Fitness Friday-30 Day Challenge

30DayFitnessChallenges.com

One of my favorite websites that I refer to a lot is 30DayFitnessChallenges.com.  They have a great selection of 30 Day Challenges to choose from and I love that you can print out each challenge so you can check them off as you do them.

With a new month coming up I think it's a great time to start a challenge so I picked 4 that I am going to combine and create a workout for each day based on the challenges.  I'm going to be doing the Ab Challenge, Plank Challenge, Squat Challenge and Arms Challenge.  I think these challenges work best if you have a partner to compete with and to help keep you on target, my partner is going to be my husband, he just doesn't know it yet!

Do you want to join me for a challenge?  If you do leave me a comment below and we'll touch base and help keep each other motivated! Happy Fitness Friday!

Professional 12 Set Makeup Brush Kit by Petunia Skincare-Review

*Professional 12 Set Makeup Brush Kit by Petunia Skincare

I have become a huge fan of all things by Petunia Skincare and my most recent favorite product is this amazing Professional 12 Set Makeup Brush Kit that they sent me to review for them!
  

I just so happened that I was in dire need of some new brushes anyway so every brush in the kit has been put to good use!  The kit contains a complete set of 12 brushes that include:

Powder brush

Blush brush

Foundation brush

Eyeshadow brush

Smudge brush

Fan brush

Concealer brush

Eyebrow blush

Eyeliner blush

Sponge applicator

Lip brush

Spoolie brush

I love the look & feel of these brushes and I am super impressed with the quality.  These brushes are definitely comparable to some of the other high end brushes that I own.  

I also love the cute travel pouch & brush guards that are included and will come in handy to help the brushes maintain their shape.
The brushes themselves are handmade from Natural and Synthetic and the hair is a combination of high quality pony hair, goat hair, and synthetic hair.  The Synthetic brushes are great for liquid-based makeup, while natural hair brushes pick up and distribute powder makeup evenly and smoothly. They are super soft and silky on top, yet durable and again, really great quality.  

Another great feature is that the pigment does not cling to hairs after application so you can blend and reuse colors without cleaning after each use.  They are also easy to clean, just run them run them through warm water, then clean with a gentle shampoo (I use baby shampoo), rinse thoroughly & place on a clean surface to air dry or blow dry.

Also, for all of us animal lovers...Petunia Skincare is a proud member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and does not test any products on animals.  No animals are harmed to create the natural brushes.
Go to PetuniaSkincare.com for more information & to purchase the Professional 12 Set Makeup Brush Kit & other Petunia Skincare products and you can also purchase by clicking the link below...

   

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com.  Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

***My Favorite Josie Maran Products-Easy Pay on QVC***

Have you tried any Josie Maran products yet?  Well, if not then you should head over to QVC because they have a bunch of favs on Easy Pay!  Easy Pay is a great way to try out high end products without killing your budget.  Plus, you also get to take advantage of special pricing since they often put together kits at a fraction of the normal retail cost.

I put together the collage above so you could see my favorite Josie Maran products that I love and that I use all the time.  I highly recommend her products and what I love most about them is that they are good for all skin types and made with all natural, eco-friendly, pure, Fair Trade, Argan Oil.  I have extremely oily skin and I use the Argan Oil in Light & Regular on my face and it has actually helped balance out my skin, it's amazing stuff!
So, make sure you head over to QVC and take advantage of the great deals & Easy Pay!  Also, don't forget to shop through your Ebates account and get and additional 2% Cash Back!

Pet Grooming Brush by CLD Barnds-Review

*Pet Grooming Brush by CLD Barnds

We were constantly picking up white, fluffy hair balls from our kitty, Bella, and we were in desperate need of a good grooming brush so it was perfect timing when CLD Brands sent me one of theirs to review for my blog!

I assigned the grooming job to my daughter so she has been using the Pet Grooming Brush on our 2 cats, Bella & Dexter  and our Chocolate Lab, Kosmo.  Out PitBull Karley has nice short hair so she gets away with not needing to be brushed.  Bella LOVES to be brushed, Dexter not so much and Kosmo only likes it when he is in the mood.  However, since we started using the brush it has really cut down on the amount of white fur balls we find and has also helped keep the other pet hair down to a minimum.

The brush itself is made of high quality, durable wood and metal and also features a contoured handle for a better grip.  It also comes with a cute, FREE ebook, Grooming Tips For Your Dog and Cat!

(Bella getting her grooming sesh in!)

Do you need a nice, good quality Pet Brush?  You can order one by clicking on the link below...



 I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com.  Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Organic Vitamin C Serum by Naturalico-Review

*Organic Vitamin C Serum by Naturalico

I love it when I come across another Vitamin C Serum that rocks and get to share with my readers!  I have been using this one by Naturalico for the last couple of weeks and it's definitely one to add to  your skincare routine!

