Wedding plans, Birthday parties and ..falling off the face of the earth?!?!

Oh me, oh my. This sad little blog has been very neglected the past few months. As soon as Emily turned 1, I swear, life just got busy!!
It really hit me how fast the wedding is coming up and I felt like I had no real solid planning done! I tried to buckle down on that but between Emily becoming a toddler (literally overnight) and running back and forth between my two cities, It seems like theres not enough time to get it all done! I am honestly pretty much a mass of nerves right now.
I have some new posts coming up that I hope you'll enjoy. I just placed an order from Bath & Body Works from their semi-annual sale so I'll be doing a haul post, I have a wedding post or two coming and I was thinking of doing a swatch/collection of either my MAC lipstick, my MAC eyeshadows or my blush collection (which isn't exclusively MAC but also isn't very many in total). What do y'all think? Also, maybe a healthy eating/living post. I have really been trying hard to start Emily off right from the start with healthy living. We eat lots of fruit and veggies and she loves them! She is really such a good eater tho, not picky at all! Maybe she still hasn't realized that she can refuse food yet. Meat is the only thing she has a problem with and thats only once in a blue moon! If we have pork chops that get dried out or meat thats too chewy then she sometimes kinda leaves it alone or tries to feed it to the dog.
Ramble on....
Well, my brain is hopefully back on track now and you'll be reading a lot of me very soon!

Elephant shoe!

Review: Maybelline Color Whispers

I've been seeing a lot of hype about the new(ish) Maybelline Color Whisper lippies over the past couple months. Naturally, I was intrigued. While I do love a good quality opaque lipstick, I am partial to a nice sheer wash of colour for every day wear. Spring is just around the corner and when the display rack caught my eye, that's exactly what the shades reminded me of, spring! I scoured the display, searching for the perfect shade and decided on Lust For Blush because I had seen that Amarixe from youtube had raved about it. As soon as I got home I tried it out and instantly fell in love. Since then I have picked up two more shades and love both of them as well. These are perfect for on-the-go, definitely a must have for your purse when you're at work or running errands.

Lust For Blush is perfectly named. It's a beautiful rosy pink shade. Great for every day.

Pin Up Peach is a sheer but virant pinky/coral colour. I think this would look good on almost every skin tone.

Petal Rebel is a bright bubble gummy pink. This colour just screams spring!

Overall, I'm loving all three and I'm pretty sure I'll be adding a few more to my collection. Though they are a sheer lipstick, the colour payoff is still really great! Plus, I love the fact that the packaging shows which colour it is so you don't have to search very hard to find which one your are looking for!
 If you're looking to update you makeup collection for spring, I would definitely suggest picking up a couple of these!

FOTD - Face of the Day!

Being a stay at home mom this past year has been a blast. I have so much fun with my little munchkin and I am really beginning to dread going back to work. I know I'll miss my monster so much! Over the past few months I have really been taking advantage of Emily's naptime and using that quiet time to really play around with my makeup. Stepping out of my comfort zone and trying new things with makeup has really helped me learn different techniques and, because practice does make perfect, I think I am starting to get the hang of the whole beauty thang. Definitely not saying that I am perfect at it but I'm getting better!

I thought I'd do a quick FOTD showing you the Estee Lauder duo in Raisins that I raved about in my February Rants and Raves.

Face:

Laura Mercier Oil-Free foundation primer

Urban Decay DeSlick

NARS Sheer Glow

Rimmel Stay Matte powder

Bobbi Brown Creamy Corrector

Benefit LemonAid

Make Up For Ever HD translucent powder

MAC Cream Soda blush (Archies Girls)

NARS Luster

Benefit Hoola

NARS Albatross

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Soft and Gentle

Eyes:

MAC paint pot Soft Ochre

Estee Lauder duo Raisins

MAC e/s Sable, Soft Brown, Naked Lunch

Estee Lauder e/s Sizzling Copper (lower lashline)

Loreal 12hr infallible super slim liquid liner

Maybelline gel liner blackest black

Urban Decay 24/7 glide on eye pencil Empire (waterline)

Estee Lauder Double Wear eye pencil Onyx (tight line)

Benefit They're Real mascara

Lancome Hypnose Doll Lash mascara

MAC e/s Charcoal Brown (eyebrows)

Maybelline Great Lash clear brow gel

Lips:

MAC Shanghai Spice

My top 10 beauty tips that you need to know!

Being new to the world of beauty products can seem a little scary at times and, even if you're not new, stepping out of your comfort zone can also be a little terrifying. Whether you're new to this or just stuck in a rut-of-a-daily-beauty-routine and want to break out I've gathered some tips and tricks for puttin' your face on. Some of these I've learned from beauty gurus, some on my own and some just through the funny mistakes I've noticed on myself and sometimes others.

Rule number one of everything: cleanse and moisturize. Well, the cleanse part should really be a no brainer but I know all about being too tired at the end of the night and just wanting to crash. Do your skin a favor and just wash your makeup off straight away when you get home from work.
Even if your skin is oily find a moisturizer catering to your skins specific needs. We're lucky to live in a time that there are literally hundreds of different ones to choose from. It may take some time to find it but your holy grail moisturizer is out there! Oily skin can still be dehydrated! And always wait at LEAST 5 or 10 minutes after applying moisturizer to apply your makeup otherwise it will most likely just slip and slide all over your face and be really noticeable.

I'm going to take my tips in the order that I apply my makeup on a daily basis.

1. Primer.
Whether its eyes or face I personally think primer is a good idea. When it comes to face primers I've never found one that actually smooths my skin or makes my pores smaller but they do help your makeup stay on a bit. This might just be me but I really like knowing that I've got something between my skin and my foundation so that it isn't going to just sink into my pores. Eye primers are really just a must. I wasn't sure if I was a believer but then I went without one for a few days. Big difference!

2. Get shade matched!
Even if you're not planning on shelling out a bunch of cash on a high-end foundation go to your nearest Sephora or department store and ask to be shade matched and get a sample. Don't go wearing a big winter coat or turtleneck, make sure some of your upper body is exposed (arms, shoulders, neck etc) our faces are often lighter than the rest of our bodies and you really want to look like your whole body is one color. Use the sample until it runs out to make sure you are agreeing with the match and then (if you're not convinced that its worth the big price tag) you'll have a much better idea of what you're looking for in drugstore shades.

3. Eyebrows.
These are tricky and you need to play around with it to figure out what works best for YOU. The one piece of advice I can give is that the colour of pencil or powder you use to fill them in should NOT be as dark as your hair. Go for a lighter, more muted shade to look more natural.

