Friday Favorites

It’s Friday, so y’all know what that means! It’s time to link up with Erika and Andrea to let everybody know what some of my favorite things are right now.

 

 

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COLLEEN ROTHSCHILD SITE WIDE SALE

Ladies!!! It’s Colleen Rothschild’s 10th Anniversary and the company is celebrating by giving all of us a 25% OFF SITE WIDE code! Code: 10YEARS

I absolutely credit these products with transforming my skin and my hair, and I’ve loved sharing them with all of you over the last 10 years. And I’ve of course loved hearing how so many of you have fallen in love with the products as well.

Click HERE to shop the entire sale. It’s the perfect time to replace your empties and/or try something that you’ve been wanting to try.

Out of all of the products in the Colleen Rothschild line, the Cleansing Balm is my favorite product by far. It totally changes the taking off your makeup game, and I’m telling you, you won’t even dread washing your face at night. I KNOW. That’s a big claim, but I stand behind it.

This balm truly has a cult following. For those of you that haven’t tried it yet, it’s different than any other cleanser I’ve ever used. First of all, I apply it to a dry face. I scoop out a small amount of the balm with dry hands and slather it on to my dry face. As I rub it on my face, the heat from my hands changes the balm into more of an oily texture and it just feels incredibly luxurious. It melts my makeup away, leaves my skin feeling amazing and hydrated, and the light citrus smell is PERFECT. And it’s so gentle that you can even open your eyes as you are using it! A muslin cleansing cloth comes with it that is made with 100% cotton that gently exfoliates while you’re cleansing. It’s incredible. I just pop my cloth in the wash every several days. And listen, if you’re concerned about the price, don’t be. This tub will last you around 9 months!

After cleansing my face, I use the peel pads. I’ve been using the Glycolic Acid Peel Pads for several years now, and I absolutely swear by them. After adding them to my weekly routine years ago, I’ve never looked back. So, what are they?  Remember the Stridex pads we all used as teenagers? Well, these are the new and much improved version! While the Stridex pads were salicylic acid and more of an acne treatment, the CR pads are glycolic and lactic acid, both used for cell turnover. AND I NEED ALL THE HELP WITH CELL TURNOVER THAT I CAN GET. #turnoverthosecellsbaby These pads boast a spa-strength treatment formula that helps to help dissolve skin-clogging dirt and debris. And listen to this… your skin’s natural renewal process will be enhanced as a result of the 10 percent blend of The Glycolic and Lactic Acids in the pads. The pads target fine lines, hyperpigmentation and imperfections and will reveal a fresher, brighter, more even complexion. YES, PLEASE!

I’m ALL ABOUT brighter skin and these pads really deliver. They are large, so I sweep the pad all over my face, neck, and chest after cleansing. There are 60 pads per order, so the jar lasts me 2 months. (I used to use a pad every 3-4 days, but I bumped up to using them every other day! I notice such a difference that I just want to always be using them.)

Cleansing Balm / Glycolic Acid Peel Pads

The Face Oil #9 used to be too much for my skin, but now I can’t imagine it not being a part of my nightly routine. Colleen touts it as the ultimate in skin luxury, and I have to agree. It improves radiance. RADIANCE! Who doesn’t want to increase their radiance?!?

And during the months when my skin is extra dry, I use it in the morning as well. I just mix it with my moisturizer and my skin absolutely drinks it up. YOU WILL LOVE IT.

I’m excited to tell y’all that my favorite eye cream is BACK IN STOCK, but there are LIMITED QUANITITIES right now. This eye cream is a true viral sensation and they are having a heck of a time keeping it in stock.

This was my personal #1 find for the month when I first used it back in March, and it’s actually in my Top 3 finds for the entire year! It was in y’alls Top 5 for 3 months earlier this year, and now it’s back in the top again!

YES, IT’S REALLY THAT GOOD.

Illuminating Tinted Eye Cream

It makes my under-eye area appear brighter, more radiant, and more youthful. TRULY! The formula specifically targets common concerns of tired and dull eyes, such as under-eye darkness, fine lines, dryness, and puffiness.

