 2016, and sold out quickly! Now the market has been flooded with lots of versions of this sponge, but is it worth the hype? I finally got my hands on one, and today I will share my thoughts with you.

 

 

What Is It?

A clear silicone makeup sponge use in place of a foundation brush, Beauty Blender or traditional makeup sponge, or your fingers to apply foundation to your face.

First Impressions

It totally looks like a chicken cutlet breast implant only tiny, but I was still eager to try it based on the claims I had heard of a flawless application.

Pros

I love that this thing is SO MUCH MORE SANITARY! It is a breeze to clean, you just wash it off and dry it with a clean washcloth or paper towel…no drying wait time, no deep cleaning needed.  Because it isn’t a porous sponge there isn’t makeup getting left on it after use, which is much better for your skin, and way more sanitary. I also love that you use WAY LESS PRODUCT because, again, the sponge isn’t porous so nothing is sinking into a traditional sponge or brush bristles. I actually used way too much product the first few times using the sponge because I used so much less than normal with this application method. Once I got the hang of it, I really loved the flawless finish this gave me.

Cons

I wouldn’t say this is a huge “con” but it definitely is an odd makeup application method and took some getting used to because you are *basically* slapping a mini silicone implant on your face. When I first applied this I felt like it was just sitting on the surface of my skin, instead of looking like my own skin which I really did not like. I did find this hard to get my under eye area.

My Routine

I prime my skin as normal with my favorite Benefit PoreFessional and then dot my foundation on my face before using the silicone beauty sponge to spread the product on my skin. I have used this with my Tarte B.B Cream, my Urban Decay All-Nighter, and my Revlon ColorStay which all worked but I definitely used way too much the first time with the medium-to- full coverage foundations. I have found that the most important step is pressing and tapping the foundation into the skin to give it that flawless, airbrushed look.

Yay or Nay?

I will continue experimenting with the silicone beauty sponge. I like the airbrush finish that I’ve gotten, but am not sure if this will take the place of my favorite stippling foundation application method (read about the stippling method here).I *doubt* this will be a product I am using for the rest of my life, but I am enjoying playing around with it, let’s put it that way.  I love how easy this is to clean, how sanitary it is, and how perfect it is for travel.

Shop

 

Thank you, as always, for reading! Please subscribe : )

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

LET’S GET PERSONAL: HOW-TO PREVENT “BOOB SWEAT” THIS SUMMER!

& 4 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I hope that you are having a fantastic week so far! Today the title really lays out there what I am going to be tackling today, so let’s get started!

The weather has been slowly warming up here, and I know that summer will (hopefully!) be here before I know it. I like to be outside as much as possible in the summer, and I also workout, so sweating between or under my breasts is something I deal with, even with my smaller frame and average sized chest. I think all women can relate to some kind of “boob sweat”, “under boob sweat”, or some kind of perspiration around the bra area.

 

 

What I Use:

I use Summer’s Eve Cleansing Wash in the shower a couple of times a week and when I saw Summer’s Eve Feminine Deordorant Spray I knew I wanted to give it a try. This product is meant for using around the external vaginal area, but it works wonderfully for the chest region as well. This product is talc free, mild clinically tested safe scents, and made to not disrupt natural pH. I love the feeling of spraying these because it is an instant dry feeling that is very refreshing. This spray absorbs moisture and also helps to neutralize odors.

My Routine:

You likely use dry shampoo to freshen up your hair, and I use this in a similar manner to freshen up after being outside, doing a light to moderate activity if showering isn’t an option immediately, and also before I go out if I know I will be out in the heat/possibly sweating for an extended period of time.

Shop:

 

 

Does this topic make you blush? Be honest, can you relate? Let me know in the comments ; ) Please don’t forget to subscribe! xx

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

STRETCH MARK CREAM REVIEW | NAVAN SKINCARE

& 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you had a wonderful weekend! Today I wanted to share my thoughts on the Stretch Mark Reducing Cream from Navan Skincare. If you follow me on Snapchat (@LeahTackles) you may have seen me speak about this when I was gifted it from Navan Skincare for my consideration for review.

Stretch Mark Reducing Cream from Navan Skincare

 

 

This cream claims to work to reduce the appearance of stretch marks by combining three scientifically back ingredients (Collaxyl™, Elastonyl®, Retinyl) and six natural oils (Jojoba Oil, Rosehip Seed Oil, Rosemary leaf oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Peppermint Oil, Lavender Oil), that work to diminish the appearance of stretch marks caused by pregnancy or extreme weight gain or loss on the belly, hips, bum, thighs, breasts and arms.

My Initial Thoughts

I was a little unsure of this product because stretch marks aren’t a huge problem area for me and I have tried other creams in the past. I do have three children, so I had one stretch mark on my stomach that I really wanted to fade, as well as on my inner thigh. During all of my pregnancies and in the first few postpartum months I drank a ton of water, and also slathered myself in body oils and lotions to hopefully reduce my chances for stretch marks. I decided to try using the Navan Stretch Mark Reducing Cream twice daily and see if I noticed a difference.

