Leah Tackles

JUST FAB REVIEW | IS IT WORTH IT? ARE THE SHOES COMFORTABLE?

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I love shoes, and I like to have high quality, investment pairs of winter boots, athletic shoes, a classic heel, and of course my favorite UGG Slippers (priorities, people!). However, I love trying out shoes for different events, or explore a new trend, without clutching my pearls. My favorite places to get inexpensive boots is Target or JustFab, and my favorite place to get inexpensive heels is JustFab, so today I want to share my thoughts on the company JustFab.

 

What Is JustFab?

JustFab is a website that is a part of the ShoeDazzle, Fabletics, and FabKids family, where you join and take a style quiz, have access to exclusive discounts, and receive free shipping and exchanges.

How Does It Work?

Once becoming a VIP member you can opt each month to “skip” the month or pick out a pair of shoes! If you do not “skip” the month by the 5th of every month, you will be charged $39 which can be used as a credit for a new pair of shoes.

My Experience

I joined because I kept seeing ads and thinking the shoes were so adorable for the price! I have been a member for years now, and I overall really enjoy JustFab. In order to not get charged I spend about 10 minutes every six months to put into the calendar on my phone “Skip JustFab” on the first of the month. I have had a few “whoops” months where I don’t skip, but I have just saved the credit for occasions such as birthdays where I want a new pair of shoes.

Why I love It?

I have had so many cute pairs of shoes, and people often compliment my shoes or ask where they are from. I love that I can get cute shoes (see some of my past posts showcasing them here , here, and here) for an affordable price. I have had at least 10 pairs of shoes from JustFab over the past several years, and while some aren’t incredibly comfortable, I have also purchased boots that I wear on a nearly daily basis during the fall and winter months with zero pain. I also find the review on the JustFab site to be very helpful. My latest pair of shoes from just fab, a faux suede black bootie with gorgeous detail embroidery, is shown above.

What I DON’T Love

I haven’t canceled, but I have heard it can be a bit of a hassle, because obviously they don’t want you to cancel. If you have had that experience, definitely let myself and anyone else reading know about it in the comments.

Shop

 

Have you tried JustFab? What has your experience been like?

 

Watch My Latest YouTube Video 

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

WHAT EXACTLY IS HAND SALVE? | HAND SALVE VS. HAND CREAM

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I hope that your 2018 is off to a great start : ) It has been bitterly cold here, -20 with windchill some days, and I have once again been relying heavily on hand creams. My husband also has dry hands in the winter, and he doesn’t like the feeling of lotion, so he has been using a hand salve instead.

 

 

What Is Hand Salve?

Hand salve is thicker than most hand lotion or cream. It uses beeswax to create a thick emollient, which moisturizes the skin. Hand salves are a more natural product, containing natural ingredients, and often has a more herbal smell like an essential oil.

How Is Hand Salve Different From Hand Lotion and Hand Cream?

Hand Salve contains oil and beeswax and no water, which gives it a thicker consistency and longer shelf life. Hand Lotion and Hand Cream contain oil and water, and therefore are thinner in consistency. Hand Cream contains less water than Hand Lotion, so Hand Creams are thicker than Hand Lotions.

The Best Hand Salve?

My husband and I both love the Burts Bees Hand Salve because it is an affordable price point from a brand that I know and trust.

Do You Need It?

If you don’t like rubbing lotion or cream on your hands, a bit of the Burts Bees Hand Salve focused on the backs of your hand goes a long way without making your hands have that covered-in-lotion feel.

Shop

 

Do you like hand lotion? How cold is it where you live? Let me know! xx

 

Watch My Latest YouTube Video 

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

HOSTESS AND TEACHER GIFT IDEAS | AFFORDABLE

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Tomorrow my middle Little Love turns FIVE! I can’t believe it! I have been busy preparing for his special day, so I still have some shopping to do, but I am starting to finish up the last of my Christmas shopping.

