There’s nothing I hate more than seeing a great swatch photo and to see arm hairs in the shot. Not sure why this bothers me so much but it’s one of the reasons I remove the hair on my arms. And my preferred way to remove it is with depilatory creams. They seem to last the longest and keep skin smoother and hair-free the longest.

Completely Bare Hair Removal 

And wow, have come a long way since the 70’s and the awful smell that came along with using one; they usually smelled like rotten eggs. Ewww! The latest one I tried is from COMPLETELY BARE.

Easy Off! Foaming Hair Removal Spray – This melts that hair quickly and contains volcanic ash and shea butter to keep sensitive skin protected and moisturized.

Not Feeling It Pre & Post Numbing Mist – can be used before or after waxing, shaving or depilatory creams. Contains Lidocaine and is hypoallergenic.

When it comes to the foaming spray, here is what I liked about it – quick removal of the hair (left on about 4 minutes), no burning during or after use on my arms and no smell. I didn’t have to use the numbing spray as I thought I might afterwards. Big plus!

What I didn’t like – when dispensing the foam, it went on my arm but also sprayed foam randomly off in the air around bathroom, so it was a little messy. My cats go into my bathroom so I don’t like that a droplet of this remover could splash on the floor and they could step in it. Yeah, this could happen with any product, really, but this sprayed more than a little off target.

Also, remember this method I wrote about a while about for getting truly soft legs for days? I still use it to this day!

$10.99/5oz each @ ulta.com.

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided for review purposes.

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Around Easter is when I access where I am in the sunscreen department for the upcoming season. Did you know that sunscreens expire? Yeah, check yours because they do.

So why don’t you replace yours with these fun foaming ones from COPPERTONE? A first of its kind with over 5 years in the making, is their WaterBABIES Pure & Simple Whipped Sunscreen SPF 50 ($10.99/5oz @ target.com) and CLEARLYSheer Whipped Sunscreen SPF 30 ($13.99/5oz @ walgreens.com, target.com). Each of these comes out as a foam instead of a lotion or oil. As you can see from the picture, it really looks like shaving cream! But know that it sinks into skin pretty quickly and there was no scent to either.

I’m pretty weird about my sunscreen in that I hate when I can feel it on my skin and this usually only happens on my body, not face. And because of this, I tend to stick to two brands I know don’t make me squirm but I’m delighted to report that these two did not feel like a layer on my skin. The WaterBABIES one felt a tad chalky to the touch after it dried down but other than that? These get the thumbs up from me.

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided for review purposes.

I think the heavy rain in LA is done for the season, which is great because I'm so ready for Spring. And here are a few products I’ve got on my radar that are getting me ready for the upcoming season. Hello sandals!

1. IT COSMETICS Anti-Aging Armour ($38/1oz @ itcosmetics.com) – I always make sure I have a great SPF at the beginning of each new season. This one from IT contains a SPF 50, peptides, and hyaluronic acid as well as that optically blurring technology that pretty much makes any imperfections disappear while you’re wearing it.

2. SOL DE JANEIRO Bum Bum Cream ($57/8.1oz, $25/2.5oz @ sephora.com) – what is it about this product? Is it the name? Is it the cool container? Kinda both actually and more. Pronounced (boom-boom), this luxe cream contains cupuaçu butter, acai, coconut oil and the Amazonian plant guarana, which is a major player in the caffeine department. All of these combined make for skin that’s not only taut but super smooth. And the scent of this one is soo inviting! I go in and out of craving it. I know, odd!

3. WOOSH BEAUTY Spin-On Lip Gloss ($19 @ wooshbeauty.com) – I’ve decided to revisit lip gloss again this season as I’ve been pretty distant from it and I’m starting with this one. Wow. This one really performs when it comes to the application brush. It rolls as you roll it over lips with the gloss. This is a first! Shown here in Pink Natural. 

4. SKINDINAVIA Post-Makeup Recovery Spray ($26/4oz, $36/8oz @ skindinavia.com) – now here’s a brand new category! A product you apply after taking makeup off, which applies nutrients like mineral zinc and willow bark, which can help with breakouts. Just spray on within 5 minutes of removing makeup to reap the benefits.

5. TRUE BRIT LONDON Nail Polish in Heirloom (£12.50 @ truebritlondon.co.uk) – this metallic rose gold shade from this new brand is so fitting right now! True Brit London is only available for purchase on their UK site right now but I’m sure it will expand. 

6. HELIOCARE Dietary Supplement Sun Protection Pills ($30/60 pills @ dermstore.com) – why not fight UVA/UVB rays from the inside out? Major technology is inside these pills will not only protect it from the sun but also supply it with antioxidants. Great for all skin types!

Disclosure: Some of these items were provided for review purposes. Some I bought.

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Disclaimer – this is a sponsored post. All words are my own.

What do you use in the shower with your body cleanser? One of those beauty puffs? Yeah, I’ve gone through many of them over the years and just recently some beauty bloggers and I were having a discussion on those puffs. As in, have you ever tried to clean one? Or do you even clean them? Well a couple of outlets have rang the bell super loud on why we shouldn’t even use these to clean ourselves because of the bacteria that can build up on them. I mentioned that I put mine in the washing machine with a load of laundry but even then I’m not so sure that gets them really clean.

