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LAURA MERCIER TRANSLUCENT LOOSE SETTING POWDER REVIEW

October 24, 2016 & 3 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you had a wonderful weekend! Today I want to share a review on a popular, but pricy, translucent loose setting powder. If you have any questions, don’t be shy!! Ask me in the comments : ) Also, let me know you’re favorite setting powder in the comments!

LAURA MERCIER TRANSLUCENT LOOSE SETTING POWDER:

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Cost: $38

This powder contains French cashmere talc, and claims to leave you with a natural finish that also blurs imperfections and fine lines while it also gives a soft focus to your skin.

Why I Love It

I have combo/oily skin, but get very oily on my nose and this powder keeps my skin looking matte but without looking cakey or flat. This is super fine and feels weightless on the skin.

How To Use It

You can purchase the Laura Mercier Velour Puff or use another cosmetics puff to lightly roll and press the powder into your skin. I also like using a medium sized powder brush to tap this into my skin. I like to apply this after applying my foundation and concealer to set my entire face and then apply lightly to my T-zone once all of my makeup is done.

Can You “Bake” Your Foundation or Concealer With This?

Yes! You can bake your foundation or concealer using this powder! However, keep in mind that this powder has a fairly high price point, so you may want to use a lower cost loose powder since a lot of that product does get wasted!

*Note: Baking your foundation or concealer means letting a translucent powder sit on your face for several minutes to allow the heat from you skin to set your foundation and/or concealer and then you dust off the powder with a brush to unveil a creaseless and flawless look. If you are confused about baking or would like to see a blog post dedicated to it, please let me know in the comments!

I hope that you found this helpful! If you did PLEASE share! It truly makes my entire day! And don’t forget to subscribe!! : ) Thank you so much for reading! xx

FALL FASHION POST! HOW TO LOOK GOOD, BE COMFORTABLE, AND NOT BREAK THE BANK!

September 14, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

We are starting to slowly but surely starting to get chillier days here in the midwest, and that means that I’ve started wearing some of my favorite fall pieces again. I love clothes and I love fashion, but I’m also very realistic about my fashion choices because I am a mom of little kids and whatever I wear on a daily basis needs to withstand a lot! I need a wardrobe that is fashionable, affordable, and comfortable *without* looking frumpy! Whether you’re a mom like me who needs clothes that can go from the store to the park and maybe, just maybe, out to eat, or you’re just settling into your career and you haven’t quite made it to your dream clothing budget I want to share my favorite places to buy clothes!

HOW I SHOP:

I like to have a mix of high quality never-go-out-of-style pieces and trendy pieces. My style is classic and I love girly details. I like to throw in more trendy and edgy pieces that I’m drawn to, but I don’t wear every trend that comes down the runway. I often mix and match high end things, and very budget friendly things. I think that if you truly only buy pieces that you LOVE, you can make a $20 pair of boots look like a $200 pair and you can feel like a million dollars without going into debt. I try to buy things that are easy to wash at home and that I am comfortable wearing, but I definitely like dressier things for the rare occasions that I do get to go all-out. And, I would always rather be slightly “overdressed” than underdressed.

WHERE I SHOP:

Basics:

Classic:

Trendy:

Dottie Couture Boutique

Boots:

Dresses:

NEED A LITTLE INSPIRATION?:

I post outfits on my Instagram account and if you tap the picture once I always link all of the outfit details! If you tap the picture twice you “love” the picture and that makes me happy, too ; )

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I hope that you enjoyed this post! If you would like to see a fall look book or outfit inspiration post or where I find my jewelry and accessories, please let me know and I will definitely do it. And let me know you’re favorite websites or stores to shop for clothes in the comments! I would love to get more ideas : ) If you liked this post please don’t forget to share it and subscribe!!

TOO FACED X NIKKI TUTORIALS THE POWER OF MAKEUP REVIEW & GIVEAWAY!