I have been doing a lot of gift guides lately, and that is because during the months leading up to Christmas most of my Googling and Pinterest-ing is me searching for gift ideas for myself. If you have any last requests for ideas for the holiday shopping season, be sure to comment so I can try to do that for your while we are still in the “ships in time for Christmas” timeframe. *Note: Please check shipping times, but I tried to include items that should arrive before Christmas.

Today I want to share gifts that I like to have on hand for people such as teachers or hostesses who I want to thank for their hard-work and kindness, but I maybe do not know as well or have a big budget for. Most of these gifts are beauty related (of course!), but I threw in a few other options as well.

 

 

TonyMoly I’m Real Single Use Mask Set of 11

I love these masks, and if you added a bottle of nail polish small gift card it would be the perfect pampering gift for any lady one your list!

 

The Body Shop Mango Soft Hands Warm Kisses Set

 

 

Philosophy Holiday Hand Cream Set

 

 

Lush The Night Before Christmas Set

 

 

Christmas Spa Gift Set

 

 

Disney Brushed Stainless Steel Waffle Iron 

I think this would be such a fun gift for a family with young kids (or honestly, a Disney lover of ANY age!) who hosts a holiday party.

 

Wine Glass Markers

 

 

Lenox 2017 Snowflake Candle 

 

Thymes Fragrant Frasier Fir Votive Candle 

I have included this candle in my Leah Tackles Amazon Favorites Store because it is SO GOOD! A new holiday must-have for me!

 

 

The Magnolia Journal 4 Issue Subscription 

If you love the show Fixer Upper and/or Joanna Gains, you will absolutely adore this magazine! I look forward to getting mine in the mail, and devour it when it arrives!

Have you finished your holiday shopping? Have you been shopping only for others, or for yourself too? Let me know : ) I hope you have a wonderful weekend! xx

Watch My Latest YouTube Video 

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

LAURA MERCIER LOOSE SETTING POWDER DUPE? | COTY AIRSPUN POWDER

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you had a great weekend : )

I have spoken many times both here and on my YouTube channel about the Laura Mercier Loose Powder, but the steep price point made me want to find a more affordable option, and I think I have finally found a dupe that is less than a quarter of the price!

 

 

What It Claims

Coty Airspun Powder has powder particles are swirled and smoothed by air to give it a very soft feel on the skin. This powder is designed with tints that are spread finely through the powder lying evenly and flat on your skin for a flawless finish. Coty Airspun loose face powder claims it can be used to set makeup or as a foundation This translucent loose face powder will hide fine lines, wrinkles and blemishes. Coty Airspun loose face powder is also dermatologically tested and long-lasting. It claims the packaging can be used at home on your vanity or in your purse on-the-go.

My Thoughts and How It Compares 

This powder is very finely milled and mimics the feel of the Laura Mercier Powder that is my all-time favorite (or maybe Laura Mercier mimics it, as the Coty powder has been around since 1935!) and I love the way it sets my makeup, including my under eye area. This powder can be used to bake your concealer or contour, and it is so inexpensive that this would be a great option for that. The powder has a little bit of a smell that is definitely might make you nostalgic or remind you of your mother or grandmother’s makeup, but it didn’t bother me and doesn’t linger on the skin. I am blown away by how matte this makes my skin, and how well it sets my under eye and forehead area and keeps my makeup from settling into my fine lines. The packaging is definitely old-fashioned, and the powder puff is usable, but would be very messy, and I opt to use a brush. I like to use this brush for setting my under eye and this brush for setting the rest of my face. As far as travel, I would never put this in my purse, because it is messy enough to use on my vanity.

My Routine

I apply my primer, foundation, and then my concealer before using my Coty Airspun Powder. I like to set my under eye concealer and my forehead with a small tapered brush (mentioned above) and then my entire face using a large powder brush (also mentioned above). I then continue to do my entire face makeup before setting my t-zone with a *tiny* bit more powder with the same large powder brush. I don’t typically bake my makeup, but on days where I decide to I will also use this to bake my concealer and cream contour.

