For this years Holiday Collection, BUXOM was inspired by opulent parties and masquerade balls to create the After Dark Holiday 2018 Collection. I look forward to BUXOM Holiday sets every year, they always combine fun packaging with quality products all while representing a great value. I have two sets to show you today, Doll in Disguise and […]
BUXOM After Dark Holiday Gift Sets!
FTC Disclaimer: This gift guide is sponsored by iHerb.
I know you guys have heard me talk about iHerb a lot. Ever since I first discovered them (too many years ago to admit), I have been hooked! They have a huge variety of health and beauty products (over 30,000 to be exact), and that includes a lot of cruelty free brands that you already know and love. The prices are really good, and in fact they guarantee that you will receive the best value in the world (not just in the US – they ship with free or discounted shipping to over 150 countries). They also ensure that all the brands they sell are legit and authentic brands that sell in the US market.
As I mentioned, I have been shopping at iHerb for many, many years, and I wanted to share my shopping secret with you guys. I put together this list of products that will make great cruelty free holiday gifts, but there are lots of other options on the site. Use my list for inspiration and then have a browse on the site to see what else they carry!
Artnaturals Wood Grain Diffuser – in action near my pink Christmas tree
Artnaturals, Aroma Oil Diffuser – Let’s start with this gorgeous essential oil diffuser from Artnaturals. It comes in a stylish light or dark brown finish that looks like wood (BPA-free) to match your decor. It diffuses your essential oils without using any heat (which can damage the properties of the oils), and it has a seven color LED lights that you can cycle through (or leave it on your favorite color). To use, just add water (up to the line) and add 5-7 drops of your favorite essential oil. You can set it to diffuse for 1 hour, 3 hours, or just set it to “On”. When it runs out of water, it shuts off automatically, so you let it do it’s thing without worries.
Bdellium Tools, Green Bambu Series, Smoky Eyes, 5 Piece Brush Set – Bdellium Tools makes some of my favorite makeup brushes of all time. In fact, I have had this same 781 crease brush from the Yellow Bambu series for years and it’s one that I would literally cry if I had to live without! The set is hypo-allergenic and eco-friendly, made with sustainable bamboo handles, and the brushes are synthetic (cruelty free and vegan). This set is perfect for beginner or advanced makeup users, and the price is right – less than $20 for the whole set! The retail price is quite a bit higher ($27 for the set) and $45 if you bought them separately.
Azelique, Lip Gloss, Cruelty-Free, Certified Vegan – Azelique is a cruelty free brand that can only be found on iHerb. I reviewed several Azelique products in the past and I really liked them. I have a lot of friends who aren’t big makeup users, but they will kill for some lip gloss! This lip gloss is not sticky and easy to wear. It has a nice berry scent, and comes in four shades (Soft Violet pictured here). It’s super glossy and the Soft Violet has a nice lavender, almost holo look to it. The gloss is fortified with organic green tea, raspberry leaf, thyme, sesame seed oil and cocoa butter for soft, smooth, hydrated lips. It’s also gluten free, which is so important for those who are sensitive! No parabens, phthalates, petroleum or FD&C colors.
Pacifica, Natural Color Quench Lip Tints – Who doesn’t love Pacifica? Not only are their products vegan (no beeswax, lanolin or carmine) and cruelty free, they are also high quality and the packaging is perfect for gift-giving! The Quench Lip Tint shades I tried are: Blood Orange, Guava Berry, and Vanilla HIbiscus. These are basically moisturizing lip balms with just a hint of tint for the makeup minimalist. They are perfect for keeping in your purse for on-the-go touch ups. Blood Orange and Guava Berry give nice warm and berry tones, while Vanilla Hibiscus is a very light, barely there tint. Not pictured: Sugared Fig and Coconut Nectar. They have a slight vanilla scent, and go on so smoothly, you’ll forget you’re wearing them. These are $5 each at iHerb.com, so you could gift the whole set and only spend 25 bucks! Or use them as stocking stuffers or office gifts. Oh – and these vegan, cruelty-free tinted lip balms are also paraben, petroleum and phthalate free.
Hugo Naturals, Cupcake Fizzy Bath Ball – Okay I have to say it again – I don’t ever want to be without bath bombs! I love a good soak to ease stress and/or achey muscles. And it’s safe to say, I pretty much never take a bath without a bath bomb or bath salts – it just doesn’t feel right to me anymore. These Hugo Naturals fizzy bath balls are made with natural ingredients, and that’s a bigger deal than you might think. Your skin absorbs A LOT, and if you’re going to be sitting in heated water for any amount of time, you want to make sure nothing bad is getting absorbed. These bath bombs are free of artificial colors and fragrances, parabens, phthalates, sulfates, PEGs, and other irritants. They are also gluten free and vegan. They come in several scents – pictured here are Cranberry Pomegranate and Vanilla Peppermint. The adorable cupcake packaging makes these ready for office gifts, hostess gifts, and stocking stuffers – no gift wrap needed!
These are my cruelty free and vegan holiday gift picks from iHerb, but I encourage you to browse the site and see what else you can find. There are so many great options! You can get a discount off your iHerb order and new customers can get an additional $5 off their minimum $40 order by clicking here.
The post iHerb Cruelty Free and Vegan Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on My Beauty Bunny.
I thought you guys would want to know – one of your favorite cruelty free drugstore brands has launched some new goodies! Physicians Formula is at it again with some new additions to their cruelty free skincare line. Like the skincare that was launched last Spring, the new products are very effective, hypoallergenic, vegan, come in gorgeous packaging (perfect for gift-giving) and are ohhhh-so-affordable!
The Perfect Matcha 3-In-One Melting Cleansing Balm ($12.95) – Let’s start with the new Physicians Formula cleansing balm. This is a thick balm with a mint green tint and a light, refreshing green tea scent. To use, rub a small amount between your fingers and apply to a dry face. You want to start without water. Rub in small circles to remove oil, dirt and makeup. You can rinse with water or a dry cloth. If you have dry skin, this may be all you need. If you have oily or acneic skin, you might want to do a double cleanse and follow up with an oil-free cleanser.