4. Undereye concealer.
Not everyone needs it. Personally, I like using it on myself because the couple sleepless nights I've had with my baby have taken a toll on the circles under my eyes. Don't go too light with concealer under the eyes. A little lighter will make your eyes appear brighter but too light looks unnatural. Make sure you blend it out!

5. Powder.
Use a large fluffy brush and a light hand when applying powder. You don't want to just push around the liquid products you've put on your face. Shade matching can again come into play but you can always go for a translucent powder and not have to worry about it.

6. Eyeshadow.
If you have crepey or wrinkly lids, avoid shimmery shadows there. They will accentuate it. If you have hooded eyes, avoid shimmer in the crease. When you are applying crease colour, keep your eyes open and relaxed. This is especially important if you have hooded eyes. Sure, your eyeshadow will look fantastic when your eyes are closed but what good does that do for ya? You need to be able to see how it's going to sit when you're awake and looking at people.

7. Eyeliner.
Keep your eyes open when you're applying gel or liquid liner. You'll get a much more crisp line and you'll be able to properly see what you're doing. I don't mean hold them wide open, just enough so that you can see. Again, if it only looks great with your eyes closed, what's the point? Probably most importantly, remember to blink. Your body will do it involuntarily at a very inopportune time so take mini breaks to blink and you'll avoid black streaks all over your lids.

8. Mascara

It's pretty straight forward I think but I maybe not to everyone. Go slow with it. Rushing will probably just end with a poke in the eye which leads to watery eyes and smeared makeup. Starting over when you're nearly done is never fun.

9. Contouring and highlighting.
This is probably the one I see the most mistakes with. This step can actually alter how the shape of your face looks. It is the most effective way into tricking others into thinking you have high model-esque cheekbones. But you dont want to look like a tub of Neapolitan ice cream.
Two popular bronzing powders that people use to contour are NARS Laguna and MAC blunt. While these shades look gorgeous on many girls, they may not suit you. Find a shade that isn't too orange or muddy looking.
Make sure you're contouring the right spot. Some say feel for the hollows of your cheeks, some say suck in your cheeks and place it where your cheeks go in and some say use the line from the top of your ear to the corner of your mouth as a guide. These 3 things are all in slightly different places on me. The truth is, everyone's face has a different shape and one way may not work for you. You've got to play around with it and find out which suits you. It MUST be matte. No shimmer.
Last but definitely not least, it's meant to look like a shadow not a brown streak across the side of your face. Look straight ahead into the mirror after doing one side. You're sure to notice that side looking more chiseled with a light wash of colour.
Blush is something I feel like I still struggle with applying. The best advice I can give you is to smile, apply it to the fattest part of your cheeks (haha) and then take your powder brush and blend like hell. Make sure the edges look like soft and not like clown makeup. The best way to start off is with a light shade until you get the hang of it.
Applying highlight is much easier. Just a light sweep over the top of your cheekbones right where light would naturally hit your face. Make sure not to overdo it especially if you don't apply your makeup in natural light.

10. The finishing touches.
Setting spray is a godsend. I have to set my foundation with powder to keep the grease at bay but I hate the look of powdery makeup. Not only does my holy grail setting spray (Urban Decay DeSlick) soften the look of my powder it also helps to battle oil. It really does make my makeup last longer, too!

On a side note, applying your makeup in natural light will always make it look best. If you don't have a space where you can get ready with the sun then just make sure you grab a mirror and check out your work near a window before heading out for the day. You can fix and blend out foundation lines, soften up eyeshadow that may seem too dark or blend out your blush before you grace the world with your beautiful face!
And always remember, it's your face! I wrote this post as a possible guiding light for people looking for advice but if you have a certain way you like to apply your makeup and you feel beautiful then it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks!

Tweet me! @JimiRayy
Drop me a line! sarahlouisenickelboard@gmail.com

Archie's Girls Giveaway Winner!!

Hey guys! Sorry I haven't posted the winner up yet but both my baby and I have been sick so I haven't felt like getting up to much in the past couple days. And, so without yammering on I'll announce the winner of the Flatter Me Pearlmatte Powder.
Drumroll please..........






Alana Robin!

Congrats girl! Random.org favoured you today!
Please contact me within 48 hours or I'll have to choose another winner.
Hope you enjoy!
And to everyone else, there will be more giveaways in the future. I hope you all continue to read my posts :)

February Rants and Raves!

Why does time have to fly by so quickly?? I swear the next time I blink it's going to be July. February was more of a hit-than-miss month so, oddly enough, I don't have much to complain about. I know its a good thing but it's a little out of character for me. I love to complain. (teehee!)
I want to avoid rambling here so I'll just get right into it.

Rant #1
GlossyBox.
A few months ago I received and email from GlossyBox stating that they were going to be raising their monthly subscription price from 15 bucks to 20! I honestly really wasn't happy about that. And considering the huge amount of beauty subscription boxes available, you'd think that they would want to be competitive with price and content. But, of course, me being forever the optimist (ha!), I wanted to remain positive and stick with it for a few more months because, obviously with the price being increased, they would definitely be upping-the-ante with content. I mean, that would make sense, right?  Well I guess that's not what made sense to them. I feel like the products I've received since the increase have been either so-so or actually more disappointing than when the box was less money. The reason I chose GlossyBox in the first place was because they seemed to have a lot more niche and luxurious brands that I may never discover if it wasn't for the sample I got. I do also enjoy receiving brands I can easily get my hands on but lately it seems to be more of the drugstore brands and less of the luxury. I mean it's nice that I don't have to order from the internet if I do end up enjoying the products but I've been getting a lot of things that I actually already own. I just received a sample pack of 12 skincare products from Sephora online for FREE with my order and that blew any of my recent Glossyboxes out of the water. This is actually the reason I never followed through with my monthly review promise. I really wanted to see if the increase would be worth it and I'm really thinking it's not. I've been watching the last few months of the Ipsy bag and I think the content is better and for MUCH less money. Darnit, Glossy. I wish you would have stepped up your game. I was looking forward to a long relationship with you but I don't think it's working out. I'm sorry, its not me, its you.

I must just be AMAZING at shopping because I haven't picked up a real crappy product in awhile that I can think of. So, on to the good stuff!

Rave #1
Beauty Blender.
I can't believe that I held off on this for so long. I actually don't even know why I had no interest in it considering how much hype this has had. Yeah, I know It's been around for a few years so this isn't exactly groundbreaking but I'm so thrilled about it. If you don't know what a Beauty Blender is, its a cosmetic sponge that is used for applying and blending foundation. You run it under water for a bit and it doubles in size. I still love my Real Techniques buffing brush but I guess I like to complicate things and add as many steps into my beauty routine as possible. Right now, I'm in between shades in both foundations that I use so what I do is apply the lighter shade all over my face with my buffing brush and then lightly dab and blend in the darker shade with the Beauty Blender until I've reached my perfect match. I then use it to blend my under eye concealer. It's freakin' AMAZING! My foundation never cakes, it never clings to dry patches and it never looks flat. It seems to me that if you have oily skin, the only products you can use are very matte and if you have dry skin you can only get dewy looking products. I have oily skin and I don't always want to look flat matte. This helps with a happy medium. My skin looks oil-free but still pretty radiant.