Why I Love It

I really like that this cream has a refreshing and not overpowering smell, sinks into the skin quickly which is important because you are not supposed to get dressed until it has absorbed into the skin, and also comes in a container where I can (and did!) scrape out every last bit. It is a thick, creamy consistency so that it feel substantial not watery or oily, which I enjoy. I definitely noticed a significant difference in the appearance of my stretch marks. I like this because it wasn’t oily, sticky, or a pain to use.

Would I Purchase This Product and Will I Continue Using It?

I really loved this product, and it has peaked my interest in the rest of the Navan Skincare line because I found this to work better than other brands products with similar claims and price points. I do think that this product helps to reduce the appearance of stretch marks, and is worth a try.

Discount Code

Navan Skincare has kindly given me a discount code to share with you. Use the code Leah15 to save 15% off of your order. *Note: I am not paid if you purchase using this code, it is just a discount for you to try the product if you’d like.

Shop

Stretch Mark Reducing Cream

 

Thank you, as always, for reading! Have a beautiful week! xx

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

SUNDAY RILEY SKINCARE REVIEW

& 3 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you had a lovely weekend! I recently turned 30, and when my milestone birthday was approaching I made the decision to bump up my skincare. I have heard wonderful things about Sunday Riley, especially in the past year or so, and decided to finally take the plunge and try a little bit of this luxury brand for myself.

SUNDAY RILEY

 

 

ABOUT THE BRAND

Sunday Riley offers revolutionary formulas created to powerfully target treatment that work immediately and continue to work overtime.

GOOD GENES ALL-IN-ONE LACTIC ACID TREATMENT

 

 

Good Genes contains strong, purified grade lactic acid to help immediately exfoliate dull skin, plump fine lines, and with continued use battle hyperpigmentation and signs of aging. *Note: This is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) so please be sure to use proper SPF along with this to protect your skin from those rays!

MY THOUGHTS

Good Genes amazed me because my mild acne scars and other fine lines looked instantly plumped!! I have oily/combo skin and while this does take a couple of minutes to sink in, I didn’t find it to make me any more shiny than usual, and loved how much it brightened my skin.

LUNA SLEEPING NIGHT OIL

 

 

Luna is a retinol oil that boosts your skins plumpness, and improves the appearance of pores, wrinkles, and redness. This oil has german essential oils and blue tansy which help to balance the skin and offer soothing benefits while you sleep.

MY THOUGHTS

I apply Luna at nighttime after cleansing my skin. I absolutely love the bulb style and the blue/green color was a bit surprising at first, but actually makes it really easy to see when I have it rubbed in enough to be effective. This looks and feels so luxurious to use, and I really enjoy the scent but it is a bit strong if you’re very sensitive to smells. I do find that this takes quite a bit of time to soak in, so I try to make sure I have at least 15-20 minutes before I plan to actually crawl into bed because otherwise I would get the oil on my pillow. I once again noticed results right away! The morning after my first time using this I thought my skin looked so much better, more awake and just beautiful! I think this will be a product I continue to use for a very long time.

SHOP

You can purchase these products separately in two different sizes, or in a bundled set which is what I did.

 

 

SUNDAY RILEY GOOD GENES

SUNDAY RILEY LUNA SLEEPING NIGHT OIL

SUNDAY RILEY POWER COUPLE

 

If you enjoyed this post, please share it or “Pin” it to your Pinterest. Thank you for reading! xx

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

Damage Remedy+ Coconut Miracle Oil OGX Shampoo Review

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday! And HAPPY SPRING!

A couple of weeks ago I shared my all-time favorite heat protectant to use before heat styling (read it here), which just happens to be a drugstore product, and I thought I would continue my Leah Tackles Hair series with another drugstore item that is new to my rotation, but is so far holding its own.

Damage Remedy + Coconut Miracle Oil OGX Shampoo

Why I Love It

First of all, I’ll admit that the packaging was very enticing to me and once I smelled it I immediately tossed this coconut scented shampoo into my shopping cart. This shampoo has a blend of coconut oil, tiare and vanilla bean extracts to help give hydration to my color treated and heat styled hair.

My Routine

I always go at least every other day, and sometimes I go two days before washing my hair and so I  usually end up washing my hair three times per week. I use this twice per week and a purple shampoo for blondes on the third washing day each week.

Shop

 

 

Have you tried OGX products before? Let me know in the comments! xx

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

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

& Leave a Comment

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.

Shop

 

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

THE DRUGSTORE B.B CREAM YOU NEED TO TRY!

& Leave a Comment

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.

Shop

 

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

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

MICRODERMABRASION AT HOME? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!

& 2 Comments

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.

Shop

 

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

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare