Sun Kissed Giveaway (CLOSED)

Your tan doesn't have to fade with summer! We all know how pumped I am for fall but on those days that I have a little leg showing I hate my glow in the dark skin showing. As of late, I've documented my use of Jane Iredale's Tantasia to keep my summer glow. It is probably my FAV self tanner that I've tried this summer out of the five self tanners I took for a little test drive. Tantasia was the one that really got my motor going. It made my heart sing to have a healthy product that gave me a natural looking glow over a short period of three days. Due to the bronze colored formula it instantly gives leg color. No need to wait for a period of time to see the job get done although the tan continues to build over a 24 hour period. Having the bronze color also makes application a breeze. No guess work for me! And no awkward and embarrassing white patches of skin missed! What's left is sun kissed skin. 

First I gave my legs a full two weeks without using any sort of self tanner so you could truly see how pale I am. It's rather embarrassing but hey, I like you guys and I really wanted to share this find with you! I followed up with three half leg applications and kept my arms extremely vampire-like pale so you can see the difference easy peasy.

See? Normally I only do two applications and I'm happy but the third really makes a difference! It's also one of the few self tanners that I'll apply to my face because the last thing I want is to have my face to look like an orange. I expect this tan to last me right around three to four full days before needing another application. That's all there is to being beautifully bronzed without stepping in to an unhealthy tanning salon or sitting out in the sun!

OH, and I may have given away a little info via Facebook this weekend about a giveaway coming up and yes, it's a full size bottle of TANTASIA from Jane! I'm so excited to share this all with you! It's perfect for any skin types and so very hydrating for your skin! Good luck!

ENTRY RULES:

There will be a picture of Tantasia on Esthetically Pleasing's FB page. 

You'll want to LIKE it.

Then COMMENT on it.

And SHARE it with all of your lovelies! 

As well as LIKE Esthetically Pleasing on FB!

Make sure you are sharing the ORIGINAL photo on Esthetically Pleasing's FB page, NOT a picture from your friend's feed! Only original likes, comments and shares from the FB page will be entered!

The giveaway period starts TODAY, 9-24-2013, to SATURDAY, 9-28-2013. 

THIS BABY COULD BE YOURS!

It's in the BAG.

I've been on the lookout for a beauty program that sends you goodies for a decent price per month because we all know that I'm addicted to products. I've FINALLY found one that doesn't break the bank.

ispy is a company that offers a miniature cosmetic bag filled with five full or trial sized items for just $10.00 a month. These gems are better known as "Glam Bags". All you have to do is fill out a little information about what interests you most in the beauty world and they have personal stylists that help put your Glam Bag together each month. They offer some amazing (not to mention, high quality) brands. NOTE TO SELF: You can skip months or cancel your subscription if you're not impressed but trust me, your socks are going to be knocked off. Each bag comes with free shipping and they are always worth more than the $10 value you're paying for. It's the bomb. 

Recently, I got my very first Glam Bag. I'm very pleased to inform all of you that I'm very much in love and can't wait for next months treats. It showed up on my doorstep in reflective hot pink packaging and before I knew it I was ripping in to it to see the secretive September items. I received a full size Cailyn tinted lip balm in Big Apple. It is chalk FULL of pigment and is a sexy matte red worth $19.00. I have a good feeling that it'll last me a very very long time. I also received a full size Victoria Jackson taupe eyebrow pencil worth $14.95. It's perfect with my coloring and goes on silky smooth. It's a winner. Also received was a trial size of It's So BIG by Elizabeth Mott. It's an alright mascara. The fumes bother my eyes a little bit but it sure makes my lashes super long with zero clump-age. Another full size product was the Star Looks khol eye pencil worth $12. I'm definitely a liquid eye liner girl but I know I'll be wearing this product on my lazier days. You know, those days where your hair is in a giant top knot, your baggiest sweats are on and you wear as little as makeup as possible. Last but not least, is a full size NYX eyeshadow in Morocco valued at $4.50. Unfortunately, it does crease on my lids and I know it's because they use Talc in their eye products. Oh well, I can't really complain getting one dud out of the group!

It's like Christmas once a month and who doesn't like Christmas? That's right, no one dislikes Christmas. So what are you waiting for? Go treat yourself to a little slice of awesome today HERE! 

Mani Monday

Like most Mondays today was CRAZY. I felt like I was running around everywhere with my head chopped off and wasn't sure if I was going to get around to posting a Mani Monday! Then I remembered that I had some OPI Pure Lacquer Nail Apps lying around somewhere. After hunting them down in my mess of a nightstand I quickly applied them. They are a three-in-one consisting of a base coat, color coat and top coat. Thanks to the three in one they made this Mani Monday blog post possible. Check out those bad boys! The best part? I have fancy looking nails that require little time to do and it's another Mani Monday success!

