Leah Tackles

MAKE YOUR REAL LASHES LOOK LIKE FALSIES | THE PERFECT COMBO

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Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope you are starting your week out with a fabulous attitude and are ready to tackle the rest of the week! A fellow YouTuber, Becca Bristow, has fabulous lashes in every video or picture I see of her, and so when she shared her favorite combo I knew I wanted to try it out.

 

The Perfect Lash Combo

L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Primer

Maybelline Lash Sensational Waterproof 

 

My Routine

 

 

I curl my lashes with my Tarte Cosmetics Perfect Eyelash Curler and then apply a coat of the L’Oeal Voluminous Lash Primer before applying the Maybelline Lash Sensational Waterproof mascara. I decided to use the waterproof version of the mascara because my preference to use a waterproof mascara to avoid smudging under my eyes. The Maybelline Lash Sensational is a very wet mascara, which I usually only like as a second layer of mascara over another mascara, but I do like this over the L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Primer.

The Result

I really love the results that I can get from these two products, and it’s a gorgeous way to get big, fluttery lashes without wearing falsies. I have worn this several times with only a little black eye liner and no eye shadow, and the look is stunning!  I also like using the primer with other mascaras, and also layering the Maybelline Lash Sensational as a layer with other mascaras.

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If you try this combo, please let me know! xx

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MY 30TH BIRTHDAY MAKEUP, HAIR, AND OUTFIT DETAILS!

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Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I hope that you are having a wonderful week! I had some questions about the makeup that I wore for my surprise 30th birthday party, so today I will be sharing all of my birthday deets with shopping links : )

 

 

MAKEUP

 

 

 

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Lipstick in 1

Bobbi Brown Liner in Nude

Esteé Lauder DoubleWear Foundation in 1C1 Cool Bone

Kat Von D Lock It Concealer in White Out

Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Palette in 20

Too Faced Sweethearts Bronzer in Sweet Tea

Too Faced Sweethearts Blush in Sparkling Bellini

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop

Too Faced Natural Eyes Natural Eye Palettte

L’Oréal Linuer Intense in Black

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow in Taupe

Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara in Black Water Resistant

Kiss Lashes

 

HAIR

TRESemmé Heat Tamer Leave-In Spray

L’Oréal Elnett Satin Hairspray

OGX Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum

Batiste XXL Plumping Powder

Nume Curling Wand

OUTFIT

LuLus Dress

Just Fab Shoes

SHOP WITH ME

Shop Just Fab 

EBates

 

I hope that you found this helpful! If you have any questions, please let me know! I hope that you have a fabulous week! Thank you for reading and please subscribe! xx

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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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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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DO YOU SUFFER FROM DARK CIRCLES? USE THIS!

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Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

As a mother of three little loves under the age of six I am tired (so.tired) and that combined with my hereditary under eye darkness (still love ya lots mom and dad…) I am constantly dealing with dark circles under my eyes. I have one product that I absolutely swear by for reducing my under eye darkness and have repurchased countless times and will continue to repurchase and today I want to share that with you.

 

Benefit It’s Potent Eye Cream

 

 

This is an eye cream that is formulated with a peptide complex that is known to help bring back firmness and elasticity to the eye area. This product is a brightening eye cream that helps fade dark circles, reduce puffiness, and smooth fine lines. I notice a MAJOR difference when I use this in the appearance of my dark circles, and notice much brighter and more awake looking eyes.

My Routine

After cleaning my skin with Purity by Philosophy, I use my Sea Breeze Sensitive Astringent, and then apply my Benefit It’s Potent Eye Cream before applying Say Yes To Tomatoes Daily Balancing Moisturizer followed by Benefit the Porefessional Matte Rescue.

Why I Love It

I love the Benefit It’s Potent Eye Cream because I notice drastic results with my dark circles! I personally prefer to use a more aggressive anti-aging eye cream at night to combat fine lines and wrinkles, but this has been my “Holy Grail” eye cream for my morning routine for years! I personally do not have much under eye puffiness, so I can’t speak to how it works for under eye puffiness as much, but if you’re looking for something to really help with under eye darkness, this is it! I also find I end up having a much easier time with my under eye concealer because I don’t have to use nearly as much when I use this eye cream regularly.

I have mentioned this product before in My Morning Skincare Routine, My Product Empties, My Sephora VIB Sale Suggestions, and My Under Eye Concealer Tips.

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Do you suffer from dark circles? What are your favorite products? Tell me your favorite eye creams in the comments! Have a wonderful weekend! xx

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ChapStick® Total Hydration Product Review with GIVEAWAY!

