Leah Tackles

SKINCARE AND GROOMING GIFT GUIDE FOR MEN

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Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

If you’ve already gotten the man in your life a tie, headphones, or a watch (I love the JORD watches right now!) then you may be starting to run out of ideas. I think that skincare and grooming products for men make great gifts because they are often things that a guy wouldn’t think of or know about to get for themselves.

 

 

Philips Norelco MultiGroom 5000

I love this because it has so much bang for your buck including blades that sharpen as they work, a three-hour battery life, 13 trimming guards, a hair trimmer, and nose and ear trimmer. The reviews on Amazon truly speak for themselves, and I think it is a fantastic price point.

 

 

Honest Amish Beard Balm Leave-In Conditioner

Have you ever seen a guy with a fantastic beard that looks controlled, soft, and maybe has even a hint of shine? I bet he uses this, or something similar, and again the Amazon reviews speak for themselves.

 

 

Burt’s Bees Men’s Gift Set

My husband LOVES Burt’s Bees lip balm, and their aftershave and these little sets are great because they make those basics very giftable. This is also a great affordable option if you have siblings or brother-in-laws who need a little stocking stuffer sized gift.

 

 

Manicure Grooming Set 

This is a great basic that every man should own, and is especially handy for business trips or vacations. I like this set because it is affordable, has a sleek looking case, and a variety of tools to keep nails neat and tidy.

 

 

Luxury Cologne

Whenever I get my husband cologne, it is really a gift for me because I absolutely love the smell of a fantastic cologne. One of my all-time favorite colognes is Acqua Di Gio by Giorgio Armani because it lasts all day, isn’t overpowering for the workplace, and smells incredible!

 

 

Poo-Pourri 

This stuff cracks me up, and I got it as a “gag” gift for my husband one year…this stuff actually works! Plus, they have a special holiday version that makes it all the more hilarious & festive ; )

 

 

American Crew Fiber

This is hands-down my favorite item of 2017 for men’s haircare! You can read my post on American Crew Fiber here.

 

 

What are your favorites men’s grooming or skincare items? Let me know in the comments : ) Have a great weekend! xx

 

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

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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!

 

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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

 

 

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How Much Is Teeth Whitening

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TOP BEAUTY GIFTS FOR HER | PRACTICAL & UNIQUE IDEAS

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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

 

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NADINE WEST REVIEW AND STYLING | CLOTHING SUBSCRIPTION

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Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you are having a great week! A few months ago I did my first review of Nadine West, a clothing subscription box. A few weeks ago Nadine West reached out to me again and sent me this box for my consideration for review but I was not paid to write this post and as always all opinions are my own.

 

 

What is Nadine West?

NadineWest.com is a company that sends you an outfit to try on and you keep only what you love. The outfit is a surprise, but you take a style quiz and the stylists get to know your style more each month. The outfits are affordable with pieces costing about $10-$30 each, which is very affordable compared to other similar services.

How Does It Work?

On the Nadine West website, you take the style quiz so that the stylist can get to know what you are looking for in an outfit. You will receive a pink package in the mail with your personalized outfit. Try on the outfit and keep what you love and send back what you don’t.

My Thoughts

The style quiz was super easy to do, which was great because I wanted something that didn’t take too much time but I was still able to make notes to make sure the stylist knew my preferences. I really loved the surprise aspect of this, and it was like opening up a girly gift from a really stylish friend. I cannot stand having to return things, it is such a bummer, but I LOVE the way this company does it because your outfit comes with return shipping.

Discount Code

Use the referral code “Nadine” on NadineWest.com (not an affiliate code for me, just sharing the one they currently have on their website) to waive your shipping fee which means you’ll get your outfit in the mail without paying anything!

My Outfit

  

 

 

Did I Keep It?

YES! I absolutely LOVE the sweater, that is right up my alley and one of my favorite colors to wear. I also really love the stud earrings, they’re stunning on and didn’t seem to irritate my ears when I wore them most of Thanksgiving day. I also really love the bracelet, it is so unique and looks gorgeous stacked with my favorite watch of the moment. The necklace isn’t something I would have picked, and I probably won’t wear it often, but I did think it looked pretty with the long sweater. Funny enough, the necklace is my daughters favorite thing out of the whole outfit and has already borrowed it : ) The white shirt I considered returning, it is VERY small and fitted, so while it looked nice on I felt like I was having to tug it down/hold it in at first until I got used to the fit.

