2 Things You MUST Do Before A Holiday Party

There's such an excitement in the air during the holidays, making it a no-brainer why it's a favorite time of year for many. There's some stress too, let's be honest. The most stressful part for me used to be the holiday parties!

I'm serious. But really, I used to dread them for two reasons:

• my smile
• small talk

And today I'm sharing the 2 things you MUST do before a holiday party. These are tried and true, y'all:

Small talk used to freak me out. I'm an introvert in unfamiliar situations, and walking into a party shouting, "I'm HEREEEEE" with my arms wide open isn't really my style. The anxiety of talking would leave me often alone or clinging to the one person I knew. No longer.

Instead, I make a plan. I think of anecdotes, from something I've either read or about my life. You know how on game shows, they always get a small fact from the contestants? Have your "game show" anecdote prepared ahead of time.

"Did you know" facts work too. Being a beauty fanatic, I lean towards beauty tips (Did you know you can use lip balm in over a dozen ways?) or I talk about new beauty products (Love your lipstick. Have you heard about the new one from ___?)

If you don't feel comfortable talking about yourself at all, then think of three things to ask whomever you're talking to: How do you know the host(ess)? What's the last book read/show/movie watched? Favorite restaurant in this city?

Compliments work too (Love your lipstick/scarf/dress/shoes. Where did you get it/them?)

Leave weather, traffic and line of work as a last resort. And it never hurts to practice what you're going to say.

Next, the smile--I used to be so self-conscious of mine. Your teeth are one of the first things people notice. I'm a coffee drinker and the occasional dark soda drinker, so my teeth aren't as white as I'd like.

I've had it happen: getting ready for a party and then catching a glimpse of my teeth. Instead of spending a the party with a cup or hand over my mouth, I found an easy solution that takes an hour:

Crest 3D White Whitestrips 1 Hour Express Teeth Whitening Kit--yes, in one hour, years of teeth stains are removed. Here's a before and after of mine after 1 hour:

click to enlarge

The strips whiten teeth faster than ever and the Advanced Seal Technology's no-slip grip stays put, so you can talk and drink water while whitening teeth. I use them when I'm getting ready for a party.

How white are my teeth? I love it. So y'all know these really work.

And luckily Walmart is having a BOGO deal, so buy one kit and get another for FREE! This is a limited time offer, so click here to purchase your own. There are eight teeth whitening strip treatments, each with one upper and lower strip.

And y'all know me, a little red lipstick (or red everything) for a party never hurt either!

What are your Must Dos before a holiday party?

October Beauty Favorites

I'm writing this from my couch, snoring pup on my right, and realizing that it's only Wednesday. I want it to be the weekend because I'm exhausted. But then I want time to slow down, because my favorite month of the year is almost over. October was a good month, but too fast. 

Here are my beauty favorites:

The end for an everyday lipstick/I-wish-my-lips-were-really-this-color is over. This is Sophia Loren No. 1 for Dolce Gabbana. It is gorgeous.

It looks light and perfect for day time.

Sally Hansen Fall Polishes--These have pretty much been on my nails for the past couple of months. Straight from the runway for NYFW, these are the some of the shades they used. These are perfect for fall, just saying. The bottom right three shades are sheer, making them day-time friendly!

And here's the part of the show where I decided to just take one big pic of the rest of my faves. 

• Cailyn O!Wow Brush--This brush does everything from makeup to blush to moisturizer. It is so soft and give the most beautiful finish.
• Olivia Palermo for Ciate Smoky Palette--You want the perfect fall palette with beautiful buttery satin shimmers and matte shadows? This is it. The quality is that of Lorac Pro. You can see how well-loved this palette has been.
• Makeup Geek Brushes--I bought some face and eye brushes and LOVED ALL of them. Soft and great quality.
• Colgate Optic White Platinum--After the whole charcoal debacle that left my teeth YELLOW, I was instantly thrilled with the results. I posted before/after pics below--click on the pic to make it bigger. The after pic is exactly 3 minutes after using the toothpaste just once!! Thanks Kiki for letting me know about it!

I talked about this a little on Monday, but making videos is something I love to do. In this one, I'm giving a recap of my life for the month, sharing my favorites, and hate-its. Check it out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrEZq6gyS58

The main reason to watch? Charlie is in his Halloween costume at the end and it is ADORABLE. Don't believe me? Just watch! ;)

What are your beauty faves for the month?

Extra Elle:

• Still behind on everything, so hang in there y'all! I am slowly getting caught up.
• Although it's been rainy all week, I have been enjoying the brief cool temps and seeing the leaves change.

