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Paula’s Choice Skincare Review + 20% off Discount (and free shipping)

This post is in partnership with Paula’s Choice and Pretty In My Pocket!Paula's-Choice-best-products

I should start by saying I’m a huge Paula Begoun fan. She’s a complete renegade in the skincare industry and the ultimate myth buster and founder of Paula’s Choice. I’ve been following her for years so to have the opportunity to meet her this month was huge for me! Whether or not you agree with all of her views what I’ve always appreciated about her books and advice is that they come from a place of research and proven facts versus following rumors and trends.

I’m excited to be partnering with Pretty In My Pocket to offer an exclusive 20% off code and free shipping through this link. If you’re not familiar with Pretty In My Pocket it’s a great network to follow beauty enthusiast to see their favorite products and reviews. You can register at prettyinmypocket.com/login to join the community and share your favorites! (Let me know if you do so I can check out your page!).

Over the years I’ve dabbled in Paula’s Choice c as part of my routine, and have honestly loved everything I’ve ever used. I bow down to her 2% BHA and SPF produts! My experience this time around was much more profound (usually I read about a product and try it) while this time I started with a phone call to her customer service team to discuss my skin and skincare goals and then together we created a full regimen.

I’m someone that deeply believes in balancing my skin so that it’s always “normal”. However, I don’t necessarily have a normal skintype. Like many that don’t sway drastically in one direction (always dry or always oily…), I get dry in the winter and oily in the summer. My main concerns if I’m not taking care of my skin is pore size, and hyperpigmentation. I also want to be preventative with anti-aging since I’m now in my 30s and those lines in my forehead are becoming more prominent and I like to have some type of skin brightener (I’m a big vitamin C fan!) on hand. Lastly, I’m all about an eye cream and keeping the area around my eyes hydrated so I don’t develop crows feed and a sunscreen is an absolute must for me –and should be for everyone!

Based on this explanation we worked out the following regimen: Paula's-Choice-Resist-Anti-Aging-Essential-Kit-Wrinkles-and-Breakouts

The Paula’s Choice Resist Anti-Aging Essential Kit for Wrinkles & Breakouts appropriate for both dry and oily skintones the set includes:

  • Resist Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser (6.4oz) – eliminates oil and leaves skin soft
  • Resist Daily Pore-Refining Treatment 2% BHA (3oz) – exfoliant with 2% BHA to shrink pores and smooth wrinkles
  • Resist Youth-Extending Daily Mattifying Fluid SPF 50 (2oz) – hydrating day moisturizer with SPF
  • Resist Anti-Aging Clear Skin Hydrator (1.7oz) – lightweight moisturizer that hydrates without causing breakout.

paulas-choice-eye-creamWe also added three additional products:

  • Resist Advanced Replenishing Toner – tones skin to smooth wrinkles and build colllagen for firmer skin
  • Resist Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Vitamin C treatment – Fights multiple signs of aging and brightens
  • Resist Anti-Aging Eye Cream – softens the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

I love that all Paula Choice products are fragrance free and non-irritating. I’ve always felt that if any ingredients are being added just to add scent or enhance the experience that don’t actually have any skin benefits I prefer they not be formulated in my product. It’s why I’ll often use a sensitive skin product, even though I’m not sensitive if all the ingredients are the same and the only difference is for the sensitive version it’s fragrance free.

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Spring Fragrance Round up: What’s New from Creed, Lanvin, Molton Brown and More!

dyptique-sensa-spring-fragrances-lanvin-molton-brownChoosing a signature scent is a very personal experience. With new fragrances launching daily, it’s hard to sift through and yet there is something about the weather changing that gets me all excited for those more flirty floral scents. Brands like Ulta and Sephora will organize by top rated (Sephora also features what’s new) which are great resources. For me I need to experience a fragrance in person so I have been non-stop attending fragrance previews and have an entirely new updated scent range for the season. Here’s what were excited about:
creed-princess-oud-lanvin-spring-fragrancess