Like attracts like, so using an oil-based cleansing balm like this one to cleanse your face will pull out all that grease, so you can wash it away. It also melts down makeup (especially long wear eye makeup, foundation and lipstick) so you won’t need to risk damaging your skin by scrubbing it off. You’d be amazed at how much makeup and natural oil stays on your face if you don’t do a double cleanse. I like to use toner or micellar water on a cotton pad after cleansing. If I do a double cleanse, the pad is usually clean. If not, there’s usually quite a bit of makeup and gunk left over. Don’t believe me? You can test it out for yourself! The Perfect Matcha Cleansing Balm is also packed with antioxidants from ingredients like green tea (matcha), bamboo shoots and lotus extract.
Coconut Milk Eye Makeup Remover ($5.95) – You can spend hours watching YouTube videos to get the perfect cut crease and cat eye, but at the end of the day you’ll need a good makeup remover to take it off! Physicians Formula Coconut Milk Eye Makeup Remover is an affordable and easy way to say goodbye to your eye makeup at night.
A little bit goes a long way, so you only need a pea-sized amount. You can apply directly to your eyes from your fingertips or use a cotton pad. Rinse with warm water when your’e done. As I mentioned, like attracts like, so the oils in this product will remove even the most stubborn eyeliner, eyeshadow and mascara.
Skin Booster Vitamin Shots ($12.95 each) – I love a good skin serum! Serums are quite thin and packed with anti-aging and skin restorative ingredients. They are designed to be applied to your face before any heavy moisturizers or night masks. Physicians Formula Skin Booster Vitamin Shots come in three varieties. The Time-Restoring Vitamin Shot is for tightening, dullness, wrinkles and general anti-aging, formulated with Vitamin A, red algae and vegan collagen amino acids. The Brightening Vitamin Shot is made with Vitamin C, licorice root and Vitamin B3 – perfect for hyperpigmentation, acne scars and other dark spots. The Hydrating Vitamin Shot is great for dry or sensitive skin (and perfect for the winter time) – it’s made with hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, vegan collagen, calcium alginate (for faster skin healing) and Vitamin E.
These serums have VERY light fresh scents, are very thin, and won’t leave behind any oils (no greasy feeling). If you’re thinking all of these skin serums sound amazing, you can even layer them for extra skincare benefits. And one more thing – you really shouldn’t buy your skincare based on packaging, but if the ingredients are good and the price is right, pretty packaging can’t hurt. These Skin Booster Vitamin Shots come in gorgeous glass bottles and the active ingredients are encapsulated into tiny spheres within the gels, so they are really pretty while sitting on your countertop!
Will you be picking up any of the new Physicians Formula skincare products? Let me know in the comments below!
The post New Skincare Treatments from Physicians Formula appeared first on My Beauty Bunny.
I introduced you to Bath Bevy about a month ago and was thrilled with my box so when Sam offered me this gorgeous special-edition fall-themed box it was a no-brainer. Uh, yes please! A few times a year Bath Bevy curates a special bonus box for the season and this one is fabulous! All the scents and colors […]
Avon has always known the importance of holiday traditions. That’s why they’ve created the iconic Limited Edition Once Upon a Time Collection inspired by their rich heritage and mixing the past with the present. Avon has a variety of products that will help you celebrate the holiday season including home decor, fashion & jewelry. Today I have […]
AVON Iconic Once Upon a Holiday 2018 Collection!
A bright, white smile can take up to ten years off your age and Luster Power White Pro Sonic can help. Over time, teeth may yellow from coffee, tea or red wine stains. Professional teeth whitening is expensive, drugstore strips take two weeks and slip and slide, gel trays are messy. The Luster Power White Pro Sonic Dental Whitening […]
Luster White Luster Power White Pro Sonic Dental Whitening System
Animals have been hurt, lost, burned and even killed in the California wildfires and other recent natural disasters. It’s awful to watch this happen and not be able to help. But the good news is that you CAN help by donating to the ASPCA.
Want to join me in supporting a good cause this Giving Tuesday? Facebook and Paypal will MATCH your donations on 11/27!! Click here to help animals now!
I’m raising money for the ASPCA and your contribution will make an impact, whether you donate $5 or $500. Every little bit helps. My goal is $500 but I’m hoping we can surpass that! Even if you can’t donate right now, please share this post on your social media channels so others who can donate will know about it. Thank you for your support. I’ve included information about the ASPCA below.
From rescue to recovery to adoption, the ASPCA is there for animals every step of the way. They pride themselves in not just saving lives, but in changing them for the better—and none of it would be possible without the support of animal lovers like you. When you donate to the ASPCA today, you can help them continue to fight for animals on all fronts. Please make a gift right now.
The ASPCA was the first humane society to be established in North America and is, today, one of the largest in the world. The mission, as started by our founder Henry Bergh, is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. The ASPCA provides local and national leadership the areas of animal rescue, animals placement, and animal protection. This includes programs like the Field Investigations and Response team that deploys nationwide to address large scale cruelty cases, a Canine Rehabilitation Center for behavioral healing, public policy work to strengthen laws that protest animals, and many other initiatives. Most recently, the ASPCA has been involved in disaster response efforts to help animals affected the Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Michael, and the deadly California wildfires.
The post Consider the Animals Hurt and Lost in the Wildfires this Giving Tuesday appeared first on My Beauty Bunny.
Farmhouse Fresh recently released a new scent in their Body Oil line, Vanilla Bourbon $19 and in my opinion, it’s the best yet. This warm, soothing, delicious and decadent scent is subtle sophistication at its best! It’s made with Madagascar vanilla and freshly distilled small batch Texas bourbon. This is grown-up vanilla, not a foodie vanilla like frosting, […]
Farmhouse Fresh Vanilla Bourbon Body Oil!
