The Best Damn Skincare Products Of 2016

If you follow my blog regularly, you know that I am a big skincare advocate and fan.  In 2016, I got to try out some amazing skincare products and have included some into my regular skincare routine.  Please see my round up of the best skincare products for 2016.

The Michael Todd Beauty Soniclear
We are constantly subjecting our skin to dirt, environmental pollutants and of course makeup.  All of this leaves a film on our face acting as a barrier to skincare products.  This buildup can leave us with an uneven skin tone, roughness, and creates false wrinkles; it can also clog our pores.  And if that wasn't bad enough, all of these can make us appear older!

That is why it is important that we have a great SONIC skincare device that is properly cleansing and exfoliating our face and the Michael Todd Beauty’s, Soniclear has been here to my rescue! It is better than any other sonic device out there! Not only is this the world's first antimicrobial brush it also helps to...

• Buff away those dead skin cells, revealing a more radiant, healthy-looking skin.  
• After sonic cleansing, it will be easier for the skin to absorb moisturizers and other skin treatments. 

Colleen Rothschild Comprehensive Radiant Cleansing Balm 

This product is like no other I have used. It is literally like a balm for your face that effortlessly dissolves all traces makeup and other impurities on the skin. And it has Clove and Rosemary for a natural aromatherapy smell that is to die for! This Cleansing Balm leaves my face feeling so smooth and radiant. You can see the glow on my skin. Plus, it was very hydrating, giving me a luminous, dewy look.

Paula's Choice: Skin Perfecting 1% BHALotion Exfoliant
An exfoliant is one of my favorite skincare products especially if you have any sun damage. Why? Because an exfoliant will remove the built up layers on the outside of the skin, it ends up revealing that younger looking skin.  Removing these dead skin cells can also improve any dull, uneven skin, you may have, as well as minimizing the appearance of fine lines.

I also liked that this BHA exfoliant has some anti-bacterial properties that helped when I start to get a blemish. 

Michael Todd Beauty WILD BERRY SKIN PEEL
This is a berry good peel, and a must have in your skincare arsenal. Not only does it smell amazing, but this weekly AHA & BHA exfoliating peel/mask is formulated with Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid and Fruit Enzymes in a soothing base of 100% Organic Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, so it is all organic.

What it is formulated to do:
Intensely exfoliates to help remove dead dulling skin, improve the appearance of pore size, fine lines, wrinkles, rough texture and uneven tone. The Michael Todd Beauty Wild Berry Skin Peel is a cruelty free product that provides a more radiant, glowing, youthful look.

BeautiControl, BC Facial Exfoliating Polish
We expose our skin to so many environmental pollutants, and this polish helps to combat those.  It contains a mega antioxidant complex consisting of encapsulated Resveratrol, Acai berry, and green tea extract to protect skin from oxidative and environmental damage.

It gently exfoliates dead surface cells to invigorate and polish skin with natural jojoba beads.  It also provides skin-brightening benefits and antioxidant protection for newly exposed skin cells.

Skinlogics® Essentials Foaming Cleanser
This is an amazing cleanser that I have been using for years.  I included this in this round up as in 2016; I started using it in conjunction with my Michael Todd Beauty Soniclear.  The combination of both of them whisks away impurities and makeup while replenishing lost moisture, leaving skin energized and refreshed.

Regeneration Tight, Firm & Fill® Face Contour Creme
This is my go to moisturizer.  It leaves my skin looking smooth and firm with increased elasticity and luminosity. With consistent daily use, the patent-pending triple-action peptide complex creates an optimal environment for the skin to naturally produce collagen, the skin's building block of youth, so skin appears firmer.

Key Benefits:
• Hyaluronic Filling Spheres® attract and bind to moisture to instantly fill in the appearance of wrinkles, for a dramatically younger-looking appearance.
• Provides extreme moisture
• Helps to smooth the skin
• Helps skin appear plumper

Now that I have mentioned my favorite creams and serums, none of them mean anything if they don’t work at their full potential.  So make sure to keep a look out for my upcoming post on the best device ever that I just recently implemented into my skincare routine.  The Michael Todd Beauty Soniceraser PRO. 

This skincare device allows you to get more out of your anti-aging serums and creams when you apply them using the Sonic Eraser Pro. With a 3-in-1 technology called Triplex Cellular Infusion, this handy tool helps the beneficial ingredients in your skincare products break through the skin's outer barrier to reach deeper layers of the skin.

UPDATE, MY REVIEW... Click here to find out everything you need to know about the Michael Todd Beauty Soniceraser Pro.

Too Faced Cosmetics Collab With Kat Von D Sneak Peek

If you are a big Too Faced cosmetics fan like myself, you are going to need to mark this on your calendar! I have a friend that is the Junior Account Executive at Too Faced Cosmetics, and I have partnered up with Too Faced Cosmetics to share this great collab with all of my readers.

The collab of a lifetime, Kat Von D and Too Faced have teamed up to bring you Better Together: a super-limited collection that celebrates love, true friendship and a passion for makeup.

This Ultimate Eye Collection is loaded with everything you need to create fab and bold eye looks.

This interlocking heart eyeshadow palette includes...

• A full-size Tattoo Liner in “Trooper.”
• Full-size Better Than Sex Mascara!
• 12 gorgeous new eyeshadows 6 for each side of the respective sides of the palette. Including the signature pigment-rich eyeshadow formulations in matte, shimmer, and metallic finishes.

And the best part this is 100% Cruelty-Free Forever!

Visit your local Sephora on Monday, December 26th and get this limited addition palette!

Last Minute Cruelty Free Beauty Gifts For The Holiday

Looking for some last minute cruelty free gifts for that beauty lover? Well your search is over, as I have rounded up some of my all time favorites to share with you! From skincare to fake eyelashes, I have you covered!