September 7, 2016 & 12 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I hope that all of you are having a fantastic week so far! Yesterday I uploaded a video sharing my review of the new and highly anticipated Too Faced Cosmetics The Power of Makeup palette that is a collaboration with YouTuber Nikki Tutorials. I love Too Faced and couldn’t wait to get my hands on this palette! And, thanks to my Ulta Beauty Ultamate Reward Points, I was able to score two of them so that I have one to give to a lucky follower : ) Below I will share detailed swatches and a link to the video where you can see my thoughts on the palette and also enter the giveaway.

TOO FACED X NIKKI TUTORIALS THE POWER OF MAKEUP:

SWATCHES:

EYESHADOWS:

Ivy, Sugar Coated, Frosted Yum (*Note: left to right)

Irresistible, Painkiller, Makeup & Chill

Mystic Hour, Wham Bam, Wanted

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BLUSHES:

I will Always Love You, Justify My Love

BRONZER AND HIGHLIGHTER:

Chocolate Soleil, Champagne Truffle

WATCH MY REVIEW WITH GIVEAWAY INFO:

Thank you for reading! Let me know in the comments what you think of this palette! Have a great rest of your week : )

3 Ways To Get Better Skin In A Week!

August 22, 2016 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you had a great weekend! Thank you, as always, for taking time out of your busy day to read my blog! It means a lot to me : ) I can *tend* to be a perfectionist (friends and family may be laughing at this “confession” because to them I’m sure it’s obvious!) and have to watch myself so that I don’t fall into an “all or nothing” mindset, and lately I’ve been doing that with skincare. For example, yes I do have a morning and evening skincare routine, but just because I maybe can’t afford a super fancy eye cream, or can get regular facial treatments, doesn’t mean that I should throw in the towel, so to speak. So, today I want to share three very easy ways to really improve the tone, even-ness, and health of your skin.

1. Drink Water!

I know this is an obvious one, but I drink so much water that I can immediately tell if I haven’t had enough water to drink. I really like using a bottle that is large enough to fit 8 servings of water in it. It also makes my lips much more willing to endure drying liquid lipsticks! Don’t drink anything else until you’ve finished the jug of water! I drink a coffee (or three…) each day, but besides that it is almost exclusively water! I will have the occasional glass of wine, and I’ll have a fountain drink when traveling, but otherwise it is only coffee and water. Plus, water has no calories and I much prefer to eat my calories than drink them ; )

2. Do Face Masks!

I recently did a post called “My Favorite Face Masks & How To Use Them” because this simple change has made my skin tone so much better! My skin truly is much more even now that I’ve been doing face masks a couple of times a week. We Daily Vlog (KwapisFamilyTackles on YouTube) and I’ve always vlogged with a bare face occasionally, but I’ve found myself doing it regularly now that I feel better about my skins appearance.

3. Don’t Touch Your Face!

This is so hard! I didn’t realize how much I did this until I made a real effort not to. Also, if you follow me on Snap Chat you have seen that I tend to touch my face / neck while vlogging or Snapping. But, not touching your face really does help keep your face clean!! Just think of all of the things you touch and all of the oils on your hands…not what you want on your face!

I challenge YOU to do this for one week and report back in the comments section telling me if you noticed any changes in your skin! I hope that you do because I think you’ll love how easy it is to make a big difference : ) Please don’t forget to subscribe! xx

LIPSTICK & EYE SHADOW TIPS & PICKS FOR BEGINNERS

May 11, 2016 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

This week I have had two friends ask me on my personal Facebook page beauty related questions that I get asked on a fairly regular basis. First of all, I want to say THANK YOU FOR ASKING! There is not much more flattering to me than people asking me questions about makeup because it is a huge passion of mine. And second, today I have decided to share the information that I was gathering for them with all of you incase any of you have similar questions. If you find this post helpful, please share it or “pin” it to your Pinterest!

Housekeeping Note and Helpful Tip!

I have had two other friends recently tell me that they aren’t subscribed to KwapisFamilyTackles on YouTube or LeahTackles on YouTube because they don’t have a YouTube account but you actually DO NOT NEED A YOUTUBE ACCOUNT TO SUBSCRIBE, COMMENT, OR LIKE A VIDEO! Your log-in is actually your Gmail log-in because Google owns YouTube! I hope that is helpful information! I appreciate every person who reads or watches my content, whether or not you’re subscribed, but if you want to get notified whenever I upload something new please subscribe! And I love subscribers ; ) I am doing a HUGE GIVEAWAY at 1,000 subscribers so be sure to subscribe for that too!

