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Skincare

Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Review

Must Love Rating: 10 out of 10 (11 out of 10, really!)

Like a lot of other bloggers, I felt the need to do a Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield review (because it’s just that good!). I’ve completely fallen in LOVE with their Invisiblur Perfecting Primer. So much so that at this point it would be hard to live without it!

I’ve always been a fan of primers in general and I never do my makeup without first starting with perfectly primed skin. In my opinion, primers make all the difference in the world, as far as how well your makeup goes on, stays on and the the overall appearance of your skin in general. After all, a great primer will blur any imperfections in a matter of seconds.

The Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Primer is more than just a primer; it’s loaded with tons of ingredients that actually treat and improve your skin. It contains a broad spectrum SPF of 30, so you’re treating and protecting your skin at the same time. If I could describe this primer in one word, it would be: PERFECT!

I also love the packaging of this primer. It comes in a dispenser type container that keeps the product fresh, airtight and completely free of contamination.

Murad Invisiblur is a bit on the pricey side, but it’s absolutely worth every penny. I also want to add that I have extremely sensitive skin and none of Murad’s products have ever caused a negative reaction with it or a single breakout (even when first starting a new product). That, for me, like a lot of other women, is basically unheard of.

One last thing…

People always ask me how I’ve managed to keep my skin looking so young and virtually wrinkle free even though I’m at an age most beauty bloggers won’t reach for another 15 years! Haha…but the truth of the matter is, my Mom & Grandma insisted I wear sunblock on my face every single day from a very young age. I’ve also always followed a skincare routine from the time I was 14. It didn’t matter what my budget was at that moment in time, I’d always wash my face before bed, apply all of my products (including an eye cream) and then repeat the process in the morning.

Consistency, dedication and SUNBLOCK will keep your skin looking young well into your 40’s and beyond. You just have to do it, but start now! Your skin will thank you when you’re my age (and so will you!).

Annnnnd that’s my Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield review. Thanks Murad!

Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield review + cocktail = time to shimmy!

 

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Beauty

St Tropez Tan Makes Bikini Season Better!

St Tropez Tan: Part of my bikini body routine

Staying healthy and in shape is super important to me. But of course there are a ton of things I do to keep my bikini body ready (BESIDES the St Tropez tan!). I generally maintain a pretty healthy diet, but those of you that know me also know I’m a huge fan of the occasional bacon cheeseburger and fries! Come on, a girl has to live a little. Below are the basics of my bikini body routine.

Step 1)

Exercise. I start out at least five days a week working out. Whether it be running on the treadmill in my gym, doing Barry’s Bootcamp or, one of my all time favorite workouts in the comfort of my own home, Brazil Butt Lift. Ha, yes, I was one of those people that watched that infomercial for hours on end believing I could get that Victoria Secret body they kept showing over and over again! But, honestly, it’s an amazing workout. Perfect for the ideal bikini body! The key to exercise is that it doesn’t matter where you do it; outdoors, the gym or your living room, you just have to DO IT! Ok, I’m not plugging Nike here, although I love my Nike’s 🙂

Step 2)

Exfoliate. This is SO important ladies: I exfoliate my body daily. First, I start with dry brushing my entire body before jumping in the shower each morning. I begin at my ankles and work my way up. It gets my circulation flowing and also helps remove dead skin. Once in the shower, I use my favorite drugstore body wash by Soapsoap. It’s their Coconut Exfoliating Scrub and is a basic staple that I’ve been using for at least 5 years.

Last but not least, probably my favorite product in this post, is the BECCA Coffee Scrub. I use this 2-3 times a week on my problem area, my bum! After scrubbing, let it sit on the skin for at least 5 minutes before washing it off. It immediately helps smooth out my skin and leaves it virtually “dimple free.”

Step 3)

Target that cellulite! I have this amazing little tool I ordered on Amazon. I know you have all seen this little contraption and probably think it’s a joke. How could some little circular object with a handle help combat cellulite? But it works! Of course , you have to eat right and exercise, but with regular use it definitely helps break down those pesky lumps and bumps. All you have to do is use it with a great lotion and massage in a circular motion for 5-10 minutes. I normally do it while watching T.V. and it is actually pretty relaxing. Shouldn’t be hard to get the man in your life to help out with that one either! You can also use it with one of my favorite serums by Nivea, Goodbye Cellulite for a little more help, but regular lotion works great too!

