SkinStore Beauty Box Reveal Of Top American Beauty Brands

What better way to end the month of July, than with some top American beauty brands to celebrate all the BEAUTYful things made in the USA! From skin care to beauty, the SkinStore has you set!

And if that wasn't enough, there is nothing like getting a beauty box, and this one from the SkinStore is one bang of a box! While I haven't had the chance to try these all, I would love to share with you the many goodies that came in the box as it is a skincare junkies dream!



Glass Glow Face From Kevyn Aucoin
A dewy look is must for us over forty, trust me! The universal, lightweight, unique formula creates youthful-looking, well-hydrated skin, with a glassy finish.

I love that it is a multi-purpose glow-gel that can be used on the face and body, leaving skin appearing bright, radiant, and glowing.

Can be used alone for a fresh look, or add it to your existing routine or foundation, for an added glass effect.

Available in three shades: Crystal Clear, Spectrum Bronze, and Prism Rose.
 

NEOSTRATA Sheer Hydration SPF 35
Got oily skin or live in an area the summer months are dreadfully humid? If so this, light oil-free SPF hydrator is for you. It is perfect for oily skin or to use in hot, humid climates when increased oiliness is a concern.

It also contains NeoGlucosamine, which is supposed to help reduce the appearance of dark spots from aging and acne — balancing for more even tone, improving the skin's texture and some much-needed firmness, for me.

Paula's Choice Hyaluronic Acid Booster 15ml
I was so excited to see this in the box as I am a big fan of Paula's Choice and skincare products that have Hyaluronic Acid. Hyaluronic acid is well known for its skin benefits, especially for boosting the hydration of your skin as well as minimizing fine lines and wrinkles. You can really see a difference in the texture of your skin when using this. I still have my wrinkles; but when you use a product that boosts the hydration of the skin, it helps to prevent moisture loss and reinforce the skin's barrier function. Which is an anti-aging plus.

Cruelty-free Murad Prebiotic 3-in-1 Multi Mist
I've been so wanting to try a skincare product with a prebiotic in it. This one seems pretty impressive as it is a 3-in-1 Multi Mist and of course the pink packaging is so me! It contains a peptide-rich formula that works to promote a smooth, healthy-looking complexion by rebalancing the skin's microbiome (the collection of good and bad bacteria living on the skin).

I tried it as a setting spray over my makeup, which I liked as I am all about that dewy look!  It provides an extra boost of moisture, helping to minimize those lines that your makeup could set in.

Free from parabens, sulfates, phthalates, gluten, nuts, and animal-derived ingredients.

First Aid Beauty Eye Duty Triple Remedy AM Gel Cream
This product is an Allure Best of Beauty award winner, and I can't wait to try it.

It is formulated especially for daytime use alone or under makeup that delivers an instant burst of cooling hydration upon application. You can use it both on the upper eyelid and under-eye area. According to Allure, it is great for priming the skin so makeup will not slip or pill, which is what I need.

Erno Laszlo White Marble Essence Lotion
A brightening toner...Yeah, I do not have one of these.  Brighten formulas are great for helping to combat age spots and lighten your pigmentation for a more balanced complexion.

One of the ingredients in it is the extract of Comfrey Root, which helps to stimulate cell renewal and repair for a visible plumping effect.

Free from phthalates, petrolatum, sulfates, and mineral oil.

Elta MD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
With Elta MD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46, you need not worry about your sensitive skin anymore. As the 2010 Winner of Elle Genius Award for Skin,  this product not only offers UVA/UVB protection but also maintains skin health by freeing skin of fatty acid levels and reducing redness.

It is oil-free and light, which again is perfect for this time of year.

Kat Burki PH+ Enzyme Essence 100ml
Balance and refine your skin! I have not tried a product that helps to balance the PH levels, so I am intrigued by this.  The goal of this treatment is to address your skin's acidity to alkaline ratio.

Basically equalizing your pH levels and replenishing the acid mantle barrier to help improve moisture retention levels and combat free radical damage.YEAH!!!

Dermablend Loose Setting Powder
Last but not least, this is a cult favorite of makeup artists and beauty influencers. It is a lightweight, translucent setting powder designed to be worn over your foundations or concealers.

