I'm a Believer

Just before Christmas my friend and C&C reader, MC, mentioned that she had been doing laser hair removal. I've always been intrigued by the idea of it because I absolutely hate shaving.

Does anyone else feel this way? It's an absolute waste of time. And, the results are always short lived in my case. All it takes is a slight chill for my course dark hair to come right back out.

So, when she forwarded me a special deal that Sunset MedSpa was running, I decided to go for it.

Sunset MedSpa uses the Alma Soprano Laser which allows them to administer the treatment quickly and comfortably. I'd read that it feels like a "hot stone massage" or "rubber band snapping on your skin." and really it's kind of a conversation of the two. The laser is rubbed over your skin like an ultrasound using cool gel, so when it starts to get too hot, the technician adds more gel.

I've had two treatments now and after the first I noticed immediate results. I could go 3-4 days without shaving my legs and armpits. The dark shadow that was always under my armpits is no longer there. And when the hair does grow back it is lighter and softer. After my second treatment (they are every 6 weeks), I can now go a week+ without having to shave.

I have no regrets. It has been money well spent! If you hate shaving as much as I do, I highly recommend it.

It may seem like this is a promotion for Sunset MedSpa, but I promise I am receiving no compensation. The only reason I am writing this post is because I have been so happy with the results.

My technician heather did note that not all lasers are the same, so there are some that are more painful. If you are considering treatment I would suggest talking to someone who has had the treatment at a specific location before committing. Results will vary based on your ski and hair type, but if you are like me and have dark, course hair, then chances are you will have good results!

Happy Hair Removal!

Products We Love: Juice Beauty

I was recently introduced to Juice Beauty through barre3. All of their products are organic and sourced mostly from local West Coast USDA Certified Organic farms so they can monitor the quality and limit fuel waste. Juice Beauty cares not just about the quality of the products but the quality of process by which they are made. They manufacture the majority of the products with solar power. They believe staying local is better for our community and eco-system. They believe harnessing sustainable energy is better for our planet.

I have been using the STEM CELLULAR CC Cream for the past few months and thought I should share it with all of you.

I use it on a daily basis to even my skin tone, to moisturize and to protect it from the sun (SPF 30). It provides a nice "dewy" look and leaves my skin looking and feeling fresh. It does have a bit of an "earthy" smell which I notice during application, but not after.

It doesn't provide the level of coverage that the Misha BB Cream does, but I'm pretty sure that the Misha product is filled with harmful ingredients I don't really want to know about. I still use the Misha cream for special occasions, but the CC Cream is my new daily go-to. I am currently using the Desert Glow, but I think next time I order it I will go one shade darker with the Warm Glow instead.

Here's a quick product video if you want to learn more.

Beauty Counter Giveaway

On Friday our friend Katie Kahn shared some of her favorite makeup products. If you missed the post, I highly suggest you check it out (post here).

As for today, we are continuing on the beauty theme with a post about some products that Katie and I recently had the pleasure of trying. Are you familiar with Beautycounter? I wasn't until my college friend Evie introduced me. Beautycounter creates safe and effective skin care and cosmetics for women and their families. They have banned over 1500 harmful ingredients from their products with the hope of keeping you and your family safe and healthy.

My beauty routine is simple. I use products from the drugstore, so I was excited to add some new products to my "regimen." And let me say, I'm fairly critical when it comes to these kind of things. I tried Arbonne a while back and was somewhat underwhelmed, but that has not been the case with the Beautycounter products.

The first product Evie sent me is The Lustro Face Oil 1.

I started using the face oil shortly before we sent to Sun Valley for Christmas. Idaho is a high desert, and the air is so dry it sucks all of the moisture out of your body. This face oil was my savior in the dry and sub zero temperatures. I had never used a face old before and was afraid it would leave my skin really oily and cause breakouts, but it hasn't. In fact, I think my skin feels and looks better.

The second product is the Any Time Eye Cream. 

I've never been consistent about using eye cream until now. I love the way this feels on my skin, and I'm hoping my regular use will help offset any further development of those fine lines and wrinkles around my eyes. Crows feet is the technical term, right?

The last product she sent me is the Kidscounter Squeaky Clean Bodywash.

