Beautify You at BEAUTY LIVE This Weekend at Galleria Dallas

Even if it doesn’t look like I wear it, I love makeup. 

I mean my favorite “holiday” after Christmas growing up was Clinique Bonus time. Now as an adult, I’m not just on the lookout for a new favorite lipgloss, but now I’m looking at wrinkle reducer, eye brightener, primer and all those other things that sound more like painting a house than applying makeup. So like any good student, I need to get some schooling from time to time. So a few weeks ago I went to Nordstrom’s Trend Show and this weekend I’m hitting up BEAUTY LIVE at Galleria Dallas, April 12 & 13!  

It’s all beauty, all the time with two days of nothing by sessions, freebies, demos and more. While the event is free, tickets are only $20 for each sessions for reserved seating and that includes a gift bag and a $20 gift card!

Expert Sessions throughout Beauty Live include:

SATURDAY, APRIL 13:
11am – Expert Beauty Panel featuring Courtney Kerr of Bravo’s Courtney Loves Dallas, Galleria Fashion Stylist Holly Quartaro and a panel of experts 

12pm – TONI&GUY Presents: Hair Meets Wardrobe 

1pm – Courtney’s Favorite Things
Courtney Kerr, star of Bravo TV’s Courtney Loves Dallas, talk show host of KTXD’s The Broadcast and fashion blogger, has hand-picked her all-time favorite beauty and skin care products and she is sharing the love! Join us to find out what’s in Courtney’s make up bag, and you could go home with one of the dozens of products she is giving away.

2pm – Macy’s Presents Spring 2014 ‘Must Haves’

3pm – BELK presents Spring Beauty Panel hosted by In Style Magazine.

4pm – Tata Harper, founder of Tata Harper Skincare Presented by Nordstrom Spa

5pm – Sephora Presents Re(Marc)able Beauty featuring Marc Jacobs’ newest beauty trends

6pm – MAC 

SUNDAY, APRIL 13: 

3pm – LUSH Fresh Handmade Beauty

4pm – Westin Galleria Dallas and The Second Floor Bistro-Bar Present SuperFoods

In addition to the expert sessions, Beauty Live showcases all the top trends in beauty with dozens of events and activities.  Tour the many how-to Beauty Stops stationed throughout Galleria Dallas for simple secrets and top techniques for a more gorgeous you. Guests will enjoy free hands-on makeover opportunities throughout the center.

And of course while you are there, go check out the new Belk...just know this is going to be a weekend you're gonna buy stuff. 

Have fun and I'll see you there! 

Ripe for the Picking: 8 Great Natural Products for Winter Beauty

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser. #WalgreensBeauty #CollectiveBias #Shop

In Texas you never know what Mother Nature is going to deal you especially in the winter time. But one thing is for certain:  your skin and hair is going to suffer some serious stress from the weather. However, with a little help from your neighborhood Walgreens, I've discovered some great natural beauty products that will make your skin feel as fresh as a peach, your hair just like it's "mint" to be and at a price that will make your wallet happy, too!  Shouldn't you give your body the same goodness on the outside as you do the inside? 

1. Yes to Tomatoes Skin Clearing Facial Mask

The winter season puts stress on everything, but especially on your skin. Like the skin of a tomato, our skin is tender and needs gentle care to keep it shiny and clean. Yes to Tomatoes combines Lycopene (the antioxidant found in tomatoes) and  Dead Sea mud (legendary for its amazing benefits to the skin) for the ideal facial cocktail that in just five minutes, 1-2 times a week, CAN balance blotchiness and balance your skin tone. 

2. St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub

In the winter not only does your regular beauty routine need a boost, but you also have to spend a little more time on the details like exfoliating and moisturizing. To get your skin looking its best, you have to scrub away the dry skin as well as trying to maintain the moisture. A classic for many shower routines for decades, St. Ives Blemis Control Apricot Scrub not only gently takes care of getting rid of the old skin, but those embarrassing blemishes with 100% natural exfoliants.  

