Beauty & Fashion

On Friday, I mentioned that I just made the decision to become a Jamberry Nails Independent Consultant. Although I’ve worked in a few places when I was younger where sales kinda came into play (Victoria’s Secret), I was never really comfortable with sales. That’s why I said on Friday that I promise not to be that pushy salesperson everyone hates.

But that’s part of the reason I chose Jamberry. Sure, it’s considered a direct sales company, but I can CHOOSE whether to have home parties or just online Facebook parties…I can CHOOSE whether I want team members with me…I can CHOOSE how much time I want to devote. I have a lot of choices, which is perfect for someone that has a full-time job with 2 kids.

But most of all, I chose Jamberry because of how much I love the product. I have been a nail-biter my entire life. It has always been bad too, I would bite my nails AND my cuticles and wind up with bloody spots and every single finger in pain. Pretty sad for a 30 year old. I am so tired of hiding my nails in meetings or not wearing rings or bracelets so as to not draw attention to my fingers. When I tried Jamberry the first time, I was in absolute shock that I could go 2 weeks without biting! So when I took the Jams off, I put new polish on proudly, excited that I kicked the habit.

But then my polish would chip almost immediately (not to mention the fact that it would take 2 coats of polish, a base coat and top coat and a bunch of drying time) and I would focus on my nails being messed up, then bite them and be back at square one.

So when I got my 3rd manicure out of that very first sheet of Jams, I finally made the decision I should have made after the first Jamberry manicure…to switch from polish to Jamberry and make them a permanent part of my life.

What is Jamberry?

Jamberry Nails are the NEWEST way to accessorize your fingers & toes! Lasting up to 2 weeks on fingers & 5-7 weeks on toes. These non toxic, vinyl based nail shields won’t chip, peel OR fade! Heat them with a hair dryer & apply them to your nails!

 

Part of the appeal of being an Independent Consultant was that the Consultant Kit is pretty inexpensive and includes items I was going to buy anyway…including 4 sheets of Jamberry wraps, a mini heater, application kit and then a bunch of consultant materials. So I get things I would have purchased anyway, plus the ability to turn this into my own business venture…to make money, make friends, and of course, get discounted and free products! Plus, I get asked about my nails every time I have them on, so talking to people about them is so easy!

I also can’t wait to create my own Nail wraps, especially for Disney trips!

 

To start things off, I am having a LAUNCH PARTY on Facebook for the next 2 weeks! I will be posting games and more info on Jamberry and you can have the opportunity to win free Jamberry nails! Plus, you can see what a Facebook party is like, so if you’re interested in hosting one of your own with your friends and family, you will see how easy it is to earn free Jamberry of your own! The first 20 people who join will be entered to win a free Pedi Pack!

To join the party, just click this link and then select join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/880897435255229/

 

If you are interested in supporting me in this venture, you can always head over to my personal site and shop anytime…it’s always open! http://www.lynnsvenson.jamberrynails.net

 

I also created a separate website to post more about Jamberry, where you can request free samples, learn about new specials and promos, see nail designs, etc. I will post most of my Jamberry stuff there, but I may also share Pinteresty photos of my nails here from time to time too You can check it out here: http://www.haveprettynails.com

 

GIVEAWAY!

Since I’m so excited about this new journey, I want to celebrate with a giveaway! Enter here to win a sheet of Jamberry accent nails and a $25 Starbucks Gift Card! Coffee and Jams - YAY!

The Giveaway will end Saturday October 18th and I will verify the entries before contacting the winner. Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter - US only please. Good luck!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Lynn Svenson, Jamberry Nails Independent Consultant

http://www.lynnsvenson.jamberrynails.net

I have been waiting for months to see a dermatologist (and finally saw one the other day!). Why months? Well, two reasons actually. The first is that I have a mole that I want removed. I’ve had it since I was born, but I wanted to wait until after I was done having babies to get it removed since it is in a spot that gets stretched during pregnancy. Plus, I didn’t want to do any type of procedure while I was pregnant.

The second reason is because this 2^nd pregnancy blessed me with a rash-like redness around my nose and mouth. It’s dry and flaky and not pretty. Brett says he barely notices it, but he’s just being a nice husband. Either way, I had to wait until after the pregnancy to do anything about it.

Since I know that the rash (we’ll call it a rash, it’s just easier that way) will be cleared up soon, I was excited to get my skin in tip-top shape now.

Step one was getting some great products…and I was so fortunate to have the wonderful folks at Skin Authority contact me to see if I would be interested in reviewing their products. Yes, please!

I really do love trying beauty products out…you just never know what could become a permanent part of your routine because you love it so much. I also love sharing my adventures with you, because you might love it too!

What really impressed me was that I got a skin coach that worked with me to determine which products would be a good match for me (Thank you Ashley!). Even better? The fact that I wasn’t really able to schedule a phone call since I had just left the hospital with Aubrey and had no clue what my schedule was going to be like in the coming weeks…so they offered to consult with me through email. From the beginning they were already delivering top-notch customer service.

My skin coach asked me a series of questions…what my skin was like, if I had any specific concerns, whether I would want a simplified or complex routine, if I preferred gel or cream cleansers, etc. When I told her about my rash, she even asked follow-up questions to see if I really needed the product she had in mind for me. This wasn’t a pushy sales interaction at all, I felt like she was really trying to determine what I needed/what I didn’t need.

After we finalized the products I would get, they arrived at my door within a few days. Yippee!

Here are the products I received:

Essential Skin Kit

Everyone needs to protect their skin from the harmful and harsh effects of sun, aging, lifestyle, and the environment. But there’s not enough time each day for time-consuming skin care regimens. This simple routine can produce healthier skin and protect from future damage in just two steps, day and night. Now it’s easy to include skin care into the busiest lifestyle!

includes:

Daily Cleanser. Lightweight, fragrance free wash gently removes dirt and oil from the face and body, and loosens dead skin cells, leaving the skin refreshed, soft, and primed for daily regimen. 3% glycolic acid, pH 3.95.

Night Revitalizer. Exfoliates and moisturizes while you sleep to help smooth the appearance of fine lines, brighten skin, and stimulate cellular turnover. 8% glycolic acid, pH 3.90.

Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF 30. This lightweight, daily multi-action moisturizer protects from the sun up to 30 times longer than without sunscreen. Protects against damaging UVA & UVB ultraviolet rays to help slow down the signs of aging and help control hyperpigmentation and skin cancer development. Abovenzone 2%, Octinoxate 7.5%, Octisalate 5%, Oxybenzone 5%, pH 3.75.

 

Redness Relief

• Helps calm irritated, inflamed, or chapped skin.
• Helps calm over exfoliated skin or “hot spots” caused by resurfacing treatments.
• Helps treat Eczema or Dermatitis.
• Helps soothe mild sunburn or windburn.
• Helps soothe post cosmetic laser or waxing irritations.
• Replenishes fatty acids to bolster cell strength and moisture.
• Improves regenerative and restructuring qualitys of cells.
• Helps fortify and protect cell membrance to inhibit cell degeneration.
• Helps increase wound healing properties of skin.
• Helps to soften skin.

 

Deep Detox Ritual Mask

• Helps combat harsh environmental damage and stress to promote healthy, radiant skin all over the body.
• Helps hydrate and restore dry, cracked skin for softer, smoother texture.
• Helps reduce redness and inflammation.
• Incorporates a blend of Moroccan Rhassoul Clay, kaolin, and montmorillonite clays that have been clinically shown to reduce dryness and flakiness without adding oil or stimulating oil production.
• Exotic essential oils help relieve stress and promote a sense of well-being.
• Helps create a restoring home spa experience.

 

Here is the routine recommended for me:

AM:

1. Daily Cleanser. (pea sized amount applied to dry skin for surface anti-bacterial effect, add water/manipulate, remove)

*Redness Relief if needed. (pea sized amount for entire face)

2. Sunscreen Moisturizer. (pea sized amount for entire face)

PM:

1. Daily Cleanser. (same as above)

2. Night Revitalizer. (pea sized amount for entire face)

*Redness Relief if needed. (pea sized amount for entire face)

To use the Deep Detox Ritual Mask; apply to clean skin, damp or dry. Let sit for a minimum of 10 minutes. Remove either in shower, or with a warm, damp washcloth (gently).

 

So, as you can see, I chose a fairly simple routine. Just 2-3 products day and night, with a fun specialized product for once a week or so. I would have loved to try more products out, but I wanted to stay on the basic side so I wouldn’t overwhelm myself…I did have a newborn at home to take care of, so to be perfectly honest, I was taking a gamble that I would even have time to wash my face to begin with. :-/

I was very impressed with the products. I loved the gel cleanser. It lathered up really well, removed all my makeup with one application and actually left my skin soft. Sometimes, gel cleansers can overdo it, leaving you with dry skin in desperate need of moisturizer, but this one didn’t do that at all.

