Get Clean with Clarisonic

Have you ever tried a new product and thought, 'how did I live without this for so many years?' Well, that is what went through my mind when I first tried out my Clarisonic. My skin has never felt so clean!

This review is way overdue. I started using my Brazilliant Orange Clarisonic Mia 2 during the extremely hot NYC summer. The hubby and I would spend all day on the weekends exploring the city, going in and out of the steamy subway system and hitting the hot pavement. By the end of the day, the little makeup I wore would be totally erased from my face from sweat. I could not get the greasy or dusty polution feeling off of my skin with cleanser or a wash cloth alone. Using the Clarisonic made my skin feel squeaky clean. My skin looked brighter with only a couple of days of using it.

I have ultra sensitive skin, so I was a little timid to use the Mia at first. I purchased the Delicate brush head to use and haven't had any irritation. The Mia comes with the Sensitive brush, which I let my husband use (he loves my Mia too!). I wash my face two times a day, but only use my Clarisonic about 5-7 times a week.

The Clarisonic Mia 2 comes with the following:
*Universal Voltage Charger
*Sensitive Brush Head
*1 oz. trial size cleanser
*Protective travel case
Retails at $149 at Clarisonic.com

The Mia and Mia 2 are great for traveling and every day use. If you are looking to take your skincare routine to the next level, this is it. I always tell my husband, you only get one skin, so take care of it!

A Clarisonic is also a great gift for any special lady on your Holiday shopping list. It's a higher price point than most, so round up your siblings and go in on this for mom. It's the gift that keeps giving!

Note: This review includes products that I received as samples, provided by the brand company or a PR rep. Please click here for more information regarding my disclaimer.

Cyber Monday Deals

Loft.com
50% off everything!

Piperlime.com
20% off, use code CYBER

Coach Factory outlet
Additional 30% off and 10% off at checkout.

TINte Cosmetics
30% off, enter CYBER at checkout

Nordstrom.com
Special Cyber Monday markdowns

Shoebuy.com
30% off plus free s&h

Barneys.com
Women's Sale & Men's Sale

Soap.com
30% off, use code SBATTLE

OldNavy.com & Gap.com
30% off entire order, use code CYBER

Per-fekt Beauty
Discount kids, use code HOLIDAY10

Bath & Body Works
25% off entire site, code CYBER2012

Shoes.com
20% off, use code CYBER

Bloomingdales.com
Up to 50% off select items, and $50 off for every $250 spent

UrbanDecay.com
1/2 off select makeup kits

JCrew Factory outlet
50% off everything + Free S/H

Ulta.com
Free gifts with purchase & additional sale items

Loehmanns.com
40% off everything! Use code CYBER40 at checkout.

Bloom.com
Up to 50% off your purchase. Use code THANKFUL35

StephanieJohnson.com
40% off. Use code MONDAY.

A Magazine Subscription, the Gift that Keeps Giving

My friend Dan owns a magazine subscription website, Deekins.com, and is offering Lipgloss Break readers a special holiday discount (you may remember the same sale last year as well). Thanks Dan!

Magazines are the gift that keeps giving all year around. There's a magazine for everyone on your list at Deekins.com. Here are the deals he's offering:

For the Fitness & Healthy Living lover...

Yoga Journal - coupon code: lipglossyoga 

Final price - $2.99

Weight Watchers - coupon: breakweight 

Final price - $2.49

For the Fashion lover...

Elle - coupon: elle4lgb 

Final price - $6.99

And everyone in between...

20% off any purchase - coupon: lpbreak20

I hope this helps you cross a few more names off your list! 

Dark Chocolate Espresso Granola Bars Recipe

Now that I'm back in Michigan I realized how much I missed my big kitchen. I love prepping clean meals and snacks on the weekends, to eat throughout the week. I get a lot of my recipes from the lovely Tosca Reno Eat Clean Diet cookbook and site and Oxygen Magazine. The latest snack recipe I tried was for  Dark Chocolate Espresso Granola bars, from Oxygen. I know, they sound sinful, but they are clean and so delicious!