Rave # 2
Estee Lauder eye shadow.
Damn you Tanya Burr and Zoella! Both of these beautiful girls mentioned how much they loved the EL duo in Raisins in their recent videos/blog posts. In the city I'm staying in, the only higher-end cosmetics you can find are in two department stores and they both carry the same stuff. Estee Lauder, Elizabeth Arden, Clinique, Lancome and Shiseido. I was in one of these stores a bit ago so I decided to see what all the hype is about. Well, yeah, I bought it. I had to. Its such a gorgeous duo. I think its possibly the most wearable, neutral plummy/purple you can find. I also picked up a single in the shade Sizzling Copper. Its a gorgeous SUPER pigmented gold/bronze colour. I love warm gold shadows. The product itself is also really great. The shadow is silky, finely milled and not powdery at all. Its incredibly easy to blend. I think the colour would match most skin tones as well. It is more expensive than drugstore but I think this is still a perfect beginner product. You don't have to worry about matching colour, it's unreal easy to blend and its compact so you could take it with you anywhere. The luxe looking gold packaging might be fueling the love of this product a little too!

Rave #3
Ole Henriksen Truth is in the Eyes
I got a sample of this with my last Sephora online order. There was a coupon code for a 12 pack of skin care samples from Sephora's favourite brands. I have been getting so excited about skin care lately and I couldn't wait to test these products out. This Ole Henriksen was one that I was most excited for because I've heard nothing but good things about the line. A little goes a LONG way with this stuff. It glides on smoothly and doesn't dry too quickly that its hard to get it everywhere it needs to go. It is a peel so I do recommend wearing a hydrating eye cream over top once it has dried. I applied this that evening during my nightly skin care routine and hoped for the best. I have become incredibly picky with new products since having so many moisturizer fails. I think, especially with eye creams, the claims made by the company are usually a little dramatic and far fetched and I'm not sure how much difference they can really make aside from hydrating the area. Actually, after the first night I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. My eyes seemed to look a little more awake and brighter. I wasn't going to jump for joy yet. I convinced myself that I was just hoping for it to work so much that I was seeing what I wanted to see. I was putting this to the test. As much as I tried to fight it, I couldn't help not noticing how much smoother my makeup looked every day under my eyes. I do have a bit of milia in the inner corners of my eyes and I can still see them but the skin looks so much more smooth. My eyes aren't as puffy and I've actually noticed that I like the way I look without any makeup on lately. I think that this might be, dare I say it?, a miracle product? I want to see how it affects the milia over the next while but I've already raved about this stuff to my mom and she wants to try it out too. I am DEFINITELY going to pick up a full size of this stuff. I've been using it morning and night for the past two weeks and I still have not run out of the tiny little sample. I'm giving it another month of hard testing but I think this is on its way to holy grail status. Also, I think I'm on my way to a love affair with the whole Ole Henriksen line.

Rave#4
Nicole by OPI polish in Alex by the Books.
This colour feels so spring! I'm getting so excited for warmer weather and when I wear this shade I feel like the flowers are already blooming. Enough said!

Rave #5
Rimmel Kate Moss matte lipstick in the shade 101
I've always been a little leery about buying matte lipsticks. I always kinda figured that they would look funny on me and be drying. Boy, am I glad I picked this up. It's super creamy and the lasting power is ridiculous. The colour also couldn't be more perfect. I've been searching for a nice light dusty rose shade because it's the colour I can picture wearing on my wedding. This might be it! But seeing as I'm still about 5 months out, I think I may accumulate a few more lippies by then and change my mind. I am definitely going to be adding matte lips to my comfort zone and I will certainly be checking out a few more shades by Kate Moss.

Rave #6
MAC Boldy Bare lipliner and my mom.
This is like the jack-of-all-trades lipliner. I literally wear this with almost every one of my every day neutral lippies. It makes too-light shades more wearable and blends in perfectly with most colours. Now, I'm not suggesting you use this with a red lip but you get the idea. My lips aren't very pigmented naturally, especially at the edges of my lips. It doesn't look like I have a solid line where my lips should end. More of a gradient colour onto my face. Sounds weird I know, I have a terrible bad habit of over exaggerating when it comes to my own features. I'm sure if someone else had the exact same lips as I do, I wouldn't notice. Anyway, I feel like this fixes it. It's the same-ish shade as my own natural colour, just slightly darker. Perfection. I got this in a lip set from my mom for my birthday. She has always been naturally beautiful and hasn't ever needed to pay much attention to the world of makeup so I was excited and even a little surprised at how bang-on she was with everything she got me. I use at least one thing she got me every day.

Rave #7
Archie's Girls collection by MAC.
Seeing as I've already reviewed and swatched everything I purchased from the collection I won't go into too much detail here but I just felt that I needed to add it into my favourites because of how excited I still am about it all. I've been wearing either Cream soda blush or Flatter me PearlMatte powder almost every day and I love the lipstick shades. I haven't worn them a lot yet because they aren't the colours I would wear on an every day basis but I know next time I meet the girls out for a drink I'll be rockin' Betty Bright and this coming fall I'll probably use up Oh, Oh, Oh.

Lipstick of the month:
MAC Shanghai Spice.
Okay, this one almost makes me mad. I love MAC because the staff is always very knowledgeable about their products. They're super helpful and I love the fact that you can actually try the lipsticks on your lips before you buy them. Every time I stop by the MAC counter, I ask the girl helping me to help me find an every day, wearable either peachy or rosy pink shade. I want something muted because I don't like light bright lipsticks. How in the hell has this one never been recommended to me?!?!? And how is this shade not more popular? It's so perfect. It may very well be my all time favourite lipstick at the moment. I haven't heard really anything about this one anywhere online. Maybe because it is such a perfect neutral shade that it isn't remarkable in some way? Or maybe because MAC is absolutely terrible at describing lipstick colour on their website. The swatches are usually terribly inaccurate, too. MAC describes it as a "frosted neutral pink". In reality, it's a neutral muted peachy colour with a teensy hint of pink. No frost. It's a Cremesheen so its super creamy and glides on perfectly.