Step 4)

Moisturize. This is the key to beautiful, healthy skin. I have been moisturizing my entire body, head to toe, for as long as I can remember. Starting in elementary school.  No joke! Use a moisturizer that is for your body type and go from there. My all time favorite body lotion is Nivea Essentially Enriched for extra dry skin. I have been using this lotion for at least 10 years, maybe longer. Also, you want to keep up the sunscreen to prevent sun damage to your skin!

I know we all want that golden tan, but the sun does so much damage to your skin that it will break down your collagen and will cause premature aging and even worse, could cause skin cancer. Staying out of the sun and wearing sunblock have been my saving grace! I still rock an amazing tan, but it’s fake and I LOVE it…so now I’m sure you can guess what my final step is for getting my bikini body ready?

Step 5 – The St Tropez Step

Self Tan. This is one of my favorite steps! Duh! I am obsessed with self tanners. You are all aware by now that this obsession exists. If you follow my blog regularly, you know how many self tanners I have reviewed. Well, my most recent purchase happens to be by the longtime cult favorite tanning company, St. Tropez. I often switch my tanners up just because I love trying different products, and it’s part of my job, but this latest find, St. Tropez Dark Tanning mousse, is just that: DARK! 

If you are new to tanning, you may want to start with something a tad lighter because, with this one, you have to move quickly while applying (that’s why I think it’s perfect for the pros!). But if you have your heart set on the darkest tan I’ve come across in a bottle, the St Tropez tan is the one for you! It instantly gives you a deep, dark, golden tan in minutes.

You will want to make sure you give it at least 5-10 minutes to dry before getting dressed then you’re good to go. I’ve found that the initial color can rub off on your clothes if you sweat, etc, but after 3 hours you can wash it off and you’ll be left with the most beautiful tan on the planet. It is a bit on the pricey side, but it’s oh so worth it! The St Tropez tan is my new go-to.

Step 6)

Grab your bikini (with your St Tropez tan, of course) your sunblock, hat and favorite sunglasses (maybe a cocktail) & head to the pool!

What a perfect way to spend a much deserved day off-

bikini body 8

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Anti Aging

Murad Age-Diffusing Firming Mask

Must Love Rating: 10 out of 10

As you all know by now, I love a good face mask. From firming to hydrating to oxygen masks, they all serve a purpose and hold a special place in my heart! When I was sent the Murad Age-Diffusing Firming Mask to try I was elated and instantly ready to give it a try. I had been feeling like my face needed that extra boost to bring my skin back to it’s youthful glory.

From the moment I put this mask on, my skin felt instant relief, because it was soothing and the texture was perfect. I love to use any mask following my favorite scrub by Eclos, though, I might mention, it’s becoming incredibly difficult to find (I think I might have to accept it’s discontinued)! Hopefully Murad will make one to replace it!

Okay, enough ranting..

The Murad Age-Diffusing Firming Mask leaves my skin looking plump and youthful. It diminishes any fine lines I have and brings back that bounce to my skin. I love this mask so much that sometimes I sleep with it on!

My skin is extremely sensitive and what I adore about Murad’s products is they don’t tend to use any of the added ingredients that are known to be skin irritants. I also never have a breakout when I first start using a Murad product like I do with other skincare lines.

All around, the Murad Age-Difussing Firming Mask is absolute perfection. It is a bit on the pricey side, but you can’t put a price tag on aging gracefully. Trust me, your skin will thank you years down the road for taking such good care of it-

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Skincare

LANEIGE Water Bank Moisture Cream

L Must Love Rating: 10 out of 10

First and foremost, sorry for the lack of posts on Must Love Lipstick. Life has been super crazy the past few months (with Real Estate and Interior Design *see my other sites in the links on my bio page:) I’ve had a bit of a hard time managing my time evenly across the board. But I’m getting back on track. I think I may need an assistant in the New Year, but that’s another topic for another day! Apparently I need to do a new post every day for the next two months to get caught up. So stay tuned, I’m about to bombard you with tons of reviews! Now on to the review of LANEIGE Water Bank Moisture Cream.