Pammy Blogs Beauty tries out the new IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream in their matte formula. Find out what she thinks! Jen from Laugh, Love, Contour has put together two beauty Advent boxes for two followers! Be sure to enter quickly since this giveaway ends soon! The Holiday Collection by ColourPop shows that dreams do come […]
The Beauty Spotlight Team Weekly Reads!
Don’t fight the crowds, get all your Black Friday beauty deals right here! So put on your fat pants, grab a cup of coffee and shop online! Bookmark this post, I will keep updating it as I get more information. bareMinerals has 20% off a $100 order with code SHINE Nov 24-26. Bath and Body […]
Black Friday and Cyber Monday Beauty Sales!
I’m back with part two of my Suva Beauty review. Last time I shared my thoughts on their hydrating & pigmented Moisture Matte Liquid Lipsticks. Today, we’re moving from lips to eyes with their Block Party Palette, $30, and Hydra Liners/FX, $12. Block Party Palette The Limited-Edition Block Party palette gives me major 80s vibes. […]
Suva Beauty Block Party Palette & Hydra Liners
Photo taken in Edinburgh, Scotland, by Lauren McGlynn
Travel photography is the best way to bring souvenirs home. My husband and I LOVE taking photos at the places we visit. It’s obviously ideal if you can hire a professional photographer (like we did for these amazing pics right before our wedding in Edinburgh), but if you can’t, there are still ways to get some amazing photos while on your travels. We started by just taking pics for ourselves, then for the blog, and now it’s a fun, slightly competitive game of photo creativity that we both enjoy. We are still learning, and far from professional photographers, but we have learned some tricks along the way.
Pictures cost nothing and weigh no more than the device you’re already carrying. Whether you are a professional travel blogger or just getting started, here are some Instagram photo tips to improve your travel photography.
1. Be ready. Nothing is more annoying than getting ready to take a picture and getting a notification that you are out of storage or having it die on you. Aside from being annoying, this could also cost you a once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity. So, make sure your phone or camera is ready to go, fully charged and has ample storage space to save those lifetime memories.
2. Tell a story. Know why you’re taking pictures and who your audience is. Whether the photographs are personal keepsakes or are meant to be shared within your social circle and the world at large, think about the story you want them to tell. Make sure they capture the essence of the place and the personality of the subject.
3. Know the basics. If you’re not a travel blogger and are just starting out, consider taking a crash course in photography basics to have a better idea of what makes a good picture. These are things like the Rule of Thirds, color theory and learning how to work with the lighting you have.
Golden hour photo taken in Edinburgh by Lauren McGlynn
4. Take advantage of the Golden Hour. Speaking of lighting, early morning and late afternoon are the best times to get beautiful natural lighting. Not to mention, you are more likely to miss the masses and will have the opportunity to capture unbelievable sunsets and sunrises.
5. Props and Equipment. These days, an iPhone can take some pretty amazing photos, so if you’re taking photos for social media, you may want to stick with that. Or you may want to up your game with a DSLR camera. I use my iPhone X most of the time because it’s so easy and convenient. But when I want to up my game, I bring along my Canon t7i DSLR camera with a kit lens (I know, I know…). I really need to get some new lenses soon! Here’s an article on the best lenses for travel photography by a photographer who knows much more than I do on the subject. There are also a few essentials that you should consider adding to your pack from the get-go. These include a remote control, a lightweight travel tripod and an easy access camera bag.
iPhone X photo taken by me at Peggy Porschen bakery in London, England
6. Know your editing apps. While nothing beats good framing and composition practices when capturing an image, editing apps can help take care of minor blemishes and can take a picture from good to award-winning. Take some time to download some of the most popular ones for free and try them out to find the best fit and decide if you would like to invest in premium versions. I use Photoshop, LightRoom, VSCO and good ‘ole FaceTune.
7. Make friends. Selfies are great, but when you’re alone, don’t be afraid to walk up to strangers and ask them to take a picture of you. Try to spot someone who looks like they might have a cool Instagram account. Connecting with the locals is also a great way to find out about a city’s hidden gems and the best photo-ops around. You might get some gems, but be prepared for a lot of stinkers too. Either way – it’s a great way to talk to people if you’re feeling social.
The London Eye seen across the Thames River – iPhone X photo taken by me in London, England
8. Have patience. Take the time to think about the picture that you want to take and the angle that you want to take it from – get creative with this! Choose an interesting subject and figure out the best way to frame it against the background. If you can’t beat the crowds, wait them out. In most tourist spots, you’ll notice that the crowds come and go periodically. Stick around to get clean pictures in between groups of moving masses. Look at travel accounts on Instagram to get inspiration.
9. Notice things. See the beauty in unexpected places and capture it. Whether it’s the haunting beauty of an abandoned building or the way the rain puddles reflect the skyscrapers above, keep your eye open to things other people might overlook.
10. Set down the camera. Perhaps one of the best Instagram photo tips you can abide by has nothing to do with the app, but rather the opposite. Set down the camera, disconnect from social media and focus on being present in the moment. There will be time to share images with the world but, enjoying and relishing in the beauty of your travel destination is the best way to make memories worthwhile.
The post Tips for Taking the Best Travel Photos for Instagram appeared first on My Beauty Bunny.
Here I am announcing another awesome ShopBop Sale just in time for the holidays! Here are the deets for both ShopBop and East Dane: TIMES: Begin: Tuesday 11/20/18, 7:18am Eastern Time Zone (New York) End: Sunday 11/25/18, 11:59pm Pacific Time Zone (Los Angeles) Use code MORE18 and buy more save more! 15% off orders of $200+ […]
It’s that time of year! Time for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals! I do pretty much all of my holiday shopping online. Unless there’s some reason to go to a store, it’s just much easier for me to get everything I need online. I can even have things shipped directly to my family in Louisiana, so I don’t have to pack their gifts in my luggage. I’ve been collecting all the Black Friday and Cyber Week deals I can find from cruelty free makeup, skincare, haircare and lifestyle brands so you can get the best prices. I hope this is helpful. If you like it, please share it!
