WHAT'S IN MY BAG?

THE BAG I'M USING CURRENTLY:

  Prada Tote in "Cammeo" with strap

THE CONTENTS OF MY BAG (LEFT TO RIGHT):  
1. Vince Camuto Notebook - I always carry around a notebook, incase I have an idea or something I need to jot down.

2.  Mint headphones - I'm using an old Marc Jacobs pouch to house them right now. (Proof that you can easily find multi-uses for plenty of things!)
3. Business card holder and business cards.
4. Balenciaga Rose Golden Aviators - Duh, because it's summer and aviators are my go-to.
5. Louis Vuitton Small Agenda - I try to stay organized and this agenda is small enough to carry around, yet big enough to hold my day to day tasks.
6. Louis Vuitton Patent Leather Vernis Wallet
7. Keys to Elle, my ride (not pictured).

ALSO IN MY BAG: 

My Michael Kors cheetah print cosmetic pouch - I use this as my emergency kit, not really a makeup bag.

WHAT'S INSIDE?
1. Two of my favorite nail polishes Chanel and Nails Inc.,
2. Icebreakers mints
3. Aveda hand cream
4. Alba lip balm
5. MAC lipstick in "The Faerie Glen"
6.  Jo Malone limited edition cologne in "Red Currant & Cream" (by the way, I highly recommend),
7. spontaneous Alex & Ani arm party
8. Michael Kors Golden Runway Watch.

Comment below telling me what 3 things are ALWAYS in your bag!

xx,
Kimberly

JUNE GIVEAWAY

Hi my chic instafriends & bloggers! Hosting a GIVEAWAY on my blog.

RULES ----> 1. You must like this photo on Instagram (username is: kmarnold1218) and tag AT LEAST 3 friends. 2. Go to my blog and SUBSCRIBE for emails when I make a post OR (create a blog) and  SUBSCRIBE to my blog. Link is above. 3. Comment on my BLOG giveaway post with your answer to this question: What would you like to read about beauty-wise on this blog? 

EDIT: 6/18/13: ALL YOU NEED TO DO TO BE ENTERED TO WIN IS TO CREATE A BLOG ACCOUNT AND SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG. If you leave a comment, you will receive an extra entry into the contest. 

 You will ONLY be entered if you complete all three steps and I will pick the winner RANDOMLY from the blog comments on July 1st. You may comment as many times as you would like; it will only increase your chances of winning. The giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY. This is only ONE of the giveaways I intend to host on my blog, so stay tuned.

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE GIVEAWAY:

This giveaway features some amazing goodies: Estee Lauder Pleasures mini body lotion, LOGICS Glossiance Shine Serum, LOGICS Densation Liquid Volume, Urban Decay XL De-Slick Oil-Control Makeup Setting Spray, tarte Park Ave Princess bronzer and cheek tint, tarte eye & cheek palette (unknown name), Nails Inc THE FASHIONISTAS mini nail kit, L'Oreal HIP cream eyeliner, L'Oreal lip gloss, three beautiful Nails Inc. shades, 3 Stila eyeshadows (not pictured, sorry), and 3 women's fragrance samples.

REMEMBER, YOU WILL NOT BE ENTERED FOR THIS GIVEAWAY UNLESS YOU HAVE COMPLETED ALL THREE STEPS. 

Good luck and may the chicest gal win!

xx,

Kimberly

What's your peel, girl?!

Any skin savvy girl knows that a curated skincare regimen is the way to a healthy glowing complexion.

Peels are a great way to kick up a notch in your weekly routine and give you the rejuvenation your skin needs.

I'm always in the market for a new peel and well, ladies, I

have to share these new products with you!

1. Peter Thomas Roth's (NEW) Firmx Peeling Gel - AMAZING. I have never experienced a product like this! You actually see your dead skin peel off as you massage it into your face! My skin feels so revived after using this product. Follow with your favorite serum and moisturizer and voila! Your skin will feel ready to take on the day ASAP. 