Raw Spirit Desert Blush: All of the fragrances featured above are new with the exception of Desert Blush from Raw Spirit (the rollerball shown above). I recently discovered the brand and have become instantly enamored. This is the fragrance I

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Hot for Spring NARS New Eyeshadow and Cheek Palette

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During Fashion Week, NARS hosted an intimate brunch at Sadelle’s in NYC. Stacks of warm bagels, endless carbs and good coffee… I was a happy camper. The two palettes presented at the event, L’amour Toujours Eyeshadow Palette and Cheek Studio Palette have become instant staples. The highlights for me is the blush palette has some new exclusive shades in it just for Sephora (all of the existing shades I already owned) and in the case of the eyeshadow palette it’s my favorite one they have launched in the 10+ years I’ve been purchasing their palettes (I’ve probably owned at least 15…) solely based on the color assortment and perfect mix of mattes and shimmer. Full review and swatches below!

NARS-L'amour-Toujours-Eyeshadow-PaletteNARS-L'amour-Toujours-Eyeshadow-Palette-swatchesL’amour Toujours Eyeshadow Palette ($59): This limited-edition eye shadow palette features 12 new shades in matte and shimmer finishes; four are oversized and eight are standard size. It boasts up to 7 hours of wear although I generally like to touchup after 4 or so. With a primer the timeline is easier to extend. The palette has a great color selection from nudes, browns and blacks with a regal blue — all of which I would use, which is so rare in a palette with this many shades and is a great value with over $300 worth of product.

NARS-Cheek-Studio-Palette-laguna-bronzer-swatches-sephora NARS-Cheek-Studio-Palette-swatches-sephora-review

Cheek Studio Palette ($65): The Sephora exclusive cheek palette features four exclusive blush shades, the iconic Laguna Bronzing Powder, and Paloma Contour Blush. The Paloma Contour Blush Matte is a cream beige / light taupe rose, the Laguna Bronzing Powder is a brown bronzing powder with subtle golden shimmer, Blush I is an icy rose, Blush II is a glittering champagne, Blush III is a shimmering rose peach and Goulue is very similar to the cult-favorite Orgasm blush but less glittery. The all-in-one compact design offers a variety of tones to suit any look unless you have a darker skin complexion and then I’d have to check with my darker tone blogger friends. Overall it’s a great palette to have going into spring/summer.

Also for anyone that has not eaten at Sadelle’s in Soho yet, I highly recommend it!

Get Inspired by Women (and pass it on!) with Moroccanoil

international-womens-day-moroccanoil-gotham-magazine-dinner
On Tuesday, I had the absolute pleasure of joining Gotham Magazine and Moroccanoil on International Women’s Day for an intimate luncheon with Co-Founder, Carmen Tal. The event highlighted the brands #InspiredbyWomen campaign and video series directed by Bryce Dallas Howardo. Moroccanoil’s journey started with an inspired woman, and women continue to inspire our brand every day. Carmen’s commitment to women to both empower them and harness confidence is evident in her products and leadership.

She helps women doing incredible things have a louder voice like Rebecca Welsh, Founder of The HALO who spoke during the event. The HALO foundation supports orphaned and at-risk youth and the work they do is so incredible. The video Moroccanoil created about them as part of the INSPIRED BY WOMEN series had the entire room a little choked up (you can watch it below).

Get involved! Join the INSPIRED BY WOMEN™ conversation by sharing a woman in their life who inspires them via social media, using the hashtag #InspiredbyWomen.

moroccan-oil-inspired-by-women

For me it’s all of the usual suspects, my mom, grandma… and someone who is new to my life, Cindy my photographer (photoed above). She’s so giving and kind and her enthusiasm for life and openness inspires me. Incidentally, I was writing this today and she saw my Moroccanoil Treatment and her eyes went big with envy saying, “When I was living in Beijing my hair was so dry and breaking, Moroccanoil saved my hair… It’s like really amazing!” She assumed I was writing a product review so I told her she could have it if she let me take a picture of her with it. Little did she know it’s because she’s my #inspiredbywoman pick!

