Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Frugal & Fab Favorites (For Back to School!)

School is starting just around the corner! Are you ready?! In honor of back to school I wanted to share with you some of my favorite products - why not pick some of these up when you're out getting those last minute school supplies?!

One of my favorite shampoos is Thicker Fuller Hair. This shampoo is the best. No joke, my husband and I fight over it! Thicker Fuller Hair products are formulated with caffeine to plump and prop up your strands. It also revitalizes lifeless hair by purifying hair and eliminating build up. It's priced at or around $4.99 so you get a nice quality shampoo for a frugal and fabulous price! (Read more about my love for this product here!) I love it because it smells nice, purifies build up, and can easily wash out my firm hold hair spray!


And speaking of hair products, I also love L.A. look's red carpet collection! I know growing up, when I had a perm (I know, I know!) I used to swear by their hair gel.  Now they have two great new products: Absolute Curls - curl defining creme (where was this in my perm days!?) and Volcanic Rush Glue Gel (perfect for guys hair!) It feels like a gel but holds like a glue. A lot of my friends had mohawks or flipped hair when I was in high school - I remember a few of them used school glue to keep their hair in place, thankfully with Volcanic Rush - the new generation won't have to go to all that trouble! These products are a bargain  at around $2.99 each!

Looking for a new deodorant? Soft & Dri has a ton of great smelling, long lasting and super effective products; including a new aluminum free deodorant! I helped a friend shop for aluminum free deodorant last year and up until recently, it was hard to find. I'm so happy one of my favorite brands came up with an aluminum free formula!  Soft & Dri has a whole range of products including Antiperspirant Clinical Protection spray (my favorite to use before I go out running!), Aerosol Spray, and traditional Antiperspirant Deodorant (my everyday pick!). And all of these products are only about $1.99 each! At that price, you practically don't even need a coupon! (The Clinical Protection Spray is around $5.99, but well worth it!)

And of course, what back to school shopping trip would be complete without some new makeup! It is the start of a new season right? Mary Kay at Play has some really great new products right now. I am really loving their triple layer tinted lip balm in Pink again. It's a sheer lip balm that goes on really smooth and has a great creamy texture. It makes my lips really soft and has a slight berry flavor. I like to keep this at my desk for a quick pick me up. If you're into color there are three other shades to choose from. These lip balms retail for $10 and are available here at MaryKay.com!

My other favorite Mary Kay at Play product right now is the eye crayon in purple smoke. You can use it as an eyeliner or all over your lid like a shadow!  These crayons come in some awesome colors including gold, teal and taupe - how fun would gold be for a night out!? I love the purple because it's my favorite everyday color for eye products. I prefer to wear this as a shadow and then line my eyes in either black or purple eyeliner. This product also retails for $10 and can be purchased here.

What are your beauty must haves for back to school? Have you tried any of these? Let me know! 

Also, make sure to check out my Mary Kay Prize Pack Giveaway! 





* Disclosure: I received a product in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Link Up Your Giveaways!

Have a giveaway going on at your blog? Link it up here!

Feel free to come back every Tuesday & link up at Frugal & Fab! Looking for more places to promote your giveaway? Click here for a list of giveaway link up sites! 

And when you're done, click on over here and enter my giveaway for a Mary Kay Prize Pack! (Ends 9/1/14)

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Get the Look: Playful Cat Eye!

Have you been watching Project Runway?! If not, you should - they have an awesome group this season - one of the best in a while! 

If you've been watching the show, you'll know they often feature Mary Kay makeup looks on the models, and then show you how to get the look at home.  This look is by Mary Kay Global Makeup Artist Luis Casco and this playful cat eye was featured on models in a recent episode! And I'm going to break it down for you here:


First off, you want to start with a clean face. I prepped my eye lids and under eye area with  Mary Kay  CC Cream (color correcting cream). I then did a light coat of Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color in Moonstone across my eye lids. In the crease, I put Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color in Driftwood. For this color, I used an eye shadow brush and used a sweeping motion, sort of in the shape of an arc. Moonstone is a great pearly colored neutral. I love it because it's so versatile - you could wear it with any other color. Driftwood is also a favorite of mine - it's the perfect brown and easy to build up on. 