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Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you had a wonderful weekend! I love to wear liquid lipsticks, and liquid lipsticks can be very drying on the lips especially in the cold winter months so I have to be sure to take good care of my lips. I have shared before some of my favorite items from ChapStick® which you can read here, so I was thrilled when I was asked to review the ChapStick® Total Hydration products. This post has been sponsored by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, and as always all opinions are my own. I would never exchange money in exchange for a positive review and share my honest opinions.

 

 

ChapStick® Total Hydration Moisture + Tint

These are formulated with a tint that enhances your natural lips and I love that because I can wear a chapstick but still have a little color, and that “your lips but better” look. These come out flat, not with a angle and point like most lipstick type products, so it was a little trickier to apply on the corners of my lips but because it is a tint of color as opposed to an opaque lipstick I didn’t find this to be much of an issue.  This tinted moisturizer features a formula with 100% naturally sourced ingredients that provide lasting moisture. These boast high-end ingredients like Rose Hip Oil, Jojoba Oil, and Avocado Butter and I love the way they smell.

Wearing ChapStick® Total Hydration Moisture + Tint  in Rose Petal 

Swatches (left to right) Coral Blush, Rose Petal, and Merlot 

ChapStick® Total Hydration 100% Natural

These feel AMAZING on the lips! This formula is so soft and feel like butter going on your lips. I love that these are formulated with 100% naturally sourced ingredients such as Argan Oil, Avocado Butter, and Omega 6 & 9 that are supposed to give you healthier, more youthful looking lips. This formula is available in Fresh Citrus, Soothing Vanilla, and Honey Blossom which was my favorite of the two I received. I have one of these in my car and have been very grateful for it for myself and the kids, especially my oldest who spends her Sunday afternoons on the slopes at ski club!

ChapStick® Total Hydration 3in1

I was intrigued to try this product when I read that it was a Korean inspired formula because I know that Korean beauty is a huge trend right now, and I have loved some of the Korean skincare that I have tried. This 3 in 1 formula claims to moisturize, renew, and transform the lips and features ingredients like Madecassoside and botanical oils. I have been using mine at night before bed and so far I am really enjoying it. This formula is available in Coconut Hydration, Soothing Oasis, Sweet Peach, Wild Acai Berry, and Cooling Peppermint which is the one that I tried. This formula is available exclusively at Target stores and I was so excited to be able to find it in Target and take a “shelfie” with it ; ) I live an hour away from a Target, but whenever I get the chance I am going to be scoping out ChapStick® because I love these exclusive items! I think these would be perfect for my favorite kind of gift to give (and receive) where you package a bunch of your favorite goodies together in a cute way with a really pretty gift basket.

My Target “Shelfie” 

ChapStick® Total Hydration with CoQ10

This product is designed to instantly transform and smooth your lips. This formula is lightweight that provides long-lasting moisture, helps the lips stay hydrated for a full eight hours, and reduces the appearance of fine lines.  I am really enjoy using this after using a lip scrub (mentioned below) before bedtime. I don’t know yet if I’ve seen any difference in the fine lines, but just knowing that it helps makes me feel good about using it for that, too ; ) This formula is comprised of advanced skincare ingredients such as Antioxidant CoQ10, Vitamin E which is a wonderful moisturizer, and ultra-hydrating Hyaluronic Spheres for super soft, supple lips. This is available in Vanilla Cream flavor and I think it smells like baked goods, but the scent isn’t overpowering.

ChapStick® Total Hydration Conditioning Lip Scrub

I have tried several lip scrubs, and I also make my own lip scrub quite often which you can see here, but I was very excited to have a new one to try out. This is the latest innovation from ChapStick® and it really is an awesome lip scrub! It’s an interesting texture compared to most scrubs, because it has the grit that you find in all lip scrubs, but the base of it is a creamier, softer consistency that I really love. This scrub is formulated with naturally sourced ingredients including Sugar Crystals, Maracuja and Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, and Vitamin E and features a fresh peppermint flavor. This is super easy to use, and a little goes a very long way! I actually used way too much the first time, and have learned to just lightly scoop out a small amount onto my finger because the soft consistency doesn’t require you to dig it out like some lip scrubs I have used in the past. To use this I massage a small amount onto wet lips in circular motions and then wipe it off with a damp wash cloth. After using this I like using the ChapStick® Total Hydration with CoQ10.

Shop Target Chapstick Items Mentioned

Find and Follow ChapStick®  Here:

GIVEAWAY

If you would like to win ChapStick® goodies and a $25 Target gift card (um, who wouldn’t?!) then please enter the giveaway!