Mascara: Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara.
This is the best mascara ever!!!

• It is smudge-proof.
• Has Acacia Senegal tree extract to nourish, thicken and lock curl in place.
• Unique peptides for the deepest, intense black possible.
• A MUST HAVE!

This Post Contains Affiliate Links

Skincare: Michael Todd Beauty WILD BERRY SKIN PEEL.
This is a berry good peel, and a must have in your skincare arsenal. Not only does it smell amazing, but this weekly AHA & BHA exfoliating peel/mask is formulated with Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid and Fruit Enzymes in a soothing base of 100% Organic Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, so it is all organic.

What it is formulated to do:
Intensely exfoliates to help remove dead dulling skin, improve the appearance of pore size, fine lines, wrinkles, rough texture and uneven tone. Provides a more radiant, glowing, youthful look.

Eyeshadow & Highlighter: BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel - 14 Color Eyeshadow & Highlighter Palette.
Beauty expert and YouTube sensation Carli Bybel designed this versatile BH Cosmetics 14 Color Eyeshadow & Highlighter Palette to dial up the drama and add excitement to your look.  Not only is the palette cruelty-free it is also vegan and paraben free!

Eye Lashes & Glue: Ardell Lash set 
The Deluxe Pack is a professional quality twin set of Ardell false eyelashes, DUO adhesive and includes a new soft-touch lash applicator to quickly and effortlessly adjust and apply lashes. Again an all in one! You can't go wrong with this.

Foundation/Illuminator: Your Skin But Better™ CC+ Illumination™ with SPF 50+.
This is a Color Correcting Illuminating Full Coverage Cream that includes Anti-Aging Hydrating Serum + SPF 50+ UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum Physical Sunscreen. Not only does this go on flawlessly, it also adds that illumination so it is many products in one!

Image From Website

Lips and Eyeliner: Kat Von D, The Bow N Arrow Set.
I am a fan of her products, and this one is a great set! It includes a mini set of Kat Von D’s favorite eye and lip products, featuring the famed black Ink Liner and matte, nude Everlasting Liquid Lipstick.

Eye Primer & Liner: e.l.f. Eye Primer & Liner Sealer.  This eye primer has some amazing stay power and surpasses some expensive brands!

Duo includes:

• Prime: sets your eyeshadow in so your color won't fade, bleed or crease.
• Liner: unique clear liquid and built-in felt tip precision eyeliner brush transforms your favorite eyeshadow into a waterproof, smudge-proof liquid liner, now how cool is that? 

Setting Spray: e.l.f. Studio Makeup Mist.
Again another product that is comparable to a department store setting spray and with a price like this you need to add this to your shopping list of cruelty free beauty items!

Shop this post below! Enjoy...

Tips To Achieving Glowing, Smooth Skin In The Winter Months

While the weather outside may be frightful, this doesn’t mean your makeup and skin need to be as well.  During these cold winter months, our skin can sure be affected by these blistering cold winds. So today, I wanted to share with you a product that can help you to have that radiant beauty, even in the winter months.

Dry, itchy skin affects a lot of us and can be most prevalent during this time of year- when the humidity and temperature drops-making our skin particularly vulnerable to dryness and cracking. That is why it is important to take extra special care of skin during the winter, as no one wants to apply makeup to their skin when it is dry and flaky, highlighting our imperfections.

The Solution 
Boy do I have a product for you that can not only smooth the surface imperfections for an incredibly bright complexion, but it also includes rejuvenating ingredients such as retinol and milk protein 20 that condition, balance, and protect the skin from environmental stresses.

So, what is this product? It is Studio Gear’s PRIME OBJECTIVE SKIN PERFECTING FACE PRIMER.  I’ve been a big fan of this companies makeup brushes and that is why I was excited to try out this primer and just in time for the holidays!

With these temperature dips, my skin has sure been craving more moisture and by me adding this primer into my regimen I could really seal in and retain hydration, which sure is a plus.

The PRIME OBJECTIVE is a silicone based face primer that acts to “re-touch”, or visually diminish, imperfections in the surface texture of the skin. PRIME OBJECTIVE contains a sustained release liposome system with retinol that can help support cell turnover and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as a milk protein complex that can help to balance and protect the skin against environmental stresses. The “skin perfecting” effect of this state-of-the-art formula is further enhanced with optical diffusers.

Look For Key Ingredients

Fragrance Free
Another great thing about this product is that it is Paraben-Free and Fragrance-Free, which is essential when are face is exposed to these frigid temperatures as products with fragrances in them can also lead to additional irritation and dryness, which can result in premature wrinkles!

Retinol
I was very excited to find out that this product also has retinol in it.  You see, there are tons of damaging elements that are skin is exposed to every day, like dust, pollutants, sweat, even makeup, all of which can age the skin. Retinol (Vitamin A) is a useful product that helps diminish these signs of aging and visibly contribute to improving the appearance of your skin.

Makeup Application
Aside from the skincare aspect, this facial primer helps to prep the skin for makeup applications. I’m sure we’d all agree that dry flaking skin is a nightmare to dry to apply makeup. 

If you follow my blog you know my thoughts on primers, they are a must.  Without them, your makeup will sit in your pores, create false wrinkles, while leaving a dull appearance...period! On the other hand, when you do use a primer, you'll find that your foundation will have a much smoother finish while minimizing the appearance of pores and fine lines and this primer has really help keep my facial makeup in place, while adding that extra glow just in time for the holiday season!

Want To Have The Glow Too?  
Well now you can with as Studio Gear is offering all of my reader 10% off, simply use the code: BB