Dior Makeup Giveaway - Enter to Win on the Blog and Instagram

Giveaway Time!

I have two sets of this high end Dior makeup to share with you. The prizes include:

Dior 'Diorskin Nude Air' Healthy Glow Invisible Loose Powder in (030) Medium Beige $58 Dior 'Backstage Foundation - Light Coverage' Fluid Brush $46 Dior Couture Color Rouge Dior Lipstick in (475) Rose Caprice $35

How to enter:

Instagram entry (One winner) To enter this giveaway on Instagram:

1. You must follow @candycoatedclosets on Instagram. You must be an active follower/supporter of mine (that also helps your chances of randomly winning #RandomActsofCCC).

2. In the comments on this Instagram photo, tag three friends so they can learn about all of the fun we have on here.

3. You can enter up to 5 times with a new set of tagged friends in each comment.

4. You can repost the photo on your page under the hashtag #CCCDiorMakeup for an extra entry. Please do not tag me in the photo, you only need to add the hashtag to your caption. Remember, your page needs to be public at the time of the random drawing for me to see your extra entry.

Blog giveaway (One winner) To enter this giveaway, simply follow/subscribe to this blog and leave a comment on this post telling me what trends are you excited to try in 2017.

Scroll down to find my subscription box or look to the to right of your screen to follow/subscribe. *Please note – Don’t worry if you don’t see your comment right away. I have to approve most of them :-)*

Contest ends Friday, January 13^th, 2016 at 11:59pm EST. I will choose one subscriber at random from those who commented on this post after verifying the subscriptions and entries. The Instagram winner will be chosen separately.

No giveaway/spam accounts. Open internationally; 18+ to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Good luck to all!

-Affiliate Links-

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Sanctuary – Review, Photos & Swatches

img_6256-copy

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Sanctuary ($20; .22oz) is described as a cool Sepia cool. To me, it's more of a brown/mauve color with these purple, gray undertones to it. This is one of those liquid lipsticks that are going to show up differently on people depending on their skin tones, undertones, pigmentation in their lips etc. I definitely recommend looking around for more swatches or heading to the store to swatch it on yourself before purchasing.

The formula is very comfortable on the lips - nondrying and it doesn't smudge. Check out the video for additional views of me applying it.

[embed]https://youtu.be/DiRVckc0DHw[/embed]

img_0039-copy-copy

img_6737

img_6733-copy-copy

xoxo1

-Purchased- -Affiliate Links-

Holiday Glam Makeup Tutorial | Red Glitter Lipstick

Holiday Glam Makeup Tutorial | Red Glitter Lipstick Read all of the details and see more photos on my blog: http://bit.ly/2htq5pl Products used/mentioned: Smashbox Iconic Photo Finish Foundation Primer http://bit.ly/2htnOKz AJ Crimson Foundation in Shade 4 http://bit.ly/2hk3KwO Coloured Raine Cherry Blossom Liquid Lipstick Use code SOPHIE for $$$ off http://bit.ly/2hLKJjv

Happy holidays! I wanted to create this very easy and quick red lip look that you can absolutely wear separately or if you're feeling daring...wear it with your favorite glitter topper.

Products used/mentioned: Smashbox Iconic Photo Finish Foundation PrimerAJ Crimson Foundation in Shade 4Coloured Raine Cherry Blossom Liquid Lipstick Use code SOPHIE for $$$ off Colourpop Cosmetics Bichette Lip Pencil OPV BrushesSigma Beauty E56 Shader Lid Brush Real Techniques Bold Metals 300 Tapered Blush Brush CoverFX Perfect Setting Powder Translucent Light Violet Voss Glitter AdhesiveViolet Voss Tickle Me Holo Glitter If this glitter is out of stock, you can try OPV Pressed Glitter in CharmedMAC Cosmetics Mineralized Skin Finish

-Affiliate Links-

xoxo1

A Kiss of Rose Gold - Rose Pompon by Annick Goutal

I can almost hear the sarcasm in Miranda Priestly’s voice as I open the panoply of spring floral fragrances that recently hit my desk. “Florals? For spring? Revolutionary!”

I guess the same can be said for floral fragrances that are centered around rose notes. It’s been one of the biggest trends in perfumery this year - harvesting rose notes and predominately using them in the fragrance formula - but I’m always left thinking…how creative can a perfumer be when there are a countless number of debutante rose, wild rose or garden rose fragrances already available?

When I opened the box for Rose Pompon by Annick Goutal, the dewy and faint rose accords took me on a journey; a sensory refuge - somewhere that I haven't been since I was a little girl. You see, when I was younger, I was fascinated with hybrid tea roses. My mother used to take me on trips to the New York Botanical Garden so that I could learn more about the various textures and two-toned ombré color combinations - the same thing that made my heart flutter when I was first presented with the pink-blushed ombré packaging of Rose Pompon.

It also didn't help that two of my favorite childhood shows had roses as a major focal point in their storyline. Do you remember Tuxedo Mask from Sailor Moon? To this day, I still get butterflies in my stomach when I see his red rose fly across the screen - a symbol of love and justice - as he arrives to save the Sailor Scouts.

IMG_6460 ccc

And then one of my all-time favorite Disney movies, Beauty and the Beast, that showcased an enchanted, magical rose floating in a glass dome.

