The Beauty Spotlight team: Justina's Favorites

Throughout the years of trying beauty products, many of us reach for the same products over and over. As a beauty blogger, we try so many things that we don't often don't try or buy things more than once. When we do, you know it's good! Check out Justina's Gems five favorite staples and repurchases on her blog today.

The Best Memorial Day Sales 2017

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It's been a while since I shared a shopping post, and with so many Memorial Day Weekend sales starting early, I had to share my favorite finds! Note that things are already selling out, so you need to move somewhat quickly. I'll share my favorites from each sale as I check them out. Happy Shopping!

7 For All Mankind

$100 off $300+ with code LONGWEEKEND

Ann Taylor

40% off full price and extra 50% off sale styles with code SUMMER

Anthropologie

Big Memorial Day Sale!

Athleta

20% off solid swim through 5/28 with code DIVEIN

Banana Republic

40% off with code BRSUMMER through 5/30

Boden

30% off and free shipping

Diane Von Furstenberg

Big Memorial Day Sale, plus 20% off existing sale items with code SUMMER20

Draper James

Extra 30% off sale, ends Monday

Eddie Bauer

40% off your entire purchase (including clearance!) with code HONOR

GAP

Up to 50% off everything (priced as marked), plus 20% additional off with code MORE

J Crew

Memorial Day Sale Event, 30% off select full priced items with code SWEET through May 29, 2017, 11:59pm ET.

LOFT

40% off everything (except Lou and Grey) with code VACAY

Macy's

Earn $5 Macy's Cash for every $25 you spend
15-20% off select departments with code SUNNY

Nordstrom

Half Yearly Sale! The shoes were especially amazing this year, I had so many in my cart!

Saks Off 5th

Extra 20% off Direct from Saks with code 48HOURS

Extra 30% off Swim and Cover-Ups

Splendid

30% off everything including sale with code SUMMER30

Stuart Weitzman

40% off spring styles

T3

Save up to $125 off hair tools!

Vineyard Vines

Extra 30% off sale with code SUMMER17


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The Best Volumizing Dry Shampoo: Herbal Essences Bio Renew Dry Shampoo

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Back in March, I shared my favorite drugstore hair products, and I was pretty surprised by how many I really do use! I think of myself as a hair product snob, I often spend a lot of money on my hair, and I don't feel remotely guilty about it. But, I've slowly collected quite a few drugstore price point hair products, and I reach for them all the time. Often instead of much more expensive products!

One of my absolute favorites is this dry shampoo from Herbal Essences, which I felt deserved a full blog post in addition to the mention in the drugstore round up. Here's what I said about it in the post:

I just got this dry shampoo, and I'm obsessed! Expect a full post on just this dry shampoo soon! It does a great job of soaking up oils, it does add a lot of volume, and it doesn't look powdery at all on my hair. But the best part really is the smell! Hands down, this is the best dry shampoo ever. Ever. I have no idea what Mosa Mint is, but to me this dry shampoo has some peach scent, more like a sophisticated white peach. I love that!

Since that post, I've finished one can of the dry shampoo and I'm on to a second one. Yes, I repurchased it. Actually, I bought 2 cans, 1 to use and 1 as a back up. I do not want to run out!

After using this dry shampoo for a while, I still love it. Yes, it smells absolutely amazing. No, it doesn't turn my hair white, even when I use a lot of it. It does soak up quite a bit of oil, but my hair still has nice shine. Just, not too much shine from being oily, if that makes sense.

One thing that I really have noticed is that this is a volumizing dry shampoo. This dry shampoo adds more texture and "grit" than others, adding a lot of volume to my hair, which I love because I sometimes have issue keeping styles in my hair due to how silky it can be. That also means that you can really feel the product in there, but really.... if you've styled your hair you shouldn't be running your fingers through it all the time anyways!

(If you can't keep your fingers out of your hair and want a dry shampoo that you can't feel, you need to check out the Living Proof Dry Shampoo instead, read more about it here.)

This dry shampoo is one that I've been telling everyone about! If your hair is fine, needs added volume, or oily, you should grab one the next time you're at the store. You won't regret it!

Buy Herbal Essences Bio Renew Dry Shampoo at Amazon or Walgreen's
Product Sent for Review, Affiliate Links
This product was sent by PR for consideration. I've already repurchased it on my own...