This Organic Vitamin C Serum by Naturalico is lightweight and absorbs really quickly.  I like to apply the serum on my face, around my eyes, decollete and even my shoulders.  It has helped diminish the look of my Melasma aka hyperpigmentation and now my skin tone looks more even.  Yay!  It also contains Hyaluronic Acid and Organic Sea Buckthorn Oil and those ingredients have really helped plump up my skin, especially around my eyes!

I tried A LOT of Vitamin C Serums at A LOT of different price points and I think this is a really great serum at a really great price!

 

 I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com.  Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Nutritional Yeast Superfood by Sari Foods Co.- Review

*Nutritional Yeast Superfood by Sari Foods Co

Have you ever heard of Nutritional Yeast?  It's a superfood that is really yummy & it's good for you!  I have been trying out this one from Sari Foods and it has become an everyday staple at my house.  It kind of taste like cheese so anything I want to add a little cheesy taste to I just sprinkle it on.  It's really good on fish, veggies, eggs, salads & popcorn!

The Nutritional Yeast Superfood by Sari Foods Co is comprised of 50% protein (a complete, bioavailable and vegan source), over 20% fiber, contains all 18 amino acids and 15 different minerals (including iron, selenium and zinc) as well as a natural vitamin B-complex and Beta-glucans (known for their extreme immune enhancing properties).  So good and so good for you!

Go to sarifoods.com for more information or you can click on the link below and order some yummy Nutritional Yeast Superfood for yourself...

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com.  Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

My Tips & Tools to Keep Your Skin Looking Flawless

If it's one thing I am passionate about it is skincare.  I have tried so many products and tools over the years that I really do consider myself somewhat of an expert, even if it's only an expert regarding my own skin.
Even at the age of 41, I still have very oily skin and I constantly struggle to keep my skin clear of breakouts and I also deal with the on-going threat of spots from Melasma.  As a result, I have a few rules, tools & a Holy Grail products that I use to keep my skin in check and looking flawless and I am sharing them all with you!

My Rules for Keeping Skin Clear and Flawless

1. Cleanse skin a.m. & p.m. - Never go to bed with your makeup on!  You need to take full advantage of the fact that your skin repairs itself during the night which means it's the best time to use all your serums, lotions & potions since they will be the most effective during this time.  Also, never skip washing you face in the a.m. either.  Also, make sure you wash your face in the a.m. as well.  That nice glow on your face in the a.m. isn't just leftover residue from the product(s) you used the night before but it's also sweat!  If you simply cannot make yourself wash your face twice a day then by far the best choice is to skip the a.m.!
2. Pillow Cases - Pillow cases should be washed at least once a week.  I highly recommend to invest in some really nice, cotton, high-thread count (600+), WHITE pillow cases.  Why?  Because, higher thread count pillow cases are much more soft and much better for your skin and white because you can SEE how dirty your pillow case is and you are much more likely to was it if you can see the dirt and grime on it.
3. Clean your Make Up Brushes - This is one rule that is SO easy to skip but you should be cleaning your makeup brushes at least once a month.  There are a lot of fancy brush shampoos and soaps out there right now but I like to use baby shampoo, it's gentle, effective and best of all...cheap!
4. Moisturize - As someone with oily skin I know how it is to feel like you don't want to put any extra moisture on your face and when I was younger I used to be afraid of all moisturizers but now that I am...um...older and wiser I know better, much better.  Even oily skin needs to be moisturized.  For oily skin peeps like me a good oil-free moisturizer will actually balance out your skin and help reduce the amount of oil it wants to produce.  Just make sure you choose the right moisturizer for your skin type!
5. SPF - Whatever you do, DO NOT forget to put on SPF no matter what age you are!  This is especially important if you struggle with Melasma as I do.  Plus, the sun damage your getting today can wait and show up years later so you should be applying at least SPF 15 or more, to your face daily and with SPF in most lotions and cosmetics these days that should be fairly easy to do. 

My Favorite Tools & Products for Keeping Skin Clear & Flawless

I started to go into great detail about each tool and product but it started to turn into the longest post in blog history so I just decided to list the items that I use everyday or weekly basis.  If you have any questions about anything I use just leave me a comment or question below and I promise to respond back to you!
Also, I want to preface this list by saying that I use a lot of other skincare products simply because I am a beauty blogger and I test out everything that is sent to me by beauty & skincare companies and while I have yet to test a really bad product (Thank Goodness!!) I have a lot of different products in my rotation on any given day.  That being said, I want to mention that in addition to the list below, I highly recommend a good Vitamin C Serum that contains Hyaluronic Acid.  Please refer back to any of my previous posts for Vitamin C Serums & specific brands that I have tested and that I recommend.  Finally, here is my list in no particular order...

1. Clarisonic
2. PMD-Personal Microdermabrasion Tool - Holy Grail item
3. bliss Pore Fector 
4. Derma Roller
5.  IT Cosmetics - Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+
6. Paula's Choice Resist BHA 9 - Holy Grail Item
7. bare Minerals Matte Foundation SPF 15
8. Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47

              


               

As I said, please make sure to leave me any comments or questions you have and I will respond back to you.  I would also love to hear your thoughts or any suggestions about products or tools that work for you!