Franklin and Whitman has beauty products for the whole family this Christmas

Skincare is so important and with so many different types of skin and let’s face it hormones (I do have a pregnant girl in the house) we need the best. I recently found a company that would allow me to get what I need, Mya needs and Dan too (the little ones are left out of this one, sorry guys). Finding a company that gives all 3 of us, is like a hallelujah moment. Not only that but they are natural, Vegan, and a percentage of every purchase goes towards Dog rescue organizations. I mean hands down Franklin and Whitman is rocking it. Check out below to see the products we all got. They make for great gifts this Christmas as well.

beauty gifts for the holidays

Finding a gift for a beauty fan can be hard sometimes as they seem to have everything. I was recently sent a few things that I thought would make for a great gift basket for a beauty lover. Products Like Teeth whitening, charcoal, and crystal deodorant.

New Year, New Hair: Simplify Your Daily Hair Routine with The Heated Glider Brush

My 14 year old daughter is a normal teenager that spends a ton of time on her hair. She has been wanting a Glider brush for a while. I don’t blame her as her hair is very thick and full. Brushing, it, straightening it and styling it, take a long, long time. So when I had the chance to do a review for GliderBrush.com by HSI Professional there was no way I was saying no.

In the package, you get the following:

• Glider Straightening Brush
• Heat Mat
• Heat Glove
• Thermal Spray
• Glider Flat Iron

Regencia Revitalizing Crème

I may only be 32, but I take my skin care seriously. Personally, I don’t want wrinkles while I’m still in my early 30’s. I know they will come eventually, but I want my skin as healthy as possible. One of the products I recently came across is Regencia Revitalizing Crème. I have to say, this stuff is amazing!

Paul and Joe Makeup Goes with Looney Tunes

I have seen fun compacts before, but I have never seen any that have cartoon characters on them. Ok, that may seem a little strange. Until you see the ones from Paul & Joe. They took Looney Tunes and made it cool again. Everyone I have showed these cases too have loved them and wanted some of their own. I mean what can’t you love about Tweety bird or Tom and Jerry being on your makeup compact?

The Staple Soap in Our Home Is Goat's Milk Stuff!

I love soap! It is just one of those things that I have always loved. When I got my first job at sixteen, I swear I spent a good part of my paychecks on soaps, so it is no surprise I love to review them, and let you know about the best of my obsession. I had the opportunity to review Goats Milk Stuff again, which is just this fantastic family run company that makes truly glorious soap. This stuff smells sooo good. I received my collection of soaps and loved each and every one, and opening the box was so aromatic that my whole bedroom smelled nice. Ever since I first discovered them YEARS ago, I have been a long time customer. I purchase them regularly, and have even sent my husband online to buy me some for my Christmas present. With all the soaps I have reviewed, I think that speak volumes to you, right? Their soap is the absolute best. It smells the best, it lathers the best...and the fragrances available are superior to any other. Not to mention, I love supporting family run- smaller businesses rather than bigger cooperation. 

 Of course the first time I tried this soap I had high expectations which it met and surpassed. This soap is not overly sudsy, but instead works up in a creamy lather that really moisturizes the skin. Every single time I use it, I step out of the bath smelling great and feeling very hydrated and squeaky clean. The scents I received this time are my long time favorite: luv spell, baby powder, frankincense and myrrh, peppermint, and dragons blood. Each of these are amazingly scented and there are dozens more to chose from if these are not your cup of tea. Another option I love from them is the ability to purchase half bars, travel bars so you can test out a scent of soap before you make the decision to buy a full sized bar. This is also a great way to create a gift basket for loved ones!

FACE Atelier: Cruelty Free Makeup That Provides Amazing Coverage!

I have forever had a love/hate relationship with makeup. I LOVE that it covers up my imperfections and enhances my natural beauty. I hate that I often spend too much money in search of the perfect shade for me. My skin is pale, but sometimes the palest shade is just a bit too much for my freckles and ever so slightly sunkissed face, but the Ultra Foundation I received from Face Atelier is perfect! I think it blends nicely into my skin and looks like I really am not even wearing foundation, but definitely hides many of my imperfections, I found I really did not even need concealer when using this! What is even better is that no primer is needed, and it leaves my skin with a younger dewy finish, rather than a dried out look that many cakier foundations leave!