2. Alba Botanica's Good & Clean pore purifying mini peel - if you don't want to splurge yet on a higher end peel, try this product! It's so refreshing and smells AMAZING! There are no parabens, phthalates or synthetic fragrances and the product is 100% vegetarian. At just $8.99, you can not beat the price!

3. Origin's Brighter By Nature Peel Pads  - these peel pads come in a convenient, on-the-go form and are loved by both men and women! Winner of the Men's Health Grooming Awards in 2010, this product has the brightening benefits of a peel using ingredients made from fruit. As always Origins also does not contain parabens. There are 40 pads in each container, but they can be cut in half to make the product last longer making it well worth the $38.50 that they retail for.

Which peels are you ladies loving?

xx,
from chic to cheek

Images Courtesy of Peter Thomas Roth, Alba, and Origins.

Battle of the Beauty Oils

Beauty trends are constantly coming and going. We’ve most recently seen the craze of BB creams sweep the nation, as well as the ever-evolving nail art concepts that have dominated pinboards on social media platforms such as Pinterest and Instagram. So, what is the newest big trend in the beauty world? Beauty oils.

Beauty oils, though derived from several different exotic ingredients, all have the same claim to fame: to replenish skin’s moisture and create a glowing-from-within complexion.

As someone who is always on the run, I value a product that can eliminate several steps in my daily routine. That’s where beauty oils come in. From healing split ends, to moisturizing dry skin, to softening cuticles, beauty oils have truly become a multi-tasking godsend from the beauty world.

There are tons of beauty oils out on the market – both new and old. My personal favorites are the Josie Maran Argan Oil ($48), Bobbi Brown Extra Face Oil (1 oz for $62), and tarte Pure Maracuja Oil (1.7 oz for $46). But are all beauty oils created equally?

One perk of all four of these beauty oils is that they are all formulated without parabens, sulfates, and phthalates – but the Josie Maran Argan Oil and the tarte Pure Maracuja Oil are both 100% natural.

The Josie Maran Argan Oil is vastly rich in vitamin E and contains healthy fatty acids for the skin. Argan oil is not only known to moisturize the skin, but to also heal skin of acne and to aid in anti-aging.

A key benefit of tarte’s Pure Maracuja Oil is vitamin C, which allows skin to appear more radiant and bright. Maracuja is packed with essential fatty acids, which will improve dullness and dryness of the skin.

With a light, pleasing scent reminiscent of a spa-like experience, the Bobbi Brown Extra Face Oil offers an extremely moisturizing feel to the skin. Packed with vitamin E, it softens and protects skin from environmental damage.

All beauty oils mentioned are incredibly moisturizing and lightweight and soak into your skin within just minutes. What I love most about oils is they are incredibly useful due to their multi-functionality.

So, though oils may have different origins and ingredients, it can be agreed that they all effectively do the job of moisturizing skin. Trying any of these beauty oils will make a huge difference in your daily skincare routine. Trust me, your skin will thank me later.

All products mentioned can be purchased through Sephora.

Images Courtesy of Bobbi Brown, tarte and Josie Maran.

Treat Your Skin

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Cleansing and moisturizing are arguably the most important steps in a skincare routine, but adding a serum to your regimen will amplify your skin's optimum results.

Serums are treatments that can be applied onto clean skin prior to moisturizing. Most serums are packed with amazing ingredients for the skin and are able to penetrate deeper in skin than a moisturizer. Following with a cream will allow the serum to be effectively locked into the skin.

My favorite serum at the moment is the Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Serum (1 oz for $55). Origins claims that this serum is comparable to a prescription anti-aging product and that users will see a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This product also claims to promote cell turnover.

In only a few months, I've noticed a significant difference in the texture of my skin. My skin feels smoother, plumper, and clear. At $55, one may want to know how long this product will last. In my experience, using one pump morning and night has made the serum last roughly four months.

