Confidence in a Cream

This Winter wreaked havoc on my skin!  IT Cosmetics' Confidence in a Cream could not have arrived at my doorstep at a better time.  I was so frustrated with the dry patches on my forehead!  My skin was just longing for some serious hydration.  Well, Confidence in a Cream was literally love at first swipe for me.  I kid you not, after applying this beauty all over my face at night, the next morning i woke up with the softest skin ever.  The dry patches were gone... GONE!  It's now almost two months later and they have yet to return!  What exactly is Confidence in a Creamyou ask? Well... lets chat about that! 

Confidence in a Cream deeply hydrates, restores radiance and reduces the look of pores, uneven texture and discoloration.  Proprietary Anti-Aging Armour Regenerative Concentrate is activated upon contact to immerse your skin in moisture for powerful results that you'll see instantly, and more dramatic results over time.  As with all IT Cosmetics products, Confidence in a Cream was developed with plastic surgeons, the leading experts in skin rejuvenation.  I find the formula rich enough to truly hydrate my combination skin (note, this is intended for all skin types) and quick absorbing which is a major bonus.  It's Paraben-free, hypoallergenic and non-irritating (super important for me because my skin is so sensitive) and is formulated with collagen, hyaluronic acid, peptides, ceramides, antioxidants and colloidal oatmeal to help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles improving the texture of your skin while delivering hydration.

It's no secret that I've been a huge fan of IT for a long time and was secretly hoping they'd branch their amazing cosmetics line into skincare.  This cream blew all other skincare out of the ball park in my opinion!  My skin loves IT.... period! 

You can purchase Confidence in a Jar here or here. 

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

*press sample - all opinions are my own based on my experience with this product.

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Mick Rock at the Makeup Show NYC

I can think of a million reasons why i'm so stoked to attend this year's Makeup Show in NYC, but the fact that Mick Rock is presenting is literally giving me life! The man who immortalized bands and artists from Blondie and Queen to David Bowie will inspire attendees with  his long legacy of work that has been firmly cemented in our collective pop culture memory.

Attendees will hear first hand how photographer Mick Rock has made such an impact in the world of music, fashion and makeup.  With an international reputation for creating unforgettable images, Mick's work is featured in galleries all over the world and his books have become a must-have in the reference library of every makeup artist.  Mick continues to create unforgettable images with musicians like Lady Gaga, Snoop and Lenny Kravitz and has created an aesthetic which influenced a generation of fashion and music photographers and inspires us all.

In the first time keynote at The Makeup Show NYC, Mick will share his story, show attendees some of his favorite work from throughout his career and offer advice for makeup artists searching for their own style and voice while looking to make a mark in today's industry.  In addition, The Makeup show NYC will also feature over 75 beauty brands including Diamond Sponsor Make Up For Ever, Platinum Sponsor Crown Brush and Temptu PRO, Silver Sponsor Frends Beauty, NARS and Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, Supporting Sponsors INGLOT Cosmetics, Alcone, MusaeV and Smashbox, Contributing Sponsors Glamcortec, Bdellium Tools and Pinnacle Cosmetics, and School Sponsor Make Up for Ever Academy.

The Makeup Show NYC will be held on Sunday, May 1, 2016 from 9am to 6pm and on Monday, May 2, 2016 from 9am to 5pm at Metropolitan Pavillion, 125 West 18th Street, NYC.  For a complete list of participating brands, educational speakers, schedule of events and prices, please visit www.themakeupshow.com.

I'm thrilled to attend the show this year as well as the blogger preview!  I hope to see you there supporting this amazing event for all makeup lovers!

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

ittsē Cosmetics - Customize Your Very Own PERFECT Palette!

It's quite obvious that i love to play with makeup!  What's really exciting however, is when i find new brands and in this case a major gem!  Ittsē Cosmetics is incredibly innovative, fun, edgy and creative. Best part? The quality is impeccable!  You know i love great packaging and ittsē nails it with theirs! Check out their easy and super convenient concept...

First, select a palette.  Ittsē's customizable magnetic palettes hold 12 eye/brow refills, 9 eye/brow refills + 2 complexion refills or 6 complexion refills.  Sold empty so you can customize your own collection!  Brilliant right??!!

Next, this is the fun part, it's time to fill your palette.  You'll have to decide the types of products you'll want housed in one place.  I like a little variety in my palette so i have three complexion and 6 eye products.  The shadows and cheek colors are so smooth, buttery and pigmented.  The colors are easy to blend and wear beautifully.  I was so so so impressed with these refillable colors!  I tested them for quite some time both with and without primers.  I will tell you they work better with a primer but still lasted for quite a long time without.  I absolutely love the idea of a customizable palette.  Think about all the palettes out there that you've purchased only to use two or three shades! You totally know what i'm talking about don't you?  This concept of building your own is so much better because you know you'll love all the shades and you know they'll work for you!  

Want to customize your own palette?  Simply click here and start personalizing your very own perfect palette!  

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

*press sample - all opinions are my own based on my experience with this product.