So I Brushed My Teeth With Charcoal

If there's one thing about me you need to know, it's that I am obsessed with having The Whitest Teeth in the World...on a budget. Let's not get cray.

If there's one more thing you need to know about me, it's that I will try all sorts of crazy beauty products/trends. Snail sleep cream, anyone?

So what's the latest craze?

Charcoal.

After hearing a buzz about it for months, I decided to try it out for myself.

I made it three weeks.

Stay with me, y'all. I got my reasons!

After some research I decided on activated charcoal powder. Charcoal has been in skin products for quite a while now, but teeth whitening is a newer use.

The one I chose was My Magic Mud. You can get it online for around $23.

While this is a steep price for a whitening product, you'll get 150 uses (3 months) from it. So what makes it so fancy?

• Contains activated coconut shell charcoal, mint, and orange extract powder
• All natural and non-GMO
• Whitens, polishes and reduces sensitivity
• Safe to swallow and child friendly

Sounds great, right?

The powder is very fine, odorless, and has no scent or taste. It is not gritty.

To use, dip your brush in the powder and brush for 2 minutes. Do not use a toothpaste after. It is preferred that you use this before bed. Your teeth will be whiter in 2 weeks.

Well, y'all, normally I vow to use new beauty stuff techniques for at least a month. I used it for 3 weeks and quit--here are my thoughts:

• I noticed NO change. None. I took pics every day. Sometimes my teeth seemed GREY. Sometimes they seemed DARKER. But overall, the DANG SAME. 
• Finding the right ratio of powder was ridiculous. 
• It was MESSY. I looked like I was casting a spell with black powder. Whitus Teethus! Poof.
• It was kind of fun, since your teeth/mouth turn jet black while you're brushing. Perfect for Halloween! ;)
• The product suggests using it in the shower, but I found I made an even bigger mess that way.
• I had to rinse and rinse and rinse and floss every single time to remove all of the powder.
• Since you don't use toothpaste, your breath will be even worse in the morning.

I chose this because so many of you love natural products (lost your job? rub some coconut oil on yourself! magic!), but since many of you confessed you don't even wash off your makeup, I don't think you'd like this since it is a long process to do. 

There is so much clean up involved, the whole process takes forever (brushing 2 minutes, rinsing at least 6 times, flossing away the black powder, cleaning out the sink and counter top), and I noticed no change in my teeth. Skip!

If you want to try this, there are other brands that are cheaper, with different ingredients (like charcoal from bamboo). There are even charcoal toothbrushes (I ordered mine 2 months ago and am still waiting, so no report yet on those).

So I brushed my teeth with charcoal. And I didn't like it.

Have you tried this?
What do you use to whiten your teeth?

Extra Elle:

• Thanks to LaNae and Caroline for the sweet birthday cards. And thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes. It was my first birthday since my Daddy died, but your kinds words made the day easier.
• I hope you join in for tomorrow's link up: Story Behind the Pic. Just choose any pic (or more) and give me the story behind it. Look here for more info.

PS: I currently use Colgate Optic White toothpaste to whiten my teeth. I didn't include a pic here because (a) it was sent to me for review and I didn't want this to seem like an ad, (b)I have before/after pics from using the toothpaste that I can email to ya if you want to see. I didn't post here because I didn't want people to get confused or for those who skip to the end and don't read the post.

Be Radiant--4 EASY Tips

 

 

I received free product from Truly Radiant to review.

Life has been throwing me some doozies this year--a couple of examples: my daddy died and I lost a good friend. That's enough to make me want to permanently stay in bed and watch Netflix (okay, that's me on a Friday night).

But instead of letting those things get me down, I've decided to be radiant. I want to glow on the inside and outside. I want to radiate that positive energy to all of those around me.

There are lots of ways that I'm doing this, but instead of overwhelming you with tons of tips, let's start with just 4 that you can do in the morning.

Ready to be radiant? 

1--Think of Five

The alarm goes off. You immediately start thinking of your huge to-do list. You start checking emails. Already you feel defeated.

Try this: Once the alarm is off, think of 5 good things. These can be 5 things that you are thankful for, 5 things (people, pets, etc.) that make you smile, 5 good things that have happened to you lately or a mixture of these. It will make you smile and it really works.

2--Freshen, Whiten, Brighten

Try this: A lot of you do this anyway, but if not, it's a good habit to start. I swear by this to make me feel instantly refreshed and more awake. I brush my teeth with the ARM & HAMMER™ Truly Radiant™ Manual Toothbrush. This is the only manual toothbrush that features a rotating head, plus elongated, all-access bristles that get deep in-between teeth to help blast away plaque.  I have a pack of two, so I keep one in my travel bag too.