What are good lipsticks for someone who has never worn lipstick but would like to try? Something that isn’t “clown like”?

I was a lip gloss girl for years and the only time I had ever worn lipstick was for dance performances, but now I wear lipstick almost every single day. I think that the best way to start would be to try a couple of shades that I consider to be “your lips but better” which means they aren’t very different from your natural lip color. You can also try a tinted lip balm that gives a sheer wash of color. I would suggest grabbing a few lipsticks at the drugstore so that you can figure out what colors you like before you commit to something more expensive. Or, go to Sephora, Ulta, or the makeup counter at a department store and ask for help so that you can wear the lipsticks! Don’t be afraid to ask for help!! You can walk into a department store, try on a lipstick, and then do you shopping so you can wear it for awhile to see how you feel in it.

Lip Products I Suggest Trying:

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Here are some of my favorite lip products that I think are great “starter” lipsticks!

*Note: listed left to right

Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien

M.A.C Cremesheen in Creme Cup

M.A.C Lustre in Syrup

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate in 08

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 130 Rose Velvet

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in 001 Honey (my top pick!)

Covergirl Oh Sugar! in 6 Punch

Covergirl Oh Sugar! in 9 Jelly

What eye shadows should I buy? I have no idea where to begin? What about eye shadow brushes?

I suggest started with a neutral eye shadow palette or even a small trio or quad to start out. There are a lot of fantastic drugstore eye shadow options, which I will link, but also don’t be afraid to go play with the makeup at Sephora, Ulta, or a department store! You can also get a cream eye shadow or eye shadow base like the Maybelline Color Tattoos I will link below. I often apply these with my fingers all over my lid and then just apply mascara and eye liner! They’re easy and beautiful! They also make a fantastic base to put on before applying your other eye shadows. As far as brushes go, you can start simple by grabbing two or three brushes for $1-$3 each from E.l.f cosmetics. The backs of a lot of drugstore palettes like the ones mentioned show a general “map” for how to apply the eye shadows which is a great place to start! The higher end palettes usually come with a small beauty how-to guide that gives tips for easy looks.

Maybelline The Nudes Palette

Wet n’ Wild Walking On Eggshells Trio

Wet n’ Wild Comfort Zone palette

Too Faced Natural Eyes palette

Urban Decay Naked palette

Maybelline Color Tattoo

(I suggest Bad To The Bronze and Inked In Pink)

E.l.f Shadow Brushes

(Start with a basic flat eye shadow brush, a fluffy brush for your crease and for blending, and a smaller flat brush for smudging color on your lower lash line or putting a bright shimmery color near the tear ducts of your eye to brighten)

I hope that you found this helpful! I am doing a Q&A soon on my LeahTackles channel so be sure to ask your questions for that!! I hope you have a wonderful weekend : ) Thanks for reading!

IS YOUR UNDER EYE CONCEALER MAKING YOUR FINE LINES AND DARK CIRCLES MORE VISIBLE?

January 25, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

This morning I was thrilled to be volunteering in my 4 year olds classroom for a few hours, and her sweet teacher asked me about under eye concealer suggestions. First of all, thank you for asking! I absolutely love getting questions from all of you, and every time I take it as a compliment! So, ask away! I am also a huge fan of this topic, because I have (BAD) dark circles! I’ve talked about it before, but the combo of three kids under five and genetics (love ya mom and dad!) makes my dark circles situation rough most days. I also think it’s a super important topic because if you don’t apply or set your under eye concealer correctly it can cause the makeup to set into your fine lines making the lines and dark circles more visible! Let’s be real, none of us have time for that!

What I Do For My Under Eye Make Up and Dark Circles:

1. If you’re not using an eye cream, you should be! I really love using the Benefit It’s Potent Eye Cream which you can find at Ulta or Sephora. It’s a little pricy, but I really like this and it has helped my dark circles to appear less drastic. I also like this because it doesn’t take forever to absorb into the skin, and it doesn’t feel heavy at all.