Momma Favorite of the month:
Aleva Naturals Bamboo Baby Pacifier and Toy wipes.
We've all been there. You're over at a friends house or at the store and your baby is happy sucking on a soother or chewing on a toy. Then it happens. They get this urge to just throw it on the floor and they don't understand that they can't just get it back. You frantically search your bag for the spare one before the screaming begins and realize its sitting at home on the counter because you just took it out to wash it. Ughh, worst. You don't want to offend your friend by insinuating that her house isn't clean. You know she cleans regularly but you also know that she's got two big dogs that like to run around outside and step in God-knows-what and then those paws walk all over the floor that your sweet little one's toy just fell on. Yes, kids need to be exposed to germs for the health and strength of their immune system but I know I wouldn't be cool with that dogs paw in her mouth so I like some peace of mind. These wipes are a life saver. My Emily thinks its hilarious to throw her things onto the floor. In one grocery store run I'll go through two or three pacifiers (and usually lose a sock or two, also!) so I am so glad that I stumbled across these. They are free from chlorine, sulphates and parabens and they are hypo-allergenic. Every mom needs these. Just like the pack says; Perfect for babies on the go!

What are your favourite products this month?

Tips for no makeup days!

Our babies take up a LOT of our time and even though we wouldn't have it any other way, we don't always have the extra time that we used to for our usual primping. Whether you're too busy with baby or just like taking a break once in awhile from a face full of makeup, it's still nice to know that you can go out into public without a splotchy red complexion.
I've found some products that help with even-ing out my skin and combatting redness and dullness. Keep in mind that these may not help everyone as many of you have different skin types and problem areas than I do.
First and foremost, cleanse your skin! The last thing you wanna do is pile a bunch of products on top of the crap you put on your face the night before. I like using an exfoliator and then Bioderma Sebium H2O cleansing water because I feel like nothing wakes my skin up better.
Always, always moisturize. Even if you have oily skin like me it may still be dehydrated. The key is to find a moisturizer that works for you, specifically. Something with an SPF is always a good idea too! Lately I've been loving LaRoche Posay Skin-Perfecting Anti-Redness moisturizer. I find that its moisturizing enough to help my dry skin and not so greasy that it effects my oily skin. It has definitely helped combat my redness as well. Don't go buy this and expect your skin to be perfect immediately after using this product. The effects are amazing but you need to use it every day for at least a week to notice a difference. I have been going bonkers over Bioderma products lately. I use Sebium Pore Refiner all over my t-zone. Personally, I really don't buy in to product claims of shrinking your pores. I just really don't think its possible but this product is an excellent mattifier for oily skin. Next, I grab my Bioderma Sensibio Anti-redness cream and rub some of this on to my cheeks, where the majority of my redness is. This one is more of a short term, yet instant, remover of redness on your face. On the bottle it says that this works excellent as a makeup base (or primer) but the consistency is like a paste and I feel like it definitely does NOT live up to that claim. I do enjoy it for its main purpose of combatting redness, though. A hydrating eye cream is always key, too. I've been using a teeny tiny bit of Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye under my eyes in the AM. Yes, I know, it says "Night Repair" but I find using a very, very small amount of it is more effecting than using a normal amount of any other eye cream I've used. It's super rich but slightly greasy feeling so I cannot stress enough to only use a small amount for daytime or else your under eyes will look oily.
Lastly, but possibly one of the most important steps, I spray my face with Urban Decay DeSlick setting spray. It is a makeup setting spray but I've never found anything that has kept my oil at bay as well as this does. It is honestly THE absolute best product to invest in if you have oily skin. The regular size bottle lasted me over 6 months. Go buy it now.
I know it sounds like a lot of steps and, well, it sorta is but it probably took you longer to read this than to actually do it. Once you get yourself into a nice routine it will be like second nature to you. If you gotta choose between skincare and makeup because of a time crunch; always go with skincare! Your beautiful, healthy skin will thank you later!
I've always felt sort of self conscious about going out in public with a naked face because of my splotchy complexion but since I've started using these products my confidence has been boosted.
And, honestly sweethearts, there is nothing more beautiful than confidence!


Skin looking a little dull and lifeless? Sweep a little bit of MAC Mineralize SkinFinish in Soft and Gentle over your cheeks. Trust me, no one will know you cheated on the "no makeup" thing. Just a pretty, youthful glow!

MAC Archie's Girls Giveaway!! **CLOSED**

As I mentioned in my last post, the MAC store that I purchased my Archie's Girls at wasn't sure if they were going to be getting in the Flatter Me Pearlmatte powders. Well, they called me this past week and told me that they came in! I got two of them. One for me and one to give away! This was one of the more popular items from the collection and for those of you that weren't fortunate enough to get your hands on one, here's your opportunity! I'm going to be giving away one of these gorgeous beauty powders to a lucky winner!
Rules: make sure to follow ALL of the rules or you won't be considered entered into the contest! :)
1) must be 18 years of age or have your parents permission to enter
2) +1 this post on google
3) comment down below what your favorite beauty product of the moment is
4) add me to google+ circles or subscribe to my blog
5)You may comment once per day
This giveaway IS international and will be open for two weeks starting today. Ends on March 4th, 2013 at 11:59 pm. Winner will be chosen by random.org Best of luck!
This is not a sponsored giveaway. This was purchased with my own money.

MAC Archie's Girls haul + swatches!

On my way back to my real home on Friday I stopped in at MAC to pick up the stuff I preordered from the Archie's Girls collection. I did a bit of online reading about bloggers thoughts on the collection and it seemed like a lot of people were disappointed with it overall. I was a little worried but after picking it up and trying them out, I honestly don't know what the reason for disappointment was! I love everything I got, even the stuff I was a little worried about.
I got 2 Betty lipsticks and 1 Veronica lipstick and also 1 Betty blush. I am also getting the Pearlmatte in Flatter Me but they hasn't received their stock of it in yet when I was in the store.
Betty Bright lipstick
This is obviously from the Betty end of the collection. This is a muted-yet-bright coral/peach colour. I was worried about this one being too neon, bright and hard to wear. I thought it kinda might be comparable to the original Viva Glam Nicki but when I tried it on it was much more toned down. I find that if I wear it with a liner or mix it with a more neutral lipstick like Pure Zen it looks gorgeous. It's definitely a fun, girly, night out color. I can't wait to wear it again. It has a satin finish which basically means its not glossy at all but not quite matte.

Oh, Oh, Oh lipstick
Also from the Betty line, I, again, was apprehensive about this one. It looks downright scary in the tube. It looks like a dark brown with gold shimmer but then when swatched it comes out a gorgeous sheer plum with a little bit of gold shimmer. It looks so beautiful on the lips. Definitely an every day shade of lipstick. The only thing is that I wish it came out in the fall because its a perfect fall looking shade. It has a lustre finish so its sheer and a bit glossy.

