A Peek Inside My May Ipsy Glam Bag

Friday, May 30, 2014


Sorry this took so long but it's been a crazy busy month! Once again, I'm super thrilled with my Ipsy Glam Bag. This month's bag is actually super cute and has great selection of products!  I've already put the hair oil and SPF cream in my makeup bag because you just never know when you'll need it! The Thermal Spring Water bottle is seriously amazing!  I'm tossing this baby in my beach bag for sure!  It soothes my skin and will definitely keep it refreshed on hot summer days!  I see myself purchasing the full size bottle for sure!  Have you signed up for Ipsy yet?  You can earn points by reviewing the products you receive!  Also, if you refer friends, you accumulate points as well.  Once you reach 1000 points, you can choose a full size beauty product from their perk options!  Easy right?  For only $10 per month, you simply can't go wrong!  Sign up here!

Thank you so much for reading! xoxo, Carla - FMM

Girly Girl Mani Essentials!

Thursday, May 29, 2014


It's no secret that i adore a great mani.  I'm constantly playing with new hues and searching for fun new ways to express myself through my nail options!  A must for pretty nails is to arm yourself with a great cuticle treatment!  I was recently introduced to an all natural option that has been working wonders on mine!  Nail Butter is incredibly nourishing and works its magic by applying a small amount on each nail and rubbing upwards into the cuticle.  I do this for 30 seconds on each nail every night (hint... it helps to keep this beauty on my night stand so that i don't forget).  It is suggested that you do this twice a day for 30 days and then once a day thereafter but quite honestly, i have only been doing it once a day and it's working well.  Oh and this baby smells amazing.  In fact, this is one of the reasons i use it at bed time... the scent is so calming that it helps me ease into my beauty sleep.  Nail Butter is a wonderful all natural option that works beautifully to keep your nails looking pristine.  And no worries... this baby has only been tested on humans, all of whom have experienced nothing but fabulous cuticles!



The next step for my girly girl mani is Pixi's newest nail polish in Baby Girl!  This pink is seriously everything a girly girl could ever want!  It's bright, happy and perfect for the summer!  The formula is super smooth with a chip-resistant finish (trust me, it stayed put for almost a full week) and built-in UV protection to prevent polish discoloration.  As with all Pixi polishes, this baby is 3 Free: Toluene, Formaldehyde and DBP free!  Baby Girl is the perfect 'pretty in pink' polish!  Trust me, you'll want to swipe this beauty on your nails and toes alike this summer!




So there you have it... my secret to a gorgeous girly girl mani!  Thank you SO MUCH for reading! XO, Carla - FMM

*press sample - all opinions are mine based on my experience with these products.

Quick Tip - How To Define Your Cheek Bones!

Wednesday, May 28, 2014


I love subtle transformations!  You know, simple things you can do with makeup that make a major difference!  One of my favorite things to do is to define my cheek bones using a simple technique that i will show you!  All you need is a matte bronzer and a medium highlighter brush! Tarte's Amazonian Clay Matte Waterproof Bronzer is a great option!  As for brushes, my go-to is the Make Up For Ever 140 Small Highlighter Brush but you can use any brush that is similar to this one. The key here is to apply a generous amount solely to the hallows of your cheeks which is basically an angled line from the corner of your lip to the tip of your cheek bone.  Follow the arrow shown in the picture below and then sit back and watch the transformation!  For a gorgeous glow, use a fluffy brush to apply a bronzer with a bit of shimmer (Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Bricks in Bronze is an all time favorite of mine) all over your face!  A few swipes of your favorite gloss and you're all set for summer!



Hope you enjoyed this quick tip! Thank you SO MUCH for reading! XO, Carla - FMM

Agave Heating Oil Treatment

Tuesday, May 27, 2014



When Beverly Hills hairdresser Fernando Romero created Agave Heating Oil Treatment, he must have had me in mind!  I have the world's most unruly hair ever!  OK so i may be over-dramatizing things a bit but seriously, my hair is quite the diva!  It's thick, rarely obedient and frizzes at the mere mention of the word 'humidity'... sigh.  What's a beauty blogger to do about such travesties? Why arm herself with products that will quickly vanish these types of hairy situations (pun intended) of course!  