I'm in love with the smell of this body wash. It's a combination of pomegranate and cranberry fruit extracts that has a berry-pop scent that smells like a sweet treat. What kid doesn't like that? I am going to buy the shampoo and conditioner in my next order. 

Did I mention that I love the names of the kids products and the packaging?

Evie also sent Katie some products to try. 

1. Peppermint Lip Balm, 2. Translucent Lip Sheer 3. Lip Shine 4. Hydrate Everyday Body Lotion

Since Katie has been busy with work and vacation, she wasn't able to write an extensive review. She did tell me that she keeps the lip balm next to her bed and has been using it every night, and she loves the lip sheer, lip shine and lotion as well. I am definitely going to add a few of these products to my next order.  Peppermint lip balm sounds right up my alley. 

So here's the exciting news! Evie is sponsoring a Beautycounter giveaway of the Lustro Face Oil 1 and the Lip Conditioner! That's $82 worth of products that you can win! Happy Tuesday to you! 

To enter, leave a comment below with why you would like to try these products. A winner will be announced on Friday! 

Also, if you would like to try some of the other products, Evie is offering C&C readers a 10% discount through the end of the month. To place your order with the discount you will need to contact her directly through email. 

Website: evie.beautycounter.com

Facebook page: Beautycounter by Evie

Email: evie.cartwright@gmail.com

Good Luck and Happy (and healthy) shopping! 

Dietician on a Makeup Mission

Sit back, grab your cup of coffee (or tea) and get ready to have your mind blown. I know mine was when I read this.

Let me re-introduce you to our lifelong friend Katie Kahn of Mission Delicious.

This woman is a dietician on a mission to keep you eating delicious and healthy food. We have shared some of her amazing recipes...date cookies, blueberry almond oat scones, and sweet potato pizza to name a few, but today she's not talking food.

Today is all about makeup, a subject Katie McBreen and I feel we could learn a thing or two about. So take it away Katie K.

I’m prone to blogging about food and nutrition, but when I’m not guzzling a Kombucha, or inhaling a Brussels sprout salad or brown butter chocolate chip cookie, I’m probably feeding my secret makeup addiction (it’s a ‘secret’ because I don’t want my husband to know about this, ok?). I can spend hours doing switchbacks in my makeup Triangle – Neimans, Nordstrom’s and Sephora all for the love of the hunt.  I’m shameless about it, too – I’ll even go with all four kids if the mood strikes (I do bring along food bribery, but to avoid too much judgment, I’m going to skip over this topic quickly☺). So, recently, I asked Regan and Katie if they would ever do a makeup product post and they said I could be a guest blogger and share my favs- love these girls for allowing me to share some of my makeup bag must-haves with their awesome, loyal followers! So thanks for having me, ladies!! XO

OK, so I think how I will do this is just make a list of my favorite products and fill you in along the way. Sound good? Apologies for the lengthy post but this is serious business, and I cut out half already.

1. Foundation:  Foundation junkie right here- always have been always will be. I don’t leave the house without it.  Seriously. I know this sounds lame, but when my skin looks good, I feel good, so it just works for me. When it’s done right, you should not look like you are wearing makeup- you should just look like you have awesome, glow-y, more even skin.  I have the hardest time with foundation because my skin is starting to show its age (i.e. pores, hyperpigmentation, fine lines) and I’m a stickler for a perfect color match. Over the years I’ve tested dozens of foundations, and have spent a small fortune for my your our benefit. Here’s my short list of products to try:
- Givenchy Éclat Matissime: pretty much my all-time favorite. It’s a perfect color match (I’m a shade 4, neutral tone), which is a great start. But I love the coverage and finish!!! It’s true to the promise by giving you a “mat radiance” look; not shiny, or overly dewy and the coverage is medium I’d say, but you can layer up as needed. It just looks like very healthy, beautiful skin. Added perks: SPF 20, blends into skin like a dream, especially with my Beauty Blender sponge (another must-have for applying foundation and concealer!!), layers perfectly for occasions that call for more coverage, and smells pretty, and lasts me all day.
- Dior HydraLife BB Cream: I’m surprised I love this product as much as I do mainly because I’ve never experimented with Dior face makeup before. But this BB cream ROCKS. I use color 02 (Golden Peach) and its perfect for summer and fall. But it’s too dark for right now ☹ The shade lighter in this lineup is way too light for me so it sits on shelf for a while. But I love this product because it gives you a natural look with a touch of dewiness, and added perk: SPF 30! People always comment on my skin when I wear this product. SOLD!
- YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat Illuminating Foundation: Right away, I should tell you this definitely has the dewiest finish of the foundations but I still adore it. Might not be for you if you have really oily skin. It totally brightens your skin, evens redness, and makes you feel oh so purdy. Perks: SPF 20, layers beautifully, good color range. I always set this with powder but staying power is pretty darn good either way.  Oh, and B30 and B40 are my winter/summer shades.
- Laura Mercier Silk Crème Foundation: I’ll be brief about this. This is your special occasion makeup.  Its full coverage without being heavy looking. This is a makeup artist secret product. I can’t tell you how many MA have told me that this is their favorite, so I know it’s not just me. Perks: photographs great, stays on like a champ, covers most flaws. I use my damp Beauty Blender sponge to apply but fingers work too! TIP: This has a thick formula but you can thin it with a little moisturizer.
- Amore Pacific Cushion Compact: Could NOT leave this product out. SPF 50; super fun application, light, dewy coverage. I layer mine to get a little extra coverage and it layers nicely. I usually use a finishing powder to help with shine. The color selection isn’t great, so just pray that you’re a match. This is a must-have for summer!!! Works perfectly as a primer, too. Smells amazing!

