Happy new week, my loves. Did you all have a good weekend? We are back in a heatwave here. That is A-Okay with me though.

I'm SO excited to bring you today's post. Nowadays, there are so many different in-home beauty tools that are meant to give you in-spa results. Normally, they are very effective, and VERY expensive. If you look on-line, you'll see items such as skin toners, facial steamers, facial brushes , dermaplaning devices and so much more. You'll see some jaw dropping price tags.

Well, as if we needed another reason to love Target... Target carries reasonably priced versions of ALL of these things. The reviews on the tools from Target are just as good , if not better than their more expensive counterparts. Let's take a look, shall we?

This devices makes your serums and lotions penetrate your skin more deeply. If you are paying the money for these products, this devices makes it so you get the most benefit from them. While its expensive counterpart costs $299.00, this one is only $29. In other words, it costs a mere 10% of the pricy one.

Toning Device

There is well known and loved toning device that looks quite a bit like this one. That other one costs $500. This one costs $25. Use it to decrease the appearance of fine lines and sagging.

Microdermabrasion Tool

Last summer I Shared how much of a difference Microdermabrasion has made in my skin. I get regular facials. My esthetician cannot get over the texture of my skin. Or more so, that I achieved it from at home care. My devices set me back $250. It was worth it, but if I could of spent $37 on this one instead, I would of.

Facial Cleansing Brush

When L'oreal stopped production on their Clarisonic line I was so upset. I had been religiously using Clarisonic since 2007. I was on my 3rd brush when the news came that the company would cease production.  The most recent one I had purchased cost over $280 dollars. This one is $40. Dare I say it....this one is BETTER. Yes, I went there. It really is. Aside from it being less expensive, its replacement heads are less expensive too.

Ultrasonic Facial Spatula

Back in the fall I raved to you guys about how amazed I was with This Pore Extractor . Nothing has changed, I've been using this weekly since October. Well, this one comes in at $50....aka $100 less than what I spent!

Silicone Cleansing Brush

Many folks prefer a silicone cleansing brush, as they are all but bacteria free. The thing is, they cost nearly $200. That's a LOT of money. Well, have no fear. THis little guy is a mere $12.00.

Red/Blue Light Therapy

I need to confess, I have serious buyers remorse.  Urgh, its NOT a good feeling.  A few weeks back I shared this light therapy mask that I bought . Don't get me wrong, it works...it works well. But it was a LOT of money. Seeing that this one is only $39, is like a dagger. I should of done more research. Learn from my mistake!

That is it for today. Can you even believe all of these amazing tools? I'm surprised, but not really. Target ROCKS!

XO,

 

I decided to go with This One , the T3 Curl ID iron.

Long story short, oh my goodnes....IT IS AMAZING.

This iron creates the most perfect, beautiful waves. The kicker is that these waves lasted for 3+ days...WITHOUT hair spray.

Doing my hair was about 10-15 minutes start to finish, this baby works FAST.

I have not had mine long enough to comment on this, but one of the big selling points is that this iron is non damaging. I do believe it though. Seeing how quickly it works, I'm assuming because doesn't need to be on your hair that long, there is no time for damage to occur.

If you are in the market for a new curling iron, wand or flat iron...I so recommend you check out the T3 line.

You can find them at Nordstrom, Sephora or Ulta

XO,

Happy Hump day, friends!!

How is this week treating you? 

I'm here to share with you my thoughts about getting my 1st (of many) Brazilian Blowouts this past Saturday. (Hint, I LOVED it!)

First things first, "What is a Brazilian Blowout?" you might be asking.  Long story short, it is an in- salon protein treatment that smooths away frizz, while adding shine and strengthening hair.

While "Blowout" is ion the name, you do not need to "blow out" your curls or waves, if you have them. Many curlies actually use this treatment as a method to define their curls. After wearing my curls natural for so long, I wanted a change and choose to opt for some straightening.

