Tag: Summer

Summer Shape Up

I don’t know about you, but her at Chez Belle Belle, I am in need of a Summer Shape Up. It is time to start amping up my fall workout given the cooler weather will arrive soon (yay!!). As part of my Summer Shape Up, I have partnered with Walmart and Balance Bar to shake up my diet game as well.

First, I am a huge fan of bars. I think they are great on the go (I keep a stash in my purse). They are fabulous for portion control. And they make me feel a little devious because I feel like I am having a candy bar.

Of course I set out to Walmart to stock up on my Balance Bar stash – after all, I live in the land of many Walmarts down here in Oklahoma. And I was thrilled to find them at the bargain basement price of less than $5.

Naturally… being the beauty junkie that I am, I am shaking up my beauty and skin care routine as well. I’ve been throwing in some new favorite products into the lineup and I cannot wait to share my thoughts on those with you soon. For now, here are the other products pictured above:

Disclosure: I received a Walmart gift card as part of a sponsored collaboration with Balance Bar and Walmart.

Beat The Heat on FOX23’s Tulsa Live

How to beat the heat while keeping our polished but still natural looks in place? I’ll be on FOX23’s Tulsa Live (formerly Great Day Green Country) this morning chatting all about how to keep makeup in place now that we are in the full swing of sweltering summer heat.

Starting top to bottom, make sure to protect your strands with Biolage COLORLAST Shine Shake with SPF. This spray adds tone and shine while providing a UV filter that can keep colored hair from fading. Aveda recently added Sun Care Protective Hair Veil to their lineup. This is also a lightweight, water-resistant UV-defense mist, which forms an invisible screen to help protect hair from sun exposure for up to 16 hours, minimizing color fading, damage and dryness.

Swap out regular eyeliner and mascara for waterproof versions. Instead of heavy eyeliner, opt for liquid liner between last roots on the top lid only. This will ensure staying power, especially if you use a waterproof formula like Eyeko Alexa Chung Lash Enhancing Eye Do Eyeliner. Flower, Drew Barrymore’s makeup line available at Wal-Mart, makes an inky waterproof mascara that can stand up to the most brutal summer heat. FLOWER Extreme Measures Lengthening Mascara uses an hourglass shaped brush for tons of coverage and shine, not to mention conditions lashes.

Under (or instead of makeup) try L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Miracle Blur Instant Skin Smoother Finishing Cream with SPF 30. The oil-free formula smoothes onto skin and absorbs any summer greasiness. I love that its ability to blur lines, pores and texture makes foundation unnecessary – great to skip a layer in the sticky heat.

Mai Couture Papier Blush, Bronzer and Highlighter papers are perfect on the go touch-ups while absorbing excess oil and adding a needed summer glow. They are also perfect for holiday travel allowing you to skip liquids and extra brushes.

For the ultimate in staying power, use Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray and makeup will not budge. Weightless and undetectable, the formula was developed in partnership with SKINDINÄVIA and works with all skin types. By controlling the temperature of your makeup, eyeliner, foundation, eye shadow, blush and concealer stay in place in both hot and humid (and cold and windy) conditions. Bonus: it also prevents makeup from settling into fine lines.

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Fourth of July Sales

Happy Fourth of July! Happy Birthday, America! Hope everyone is gallivanting around the pool/lake/beach today. That’s the plan for me! And I am sure to manage some online trolling because this is the summer weekend for sales. Check out some of my picks:

ASOS is having a huge sale with up to 50% off select styles.

Anthropologie is offering an extra 20% OFF sale items through 7/7 with code BUZZ20.

Beauty lovers: B-glowing is having a huge clearance sale for up to 75% off.

Banana Republic has 40% off online and in stores through 7/7 with code BRJULY.

Looking for luxe? Barneys has up to 60% off regular prices and free shipping & returns on all U.S. orders.

Amp up your glam with an order from BaubleBar and get $10 Off orders of $30+ through 7/6 with code JULYRS.

Gap has up to 60% off in stores and online.

J. Crew is clearing the rack with 40% off Final Sale through 7/8 with code SHOPMORE.

Need a summer wardrobe revamp? Piperlime has up to 50% off 150+ summer styles.

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Summer Hair Care on MegBiram.com

I’m really loving this series that I have been contributing to over the past couple of months on Meg’s awesome blog. This June, my fellow bloggers and I are sharing our favorite tips for caring for all of your hair. Don’t miss this roundup of some amazing ideas and products right here.

New From Hourglass: Panoramic Long Wear Lip Liner and Extreme Sheen Lip Gloss

It is like Hourglass Cosmetics is in my head, just knowing what I have been craving this summer: a shiny, bold and glossy look with staying power. I’m weighed down by my winter thick and matte lipstick in this weather. Recently released from Hourglass is a lip duo that is my new go-to: Panoramic Long Wear Lip Liner and Extreme Sheen Lip Gloss, both in Muse, a vibrant orange red with just a hint of pink.

This summer, Hourglass added four new shades of Panoramic Long Wear Lip Liner and three new shades of Extreme Sheen Lip Gloss. Just like the original versions, the duo is super long-wear – much appreciated in the humid, sticky Oklahoma summer.

Starting with the liner, I get a creamy and water-resistant base shade. I love the brush on the other end for precise application. Then as a second layer, the shiny and rich Extreme Sheen adds depth of color. Vitamin E provides hydration on my constantly chapped lips. The finish is truly luxury. And I am swooning over the cake batter scent which is surprisingly sophisticated.

I rocked this duo on this week’s TV segment – what do you think?

New Clarisonic Mia Sonic Skin Cleansing Brush in Neons

Years ago, when the Clarisonic first launched, I purchased a Clarisonic PLUS Face & Body Cleansing in Pink. It has been a trusty friend (and a true asset to my skin care routine). But I was getting a little tired of baby pink – I am not really a girly girl. And the larger size made it difficult to travel with. Plus, I literally never used the body functionality.

In the nick of time, a new Clarisonic arrived in my hot little hands and I love this one even more than the first! Clarisonic Mia has two awesome new shades this summer – the vibrant Electric Pink and limited-edition Electric Blue. This smaller, one-speed edition is exactly what I need in a more compact version. I have the blue shade and its cheerful boldness is perfect in my neutral bathroom.

Those new to Clarisonic: this face brush cleanses the face six times better than hands alone using sonic technology. A little tip for those who found a Clarisonic previously abrasive: make sure you just gently press the head against the surface of your skin. The sonic action will do the work for you. You don’t need to press into the skin hard. The gentle motion is perfect for all skin types and you can use any regular cleanser. I love a foaming variety (I’m currently using mine with this men’s cleanser).

So why is the Clarisonic better than more affordable versions? Those cheaper devices usually spin. The Mia oscillates back and forth at a sonic frequency that produces over 300 movements per second, which gently works with skin’s natural elasticity to extract impurities from skin and pores. Clinical results have shown reduced appearance of pores, fine lines and wrinkles, and improved skin tone. I know it sounds like a huge investment, but given I have been using mine over the last several years, several time a week, and my skin has never looked better… it is a no brainer. Also, it is a huge hit with men – even my dad is an addict (find the men’s version here).