2. Under-eye Concealer: Holy smokes, I’ve got some crazy dark under eye circles so I have an arsenal of products but these are my top 3.
- Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage: This has changed my life! The compact comes with 2 shades-one to correct darkness and one to conceal/brighten. You really need to use a good under eye cream first, though, because it can be a bit drying. But once I figured that out, it’s been a dream product for me.  The two colors can also be blended to get a perfect match for blemishes.
- Cle de Peau concealer: they have 6 shades now; I’m beige. This product is $70 so with that price tag better come some miracles, right? Well, I wouldn’t say it’s a miracle worker but I solidly recommend it. What I discovered is that when I use a color corrector first, then apply Cle de Peau, the results are beautiful and really hide my dark circles. On its own, it just doesn’t cut it. However, if you have mild dark circles or any type of blemish (this works GREAT on zits and redness), this product will probably work perfectly on its own. It’s smooth, creamy, and doesn’t crease, really! It’s brilliant for aging/dry skin.
- Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer: I will be honest, I’m not a huge Nars makeup person, but I love this concealer. I usually layer it on top of my Laura Mercier concealer using my Beauty Blender to gently buff it out, and it does a great job brightening my under eye area and making me look well rested.  This is a must for when I go out at night or a special occasion (but I wear it all the time to the gym, too, not gonna lie).

3. Blush: I have at least 6 blushes and bronzers in rotation so its really hard to narrow it down for you but I wanted to share with you a new find that my mom turned me on to.
-Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Cheeky Bronze: I can’t believe I like a Mac product, but I do. And even stranger, it has a “frosted, metallic finish” according to Mac- ick! -  And I still like it. I’m not a sparkly bronzer kind of gal – I like more of a matte look (love my Guerlain Terracota Four Seasons Bronzer for daily use), BUT when my mom bought this for me I decided to test it out. Hugely surprised to find out that it’s GORGEOUS on. You don’t need very much and it just perfectly bronzes and highlights your cheekbones with little fuss. I usually add a tiny bit of matte pink to my apples but this can definitely stand alone, too. Makes me feel like taking selfies all day to check out those dewy, defined cheeks!!

4. Mascara: Obsessed. Chanel Le Volume mascara in black. Major glamorous lashes. Not for people that like a super natural look. This is for those of us that like impact. Worth every penny.

5. Eyeliner: A few years ago I discovered liquid eyeliner pens and I can’t stop using them. They really give great definition to the eye, and allow for a natural to va-va-voom look depending on how you apply it. But there are some out there that are awful (bad applicator tip, bad packaging, difficult to work with, etc). The one I love is a bargain- you can find it at Target or CVS! Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-1 Eyeliner +Serum in black.  It’s super easy to use, comes as a cute silver pen, and lasts me all day. Love that I can easily get that dramatic winged-look or a simple thin line in about 5 seconds.  Easy peasy and almost idiot proof.