The Ultra Blush in Pink Satin is perfect for me. I hate an overly done up look, and sometimes women that go too heavy on the blush look that way to me. The pink satin matches my own cheek color so naturally that it truly just looks like I am lightly flushed when I am wearing this. It is the perfect, everyday casual wear blush for me! It is a lighter shade, but is able to be darkened for a more dramatic look quickly just by adding another thin layer. 

The Finish Spray is awesome too! You can use it before makeup as a toner, or after to set your makeup in place, but either way it is an amazing way to hydrate your skin with a ever so slightly scented (like cucumbers) spray. It is made from cucumber extract, so there are all good things there!

Motives Cosmetics: Makeup for Everyone

Makeup! I don’t know many women that don’t like makeup. I personally love it. It’s a way to express yourself, enhance your look and well, just be fun. Motives Cosmetic is a brand that I just recently tried and already love. My daughter almost started drooling when she saw all the lip glosses (she’s 13 and loves colors).

Somerset Shave Oil Review

Somerset has changed the way I will shave from now on. This amazing shave oil is affordable and leaves my skin so very hydrated after using! It is a tiny little bottle that goes a really long way. One or two little drops of this shave oil covers my entire leg and allows my razor to glide quickly and without nicks. This oil is amazing because it does not take up a lot of room, does not leave that rust stain on your bath that so many shaving creams do and provides the BEST shave of my life both on my legs and my underarms!

My husband shaves his head every other day and he loves Somerset. He says he has had so many less cuts on his head since he started using this, and I love that is leaves him with a shinier, more Mr. Clean type head after he uses it!

Get Your kids Back to School with Younique Makeup

Back to School supplies also include beauty supplies. One of the brands I love is Younique. I have been using their 3D Fiber Lash Mascara for a while now, so when I had the chance to check out their other makeup, I definitely said yes.

My Long Time Favorite and Pregnancy Safe Skin Care Line: Belli

I have bragged about Belli many time here before, and I will continue to do so. It is my absolute favorite skin care line, even though I am no longer pregnant. I love that these products are so safe that they are perfect for pregnant women, but are wonderfully effective, and a nice enough quality for every woman that worries about the chemicals that they are putting on their skin. This complete line of skin care items is sure to impress anyone and is available at an affordable price too!

   Belli Healthy Glow Facial Hydrator: One thing I hate is a dried out face! Seriously! Makeup never looks right when you have dry skin, and often you are left looking like a lizard- but now that I have had a miscarriage, I will tell you that I will be VERY picky about what I use on my skin when I get pregnant again...so the Healthy Glow Hydrator is my new best friend. The Vitamin C and Grapeseed help your face SHINE, shine in the way it is meant too, not from grease! The chamomile helps to reduce redness and irritations. I LOVE the way my face feels when I use it. It leaves my skin seriously silky and not dried out or greasy at all. The hydrator really is the perfect cream for my face. 

Benefits Of Rose Water from Frownies

Rose Water is an amazing thing! There are so many uses for it!

• it is great for maintaining the natural pH balance of the skin
• it is a great, natural toner for the skin. Stop using all of those chemical laden toners, and use the natural rose water.
• it hydrates and cools the skin. I personally love to throw it in the fridge and after working outside and getting overheated spray some on my skin for a refreshing cool-down.
• it helps heal scars, and wounds. It is perfect to help fight acne because it has anti-bacterial properties as well. 
• it also helps with common skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis. 
• a bonus is that it has all these same benefits for the hair, so you can spritz it in and allow it to work as a great smelling spray in conditioner!

Platinum Skin Care Derma Snap

A few weeks ago, I received the Derma Snap from Platinum Skin Care. Honestly, I was a bit jaded going in to this because I am pretty loyal to the type of face creams I use, but I decided to give it a try...what would it hurt, right? I am really glad I did. The Derma Snap is everything I want in a lotion, and it has impressed me more than I ever thought it would! 

First off, the way it feels on my skin is exactly what I wanted. I hate an overly lotiony face lotion, and prefer more of a gel feeling on my skin and that is exactly what Derma Snap feels like. It does not feel thick or heavy on my skin, but does a superior job moisturizing even though it is not a thicker lotion. The light feeling makes my skin feel soft and smooth all day long and counters amazingly well with my rose water tonic and primer that I use! Between the these three things, my skin looks more amazing than it did when I was in my 20's, and now I am almost 35!!