Ronnie Red lipstick
I knew I was going to love this one. I don't wear red lips often but this is definitely going to be my go-to red lip. It's a very vibrant bright red that's kinda pinkish. It makes your teeth look like celebrity-white. I feel like a pinup girl with this shade on. I must add though, make sure this is the lipstick that you want to wear when you put it on because it is super long lasting and will stain your lips! It has a matte finish but to me it doesn't look completely matte. It does have a tiny bit of shine. Maybe like a satin.

Cream Soda blush
I freakin' love any peachy, orange or coral blush. I did have my heart set on the Flatter me Pearlmatte powder but when they told me that they weren't sure if they would be getting any in I settled for this one. I am still going to get that one but I'm glad I have this in my collection. It's a gorgeous muted peachy colour and its suuuuuuppperrr pigmented. I wasn't expecting that so when I first put it on I had to go back over with my powder brush to sheer it out. I love it because even though its peach it's not too bright and it's perfect for every day.

With my order I also picked up my sisters stuff. She got the lipglass in Strawberry Malt and the Cheers My Dear pigment. I didn't wanna stick my fingers in her stuff to swatch for you but I can say that I snuck a peek and I'm almost wishing I would have grabbed a few more things. Her lipglass would have gone perfect with my Ronnie Red lipstick!
I know they're all sold out online but if you somehow have a chance to get your hands on some of this collection I'd highly recommend it!

Also, when I went to MAC, I did my first back2mac! If you're unfamiliar, MAC has a recycling program where if you bring back 6 empties then you get a free lipstick! I was in a hurry and I wish I would have had time to really check them out but in the end I'm happy with the shade I picked. I ended up choosing Angel which the last said was one of the best sellers at MAC it's a nice every day light pink. I think I'll love it more in summer when I have a bit more of a tan but it looks super nice paired with my MAC boldly bare lip liner.

January Rants and Raves

I can't get over how fast time is flying by. My baby is already 10 months old and in a few short months I'll be a Mrs. It's really reminding me just how precious time is and I want to make the most of this year.
I want to share with you a few of the material things that have been putting a smile on my face this month. But, of course, there can be no good without evil so without further adieu...

Rant #1
Eyeko Skinny Mini liquid eyeliner.
I bought this in a set with the Skinny Brush mascara. I like the mascara if im going for the "no make-up make-up" look but that's about it. I loved this eyeliner when I first bought it. That lasted for about two weeks. The tip started to dry out and tug at my eyelids whenever I tried to use it. It seemed to be especially bad if I was wearing any eyeshadow with any shimmer or glitter. I don't know about you but I think a good eyeliner should last more than a few weeks. It is totally un-usable for me now. Sad.

Rant #2
Sephora online.
Ugh. I love the convenience of shopping online. Sephora online is really great too because there is way more stuff online than in the store closest to me. Actually ordering from them is just a bit annoying. Most sites have a deal where if you spend over a certain amount then you get free shipping. I love this because then I can upgrade to overnight or express (patience isn't a virtue I possess) for only like 5 bucks. Sephora has the same deal but, because they use some weird middle man shipping company called BorderFree, they don't give you the express shipping option. You're given a tracking number for them shipping a big shipment to Borderfree and then you have about a week or more of waiting until they send you a new tracking number for your specific order. I didn't know this and I had sent Sephora an email asking why it was taking so long and why I hadn't heard anything about my order in over a week. I got a generic response stating that my package had just reached their border facility and I should be receiving an email soon. I mean, I get that they're probably busy but if you have absolute crap for shipping options with a period of a week or more with no possible way of checking the status of something you just paid good money for, then they should expect some customers grievances. I even emailed BorderFree twice but never heard anything back. And if that's not enough, they send it Canada post regular mail. That takes another week or more. Naturally, after waiting this long already, when I tracked my package online and saw that it was "on truck for delivery" I was super excited. I'm in my temporary home right now in Alberta and I live in a little new development of townhouses. I see the Canada Post delivery man in our complex-thing every day through my front window so I opened mine up wide so I could watch for him while I played with my daughter. I saw him pull in and stood up to go to the door but he didn't slow down or stop here. I thought "okay, he's probably just going around here and he'll come on his way back". Waited. Waited. And then I saw him drive right past again and leave our condos. K, what? I checked my package online and it said that a delivery was attempted. Hmm... I was right here near the door all day. There's no way I could have missed it. I checked for the card they are supposed to leave when they "attempt delivery". Nothing there. I got worried that maybe it was dropped off at someone else's house so I phoned Canada Post customer service. Don't even get me started on that ridiculous experience. Actually finding the phone number was hard. Cracking the code of menu options to finally be able to speak to a living, breathing human being? Nearly freaking impossible. All I got from the lady I spoke to was "well the driver probably just figured you wouldn't be home, he's done his route before 1pm every day you can pick it up after that". Okay, let me get this straight. This guys job is to drive around and DELIVER packages and he only works till 1pm every day and he can't even walk 5 steps to my door to leave a notification card?? I realize that this may sound lazy on my part but when I pay someone to deliver something to me and I make sure I stay home all day so I don't miss it I expect it to be delivered to me. I really want to have to pack up my baby and carry her into a store and then try to juggle her and a box back out while trying to keep her from reaching out and knocking all the crap off of their shelves? Last but not least; it's winter...in Canada. Also, more specifically, it's January... In Canada! I really wanna drag my ass out into THAT to pick up a box I paid to have delivered? No, thank you. I had ordered something from MAC the same day. The next morning I opened my door to a wonderful FedEx driver who was all smiles when he handed me my package. Some of the things I had purchased were back ordered. I ended up getting 3 separate packages from them and they ALL arrived here before my Sephora order did. Needless to say, I probably won't be ordering anything from Sephora's online store anytime soon.
Phew! Deep breaths. Seeing as that was such a long rant, I'm gonna leave it to just that. On to the smiles!

Rave #1
MAC online shipping. Already been explained but I need to add that it is just fantastic. Order it early enough on the day and its here by the next afternoon. Good effing job.

Rave #2
Naked Basics Palette
I've already done a review on this so I won't waste too much of your time on this. Great colour payoff, super versatile shades and fantastic compact size making it the perfect travel palette. If you like neutrals, this is for you.

Rave #3
Baby Mum-Mum banana flavored rice rusks.
Long name. Emily loves her little banana puffs. They are made from rice too and they are a great little treat for her because she doesn't have any teeth yet and they basically dissolve in her mouth. They're really good for helping her hone her hand-eye coordination but she's getting pretty pro at it and she makes those little cookies disappear pretty quickly. I wanted something that required a little more effort so that I could pop her in her highchair with something that would keep her attention for long enough so I can get the dishes done. These are perfect. They are pretty well the same thing as the puffs but in a long flat cookie shape. I love that I can now have a couple minutes of "gettin sh*t done" without having to worry about her climbing all over every elevated surface in the house and getting hurt. Also, they are packaged in twos inside the box so this makes them perfect for tossing in your handbag if you're going out with your baby.