6. Eye Shadow: I love Laura Mercier and Chanel eye shadows, but I wanted to share with you something a little more fun than your basic powder formulas. Last year I found Josie Maran’s Coconut watercolor eyeshadow in Playa Del Pink. It’s a liquid eyeshadow that is made with coconut water and some other stuff that’s supposedly good for your skin, like argan oil. But anyway, it’s a very hydrating formula, lasts all day (even through a sweaty workout), and doesn’t crease. I will be honest- it takes a little playing around with to get it just right, but once you figure out the application part, its just beautiful on. I love how this pink shade brightens your eyes and can be layered with other eyeshadows, even powder formulas.

7. Lip Gloss: The list wouldn’t be complete without this! I have probably 10 lip glosses in my purse. I love them all for different reasons. But if I had to share my favorites, I’d say Laura Mercier in Bare Blush. It’s the perfect color and I adore the texture.  Very natural and I love layering it, too.  I also love La Praire lip gloss in berry glace.  This one’s shimmery berry-pink and goes great with a tan.

Whew, I’m exhausted! And I have so many other products I want to talk about!! Maybe, just maybe C&C will let me come back for more product-talk. Did I mention I’m obsessed with skin care products, too? ☺

Happy makeup hunting and always remember the golden rule – it’s not very nice to keep beauty secrets to yourself!

~Katie

Keeping it Real: Hydrate 28

I'm now 1/2 way through my 28 day hydration challenge. I know many of you have joined Katie and I in our efforts to drink more water. I hope it's going well for you, and that you are reaching your daily 3 liter/100 ounce water goal!

I've met or exceeded the goal every day, so I have no doubt that I will hit my hydration goal for the remaining 14 days.

That said, I don't look ten years younger yet, and it hasn't changed my physical appearance....

So what changes have I noticed in my body since drinking 3 liters of water per day for 14 days?

1. I have to go to the bathroom A LOT! I mean, a ridiculous amount of times.

2. I don't have much "time" to drink anything but water. Sometimes it feels like a job!

3. My skin feels better. I can't really say if I've noticed a change in its appearance, but it feels like something is changing.

4. Drinking more water allows me to drink more wine. I am very sensitive to alcohol. One glass can give me a headache and a hangover. BUT, I feel the effect far less when I am well hydrated. BONUS! More water = more wine!

5. Did I mention how much I'm peeing? I thought my bladder might build up a tolerance, but it hasn't.

For those of you participating in the challenge, what changes have you noticed in your body? How about changes in your daily routine? We would love to hear from you!

Speaking of water, I have my eye on these drinking glasses from School House Electric (one of my FAVORITE stores here in Portland). They are definitely on my birthday wish list.

Nothing like a great water vessel to promote hydration! I also love this half full/half empty glass!

My glass is 100% half full because Katie and I are spending the week in Sun Valley with our family! 

Beauty Basics

There isn't much to my beauty routine...if you can even call it a "beauty routine".  I wear minimal makeup and most days none at all. I am clueless when it comes to makeup application. I do my best, but I know there are techniques I could use to enhance my features in a better way.

I've actually really come to question "makeup" in general lately. Here is why: It's really hard to explain to The Mini Fashionista why I put on makeup. In fact...I don't feel there is a good, logical explanation at all. Women spend all this time talking about how we need to embrace our natural beauty and be comfortable in our own skin, yet many women I know (me excluded) won't even leave the house without makeup. We tell our daughters that they are beautiful just the way they are, yet we cannot accept ourselves as such. Actions speak louder than words, and we are sending them mixed messages. So, I still haven't found a good explanation for why I wear makeup, and luckily she's not that interested in it, but I know a time will come when I need a better answer. Anyone have suggestions?

All that said, today's post was not intended to be so serious. I actually started out writing with the purpose of sharing my favorite lipgloss and lip balm. Talk about a digression...

Anyway, lipstick is the last thing I think about, but I do like keeping my lips moist, (I hate that word) and a pop of color is never a bad thing, so these two products are perfect for me.

Burt's Bees Lip Shine

And the Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm (which comes in a cool, but useless little cardboard tube).

If you are looking for something for everyday wear that adds a little color to your lips and prevents them from getting dry and chapped, I highly recommend trying the Burt's Bees lip products. Added bonus, they are 100% natural!