I’m honestly almost scared to review this one for the fear it will fly of the shelves and I will have a hard time getting my hands on it myself. But, the Water Bank Moisture Cream by LANEIGE is too good not to share. Believe me when I say, this has now become my favorite skin cream for the Winter months.

I suffer from extremely dry, sensitive skin year round, but Wintertime is always worse. I find my face gets extra dry and no one wants that. Dry skin also makes your wrinkles and fine lines look worse than they are! I definitely can’t have that. Haha. I had received a sample of this cream months ago and it wasn’t until I ran out of my other current favorite face cream by Murad, that I tried it. There was only enough product in this little packet to get me through two days. But after those two days, I was sold! My skin looked amazing. No dry patches, no irritation, which I get easily (that will be another post) and my fine lines were basically gone. My skin felt and looked plump and was perfectly dewy, so much so that  I couldn’t stop looking at my skin. No joke!

Now let me give you a little history on my new miracle product. The LANEIGE line has a cult following in Korea. It is also made by Amore Pacific. When my eczema first started appearing a few years back, a woman at Sephora told me the Amore Pacific line was one of the few lines her husband, whom had severe eczema could tolerate. On her suggestion, I started using the line, which was amazing but also super pricey. With that being said, this cream does remind me of the Amore Pacific cream I was using but I actually like the LANEIGE Water Bank Moisture Cream more and it’s only $32, yep you heard me correctly! It does have a slight fragrance that dissipates quickly, but I have not experienced any reactions due to the added fragrance like I have with other skincare lines.

LANEIGE is sold at local Target stores and on Target.com. The line includes a series of products that are designed to work with each other in a multi step process. I know some people may not like the idea of using multiple products every day, but trust me, this is the best way to keep your skin looking beautiful for years to come. I would never be without a serum, or eye cream for even one day! Once you get accustomed to layering products, it becomes second nature. Here’s to beautiful skin year round!

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Anti Aging

My Botox-Free Routine

My Botox-Free Routine

 

You’ve asked…now I’m gonna answer! (Honestly people, some of these questions I get asked, crack me up!) Let me first start by saying, I’m a huge supporter of doing whatever you want to your face and skin in regards to fillers, botox, plastic surgery etc. So I’m not knocking it in any way. I just have to laugh a bit when people find out my age and they always say “How?” I then have to go into my usual routine of making all of these crazy faces and moving my forehead to show them I don’t have botox. With that being said, I wanted to share some of my favorite products that have allowed me to stay Botox-Free for years. It’s really pretty simple ladies, all you have to do is put in the effort!

So here it goes; I’m a huge fan of taking care of my skin in general. Duh! But it is the targeted products I use that take my routine to another level. There are so many layers to this post, I guess I will start from the ground up! First and foremost, I use my beloved Clairsonic morning and night. If you don’t have perfectly clean skin, your products will never be able to do what they are supposed to do. I always, and I mean ALWAYS, use a primer targeted for firming and wrinkles. Morning and night..it’s a must! A rich moisturizer and eye cream and of course the key to aging gracefully…SUNBLOCK.

Now on to the specifics. Three times a week, I use the Instant Radiance Scrub by Eclos. It instantly softens any fine lines I have in a matter of minutes. It is gentle but effective and is one of my holy grail products I have used for 5 plus years. Once I have used the scrub to slough off the dead skin, I immediately layer on my MURAD Age Diffusing Firming Mask. This mask is pure heaven. It tightens, softens and tones in 15 minutes flat and leaves my skin perfectly plump.

At least twice a week, especially if I’ve had a rather late night, I use the Bliss Oxygen Facial Mask. I have been using this oxygen facial for at least 7 years and would NOT be without it. It takes my skin from dull to vibrant in 5 minutes flat! It also feels amazing and allows me to relax, even if it’s only for 5 minutes!

So, as you can see, from my experience, it isn’t just one product that keeps me botox-free, it’s an arsenal! Now I’m not saying I might not ever need botox at some point, but for now, I’ve got this handled. Take it from me, you can do this too! I’m a girl that is constantly making crazy faces all day long. Unfortunately my face & expressions say it all. I can never hide how I’m truly feeling, which can be a good thing or bad! But as long as it’s not causing more wrinkles, I will continue to live my life with FULL EXPRESSION!

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