I chose to get this done on the same day that I got my hair colored (Bye, grays and dull dingy brown).  My stylist went through the normal foil/tone routine that she does on me. Then, the magic began. Piece, by piece she applied a solution to my hair with a special fine tooth comb. Once my hair was covered in the solution, she dried it with a round brush, then flat ironed it.

This is when you determine how sleek you'd like your hair to be. She did 1/2 of the amount of passers with the flat iron as she would for someone who desired their hair to be stick straight.

Once all of that was done, she washed my hair, applied a hair mask that stayed on for 10-15 minutes. After she rinsed me, we went back to her chair. She told me to feel my hair. WHOA. You guys, my hair never felt this way before. It was SO soft. Once she dried it, I was so shocked. My hair legit felt like corn silk. 

This is right after I walked out of the salon. To say I was happy would be a gross understatement.

A few key points:

• If you are getting your color done too, prepare to spend some time in your stylists chair. For reference, my appointment was at 9:00 am. It was nearly 2:30 when I left the salon. Thankfully. they ordered lunch for me.

• While this is not an inexpensive service by any means, this is not the time to look for the cheapest salon to do this. You want need to have a skilled stylist who has been trained to do this.

• If done properly, you will not deal with the scent of choking chemicals. (See the above point)

Happy New Week, my loves!!  How was your weekend?  I got a hair makeover on Saturday. I'll share all of that with you guys later in the week.

For today, we are doing another beauty Q & A.  We did one of these back last winter and it was very popular. As I have stated before, I'm NOT a beauty professional or any sort. I'm simply sharing from my personal experience.  Okay, lets make a start!

What one beauty product has the most impact? 

This is entirely subjective. All in all, I'd say its your skin care. However, if we are talking cosmetics, I think the one thing that packs the most punch is to fill in your eye-brows. It frames your face and gives you a more youthful appearance.  This is my favorite brow pencil 

Okay, that's a wrap for today.  Have a fantast week!

XO,

Three cheers for Friday, babes!!

I'm SO EXCITED. Tomorrow is HAIR DAY!!  Not only am I getting a full foil, I'm also getting my first ever Brazillian Blowout TM  . I am SO ready for this. Although, I have been warned that this is going to be about 6 straight hours at the salon!!  I'm ready.

Anyhow, I wanted to share with you all today how I've been on a hot streak when it comes to finding total winners on Amazon for clothing. One thing that I have learned is an absolute must when shopping on Amazon is to filter by Prime only. I find that I get MUCH better items this way. Also, if something is a dud, I can return it.

First up is the most. comfortable. bra. ever. No Bulge Wire Free Bra

I don't even know how to express just how much I LOVE this bra. Its SO comfortable, yet supportive. I started with one and have purchased and additional 2 more.

Next is this Leopard Tank Dress

Oh my when this Vneck Chiffon Dress arrived, I was shocked

I'm pretty sure I screeched with delight when I put it on. Nobody would ever think that this was an Amazon dress.  Bloomingdale's. Saks or Nordstrom, sure. Amazon?? No way! But, it is!

Moving along, look at This Lace Trimmed Cami

This is pretty. Its so feminine. It works well by its self or under a cardigan. 

This Tiered Swing Dress  

Is as flattering as it is comfortable. To say that I'm loving this dress would be the understatement of the summer. 

Last but not least is This Lace Dress

I knew that I had to have this dress as soon as Cassie at Hi Sugarplum! shared it. Its another one of those dresses that looks so expensive, but isn't.

If you are not already reading HI Sugarplum!  you absolutely should.  She finds THE BEST things.

Anyhow, that's it for today. I hope that you have the BEST weekend my loves!

XO,

Happy Hump Day, Mes Amies. How is this week treating you so far?

Today, I want to share a couple of new "MUSTS" that have joined my sunless tanning arsenal. 

I'm actually a bit embarrassed that it took me until now to discover these gems. They are both by St. Tropez. 

Tan Remover Mousse  / Tan Remover Mitt  

I have been sunless tanning all summer long for over 20+ years. I don't know how I got by so long without these 2 things.  Used together, this mitt and mousse remove any and all signs of a sunless tan.