Rave #4
Essie nail polish in Muchi, Muchi and Sand Tropez.
The first is a super cute soft baby pink that really reminds me of spring. The colour isn't near as opaque as I'd like it to be but after a few coats it looked really nice and has lasted me 3 or 4 days without chipping which is really good for how hard I am on my hands. Sand Tropez is a really nice almost nude tan colour. It reminds me of summer. This one was opaque and only needed two coats to look really great. This shade feels a little more sophisticated.

Rave #5
L'oreal Infallible The Super Slim liquid eyeliner.
When my Eyeko liner failed me I went looking for a good drugstore alternative. I've used the Infalliable pencil liner for years so I thought I'd give this a shot. It's perfect! It is a super inky black just like I love and the tip is really skinny and long which makes lining my eyes a breeze. I would definitely recommend this to a makeup noob because it really is foolproof.

Rave #6
Bioderma Sebium H2O micellaire cleansing water.
Oh. My. God. I can't get enough of this stuff. I pump some on to a cotton pad and use it every night to remove my face makeup and then every morning after exfoliating. It honestly feels like my skin just took a big drink of water. It's just so gentle and refreshing on my skin. I've never experienced any sort of makeup remover or cleanser like it. It basically just feels like you're wiping your face with nice smelling water and it is unbelievably effective.  Your skin WILL feel the cleanest its ever felt after you use this. Go get some, now. :)

Lipstick of the month:
Definitely, definitely has to be creme cup by MAC. I held off from getting this shade for so long because I thought it would look too pale on me and wash me out but I can't get enough of it. It's pretty much become my every day lippie.

A couple days ago I phoned in and pre ordered a couple things from the MAC Archie's Girls collection. MAC puts out about a million new limited edition collections every year and few have really demanded my attention but my brother, sister and I were pretty much obsessed with Archie comics when we were kids so I couldn't pass this up! Fingers crossed ill be able to pick it up on Friday when I'm on my way back to my home. I'll post swatches and reviews soon!

Oh, and hey! If you ever feel like it you can always drop me a line at sarahlouisenickelboard@gmail.com
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Urban Decay Naked Basics Review and Swatches

Lets get Naked again! I love picking up a new lipstick or blush to try out, even if I think it might be outside of my comfort zone. Palettes, on the other hand, I'm incredibly picky about. I don't have a huge collection of palettes. I find that, when I'm looking at them in the store, I can always pick out a handful of shadows in them that ill never use. Most times, even though its more expensive in the end, I'd rather buy single eyeshadows and make my own palette.
Urban Decay is genius when it comes to putting together palettes. My original Naked palette is the most perfect collection of shades. I use it nearly every day. I didn't pick up the Naked 2 palette because the shades seem a little cool toned for me and sometimes that can make me look washed out.
I had heard quite a bit about the Naked Basics before I bought it. I loved the fact that most of the shadows were matte and I was looking to get more of these. My eyes are slightly hooded so matte shadows in my crease are best.
The packaging is really great. It's a hard rubbery case that closes tight. It's also a pretty compact size. It is honestly the most perfect travel palette. The possibilities of eye looks are endless because of the range of shades. From barely-there to smokey and sultry, it's really the only palette you would need on a trip. The price is right too. If you were just starting out with makeup I would definitely suggest this bad boy. The only complaint I have is that the shadows seem really powdery. My original Naked palette's shadows are very smooth. It doesn't seem to affect its blendability so it's not really too big of a complaint.
Shade #1: Venus
This is the only shadow that isn't matte. It has a satin finish so it still goes together with the other shades perfectly. It's a nice light highlight for your inner corners or brow bone or even for an all over wash over your lid.
Shade #2 Foxy
This one is a light shade with yellow tone to it. Kind of like a bone colour. Works well as a lid colour.
Shade #3 W.O.S.
This is a nude-y flesh colour. It's got a pinkish tone to it. Also a perfect lid colour.
Shade #4 Naked 2
This is very similar to Naked in the Naked 1 palette. It's a light-mid toned brown. It seems a bit cooler than the original naked. It works perfectly as a crease colour, transition colour or even an over lid colour for a darker look.
Shade #5 Faint
This one is similar to Buck in the original Naked palette but again it's more cool toned. It's a mid toned brown and kind of reminds me of hot chocolate mix. This is a great crease colour for an every day neutral look.
Shade #6 Crave
The last shade in the palette is a super dark almost-black-brown. It's such a great alternative for black for a smokey eye. It's such a versatile shade. You can use it to define your crease and blend it out to a nice warm brown or pack it on for a super smokey look. You can use it as a liner or pack it on your lid and blend it up into your crease for a super easy, super dark smokey eye for a night out.

Overall it's another home run for Urban Decay. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a new neutral palette. It's versatility and compact size size make it perfect for so many different kinds of people and I'm very glad to add it to my collection.

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My long list of moisturizer fails :(