So lets chat ingredients!  Did you know that Mexico's blue agave is best known as the soure of tequila?  Well no salt or lemon necessary here!  This beauty lets the amino sugars in agave work their miracles by soothing hair and infusing it with moisture.  It doesn't stop there however!  This heating oil is packed with an array of natural conditioning ingredients to keep hair soft and beautiful such as vanilla, coconut and baobab seed oil, to name a few.  Oh and no worries, this beauty is free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates! Cheers to that... Phew

For best results, i use a dime-sized dab of Agave Heating Oil Treatment between the palms of my hands and distribute it evenly throughout my damp hair.   Now that the weather is warmer, i love to air dry my hair as to avoid further damage from styling tools.  This beauty keeps my curls defined and my hair looking healthy!  When i do however opt to blow dry, i know i can reach for this amazing product to help keep my locks looking smooth and sleek.  I also love to add a dab of this oil on my ends when my hair is dry.  I feel like it really helps to seal in the cuticle!  Pssst... this baby can double as a body oil!  Oh yeah! Oh and another major bonus alert... it smells uhhhhhh-mazing!  Yum!  
Want gorgeous hair stat?  Don't we all!  Well, head on over to BirchBox and stock up!  If you already subscribe to the monthly BirchBox service (of course you do), you'll get BirchBox points just by reviewing your box every month!  Also remember, for every 100 points you spend, you'll earn $10 to spend at Birchbox!  Now that's a great deal!
Thank you SO MUCH for reading!  xoxo, Carla - FMM
Press sample - all opinions are my own based on my experience with this product.

BeautyCon NYC Recap

Sunday, May 25, 2014


Yesterday, i attended BeautyCon in NYC.  Basically it's a beauty conference for anyone who loves well... beauty!  Initially i thought this was more blogger geared but as i waited on what felt like the longest line on earth to get in, i quickly realized this was more geared towards YouTube beauty guru fans.  Personally, i don't really keep up with many YouTube gurus so this portion of BeautyCon didn't appeal to me all that much.  Lucky for me, i was in great company!  My awesome friend, beauty blogger Niki from HelloMissNiki  came with me so we ended up having a great time.  We are both Jersey girls so we took the ferry into NYC which was fun.  Once we arrived, as i mentioned before, we waited in line after line to get in.  We had VIP tickets which supposedly allowed us to get in at 9am instead of the 10 am regular admission. What actually happened was we arrived a little before 9 and waited in line forever and ever and didn't actually get inside the venue until about 10am anyway.  Clearly, i didn't see the purpose of the 'early arrival' perk but things happen so we just went with the flow.  Once inside, the venue (Pier 36) was relatively large with an open layout.  There were a bunch of different brands there with stands filled with product.  Tarte offered a selection of products at discounted rates so i made sure to stock up on Lights, Camera, Action mascara and a shadow stick in a gorgeous Olive green.  Then we moved on to the Bare Minerals section which was by far my favorite FAVORITE part of the entire event.  In fact, this booth is what made BeautyCon worth it for me!  Basically, one of their makeup artists matched me with my shade of their new and very much hyped BareSkin Pure Brightening Foundation and gifted it to me along with the super cool brush that everyone is talking about.  This brush has a slightly hollow spot in the middle where you place a few drops of foundation in to facilitate application.  I almost bought these two the day before and was thrilled that i hadn't because lucky me, i got to take them home free!  A major shout out to Bare Minerals for their generosity.  I also took home a gorgeous Bare Minerals coral Marvelous Moxie Lip Gloss! Stay tuned for a review! Seriously, this was very generous and everyone who attended BeautyCon and visited their booth took these beauties home!  The gift bag was decent... nothing out of this world but always fun to get.  There was a section for the actual conference portion of BeautyCon featuring many YouTube beauty gurus as well as Whitney Port and Joe Zee of Elle Magazine.  I went in for a few minutes but there was no place to sit and it just got so crowed that i opted to leave! I met the super sweet Beauty Judy (check out her awesome blog here) and couldn't resist taking a pic of her attempting to take a bite out of the giant pizza displays!  How cute is she?!  I loved meeting the gorgeous Serein Wu of Dress Yourself Happy (check out her awesome YouTube channel here) who flew in all the way from LA to attend this event!  She's a sweetie and we've already made plans for a major beauty haul when i fly out to LA in late July for a special project (it's a secret... shhhhh... OK, I'll fill you in soon!)