I will be updating this list as I get more intel on deals!
100% Pure – $10 beauty deals on Black Friday and Cyber Monday (11/20 – 11/27). Friends and Family 15% off sale will run 12/3 – 12/10 (use code FRIENDS18). Additionally, 100% Pure’s 12 Days of Giving Promotion will run from 12/13 – 12/24. A new category will be on sale each day and the promotion will be Buy 1, Get 1 50% Off on all items within the chosen category each day.
AHAVA – Black Friday Buy One Get One Free- code HDAYBOGO
Arbonne: During Black Friday / Cyber Monday week (11/19-11/30), Arbonne is offering a hot deal on their cutting edge ultrasound tool, Intelligence Genius Ultra – proven to deliver smoother, radiant, even-toned skin in seconds. The deal also includes 2 FREE skincare products, the Arbonne Intelligence Lip Treatment and Arbonne RE9 Advanced Prepwork Hydrating Dew Cream along with a on-the-go bag. (A $388 value for only $152 for the set at arbonne.com – plus free shipping, and first 10,000 buyers receive a free Genius Ultra Cleansing Cloth!). Arbonne is also offering their new Limited-Edition Green Apple Energy Fizz Sticks for $55.
Baggallini Bags and Backpacks – Buy 1, Get 1 Half Off Bryant Pouch and Limited Edition RFID Bryant Pouch at Baggallini.com! No code needed, offer good 11/28-12/25. Shop the Baggallini.com Gift Guide and get 25% OFF + FREE SHIPPING on your order, no code needed (11/14 – 11/27).
Beautycounter – This Black Friday, get 15% off your purchase + free shipping on orders $50+ (USD) (exclusions apply) -Dates: 11/20 – 11/26; This Cyber Monday, get 15% off and free shipping on orders $50+ (USD) (exclusions apply) 11/26
Beauty Store Depot – Bigger & Better for Black Friday – Save 25% on All Orders + Free Shipping & Free Gifts, code BFBIGSAVE (11/23 – 11/26).
BH Cosmetics – up to 70% off!
Bite Beauty – Black Friday – 20% off sitewide + 5 piece gift free with code FRIDAY5 (BITE Beauty Makeup Bag, BITE Beauty Mirror, Mini Lip Pencil in #34, Mini Matte Crème Lip Crayon in Leche, Mini Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Gazpacho); Cyber Monday – 20% off sitewide + 4 piece gift with code MONDAY4 (BITE Beauty Makeup Bag, BITE Beauty Mirror, Mini Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Fig, Mini Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Cayenne). *While supplies last.
Bouquet Bar – Black Friday (15% off deal) and Cyber Monday (15% off + free Spongelle gift)
Butter London – Black Friday – Buy One Get One Free Sitewide! Use Code: BOGO18. Hurry, the most popular items sell out fast! Cyber Monday – Get 40% Off All Nails And Gifts. Use Code: CYBER40!
CoverFX – Black Friday – 25% off sitewide; Cyber Monday – 30% off sitewide
Elemis – Black Friday: Friday, November 23rd – Sunday, November 25th – 25% off your purchase with code BF25 at checkout. Cyber Monday, November 26th: 25% off your purchase with code CYBER at checkout. Plus, receive a free gift with your $125+ purchase.*** Mini Trio with spend $125 ($99 value) – Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, 15ml, Pro-Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream, 15 ml, Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, 20g ml)
Ethique: Save 10% on the best-selling sustainable sampler packs for hair, face and body at Amazon.com (valid Black Friday through Cyber Monday).
Gunas – vegan handbags 40% off site-wide on Black Friday
Hydropeptide – 20% off sitewide (I love their lash serum!)
It Cosmetics – 20% off using code ITFRIDAY (11/22 – 11/25); Plus doorbuster discounts
Jane Iredale – During Black Friday weekend (11/23-11/25) jane iredale is offering a 20% savings on orders of $100 or more and a 25% savings on orders of $150 or more at janeiredale.com. Additionally, for Cyber Monday from 11/26-11/28, jane iredale will be giving away a nine-piece gift set with $150 purchase. The gift set includes 8 best-sellers in mini sizes in canvas gift with purchase bags.
Kat Von D – BLACK FRIDAY – Thursday, November 22nd – Saturday, November 24th – GIFT WITH PURCHASE: For every $75 purchase, you’ll get a FREE large makeup bag with a mini Tattoo Liner in Trooper Black and your choice of a FULL SIZE Everlasting Liquid Lipstick. CYBER MONDAY – Saturday, November 24th – Monday, November 26th – 20% off sitewide. Sunday, November 25th – Monday, November 26th – GIFT WITH PURCHASE: For every $50 purchase, you’ll get a FREE small makeup bag with a compact mirror, mini Tattoo Liner in Trooper Black, mini Ink Liner in Trooper Black, and mini Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lolita. GIVING TUESDAY – Tuesday, November 27th (One day only!) – GIFT WITH PURCHASE: Buy any Farm Sanctuary Everlasting Liquid Lipstick or Project Chimps Everlasting Liquid Lipstick, and you’ll get a FREE FULL SIZE Everlasting Lip Liner.
Korres – Holiday Flash Sale – get 15% OFF Gift Sets! Use code “HOLIDAYS15” For A Limited Time Only. Black Friday Sale – get 25% OFF + 2 Deluxe Samples + FREE 2-Day Shipping. Cyber Monday Sale – get 30% OFF Sitewide + FREE Bellflower SG with any purchase of $50 or more. Use Code: “CYBER”
Leonor Greyl – Spend $125 and get a Black Friday goodie Bag Volume Kit.