Of course I use ARM & HAMMER™ Truly Radiant™ Rejuvenating Toothpaste with my matching toothbrush! Gotta keep it consistent, y'know. This does more than just whiten teeth--it strengthens, cleans and repairs tooth enamel for a radiant smile in just 5 days!* (*Data on file)

Sometimes I'll start my morning with this ARM & HAMMER™ Truly Radiant™ Whitening & Strengthening Rinse. If I don't, I definitely use it before I leave for the day. The five-year-old will definitely call me out on my breath. Trust. I love this because it whitens without alcohol or peroxide.

3--Hydrate

Try This: Coffee, where's the coffee? Instead of coffee first thing in the morning, try brushing your teeth (or using the rinse first) and then drinking a glass of water. I try to make myself drink at least 2 glasses before hitting the coffee. I find then I don't need as much, if at all. And that is big coming from this coffee addict. Plus, I've found that the more hydrated I am, the better it is for my skin AND for my kidneys. It really helps with my dark circles! I'm serious.

4--Moisturize

Try This: It may be summer, and it's hot and humid, but please don't skip this step. Sun damage causes dry skin. Moisturizing in the morning is a sure-fire way to look radiant. Instead of those heavy creams, try a light facial serum instead.

Those are my 4 tips to look and feel radiant. I wanted to encourage you to try out ARM & HAMMER™ Truly Radiant™ products with the coupons below!

Save $1.00 on a Manual Toothbrush by clicking here.

Save 50¢ on Rejuvenating Toothpaste by clicking here.

Save $1.00 on Whitening & Strengthening Rinse by clicking here.

How do you boost your radiance? 

Leave a comment below to enter for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card!

Entry Instructions:

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You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 8/3/15 – 9/30/15.
Be sure to visit the Truly Radiant brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. 

All opinions are mine alone. #NaturalGoodness #CollectiveBias

Every month I share a resolution on the blog. I call it Just a Little Something. Keep up with it on my social media with the hashtag #JALS! I do these monthly challenges to prove that small changes can lead to a big difference. And doing a resolution for 30 days can possibly stick and form a great new habit. All you have to do is just something little, something small. So what's my resolution for this month? In light of April being Earth Month, I am choosing to make one healthy choice a day. For example, I take the stairs instead of the elevator. I bring my own bags to shop with instead of using plastic. But one of the easiest ways to do that is by switching to products from Tom's of Maine.

You can easily find Tom's of Maine at Walmart, in the health/personal care aisles.

Are you familiar with Tom's of Maine? I'd heard of them, but since I don't lead a "crunchy" lifestyle, I didn't think they would be for me at first, but I'm glad they are a part of my daily routine now. I've been using them since last year, thanks to a suggestion by one of the little ones I nanny. She attends a school that is environmentally-focused, and is kinda obsessed with getting onto us about our habits. This includes making sure to not let the water run when brushing teeth, to make sure lights are off when exiting the room, and using the right products. She said I could only use Tom's of Maine, from then on, and well, I have to agree.

My personal favorites are Tom's of Maine Antiplaque &Whitening Peppermint Fluoride Free Toothpaste, Whole Care® Peppermint and Spearmint Fluoride Toothpaste, and Unisex Long Lasting Apricot Deodorant. The five year old loves the Silly Strawberry™ Fluoride Toothpaste. Here's what it looks like:

My Secret for a Picture-Perfect Holiday Smile

Okay, y'all...random fact time: I am obsessed with having white teeth. Are you the same way? It's the number one compliment I get. And the best smile compliment ever was when a dentist asked what treatment I used because my teeth were so white. What!

He rattled off the names of professional whitening treatments and I shook my head at every one because I had no idea what he was talking about. I don't spend hundreds of dollars to whiten my teeth. There's no need to spend your gift buying budget to whiten your teeth, right?

Speaking of the holidays and gifts, we are riiight in the beginning of the holiday season: I'm talking parties and holiday gatherings with family. And of course, there will be pictures at these events. But I've got a secret weapon to get that picture-perfect holiday smile.

Are you ready for my secret?

What's In My Travel Makeup Bag?

pic source

I'm so glad it's the weekend! I was really frustrated after yesterday's post, so I'm looking forward to my friends coming up for the weekend to cheer me up. And I'm always looking forward to my next trip--my birthday is on the 18th! Speaking of travel, a few weeks ago I shared a What's In My Bag post while I was on vacation at Sandestin. Since I was beachin' it (that's officially a word now), the contents in my bag were slim, which left several of you disappointed. And so I am now sharing what skin care, hair care, body care, and makeup that I packed. Check it out in the video below:

Can't see the video above? 