Serein and I



Beauty Loot!
Beauty Judy and the supersized pizza lol... love this pic!
Overall, BeautyCon was a major disappointment for me.  It wasn't organized, there were lines everywhere, there wasn't enough seating to accommodate the actual conference portion of the event.  For me, LuckyFabb has been by far, the best and most informative conference!  I honestly cannot wait for this year's NYC event!  As for BeautyCon, i will not be in attendance next year! Don't get me wrong, the day was great regardless.  I spent quality time with my wonderful friend Niki!  After the event, we had a late lunch at PF Chang's followed by a super fun beauty haul at Ulta!  Sooooo... Niki and i decided to do a collaborative post with all the fun things we bought! Stay tuned for that!


PS. Have you entered my ALEX AND ANI PLUS BEAUTY BOX giveaway?  Enter HERE!
Thank you so much for reading! xoxo, Carla - FMM

How To Unclog Your TEMPTU Air Pod

Thursday, May 22, 2014


So the other day, i ordered a bronzer pod for my TEMPTU airbrush system.  When it arrived, i could barely contain my excitement!  I ripped open the package, ran upstairs and put this baby to the test. However, when i turned the machine on and began to attempt using my pod, no product came out.  What?!  So, i removed the pod, shook it a few times and tried again to no avail.  This time, i shut the machine off, removed the attachments, put the attachments back on etc... nothing! I was near tears as i took to google.  After trying all the suggestions I'd read about with no success, i decided to take matters into my own hand.  The solution?  Quite a simple one actually! Rather than writing about it, i decided to show you!  Here's a short video for anyone out there experiencing the same issue!  I hope it works for you the way it did for me!  BTW, the bronzer pod is quite possibly my favorite ever! This baby contours like no other!  Check it out!


Thank you so much for reading! XOXO, Carla - FMM
 

Pamper Your Skin With Colbert MD Skincare

Wednesday, May 21, 2014


I was recently introduced to two amazing products by Colbert MD.  This celebrity adorned skincare line has been featured in all the hottest fashion and beauty magazines for good reason... the products are nothing short of amazing!  The Colbert MD Facial Discs are by far the most innovative way to polish your skin.  These plush, pre-moistened exfoliating discs encourage cell renewal and prepare your skin for the rest of your skincare.  These beauties work to remove deal cells and provide a fresh new luminosity.  Bonus? They smell amazing!!!  You can use these babies one to three times per week.




Colbert MD's Illumino Face Oil is a cut above the rest.  I've never been a fan of face oils until i met this beauty.  Illumino Face Oil proved all my face oil theories wrong by leaving my skin with a glorious glow!  My skin simply adored this product and it's officially part of my skincare repertoire! I think it's a great product year round, but with summer nearing us, i think it will be great on sun kissed skin.  While i always try to protect my skin from the sun, i feel that this beauty will keep my skin hydrated even in the hottest of days! You can purchase Colbert MD products directly via their site or here.


So lets chat! Have you tried Colbert MD?  What do you think?

Thank you SO MUCH for reading! XOXO, Carla - FMM

*press sample- all opinions are my own.

Cobalt Craze!

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Cobalt Craze!

There's just something about this color that makes me happy!  Cobalt is one of the hottest colors this season and I'm here to show you how you can wear it!  Yes, it may seem flashy to some but if you do it correctly, you can rest assured that you too can wear this pretty little trend without feeling as though it's wearing you!  From bold to subdued, there are a million ways to wear blue!  Check out my little cheat sheet for ideas on how to incorporate this pretty hue.