1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup whole-grain flour
2 scoops vanilla protein powder
1 tbsp raw honey
2 oz dark chocolate-covered espresso beans (70% or higher coca content).
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 tsp sea salt (I left this out)
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla or almond extract

1 - Preheat oven to 325F
2 - Place all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix with a wooden spoon to combine.
3 - Spread mixture evenly in a 9x9 inch baking dish. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden around the edges. Let cool and slice into 8 bars. Serve or refrigerate for later.

These are perfect to grab on your way out the door for an early morning workout or a mid morning pick me up snack. Enjoy!

CND Shellac in Cityscape

This was my Thanksgiving Day manicure. I would normally go a bit darker for Fall but because it was a bit warmer, I thought I'd do a lighter color.

This is from CND Shellac's newest line of colors. It's called Cityscape, and it's a light, creamy gray. I love colors like this...they go with practically everything, and I don't have to spend extra time planning my outfits around my manicure (yes, sometimes I do this!). 

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Beauty Deals

Biggest shopping weekend ever is here. Here are some sales to check out...

Ouidad.com
Black Friday Weekend - Friday through Sunday, head to Ouidad.com to receive 25% off all orders by using the code FFCURL during check out.
Cyber Monday - Still get 25% using the code FFCURL at checkout and receive 2 days of free shipping on all orders.

Murad.com
Cyber Monday - get $25 off all purchases over $100. Use promo code CYBERMONDAY.

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare

Friends & Family (25% Off) is also going on Nov 24-27th.

BobbiBrown.com

11/21-11/25: Black Friday Exclusive! Enjoy a beauty trio of your choice and a free specially-sized Lip Gloss with every order. Plus receive free standard shipping.

COOLAsuncare.com

COOLA will offer a 25% discount this Cyber Monday on all products (excluding MineralBaby and the Sun essentials kit) on coolasuncare.com. Enter the code happymonday and get all of your favorite sun and skin care products in time for the holidays!

Clinique.comBlack Friday is here! Get 3 FREE Minis with any $25 purchase. Plus, all orders ship FREE. Use code SMOKY

Sephora.comThis Friday, rise and shine early to grab their $10 Black Friday Doorbusters including full-size favorites from their best-selling brands. Supplies are limited so get them while you can. To celebrate Cyber Monday, pick up their Mystery Sample Bag goodies and get Free Shipping with any $25 purchase.

BEAUTYSAGE.COM
Offering 20% site wide from Wednesday November, 22rd – Saturday, November 24th.

C.O. BIGELOW (BIGELOWCHEMISTS.COM)
Offering 20% off site wide now through Tuesday, November 27th.

VotreVu.com

Nov 22-26. Free shipping on every purchase and free Eiffel Power mascara with every $100 purchase.

BobbiBrown.com

Beginning Wednesday, November 21st, enjoy Black Friday with a beauty trio of deluxe sized samples, free shipping AND a specially sized lip gloss with every purchase through Sunday, November 25th. Then, on Monday, November 26th, Bobbi Brown celebrates Cyber Monday by offering 5 samples of your choice AND free shipping with any order.

Natures-gate.com
Nature’s Gate is offering 40% off any product(s) in their NEW Facial Care collection in honor of the brand’s 40th anniversary. Shoppers simply enter discount code CYB40 at checkout. Nature’s Gate Facial Care Collection includes 7 facial care products – from cleansers to serums—each containing gentle, dermatologist-tested formulas and a wide variety of anti-aging benefits.

Beauty.com
- Buy $40 in Origins products at Beauty.com and receive a free Liquid Lip Duo in Hot Date & Juicy Details ($24 value!). While supplies last. 
- Buy $40 in Peter Thomas Roth products at Beauty.com and receive a free Mega Rich Intensive Anti-Aging Cellular Creme ($37.50 value!). While supplies last.
- Free Shipping

Lumene.com

In honor of Black Friday, Walgreens is offering 40% off all Lumene products! All good things must come to an end, though. Be sure to head to your Walgreens (or Walgreens.com) by 11:59pm as promotion ends after November 23^rd.