Just the Right Glow: CoverGirl TruBlend Blush and Bronzer Swatch and Review

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Have you seen these? I've overlooked them for a looong time at the drugstore. When I shouldn't have. It took CoverGirl sending them to me (for a sponsored post in the fall) for me to really notice them. You can check out that sponsored post here, but they've been quietly sitting here on my vanity, being used frequently, ever since. Because they're kind of amazing.

One of the first things you might notice is that they look a bit... familiar? They remind me a lot of the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish and Mineralize Blush. I don't use a lot of MAC face products, but anything marbleized with shimmery metallic screams "MINERALIZE" to me. There's a reason those MAC products have stuck around for so long, is that they're just so pretty. Super pretty, they make you glowy, they last all day... you get the picture. They're classics for a reason.

These CoverGirl TruBlends do remind me a lot of the Mineralize products, though they are a little less pigmented and they don't last quite as long. Think 10 hours instead of 12-14 hours. But, they are just as pretty. And they cost a fraction of the MAC products.


bronze, light rose, deep mauve
One thing to notice is that the bronzer is pretty golden, and all three do have a subtle shimmer that is just enough to catch the light and look glowy. This means that you'll get a great sunkissed look with this bronzer, but it wouldn't work for contouring. As well, even though I'm pretty fair, I mostly use the deep mauve color. With a slightly larger blush brush, this gives me a very pretty look!


TruBlend Baked Powder Blush at Amazon, ULTA or Target
TruBlend Baked Powder Bronzer at Amazon, ULTA or Target

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The Weekend Beauty Reads from The Beauty Spotlight Team

Jane Iredale Bronzers in Rose Dawn and Peaches & Cream received rave reviews from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog, and with one look at the swatches you will understand why!

Ding dong, Avon calling! Color me impressed with the updated color rich Avon True Color Nourishing Lipsticks! Read Prime Beauty's review and see swatches.

Do you love giving/receiving gift sets? Check out this SCENTsational FarmHouse Fresh Goods This Bunny Loves You Gift Set from Shipra of Taneja's Bride

Phyrra shares the Best Goth Home Decor she found on Amazon.

What do you know about LATHER's natural and cruelty-free products? Allison from Never Say Die Beauty shares some finds that she thinks you'll love as much as she does.

Are you plagued with pores you want to wish away? 15 Minute Beauty has some products that can help you fight the plague.

Perfect cosmetics from PUR Cosmetics are on Notes From My Dressing Table's vanity and you don't want to miss them.

Bath time has never been better for Lisa of Beauty Info Zone now that Kniepp has entered her life. Ahhhh, relax.

Are you ready to feel more beautiful and confident by not only learning the proper techniques for flattering and youthful makeup application, but also learning how to feel more positive about your own beauty and your life at the same time? Realizing Beauty has launched a new program that will empower you to own your beauty and take control of your happiness.

Visit Blushing Noir to learn about her surprise of the month from Urban Decay.

Pammy Blogs Beauty says cover it with a new concealer from Mally.

Justina's Gems helps you pick out the most flattering Neutral Lip Shade with a little help from Bite Beauty.

Stocking Up: What to Buy TODAY from Kiehl's and Kate Somerville

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You may have noticed something about my post the other day on Sensitive Skin Pore Cleansing, namely that there are a few skin care brands that I seem to use over and over. I use a lot of different skin care items, most of which don't ever make it to the blog, and I definitely do have my favorite brands. 2 of my favorite brands are holding Friends and Family sales right now, and they are ending soon! I placed 2 skin care orders last night for myself (and my husband), and I thought I'd share my favorite items from each brand.

Kiehl's

20% off everything until 5/22 with the code FRIENDS at checkout.

• Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado: Great basic moisturizing eye cream, perfect under concealer and what I use if my eye area has any irritation at all. It's very soothing.
• Midnight Recovery Concentrate: I've posted about this oil a lot (like, a LOT), but it's one of my biggest skin care favorites. A few drops at night before I go to bed will fix any dry areas and I wake up super glowy!
• Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution: I have a whole series showing my progress with the Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution, but the Vitamin C in this product is also great for anti-aging and is in a very stable form. It doesn't cause any irritation!
• Super Multi-Corrective Cream: This is one of my go-to night creams. I layer it usually over serums. There's a full post on the Super Multi-Corrective Cream here.
• Ultra Facial Cleanser: This is a great face wash, it's very gentle and also a bit hydrating. If you have any sensitivity or dryness it is worth checking out.
• Facial Fuel Energizing Face Wash: One of my hubby's faves
• Facial Fuel Energizing Scrub: Another of his favorites
• Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask: My biggest go-to clay mask, and I just realized I forgot to add it to my order... I may need to buy more!
• Super Fluid UV Defense SPF 50+: Great for under makeup or just every day sun exposure.
• Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 30: One of my favorite sunscreen daily moisturizers.
• Lip Balm #1: I keep this stashed all over the house and on my night stand.
• Ultimate Strength Hand Salve: I keep this on my night stand and it's also in the pocket of my white coat at work! I ordered some for both me and hubby, and I even got a small tube of grapefruit scent to try out!