The powder is perfect for baking, setting, and finishing any makeup look. Helps with the long wear of your makeup, aiding with smudging and makeup transfer.

Free from parabens, phthalates, triclosan and sodium lauryl sulfate. Vegan formula: no animal-derived ingredients or byproducts.

So there you have it. SkinStore Beauty Box Reveal Of Top American Beauty Brands, pretty impressive, right?

Have you tried any of these skincare products? If so would love to know your thoughts.

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The Ultimate Self-Care Guide

Having a self-care guide in our lives is a must in my book. Let's face it, life is busy, and sometimes, it can be darn hard! We all have things that take their toll on us, and if we don’t look after ourselves, we may find a lot of the things that we face to be overwhelming. Sound familiar? If so then this guide is for you, so keep reading!

I know, the expression self-care can sound a bit cliche. But there is a lot of evidence behind self-care, along with tons of benefits it can bring to us. For example, feeling less stress and anxiety, furthering our overall well-being, even improved mental health. The good news is that self-care doesn’t have to take long. You could do one thing a day and feel the benefit right away! If you’re not sure where to start, but want to make some changes, then here are some of the things that you can be doing.

Don’t Forget #selfcaresunday
No matter where you turn online and on social media, someone somewhere will be talking about self-care, as it is all about putting yourself first physically, mentally, and emotionally.  The truth is it can be hard for some to think about taking out some me-time. But you need to remember that self-care is not selfish. The truth is when you put yourself first, everyone around you will win. You can be a better partner, a better parent, a better friend, and a better colleague. So take some time each day and make it count.

Create A Happy List
While this may sound a little odd, trust me, it works. So, what I want you to do is at the end of every day, write out a happy list, or a list of things that you are grateful to have in your life. It can be small things, like finding a Sephora gift card that you did not know you had, adding fresh cut flowers in your home, to eating a yummy meal. A focus like this can shift your motivation and thinking. It helps you to recognize the things that are going right in your life, rather than concentrating on the negative. To motivate you, it can be a fun idea to get a cure journal to write it (Erin Condren does some amazing ones). Then you can be inspired and motivated to do with daily prompts.

Rest Your Eyes
So much of our days, through work and social time, is spent in front of screens.  Not only can this lead to tech neck, but it can and does take a toll on our eyes.  Which can cause things like headaches, eye strain, and blurred vision. There is a rule of twenty, where every twenty minutes you should take a twenty-second break, and look at something that is over twenty feet away. If you wear contact lenses, then it can be a good idea to have at least one or two days a week where you don’t wear your glasses, for example.



Spa Time
It can feel like such a luxury to take yourself off to a spa to have facials or a massage and trust me; this is the type of pampering you need! If you really can’t fit that in with what you have going on in life, then you could at least treat yourself at home. There are so many at-home sheet masks that you could use, as well as foot spas and essential oils to give you that wonderful spa feeling.

Think About Your Breathing
Studies have suggested that around 20 minutes of yoga breathing (like you would in a yoga class) can improve your mood and even help to improve your memory.  Which is why implementing some yoga into your life is essential.  If you can't find time for yoga, at least take the time to do some yoga breathing techniques right before going to sleep. There is an alternate-nostril approach that you could try:

• Make an L-shape with your right thumb and first finger; then take a deep breath.
• From there, press the right side of your nose with your thumb, like you are trying to block your nostril. Breathe out.
• Breathe in with your other nostril, and then block your left nostril and take your hand off the right one. Breathe out, and then breathe in.
• Repeat for twenty minutes.

Laugh With Friends
If you want to feel good and be happy, then what is better than being able to laugh with your friends? Research has found that when you laugh, it helps to release endorphins, which are those happy or feel-good hormones. So yes, you can benefit from having a giggle! It can also be comforting to spend time with friends and talk things out, at the same time, too.

So beauties, as you can see the overall the goal to self-care is to take advantage of the opportunities around us! Doing so will allow us to change the outcome in life to something more positive. Which ultimately will encourage healthy relationships, less burnout, self-love, happiness and more!

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