BeautyBar.com

Black Friday Offer (enter code BBGWPBF at checkout) - Shoppers who spend $50 at Beauty Bar will receive an ultra-pampering gift with purchase from Philosophy. This exclusive gift set includes three ofPhilosophy’s newest offerings ($20 value):

·         Purity Made Simple Foaming 3-in-1 Cleansing Gel for Face and Eyes

·         Eyes Wide Open Instant Refreshing and Depuffing Eye Gel

·         The Microdelivery Exfoliating Body Wash

Cyber Monday Offer (enter code BBCYBERMONDAY at checkout)

Shoppers who spend $100 will receive $20 off their purchase for one day only.

In addition, from November 23^rd – November 30^th, all WrinkleMD products will be 20% off, and shoppers will receive free refill patch treatments with any WrinkleMD purchase.

Smashbox.com

Skip the long lines at department stores and still save with Smashbox’s Black Friday Friends & Family deal! Enjoy 20% off orders on Smashbox.com for purchases of $50 or more. To receive the discount, enter the code FRIENDS2012 when checking out. (Discount Dates: November 21st – November 26th)

MallyBeauty.com/cyber-monday

MallyBeauty.com is going to kick off “Pink Monday” (Monday, November 26^th, 2012 starting at 12amEST) by offering 25% off all face products. If you are a Mally Beauty email subscriber, you will receive 25% off all site items. The Promo code for 25% off all face products is 25FACE. Please visit: www.mallybeauty.com/cyber-monday to redeem the 25% off site wide if you sign up for Mally Beauty emails.

On Tuesday, November 27^th, 2012, the 25% off site wide sale will apply for any users that “Like” the Mally Beauty’s Facebook page! Not a fan? Join in on the deal by clicking here: www.mallybeauty.com/cyber-monday and to redeem the 25% off all site items.

On Wednesday, November 28^th, 2012, the sale will be extended to Mally Beauty’s Twitter followers. All of Mally Beauty’s Twitter followers will receive 25% off all site items. Not following Mally Beauty on Twitter? Click here: www.mallybeauty.com/cyber-monday and to redeem the 25% off all site items.

UniqueVintage.com

From Black Friday all the way through Cyber Monday, UniqueVintage.com will be discounting 25% off of EVERYTHING on the site. It's the perfect time to shop for everyone on your holiday gift list, including yourself! 

Beauty Blogazon Holiday Giveaway

Your favorite beauty bloggers have joined together to offer an amazing Holiday Giveaway. Enter to one of five $100 Visa gift cards. Perfect timing for holiday shopping and treating yourself to something nice this year! 

Enter to win by following the instructions on the rafflecopter widget below. The giveaway begins at midnight EST the morning of November 21, 2012 and ends December 21, 2012. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Carly Rae Jepsen at 2012 AMAs

Photo provided by Votre Vu

Carly Rae won best new artist last night at the American Music Awards - so happy for her! Not only did she win but she also performed her new song last night, 'This Kiss,' and then of course, ended it with her hit, 'Call Me, Maybe?'

Carly got all dolled up by celebrity makeup artist Tina Turnbow. Tina used one of my favorite lines on Carly, Votre Vu. Here's what she did to create her soft, feminine, sexy look...

For her face: Prepped with Votre Vu Attentive Serum Delicat Pour Le Visage first, and then the Attentive Creme du Jour over to provide a moisturized base for the foundation. 

For her eyes: First applied Votre Vu Lingerie Pour Le Yeux to create an event base. I personally love this product. I swipe it on when I'm wearing minimal makeup to help brighten my eyes.

To create her soft, defined eyes, she linked them with the Votre Vu Le Joli Crayon in Charbon, and smudged it up and out with the sponge tip to create a smokey cat-eye effect. I think Carly Rae is born to wear a smokey look. It looks so good on her! Lastly for her eyes, Tina used Votre Vu Eiffel Power Mascara (another favorite of mine from this line!).

For her cheeks: Tina applied the Votre Vu Vu-On Rouge Cheek and Lip tint in Bouquet Rose to her cheeks, which gave her a natural flush. 

To set the entire look, Tina used Votre Vu A Votre Sante misting spray. Carly Rae looked flawless on the red carpet and while performing. 

What do you think of Carly Rae's look? Which celebrity topped your list for best dressed and all dolled up? 