To achieve these looks, i simply reached for some of my favorite eye products.  I will list them for you here:

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eye Liner in Cobalt - I've been using this pen for almost a year now and i still adore it just as much as i did the day i purchased it!  You can see my full tutorial on how to layer eye liners using this baby right here!

Stila Smudge Stick Water Proof Eye Liner in Peacock is absolute perfection.  I love that it's waterproof making it perfect for those summer scorchers!

Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pens - I own several colors of these beauties.  I simply adore how they glide on my eyes so beautifully.  They stay put and the color pay off is spectacular!  My current favorite colors are Black Blue, Black Tulip, Emerald Gold and Copper Glow!  You can conveniently pick these beauties up at your local Target!

Pixi Mesmerizing Mineral Palette in Emerald Gold - This is quite possibly one of my favorite Pixi palettes!  I fell instantly smitten with this beauty at Pixi's spring launch.  The second i laid eyes on the gorgeous jewel tones i knew it had to be mine!  The emerald and mint are my favorite shadows of the bunch but they're all completely wearable and complimentary.  At $12, i think this baby is a steal!

These are some of my favorite ways to wear blue on my eyes.  What are some of your go-to blue looks?  

Thank you SO MUCH for reading! xo, Carla - FMM

*Some of the products here are editorial samples. Some were purchased by me.  All opinions are my own.

My Top 5 (and a few more) It Cosmetics Products - Collab with Diane Mary!

Monday, May 19, 2014


If you've kept up with my blog, you know I'm a HUGE It Cosmetics fan!  Their products are all i trust to ensure a flawless complexion because they truly nourish my skin while keeping it looking pretty.  Diane Mary of @curlywavydiane on YouTube and i met at an It Cosmetics event at Ulta (which you can actually read about here) and we've become makeup buddies ever since.  We both share a love for this brand and decided to partner up and create a video illustration our top 5 favorite It Cosmetics products.  However, as you'll soon find out, we both sorta cheated because lets face it... there is no way i (or she) could possibly pick just FIVE!  So i hope you'll forgive us for not sticking to our initial plan but if you own any It products you will certainly understand our dilemma!  OK, wanna find out our pics?  Check out my video here!  Also, please be a doll and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!  It would mean the WORLD to me!!!


Be sure to check out Diane Mary's video on Youtube @curlywavydiane and Subscribe to her channel!  You can also find her on twitter @dianemary126, instagram @dianemary126 and check out her blog at www.curlywavydiane.blogspot.com.

Thank you SO MUCH for reading, watching, subscribing and supporting!  Means the world to me!
XOXO, Carla - FMM

Nuance Beautiful Blends SMOKEY Eye Quad

Sunday, May 18, 2014

 
I'm all for innovation!  Pair innovation with great makeup concepts and I'm all ears! Salma Hayek Nuance Beautiful Blends Eye Quad in SMOKEY just about blew me away with its ultra futuristic packaging and quality!  This tear drop shaped pod can open one shadow at a time or you can open the entire thing to a petal shape to use all four shadow options.  It comes equipped with a brush in the center which can be used for creating a line with the deeper shadow.  The color pay off truly surprised me.  Honestly, for under $9 I'd say the quality and intensity is pretty good.  I love all four colors immensely and use them often to create a bad *ss smokey eye!  While i know that this isn't exactly a new palette on the market, it is my first time trying it and I'm incredibly happy with it.  In fact, i will definitely pick up the Neutral pod next time i stop by CVS.  Oh and while it's slightly bulky, it is certainly portable and fits well in my makeup bag.  I think it's great for travel!  In fact, I'm traveling for a couple of days next weekend and will definitely take this baby along for the ride! Want to try it?  Head on over to your local CVS for this beauty and be sure to check out the rest of the Salma Hayek Nuance collection!  She's got some amazing options for the beauty lover on a budget!