Let's Talk Lashes

My eyelashes are short, thin and pretty much nonexistent, so when a friend (thanks JL) recommended I try LiLash, and set me up with her supplier (doesn't that sound seedy), I was all in. Knowing my genetic clone (that would be Katie) suffers from the same problem, lack of lashes, I ordered her a tube as well. We have both been using it since the end of December.

Well, let me tell you, I have not been disappointed. In just a few months, my lashes are thicker and longer. I should have taken a before and after photo so you could see the difference, but I didn't. So, you will have to trust me. This stuff works!

It's available through a variety of online retailers, including Overstock .  If you suffer from a lack of lashes, I highly recommend that you try this stuff.

And while we are on the subject of lashes, I recently branched out from my favorite mascara, Blinc to try something new. I LOVE Blinc mascara because it doesn't leave black smudges under my eyes and is super easy to remove, but I thought i would try something new.

I am a fan of Laura Mercier products, and I have read great things about their Long Lash Mascara, so I thought I would try it.

And while I'm not going to throw my Blinc mascara in the trash, it now has some competition! The Laura Mercier Mascara goes on easily, doesn't clump, and leaves my lashes looking thick and long.  I prefer the Blinc mascara when it comes to eye makeup removal because it leaves less black smudge than the Laura Mercier, but that just means I need a better eye makeup remover!

Products We Love

There's not much to say, except that if you are not using this shaving cream from Trader Joe's, you should be. It is hands down the best shaving cream I have EVER used. 

Here is why…it has an amazing honey mango scent, it is moisturizing, a little goes a long ways, its really inexpensive and most importantly it won't leave a ring of rust on your tile (dang cans)! 

So, get yourself to Trader Joe's and buy this! You can thank me later! 

Products We Love

For the last few years despite the fact that I'm in my 30's, I've been feeling like my skin is still in its teens. I mean...isn't the loss of acne supposed to be the trade off for the arrival of wrinkles?

Anyway, I kept having an internal dialogue with myself about all the ways I could improve my skin: facials, more expensive products, dermatological treatments??? Finally, after lots of consideration and with some prompting from the Discountress of Washington (read her post here), I decided to take matters, literally, into my own hands!

About a month ago I purchased a Clarisonic Mia. I chose the mango color just because it was fun and bright. Even skincare can be fashionable!

Skinstore was having a 20% off sale, which they are currently having as well (use the code NEW20), so I even saved a little money!

So, after using my Clarisonic for over a month now, I am a believer! I do feel like more pores are smaller, like I have fewer blackheads and that my skin looks a bit better. And, more importantly, my skin feels cleaner! I'm not saying I've taken 10 years off my life or gotten rid of every blemish and imperfection, but it's better, and anything is an improvement.

Bottom line...if you've considered purchasing a Clarisonic, what are you waiting for? Go! Do it! You won't regret it!

Along with my Clarisonic, I picked up a new foaming facial cleanser from CeraVe.

I also bought a moisturizer and have been really happy with the products. I like the "smell" better than I do that of Cetaphil. It also seems to be gentle on my skin, it has very little odor and most importantly, it's affordable!

Products We Love

A few months ago, my good friend SW and I were discussing the items we had "on hold" in our Amazon "shopping carts". One of her items was The Wet Brush.

I knew nothing about it, but subsequently added it to my cart as well. I know she has good taste, so I figured I must want one too. I ordered it thinking it would be good for the Mini Fashionista. Her hair is curly and very easily gets to be a tangled disaster, especially after swimming lessons.

For weeks I have used it on her hair, and then just the other day, I tried it on mine. WOW! I Love it! This brush is fantastic for brushing wet hair (go figure) and dry hair. It gives your scalp a nice massage, runs easily through tangles, comes in a variety of colors and most importantly doesn't cost a lot of money. 

So, if you are in the market for a new brush, I highly recommend The Wet Brush! You can even buy a Mini Brush for your purse or for your Mini!

Striving for Perfection

A dear friend of mine emailed me last week concerned by the fact that I have been cutting my head out of my blog posts. Case in point...

Her words, "You have started to crop your face, which makes me sad. You might feel the camera does not love your face, but I do. Your face, it is a reflection of your heart for all to see and to adore you all the more" 

First, thank you dear friend. You are so right.  I have been putting myself down by claiming my face isn't good enough to make the photo.  My photos are quickly taken by me or my husband. and usually my eyes are closed or I have a funny look on my face, so I just crop it out.  Because it is the outfit I am trying to capture, I've never really considered it a big deal. But it is, and thank you for bringing it to my attention. 