Makeup Geek – 25% off sitewide (11/23 – 11/26)
Mehron – MUA-favorited Celebre Pro-HD Cream Foundation 12 Color Palette is just $65 ($80 value) at Amazon, PLUS: you’ll get a FREE Translucent Celebre Mineral Finishing Powder ($15 value) with purchase! Steal Mehron’s iconic Metallic Powder Complete 6 Shade Collection + Mixing Liquid for only $50 ($77 value) at Amazon
MŪN – 20% off site wide from 11/22 to 11/28 with code BFCM18 on MunSkin.com
NuMe – Black Friday: Thursday Nov 22-Sunday Nov 25 (midnight) : 45% off sitewide with code THANKS45; Cyber Monday: Monday Nov 26th: 45% off site wide with code CYBER45; Cyber Week: Tuesday Nov 27th: 40% off site side with code CYBER40
Paula’s Choice – (11/23 – 11/26): 20% off site-wide
Paul Mitchell – Gifts with purchase over $25 and 30% off Pro Tools! Use code – ShareJoy
Perricone MD – Enjoy Up To 40% Off & Deals On Select Favorites – Use Code: BLACKFRIDAY18; 11/20 – Face Kits from $89 Code: HOLIDAY 18; 11/21 – Supplements on Sale Code: HOLIDAY 18; 11/22 – Happy Facegiving – Cross Franchise Kit – Nutritive Cleanser, Face Firming Serum, VCE Brightening Overnight, VCE Brightening Eye Serum, Face Finishing and Firming Moisturizer ($169) – CODE: HOLIDAY18; 11/23 – $25 Moisturizers on Sale Code: HOLIDAY 18; 11/24 – $25 Supplements on Sale Code: HOLIDAY18; 11/25 – $69 Eye Kits/Duos Code: HOLIDAY18
Physicians Formula – Black Friday – BOGO 50% sitewide at physiciansformula.com (new products + holiday sets are excluded from promotions), along with a FREE 6-piece 80th Anniversary Collection gift set with $30+ purchase. Promo valid 11/20 – 11/25. Cyber Monday: 40% off sitewide (new products + holiday sets are excluded from promotions). Promo valid 11/26 – 12/2.
Sara Happ – 20% off site wide from Black Friday through Cyber Monday with code THANKFUL on SaraHapp.com
Sephora – so many gifts on sale! Check the app for a preview before Black Friday!
Sigma – 11/19 – 11/20 – 60% off select brush sets; 11/21 – 11/23 – 30% off everything + free shipping; 11/24 – 11/25 – individual eye brushes $10 and under and face brushes $16 and under; 11/26 – 11/27 – 35% off everything + free US shipping no minimum + free flat angled kabuki with orders over $50
Sol de Janeiro – Starting November 20th – Cyber savings starts early! 25% off + FREE Sample of the NEW BRAZILIAN BEAUTY SECRET -25% Off all orders until midnight, November 26. Plus, get a sneak peek of our NEW body-loving obsession launching next month with every order. Black Friday – 25% off store wide
The Balm – 50% off sitewide plus free Batter Up Eyeshadow Stick for orders over $30
The Better Skin Co – Find them on Amazon.com – 33% off all products + FREE Shipping – Black Friday thru Cyber Monday
The Bouqs (flower delivery) – Code: CHEERS20 – 20% off site-wide (11/23-11/25); Code: CHEERS25 – 25% off site-wide (11/26)
Trilogy – ULTA (11/22 – 11/24): $10 off these top-selling Trilogy products: Certified Organic Rosehip Oil = $19, regularly $29 (a celebrity FAVE!), Rosehip Antioxidant Oil = $34, regularly $44; At TrilogyProducts.com (11/23 – 11/26), you can save 30% site-wide.
Urban Decay – 10 days, 10 deals for cyber week; 20% Off + Free Ground Shipping (Nov 22-24)
Veil Cosmetics – SALE #1: Amazon Lightening Deal (Wednesday 11/21 – Sunday 11/25) – 20% off Complexion Fix: Corrector, Concealer, and Highlighter. SALE #2: Black Friday – Cyber Monday Campaign on veilcosmetics.com (Wednesday 11/21 – Tuesday 11/25) 20% off site wide. Use code BLACKFRIDAY.
Whish – WhishBody.com (11/23 – 11/26): 30% site-wide; $20 gift with purchase (Lavender Hand Cream) when you spend $50; An additional $10 gift with purchase (Body Butter Trio Stocking Stuffer) when you spend $100
Youth to the People – 25% off all products from November 22nd-27th
Zoya – Black Friday – 70% off all gift sets with code GIFT; Cyber Monday 50% off site wide code: YAY
Enjoy the sales, and also check out my cruelty free holiday gift guide for 2018 (coming soon)!
The post 2018 Cruelty Free Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deal List appeared first on My Beauty Bunny.
It’s been a minute since we’ve featured ybf (your best friend) Beauty here on Prime Beauty. Here’s a little refresher course–ybf beauty was founded by Stacey Schieffelin, a former Ford model, renowned beauty expert, and highly successful entrepreneur. As founder and CEO of ybf beauty and Models Prefer, she has engineered an 18-year record of success as the #1 global color cosmetic […]
ybf Beauty Girlfriend Palette a Perfect Gift for Your Girlfriends!
Last weekend I attended a ‘My Favorite Things’ party hosted by one of the girls at the salon. This was my first time attending but apparently, this is a yearly tradition that has been going on for at least 5 years. There were about 15 of us there. We each brought an appetizer and wow, was […]
Lola’s Secret Beauty Blog just reviewed a wonderful Rakuten Bonus Box that features four of Lancôme’s bestsellers and customer favorites and it is quite clear why the skincare, makeup and fragrance selected are so iconic and beloved. #RANBonusBox #lancome There is no question that Charcoal is one of the hottest beauty ingredients right now. It […]
The Beauty Spotlight Team Weekly Reads!
Hey beauties, I’m back with another Fashion Flash Beauty and a Book Giveaway! I’m an avid reader and my favorite genre is mystery so I am so excited to present this book and giveaway to you! New York Times bestseller M. C. Beaton’s cranky, crafty Agatha Raisin—now the star of a hit T.V. show—is back on the case again […]
Fashion Flash Beauty & a Book Giveaway: Win the Kat Von D Shade + Light Contour Palette!