 

Shop

 

 

Have you tried this powder? What is your favorite loose setting powder? Do you bake your makeup? Let me know in the comments and let’s chat makeup! xx

 

Watch My Latest YouTube Video 

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS WHITE TEETH! | SMILE BRILLIANT KIT REVIEW AND COUPON CODE

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I did a video on my YouTube Channel nearly a year ago sharing how I whitened my teeth professionally at home with Smile Brilliant. I have used the touch-up kits every few months to maintain my results, and I am just as in love with it now, if not more so, all these months later. I was sent new whitening and desensitizing gel and was compensated for this post, but as always all opinions are my own. I will never accept money in exchange for a positive review.  I think that giving someone the gift of a beautiful smile is a fantastic gift idea or a great way to spoil yourself before all the holiday selfies you’ll be taking ; )

 

My Original Results and Review of Smile Brilliant

How I Use It Now

I like to use Smile Brilliant every three or four months to keep my teeth as white as when I did the kit for the first time.

 

Why I Love It

I have sensitive teeth, other at-home whitening products have hurt my teeth so badly that I couldn’t use them close enough together to get as significant results as I wanted. I also appreciate how affordable this kit is because while I’d looked into professional whitening at the dentist office, it was never something that fit into my families budget. I think that the custom trays you get with Smile Brilliant are really a game changer because they fit your teeth perfectly, so the gel is getting direct contact with each part of your smile. I like that I can keep up my white smile without a trip to the dentist office or a big hassle.

 

 

My Routine

I always wipe my teeth off with a small piece of paper towel or a washcloth to make sure that they are dry before putting a thin strip of the whitening gel into the custom trays and putting the trays in. If any whitening gel presses up onto my gums, I wipe it off with a Q-Tip. I typically use the trays in for 1.5 hours, but as long as 3 hours if I want a really good touch-up. After I remove the trays I rinse my mouth with water and then brush my teeth with Sensodyne toothpaste. I rinse out the and fill them with the de-sensitizing gel, which is my favorite Smile Brilliant product because it makes it virtually painless for me to whiten my sensitive teeth. I try to do my whitening in the evenings, and if I am going to eat after whitening I try to wait at least an hour before doing so.

 

Why I think It Is a Great Gift

I think Smile Brilliant is a fantastic gift because it works for any age, man or woman, and it is such a confidence boost to have a whiter smile. My husband, who has never whitened his teeth because he also has a lot of sensitivity, wants to try Smile Brilliant because he has been so amazed by how effective it has been for me.

 

Coupon Code

Use the code LEAHTACKLES20 to save $20 off ANY Smile Brilliant Kit!

 

Shop 

Find the right customized Smile Brilliant Kit!

 

Have you whitened your teeth? Have you tried Smile Brilliant? Let me know in the comments! Have a wonderful day! xx

 

 

Watch My Latest YouTube Video 


How Much Is Teeth Whitening

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

TOP BEAUTY GIFTS FOR HER | PRACTICAL & UNIQUE IDEAS

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Well, Christmas is officially less than a month away and holiday shopping is in full swing. Today I want to share a few of my favorite beauty purchases that I use on a regular basis and think are fantastic gift ideas for any lady in your life (or yourself).

 

 

PMD Personal Microderm System

I love this because it smooths and evens skin tone, reduces blemishes, and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. I use this once a week and love doing this in the convenience of my own home. The PMD is one of the most important parts of my skin care routine, and think it would make a great gift.

Nume Classic Wand 25mm

This is how I curl my hair most days, and I get questions on my hair more than anything else in my videos and photos…this is my “secret” weapon! I LOVE this thing.

 

Beautiful Fragrance 

I think a wonderful perfume is such a great gift because it is a bit of splurge that people may not want to spend the money on, but will surely love.