People often say to be thankful for your mistakes because its the only way you learn and grow. Sometimes wisdom in hindsight isn't so phenomenal. I know, speaking for myself, even a few years ago I wasn't worried about moisturizers or SPF. When it comes to your skin; what you have is what you get. I don't have the money or the desire for plastic surgery so I want what I got to stay looking youthful. Having a baby sure has a way of making you feel old. I know that 25 is by no means ancient but if I can take a few preventative measures on aging then I may as well take advantage. Over the past year I've been changing and tweaking my skin care routine. One thing I have a HUGE problem finding: moisturizer. I've explained by skin type and issues before. Oily/combination and then in the winter it's oily/combination/super dehydrated. I've been lucky enough to never have had a problem with acne or pimples but my nose is like a Crisco factory. My forehead and cheeks are normal to dry. I also struggle with rosacea-like redness.
I realize its too much to ask for one product to address ALL of these issues. I'm just looking for something that is going to leave my skin hydrated without just turning my nose into a deep fryer. I really didn't think that this would be such a feat to accomplish but my medicine cabinet is full of useless-to-me products and my skin is still missing something.
First one I bought was Garnier Moisture Rescue Gel-creme. I bought this in the end of summer when my skin was in the more oily end of combination. This has been described as a dupe for Clinique's Even Better moisturizing gel. Gel moisturizers are supposed to be good for oily skin. I used this for a few weeks and it helped keep the oil at bay on my nose but I started getting dry patches on my cheeks. This led me to pick up my next candidate. (I still use this on my nose on my night time skin care routine to keep the oil at bay because my night cream really gives me the "Crisco effect")
I got another Garnier Moisture Rescue, this time for dry skin. I didn't use this for long at all because it wasn't hydrating enough to fix the dryness and it seemed to irritate my dry skin a bit.
I decided to try something geared towards combo skin so I picked up Neutrogena Moisture for combination skin. It basically claims to be everything I need in a moisturizer. I used this for a few weeks and I really wanted it to be the one but I just didn't notice any change for the better in my skin. It didn't affect it negatively which was good and I do want to try this again now that I'm using a serum that I love.
A couple months ago my skin got really, really dry so I got L'oreal Hydrafresh gel-creme. It's supposed to be really hydrating and it's a gel so I thought I'd try it out. It feels nice and fresh in your skin and it was really hydrating but again I couldn't use it on my nose. When my skin is feeling very dry I will occasionally use it on my cheeks alone.
I got a bottle of Aveeno Ultra-Calming daily moisturizer in a GlossyBox and I was really excited to try this out. It's oil-free, fragrance-free and non-comedogenic and is supposed to calm redness on your face. Sounded like EXACTLY what I needed. I used it for a few days and loved it but then I started getting this evil under-the-skin zitties. Another one bites the dust. *sigh*
After knocking down 5 in a matter of a few months (thank god they were all drugstore) I decided to get serious about this. I literally spent 25 minutes in the skin care aisle. I read the back if every package and searched online on my iPhone. In the end I chose a brand I couldn't find much info on (smart, right?) I decided on the Formula 10.0.6 Seriously Shine Free Mattifying Oil-Free Moisturizer. Wow, that's a mouthful. It has soothing Aloe Vera and bamboo extract that is supposed to help absorb excess oil. It did exactly what it said. It seriously was a fantastic moisturizer for skin like mine. My skin was matte all day. It moisturized my skin enough. I really tried for this one but there was a deal breaker. The smell. Most smells don't irritate me too badly but I couldn't get over this one. It reminds me of how a witch doctors house would smell. Like if you had a crazy old granny that makes her own salve. I dunno, it's hard to explain but it gave me headaches. I couldn't do it. That one broke my heart.
I am currently testing out a new one (high-end) and I'm hoping it works out. I really need something I can live with for more than a few weeks. Cross your fingers for me!

What is your holy grail moisturizer?

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My flawless face routine :)

I was just reading over some of my previous posts and I couldn't believe how much some of my views have changed over the past few months. I've switched my foundations to higher end and I really can't believe the difference. I'm not sure if it's because there has been a change in my skin or if I was just blind before but I couldn't be happier that I tried out these new-to-me products.
For the longest time I was using Revlon ColorStay for my foundation and I was happy with it but I really wanted to test out a high-end brand to see how they compare. I went to Sephora and picked up a sample of Laura Mercier Silk Creme foundation because I had heard many, MANY good things about it. The girl at the store matched me to beige ivory which was WAYYYYY too dark but I absolutely loved the finish. I went back and was rematched to rose ivory which was perfect. This has been the foundation I started using on a daily basis. The coverage is on the more full side of medium and definitely buildable. I know for some this may be too much for a daily basis but personally I feel like if I'm going to take the time to put on makeup, I like my skin to look flawless yet natural.
In the last while my skin had gone a little wonky. My t-zone is still oily but the rest of my face is incredibly dry. The Laura Mercier foundation doesn't work as well for my skin when its like this. On my dry skin it looked too matte, almost powdery.
I decided to give my Revlon ColorStay another shot. Right after I apply it, I love the way it looks but after a few hours my skin looks patchy and really accentuates my oily and dry spots. I decided to try out the whipped version of the ColorStay. All of the colours seem too neutral or something on my skin. i looked really sick whenever I wore this one. Plus I had the same issues with it as the original ColorStay. I decided to check out another high end brand.
I've heard nothing but good things about NARS Sheer Glow foundation. I went and picked up a sample and, again, too dark. (the girls at this store must love tan skin or something) I got my correct shade and this stuff is brilliant! Just a beautiful glowing finish. The coverage I think is comparable to the Laura Mercier. I've heard people say this is a more sheer coverage foundation (the name also suggest that) but I feel it's more medium/buildable. Although I don't love the price of either of these, I do think they are worth the cost. Also, you really only need a small amount of each one to get a flawless complexion so they last a very long time.
Verdict: Laura Mercier Silk Creme is my summer HOLY GRAIL foundation. NARS Sheer Glow is my winter HOLY GRAIL! I think the Sheer Glow may also be the foundation I use for my wedding depending upon how it fares on my skin in the summer months.
Well, now that my usual pre-making-my-point rant is finished I'll get onto the actual routine. ;)
I always start off my moisturizing and priming my face. I've been switching my moisturizers a LOT lately so I wont include a specific product. After moisturizing I spray Urban Decay De-slick all over my face and then apply some Bioderma Sebium pore refining serum on my t-zone (works great to keep me matte) and then Benefit's PoreFessional all over for a primer. Lately I've been obsessed with my Real Techniques buffing brush for applying foundation. So, then depending on my skin's state on that particular day I'll choose between the Silk Creme or Sheer Glow and apply it using circular motions and "buffing" it into my skin, giving it an airbrushed look. I try not to concentrate too much product right under my eyes because I find that this stops my concealer from creasing. I make sure to blend down my neck as well. Once the base is laid down, I fill in my eyebrows. As you can see, I wasn't born with bangin' eyebrows. They were thin to begin with but then I butchered them pretty badly when I was about 15 and my friends all started tweezing theirs. Seriously, people, the need to fit in should just be ignored. (lol) I always take the lighter shade in my Laura Mercier Secret Camo concealer palette on a concealer brush to sort of outline my brows to make the lines look precise and to fix up any mistakes I made. Next, I take my Bobbi Brown creamy corrector in light bisque and pat that down right under my eyes. It has a pink undertone that neutralizes blue under eye circles. It is seriously THE best product I've ever used for under my eyes. It has definitely reached holy grail status for me. It doesn't crease or dry out and look cakey. Make sure to blend that out a bit so it isn't obvious. Then I take a teeny tiny bit of Benefit's Lemon aid and pat that right over top of the corrector. You should always set your under eye concealer with a powder to ensure that it doesn't budge or crease. I've been using Make Up Forever's HD setting powder. I was using this all over my face but it was looking a little too powdery. It seems to work well to set my concealer. I do really want to try Laura Mercier Secret Brightening powder, though but I need to use up some of my current stuff before I can justify that purchase. Lastly, I set the rest of my face with Rimmel Stay Matte powder. I've mentioned before that I don't love this powder. It will do for now but I won't be repurchasing this one.
On a side note I'll add that these two foundations (especially the Laura Mercier one) are more of a full coverage, so if you do wear these you will need to contour and highlight your face as they can tend to make your face look a little one dimensional. Personally, I dont mind though because, as of late, I have become obsessed with blush.