Have you tried any fashion boxes like this? Have you tried Nadine West? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

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EOS CRYSTAL LIP BALM REVIEW

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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.

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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

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Garnier Whole Blends Hydrating Shampoo Coconut Water & Vanilla Milk Review

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Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I hope that you are having a wonderful week!

 

 

I love having a few different shampoos on hand at any given time so that depending on my hair needs I can have a selection to choose from. I love anything coconut scented, so I was drawn to this shampoo from Garnier.

What It Claims

This shampoo gives moisture to dry or damaged hair without being heavy or weighing your hair down. The Garnier Whole Blends Hydrating Shampoo is paraben-free and gentle enough for regular use.

My Thoughts

I LOVE the way this smells, it is a subtle coconut and vanilla smell, but I found it very pleasant. My husband also loves coconut and likes using this shampoo as well. I like that this shampoo is inexpensive and I didn’t have to use too much to get a nice lather. I will definitely keep this on hand because it is affordable and effective. I haven’t used it long enough to see if it makes a big impact on my color-treated hair that has some damage, but my hair feels very soft and clean after using this.

My Routine

I use this shampoo a couple of times a week and I have been following up with the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deep Conditioner, which is another fantastic and great smelling drugstore hair product.

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What is your favorite shampoo? What is your favorite drugstore shampoo?

Have a wonderful weekend! xx

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COVERGIRL TOTAL TEASE MASCARA REVIEW

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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.

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

Thank you, as always, for reading! xx

 

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YES TO TOMATOES FACIAL HYDRATING LOTION REVIEW

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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 

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

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DO PORE STRIPS REALLY WORK?

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Hi there! Happy Monday!

Did you have a good weekend? Did you celebrate Halloween? Carve a pumpkin? Let me know!

 

 

 

I remember being fascinating when pore strips first released but always being disappointed because they didn’t seem to work for me (if you’re thinking it is because I had perfect skin, think again). However, after the pore strip wizards had more time to perfect the strips (or so it seemed), I started using them on a semi-regular basis because peeling them off is just oh-so-satisfying.

How Do Pore Strips Work?

The strip paper almost fabric like strip is made of a non-soluble woven substrate  On the side that you put against your wet nose there is a polymer that is supposed to attach to the oil plugs in your pores. The water actives the oil-grabbing polymers and while drying the polymers work to attach to the outer most layer of the skin.

Do Pore Strips Really Remove Blackheads?

I am sorry to have to burst your blackhead, but unfortunately, that glorious, disgusting gunk you’re peeling off is not what you think it is. The name for the little dots on your nose you’re trying to get rid of is keritotic plugs. Keritotic plugs are dead skin cells, dirt, hair, and oil. Blackheads are a type of keratotic plug that is oxidized sebum blocked in your pores, but they live deep down on your skin. Have you ever done a pore strip and seen a ton of gunk on the strip, but also seen a lot of blackheads remaining on your nose? Yeah, me too.  Pore strips can remove the upper portions of dirt and oil, but they’re not going deep enough to de-clog blackheads a.k.a oxidized sebum.

But Will It Hurt To Continue Using Them?

If you do these occasionally because they make your skin feel smoother or you love the satisfying feeling that is fine. Should you do them often? Probably not because your skin actually NEEDS oil to maintain a healthy lipid barrier (that is why I love face oils like this one) and block out external influences that can lead to breakouts, wrinkles, and other skin issues.

What Should I Use Instead?

Getting microdermabrasion done at a medical spa, or at home using a PMD (my personal FAVORITE!) can help to keep your pores clear and can also help minimize your pores. I also like using an exfoliator (I mentioned the Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion exfoliator here) to help keep my pores clear of gunk and to stop new blackheads from forming. You can also get a professional extraction done, but please don’t do that yourself!

Final Thoughts

So, will you quit using these? I, possibly surprisingly, will not stop buying them, but I will limit the use and be sure to continue to use my favorite facial oils to keep my skin at a healthy oil balance.

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Are you surprised by this? Did I ruin your skin ritual? If you found it helpful, please use one of the social media sharing buttons on the bottom of this post! xx

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

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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

 

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