Switch This Product In Your Morning Routine

Let's talk about morning routines for a minute. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? Do you have it down to a science or are your grabbing stuff in a dash? I have find myself going towards the latter lately, because I've been extra busy lately. I am trying to streamline my morning routine to make it efficient as possible. And that means switching to products that work, especially when it comes to essentials.

Introduced by Simply Stylist, I’ve partnered with Dove to let you know about Dove Dry Spray. Have you had a chance to try this yet? This deodorant has become a trending product of 2015, and for good reason. Y'all know me--if it's new, and if it's popular, I've gotta try it!

First, it has an instant dry application--no need to wait for it to dry. I love that because it gives a cleaner feel. If you're a woman on-the-go (aren't we all?) you'll enjoy this option.

 Dove Dry Spray provides 48 hours of odor and wetness protection with all the care of Dove for softer, smoother underarms.

Interested in making the switch? Go to Dove.com to learn more to #TryDry!

IPSY November + Stuff I'm Loving Lately

I am so happy the weekend is here! I've got a busy weekend ahead, so today's post will be super short! Let's get into some things I've been loving lately that I was sent to try as well as my monthly IPSY bag:

Pixi Beauty Endless Silky Eye Pen--I've been in an eyeliner rut, using the same ones over and over, so this holiday set from Pixi Beauty has been a welcome change. While I stick to usually brown or black, the other shades have been fun to play with (grey, eggplant). Get these at Target!

Eyelure False Lashes--More stuff for the eyes! I think it's because the holidays are around the corner, but I've been going through false lashes like CRAZY. These are some of my faves from Eyelure. I tend to stick to the Naturals, but all of these have been fun to try. Very easy to wear and you can get these at ULTA, Target, etc.

See also: How to Wear Trio Lashes

Stunning Braids--Enough with the face, let's get to the hair. Again, I think it's the holidays that are giving me the desire to make my hair all fancy pants. This had LOTS of fun ideas for braids. There are the basics at the beginning and then it goes on from there. I think I've got my holiday hair ideas set!

IPSY November--The theme this month was Beauty Blast--the bag was adorable. Let's see inside:

• Coolway Hairspray--I don't use hairspray, so I'm passing this one along.
• Beaute Basics Blue Liner--Fun to try and it came with a brush that I of course lost when trying to take the pic. I'll keep it for Halloween or in my freelance kit.
• Tre'StiQue Mini Matte Lip Crayon--At first I was irked because there is no cap, but then I realized that WAS the cap. Cute! I loved the crayon.
• Smashbox Full Exposure--Huge wand, but great volume. I've used this one many times before.
• SinfulColors in Kissy--Love this intergalactic green sparkly polish that I cannot believe I didn't already own.

BONUS:

Just in time for Thanksgiving, I've got a DIY idea for glowing skin. Great way to use those extra cranberries:

DIY Frosted Cranberry Scrub

What have you been loving lately?

Extra Elle:

• My very first nephew has a birthday party this weekend, so I'm headed back home. Then work for 3 days and then I'm driving back for Thanksgiving. 

Loving Lately: New in Beauty

Hey you! One of the best parts of being a beauty blogger is trying out the latest releases. I get all into it with taking notes and using products usually a month before you see them here. I file it on a spreadsheet and keep records. There's a whole system involved. I might be a little obsessed with beauty, but I love it! Speaking of that, I've got lots of products to share today, so let's get into it, with what I've been loving lately:

10 Fall DIYs

5 Pumpkin Beauty DIYs

This week marked the fifth anniversary of my very first blog DIY: a pumpkin facial mask. It was the first big hit I had on the blog with a thousand hits--before Pinterest! It's been fun to look back at the nearly 300 free DIYs I have shared on here and how I've changed (and the photos, because I used to only use a flip phone). I linked a few above you might want to try this weekend.

Mirabella Jewel Thief Collection--How cute and unique is the packaging on this shadow palette? There are two palettes in this collection: Diamond Deceit (pictured) and Lavender Larceny feature 5 vibrant three-dimensional colors.

 Also included in the collection are 2 Velvet Lip Pencils in Wanted (pictured) and Vice. This collection will be released in October. Pictured also is an eye pencil. The quality of the palette (swatched above) is stellar--pigmented, silky, and smooth. The lip pencil is lovely and the color lasted on my lips. I can't say enough good things about this collection. $25-$48, mirabellabeauty.com

Softsoap Fresh & Glow Fruit Polish and Shower Cream--This came at the perfect time last month as I was running low on body wash. I love when that happens! The Exfoliating Fruit Polish smells delicious with extract of kiwi and orange and apricot seeds to exfoliate skin. The Hydrating Shower Cream smells so yummy with milk, coconuts, and almonds. $3.49, stores nationwide

Baby Foot Original Exfoliant Foot Peel--I can't tell you how many times I've purchased this. I've shared it on here plenty of times. Essentially it's plastic boots filled with fruit extracts that you leave on feet for a bit. Then in 5-7 days, your feet will begin peeling (this is straight up kinda gross/kinda fascinating) leaving you with super-soft feet. It's painless and easy. $25, online

Travalo Milano--another repurchase for me--I love to give these for gifts. This is a portable perfume atomizer. You remove the tip of your perfume nozzle and set the bottom of the Travalo on top. Pump the Travalo to fill it up. It's so easy and leak-free. This is the newest and most luxurious Travalo to date and comes in 8 colors. The Milano has the pioneering new spray head technology, which produces a finer mist dispersing perfume over a wider area and holds 65 sprays.  www.us.travalo.com for $49.99. I'm giving one away if you're interested--just let me know in the comments!

 YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipsticks in No. 19 Fuchsia and No. 9 Rose--Normally, I try things about for about a month or so, but I had to share these now! Aren't they so pretty? I'm totally batting my eyes over here. 

They are very moisturizing and are pigmented, and I think the colors are wearable. Excuse the hastily-applied swatches above--it was 11pm and I was tired :) $36 I received these from Influenster.

What have YOU been loving lately?

Extra Elle:

I wanted to give some shout outs to the giveaways I have going on. You deserve a little treat, right?

• $500 Nordstrom Giveaway (rafflecopter)
• Lorac Pro-to-Go Plus Real Techniques Brushes--ends 29th
• $100 to JcPenney--just leave your email to enter
• $100 Visa giftcard--ends 30th--leave email to enter

*products were sent for consideration. I chose to review them throughly and share with you!

July Chit Chat!

Hey you! I've got my monthly Chit Chat video for you today. For those that want to learn more about me, see my awkward personality, or hear my accent, check out my video!

Here are some of the July Chit Chat highlights:

• Drink of the Month
• Mug of the Month (email me to send me a mug to promote your blog!)
• July in Review:
• Charlie
• My 4th of July plans
• Trips
• First blogger conference! :)

Here's an outfit from my first event at the SBS conference! Again, I want to thank everyone for the support!

• Most Popular Post for July
• My Fave Post for July
• Products I love and didn't like AT ALL!

Speaking of products I love, I'll give you a little teaser from the video:

I am LOVING this bag from I was sent from Gregory Sylvia! It has been my go-to bag this summer.

And here I am with the Luxi Crossbody Bag with one of the blogger conference outfits I wore. It's so durable and is of amazing quality. They have totes, satchels, bags, and more!

So here's the video! Check it out below:

Can't see the video? Click here.

What was your favorite part of the video?

PS: What should I do for my 100th video?

Loving Lately: (Almost) Spring Faves (VIDEO)

Hey you! How's the weather where you are? Today is supposed to be in the 50s, but earlier this week Atlanta was teased with temps in the 70s. It felt like spring! Speaking of spring, I made a video for you sharing products that are giving me spring fever. I call it: Loving Lately. Enjoy.

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Can't see the video? Click here.

Here's a still from the video, where I'm really excited about the newest LE Milani Rose Blushes.

These are available at Walgreens for March only. They're so pretty!

To learn more about each product, be sure to watch the video!

To further entice you, there's a SPECIAL GUEST and a cute blooper at the end. ;)

Reminders:

• I'm giving away Strivectin SD Advanced--it's SO good!
• I finally started a Facebook for the blog. So please click here and like my page. Thank you!

Loving Lately: New Favorite Beauty Products

I hope you had a great weekend, especially if you had Labor Day off. I shared my weekend and month in review in this post. Today, I'm sharing with you some beauty products I'm Loving Lately. Enjoy.

• Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair--I'm sharing this in case you missed it on my Instagram. If you have fine lines, try this. You should see results in a few weeks.
•  Z Palette--In the midst of Operation: Summer Beauty Cleanout, I decided to consolidate some of my favorite shadows into this magnetic portable palette. I love it! I plan on making a video showing another method of depoting shadows.

• The Balm Meet Matt(e) Nude Palette: We all know I love a palette of matte, neutral shadows, and this one does not disappoint. It has warm and cool tones, all wearable. There is also the original Meet Matt(e) palette.

• The Balm Fratboy Blush--A very soft peach with no shimmer. I would recommend any of their blushes.
• The Balm Cabanaboy Blush--A berry-mauve color that is perfect for fall/winter and darker skin tones, too.
• Milani L.E. Coming Up Roses Blush in Flora Passion--Ok, I fell in love with this based on the packaging. How cute? I chose the color that I didn't have in my makeup collection, and this pink is so pretty.

• Jordana Twist and Shine Moisturizing Balm Stain--I was so excited to find these, since lip products like these are so great for on-the-go. Busy moms, check these out! They're very similar to Revlon Lip Balms stains. The closest-matching color I had for Revlon was in Honey, which I compared to Honey Love, as pictured above. Honey Love is the third one down pictured in the top pic. These aren't dupes, but are very similar, and the price is only $2.99. They come in 8 shades. Out of all the drugstore lip balm stain versions, this is the closest thing to Revlon I've seen in terms of moisture and lasting power.

What have you been Loving Lately?