Here’s what’s in it and what it does:

• Hyaluronic acid: helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
• Caffeine: targets puffiness and water retention.
• Pearlized pigments provide an instant brightening effect and create a radiant, glowing appearance.
• Peach coloring pigments neutralize blue undertones, helping to balance out skin tone and create a more even appearance.
• Peptites help smooth texture.

It’s really hard to capture how awesome the eye cream is in a picture, so you’re going to need to trust me. You can use it on its own on a fresh-faced day, but it also functions beautifully under makeup. I’m telling you, this eye cream is going to WOW you.

And just FYI: I don’t like concealer and never use it, but I think this eye cream not only does the job of an eye cream, but it also functions a bit like a concealer does. Here’s the difference though:  it doesn’t settle into lines or crepiness (which is why I don’t like or wear concealer).

I obviously highly recommend this product. Like I said before, IT WILL WOW YOU.

Illuminating Tinted eye cream

The Vitamin C Brightening Serum combines two skin-care superstars, 15% stabilized Vitamin C (THD Ascorbate) and the workhorse antioxidant Niacinamide. The synergistic blend helps improve the appearance of dark spots, smooth uneven skin texture, brighten dullness and defend against the impact of environmental aggressors. Over time skin appears radiant luminous, and healthy. This is one of the newest products I’ve added to my routine, and I think it’s great. I put it on after a serum and before my moisturizer.

My mom turned me on to the Age Renewal Super Serum. It’s her favorite CR product, and she uses a ton of them. She swears that the deep smile lines she has on each side of her face have been greatly reduced. She said she can still see them, but she can’t feel them like she used to. (She says she used to run her fingers over her face while watching t.v. and she could feel them. But not anymore!) She used to not bat an eye at spending serious bucks on skincare. Like, SERIOUS bucks. She felt like her skin was important and it was worth the money to take care of it. However, after my dad retired, she started to become more cautious about the money she was spending, and she was disappointed that her skin wasn’t looking as great as it had in the past. Enter, Colleen.

Vitamin C Brightening Serum / Age Renewal Super Serum

The Micro Mineral Resurfacing Scrub is my very favorite mask to use. Whenever my skin is feeling dull or lackluster, I use this scrub to wake up my face and really brighten it right on up. After using it, my skin is SO SOFT and it truly does look healthier and more glowy. It refines texture, helps reduce clogged pores and brightens dull complexions by buffing away dead skin cells using the power of ultra-fine crystals. 

I don’t like to spend a lot of time or money on expensive spa treatments, but this scrub is like an at home alternative to professional microdermabrasian treatment.

Do you see the rose quartz pieces below? When I rub the scrub on my face, it feels like very very fine sand. It gently (but efficiently!) exfoliates and reveals newer and fresher skin. IT’S AN INCREDIBLE PRODUCT.

Micro Mineral Resurfacing Scrub

And y’all. DO NOT SLEEP on the hair products. They are phenomenal.

The CR products revived my mom’s skin several years ago, and now she credits the hair products for changing her hair too! She says her hair was starting to look dry and old, but not anymore!!!!

I’ve never really battled super dry or brittle hair; however, after having Carter my hair did change a bit and was not nearly as shiny or healthy as I felt it had been pre-pregnancy. It was then that I ditched the drugstore shampoo and conditioner that I’d been using my entire life (with no problems at all), and I started investing in better products for my hair. The beauty store products I started using back then definitely helped, and I was happy with my hair. I definitely thought they were worth the higher price because hair is important to me, y’all. Haha!

I love all the hair products except one. I just don’t love the shampoo. I know others that do love the shampoo, but I personally prefer a shampoo I’ve been using for a while now over the CR shampoo. Not pictured here, but I’m also a huge fan of the Quench and Shine Restorative Mask and the Replenish and Shine Daily Conditioner. They are only the conditioners I’ve used for a couple of years now. I even travel with them because I don’t like the way my hair feels or looks if I have to use something else.

So I use every single Colleen hair product (except for the shampoo), and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND them all.