Intense anti-aging technology with Snap-8(r), Leuphasyl(r), Matrixyl(r) and Syn(r)-Coll! This luxurious cream works to:

• Smooth fine lines.
• Reduce wrinkles.
• Soften crows feet and signs of stress.
• Stimulate collagen production.
• Intensely hydrate overly dry skin.

My biggest problem area over the past few years has been the wrinkles at the corner of my mouth. Using this regime, I have noticed a decrease in them if I apply it twice a day.  I have been so happy with my choice to review this, and I can tell you as a self declared "product junkie" this cream works as well as many I have used that are twice its price!!


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  Disclosure: The above item was received in order to facilitate review. I have not been compensated for this post. Top Notch Material blog will always provide honest opinions, beliefs or experiences on products reviewed. We will only recommend products or services that we feel are of benefit to our readers. If you have any questions, please contact me at nursemommypaige at yahoo dot com. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.   

Hair Makeover with Infusium and Pro Beauty Tools!

I have never been that girl known for her hair. As much as I like to have nice looking hair, my hair is so fine and wispy that it is not something I will ever be known for- well, thats not so true now. While I might not have movie star glam hair, by using a few simple AND AFFORDABLE products, I have learned to love my hair and to make the most of it! This look that I created is Clair Danes inspired from her appearance at the Met Gala. Renowned Hairstylist Peter Butler (@PeterButlerHair) worked his magic to create a style that complemented both her best features as well as the dress that has everyone talking. Even though I did not pull my hair back like hers, you can see how much smoother and fuller my hair looks. You

are no longer focused on the wispy fly away hair, but instead you notice the awesome wave I am sporting! The Infusium Shampoo and Conditioner are amazing! My hair feels so much more hydrated when I use it! The conditioner leaves my hair silkier feeling than it has in a very long time. I use a touch of the leave in spray before I blow dry, and then put a little in the palms of my hands and smooth out fly aways after I am done styling. Works perfectly! The product that most blew me away was the PRO beauty Ionic Blow Dryer. This sucker really BLOWS and made me realize how terrible my very old blow dryer really was! My hair is dried in half the times, and you can really focus the nozzle to one area to aid in styling. I was also really impressed with the PRO beauty 24 karat plated curling iron! This large barrel creates a natural looking wave pretty quickly! You can set it to the heat setting that works best for your hair type, and it heats up pretty quickly!

Win a $100 Spafinder Gift Card from Flipp!

Being a Mom is hard work. I definitely have those, I didn't sign up for this moments! During those moments, I like to take some time to myself to relax and breath..that is if we can afford it. Lets face it Moms, everything we do is for our kids... and we often do without and forget about ourselves! If it means buying our little ones a new shirt, or getting ourselves a pedicure- 9 times out of 10, we will choose our kids.  We work so hard that Flipp wants to give back to moms, who give so much of themselves, Flipp is kicking off a special #FlippforMom campaign. Throughout the month of May on its official Facebook and Twitter accounts, Flipp will host a different giveaway every week! Visit facebook.com/getflipp to learn more and enter to win!

Younique Offers Amazing Coverage and Flawless Faces- Perfect for Mother's Day!

There are times I get something in the mail to review that I really say, "I LOVE BEING A BLOGGER!" and receiving a box of Younique goodies had me saying just that! I love makeup, and have purchased some Younique in the past! I love, love, love their Moodstruck Precision Eyebrow Gel and Liner set, the lip stain, and Touch Mineral Powder Foundation and use all of those on a regular basis! I have heard such good things about many of the other products, and wanted to give them a try as well!

If you know anything about the Mineral Liquid Foundation you know that it was so wildly popular that is was sold out in MANY of the colors available until just recently. I have a cousin who sales Younique and she posted videos of some of the AMAZING results ladies have had using this foundation. Acne scars, begone! I do not have permission to share those videos here but do a search, you will be amazed too! While I do not have the skin issues some of those ladies do, I do have very red, ruddy skin so I was excited to give this foundation a try. I am so happy to say that is went on wonderfully and has such a nice satiny finish to it! I do recommend wearing a primer beforehand just to allow to to totally and flawlessly cover your skin! I love the glass applicator tip because it it is great to use to apply the foundation to my skin, and it is easy to clean and sanitize and does not harbor bacteria like sponge applicators. This picture shows the foundations coverage on my skin. I probably could have used more, and layered it to get totally flawless coverage, but I just used one layer because I prefer a more natural look.