In any case, there is now a solution and it’s called the DUO Body Cleanser and comes from 3 brands, Olay, Ivory and Old Spice. I did an unboxing on my Instagram when I got them last week, which you may have seen, and I really think these are game changers as we’ve never seen anything like it on shelves before.

Click here to read more

Sponsored post by Mirum Shopper. All opinions are my own.

So we are getting to the end of the first month of the year, I decided to poll 5 people last week to see if they made any New Year’s resolutions. And I was quite surprised by the outcome! It was split down the middle.

One said, “I only do it now and then. Last year I failed at being a less angry LA driver.”

Another said, “I do but it seems to always be the same ‘lose weight’ year after year and it never works.”

And another was up there with me, “No way. Too much pressure!”

One way a friend handles the new year is she makes a list of 100 goals she wants to accomplish for that year. Whether it be taking someone out to dinner all expenses paid, increase her credit score or read XYZ book, I sure like hearing what hers are for the year as they just seem more obtainable. For me, I feel like creating 100 goals is much easier way to accomplish goals and the list is something worked on throughout the year.

But like everyone else, I’ve vowed (yup, not calling it a resolution!) to tweak something and that would be to move my body 3 times a week. That’s it and it’s all I’m focusing on. Now being a woman of a particular age, as Wendy Williams says, I seem to sweat more these days, of course under my arms, but also the back of my neck, so I picked up Dove’s Advanced Care Antiperspirant Deodorant Original Clean at Walmart at the start of the New Year. It offers 48 hours of antiperspirant protection, protects against wetness and odor and it contains 0% ethanol alcohol so it helps underarms recover from shaving irritation.

Now, I can climb any stairs or take the long way to a meeting from the parking lot each day and not have to worry about breaking a sweat before I get there. And of course I’ve been swiping this one on the back of my neck! I mean, if it’s good enough for under my arms, why not?

And because this also contains Dove Nutrium Moisture and ¼ moisturizers, it’s seems like it’s made the skin smoother under my arms smoother.

What are your New Year’s resolutions and are you sticking to them?

Since it’s been especially rainy in Los Angeles the past week or so, I’m in full-on bath mode. It only rains here or there during the LA winters, so continuous rain like this is really unusual.

Ok, enough with the weather report and back to the bath. After a probably-too-warm one, my pores are open and ready to eat up moisture! As I’ve said before when I first tried one of these kind of apply-right-after-showering/bathing products – no one wants to stand around in the middle of winter in a cold bathroom applying lotion/cream to their parts and this one helps conquer this problem.  

CUREL just came out with Hydra Therapy Wet Skin Moisturizer ($10.99 @ target.com, diapers.com) in a huge 12oz size so as soon as the water is turned off, I’m reaching for this fragrance-free one to pump-pump out into my hand. It’s water-activated so as soon as you start applying it to your wet skin, it’s already penetrating the dermis with their special Advanced Ceramide Complex (ceramides are lipid molecules that replenish moisture as well as strengthen the skin’s barrier).

And I able to apply this one so quick that I feel like I’m actually skipping a step in my beauty routine!

Will this be making its way onto your must-have list?

This post is sponsored by Mirum Shopper. Opinions are 100% my own.

As I’ve mentioned a few times in previous posts lately, I’m all about 2 things this holiday season when it comes to gifting – usefulness and budgeting. I’m a little embarrassed to admit this, but when it comes to buying gifts for those I’m giving too, I’ve never stuck to a budget. While I do have an idea of what I can spend on each person, I’ve never had a specific dollar amount. But this year, I’m doing just that and putting a budget together.

The other habit I’m starting this year and hopefully continuing for years to come is making sure my gift is useful to the recipient. Like for my cousin I’m giving her some great quality bakeware. You know baking sheets, pie pans etc. He’s in culinary school and I know he will find them super useful.

Another idea is a stack of AA batteries for my father. He’s always looking for some and never has them on hand. Useful, right? 

And of course a gift that’s big on my list to give is beauty, go figure! My recipients pretty much expect me to give them some kind of beauty gift during the holidays. Smart beauty products are something all people, especially women, love to use.

So that’s why I’m giving gift boxes from Vaseline. They are a great value and packed with body essentials like lotions, lip tins and jellies but they also give back. With each Vaseline gift box purchase, you are giving 1 Healing Donation. Your purchase will support Direct Relief to deliver Vaseline Jelly, medical supplies and dermatological care to people affected by poverty or emergencies. Learn more about Vaseline here and the Vaseline Healing Project at see.walmart.com/Walmart.

Choose from 3 different Vaseline Gift Boxes that are only $9.88 each!