2. I always use some sort of pinky/salmon concealer to brighten up the dark circles under my eyes. My go-to favorite is a drugstore concealer! I use the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles in Brightener! Make sure you get the one that actually says “Dark Circles” because they also have a regular concealer that isn’t specific to the under eye area. I also really like the Benefit Erase Paste, it works so well on days when I want maximum concealing power, but it’s thicker and harder to work with when I’m in a real hurry.

3. I then use a concealer (Tip: Look for one that is one shade lighter than your skin tone for extra brightening power! But I am very fair so I just get the lightest shade offered) over the brightening concealer from step 2. I really love the Estée Lauder Double Wear Concealer or the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye! I like to make a triangle under each eye and then use either a damp Beauty Blender, or my Sigma F86 Tapered Kabuki Brush (any makeup sponge similar to this or tapered kabuki brush will work) to pat and lightly press the concealer into the skin. Don’t drag the brush in a painting motion! You want that product to stay there!!

*Note: Sometimes I go from step 2 to step 4 and skip this step altogether, but most days I include this in my routine.

4. I then ALWAYS set my under eye concealer with a loose setting powder, preferably a brightening setting powder, with my Sigma F35 Tapered Highlighter (or a fan brush works wonderfully too!). By setting your under eye concealer with a powder you are helping it to stay put, and also avoiding the risk of the product settling into your fine lines or wrinkles. I love the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder or for a much less expensive route, the E.L.F High Definition Under Eye Setting Powder is also fantastic! Who can beat $3?!

If You Enjoyed This Post You May Also Enjoy:

My Top 3 Ways To Apply Liquid Foundation

I hope that this was helpful! If it was please subscribe, share, or “pin” onto your Pinterest account! I have share buttons for social media at the bottom of each post : ) Have a wonderful week! Let’s chat again on Wednesday! xo

Blanket Scarves & Coffee

November 30, 2015 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I started thinking about coming up with the usual big list of monthly favorites to share with you, but I realized pretty quickly that I have two standout favorites for November: my blanket scarf & going to Starbucks.

I * just * got this scarf from Target, but I am already completely in love! They have so many cute ones, some gorgeous plaids and one that is Michigan State colors that I of course adore. Check now for Cyber Monday deals. I need to teach my mom about the CartWheel App, too ; )

I am pretty sure I’m the last person I know under 40 to get this, but I FINALLY got a Starbucks account. I love coffee, and throw in the adorable Christmas goodies, pretty mugs, and rewards stars? I am in. I’ve been enjoying getting myself lattes all month and it’s a small splurge to some but it has been huge for me! That little red cup makes me so happy : ) If you don’t have a Starbucks account, I definitely suggest downloading the app! It’s so easy to add money with a card or via PayPal, and you just let the barista scan your phone to pay. You get discounts, and various promotions as you collect stars (stars=points).

What have you been loving this month? What is your go-to Starbucks order? I love comments ; )

Fall Fashion Lookbook!

October 26, 2015 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you had a wonderful weekend! And thank you, as always, for taking the time to read my blog.

In the past 5 years I have been pregnant or breastfeeding, and so my fall wardrobe needed some major re-vamping! I recently heard of Dottie Couture Boutique through a friend, and instantly fell in love with their clothes, and placed a small order. I got the items and am even more in love, and created this lookbook to share my finds with you. I love the tops I picked because they are all a tad oversized, and each one covers my bum so I can wear leggings…#MomLife!

Outfit #1:

Grey Lace Hem Sweater from Dottie Couture Boutique

Sweater Leggings from Express

Ankle Booties from Just Fab

Necklace from Express

Outfit #2:

Button Front Tunic from Dottie Couture Boutique

Sweater Leggings from Express

Boot Socks from Etsy

Boots from Just Fab

Outfit #3:

Maroon/Blue Multi Print Top from Dottie Couture Boutique

Sweater Leggings from Express

Boot Socks from Etsy

Boots from Just Fab

Bracelet from EllandEmm

Outfit #4:

Black and White Plaid Tunic from Dottie Couture Boutique

Sweater Leggings from Express

Ankle Boots from Just Fab

Bracelet from EllandEmm

If you are interested in more posts like this, please let me know! I think these are great looks that you can re-create easily from pieces that you may already have in your wardrobe. Thank you for reading and don’t forget to share and subscribe!! xx

How To Take Advantage of Ulta’s Ultamate Rewards! 5 Tips!