Thank you SO MUCH for reading! XOXO, Carla - FMM

*press sample- all opinions are mine based on my experience with this product.  See full disclosure here.

Essence of Beauty Signature Collection Body Mists

Saturday, May 17, 2014


There's something about a beautiful scent that just fills my soul with all kinds of goodness.  For me, a fragrance is more than just a quick spritz on my wrist. You see, with every pretty scent that has ever graced my body, there is a beautiful memory attached.  A memory that with just one sniff can instantly bring me years back to an important time in my life, or a milestone of sorts. I love that! When these Essence of Beauty Signature Collection Body Mists arrived at my door, paired with the most amazing collection of my Instagram Memories, i completely understood the connection.  I knew that each of these beauties would someday be linked to many wonderful memories as well.  I couldn't wait to dive and and sample them all.

With the warmer days upon us, i like to switch out my perfume for body mist.  Essence of Beauty Body Mists are a wonderfully delicious option for splashing your body with a gentle summer-y fragrance without overwhelming it.  Whatever your taste preference, they've got you covered. From florals to musks, these four beauties are sure to appeal to just about any fragrance fanatic! Essence of Beauty Body Mists are exclusively available at CVS stores.  These four new fragrances, launched this month and consist of In Your Arms, Sunset Fling, Modern Floral and my personal favorite Exotic Blooms (reminds me of a cool ocean breeze)!  Check them out stat as i'm sure they'll be a perfect summer staple in your beach bag!

Thank you SO MUCH for reading! XO, Carla - FMM

*press sample - All opinions are my own based on my experience with these products...see full disclosure here.

Multi-Tasking Super Star Featuring Mary Kay At Play Eye Crayon in Gold Mine

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Multi-Tasking Super Star Featuring Mary Kay At Play Eye Crayon in Gold Mine

If you've kept up with my blog for a while, certainly you've learned that i'm a big fan of multi-tasking products. As a busy mommy of twin girls who works a full time job and maintains a beauty blog, i'll take any 'time saving' products i can get my hands on!  I'm so lucky to continuously test and love some amazing multi-taskers that i decided to start a new series here on FMM highlighting some of my favorites!  Every week or so, i highlight a product that i'm currently loving that has multiple purposes.  I think that this will be helpful to many so i'm very excited to get this thing going!  Hope you enjoy!

Today's Multi-Tasking Superstar is Mary Kay's At Play Eye Crayon in Gold Mine!  This beauty is extremely versatile and oh so pretty.  This eye shadow crayon glides on and packs on the color. This particular color Gold Mine is simply spectacular.  While i love wearing it as the obvious... eye shadow, i love to use it for other purposes too.  This pretty little crayon makes a gorgeous highlighter too! Check out all the places i love to use it in...



So let's chat...what did you think of this week's multi-tasking super star?  Have you tried it?

Thank you SO MUCH for reading! XOXO, Carla - FMM

*This product was gifted to me when i attended the People Style Watch photo shoot for Mary Kay's Fall Collection which you can read about here.  All opinions are my own.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish

Monday, May 12, 2014


I've found my new favorite cleanser!  Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish leaves my skin looking and feeling amazing!  This cult favorite not only gently removes all impurities from your skin (waterproof makeup included) but when paired with the 100% cotton muslin cloth (included), it rids the skin of  dulling dead skin cells for a perfect glow!  This creamy cleanser is formulated with wonderfully nourishing ingredients such as moisturizing cocoa butter, and two of nature's best astringents: eucalyptus essential oil and rosemary.  This beauty is perfect even for the most sensitive of complexions... i can certainly attest to that!  To use, simply massage one to two pumps onto dry face and neck in circular motions. Run warm water over your muslin cloth and sweep over face and neck to remove cleanser, dirt, grime and oil.  Once cleanser is fully removed, splash face with cool water and voila... your skin will be clean, refreshed and prepped for your skincare! I'm officially obsessed!


Thank you SO MUCH for reading! XOXO, Carla - FMM

*press sample - all opinions are my own.  See full disclosure here.
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