You want to then use your eyeshadow brush to blend the two colors together, and up under the crease of your eye lid.  After that's done, I did a light line of Mary KayGel Eyeliner in Jet Black on the edge of my lash line. If you've never used a gel liner, it's a little pot of color that comes with a small brush. It looks a little intimidating, but really it's just as easy as a liquid liner, and it actually gives you more control. You can put as little or as much of the color on the brush and then put it on as thick/thin as you want it. For an eyeliner junkie like me - this was a fun product to try and has quickly become one of my new favorites! Here's a picture of the gel liner and the brush:



After putting on the black liner, I let it dry for a minute and then do a little bit of Mary Kay at Play Eye Liner in Blue My Mind. I like this little pop of blue - it's a fun twist that is very wearable. You definitely want to let the eyeliner dry another minute before putting on your mascara. So after the eyeliner, I go and put on my everyday loose translucent powder and my favorite Mary Kay Bronzer in light-medium. After your powder, you want to go back and do two coats of Mary Kay Ultimate Mascara in Black. This is a great, (non clumpy) mascara. I love it!

I finished the look with a coat of Mary Kay® Nourishine Lip Gloss in Au Naturel (another one of my favorite products!) This lip gloss is the perfect neutral lip for a bold eye! It's pretty and shiny and easy to put on. It's long lasting and isn't sticky which I love! If you'd rather a little more color, I recommend Mary Kay Lip Stick in Pink Cherie, a light pink color shown in this look!

Verdict: I love this look and think the little bit of blue is a great mix with my everyday browns and pinks. I really love this black gel eyeliner and will be adding that into my rotation!  

Buy it: To learn more or to get in touch with a Mary Kay consultant in your area, go to MaryKay.com

Win it: Want to win a Mary Kay Prize Pack including many of the items seen here? Click below to enter via Rafflecopter!



a Rafflecopter giveaway


* Disclosure: I received a product in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Review: Shandali Yoga Towel!


You've heard of a yoga mat, but have you ever heard of a yoga towel?! The Shandali yoga towel is a towel (approximately 26.5" x 72") that you can put over or in place of your yoga mat. I'm a bit of a germaphobe, so I love that I  something washable in between me and my mat at the gym/studio!  Prior to owning the Shandali towel I would often bring a separate towel to the studio with me to towel off during class - this elimates the need for that and keeps a nice barrier between me and those communal yoga mats!This mat is a really high quality microfiber that is light weight and super plush. It is machine washable/dryable and has held up really well. 

The Shandali Yoga Towel was the #1 Rated Hot Yoga Towel - Best Bikram Yoga Towel for the Ultimate Yoga Experience. But it's not limited to yoga. You can use this for anything fitness related, or simply as a lightweight alternative to a mat or blanket. I have used it in my fitness classes and as a makeshift picnic blanket during a hike with my husband! It's small sure, but great to just throw in your bag and go. It rolls up to a nice compact size and it's one of those things that once you have, you'll find you use it for everything. 

The yoga towel I received was gray with really nice quality white stitching around the edges. I love that it's a nice neutral color. This towel is made to be fast drying and super absorbent. It's also slip resistant - so when you're breaking a sweat you can focus on your pose or interval without stopping. 


Verdict: I love this product and it has a permanent place in my gym bag!

Buy it: Want a Shandali Yoga Towel of your own? Shandali Towels can be purchased on Amazon here

Shandali also offers a 100% satisfaction guaranteed return policy. If for some reason this towel doesn't fit your needs, just return it in 30 days for a full refund. (Nice!)


*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.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Link Up Your Giveaways!

Have a giveaway going on at your blog? Link it up here!


Feel free to come back every Tuesday & link up at Frugal & Fab! Looking for more places to promote your giveaway? Click here for a list of giveaway link up sites!

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Link Up Your Giveaways!

Have a giveaway going on at your blog? Link it up here!


Feel free to come back every Tuesday & link up at Frugal & Fab! Looking for more places to promote your giveaway? Click here for a list of giveaway link up sites!   

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Review: Pro-15 The Perfect Probiotic!

I had some terrible luck with colds this year. I had two that turned into raging sinus infections and another that led to a double ear infection. What does that mean? Antibiotics. Which wreaked havoc on my stomach! The only thing that saved me was probiotics. If you've never taken probiotics before, they are pills that improve your digestive system and your intestinal health. 