GIVEAWAY Rules:

Giveaway ends on February 8th at 12:00p.m Eastern Standard Time! Giveaway winner will have 24 hours to respond to email before a new winner will be selected. All rules will be checked and enforced to ensure fairness to all those who enter.

 

If you have any questions or comments, as always please let me know! Thank you for reading! xx

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HOW TO DO A ONE COLOR BOLD EYE SHADOW LOOK IN 2 MINUTES!

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Hi there! Happy Monday! And Happy Martin Luther King Day!

Lately, on days like today, when I’ve been rushing to get my makeup on before rushing with the kids out the door I’ve been wearing a super easy eye shadow look that I want to show you how to easily recreate today.

 

The  Look:

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What You’ll Need:

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-One bright color of your choice! Have fun I’ve been loving pinks, purples, greens, and even blues! (I used Wet n’ Wild I’m Getting Sunburned Trio the top pink/purple shade for my look today)

-A basic shadow brush (I used the Sigma Shader E60)

-A blending brush (I used the Sigma Blending E25)

Optional:

-A cream or ivory eye shadow to blend (I like Bobbi Brown in Bone 2 or Wet n’ Wild Single Shadow in Brulee)

-An eye shadow primer or base (I used Maybelline Color Tattoo in Inked in Pink)

How To Get the Look:

Apply your base or eye shadow primer if you choose to use one. Take any basic eye shadow brush and apply the eye shadow of your choice on your lid all the way up to your crease or just above your crease. I do not use pat it onto the lids to avoid too much fallout with eye shadow falling onto the rest of your skin. If you do get eye shadow on your skin simple brush it off with a brush or makeup sponge. Then take a fluffy eye shadow brush or blending brush to soften any harsh lines and blend the edges of the eye shadow. If you wish, you can use the ivory or cream eye shadow to blend the eye shadow instead of blending only wish a clean brush. I then applied a slight winged liquid eye liner (I used L’Oreal Lineur Intense) and mascara (I used Covergirl Super Sizer in Water Resistant).

I hope you liked this look! If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below!

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YOU NEED TO TRY THIS BODY WASH! UNDER $5

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Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Today I want to share one of my “holy grail” drugstore items that I always repurchase and always have on hand. Be sure to let me know your favorite products in the comments section because I love finding new amazing things.

 

Caress Evenly Gorgeous Body Wash

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I prefer this over other higher end body scrubs and body washes that I have tried and I always repurchase this. This is an exfoliating body wash which makes it great for sunless tanning prep or just a good deep clean, but it’s also gentle enough that it can be used daily. I like all of the scents, but my favorite is the Burnt Brown Sugar and Karite Butter. I love this because it leaves my skin feeling smooth, clean, and it’s super affordable!

Thank you for reading! Have a wonderful rest of your week and HAPPY NEW YEAR! I cannot wait for 2017! Cheers love!  xx

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Kat Von D Alchemist Holographic Palette Review

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Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that all of you had a wonderful weekend, and if you celebrate, a very Merry Christmas! I had a wonderful Christmas with my family, and ate WAY too many cookies ; ) Today I am so excited to be sharing the *highly* anticipated Alchemist Holographic Palette from Kat Von D.

 

Kat Von D Alchemist Holographic Palette

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Without Flash:

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With Flash:

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What It Is:

This palette is being called a “transformer” palette because it can be worn as a highlighter, or as a topper for eye shadows and even lipsticks.  Each of the four shades are formulated with “Double Dimension Technology” which catches the light from every angle, given a holographic effect.

My Thoughts:

I was intrigued by this palette because I have been watching Kat Von D slowly share sneaks on her Instagram account. Kat Von D has spent years working on these formulas and has called this palette one of her passion projects. Being a beauty lover, I knew that this was something I wanted to try for myself right away! I have worn two of the shades so far as a cheekbone highlight and it is stunning! A little bit goes a LONG way, but I absolutely loved the way it caught the light. I am excited to try this as an eye shadow topper, and think it would be a gorgeous look over a simple look to amp it up to something a lot more special.

Do I Need It?

I think that this is a must have for the makeup junkie who loves to try new things, play with makeup, and collect makeup. I think that this is beautiful for those looking for something new. I have noticed the similarities between this and the Anastasia Beverly Hills Moonchild highlighters, and after comparing swatches online they do look similar though not exactly the same. I think that if you have Moonchild you don’t need the Alchemist, but Alchemist seems more holographic and Moonchild seems to be more metallic or duochrome to me.

Do you have this? Are you planning to get it? I was able to pick it up on Sephora.com during the VIB pre-launch, but it is now available to everyone. Thank you, as always, for reading! I hope that you have a fantastic rest of your day : )

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