Absolutely no makeup!

Face makeup done!

My full face of makeup!

So, there you have it. My flawless face every day routine with a whopping 3 holy grail products that I've found in the past while. I hope this can be of help for some of you looking to try out some new products!

Feel free to comment below or drop me a line at 

SarahLouiseNickelboard@gmail.com!

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Review: Dermaglow Hydration Fix Serum

Here in Canada we're right smack-dab in the middle of our winter. December/January is the time of year that really takes a toll on my skin. The air is just so dry. My normally oily/combination skin goes right wonky. My nose is still oily as ever but the rest of my face is super dehydrated and I get dry patches on my cheeks. Not pretty. My makeup doesn't go on as smooth and foundation tends to cling to those little spots. I needed a solution.
I headed to Shoppers Drug Mart to check out the skin care aisle. I'm always more and more impressed with this store. They're branching out into higher end products now and it's so nice to be able to compare drug store with more high end stuff in one stop. I came across Dermaglow and attempted to do some research on the brand. I couldn't find many reviews on it. There were a few consumer reviews on a couple of the products and I found out that it was a Canadian brand. Hmmm, they say curiosity killed the cat but I was pretty interested to try something out. The Hydration Fix Serum caught my eye so I decided to check out the ingredients. Pomegranate extract: fantastic antioxidant. Hyaluronic acid...ok, what? Of course, I did a little research. Turns out, its something naturally found in the body. It promotes hydration of your skin because it bonds itself with water. It's supposed to be brilliant for any skin type from dry to oily and everything in between. Sold! Plus, it was 25% off (which I didn't actually discover until I checked my receipt when I got home) bonus!
I use it all over my face after cleansing at night, before I apply my moisturizer. Then in the morning I apply it to my cheeks and forehead before moisturizing.
Ummm, can you say wow?? This is really a miracle product. Dry patches: gone. It sinks in super fast and my skin feels incredibly soft all day. It seems like it makes my moisturizer actually do its job. It's light, doesn't feel greasy at all and doesn't break me out. My nose is actually less oily after using this. Seriously, if you see this somewhere, pick it up. You will not regret it. Well, that is, unless you have perfectly even, baby-soft, luminous skin naturally. Then I'm sure you won't have to worry about it ;)
I am planning on doing a full skin care routine post but I'm not 100% happy with all of my products. I have a medicine cabinet full of partially used containers of moisturizer, none of which I'm totally in love with. The serum boosts each of them but I'm still just not confident in promoting any of them. *sigh* The search continues.

Any recommendations for a holy grail moisturizer?

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Stretchmarks!

Me and my baby Buddha belly!

Whoever said we've earned every stretch mark and wrinkle we acquire in our lives deserves a punch in the face. I say, us mommas, with all of our hours put in stressing out over our babies, losing sleep when they're young or sick and watching our bellies bulge over the months that we carry them, deserve to NOT have the scars to prove it.
Pregnancy, although it does have MANY, MANY beneficial effects on our bodies and lives, does take a toll on us. Oh, yes. Stretch marks. Now, if you're carrying triplets, you may not be able to prevent them entirely but I want to share with you the two products that I swear by to reduce or completely rid yourself of these stripes.
First off, and I cannot stress this enough, bio oil! This sh*t is amazing. I've heard people go on about cocoa butter or specialty lotions, no. It's this. Holy freakin' grail.
For the first few months of my pregnancy I neglected using this. Then, one day when I really started to notice my belly growing, I had some sort of hormone induced anxiety attack about getting fat and feeling ugly (you know exactly the freak out I'm talking about) and I started using it religiously. Every morning. Every night. Do this. Make it a part of your daily routine. Make a point to have a 10 minute bonding/relaxing time with your parter and have them put it on you. Whatever you feel you need to do to get it done every day. I just rubbed it all over my mid section and chest. Get your lower back too. I swear this stuff saved me. I did not get one single new stretch mark in this pregnancy literally until 3 days before I went into labour. I got 3 teeny tiny little purple marks on my right hip. That's all.
Another very, very important thing is to make sure you are applying it to your breasts as well, especially during the last few months of pregnancy. If you're not a first time momma then I don't have to tell you how insanely quick those bad boys fill up. This will help soften the blow, so to speak, when it does happen.

Now, just because my tummy didn't look like a preschool finger painting post-pregnancy doesn't mean I don't know a thing or two about getting rid of them. When I was young I was a little bean pole. Straight up and down. Then I hit puberty and it felt like I just woke up with Jessica Rabbit hips. Seriously, it was like *BAM!* you're now a woman. I got really big purple stretch marks all over my hips and love handles. So those being 12 or 13 years old now I figured they were pretty well set in stone. Old, scarred and now white, I basically accepted them as my own. Wrong! During the few months of me using the bio oil, I noticed them gradually, though not completely, disappear. So, keep using this even after having your baby if you do happen to gain a few scars. It's just so good!
For Christmas, I made my sister a personalized basket of skin care goodies. As always, I did quite a bit if research on each product that I purchased. Lately, I've been hearing lots about the brand Soap & Glory. Particularly, the breakfast scrub. You can get your hands on some things from their line of goods but this one didn't seem like it was available anywhere but in the UK. I ended up ordering it from Amazon.com (of course paying way more than if I could find it in a store *sad face*) and since I'm paying for shipping anyway, I got one for myself as well. As soon as it came in I tore open the package to get at this "insanely great smell" it supposedly had. Ummmm, can you say freakin' amazing?! Seriously, like damn fresh pancakes. Sooooooooo goooooood. I went and had a shower almost immediately to test it out. I swear, ONE use and I was born again. I don't think my skin has ever felt this soft. It's unreal. I feel like it actually helps my moisturizer do what it's supposed to. I've used a loofah for over 10 years and I really thought that would be enough exfoliation for my body. Well, my orange puff has been very neglected for the past month.
I've been back in my dry skin city home for almost a week now and you wouldn't be able to tell by my skin. It's so smooth and hydrated. This morning, while applying body butter after my shower I noticed that I can barely even notice any of my old stretch marks. The bio oil had erased them quite a bit but there hasn't been any change in them for probably over 5 months. I never would have thought that a body scrub could help with that.
Ill also add that I have chicken skin on my arms. You know, those little red bumps that some people get on their arms or face sometimes? The breakfast scrub has nearly rid me of that too. And I have tried everything for it. Let me tell you, as soon as I notice I'm getting close to the bottom of this fantastic little jar, I'm gonna be stock piling 5 more from Amazon. Amazing.

Oh, hey! Feel like dropping me line?

sarahlouisenickelboard@gmail.com

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