One of my favorite probiotics is HyperBiotics The Pro 15 - The Perfect Probiotic. The Pro 15 is a small pearl that is easy to swallow and easy on your stomach. It works great and is available on Amazon - which I love! This is the #1 Recommended Best Probiotic Supplement. The bottle comes with 60 time release capsules, so you only have to take them once a day and still get the full effect! They are lactose and gluten free and are safe for children or adults.  

A little more about this product:
  • IMPROVE YOUR MOOD AND ENERGY LEVELS. Fatigue and irritability are often a result of poor vitamin and nutrient absorption. PRO-15 Probiotics Supplement helps create a microenvironment inside your digestive system that promotes full mineral absorption so you can finally feel like your happy, energetic and vibrant self.
  • RELIEVE YOUR SENSITIVE STOMACH. Hyperbiotics PRO-15 is released at consistent levels throughout the day and throughout your Gl tract; whereas other probiotics supplement capsules more closely resemble a bomb being dropped in your upper stomach - releasing all organisms at one time, often causing upset such as bloating, gas or diarrhea.
  • GET & STAY WELL. 80% of your immune system is in your gut, and when probiotics (the good guys) are abundant in your body, it's harder for the disease causing bacteria (the bad guys) to settle in. PRO-15 Probiotics restore beneficial bacteria for optimal digestive and immune health, help control yeast and candida overgrowth and promote daily relief from allergies, gas, bloating and constipation. Life should be easy.
  • LOSE WEIGHT. New studies show that gut microflora may improve your metabolism and accelerate fat loss. Let's get your gut back into equilibrium so your waistline will follow.

Verdict: I really like the time release pearls because before I was taking two or three regular pills throughout the day and either I would forget, or it just wasn't as convenient. After taking The Pro 15 pearls I felt great and had no stomach issues! I recommend these to anyone for everyday use, or if you have gastrointestinal issues.

 
*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.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Link Up Your Giveaways!

Have a giveaway going on at your blog? Link it up here!

Feel free to come back every Tuesday & link up at Frugal & Fab! Looking for more places to promote your giveaway? Click here for a list of giveaway link up sites!   
And when you're done, don't forget to enter my awesome Mary Kay Review & Giveaway for a chance to win a really great prize pack! 

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Get the Look: Project Runway's Smoky Emerald! (Mary Kay Review & Giveaway!)

I'm always looking for new makeup ideas, so when I was thrilled when I was asked to recreate this look from Last week's Project Runway! In case you missed the premiere, Mary Kay Global Makeup Artist Luis Casco showed how to translate chic, fall-inspired, jewel-toned smoky eyes and bold dark lips from the runway to your way! This style is perfect for the transition into fall and is really easy way to upgrade your look.
First I prepped my face with toner, moisturizer and Mary Kay®  CC Cream (color correcting cream). I put it on any trouble spots, as well as over my eyelids and my under eye area. After prepping, I put a light coat of Mary Kay® Cream Eye Color in Meadow Grass. This is a pretty light green color and goes on very smoothly. You can use a brush, but I typically just use my fingers. Then using an eyeshadow brush, I applied Mary Kay® Mineral Eye Color in Lime. I love love love this color. It's a sort of gold green, with really nice pigments. There is a nice shine to it. You can put as much as you'd like - but I did a light coat starting from the inside corners of my eyes and across the inside of the eyelid.

Here's a picture demonstrating that:


After that, I swooped a couple strokes of Mary Kay® Mineral Eye Color in Emerald in the crease of my eye. (This is the opposite eye than the one pictured above). The color is a little off in this picture.

After shadow, I used a nice thin line of Mary Kay® Eye Liner in Black and two coats of Mary Kay® Mascara in I Love Black.  I then used my fingers to apply a light touch of  Mary Kay®  Cream Blush in Cranberry to the tops of my cheekbones and the apples of my cheeks. The color looks dark in the picture, but it's a really nice hue that can be built upon.  I blended this into my CC Cream and it came out great. I finished the look with a brush of loose powder, a swipe of Mary Kay® Bronzer in light-medium, and Mary Kay® Lipstick in Mystic Plum.

Here's the finished look:
Green is not a color I have tried before, but I think it's a fun and fresh shade! I really liked this look and will definitely experiment more with it in the future! 

And one more where you can see the lipstick: 


Here's a picture of all of the products I used on this look:


Want to win a set of products so you can recreate this look? One lucky Frugal & Fabulous reader will win a Mary Kay® prize pack featuring similar products to the ones above. (Bronzer not included). Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 




* Disclosure: I received a product in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.