Hey Beauty Bunnies, let’s get real for a minute. Clinical depression and anxiety are no joke. I’ve suffered from mood disorders my whole life, even as a child. I was officially diagnosed with major depressive disorder when I was 16 years old. I started on a roller coaster of prescription drugs, supplements, and other treatments that have often been difficult, sometimes with terrible side effects, but some of those depression treatments have also saved my life. These days, I feel happy and calm most of the time, and most people would NEVER know I have a mental illness, but depression and anxiety are always lurking right outside my window – waiting to come in and smother me. And so – I fight!
Depression and anxiety are hard for some people to comprehend. They think, “well I’ve been sad before”, or “I’ve been nervous before”. Most people have experienced sadness, grief, fear, and anger at some point in their lives. Those feelings can be intense, but they go away with time. Clinical depression and anxiety do not usually go away on their own. They may not be tied to any life event or trigger – sometimes life is going great, but deep sadness or even complete numbness or lack of feeling come anyway. Or they may be directly tied to a devastating life event (violent crime or rape survivors, or soldiers with PTSD for example). There is such a big range with mood disorders – there are many different types, and everyone experiences them differently.
If you experience ongoing depression or anxiety, and it’s affecting your life – your work, your relationships, or making it impossible to get out of bed at all, I want you to call someone you trust and ask them to help you. It’s hard to help yourself when you’re stuck in the middle of a dark brain cloud, and you need someone who will make that appointment with a psychiatrist, drive you to your appointment if you need it, make sure you’re taking your medication, and check in on you when you need it.
Let me make this very clear – depression and anxiety are diseases, just like cancer or diabetes, and there is NO SHAME in seeking treatment. If someone tells you to “just get over it” or “look on the bright side” they do not understand what is going on and you need to find someone who does.
Medical intervention is a must for clinical mood disorders. I recommend seeing a psychiatrist right away if you’re struggling. If your brain is telling you to take your own life, please understand that it is lying to you. Call the Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 if you need help. For depression that isn’t responding to medication (or for those who can’t take medication during pregnancy or for other reasons), please look into TMS (you can read about how it saved my life here).
BUT, all of that being said, I believe there is a place for supplements in treating mood disorders. Maybe you’ve been taking antidepressants for a long time, but have hit a rough patch. Maybe something bad has happened in your life and you’re having a hard time dealing with it. Maybe you DO NOT have clinical depression, and you’re usually quite happy, but for some reason, lately, you’re just feeling down. Maybe you’ve had a major life change, and you’re having trouble sleeping, and feeling constantly anxious.
There is such a wide spectrum of feelings that humans can experience, and sometimes you need help to get through a difficult time. Your sadness or anxiety may not be as intense or as long-lasting as someone you know who, let’s say, is suffering from bipolar disorder or postpartum depression. That doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to feel better!
So, let’s talk about supplements for depression and anxiety. If you’re new to the world of supplements, or a bit skeptical, I invite you to read this first. It’s important to find high quality supplements from brands that you trust. I generally avoid most of the supplements sold in drugstores for that reason. One of the brands I trust is called Quality of Life (you can read my past review of their supplements here). Quality of Life uses high quality ingredients, and everything they sell is backed by human clinical studies. You can check out the research on their site, but I also invite you to go to PubMed, and type in different supplement ingredients to see what kind of research has been done. Don’t just take it from them, or from me – please do your own research.
Quality of Life has two supplement blends that can be helpful for depression and anxiety. The first is called Serenelle. It has a blend of Sensoril (ashwagandha – an adaptogenic herb that helps your body deal with stress), lemon balm (an herb that calms you but also increases mental alertness), L-theanine (a calming amino acid found in green tea) and GABA (an inhibiting neurotransmitter that produces calming alpha brain waves and basically chills you out), that make for a great stress-reliever and anxiety-tamer. GABA is one of my favorite supplements for anxiety. You can read more about GABA here.
Here’s what they had to say about Sensoril (a trademarked, standardized ashwagandha extract): “Sensoril contains active constituents called glycowithanolides. A type of steroidal lactone, glycowithanolides imitate certain corticosteroids (steroid hormones produced in the adrenal cortex). These corticosteriods function to shut off the stress response, protecting the body against the harmful effects of prolonged stress or overreaction to stressors. As a result of their mimicking action, glycowithanolides decrease serum cortisol (a stress hormone), pulse rate, and blood pressure — and increase serum DHEA, a neurosteroid that improves mood.” Please note that ashwagandha is a member of the nightshade family, so if you’re sensitive to potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, etc, you may want to avoid this one.
The second one is called PureBalance Serotonin, and it’s made with a blend of 5HTP, L-theanine, rhodiola, Relora (standardized magnolia bark extract), and Vitamin D3. These ingredients may help with mild depression, stress, anxiety, stress-eating and sleeplessness. 5HTP is an amino acid that acts as a raw ingredient that your body needs to create serotonin (the “feel-good neurotransmitter”). L-theanine, as I mentioned, is another calming amino acid found in green tea. Relora (magnolia bark) can help reduce cortisol, which may be too high if you’re feeling stressed. Rhodiola is an adaptogenic herb, which means it can safely regulate your mood, without pushing you too much in either direction (it gives your body only what it needs).
Here’s a bit more on how Rhodiola works from humanclinicals.org: “Rhodiola rosea increases levels of chemicals the brain needs for positive mood, calmness, and motivation — such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine — by inhibiting MAO, the enzyme that breaks them down. Rhodiola’s antidepressant properties also enhance the effectiveness of neurotransmitters in three ways: 1) By increasing the permeability of the blood-brain barrier to precursors of dopamine and serotonin, 2) through an increase in the release of serotonin, and 3) via in increase in the activity of the serotonin neurotransmitter system in the brain. As a result, stress-related symptoms including insomnia are improved. With better sleep, excessive cortisol levels are reduced. Rhodiola also protects the brain by reducing the secretion of corticotrophin releasing factor under stress.”