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P&G Newest Product Launches from COVERGIRL, Olay, Secret, Pantene and more!

p&g-new-launches

A few months ago I visited the P&G’s Digital Studio to explore some of our favorite mass brands including COVERGIRL, Pantene, Secret, Olay and more for their newest offerings and innovations. I’ve been playing with the products ever since and here’s what to expect and pay attention to in the drugstore aisle. Major highlight, Pantene being the first brand to develop an alcohol free hairspray!

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New at Target: Pixi by Petra skincare, Marlowe for Him, Sonia Kashuk Spring Collection

pixi-hydrating-serum-skincare-target

Getting lost in Target is easy, between their endless home goods, fashion and beauty eye-candy. Now, leaving the beauty aisle just got even harder with their latest product offerings for both women and men. Pixi by Petra, Sonia Kashuk and the latest launch, Marlowe are all exclusive brands to Target. Here’s what to have on your radar:

Pixi by Petra launches Skincare
pixi-skincare-launch-target

Before now, Pixi by Petra has dabbled in skincare, mainly less than a handful of mists and toners but is known for their massive beauty offerings. Even still, they have one of the most loyal following for their iconic Glow Tonic, which is a

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6 Highlights of my week: Khloe Kardashian, Jamie Kern, Saks off Fifth comes to NYC, Fiona Stiles launches at Ulta

khloe-kardashian-allergan-kybella-nyc-stong-looks-better-naked-lara-eurdolianWell it’s been an exciting week, new hair color, new stores, finally meeting Jamie Kern and it’s always a pleasure stealing a moment with Khloe Kardashian (especially when a photobooth is involved). Here are some highlights you may have seen on snapchat or Instagram:

Khloe Kardashian hosts Allergan’s “Live Chin Up” event – centered around having a positive body image, Allegran shared their latest innovation, Kybella, the first of it’s kind treatment in facial aesthetics that helps improve that double chin and “Live Chin Up”, a new movement designed to inspire a positive approach to life. Hosted by Khloe Kardashian, who recently wrote the #1 New York Times Bestseller, Strong Looks Better Naked, she moderated a panel discussion which included a doctor, photographer and user of Kybella. What’s cool about Kybella is it’s non-invasive and actually a prescription medicine used by adults to improve the appearance and profile of moderate to severe fat below the chin, also called, “double chin”. Naturally my highlight was the photobooth with Khloe which certainly had me holding my chin up high.

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Saks OFF Fifth opens in NYC featuring the first-ever Gilt In-Store Shop – Hosted by actress, Jamie Chung the opening for the new Saks OFF Fifth had a line wrapped around the corner. Now officially open to the public you can enjoy designer clothes, shoes, sunglasses and accessories at massive discounts. There is also a built in Gilt store for all you gilt.com shoppers, where you shop some of the assortment there or they can help you order online and best part is if you order from gilt.com you can return directly to the store! Visit Saks OFF 5TH at 57th and Lexington (125 East 57th Street, New York).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsdxZOsqG6U

Breakfast with Neutrogena for the launch of their “See Whats Possible” campaign – Through thousands of hours meeting with women from Dallas to Taipei, Sao Paulo to Paris, Neutrogena uncovered a universal truth – women are stepping back to examine what’s possible in their lives so they can pursue their dreams.  During the Oscars the brand launched their first global campaign featuring the commercial shown above. I’m so impressed by Neutrogena and all they are doing including teaming up with Girls Inc for this initiative to help women achieve their dreams.

neutrogena-foundation

The brand also announced Olivia Holt as the new face of Neutrogena and have so many new foundations shades and products that I’ll be doing a full review on soon!