Many of the blogs I follow have professional photographers taking their photos, and my photos seem amateur in comparison, which they are. But I didn't start this blog to take perfect photos of myself. I started this blog to share my love for fashion and for life. 

As a mother of a girl, never in a million years would I want to teach her to hide her face, for any reason. Blogs, pinterest, magazines, television, and every other form of media encourage women and girls to strive for perfection: perfection in their clothes, their body, their skin, their hair, their home decor, their cooking, etc. But as we all know, no one is perfect. 

So, from now on, you will see less headless shots and more closed eyes, messy hair and awkward smiles, because that is me and that is my life, and there is no better way to teach the Mini Fashionista this lesson than practicing it and believing it myself. 

Put a Sock in It

I've known for a while about the ever popular "sock bun", but after a few failed attempts I had all but given up. Today I went for a haircut and left with a fabulous sock bun (and only one socked foot).

Here is the final result! Yes, there is a black trouser sock in my bun. I shamefully admit that the sock came right from my foot. I know, it's kind of gross, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I am still working on mastering the technique on my own, but it is definitely a style I plan to incorporate into my daily life, and the hairstyle I plan on having for Katie's August wedding.

Here is a link to a sock bun tutorial and another. There are plenty of video tutorials on youtube as well!

Pump up the Volume

Last week Katie shared all her favorite drug store picks. I too am pretty much a drugstore, or soap.com , kind of gal (as I blogged about). I'm not going to give you my whole list of faves, but I am going to share my latest find.

First the back story....as some of you may know, your hair is about as voluminous as it can get when you are pregnant. Basically for 9 months it's in the growing phase, so you hardly lose any hair. Then, about 2 months post baby, it all goes to hell, and in a bad way! My hair was as full and fabulous as it had ever been, and now it is crazy thin and looks terrible, especially when it's dirty.

Here's where the fabulous solution comes in: Big Sexy Hair! It's a powder you dust into your hair (when it's dirty to give it some volume, or in my case, prevent it from looking like total crap.

And for $10 it won't break the beauty budget!

Also, Katie is guest blogging today at Courcy Inspired Design, check it out. 

Easy, Breezy, Beautiful, Drug Store Girl

Katie here. Before I make my confession I thought I'd go for full disclosure. I buy the majority of my beauty products at CVS (gasp!). With the exception of a few items which I'm very particular about (my under eye concealer, a few brand name lip glosses, mascara (Blinc is the best!), and shampoo and conditioner, I'm a drug store girl. And you'll never believe this, I get complimented on my makeup, and people don't ask me where it came from (that never happens with clothes...it's always followed by "Where did you get it?" or "Who is it by?")). I don't have anything against the plethora of amazing products out there, I just don't make it to the beauty counters that often and would rather spend my precious $ on clothes. Since fashion and beauty products are kind of like peas and carrots, I thought I could shift from our day-to-day musings to bring you some of my beauty must-haves.

Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer - Chapstick and color all in one. (Done and Done!)

Cover Girl Eye Enhancers 4-Kit Shadow in "Country Woods" It's one stop shopping with this little compact.

Neutrogena Skin Clearing Oil-Free Makeup - Jennifer Garner wasn't kidding when she said this would help make your clean and clear! Love this product! 

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips - Waikiki Strip/Peach Glow Bronzer - We all need a little shimmer in our lives.

Cetaphil. Best face wash ever. My dermatologist recommended it years ago, and I still use it to this day. Their lotion is also great for your face and your body.

Sally Hansen Wax Strips - Who wants to go get waxed all the time? Expensive and time consuming. I like to do my own brows - with a little help from my trusty friend the tweezers. These strips come in different sizes for all your needs. I use my hair dryer to warm them up vs. rubbing them between my hands. Easy, Breezy, beautiful, and hairless! 

Now, if you are on the lookout for an awesome beauty blog, check out my friend Lara's, The Glossarie.    She is the real deal. She was nominated by Lucky Magazine for the "Best Beauty Voice" blog. Kind of amazing, right. And she will regularly give you amazing insight into the world of beauty. XOXO Katie