Rose Pompon Inspo

These flashbacks were held in the seat of my memory and was seemingly unlocked by a quick sniff and intense look at this lighthearted floral rose fragrance. These memories are why I came to associate Rose Pompon as a unique sensory and emotional eau de toilette that exudes passion, fun and love.

IMG_6312 ccc

Rose Pompon fuses together top notes of summertime raspberries and blackcurrant that mingle together with spicy pink pepper for a flirty opening punch. Its heart notes open up to the sweet natural smelling essences of bulgarian rose, peonies and taïf rose, which exudes a joyful and sweet smelling innocence within the fragrance. For its final trail, the fragrance settles into a warm and velvet cloud of cedar, patchouli and white musk that adds depth and warmth to the scent. 

IMG_6327 ccc

IMG_6335 ccc

The first thing that you notice about Rose Pompon in comparison to other rose fragrances is the packaging. The ombré pink-blushed bottle stands out with a fine double cord wrapped around its neck with a rose pompon pendant. I adore this simple but chic twist to the bottle design because it is adding a little bit more magic to my vanity.

The sprayer is a standard spritzer that is very powerful. I normally like to wear about 4 sprays of a fragrance on my hot spots but with Rose Pompon, I am able to spray two on my wrists and it noticeably lasts for 8-10 hours on me.

IMG_6354 ccc

IMG_6373 ccc

It is available in a 3.4oz bottle on Annick Goutal's website and I cannot recommend another fragrance that would be a perfect gift for Mother's Day or even for a young girl as an introduction to her first chic and flirty floral rose scent.

IMG_6511 ccc

xoxo1

How to Get Rid of Hyperpigmentation and Get Glowing Skin with Murad

Today, I want to talk to you about hyperpigmentation and how much it sucks. I know that's a little bit more candid than I normally am but if you suffer from skin discoloration, dark spots or color imperfections then you know how much of a struggle it is. Hyperpigmentation is the darkening of the skin due to the overproduction of melanin and or pigment. Melanin is a class of pigment that produces color in the body in places such as the eyes, skin, and hair. Hyperpigmentation affects women and men of all ethnic groups and will show up on your skin as tan, brown or black spots.

Causes of hyperpigmentation: - Hormones - Genetics - Sun damage - Picking at the skin - Hormonal changes (pregnancy; birth control pills) - Medications such as antibiotics, hormone treatments, and anti-seizure drugs - Inflammation and skin injuries

This is a lot of information but I want to make sure that you understand the backend of hyperpigmentation before we jump into skincare. Even though the majority of these causes are due to genes or other factors that are out of your control, there is one thing that you can do to protect your skin and help to repair it if you're suffering from hyperpigmentation.

First of all, you need to use sunscreen or at least SPF 15 everyday - yes, everyday. If you don't have a sunscreen in your routine already, I recommend trying the Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum with SPF 30. Second, make sure that you take care of your skin. Discoloration can sit on top of dead skin cells on your face so make so that you exfoliate at least twice a week - try AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser. Lastly, you want to start a brightening treatment regime that is designed to treat this condition, minimize the dark spots and lighten the appearance of it. Cue the Murad’s Rapid Lightening Regimen.

Step 1: Cleanse with the Murad Essential-C Cleanser The Vitamin-C rich Essential-C Cleanser removes skin-dulling impurities to renew your skin’s radiance.

Step 2: Treat your skin with the Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum The Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum contains 2% Hydroquinone which lightens dark spots and skin discoloration.

Tip: You can pair the Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum with the Intensive-C Radiance Peel and the Advanced Active Radiance Serum for maximum results.

Step 3: Hydrate your skin with the Murad Essential-C Day Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30 The Essential-C Day Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30 | PA+++, rich in Vitamin-C and antioxidants, revitalizes and protects your skin from further damage.

All of these products have a subtle citrus fragrance to it. You will notice it immediately when you open the product and squeeze it out. The scent does diffuse and die down once you apply it to your skin.

When you order, you will receive a rapid lightening tracker that will help you measure and track your progress as you use the treatment. 

Overall, I'm so excited to have found this regimen because I have severe hyperpigmentation and dark circles.

 Photo taken indoors

Photos taken outside

My dark circles are hereditary and my dark spots have pretty much just been popping up as I've gotten older and alas from sun damage. I'll admit it. In the past, I wasn't as proactive and aggressive in using sunscreen or skincare as I am now so I'm paying the price.

I'll report back over the next few weeks on my results so you can see! You can read more about the Murad Rapid Lightening Regimen HERE or HERE.

*PR Sample. Products were provided by BeautyStat for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

New Years Eve Nail Tutorial Featuring Butter London Polish and Shoedazzle Pumps

Hi guys! For New Years, I wanted to create a look for my nails that was inspired by my new Raziel glitter pumps from Shoedazzle and Desire by Dolce & Gabbana - one of my favorite fragrances. Hopefully, you'll be able to find a little bit of inspiration for your next look from some of your daily style.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzFb6kaA5hw

Products Used: Butter London Union Jack Black Nail Lacquer Butter London West End Wonderland Nail Lacquer Butter London The Black Knight Nail Lacquer Raziel Pumps from Shoedazzle.com Desire by Dolce & Gabbana Fragrance