superhero-lara

Superhero hair with Mark Townsand and Dove for the launch of their NEW Dove Regenerative Nourishment hair collection! It’s been almost a year since I chopped my hair and colored the bottoms green. I upped the ante last week when Dove had me to Salon V in NYC for a color treatment and to test out the new line. We got very creative and gave me a very dusted oil slick type color (or as I like to call it superhero hair).

dove-regenerative-shampoo-conditioner-serum-mark-townsend

The collection includes the Regenerative Nourishment Shampoo ($4.99), Conditioner ($4.99) and Serum-in-Oil ($5.99), and is formulated with red algae + Keratin NutriComplex to replenish lost nutrients and reconstruct the internal structure of hair, all while restoring smoothness and strength. My hair as super soft when leaving the salon. I’ve been religiously using the Serum Oil ever since, it’s awesome for dry ends and bleached hair. I use it on wet and dry hair (on the ends) and it soaks right into strands without any greasy after-math and helps keep my strands shiny and frizz free.

it-cosmetics-jamie-kern-ulta

Jamie Kern Lima, Founder and CEO of IT Cosmetics appearance at Ulta – On Saturday, I picked up two of my blogger gals, Lorna and Makeda and took a car to Garden City to meet Jamie Kern Lima! It Cosmetics is one of my favorite beauty brands that I’ve been using forever that I’m so excited to finally meet the woman behind the brand. By the way if you haven’t tried their new Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara, you’re missing out. It’s incredible!

fiona stiles makeup ulta

Fiona Stiles Beauty Launches at Ulta – Speaking of Ulta… Cast the alarm, celebrity makeup artist, Fiona Stiles much anticipated makeup line has finally arrived! I have no idea what’s good yet but the collection is priced at $12-$30 and includes 120 products in eye, lip and face categories all exclusive to Ulta.com. I tried to get the 411 at Ulta when I was in Garden City but they didn’t have the products yet.

Love is Louder with NUDESTIX

nudestix-love-is-louder-campaign

Last Friday, I had an awesome time meeting up with Jenny Frankel, the founder of NUDESTIX to play with the new Intense Matte Color Lip + Cheek Pencils and learn about their Love is Louder campaign. As many of you know she and her two daughters, Ally and Taylor created NUDESTIX to speak to the millennial generation looking for natural, easy to do, on the go makeup.  nudestix-matte-lip

{Swatched above left to right: Royal, Kiss, Purity, Stiletto, Raven}

Five nudes and three bolds make up these new beautiful, full impact Intense Matte Color Lip + Cheek Pencils that go on so smooth and last all day. Unlike most matte lippes this formula isn’t drying and can be used as a lipstick, lip liner, and cheek blush all in one pencil

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Sisley Paris launches new shades of Lip & Eye Twists!

lara-eurdolian-LulaRoe-leggings-sisley-paris-phyto-lip-twist

If there’s two things I’m excited about this week it’s my new LulueRoe makeup leggings that my friend Rachel got me (how cute are they!?!?) and that Sisley Paris extended the color range of their Phyto-Lip Twists. Specifically shade #14 Love which I’m rocking in the above.

sisley-paris-spring-2016-phyto-lip-twist

For starters, anyone not familar with Sisley Paris you should know they are a luxury skincare a color brand that’s still family owned and run. For three generations, the d’Ornano family has created and led businesses in the high-end cosmetic sector. 

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Tarte 2016 Spring Collection Swatches and Details

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(Swatched top row across, then middle and bottom row. Shades in order: Charmer, Jetsetter, Rocker, Smokeshow, Flower child, Smarty pants, Firecracker, Activist, Funny girl, Sweetheart, Rebel and Leader)
I’ve been playing with the Tarte Spring 2016 collection for the past month and it’s a mix of takers and leavers. The collection includes the Tartelette In Bloom Eyeshadow Palette,Tarteist Contour Palette, Tarte Tarteist Lip Crayons and Tarte Tarteist Lip Paint. Off the bat I can tell you the eyeshadow palette and the lip crayons (aka lip liners) are a perfect 10. If there are two products you’re adding to your must-try list, it’s these two!

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