Click here.

Allow me to entice you to watch the video by sharing a few of my items below (I was originally sent these for review but have repurchased or would repurchase them all):

For my hair, I brought Wen Fall Tuscan Pear Cleansing Conditioner (obviously I moved it to a travel container but I wanted y'all to see the container!). I love this because it's everything I need to cleanse my hair in one product and it makes my hair, specifically my beachy hair, all nice and soft. And it smells so good!

I've not had great success with natural or even healthier deodorants, until this one from Lavanila. This one is in Vanilla Lavender, but there are 6 scents to choose from. Not only do I like the scent, but it works!

I loveeee a cleansing brush and am a huge fan of Pulsaderm (see orig review here). But I admit, I usually didn't pack it for travel because of the size. Enter the Pulsaderm Buddy. It's just a couple of inches so it takes up no room in your bag. Don't let the size fool ya--it is small but mighty and travel-friendly. And it comes in 6 colors, which I love. The Buddy has 2 speeds, comes in the bag pictured above, 2 brush heads, cleanser, and a charger. Love! You need this!

I know I'm not the only one who carries a small container of laundry detergent when I travel, right? I had a chance to sample these (this is the travel sampler) from Roux Maison, a company based out of Nashville that makes all-natural and fabric-specific laundry detergents/stain remover. While they have fragrance-free scents, they also have sweet tea and ambrosia scents. I have really loved the delicate detergent and the stain remover.

Pür Minerals has a new flawless foundation, the Air Perfection Cushion Compact.  It's a lightweight mousse that gives skin sheer to medium coverage without looking oily or greasy. I was excited to receive this because cushion compacts are so big right now. Add some concealer and I'm ready to go.

I thought I'd share some swatches--the far left is quickly blended in (my arm is a different shade than my face), a swatch in the middle, and then a swatch using the puff. You can see me wearing it in the video. 

Not a week goes by that I'm not asked what I use to get my teeth white. I have this obsession that my teeth can never.be.white.enough, so I've talked about the products I've used (feel free to search), but not my toothpaste! It's the Colgate Enamel Health Whitening Toothpaste. It helps with my slight coffee addiction.  

To see everything I brought with me (there's so much more!) check out the video I linked in the beginning of this post. And before you go, I urge you to enter my giveaway for $100. You don't have to follow any blogs. You don't have to do a thousand steps, just leave a comment on the linked post with your email. That money could go towards gifts for the holidays, bills, charity, or whatever you'd like. Thanks for entering.

VISIT OCTOBER'S SPONSOR:

The Grits Blog

10 Back to School DIYs

Happy Monday! How was your weekend? Mine was full of relaxation and sweet treats, with a little shopping thrown in. Speaking of shopping, it seemed as if everyone was getting ready for back to school. Has school started back where you are? It has here in Georgia (I can't believe it either). So to get ready for back to school, I'm sharing 10 DIYs for hair, skin, and nails. These are really, really, easy using materials you already have in your kitchen. Psst: These are for everyone! You can use these even if your schooling ended years ago--just click the title to see the DIY. Try them out and let me know your favorites!

Hair:

• DIY Banana Coconut Hair Masque--softens hair from summer damage

Face:

• DIY Skin Brightening Mask--easily brighten skin
• DIY Depuffing Mask--late night? Try this mask.
• DIY Strawberry Milkshake Masque--your face will love this
• DIY Teeth Whitener--so easy, it can be done at lunch break
• DIY Toner--just in case you run out, try this
• DIY Makeup Setting Spray--helps makeup last all day

Body:

• DIY Coconut Sugar Scrub--get skin soft, smooth, and smelling amazing
• DIY Solid Perfume--this one was published in a magazine!

Nails:

• DIY Back to School Nails--you'll never believe how easy these are!

PS: I'm just sharing 10 here, but have created over 100 DIY beauty recipes--click here to see more DIY!

Pic sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Review Day 2s-day: Luster Premium White Distinctly White

orig

It's Review Day 2s-day! That means every Tuesday I'll be sharing two awesome products, 

so be sure to come back at noon to see beauty product #2!

Sweet tea. Coffee. The occasional glass of red wine--all of these tasty treats stain my teeth. And if you've been reading this blog a while, you'll know that I'm a lot little bit obsessed with having white teeth. The old baking soda and peroxide trick never worked for me, so I rely on other products. I was contacted by Luster Premium White to try out their products, and I'm so glad I did.