I believe both of these supplement blends can be a huge help if you are stressed out, going through a rough patch or just need a mood booster. Mother Nature has lots of science-backed solutions for what ails you. With any nutritional supplement, you just have to take them consistently, and check in with yourself to see if it’s making a difference. Supplements, and particularly herbs, are not a one-and-done type of thing. It’s not like popping an aspirin. You may have to take them for a couple of weeks (or more) to see results (or if you’re ultra-sensitive like me, you may notice a difference in a few days).
If you want to try these (or any) supplements from Quality of Life, you can use my coupon code BUNNY15 to save some money!
Important note – if you’re already taking antidepressants or other pharmaceuticals, please be careful when taking supplements for depression, anxiety, stress-relief or mood. It’s possible that you could increase neurotransmitters to an unhealthy level, so consult with your healthcare professional, and start with a tiny dose to see how you feel. It goes without saying, but if you feel weird with any supplement, stop taking it!
Disclaimer – I am not a healthcare professional, and this is not medical advice. Please see your doctor, naturopath, or integrative MD before trying supplements.
The post Can You Fight Depression and Anxiety with Supplements? appeared first on My Beauty Bunny.
Clean beauty brand Jane Iredale has launched a party-ready collection for the holidays with a mix of brilliant color, playful shimmer and dazzling shine alongside a philanthropic component as well! The brand is an over-40 favorite here at Prime Beauty headquarters; the formulas are ‘mature-friendly’, clean and cruelty-free. The products are effective, high performance and Jane provides targeted solutions […]
Jane Iredale Happy Together Holiday 2018 Collection!
After more than 50 years as America’s favorite bath-time buddy, Mr. Bubble continues to be one of the top-selling bubble baths in the United States. Mr. Bubble was born in 1961 when Harold Schafer and the Gold Seal Company found a way to make bubble bath affordable, moving it from department stores to drug stores. […]
Liquid lipsticks are great for longevity, not so much for comfort. Thankfully, this doesn’t always have to be the case. Many brands have taken notice of this issue and created more hydrating formulations. One such brand is Suva Beauty and their line of Moisture Matte Liquid Lipsticks, $18, each. Suva Beauty Liquid Lipstick Suva […]
Suva Beauty Moisture Matte Liquid Lipstick
BECCA’s Glow Queen, Chrissy Teigen is back in the kitchen! And she was whisked away with all NEW smells, shades and formulas in the #BECCAxChrissy Cravings Collection! She’s whipped up two limited edition kits fresh from the oven! And….who can resist makeup that smells like cinnamon buns and vanilla? Not me! The Glow Kitchen Kit $44 […]
BECCA x Chrissy Tiegen Cravings Collection
Halloween has come and gone and now it is time for all the winter and holiday collections to start popping up! Jen from Laugh, Love, Contour is thrilled to see all these new offerings and has the much anticipated Winter Collection by KBShimmer up on her blog. In addition to core shades, KBShimmer has created […]
The Beauty Spotlight Team Weekly Reads
Earlier this week, I received a ton of messages from you guys letting me know that CoverGirl is cruelty free and Leaping Bunny certified. You may wonder why I have been silent about this until now. I’ll be honest – I was shocked! CoverGirl is a huge brand that was formerly owned by Procter & Gamble and now owned by Coty. Neither parent company is cruelty free, and in the past their brands have always had a “when required by law” animal testing clause, so this news seemed to come completely out of left field.
I had a lot of questions, and wasn’t prepared to share the news with you guys until I had checked some things out. I spoke with my fellow cruelty free bloggers, Tashina of Logical Harmony, Courtney of Phyrra.net and Emily of Emily Wolf Beauty, and some things weren’t quite adding up.
The first thing that the girls noticed that was strange is that Cruelty Free International (a UK organization that is one of several orgs that make up Leaping Bunny) was spreading the news like wildfire, but Leaping Bunny was silent. There was no mention of the news that CoverGirl is cruelty free on social media, and it wasn’t listed on their shopping guide. I reached out to Kim, my contact at Leaping Bunny, and she was able to confirm that CoverGirl is indeed Leaping Bunny certified, the ingredients are not tested on animals, and CoverGirl is not sold in China or countries that require animal testing. She told me that they were working on getting CoverGirl added to the Leaping Bunny shopping list (and since then it HAS been added to the list).
Leaping Bunny is the gold standard for cruelty free brands. They do a thorough audit, looking at the brand’s entire supply chain, including raw material suppliers and manufacturers. They make sure the brand and its distributors is not selling in regions where animal testing is required (mainland China being the biggest one). They require a fixed cut off date for animal testing – for the brand and it’s suppliers. They also require brands to recommit each year. You can read more about their methods here.
There’s always confusion around this topic, so I think it’s worth mentioning. Products can be sourced from or MADE in China (or other countries where animal testing is required by law), and still be cruelty free. If you see “made in China” on the back, that doesn’t mean it’s not cruelty free! China does not require products to be tested on animals unless they are imported and sold there (with Hong Kong and some provinces being exceptions to the animal testing laws). In addition, it’s okay for brands to SHIP products to residents of China without animal testing. The laws only cover products that are sold in retail stores.
SIDE NOTE: Just to add more confusion to the mix – if brands open their own factories in China, and only sell in certain provinces it looks like they can avoid animal testing. There is still concern about post market testing (where authorities can pull products from the shelves at any time and test them), but it’s looking like this is becoming quite rare, and only for “special use ingredients” which most cruelty free-minded brands avoid. This is still a grey area issue for me, and there’s a lot of debate amongst cruelty free bloggers, animal groups like The Humane Society and Leaping Bunny, and brand reps.
Okay so back to CoverGirl! They reached out to me, and I asked them some follow up questions.
Can you confirm that CoverGirl is not selling in any market that requires animal testing, and none of the ingredients are tested (even in the EU and US markets some testing is required for certain ingredients)?