Photo from Zap2It.com

Beauty Blogger Coalition Weekly Roundup

• The Beauty Delicacy: My cruelty-free October picks for hair, skin care + makeup!
• The Convenient Beauty: The Convenient Beauty isn't feeling the hype of Giorgio Armani Maestro Foundation.
• Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom: The creamy orange of Barielle Joytini is featured on Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom!
• TheFabZilla: TheFabZilla celebrates her 2nd year in blogging with a huge giveaway. Win fabulous mix of makeups & accessories. Ends November 20.
• Très Beau Glamour: Nay Denise has been embarking on a 7 day lipstick challenge, which was quiet fun for her. Her favorite lip look was one that included Mac's Smoked Purple. It's her new perfect "vampy" lip.
• Lacquer Buzz: Is it matte? Is it shiny? Find out how Catrice's new Brushed Metal Effect looks like!
• My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog: Laura from My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog swatches Chanel Holiday 2012 quad Harmonie Du Soir.
• Mama Fashionista: Mama Fashionista and Pammy Blogs Beauty are starting a brand new series/challenge called "MAC Matters!" See what it's all about (and join in the fun)!
• Love.Life.Beauty.: My picks for the best Holiday 2012 Gift Sets!!!
• Beauty by Miss L: Miss L reviewed monthly subscription box called Adorebox and shared her thoughts of it.
• Midnight Manicures: Join Jeanie at Midnight Manicures as she brings you the second new Barielle Fall/Winter 2012 collection - Times Square.
• Polishy of Truth: Looking for a little something different in a neutral? Polishy of Truth shows you a gorgeous new shade by Elevation Polish that will flatter many skintones!
• Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: Lola's Secret Beauty Blog is crazy about Tweezerman products, but is madly in love with the whimsical and highly effective tweezers and nail files from their Limited Edition Cynthia Rowley Collection!
• Ishah x Beauty: Super cute Hello Kitty holiday collection shoes from JustFab.
• Lisa's Nail Obsession: A comparison of OPI's Did You Ear About Van Gogh? and Essie's Yogaga.
• Polarbelle: Polarbelle has some Mac Cosmetics Glamour Daze eyeshadows to show you this week.
• Baking Beauty: Baking Beauty shows you how to get an easy daytime smoky eye.
• Addicted to OPI-yum: Iovenailpolish got a helping hand naming her very first frankenpolish.
• Beauty Apocalypse: Beauty Apocalypse provides a man's perspective on an Albuquerque day spa!
• Amber Did It!: Amber shares a swatches & a review from Darling Diva Polish.
• datyorkLOVES: Fun twist on a classic manicure.
• Love At First Site!: Latest empties and mini reviews... Avene, Bioten, Caudalie, Fresh Line, Galenic, L'occitane, L'oreal, Lierac.
• SoFlaJo: Celebrate the holidays and well into the new year with the new Party Time collection from indie nail polish maker SoFlaJo.
• The Beauty Think Tank: It's November, and you know what that means, another Birchbox review!
• Beyond Beauty Lounge: Holiday Nail Colors from 365 days of color.
• Lipgloss Break: Angela from Lipgloss Break is giving away Jon Bon Jovi Unplugged Fragrance set - enter to win!
• The Socialite's Closet: Ever wondered about Starbox? The Socialite's Closet shows you hers.
• Cosmetics Aficionado: L'Oreal's The Temptress' Touch nail polish is a golden green gem.
• Peace Love and Glitter: Tarina Tarantino's eyeshadow formula is AMAZING! Check it out in her Emerald Pretty Palette, currently 40% off at Sephora!

Birchbox Launches Limited Edition Home Box & Online Shop

I'm a huge fan of Birchbox, the monthly beauty sampling program. They just announced that they are launching a Limited Edition Birchbox Home box and online shop, featuring decor and entertaining products from premier lifestyles brands such as a Jonathan Adler, Dean & Deluca and C. Wonder. 

It's priced at $58 with a value of over $140. It's stuffed with cocktail party accessories, kitchen tools, gourmet foodie finds and more! 

Customers can purchase the box and explore the Birchbox home shop at www.birchbox.com/home. If you are into home decor or entertaining, this should be on your holiday wish list!