The Redness Relief was amazing at removing the redness of my rash. It didn’t get rid of the rash itself (I’m waiting for the dermatologist prescription for that), but it did make it less noticeable in the meantime, which made me a happy gal. I really wish I would have taken a before and after photo!

The Deep Detox Ritual Mask was a nice treat (I’d say once a week or so). I liked that even though it is brown out of the bottle, it goes on kinda clear-ish and not full-on mud mask brown like other masks. This is great if you don’t want to scare your kids before their bedtime!

Overall, I am extremely pleased with Skin Authority. I had never heard of them before, but now I will be adding their website to my list for when I need skin care products. I highly recommend them if you want to try new skin care products but don’t know where to start or what would work best for you. Let their skin coaches help you find the best products for you without leaving the comfort of your couch.

 

To learn more and buy, visit the Skin Authority website.

Connect with Skin Authority:

Facebook

Twitter

I received these products in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. Thanks for reading!

I was recently introduced to a free sample box service called PINCHme and I am immediately in love. I am definitely a fan of being able to try products/samples for free! Many of the items I use in my daily routine are from being able to try/test them out previously and then fell in love with them.

What is PINCHme?

It’s simple - you choose a product from one of their leading brands, and they then deliver it to your home or workplace for free. But be quick, they’ll reserve the products in your box for a limited time, to ensure that everyone has a chance of receiving the available products. Once you’ve tried, tasted or touched the exciting products they offer, you can leave your feedback.

Sounds fun, right?!

New York Fashion Week just finished up and I was excited to receive a PINCHme box full of products from NYFW sponsors.

Just look at all this amazing stuff! I couldn’t wait to start trying everything.

First up, some guilt-free snacks: Skinny Pop Popcorn, Skinny Cow Chocolate and Pure Via Stevia Sweetener.

These came at the perfect time! The Skinny Pop Popcorn was 100 calories for the bag and was very light and tasty.

The Skinny Cow Chocolate was 110 calories and although I don’t typically like chocolate and fruit mixed together in candies like this, this was quite tasty, especially since it reminded me of those chocolate wafers I used to eat as a kid.

I didn’t get to use the Pure Via Sweetener yet, because I am going to save it for when I go back to work and want to sweeten drinks without going to the vending machine for a soda.

I am trying to have a better makeup brush collection, so I am excited to add this real Techniques brush to my arsenal.

As often as I do my nails to try to correct the damage I’ve done, I go through nail files often. This Revlon nail file lets you peel away layers to have a new one when they get worn down. So awesome!

When I first saw the No. 7 Lip Pencil, I thought it looked a little too orange, but after applying it, I really like the light shade of coral that it came out to be.

Two of these products I’ve reviewed before and was so happy to get more!!! (The ecoTools Pure Complexion Sponge and the RenewYou Spleep Spa Mask - yay!)

Also included were some skin care products I haven’t been able to fully test yet, but definitely will once I finish with the products I have now: ROC Retinol Correction Eye Cream & vbeaute anti-aging product samples.

These Band-Aid Blister bandages are PERFECT for those sore feet you get from walking around Disney Parks all day! We ALWAYS pack a box with us on every trip - they help prevent blisters from appearing, getting worse, or causing you pain while you walk.

I have never used Tom’s deodorant, but the Wild Lavendar scent is pretty strong. It says it lasts 24 hours, so I will see if that is true!

The box also included a purse-sized container of tissues! I’ll be ready when I inevitably get sick 10 times during the Winter…

We really like these babble bottles, because it has a built-in filtration system. These are perfect to bring on cruises or anywhere that you want to make sure you are drinking clean water.

Last, but not least, was this Essenza Rosemary Mint hand soap. It smells so good that I may keep it in our personal bathroom and not the guest bathroom!

 

You can sign up to PINCHme for FREE by going to this link and submitting your info. Then, keep an eye out for notifications of when new samples are available…Be quick! Samples go fast (after all, they are free!), so you’ll want to get your hands on them before everyone else does.

I also recommend liking them on Facebook to be notified of new samples!

 

In a former life (aka 10 years ago) I worked in a salon for about 2 years. There was a little station up in the front reception area with a small sink and an amazing sugar scrub that clients could use while they were waiting. Every time Brett would visit me while I was closing up the salon, he would use the sugar scrub and so would all the employees…men and women. Our hands were so soft!