Kate Somerville

Save 20% with code FRIENDS17
If you look in the center of the page, you'll see the KS logo, kind of floating... click it. You'll be prompted to share the sale on social media, and it will then give you a personalized code for 30% off instead!

• ExfoliKate: This is the KS cult favorite! I use it a few times a week in the shower, under a minute to gently exfoliate my skin! I have sensitive skin and can handle the original formula, but there's a gentle version as well. Note, I use about the size of a pea and a full sized tube lasts me nearly a year. You can check out a few of my posts about ExfoliKate.
• Detox Daily Cleanser: I have a huge stockpile of this gentle AHA cleanser at home and will be using it daily for the rest of my life.
• ExfoliKate Cleanser: I also use this cleanser, read more about it here.
• EradiKate Acne Treatment: This is pretty much just the KS version of the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, which for some reason has never worked for my blemishes, but the KS version dose. It also doesn't dry out my skin at all which I love! I even have the travel version.
• Somerville360 Face and Body Self Tanning Towelettes: I'm not usually a self tanner girl, but I bought these for spring break and they are very easy to use, and portable! Not orange at all.
• Clinic-To-Go Resurfacing Peel Pads: Easy to use lactic acid peels. They didn't show up in my recent post on clearing out my pores because I've been out for a while (and they're actually out of stock on KS), but they're in my Sephora cart!
• DermalQuench Liquid Lift: I was introduced to this after a KS facial at the Four Season in West Palm Beach, and I loooove it! It's a great spray, super lightweight, and it makes my skin very glowy. It adds a lot of hydration to my skin without feeling heavy.
• Daily Deflector Moisturizer: Great daily SPF moisturizer (just bought a new one for summer in my order)
• Daily Deflector Waterlight: Great lightweight SPF for under makeup, I ordered more of this one too.
• RetAsphere: This is the retinoid cream I'm currently using.
• Line Release: I just bought this eye cream to try out.

Product Sent for Review, I Bought It, Affiliate Links
A few of these items have previously been sent by PR, but I've also purchased every single one with my own money as well!

Sensitive Skin Friendly Pore Busters

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Who doesn't want to have clear, poreless skin? I definitely have that as a goal! Unfortunately, since I have Rosacea, my skin is a bit more sensitive than it used to be. And somehow, enlarging pores (or at least larger appearing) pores is also part of aging. So, just when I want to go completely crazy with skin care products to pull all of that stuff out of my pores and make them look smaller... I can't. Because my skin will get red and irritated.

Instead of going crazy with peels and pore strips, I've finally figured out a routine that works for my skin! I got a facial about 3 weeks ago, and the esthetician complimented me on my pores. That has never happened! Instead, there's always discussion about how much extracting to do.

Read on to see how I've been clearing out my pores, evening my skin tone and smoothing it all out. This routine is also great for anti-aging, works for every skin type, and I have product recommendations for different price points!

The Beauty Spotlight Team: Shipra's Favorites at Taneja's Bride

Often times, we want to get into our favorite beauty bloggers' heads and see what products have become their holy grail and which ones they have repurchased over and over! So, today, Shipra's decided to share with you 5 of her favorite beauty repurchases. These products are a must have for Shipra, so they are definitely at the top of her list.

Check out her favorites here!

The Best Drugstore Liquid Eye Liner: CoverGirl Intensify Me

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Why is a good liquid eyeliner so hard to find? You would think it would be easy to get the liner to be well pigmented, and flow well out of a pen applicator. But alas... not so much. In the past I've done really well with a few much higher priced liquid liners (my favorites are this one and this one), but at about $20 each that's pretty expensive.



Well, CoverGirl has come to the rescue! Their new Intensify Me Liner is amazing. I am not exaggerating. It is super pigmented, the black is super black. Just like it should be. The colors (such as the beautiful green shown here) are just the color you expect them to be, and they look very pretty on. They flow out of the pen and apply perfectly. The coverage is solid and dark, not at all patchy. It lasts through the entire day without fading or smudging.