3.  Renpure Solutions Rosemary Mint Cleansing Conditioner 

A few years ago my hairdresser told me I should quit washing my hair. 

The suggestion caught me off guard especially since I am the owner of some thick, unruly and after-one-day-pretty-poly head of hair. However, he explained that using shampoo actually strips the hair of natural oils needed to protect it during the several weather conditions we experience in the winter. Instead using a cleansing conditioner like Renpure's Rosemary Mint cleanse the hair while keeping in the moisture. And with other natural ingredients like Coconut Oil and Shea Butter, will leave hair soft and healthy with shine and luster. 

4. Vaseline Total Moisture Cocoa Radiant Vitalizing Body Gel Oil 

While slathering lotion should be part of your routine, applying moisture even before you get out of the shower is an ideal opportunity to get your skin in prime condition. With Vaseline's Body Gel Oil gives you the benefits of an oil without the slippery mess. Your skin is left healthy and glowing and that's before you even get your day going! 

5. Yes to Blueberries Age Refresh Intensive Skin Repair Serum

Blueberries may make a delicious muffin, but they also are full of anti-oxidants like Vitamin and Anthocyanins to fight the formation of free radicals that can damage the skin's microstructure. Additionally, with organic cotton thistle, black currant and apple, the Yes to Blueberries Intensive Skin Repair Serum will give your skin the ammo it needs to find the sings of aging leaving your skin firm, protect your skin, diminish fine lines and wrinkles. 

6. Yes to Grapefruit CC Cream

Like blueberries, grapefruits have amazing natural properties to make your skin look newer by brightening  dark age spots and repair hyperpigmentation. Best of all you can find these benefits in a CC cream! If you've never used a CC cream, it's like a 3-in-1 with color correcting properties, moisturizer, and SPF 18. And as an added bonus, the light tint (available in two shades), provides just the right amount of color so you can complete your facial routine in just one step! 

7.  Nivea Lip Butter Vanilla and Macadamia Kiss

Winter does just as much damage on your lips as it does your skin! So don't forget to apply more moisture to your lips! Nivea is an established brand for exceptional skin products and this one is no different! PLUS the smell and slight flavor of the Vanilla and Macadamia Kiss makes it a treat each time you apply! Just remember you're supposed to wear it and not eat it. 

8. Yes to Cucumbers Hypoallergenic Facial Towelettes

I've been a long time fan of the Yes to Cucumber Facial Towelettes. When I was pregnant in the middle of the Texas summer these were the only way I could cool off quickly and freshen up without taking three showers a day. Now, these babies continue to be lifesavers when I'm so exhausted I can't do the three step skin care routine, but still need to take my makeup off. And if you do a workout and then have to do errand before you get to shower, they make you feel fresh!  Oh, and traveling is cinch because you don't have to pack your cleanser and eye remover in your carryon!

Have a few other areas that need a little attention? Or looking for the idea travel-sized kit for all your winter skin needs? Don't forget to check out the Burt's Bees corner at Walgreens! They have so many natural options for your skin needs - including a nail and toe sampler that is a must-have any time of the year for the best at-home mani and pedi! 

Walgreens is the perfect place to find exactly what you need this winter season for healthy skin, hair, nails and more! 

What's your best winter beauty tip do you have to share?  

Healthy Winter Skin is In: Free Skin Check at DermOne DFW Now

Normally in Texas we break out the big winter coat 1-2 times a winter season. Sometimes I even look in my coat closet and wonder why we spend as much money on big coats so they can gather dust and take up room. 

This year has not be the case. And with all this covering up and dressing in layers, you tend not to worry about your skin except to get slather up on lotion as we feel our hands crack and peel until around March or April when the warm temps finally do show their face and you begin to show your skin. 

However, now is actually the right time to think about your skin and getting your hide checked for skin cancer. 

To celebrate the opening of five DermOne Dermatology Centers locations in Dallas/Fort Worth, DermOne is providing 500 free skin care checks ($80,000 value) to the community. 