• 12th anniversary!
• Luster Premium White offers products for quick touch ups or an at-home whitening treatments 
• Products range to $6.99-$43.99, making it an affordable teeth whitening option
• Great way to start that resolution for whiter teeth or just for a mid-winter pick-me-up

Distinctly White

• Clinically tested to ensure that it fully fights surface and deep stains
• Promises to be gentle on teeth and enamel safe.  
• The patented technology featured in Distinctly White offers similar results as dentist-office treatments, but with a far lower concentration of peroxide to leave teeth whiter without causing tooth sensitivity.  
• Price: $12.99 
• Availability: Wal-Mart, Kmart, Rite Aid, Kroger and online at LusterPremiumWhite.com

My Review:

• This comes with a blue accelerator mouth rinse, which is used for a few seconds.
• The second step is to apply the Super Whitener Gel, and this can be used a few times a day or as you'd like. 
• I experienced no sensitivity or issues unless I got it on my gums or lips, which only happened the first time I used it. I applied more gel than I needed to. The directions clearly state to avoid those areas.
• I found the system affordable and easy to use.
• My teeth are already white, but I love this for touch ups!
• This has been awesome when traveling, since it's only 2 steps. If flying, I would just pour the mouth rinse into a smaller container.
• I love this for on-the-go--I just keep this in my bag and use as needed.
• I would recommend this product and purchase it!

NovaWhite Whitening Kits--How I Whiten My Teeth

Confession: I loveeee having really white teeth. I always beam when someone compliments my white teeth. But I am a daily iced tea drinker and a weekend coffee kinda girl, so I make sure to maintain my smile. I've tried all sorts of at-home whitening kits, even DIY (I did the old-school peroxide and baking soda when I was younger and in pageants), but I have a new favorite: NovaWhite! They're the 1 teeth whitener on Top Consumer Reviews, and for a good reason! NovaWhite provides the same results as dentists, using the same carbamide peroxide solution. I had a chance to test out a few of their products and have been using them for the past few months. Enjoy.

Pictured: 2 gel syringes, boil-and-bite tray, whitening pen

• 2 Boil-and-Bite Trays for creating the upper and lower impressions
• Allow the trays to get soft, then place in mouth for impression
• 2 1.2ml syringes
• 22% carbamide peroxide and has been ranked #1 among the industry the past 6 years
• concentrated with no fillers 
• gel has a slight mint flavor
• shelf-life approximately 18 months if stored in a cool, dry place

--I used these first, and had no sensitivity. I recommend these for those who don't want to wait for custom trays. What I was sent wasn't in a particular kit, but one that is similar (with loads more stuff!) is $54

• NovaNow Whitening Pen 
• easy solution for anyone on the go. 
• lasts for up to 30 whitening applications
• recommended for anyone with sensitive teeth.
• perfect way to maintain a beautiful smile in between custom at home whitening sessions
• will only whiten your natural teeth; will not whiten caps, veneers, crowns, fillings or dentures
• twist and click at the base until gel extrudes through the brush tip.  Apply to visible teeth.
• $21

--I used this as a touch up, when traveling, and before events (going out, weddings, dinner with friends, etc.). --I recommend this if you have really sensitive teeth or just want the occasional touch up.

Pictured: case, breath spray, wash cloth, impression trays, 6 syringes, case, lip balm

22% SuperNova Whitening Kit

• what sets this kit apart from others is that it features custom bleaching trays. Unlike the flexible molds, these are durable plastic, that are comfortable, and made by experienced dental lab technicians. 
• trays are fabricated with a special 1mm reservoir (yet neglected in many teeth whitening products!). This reservoir ensures that the entire tooth is immersed and in constant contact with the active ingredient of the tooth whitening gel, producing consistent whitening results.
• this is of particular importance for the spaces between the teeth, the tops of your teeth, and even on the back side of your teeth (which affects the way light travels through the tooth and thus the visible shade of the tooth). Put simply, the 1mm reservoir of our home tooth whitening kits ensures the thorough whitening of your teeth.
• the molds are great to keep in case the trays are damaged, lost, etc.
• I wanted to share with you the process of how I did my impressions for the trays and my results:

Can't view the 2 min vid? Click here.

Pictured: 1 of the syringes, 1 of the molds, and 1 of the trays

--This is a great kit for brides (kits available for wedding party too). 

--I saw results instantly with this! Instantly! I highly recommend this kit. I loved having a custom tray that fit all the spaces of my teeth, for example, I have a couple of crooked teeth that are usually hard to whiten.

--No sensitivity for me!

--$180

 And NovaWhite is offering a 15% coupon!

To order this kit or others, use the code ELLESEES

Thanks NovaWhite!

PS: Happy Halloween!