This product, along with the whole Origins line, is formulated without harsh ingredients, such as parabens. This makes it a great contender for all those natural skincare lovers out there who are in the market for a new serum.

Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Serum can be purchased through Sephora or Origins.

Image Courtesy of: Origins

CURRENT OBSESSIONS

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:
(from top left to top right)

#1 Marc Jacobs Oh Lola! Perfume - My perfect summer scent. Smells sweet, yet florally. You've done it again, Mr. Jacobs!
#2 Estee Lauder Blush in "Fresh Plum" - For women of slightly darker skin tones who are wanting a more wearable pink, this is the perfect blush for you. Sometimes with most pink shades, they come out looking too vibrant. This blush looks natural and so flattering.
#3 MAC Cream Highlighter in "Shell"- I am scraping the last bits of this cream highlighter. It looks beautiful on all skin tones and is a beautiful pink pearl shimmer. Gorgeous on your cheek bones!
#4 Lash Curlers - (misc. curler pictured) Currently loving the Chanel eye lash curler. I will be doing a review soon 5 different lash curlers (Chanel, Shu Uemera, tarte, MAC, and a drugstore curler) so stay tuned for that!

#5 Dior Bronze 'Original Tan' Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in "Amber Tan 003"- I have naturally olive, tan skin so in the summer I get very dark quickly, but sometimes my face doesn't catch up to the rest of my body. This bronzer comes in four different shades that will allow you to create a beautifully bronzed, yet natural, finish to your face.

#6 Tory Burch Pumps - Enough said.
#7 Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua - For days when I want slightly more coverage than just a tinted moisturizer. 

#8 Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturizer - Effortless beauty. One of the best tinted moisturizers I have ever tried.
#9 Estee Lauder Double Wear Cream Shadow in "Antique Gold" - These. are. double. wear. One of the most long lasting cream shadows I have ever used. Love these - and they come in several beautiful shades.

#10 tarte emphasEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner - Incredible liner. I used to be obsessed with Bobbi Brown's gel liner, but I think the tarte liner has been bumped up to my favorite liner. I find that the Bobbi Brown liner dries up much quicker and lasts usually no longer than three months. The tarte liner has still not dried up and I have been using it since January. Sorry, Bobbi! 
#11 Chanel Poudre Universelle Compact Natural Finish Pressed Powder in "Translucent 03" - Who doesn't love Chanel? They make the most beautiful, long wearing powders. This compact is perfect for touching up throughout the day and, of course, looks beautiful in your cosmetic bag.

#12 tarte LipSurgence matte lip tint in "Envy" - This shade gives a beautiful shade of mauve berry to the lips. Love the smell too!

What are YOUR summer favorites?

xo,
from chic to cheek

EVERYBODY LOVES HAVING FLAWLESS SKIN

The key to any chic makeup look is having flawless skin.

But we weren't all blessed with good genes, so the next best thing is makeup.

Following your skincare routine:

#1 Apply the foundation or base of your choice on the back of your hand or on a palette. Lightly tap your foundation brush (I am using Chanel's #7 Foundation/Powder brush, which is perfect for an airbrushed look) and blend into the skin. Stippling brushes, such as the one shown, create a beautifully blended and natural finish. Flat, traditional foundation brushes are great if you want a slightly heavier, yet, blended application. Make sure to work the product under your chin so there are no harsh lines.

#2 After your foundation is evenly blended, use a concealer or corrector under the eyes and on any blemishes if needed. My favorite is the Bobbi Brown (not pictured) corrector in Bisque. Apply under the eyes using a concealer brush or with clean fingertips to disguise any dark circles.

#3 Apply a bronzer to your cheeks and lightly work the product into the temples and under your chin to create an evenly bronzed, natural finish. 

#4 If you have oily skin or like a matte finish to your foundation, follow this routine with a pressed or loose finishing powder. My favorite is Laura Mercier's Loose Setting Powder. Using a light hand or a fan brush, dust the powder over your face to keep any shine away.

xo,

from chic to cheek