Tips and Tricks for Transitioning Your Skin to Warmer Weather

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CeraVeSkincare #CollectiveBias

As the weather warms up, i like to make a few simple changes to my skincare.  To do that, i reach for some of my favorite CeraVe products.  I've used and trusted CeraVe for many years mainly because the products are non-irritating and fragrance free.  Most are also non-comedogenic.  CeraVe helps replenish the vital ceramides healthy skin needs. My sensitive skin responds so well to these products.

On a recent trip to Walmart, i stocked up on some of my everyday CeraVe essentials!  Hey did you know that the following items will be on Rollback until 5/9/2016?! All 3 will be at $9.97 retail until that date so be sure to stock up as well! 

CeraVe Hydrating Cleanse

CeraVe Foaming Cleanser

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

I thought it might be helpful to take you through my daily skincare routine illustrating how i like to transition my skin for warmer weather.  Let's begin with my morning situation shall we?  As a busy mommy of twins, i like to simplify my routine whenever i can.  CeraVe's Hydrating Cleanser is my one-stop-shop situation when it comes to healthy skin.  It is formulated with Ceramides to help repair the skin barrier.  Hyaluronic acid attracts needed moisture.  Emollients moisturize and soften very dry skin. I love that i can use this on my face and body. TIP: Keep this cleanser in the shower to ensure that you'll never go without properly cleansing and prepping skin for your skincare regimen.  

Next, I reach for my CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion with Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30. This beauty provides patented controlled release of ingredients to help repair and restore your skin's natural protective barrier.  I love that this moisturizer not only quenches my thirsty skin but protects it from the sun.  As the weather warms up, i like to up my SPF game because this girl wants to ensure that her skin is always protected from the sun's harmful rays! 

TIP: If you're going to be out in the sun for a good portion of the day, you'll want to add CeraVe's Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Face Lotion to your skin. This has been my go-to product for years and it's never let me down. From vacations in the Caribbean to my daughter's soccer games, this baby is always on my face! It provides broad spectrum, lightweight sun protection plus vital ceramides.   

Once I've prepped my face for the day, i like to take a few moments to nourish the skin on my body. CeraVe's Moisturizing Cream is a current favorite of mine because it moisturizes, restores and maintains protective skin barrier with ceramides and hyaluronic acid.  It feels wonderful on my skin, absorbs quickly and doesn't feel greasy.  A major bonus for me personally is that it's fragrance free. TIP: Don't neglect your elbows or knee caps.  These areas need loads of hydration so be sure to include them in your regimen.  Allow a few minutes for this cream to absorb into the skin before getting dressed.  

Now let's chat about night time!  I can't stress enough the importance of properly cleansing your skin every night.  There is plenty of cell renewal action that happens while you sleep so you want to be sure that you are properly cleansing and prepping your skin to maximize your night time skincare. I'm currently loving CeraVe's Foaming Facial Cleanser because it helps repair and restore protective skin barrier, it's non-comedogenic, non-irritating and of course is formulated with ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid. Another great feature is the pump!  I find that it makes this product so user friendly not to mention super sanitary. You will want to work up a lather with this cleanser by gently massaging it into your skin in a circular motion.  TIP: Run a muslin cloth under warm water and use it to wash the cleanser off of your skin.  It feels amazing and really works with the product to remove impurities from the skin. I run my muslin cloth under warm water and press it against my face.  It helps open up my pores to better prep my skin for my night time skincare products.  TIP: Always use a clean towel to dry your skin.  This is perhaps one of the most important tips next to actually cleansing your skin daily.  I keep a stack of white terry cloth towels on my vanity so that i can use a clean one every single time i dry my skin.  Follow with your favorite CeraVe skincare and you are all set for the night!

CeraVe products are developed with dermatologists with a mission to provide advanced skincare products that do more than just moisturize the skin's surface.  CeraVe is the first and only brand to offer a full line of skin care products containing an exclusive combination of three scientifically-identified vital ceramides.  One of the aspects that i truly admire from this skincare line is the patented Multivesicular Emulsion technology used in CeraVe products that releases key ingredients slowly over time.  This allows them to absorb into the skin to nourish and repair it.  Want to try CeraVe for yourself?  Of course you do!  Well, here's a $2.00 coupon to help you get started! For more information on CeraVe, be sure to visit them on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

So let's chat!  Which of these products are you most excited to try?  Thank you so much for reading! Xo, Carla - FMM

Color Correcting 101 - What's All The Fuss About?!

It seems as though lately color correcting is all the rage.  On a recent trip to Sephora, i decided to take a closer look at all that's happening in the color correcting department and whether i wanted in on it or not.  Truthfully i have a ton of redness in my skin and of course those dreadful dark under eye circles that we all despise.  While there are many options to choose from, the Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Wipeout Color Correcting Palette really stood out from the bunch.  I'm not gonna lie to you... it stood out to me for no other reason than the fact that it's soooo pretty!  So yes, the gorgeous packaging did me in, even though i knew that it was missing the purple color correcting shade for dullness.  After a few minutes of deep thought i figured this would still work for my personal skin issues and opted to give it a go.

