What's Inside My January Ipsy Bag

5 items being unboxed right before your eyes.  This is my first ipsy unboxing :)

Like video? Check out my show and tell here:

Beauty Resolution # 10 - Eye Makeup Remover

The skin around the eyes are the most sensitive on your face. It needs to be cared for and it needs to be nourished. Take special care when interacting with it. One way to do so is by using eye makeup remover. This gently removes stubborn and waterproof makeup that regular face cleaners do not. It also keeps one from rubbing and pulling the skin around the eyes to rid of last traces of makeup. Left over makeup can harbor bacteria, and the eyes, being a very sensitive part of the face, should be kept clean.  Add this extra step to your night routine. It only takes a minute and your eyes will love you!

See how much makeup can be removed by an eye-makeup remover? That was only 1 eye!

Beauty Resolution # 9 - Mesmer-EYES!

If the eyes are the doors to your souls, what do the doors say to those who ponder to enter? Are they tired, mysterious, dramatic, or simple? Speak it with a little bit of color. Dramatize it with some eyeliner and boost its character with finishing touches. People tend to look at your eyes before you even speak. What does yours say?

Beauty Resolution #8 - Paint thy Toesies!!

Not only does it look pretty, but your little piggies won't be crying at you :)

Beauty Resolution # 7 - Wear Stunner Shades

The sun does not only age skin; it beaks down eye sight. Protect your eyes with UVA/UBV blocking sunglasses.

Beauty Resolution # 6 - Get Your Beauty Sleep

Sunday is the day of test.Here is my son demonstrating the importance of sleep, but more importantly, sleep with an eye mask. I find that wearing these get me into deep sleep. It's only a few bucks for this eye mask from Target and and the deep sleep from it, priceless!

Beauty Resolution # 5 - Comb Your Hair

As a wife, mom, and business woman, sometimes, doing much more than combing my hair is a luxury. But this year, I promise to comb my hair on a daily basis. Did you know that combing is good for your hair as it conditions your hair and improves the blood circulation to your hair follicles?  Ues it does!  I really am a wash-and-go girl with this short thick hair and it does look alright, but for this year,  I will put much more effort to combing daily - and maybe even styling - my hair :)

Beauty Resolution # 4 - Dangle Some Earrings

I've had these for some time but just forgot about them until I had a reason to unbox them.  I recalled how they would move as I moved and how putting them in would brighten my days and my face. So this year, I resolute to wear earrings again. These are from Stella & Dot.

Beauty Resolution # 3 - Pamper Your Hands

We use our hands for everything. Its skin is exposed to the elements and our daily duties. We use them to clean, to hold, to eat, to work. At the end of the day, lets take a moment to repay them for their troubles :)

I do so with Body Melts from a company called Eclipse Candle Co. It is made of FDA approved food grade ingredients: soybean oil (vitamin E), coconut oil, grape seed oil, argan oil, essential oil, or fragrance oil. They have a dozen or so flavors but this is my current fave: Cookies for Santa. It smells like cookie batter but it isn't. But if you accidentally eat it, you'd be fine :)

Beauty Resolution # 2 - Establish a Nightly Beauty Routine

Repeat after me: "I will not crash and burn and not wash my face. It takes less than 5 minutes to do."

There are those nights like tonight where I don't want to wash my face and just crash for the night but this year I am committed to washing my face before I hit the pillow.

I have dry on surface, oily underneath type of skin so exfoliation by washing is a must. Sensitive and prone to breakouts.

Products used are from BeautiControl and Paula's Choice.

Beauticontrol Cleanser: http://shop.beauticontrol.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10551&productId=95407&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=81102&top_category=

BeautiControl Tonic (toner): http://shop.beauticontrol.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10551&productId=95406&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=81102&top_category=

Paula's Choice Treatment: http://www.paulaschoice.com/shop/collections/RESIST-Anti-Aging/_/RESIST-Daily-Smoothing-Treatment-with-Five-Percent-AHA/

Beauty Resolution #1 - Protect Yo' Self - Sunscreen!

We hear it all the time.... "Protect your skin!" "Use sunscreen!" "You've only got one skin!"  Yeah yeah yeah yada yada yada...

I just never liked how sunscreen felt on my skin.... greasy, grainy, weird smelling, and doesn't go with makeup.

But now that I am "of age,"  I have sought these things out more and more.  I used to work at a medi-spa (where the ingredients in facials are the real deal - strong and not just "foo-foo-make-you-feel-good stuff) and the gals that had the best skin used sunscreen, looking like 21, but were in their mid-30s!  If I were to keep some youth and more money in my pocket (the alternatives are way more expensive), I was to get myself sunscreened like no tomorrow!

After a lot of trial and error, I have narrowed it down to 3.

Why 3?  It needs to be easy.  Like all other resolutions that we quickly make and fall off of, if something is tedious or a chore, we and I would not be able to stick to it.  I've tried before and quickly fell off the wagon.  I have never really worn sunscreen practically everyday (I've had a lazy day or two) until I got these 3 products and have been doing so for the past 2 weeks and will be doing into 2013.

Why these products (in the order of application):

1. This Loreal Youth Code BB Cream SPF 15 is more towards "aged" skin. It has some stuff in there to reverse and remedy the damage. I had originally went to search for the regular Loreal BB Cream as recommended by Kandee Johnson but went for this one upon arrival at Target because of its "added perks."

2. Colorscience's Sunforgetable is SPF 30 and this one people swore by at the medi-spa.  It is loose powder dispered via an attached brush.  You can't tell that it is on because the one I have goes on clear.  I am only able to tell when I put it on because it tones down the "glow" that the BB Cream leaves on my face.

3. MAC Studiofinish Concealer is the only sunscreen I have stuck to for the last year.  It covers really well and after learning how to apply it the best way for me, it became a daily staple.  With or without makeup or anything else, I put this on.

And this is what the 3 products looks like on me:

 

This would be the starting point and base to any makeup I put on for the day.   I can just stick to this if I want a simple polished look or I can put in another minute or two to sweep some color on the eyes and color on the lips.

Oh, I almost forgot - Burts Bee's lip balm, that plain yellow tube.  That has sunscreen too.  I love how it feels (a little minty and tingly) and the shine  it leave on my lips.  

Now it is your turn to protect your skin!  Sunshine or rain, summer or winter, protect the only skin you've got.

Will you be committing to wearing sunscreen this year?