You might be thinking "If I go through the time and effort to sunless tan, why would I want to remove it??" 

Well, because when you go to apply a new sunless tan, it will only be even and streak free if ALL of the old tanner is gone. 

I know on me, tanner likes to linger on my ankles, knees, inner upper arms and wrists. The rest of my skin will be bare, yet these places will have that tell tale color remaining. 

The mitt and mousse work best when used TOGETHER. 

What you do is very similar to the sunless tanning process.  You put the mousse onto this special mitt and rub it all over. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes , then go into the shower and wash it off.

The mitt cannot be used interchangeably with a tanning mitt. Oh no. This mitt is a gritty little exfoliating powerhouse. Removing old tanner notwithstanding, this mitt is the perfect tool to prep for a fresh tan prep, as it removes any flakey dead skin.

Once you start washing in the shower, you'll see what's left of your old tan literally go down the drain. 

Personally, where I've been tanning for so long, I no longer have any "oops moments". (I hope I'm not jinxing myself here)  BUT, if you do, this will fix it. 

This products works equally as well on a brand new tan as it does a week old tan. So, if you apply a tanner and find that you have stripes on your arms and islands of color on your feet, this will be what saves you.  ( Read Here / Here / and Here to avoid a bad tan application in the 1st place.)

Its safe to say that I plan on keeping these items permanently in my tanning routine. 

Happy Tanning, babes!

XO,

Happy Monday, Lovelies!

How was your weekend?

I was sent a new beauty product from the good folks at Influencer to test out.

I did not pay for this product. I want to put that out there right now. Also though, I am not required to do this post. I'm taking that upon myself because I really want to share this with you.

The brand is Schwarkopf and the product is called "Color Boost'. When it 1st arrived, my 1st thought was "Whoa...no. I do not do at home hair color." I just do not have enough faith in my own abilities to go down that road again.

However, once I opened it up I realized it was not an at home hair color.  Whew. 

What it is, is an additive to your conditioner which restores the vibrancy of your color.

There is a shade for most every hair color. They sent me the cool blonde. That was perfect for me.

This is so simple to use. Literally, all you do is wash your hair like normal, add this to your conditioner, leave of for 5 minutes then rinse.

I was SO happy with the results!

My hair is a very light, icy blonde. This is an expensive hair color to obtain. Nothing would irk me more than watching my hair start to become warmer and almost brassy as it became further removed my last salon trip. 

I tested this out yesterday. My next color appointment is this weekend. So, my hair was about as brassy as it is going to be. 

I mixed this into my conditioner after washing my hair. I used 7 pumps. (5 is their recommended max, but I have a LOT of hair.) I left it on for 15 minutes. (They recommend 5minutes, but oh well.)

Wow! It does what it claims to do. It doesn't smell like hair color. It doesn't smell like anything actually.  I didn't feel it on my scalp. My hair just felt like it was getting a good conditioning. 

One bottle will last at least for 4 or 5 uses. The effects of one application last for 5-7 washes. 

This will be available in Target nation wide as of July 1st. 

This gets a big 'ol 2 thumbs up from  me!

XO,

Happy Friday, baby dolls!

Here in MA, our 5+ day heatwave just finally broke. I know most folks are super happy about that.  In my house, someone who shall remain nameless and who I'm married to, likes to keep the the thermostat set to 66-68 degrees. ⛄ 

Anyhow, today I wanted to share somethings that I find to be essential to my gym routine. 

Let's just get all of the links up here:

HydroFlask w/straw / AirPod Pro / Swifty Tank Top / Spotify / Gym Bag 

Back when the pandemic was 1st taking hold last year, my husband had the foresight to know that the gym's would be off limits. We splurged and an elliptical machine. I do absolutely love it.  It gets its use and was a very good investment. 

The thing is we both really missed the gym. More specifically, we missed OUR gym.