One of the best things about this liner is the applicator. Instead of the typical pointed pen, this one has a paddle. This means you can easily chose how thick you want to line your lash line! Want it thicker? Apply with the thick part. Want to tightline? Twist the pen so you're using the thin side. This makes it very easy to get a precise line right at your lash line, no more guessing if your line is the same thickness as your other eye!

The only problem I have with this liner is that it is not waterproof. This isn't an issue for every day wear, but I tend to wear only waterproof eye makeup during the summer in case I decide to swim in my pool. So, I'll need to switch to a waterproof liquid liner once it warms up a bit.

You can buy CoverGirl Intensify Me at Target, ULTA or Amazon!

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Weekend Beauty Reads from The Beauty Spotlight Team

The BRAND NEW Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Blush in Euphoric Fusion and Iridescent Flash just received an effusive review from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog, and you will see why after you look at these gorgeous, luminous blushes!

If you're looking to add some cleaner beauty brands to your collection, you must check out the new Farmhouse Fresh Organics line! Amber from daydreaming beauty is sharing three products from the new line. Check out why she loves these new organic products.

The Carli Bybel Deluxe Palette is an exceptional neutral palette with a duochrome twist! See what Phyrra says about it.

IT Cosmetics has outdone themselves with these new Confidence in Your Glow ombre palettes. Beauty Info Zone is sure you'll want one or more once you've seen them.

Prime Beauty has a sweet and inexpensive gift Mom will love! Farmhouse Fresh This Bunny Loves You will pamper Mom and leave her smelling like a warm hug!

Dove introduces a new line: Baby Dove! Find out all the details. Pammy Blogs Beauty's kids are just loving the new products!

Prep & remove... simple as that. Brooke from Blushing Noir has all the details on the SKINCARE LINE from Urban Decay Cosmetics.

Loving the monochromatic trend?! Check out the Give Me Glow Cosmetics Peach Galore Collection with Shipra of Taneja's Bride for a peachy keen look!

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for summer! Christa from Realizing Beauty shows us why the Clarins Sunkissed Summer 2017 Collection has her feeling those tropical vibes.

In spite of her love of beauty products, Allison from Never Say Die Beauty adores earrings.She has found a new line of magical, natural, affordable earrings and pendants that she thinks you need to know about - Chrysalism, sold on Etsy. Perfect for gifting or for a self-treat especially with the included coupon!

15 Minute Beauty found an amazing 5 minute intensive hair treatment! Have you given it a try yet?

Justina's Gems has been testing out the new Erborian Glow Créme and CC Créme and has found them perfect for every day wear. Check out her review!

Poke A Dot: A Makeup Organizer Unlike Anything Else

Product Sent for Review



I'm a sucker for organizers, makeup bags, drawer dividers... you name it, if it holds stuff, I want to try it out. And I'm convinced that it will completely change my life. And let's be honest, most of the items do help me contain my stuff, but they mostly just sit there or perform the same function as the item they replaced before them.


When I was asked to try out the Poke a Dot, I was super excited! Here was something that organizes, but it does actually function differently then my other products. It fulfills a few functions, and easily transitions between them.

Read on to learn more!

The Beauty Spotlight Team: Weekend Beauty Reads

In honor of Earth Day Phyrra shares the Top 10 Eco Friendly Fashion Brands on Amazon!

Need inspiration for Earth Month? Join Pammy Blogs Beauty Neutrogena Naturals "Use it Up!" Challenge and enter the giveaway, too!

Prime Beauty finds 5 pretty spring blushes at the drugstore, all under $15!

Allison from Never Say Die Beauty has been getting her skin ready for spring with effective facial skincare products from Jan Marini Skin Research.

Have you tried the Jordana Sweet Cream Mattes? See what the fuss is about from Shipra of Taneja's Bride.

What do you think of when you hear the words Green Goo? Beauty Info Zone wants you to learn about this innovative company and the products they have.

Do you think a woman wearing makeup means she is insecure? Have you ever been judged for wearing makeup? Christa from Realizing Beauty wants to know!

Blushing Noir shares a SMART MIRROR that gives you the highs and lows of your skin woes. It'll also tell you the best products to use AND what order to use them in! Check out the HiMirror Plus Skincare Analysis Mirror and grab the coupon code to save money on your purchase!