I was also very amazed by the Moodstruck Opulence Lipstick. It is such a rich color! One coat of this lipstick gave me amazing results and lasted for several hours!! I just love the Upper Class color as well. It is truly a lipstick you can dress up or down and wear casual or for a night out! It is a very hydrating lipstick as well, and did not dry my lips out at all. I also love the Lucrative Lip Gloss. I was really afraid that it would be a overly powerful color that would overtake the lipstick and not be able to wear them together but that does not seem to be the case at all. It blends so well with the lipstick! One thing I am always afraid of when trying a new gloss is the stickiness factor. I hate a sticky gloss!! This is not one at all. It is a silky gloss that goes on smoothly and doesn't stick!

Products at your fingertips #BeautyYourFamilyTrusts

I love to shop, there is no doubt about that. However, I am disabled and it is hard to go to the store even if it’s a short trip. That’s where online shopping is great. Walmart is around the corner but I do love going on their site and ordering online. Walmart partnered with P&G and has a great site BeautyYourFamilyTrusts.com where you can get all your beauty basics.

Win a Complete Hair Regrowth Kit from KerMax!

One of the many hairstyles I tried to hide my hair loss with.

Years ago, I had a surgery and my hair started to fall out afterwards. Even though my hair has never been my best feature, it was traumatic to look into the mirror and be able to see my scalp at the age of 29. I was looking for an all natural product that would I felt would increase my beauty but I never found it. Losing my hair caused major self esteem issues for me and I began to experiment with different hair styles and colors to cover up the loss.  The different hairstyles did not help at all and I ended up waiting it out until I got pregnant again and my hair began to grow back in.

I was recently asked to tell you about a product that would have helped me in this situation, called KerMax. KerMax is a drug free, over the counter line of hair products that is affordable and formulated to help hair regrow and reduces the appearance of thinning hair. The products from KerMax are free from chemical preservatives, and safe for every hair type. This amazing product is available in Canada at all Shoppers Drug Mart locations, and in the United States at all CVS locations, and CVS online. I wish I had it when I had thinning, embarrassing hair!

My Favorite for Pregnancy and Beyond: Belli Skincare!

As you all know from my past post, I just love Belli Skincare. Even though I am no longer pregnant, this is a product I will always love. It is free of all the harmful chemicals found in other skin care products! I find it important to stay away from these chemicals normally, but even more now that I am nursing the princess. These are products I use in my everyday life, and am happy to have discovered such and amazing brand.

Belli All Day Moisture Lotion: I love a great lotion in the winter time when my skin can get dry and itchy. I also remember how important lotion was so me when I was pregnant and my belly grew bigger and bigger and got itchy!  I was constantly applying lotion to try and soothe the itch. Belli's lotion is a rich and creamy lotion. It is a medium thickness lotion that absorbs pretty quickly into the skin and leaves me feeling hydrated and soft. I also love the very subtle chamomile scent.

Duri Nail Polish is the Longest Lasting Polish I have Used!

I love keeping my nails polished, but as a busy mom and nurse I hate nothing more than a polish that chips after a day or so. I definitely need something more long lasting and I have even had the home gel manicures chip within a few days. I was recently asked to try a Valentines shade collection from Duri Nails, and I have been extremely impressed.

At first I was a little scared when I applied the nude polish that I received as it was a very light coat and I was not sure if the color would really show. However, after a second coat, I was happy with the results. I did not apply a base or top coat at all. 

Day 5 and my polish still looks awesome...just a few chips to the top of two nails...otherwise totally flawless manicure.

A week later and my nails still look really good! There are a few chips but nothing that is so bad that I would not still wear it out- and that is saying a lot because chipped polish is a huge pet peeve of mine! At this point I am more concerned about the nails growing out than I am about the minor chips. This is seriously the longest lasting polish I have ever used, and I am completely hooked!