The SMOOTH & SHINE HAIR SERUM (on the left) helps banish frizz, tame flyaways and quench dry ends with the light-weight, transformative power of Cotton Seed Oil. Essential nutrients from Neem Oil and Hibiscus Oil help strengthen, protect and nourish hair so that it feels soft and looks amazing! When I asked my mom how often she uses the serum, she said “I use the serum alllllllllllllllllll the time.” When I asked her if she used it on damp hair or dry hair, she said “YES TO BOTH”! Haha! She uses it on both damp hair AND dry hair. Like me, she uses it on her damp hair before drying it, but she also uses it on her dry hair after styling it. I wash my hair every couple of days, and my favorite way to use the serum is to run it through my hair AFTER I’ve styled my hair with my rollers and /or a curling iron. It smells great, it tames fly aways, and it adds SO MUCH SHINE! My mom said after getting older, she now washes her hair much less frequently than she used to have to, but she says “the serum livens my hair up between washings and gives it the sheen that it needs.” But yes, she also works a little bit through her damp hair before she dries it with her hair dryer.

The Protect and Perfect Styling Cream (on the right) is what I apply to my damp hair right before drying it. It’s a heat protectant, it smooths, and it also aids in taming flyaways.

Smooth and Shine Hair Serum / Protect and Perfect Styling Cream

And y’all, I just started using the BRAND NEW Gentle and Clear Skincare Set. that just launched, and so far I’m loving it! I will report back with specific reviews on each of the products after using it for several more weeks, but my initial thoughts are that it’s awesome.

I’m thinking this set is going to be perfect for Carter. He’s actually good about taking care of his skin and uses CR products from the Exploration Collection right now, but I think this set is even a better fit for him.

This set includes FULL sizes of the following: Purifying Cleanser, Clarifying Solution, Weightless Moisturizer, Overnight Treatment, and 1 Microfiber Cleansing Mitt.

Gentle and Clear Skincare Set

If you want to know about the specific products, head to this page and click on what you want to know more about. And if you don’t want to buy the whole set but want to check out one product (like the Overnight Treatment), you can totally do that.

HOW TO USE:

1. PURIFYING CLEANSER: Wet face. Gently massage cleanser onto skin using circular motions, avoiding direct contact with eyes. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry. Use morning and night.
2. CLARIFYING SOLUTION: After cleansing, apply with a cotton pad, gently sweeping over face and neck, avoiding the eye area. For best results, use morning and night.
3. WEIGHTLESS MOISTURIZER: Apply moisturizer to clean skin morning and night.
4. OVERNIGHT TREATMENT: Apply evenly on clean skin at night or use as a spot treatment.

Gentle and Clear Skincare Set

25% OFF is one of THE BEST SALES Colleen ever does, so make sure to take advantage! Again, the code is 10YEARS.

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FOOTBALL BANQUET

The Freshman football banquet was last night, so last night we got to celebrate the team. We had so much fun watching these boys play together this year, and it was definitely a season we will never forget! I’m sad we didn’t grab a picture of the whole team, but here’s Carter with some of his best buddies.

Campbell, Carter, and Aidan

Jackson and Carter

 

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SWEET BOYS

Every single day, at some point during the day, you can find these two cuddled up with each other. They are just the sweetest brothers.

Buddy was sacked out on the floor, and the one white Under Armour sock was on top of him. Carter then gathered lots of other things that were around and just started piling things on him. Buddy just laid there. 🙂

 

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OUTFIT PLANNING 

I haven’t done an outfit planning post in a good while, so I started saving some favorites this week that I knew I would work well to start building some outfits with. Next week I’ll have quite a few more outfits, but I wanted to start out with just a couple today.

I ordered these pants for myself last week, but there was a delay in the shipping, and I’m hoping to get them today! I ordered a small for myself, and now there’s only a handful of smalls left. They are NOW ON SALE, so grab them if you want to!

This is a perfect spring outfit! It’s made up of some great basics that will serve us all well. And how cute are the bag and the bracelets!

white tee / denim jacket / drawstring pants / cross necklace / bag / huggie earrings / colorful bracelet stack (multicolor color block) / sneakers

And here’s the same main pieces, but dressed up a bit with some gold jewelry, a DARLING beaded bag, and some adorable slides. For another look, you could also just switch out the denim jacket for a cardi!

white tee / denim jacket / drawstring pants / layered necklace / bag / huggie earrings / gold bracelet stack / raffia slide sandals

I’m in the middle of creating lots more of these collages, so you can look forward to seeing those sometime next week!