15 Minute Beauty has found a new lip balm to carry with her every where. She's stocked up! Have you tried it yet?

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog has all the details about the amazing Space NK Essentials Gift with Purchase, April 19-26. Be sure to check out our pictures of this phenomenal gift bag that is filled with ultra-luxe skincare and makeup!

What goes together in pairs? Obviously peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese! But Justina's Gems found beauty to pair. See what these beauties are and learn something new.

Pretty in Pink: Bobbi Brown Extra Lip Tint Review

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Yes, it's yet another slightly tinted lip balm. You swipe it on, and it turns color on your lips. I have very similar lippies that I've featured here on the blog from Dior (their Addict Lip Glow, here at Sephora), It Cosmetics (Vitality Lip Flush at ULTA), and even ELF (Gotta Glow Lip Tint at ELF). I love this kind of lippie because you can carry it with you in your pocket, and just swipe it on when you need "something" on your lips. They feel hydrating, but offer enough color that you look like you have something on your lips. Which I need, without a bit of color I look a bit washed out.

What I like about this color is that it is a bit of a lighter pink than the others, it looks more like a lightly bitten lip than a pink lip balm. I've found that if I'm applying the others throughout the day, the pink becomes darker and more saturated, which isn't always the look that I want. The Bobbi Brown just stays faintly pink, no matter how many layers I've applied. I've found that the Bobbi Brown does get softer than the others when it's kept in a jean pocket, so if you're going to carry it around with you like that, you'll need to be careful with it. I try to keep it in the pocket of my white coat at work, or in a sweater or hoodie pocket if I'm at home.

I've just purchased my second pink Extra Lip Tint. I carry it around so much that sometimes I can't find it, now I have 2 on rotation so I can always find it. I'll probably try the Melon color next, which looks a bit peach in tone.

Shop the Post

Buy it at Bobbi Brown, Sephora, or Nordstrom
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Gloss and Cuticle Oil in One: Dr. Dana Lips & Tips

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I know I'm not the only one out there that sadly neglects their cuticles. I have the best intentions, I slather lotion all over my hands and pay extra attention to my cuticles, but that doesn't seem to be quite enough. If I'm washing my hands a lot (like at work), or I am in a dry environment such as an airplane, I really need more moisture for my cuticles. Otherwise they become dry and will suddenly just sprout little tags of dry skin. I swear I can get off of a plane and my perfect cuticles will suddenly look like I've ignored them for weeks!

Dr. Dana just released this double ended wand, a super hydrating lipgloss and a cuticle gel-oil hybrid. The idea is that you're already bringing you lipgloss with you, having a cuticle product readily available means you're more likely to use it! Click through to see what I thought!

Gillette Venus and Olay Shower and Shave Cream Review

Product Sent for Review




Last year I got laser hair removal, which was great as I no longer felt like Chewbacca's sister. However, I'm not 100% hair free and I do still need to shave every few days. My hair is much more sparse than before the laser, and it grows very slowly, but I do prefer to be super smooth if I'm swimming or wearing shorts.

Which means I still shave every few days, but I can be much sloppier about it! I fully admit that I'll often just go over my lower legs with a razor when I'm lathered up with body wash. It isn't quite as smooth as when I use an actual shave gel, but it's all that I need most of the time in the winter. I've found that using body wash is about 75% as smooth as a shave gel.

So, I was pretty interested when Venus & Olay sent me their Shower and Shave Cream! It's a body wash that's meant to do exactly what I've been doing, help you shave with just the body wash. Except that this product is formulated to work that way.



I want to point out the fine print that I found on the bottle. This product is sold under two names, this is apparently one of the Olay Moisture Ribbons body washes, just repackaged. As long as you're aware of this, it's fine. I checked the price of the product at a few local stores (Meijer, Target and Walmart) and the price per ounce was always within a few cents of each other.

This is a very moisturizing body wash, and it does have a nice light vanilla scent. I found that it has a great lather, and yes, that lather can be used to help you shave. And it actually is a closer shave than with my "normal" Olay body wash, though not quite as close as with a regular shaving gel. It is smooth though! It works well enough that on a recent trip I didn't bring any shave gel, despite planning to wear shorts and swim every day. It saved me time in the shower and room in my suitcase.

At home I'm swapping my previous Olay body wash to this one for the summer, though I'll still keep some shave gel in my shower in case I feel the need to be extra smooth.

You can find it at Target, Walmart, or ULTA
Product Sent for Review