Before

The formula is very creamy and blends well into the skin.  The interesting thing about this palette is that you get color correcting options as well as cream contouring so that's kind of cool.  Basically here's how it works:

Orange: Counteracts darkness (great for under eyes for mediumto deep skintones).
Green:  Neutralizes redness.
Warmth: Sculpts, contours and defines.
Peach1: Camouflages light to medium skintones.
Peach2: Camouflages medium to deep skintones.
Yellow: Highlights and brightens.

These universal shades work across skintones to offset the appearance of dark circles, redness, and acne while contouring and highlighting.

Now lets put this palette to the challenge shall we?  Note... included with this palette is a face diagram with where to apply these shades according to your needs.  First, apply the orange shade under your eyes or where ever you feel you have darkness in your skin that you would like evened out.  Then using the green shade, apply where ever you have redness... for me it's the apples of my cheeks, my nose and chin.  The yellow shade is great for the forehead, brow bone, mustache line and down the center of my nose.  Blend everything together with a brush or beautyblender.  Next step, apply your foundation.  You can then go over with the contouring tools in this palette to add a soft glow to the hollows of your cheeks, you can use the peach shades as concealer and of course the yellow to any areas you want to highlight.

After foundation

Full makeup

Overall, i think this palette is fun and certainly does the job.  If you have a lot of skin concerns that you want corrected, it's a good palette to have on hand.  However, it's an extra step in your makeup routine that is not necessary for your daily makeup needs.  Personally, i think it's a great option to have for special nights out or when my skin is really acting up.  However, using this everyday seems a bit much and really takes a big chunk of time from my morning routine.  Do i recommend it? Absolutely if you feel that your skin could benefit from color correcting or if your foundation is just not cutting it.  Just note that it will add a few extra minutes to your make up routine.  No biggie i suppose for some... but noteworthy for those pressed for time every morning.

Thank you so much for reading. Xo, Carla - FMM

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Burberry Beauty Haul

On a recent trip to Sephora, i couldn't help but swoon over the Burberry Beauty display.  As i began swatching product upon product, i fell more and more in love with the beautiful array of colors, textures and of course, luxurious packaging.  I immediately picked up a few beauties and later ordered some more online!  Check out my haul!

Burberry Spring/Summer 2016 Runway Palette - This gorgeous limited-edition illuminating face powder palette literally made me gasp for air.  It features an intricate and illuminating lace-inspired detail influenced by the Functionregalia womenswear show and hand-embroidered gold work shown on the Burberry Runway.  The pigmentation on this highlighter is serious leaving your skin with a major glow.  It's perfect in every way and i love that it's not super glittery.  I have yet to put this baby down since it arrived at my doorstep!

Burberry Kisses Sheer in Nude Beige 201 - I love a great nude lip!  Burberry Kisses Sheer in Nude Beige is a beautiful soft hue that applies seamlessly on the lips and feels deliciously comfortable to wear.  It's the kind of lippie you want to reach for over and over again.  Honestly, this is definitely worth the splurge because the color is timeless and the formula is flawless!  I need more!

Burberry Eye Colour Cream in Mink - You guys!!!!  I have officially found my favorite cream shadow formula!  This cream shadow feels creamy but applies with a powder-like finish.  It is incredibly easy to work with and wears beautifully.  The color i chose Mink is such a wearable neutral.  Now that i know i love the formula and wear, I'm sure to add a few more to my collection!

Complete Eye Palette in Rose Pink 10 - This is such an expensive palette considering you only get four shadows!  Having said that, I've been eyeing this combo for quite some time mainly because these colors scream Carla!  These hues are my typical everyday go-to colors so i knew that if the pigmentation and wear was good, I'd actually get plenty of use out of this palette (can you hear me trying to justify my purchase?)  In this case, I'm so glad i picked this beautiful palette up.  You see, I've yet to put it down because the colors work so beautifully and seamlessly with my skin tone. They are a wonderful neutral range that just work.  I know that I'll be wearing these for a long time to come!  They last all day with or without a primer and totally worth the splurge for the beauty enthusiast.  If you don't want to shell out the big bucks for a tiny palette like this, may i suggest Lorac's PRO Matte palette.  This palette is under $30 and features a similar range but you'll get twice the number of shadows.  Psssst this is the first palette that I've purchased more than once. It's that good!

Burberry Nail Polish in Nude Beige 100 - This iconic Burberry beige caught my eyes for it's simplicity and elegance.  Wear one coat for a sheer nude effect or two coats for full coverage.  This polish wears beautifully and lasts a few days.  I've been wearing it quite often in fact.  It's the perfect everyday situation.

I am so impressed with everything i purchased from the Burberry collection.  I will definitely be adding more to my stash, particularly the eye creams because they are unlike anything i've ever tried before and wear so beautifully.  You can purchase Burberry Beauty here.

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

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