To book a free exam, you can simply call one of the DermOne offices by Feb. 28 and mention "Healthy Skin DFW" to receive a free skin check. 

Skin cancer is a serious issue in North Texas. In fact:

• It’s the most common form of cancer in the U.S., with more than 3.5 million skin cancers diagnosed in more than two million people annually.
• There are more new cases of skin cancer than breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer – combined.
• When left unchecked, skin cancer can be deadly faster than any of us would like to think.

In around 20 minutes, you can take a big step at taking care of your body's biggest organ!

Other services at DermOne include: 

• General dermatology, including treatment of acne, eczema, warts, rashes, moles and much more;
• Skin cancer screenings and surgery;
• Laser technology, such as the Palomar Laser, an innovative fractional laser from the company that invented and patented micro-fractional laser technology, used to treat wrinkles, stretch marks, acne, surgical scars and other skin conditions;
• Cosmetic procedures, including BOTOX®, Juvéderm™ and Restylane® at many locations; and
• In-house pathology lab to ensure quick turn-around of biopsy removal of a sample of living tissue or cells for close examination by a pathologist for signs of disease and other test results.

ARLINGTON
715 North Fielder Road
Arlington, TX 76012
(888) 881-1626

GRAND PRAIRIE
4927 Lake Ridge Pkwy., Suite 170
Grand Prairie, TX 75052
(888) 881-1626

IRVING
2021 N. MacArthur Blvd. Suite 300
Irving, TX 75061

MESQUITE
2856 N. Galloway Ave.
Mesquite, TX 75150
972-289-2233

WAXAHACHIE
1505 West Jefferson St., Suite 170
Waxahachie, TX 75165
(888) 881-1626
972-254-3118

5 Must-Have Beauty Finds for Fall

Disclaimer:
I received the best bag of beauty goodies from Nordstrom at their fall Trend Show for this review. Although I loved all the products, there were a few standouts I had to share. 

One of my favorite "holidays," Nordstrom Trend Show, took over Galleria Dallas to reveal to hundreds of beauty-minded women the newest and coolest products coming to the market for fall. If you've never been to Trend Show, I'd highly advise you sign up for "beauty church" to enjoy a full morning of all things beauty with products, samples and services. 

It's a great time to update your makeup bag and enjoy a fun day of all things beauty. There are lots of things to recommend, but these are at 5 musts for all women!  

1. Age Arrest from Kate Somerville
According to the folks at Kate Somerville, Age Arrest "is the first anti-aging treatment with Telo-5™ Technology to prolong the life of telomeres for a youthful glow." While I don't know what telemeres is, the formula is proven to effectively reduce the appearance of wrinkles, increase firmness and elasticity, improve skin discoloration and hydrates the skin - making it feel soft and rich. And the container is pretty awesome too - with one pump, the innovative dispenser measures the exact amount you need. " 

2. NARS Blush/Bronzer Duo

Every girl appreciates a product that multi-tasks and this bronzer/blush duo can also play on the lips if you are just looking for a slight bit of color. The colors are perfectly paired to give you the perfect glow throughout the year.

3. Chantecaille Supreme Cils Mascara
I've had all kinds of brushes over the years that promised to do all kinds of stuff, but this snowflake design from Chantecaille's Supreme Cils Mascara lifts, coats and separates - clump free. And it's water resistant so those lovely lids can stay in place all day long. 

4. Airflash Matte Touch Long-Lasting Airy Powder Finishing Spray

I was sitting at a restaurant and noticed this gal, working her tail off had the best makeup - even while she was sweating and running around. I asked her what she wore and she immediately said Dior's "air" line was the answer to her dreams! And this ultrafine mist is part of the reason that makeup can stay all day giving a velvety matte, shine-free finish so the way that you put make up on is the way it stays - all day!

5. Perricone MD Nutritive Cleanser
Taking off your makeup is even more important than the make up you put on! Perricone MD has long been recognized as an industry leader for anti-aging, Nutritive Cleanser is designed to make skin, soft, smooth and radiant, while delivering anti-aging benefits plus lifting and contouring benefits. 