Once Chad was fully vaccinated, we were both eager to get back.  I'm in a total "out with the old" mentality. So, I decided to upgrade my gym gear that had sat dormant for 42 weeks (yes, I counted).

Why the Hydro -flask with straw?

It actually keeps my water cold. Not cool, not tepid, but cold. The straw lid is PERFECT for cardio. There is no fumbling around to open the lid, no spilling.

Why the Airpods Pro?

Because they stay in place. Running, jumping, etc...it doesn't matter. These babies are not falling out. 

I used to think earbuds with a cord were fine, and they were. Had I not tried wireless, I wouldn't of known that I needed the wireless option. Now though, I could never go back.

Why the swiftly tank?

Welllll......the reason I originally bought it was because of the color. I immediately came to realize how moisture-wicking this is. That's super important in this heat.

Hi Friends, how are you?

This week is just flying by. Last week, I had mentioned how I had bought a lovely Jo Malone shower gel. Several of you had reached out and asked about it or said that you wanted to try it. 

It got me to thinking about how something that is such a little thing can make such a difference.

We all shower everyday, why not make it super enjoyable? Sure, plain old soap  gets the job done. Why not get something more luxurious and start your day on a high note? The ones in the picture above are a few of my favorites.

1) Sol de Janerio Shower Cream  

If you have ever tried this brands "Bum-Bum" cream, you are familiar with its dreamy, tropical scent. This shower cream is that same scent. Its also so moisturizing. 

2) Fresh Cut Lilacs

By OG scented shower gel brand, Bath & Body Works. This is a true floral, it doesn't smell synthetic or phone at all. I used this today along with the matching lotion. The combo of the two make the scent last all day.

3) Necessarie Body Wash

This stuff has nearly 1,000 5 star rating on the companies website. Aside from feeling absolutely lovely, it is loaded with vitamins and omegas. It nourishes, protects and cleanses your skin. It also comes in a fragrance free option along with sandalwood, bergamot and eucalyptus .

4) Nivia Tea Tree Bodywash

If you have ever stayed at a Wynn resort, you know how amazing their complimentary shower gel is. (Ever my hubs loves it!)  Well, this is a darn near spot on dupe of that! Plus, its around $6.00.

5) Jo Malone Nectarine & Honey Blossom 

This is the one I spoke of last week. Its straight up heavenly. Your shower really will be transformed into a aromatherapy session.

BONUS!

Where are my evening shower peep?  This one is for you!

Lavender Vanilla Shower & Bath gel 

                                                

Happy Monday, Friends. Did you have a nice weekend? It was a scorcher here and I'm LIVING for it.

I know that I'm in the minority here, but I have always preferred this type of weather for running and working out. For me, this warm , humid air is much easier on my lungs than that cold, dry winter air.  Anyhow, that's not what we are talking about here.  We are talking about running and fitness today though. Specifically, we are talking about a line of fitness & running apparel that I'm beyond excited about. Even better to me is this this company is local. Running is better in Boston , baby.  From around the world, runners all over dream of running the Boston Marathon. The Marathon is part of our DNA here.  It doesn't surprise me that The Brand Track Smith was born here.

Grayboy Tank

You'll get no argument from me over the fact that high technology fabrics have been an absolute game changer. Gore-Tex, Micromodal and the like have become the mainstay for workout gear. 

However, I cannot lie...I love the simple nostalgia of of good old fashioned cotton.

If its a nice easy workout day, I'll opt for this tank.  Its soft yet durable. It takes me back to bygone days. Pure contentment 💛.

Really, if you are a runner, an aspiring runner or someone who partakes in other physical activity, I really suggest checking out Tracksmith. Find Them Here or at 285 Newbury Street in Boston, MA.

Reminder - This is a non-income generating blog. This is done by choice. If I share something with you, it means that I have purchased it with my own money unless otherwise specifically noted.  It also means that I do not earn one , single cent if you purchase anything that I link here. I keep it this way because I'm not trying to sell you anything. I'm just looking to share the things that work for me in the hopes that they might work for you as well.

XO,