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NEW FESTIVE FINDS

Look at this ADORABLE sweater. You can find lots more super festive and adorable finds like it HERE. And you can use the code STMT10 for 10% OFF any of them!

I made an outfit collage with it with my very favorite jeans and some of the fun accessories I showed above. Remember to use the code STMT10 for 10% OFF the sweater.

heart hoodie / heart huggie earrings / colorful bracelet stack / raw hem straight leg ankle jeans / bag / sneakers

And if you missed this collage a couple of weeks ago, you need to check it out!

1) heart earrings / 2) gold heart necklace / 3) pave heart necklace / 4) zip up sweatshirt / 5) Nike sneakers / 6) Dior lip oil / 7) Love sweatshirt / 8) striped pouch / 9) navy and pink all over heart sweater / 10) heart collar sweater / 11) xoxo sweatshirt / 12) pink and white bracelets / 13) red heart striped sweater / 14) red and pink heart pajama set / 15) big heart cardigan / 16) navy, pink, and white heart pajamas / 17) love pajamas

 

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SOME CASUAL OUTFITS THAT HAVE BEEN ON REPEAT

I showed this sweater in blue last month, but I ordered this color for a birthday gift for a friend because I knew she would love it. I of course tried it on and took a picture before wrapping it up. 🙂

This 1/4 zip sweater will of course be great with jeans, but since it’s long enough I wanted to style it with leggings. If you’re over 5’4″ it probably won’t work with leggings, but it’s great for me. Super soft and it comes in 21 colorways (some stripes and some color blocking). I’m wearing a medium here, but I’m actually going to order the “navyrose” in a small to wear with jeans. I can’t resist navy with a hot pink stripe. I was powerless.

1/4 zip sweater / similar cross necklace / leggings / sneakers

Here it was last month in blue…

1/4 zip sweater / similar cross necklace / leggings / sneakers

Everybody loves a good lounge set. This one is kind of a thinly ribbed sweater material. You could totally wear it out of the house if you did a half-tuck and threw on sneakers and a denim jacket. I’m wearing a medium.

lounge set (camel) / similar cross necklace / similar slippers

Another great lounge set! I’m wearing a small in this one. Here I am wearing it at home with slippers…

lounge set / similar slippers

And here I’ve thrown it on with sneakers and my new bag to run around town!

I showed this tote back in early December, but I wanted to show it again!

My friend Lindsey at The Motherchic started a company called Capital Z with her sister, and they have designed and produced some really incredible totes, cross body bags, card cases, and hats.

She sent me this “You Can Have It All” tote and I’m in love with it. It is beautifully made of real leather and can be worn as a classic tote or cinched in like I have it below for more of a bucket bag look. And how fun and unique is the design! The leather is so soft, it has a magnetic closure, and it has a built-in laptop sleeve with a couple of interior pockets as well.

lounge set / similar slippers

 

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SOME FAVORITE BEAUTY FINDS – REVIEW

This Maria Badescu drying lotion is a product I was #influenced to try, and now I can’t live without it. The second I notice a blemish popping up, I dip a q-tip in the bottle (don’t shake the bottle up – keep the pink liquid on the bottom), pick up some of the pink solution, and dab it on the blemish. Carter uses it too, and it works wonders! Seriously, if you or your teen often has a pimple pop up here or there, GRAB THIS. It’s definitely a spot treatment and only a teeny tiny amount is required, but IT WORKS WONDERS.

The NYX pore filler has been a game changer for me. I first found it when doing a sponsored beauty post with Macy’s years ago, and I fell in love. I have large pores on my nose, and this products “fills” them and filters them for a much smoother look. So, I ordered the first time from Macy’s, but all subsequent times I’ve ordered on Amazon. If you struggle with pore size, order this product immediately! It’s like a filter for your face! It’s always under $20, but right now it’s under $10!

Kenra blow dry spray was a product originally introduced to me by Amanda, my hair stylist. She sprayed it in my hair before starting to blow dry it, and I couldn’t get over how great it smelled. This was years ago, and I’ve been using it ever since.  It gives heat protection, it reduces drying time, it adds shine, AND DID I MENTION IT SMELLS AWESOME?

Maria Badescu drying lotion / NYX pore filler / Kenra blow dry spray

 

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That’s it for today, y’all! Have a wonderful weekend with your people!

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