Bath Bomb Set

I love bath bombs, but they are not a “need” item, so I love getting them as gifts instead of spending the money on myself.

Light-Up Make-Up Mirror 

I do my makeup in front of a light up makeup mirror every day and think that every woman needs good lighting for makeup. I also love the magnifying feature (well, I love/hate it!) because it makes plucking stray brow hairs so much easier.

 

What beauty item would you love to get as a gift? What is your favorite beauty gift to give? I would love to hear your ideas in the comments : )

Thank you, as always, for reading! Have a wonderful weekend! xx

 

Watch My Latest YouTube Video

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

EOS CRYSTAL LIP BALM REVIEW

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you had a great weekend!

The cold weather months are here and for many of us, that means dry lips. I am a huge fan of EOS lip balms, so when I saw the EOS Crystal Lip Balm I was excited to try it out.

 

 

What It Claims

EOS Crystal Lip Balm is described to feel like weightless hydration. EOS Crystal is formulated with a blend of five nourishing natural oils to hydrate lips without a waxy feel. This balm contains shea, coconut, avocado, and other natural oils. EOS Crystal Lip Balm is 100% wax free, vegan, and hypoallergenic. EOS Crystal Lip Balm is also paraben and petrolatum-free and not tested on animals.

My Thoughts

Right off the bat, I LOVE the packaging! It is a rounded triangle shape, but the same general ball shape as the original EOS Balms. The EOS Crystal balm is completely see-through and really cute! I happened to purchase this lip balm when my lips were very dry and dehydrated, so it was the perfect time to give it a true effectiveness test. At first, because my lips felt so quenched I didn’t like that the EOS Crystal didn’t have that waxy, thick feeling that I connected with moisture, and I didn’t like this. After using it for several days I decided that sure, it worked, but I didn’t like it nearly as much as the original EOS Lip Balm. The feel is pretty oily, the look on the lips is pretty like a clear oil or gloss. I do think that these smell very nice and don’t taste bad.  I often use EOS Balm as a thin layer before applying lipsticks, but this one has so much oil which is great for moisturizing the lips but not great for keeping lipstick on the lips. I will continue to use this for moisture but will stick with purchasing regular good ole EOS Balms in the future.

My Routine

I have been using this in the evenings, or on days when I don’t want anything on my lips but a lip balm product.

Shop

 

Shop My Pick

 

Have you tried this? Do you love it? Hate it? If you haven’t tried it, will you skip it? Try it? Let me know in the comments : ) xx

Watch My Latest YouTube Video

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

COVERGIRL TOTAL TEASE MASCARA REVIEW

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you’re having a wonderful Monday so far : ) I am feeling WIDE AWAKE thanks to the time change and loving it.

 

 

Covergirl Clump Crusher Water Resistant Mascara is my always repurchase, “first layer” mascara that I use nearly every day. I am also a huge fan of Covergirl Super Sizer as a second layer mascara for amazing volume. I was interested in trying out the newish Covergirl Total Tease.

 

What It Claims

Total Tease mascara claims teased, long, refined, and full lashes. Use the lash teasing mascara comb to tease the hard to reach corners.
Polymer-enriched thickening complex claims to boosts volume and defines your lashes. Get perfect separation with the small comb. 500% more volume (do these claims make anyone else think hmmmm, really!?).

 

 

My Thoughts

I like my mascara to be on the wetter side because I feel like it is easier to glide it onto your lash, but wet mascara can equal smudging so I really like the concept of the small nub-like end of the brush so I can get those hard to reach corners. Because I like wetter mascara, I prefer to use waterproof to help control smudging.  At first, I wasn’t crazy about the more “regular” side of the wand because the bristles aren’t very long, but the mascara is very buildable, so I don’t mind as much. The final look is beautiful and I love the way my eyes look with it on, even without any other eye makeup on. Is it the best mascara I’ve ever used? I don’t think so, but I definitely am enjoying it.