Essential Healing Gift Box – (4 products total) (shown here)

1. (2) 10oz Vaseline Essential Healing Body Lotion
2. (1) Vaseline Petroleum Jelly Original, 1.75oz
3. (1) Lip Tin Original, .6oz

Cocoa Butter Gift Box – (4 products total)

1. (2) Vaseline Cocoa Butter Body Lotion, 10oz
2. (1) Vaseline Petroleum Jelly Cocoa Butter, 1.75oz
3. (1) Vaseline Lip Tin Cocoa Butter, .6oz

Advanced Repair Gift Box – (4 products total)

1. (2) Vaseline Advanced Repair Body Lotion, 10oz
2. (1) Vaseline Petroleum Jelly Original, 1.75oz
3. (1) Vaseline Lip Tin Original, .6oz

I have about 6 coworkers I need to give presents to this year so they will for sure be receiving one of these super useful gift sets.

Now don’t you want to #SpreadTheDifference too?

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. All words are my own. 

It’s funny, I’ve lived in the city of Los Angeles for the more than 10 years and there are a handful of tourist attractions that I’ve never visited before. Since we just had the big Thanksgiving holiday and I had a few relatives in town, I thought, what better way to discover my own city than with some out-of-towners?

I’ve partnered up with Simply Stylist and Dove Dry Spray Antiperspirant and their #ShakeSprayGo campaign to share my tips on feeling great by being prepared and getting ready for a day out exploring what Los Angeles has to offer.

Tip 1: Always bring a small cosmetics case like in the above pic with things you might need on the go like band aids, aspirin, tissues, lip balm, hair ties and even some antacids. You never know what could crop up and you certainly don’t want it ruining your excursion.

Tip 2: Comfort is everything when it comes to outings and staying dry is a must as well. That’s why I know that when I’m using one of the many scents of Dove Dry Spray Antiperspirant, I’m getting a full 48-hours of underarm protection. I also love the instantly dry application (you can get dressed right away!) and the fact that it also cares for my skin. Yes, my heel on my shoe may break, or it may start raining but at least I know wetness will stay away from my underarms.

And I bring the can out with me in case someone I’m with needs a quick spray! Is that odd? I don’t think so. You never know what’s going to pop up and I’m just the queen of being prepared!

Tip 3: Plan on what shoes to wear or if you must wear some that are super cute but not great for doing a lot of walking in, bring some that are comfy with you.

So where did we visit? Check out the below!

Urban Lights is a pretty unique place to visit in LA. Over 200 lights make for a nice backdrop to a photo but it's pretty bright so I had a hard time getting a good shot! Read more about Urban Lights here. http://www.lacma.org/urban-light

The Grove is one of the biggest tourist attractions in LA now! And I can see why. They really do it big during holiday time. Read more about The Grove here. http://www.thegrovela.com/

And a visit wouldn’t be complete without a trip to The Hollywood Sign. This photo was taken up around Hollywood Lake, which seems to be the closest you can get to the sign. Read more about the Hollywood Sign here. http://hollywoodsign.org/

Be sure to visit learn more about Simply Stylist, check out their Twitter @SimplyStylistxo, @Simply on Instagram, Simply Stylist, and Dove Dry Spray Antiperspirant on their website @ dove dot com, and social media channels @dove.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. All words are my own. 

So we are officially off to the races, the shopping races, that is. Only twenty-nine shopping days left until Christmas! So what’s my go-to gift this year? For women, overall, I still find the scented body lotion one of the best gifts you can give a woman. It’s personal yet not personal at the same time and most importantly, something the recipient probably wouldn’t pick up themselves.

I’m adding to the above pick this year with a perfumed candle. I mean, who doesn’t love a great candle and in their favorite scent? You really can’t go wrong. 

Two that I’ve enjoyed that fall under this category are ALAïA PARIS Scented Candle ($89/5.2oz @ saks.com) Body Lotion ($55/6.7oz @ saks.com) and the Scented Body Cream ($95/6.9oz @ saks.com). This is the brand’s first fragrance ever and it took a few to grow on me as it’s not like anything else I have or normally go for. It’s described as airy notes and pink pepper; freesia and peony; animal notes and musk.

But if this one is not your flavor or your recipients, there are a ton of brands that make a scented cream and scented candle like this one or this one.

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided for review purposes.

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I’ve been pretty obsessed with all things coconut these days for some reason. It doesn’t matter that the temps are dropping because I’m eating it (found a great recipe for coconut nut balls on Pinterest), drinking it (downing this like crazy), using as a hair mask, and now I’m putting it on my skin!

I’ve cooked with coconut oil quite a bit of the past few years and when I read about this KOPARI Coconut Melt ($36/7oz @ sephora.com, koparibeauty.com, qvc.com) I had to try it.

The base of each of the 4 products in the multitasking line is 100% organic coconut oil sourced from the Phillippines and all are free of sulfates, parabens, silicones and GMOs.

So getting back to this Coconut Melt. I had no idea that it’s made of pure coconut oil … like the coconut oil I bought at Trader Joe’s to cook with. Hmmm, so why not just use the one from Trader Joe’s on my skin? I could as the ingredients in it are organic virgin coconut oil and that’s it. But it could have parabens etc in it, right? And the bottle of this Kopari one looks a tad more presentable, dontcha think? Your choice.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

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