I've used these OPI Pure Lacquer Nail Apps in the past and I LOVE them. They last for forever and are so very easy to do. Application only takes about five minutes and all you need lying around is a nail file. You remove the nail lacquer from the strip, rub on to your nails and file off any access lacquer. It's as easy as pie. These strips are perfect for special occasions or just because, and come in many different colors and patterns! Go check 'em out!

Nose Wax

All I really want to say right now is that my husband is amazing. End of story.

Okay, so maybe not the end of it based on the sole fact that you've probably had a glimpse of an interesting photo of Tim via Facebook or Instagram. What can I say? He's pretty attractive with those nose plugs and I couldn't resist sharing a photo and a little information about a nose wax.

People are always a little surprised that this treatment is available. Most individuals stick to nose trimming and/or tweezing and hey, if that floats your boat that's fine! I find that a nose wax is worth the 10-15 minute procedure to have clean nostrils for an entire month. Also, some noses can last up to six weeks depending on your personal hair growth cycles. The procedure goes a little something like this: hard wax is inserted into the opening of one's nostril where it hardens/adheres (over a short period of time) to a collection of hairs, and when the timing is right, is then pulled straight out. Any pain? Nope, it doesn't hurt like you think it would! Tweezing one hair at a time is painful and usually filled with tears but when the entire bunch of hairs is safely removed it's fairly comfortable. One pull and no tears, just sexy nostrils. 

Oh, and guys, I double dog dare you to try it. Your lady friends will thank you.

P.S. Don't try this at home guys. Serious. If you're not trained properly there's a good chance an injury could occur. Please seek out a professionals assistance for their experience and knowledge.

Bye Bye Under Eye

As small as this tip may be, I love sharing it!

For those who are constantly searching for the latest and greatest in concealer search no more! I will give you the ultimate cheat sheet of what concealer colors really hide!

• PINK- Perfect for covering purple, blue and black. It's a gem for getting those dark circles under the eyes vanished! Also, a pink toned concealer is great for any apparent bruising skin may suffer from.
• YELLOW- Best for covering red or pink tones found in the skin. Yellow is G-R-E-A-T for acne sufferers AND for rosacea. Remember, yellow mellows the appearance of acne and/or rosacea. You see what I did there? "Yellow mellows." I (THINK) that I'm a pretty good poet.
• LILAC- Great for people who dislike their sallow looking skin. It may be better saying yellowed looking skin.
• GREEN- We've all seen it before while we're perusing the cosmetic isles at Target but what the heck do you use green for? It is also used to cover redness much like yellow does. However, green is an unnatural and unflattering skin shade so many stick with yellow hues.
• BEIGE- Nude colors are great for all over cover-ups. It's your basic concealer that anyone could use. Looking to lighten those under eyes to make them pop? Choose a shade that's two to three shades lighter than your skin tone. If you're super pale like me, I like to use a shimmery white or ivory powder over my foundation to do the trick since most concealers are my actual skin tone.

Now that you have a cheat sheet, GO USE IT.

Is it REALLY Worth it?

Let's face it, we all have our moments of weakness when we purchase a product that claims to be a magic genie in a bottle to address all of our skin issues. We then get home and of course, we use it. But was it really that magical compared to that last jar of awesome? Here's a little tip that breaks down how fast you go through an entire bottle and whether the price was worth the longevity of the product. I feel like knowing these two simple facts REALLY help me make more aware choices when deciding if a product is going to be a repeat purchase. The best part is that it's easy to do! 

All you have to do is write the date of your first use on the bottom of the container. Make sure you use permanent marker so any water can't smudge the official start date. I am a whiz when it comes to remembering what each item cost so I never write the price. I am the Rain Man of all purchase totals. If you're not as weird as me, feel free to add the price you purchased the product at along side of the start date. When you are completely finished with the product you can see how long it lasts, attain a price breakdown on what the cost per day/use, etc. and VIOLA! You're done! This little trick makes me feel guilt free when I go back to purchase another magic bottle that I feel and KNOW is worth every penny.

Mani Monday

Looks like Mani Monday is here to stay! A few Mondays ago, I received some AMAZING feedback regarding whether or not to keep Mani Monday's going and obviously it's a keeper! This week's color is an OPI Liquid Sand shade and it's to die for. 

Everyone meet, It's All San Andreas's Fault by OPI.

She sure is a beaut. Like the first (and only) Mani Monday post, it dries to a sandy texture and doesn't require a top coat, saving you a little time. This particular OPI Liquid Sand is one hundred percent matte. I particularly like that it's a neutral that can be thrown with anything in my closet without looking too out of place. I think I forgot to mention that it's a match made in heaven for those upcoming fall months that I'm so excited for! 

For those who missed out on the last Mani Monday post my overall thoughts on an OPI Liquid Sand polish is that it's worth hoarding based on the three simple facts. It doesn't wear and tear easily, it's a time-saver and it sure is fun having a little bit of texture on your fingers. Houston, we have a winner.