Over the years after not working at the salon any longer, I kinda forgot about it. So when I was contacted to try Dermesse Natural Sugar Scrub, it brought back memories and I had hoped this scrub would provide the same amazing benefits…and it definitely did, and then some!

Go Green with Dermesse Natural Sugar Scrub, a mild skin cleanser and customer favorite. This natural based preservative free product combines mild sugar based non-ionic detergents with natural sugar, for a gentle exfoliating rinse-off treatment that leaves your skin softer than ever.

Especially suited for the face as well as the feet, knees, and elbows to produce maximum gentleness with deep cleaning, for the removal of excess dead epidermal cells.

Benefits of Dermesse Sugar Scrub:

• Sugar is a natural and safe preservative
• Sugar is a mild abrasive that rinses off cleanly leaving the skin soft and moisturized
• 98% of the product is made-up of natural based ingredients

I prefer to use this on my hands and feet. Simply take a small scoop of the scrub and rub it into your skin in a circular motion.

They don’t specify an amount of time to rub the scrub in, but you won’t want to stop! I probably did it for about a minute.

Rinse the scrub off and immediately notice how soft and smooth your skin is. My hands were still soft hours later, even after washing them a few times and doing stuff around the house.

This is a perfect first step during a manicure or pedicure because it removes dead skin cells and even makes your nails moisturized and soft. I actually like this sugar scrub more than the one I used in the past because there is no added oil layer that you have to mix in and the smell of this one is nice and light.

I put mine right next to the sink and use it on my hands every few days…I bet Brett has used it too!

To learn more about the entire Dermesse Line and Buy: Dermesse Website

 

I received this product in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own and honest. Thanks for reading!

 

I love coffee. I love beauty products. So it’s no surprise I was excited to try frank coffee scrub! To be honest, I had never heard of it before, but after a quick search online, I found a lot of reviews. Had I been living under a rock? Nope, just busy wrangling a toddler, being tired and pregnant, and doing the working mom thang…I suppose.

Have you heard of frank? Here’s some more info:

frank is an all-natural coffee scrub for your body- an exfoliator that targets skin conditions such as cellulite, stretch marks, eczema, acne, and psoriasis. He’s made with fresh coffee grinds and other natural ingredients.

When I first opened the package, the aroma was wonderful. As much as I like coffee, I don’t always like the smell, but frank had a light coffee smell mixed with an almost chocolaty smell…which is the only way I can think to describe it but it was probably from the sweet almond oil.

frank really is a coffee scrub, made with natural ingredients, so you really are getting a bag of coffee almost! I received the original formula, made with coffee, sweet almond oil, brown sugar, vitamin e and orange oil.

When caffeine is applied topically to the skin it can stimulate blood-flow and circulation, this may help to reduce the appearance of cellulite. Ground coffee beans are also a natural exfoliant helping to reduce dry skin, as well as target eczema and psoriasis.It’s packed with Vitamins A, E and D to moisturize your skin, as well as linoleic and oleic acids to promote skin healing. Basically lots of good stuff that hydrates your skin and makes it appear to glow.

That sounds amazing! But how do I use it?

Pretty much. Here are the official instructions:

• Get naked and get in the shower. Turn the shower on and dampen your skin.
• Get dirty by using approximately two small handfuls of scrub to cover your body.
• Get rough with circular massage motions, concentrating on problem areas.
• Leave scrub to dry for 5 to 10 minutes. Get clean by rinsing the scrub from your body.

So since I am pregnant and this is made of caffeine, I didn’t exactly slather it all over, but I did test it out on my legs.

The part that sounds troublesome to me is having to let frank dry while you stand in the shower for 10 minutes. Since I was just putting it on my legs, I didn’t do it in the shower, just by the tub.

I won’t lie, this stuff is messy. Take this photo and multiply that by 20 when putting it all over your body.

After rinsing, my skin definitely felt smooth, soft and moisturized. I didn’t even feel like I needed lotion afterward, they felt that nice. As for the rest of my frank package, I am saving that for after this pregnancy to see if it will work it’s magic on the few stretch marks I have been blessed with this time around. If you look at their website, they have some amazing before and after photos of skin conditions being treated with frank, and stretch marks are one of them. I’ll have to let you guys know how that works out!

To see for yourself, search social media using #thefrankeffect

You can learn more about frank and purchase any one of their varieties by going to their website: http://frankbody.com

Connect: Facebook

 

I received this product in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own and honest. Thanks for reading!