Get a picture-perfect smile!

There's a month designated for everything nowadays, but this month was new one for me... May is National Smile Month! And considering I'm always working to make my coffee and wine tinted teeth look like they belong on the front page of a celebrity magazine at home WITHOUT SPENDING MUCH MONEY. So when I got a few tips from a dentist to make my teeth look great without a treatment or service, I was excited to share these with you. But after I did a little more research on this dentist office, I found out this was no normal dentist and it's possible to get those pearly whites - looking a lot more white at home with a home kit!

First, because I can't keep a secret, I had to share the juicy stuff. After a little Googling I discovered this dentist was in CHICAGO...so immediately, I started to delete her info since I wouldn't be traveling out of state just to do a crown. However, it was the words "SPA" in Mitchell Dental Spa that really peaked my interest. While you get your dentistry, you can get a facial, massage or botox while you are laying horizontal in the chair waiting for your cavity to get filled. BRILLIANT! So the question remains, when are these guys coming to DFW? 

Second, the free way to get your teeth picture-perfect for National Smile Month, check out these great tips: 

A great smile can go a long way when it comes to making a first impression. White, bright teeth and a wide smile convey an air of confidence that is important in any situation, from a job interview to a first date. Teeth whitening procedures are certainly effective, but small daily steps can also be helpful and less expensive.  

1.) WEAR LIPSTICKS THAT CONTAIN A HINT OF BLUE—Blue tones around the mouth can make teeth appear whiter, so when shopping for new makeup, consider red lipstick with blue undertones.  These will make your smile appear brighter by offsetting any yellow coloration in the teeth.  Coral and orange based lipsticks can make the teeth appear more yellow, so avoid these if you are self-conscious about your pearly whites.

2.) SNACK ON CRUNCHY FRUITS AND VEGGIES –Mildly abrasive fruits and vegetables such as apples, carrots or celery not only provide the body with essential nutrients, but also act as a natural toothbrush by gently scrubbing off small bits of plaque that have gathered on the teeth and gums.

3.) SWISH WITH WATER AFTER DRINKING TEA OR COFFEE—Coffee, tea and other dark liquids can stain the teeth and leave them looking dingy. To prevent discoloration, simply swish water around in your mouth immediately after consuming a staining liquid.

4.) CHEW SUGARLESS GUM CONTAINING XYLITOL—Xylitol, a naturally occurring sugar substitute, has been added to many sugar-free gums as a sweetening agent, but it also has healthful properties. Chewing a gum containing xylitol, such as Trident, has been shown to reduce the levels of harmful oral bacteria, reducing the likelihood of developing cavities.

5.) BRUSH TEETH BEFORE GOING FOR A RUN—Running dries out the mouth and any plaque that already exists on the gumline will tend to dry out and calcify, resulting in discoloration and even gum disease. A quick brush before leaving for a run can help solve this problem.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST: 

While I have tried some reasonably good teeth whitening systems at home, it always seems after I wear the trays or gel on my teeth for an hour, the next morning when I turn on my friend Keurig that it seems like I just wasted the treatment from the night before. So when the IntelliWHITE Pro Whitening Kit system appeared on my doorstep, I figured it would end up in the drawer with the other products. But in addition to the bumpers that keep you from getting the ointment on your tongue this kit gives you an eraser pen to use after your coffee, wine and any other foods that stain your teeth. And best of all, the actual IntelliWHITE Pro Whitening Kit (retailing online for $70 for two packages - buy one, get one free) seems to work well and I give it a pretty good challenge!

 No matter what, remember the best way to celebrate Smile Month is to SMILE! Besides, it increases your face value.

Looking for a better way for a picture-perfect celebrity smile? May is SMILE MONTH so make sure you give those teeth a little extra love!

DISCLAIMER: I received IntelliWHITE Pro Whitening Kit for consideration of a review. However, all the comments listed here are my own.