My Routine

I have used this mascara with curling my lashes with my favorite lash curler and L’Oreal Voluminous Primer and also with just the mascara straight on the lashes with no extra fluff. I start by using the “normal” or what I consider to be a typical looking mascara brush side to coat my lashes. I like doing two or three coats of this mascara, and I love how buildable it is. I then use the “nub” side and use it to get the inner corner lashes and fluff out the outer lashes to make them very sexy and dramatic.

Shop

 

 

Have you tried this mascara? What is your favorite mascara? Do you like waterproof mascara?

Thank you, as always, for reading! xx

 

Watch My Latest YouTube Video 

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

YES TO TOMATOES FACIAL HYDRATING LOTION REVIEW

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday! And Happy NOVEMBER?! I am not quite sure how that is possible, but we took the Little Loves Trick-or-Treating last night, so I  know it’s true ; )

 

Sometimes when picking items to share with you or review I am looking at newly released items, hyped items, or “shiny” items that seem special or fun. Yes To Tomatoes is part of the Yes To line and an item that I always have on hand, use regularly, and yet somehow haven’t dedicated a post to is the Yes To Tomatoes Facial Hydrating Lotion.

 

 

What It Claims

This facial moisturizer in antioxidants and powerful sebum (oil that causes Monday, check out Monday’s post for more on that) absorbers. The Yes To Tomatoes Facial Hydrating Lotion moisturizes and balances your skin.

Why I Love It

I have oily/combo skin and get occasional breakouts, but I also deal with some dryness and fine lines, so having a lotion that isn’t specifically targeted as an acne product but helps combat that AND help my dryness is amazing! I have been using this product for at least four years and will continue to do so.  I also love that this is about $10 at the drugstore, so it is a product I can repurchase when I need to without waiting for a sale or having anxiety. My only complaint is that it does not have SPF, so do keep that in mind.

 My Routine

I use this on my face and neck after cleansing and toning my face. I sometimes follow up with the First Aid Beauty Oil-Free Mattifying Gel 

Shop

 

Do you have a favorite moisturizer? Let me know in the comments! Have a great day! xx

Watch My Latest YouTube Video 

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare

HOW TO USE HAIR OILS EFFECTIVELY | TIPS FOR HEALTHY AND SHINY HAIR

& Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I hope that you are having a great week : )

For years if you mentioned hair oil to me I would think, “Not me! Not my hair!” because I get oily on my scalp and didn’t want my fine, straight hair weighed down with oil. I finally caved and gave oils a try to see what all the hype was about, and today I want to break down the basics in case you are also wary of hair oils.

Why You Should Use Hair Oils

Oils are a sealant which is a dream for split ends or fragile hair that is near breaking, oils are a heat protectant, and oils give you hair fantastic shine. Oils contain fatty acids, and those are great for helping prevent breakage. Oil also helps when you are trying to comb through your hair as a natural detangler.

About My Hair

I have a lot of hair, but my hair is very fine and very straight. I definitely suffer from dry ends, split ends, and breakage at the ends. My hair is color treated with a scalp that tends to be oily. I generally wash my hair every other day, but sometimes go two days without washing.

What Type Of Oil Should I Buy?

Argan oils help make your hair shiny and healthy, coconut oil is a fantastic conditioner, jojoba oil is a great lubricant for hair, and baobab oil nourish the hair follicle to strengthen and support elasticity.

How To Use Hair Oils

Begin with one pump or drop of an oil (about a 1/2 a teaspoon if you’re using coconut oil straight from the jar) and work it into the ends working your hair up. I do not use the oil past the top of my ears because the natural oils from your scalp condition that area with oil naturally.

My Favorites

 

Have you tried hair oils? What are your favorites? I would love to hear from YOU! xx

 

Watch My Latest YouTube Video

FacebookTwitterEmailPinterestShare