They got back to me with this:
Thanks so much for getting back to us. To answer your question, by obtaining the Leaping Bunny certification, Cruelty Free International has certified that COVERGIRL does not test on animals in any markets where our products are sold and CFI Does NOT make exceptions for regulatory testing. To earn the Leaping Bunny certification, Cruelty Free International requires a rigorous audit of a brand’s supply chain before certification is awarded + also regular independent supply chain audits to ensure continued compliance.
So, at this point, I can say that they have answered all of my questions. I don’t see any reason not to believe that CoverGirl is cruelty free! CoverGirl is officially cruelty free and Leaping Bunny certified (but it should be noted that their parent company, Coty is not). When I heard the news, I was originally suspicious, then cautiously optimistic, and now I’m celebrating! It feels a bit weird, because I have been avoiding CoverGirl products for SO many years. But, in a nutshell, isn’t this what we want ALL brands to do? We want them all to change their ways and become cruelty free. So I won’t dwell on their past, but instead will welcome them with open arms into our cruelty free community.
I am proud of you guys. It’s because of YOU that we are starting to see big brands like CoverGirl go cruelty free! Brands listen to consumers, and when we ban together and make our voices heard, we can affect change. The animals thank you!
The post Is CoverGirl REALLY Cruelty Free? appeared first on My Beauty Bunny.
Being by Sanctuary Spa is a cute and kitschy bath band body brand from the UK now being sold at Ulta Beauty. In addition to being fearless, the four fragrances of Being are also cruelty, paraben, microbead and microplastic free. Blythe reviewed some of their products last month and I’m back to talk about the Salted Caramel and Macadamia […]
Being by Sanctuary Spa – Salted Caramel and Macadamia Nut
Just like a great pair of heels, the right eyelashes can completely transform your look. Mademoiselle Lashes create the world’s most beautiful and alluring eyelashes. Lashes that combine an expertly-designed shape with cruelty-free materials and durable, hand-crafted construction to ensure they last. The brand is growing and customers confirm that Mademoiselle Lashes are the fluffiest, softest […]
Hey Beauty Bunnies! I haven’t done a giveaway in a while because I’ve been too preoccupied with wedding planning. Well now that I’m back from my honeymoon, I’m diving right in with a KILLER GIVEAWAY ($1,600 value)! This is a REALLY good one you guys. I’m super excited about it!
I’ve been getting SculpSure body contouring treatments at LaserXX in Los Angeles for the past few months, and the results so far have been amazing. I don’t have final results, so no pics to show you guys JUST yet, but I can tell you that when I went for my last wedding dress fitting, they had to take the waist in by two inches! You can read about my experiences with SculpSure so far here and here.
So far, I’ve had one treatment in each area: lower abdomen, upper abdomen, flank (back below the bra strap area). And last week, I did my inner thighs, because it would be glorious to be able to wear a dress without my thighs rubbing together. I normally wear tights, leggings or spanx-like shorts under dresses, because if I don’t, my skin will chafe and bleed. It’s not a big deal in the winter, but it SUCKS in the summer – let me tell you. I can’t even walk around my own house with just a nightgown on – I always wear shorts. Hopefully I can change that soon!
When I first tried SculpSure at LaserXX, I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t sure if it would do anything at all, but I have been shocked at how much of a difference I’ve seen so far. So first, let’s discuss what it is and what it can and can’t do.
You’ve probably heard of Coolsculpting, right? Well SculpSure is different – it uses heat instead of cold to kill those fat cells. SculpSure is a light-based laser that removes up to 24% of fat cells in a given area. It causes lipolysis, meaning the fat cells are destroyed and they cannot grow back. You could theoretically still gain weight in that area if you don’t follow a healthy eating/exercise program causing the remaining fat cells to become enlarged, but the fat cells that have been removed won’t come back. It’s not designed for weight loss (although there have been some reports of weight loss from some people – I haven’t seen any myself). SculpSure also tightens your skin, so you aren’t left with sagging skin after a treatment.
This is one of LaserXX’s patients – amazing results!
One of LaserXX’s patients – wow!
SculpSure is used by stick-thin models who have a problem area to work on, and curvy girls (like myself) alike. It’s very popular for men – particularly in the stomach and love handle areas. It’s FDA cleared for a BMI of 30 or below, so as long as you’re below that and don’t have any major medical conditions, you’re good to go. You can’t spot-reduce an area by working out, so this is a great way to slim down pockets of fat that can’t be reached by diet and exercise (without liposuction or surgery).
There’s no downtime with SculpSure and it’s non-invasive – you can do it on your lunch break and go right back to work. Is it painful? Well, the short answer is yes. But I’m extremely sensitive to pain (more than anyone I know), and I can handle it. The laser works its way up to maximum power slowly, so you have time to adjust. As Dr. Berdjis says, it’s like getting into a jacuzzi. You slowly ease your way in, and once you’re used to the temperature, it can be turned up, and you won’t notice. You’ll find that some body parts are more sensitive than others, and that varies from person to person. For me, my lower abdomen (tummy roll) was the least sensitive.
After a treatment, you should start to see results in about six weeks, but it takes three months for full results. You may even continue to lose fat after three months. You can get amazing results from a single treatment of one area, but if you have a lot to lose, you can treat the same area again. So far, I have only done one treatment, but in several areas and I’m seeing impressive results. Again, I wasn’t sure what to think when I started doing this but now I’m a believer!
I’m SO excited that Dr. Berdjis and the team at LaserXX have offered to give one lucky My Beauty Bunny reader a free treatment ($1600 value)! You can enter via the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open internationally (you must be 18 or older to win), but does not include transportation to LaserXX. You will need to come to the med spa in Los Angeles, but if you don’t live near LA, a plane ticket may still be cheaper than the treatment, so it may be worth coming to visit us! Plus, you could also give this treatment to a friend or family member as a gift (just make sure you know them well before offering them a body contouring treatment)!
The post SculpSure Body Contouring Giveaway ($1600 value)! appeared first on My Beauty Bunny.