August 19, 2015 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

A couple of weeks ago I did a post on how to get the most out of your Sephora Beauty Insider Membership, and today I want to share how I take advantage of Ulta’s points system. First things first, I *LOVE* Ulta’s points system because there are so many ways to get free $$, and who doesn’t want that? But I will say that it took me a lot longer to understand Ulta’s point system because they do offer so many promotions so how many points you can earn in always changing, so you really have to pay attention. With that said, you can get such amazing deals!!!

1. SIGN UP FOR ULTAMATE REWARDS!

You have to sign up to earn points. Even if you don’t get into shopping when you’ll get the most points or special extras, you’ll still earn points that can be redeemed in products. Once you earn 100 points, you can start redeeming them. You earn 1 point for ever dollar spent in their store, INCLUDING the salon (this is a huuuge bonus for me!) and sometimes they offer additional points. You reach platinum status when you spend $400 which is very easy to do, especially if you use the Ulta salon, and once you’re a platinum member your points never expire.

2. SIGN UP FOR THE EMAILS, DON’T IGNORE THEM, AND CHECK THE WEBSITE

You get offers like 2x the points or 3x the points for platinum members! Sometimes you have to activate the promotion by logging into your account and clicking “activate” when you’re looking at your rewards page.

3. BUY STUFF DURING YOUR BIRTHDAY MONTH

You get 2x the points for the entire month of your birthday, so this is an awesome time to treat yourself while earning extra points.

4. CHECK THE MAILERS, EMAILS, AND WEBSITE FOR SPECIAL PROMOTIONS

Sometimes they will offer 2, 3,4 or even 5x the points on a certain product or brand! So, if it’s something you would use this is amazing! If you wouldn’t, it may be a great time to get someone a gift if you can think of someone in your life who would use it.

5. BUY STUFF WHEN YOU GET SOMETHING EXTRA. PERIOD.

It sounds so simple, but spend money when you’re getting extra points to get the most bang for your buck. Also keep an eye out for gifts with purchase. I am not perfect about this, but if I have my eye on an expensive item I wait until I’m going to be getting extra points before buying it whenever possible. Also, if you have a holy grail foundation or eye liner, stock up when you’ll be getting extra points! Points at Ulta are awesome becasue that is money towards new products!! I have even been able to get items completely free by saving my points up!! I don’t ever use the points for a small amount like $5 (unless I’m extra broke that month, hah) because I am a points collector!! I love being able to get things like high-end makeup free.

If you would like more information on the Ulta Ultamate Rewards Program you can find it here.

Ulta is offering 2x the points and 3x for platinum members until 8/22/15…happy shopping ; )

I hope that you found this helpful! If you did, please subscribe, and share! Let me know how you like to use your Ulta points in the comments. Don’t forget to stop by my LeahTackles YouTube Channel and my Daily Vlog Channel : ) I hope you have a great weekend!!

My Family Pictures 2015!!

July 15, 2015 & 4 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

We are lucky enough to have the hugely talented Brooke of Brooke Ashley Snow Photography take pictures for our family once or twice most years. Recently she snapped a few quick pictures for us as a family of five, our 5 year wedding anniversary and for Lo’s 6 month birthday. If you’re in Michigan and need photos done, CHECK HER OUT! She is awesome to work with, makes you feel so comfortable, and takes amazing pictures! Also, she can make any kid smile! She will do all sorts of *crazy* stuff to get a great picture…and she’s my friend AND family, so I’m allowed to say that ; ) Love you lots girl, thank you again! Your photography is on *fleek* ; )

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Have a beautiful weekend! I appreciate each of you!! xoxo