Tag Archives: Kohl’s

New Year, New Attitude, Great Skin

January 13, 2014

Photo via

I’ve had a few weeks to consider my to-do list for 2014. Some framethis exercise as setting resolutions, others prefer the word goal. While I certainly have personal and professional goals, I’m setting my intention for how I want to approach this year. The power of positive thinking (and doing!) I’ve had a great few months teaming with Kohl’s Beauty and for our final collaboration, I thought it would be fun to film a video message. The twist? I’m not wearing any makeup. A top ‘to-do’ for me this year is to be confident in everything I do. Certainly, cozying up on camera in my most natural state is a step. It’s something I likely wouldn’t have done a few years ago, but I’ve made it a priority to focus on my skin and treat it well. If you know me or visit here often, you know I take my masking and moisturizing quite seriously. My Sunday spa-days at home are more than a routine, but rather a ritual I rely on for clarity on every level.

No makeup, no problem!

Mixed in with the big picture approach to my 2014 to-do list (smile! laugh! be happy!) is a very tactical ‘wash your face every night.’ On a basic level, it’s the first step in proper skin care. On another level, there’s something very therapeutic at the end of a busy day to wash it all off. To get rid of the day’s stress and allow your skin to heal itself and recoup while you sleep. So, with that, a few tips to get you going.

I’ve used a cleansing brush for years – love it, especially when traveling! Kohl’s sells a version from Dermatouch that helps remove makeup and exfoliate skin.
Always remove your eye makeup before washing your face. H2O Plus has a gentle version. If I’m wearing heavy eyeliner, I follow up with a q-tip along my lashes to get it all. I hate waking up with black smears!
The double wash was a game-changer for me. Using an oil cleanser first to break down face makeup is the best way to really clean out your pores without stripping your natural oils (which leads to breakouts). Consider this option from PurMinerals.
Try a good old fashioned facial steam. Pour boiling water in a glass bowl and hover your face (safely) over the bowl. Bonus points if you first steep a bag of green tea for a blast of antioxidants. Follow-up with a detox mask and a moisturizing balm.

Cheers to good skin and a positive 2014!

Note: This post is sponsored by SheKnows Experts Among Us and Kohl’s Beauty. All opinions, tips and recommendations are my own.

The New Year’s Eve Beauty Guide

December 23, 2013

It’s about to be a wrap on 2013 – one more week to go! This last stretch of year is always a strange limbo. Remembering the highs and lows of the last 12 months and looking ahead to a brand new shiny year with endless potential. But first, New Year’s Eve and all of its glory. On tap for me? Date night with my man. I’ve already got my beauty itinerary all mapped out, thanks to the lovely team at Kohl’s. Whether you’re taking it easy or living it up, this agenda is one to follow.

The stuffing of the stocking is the best part of the whole holiday gift season, both in terms of giving and receiving. The more miscellaneous the mix, the better. I come from a very utilitarian family—you’ll find socks and underwear in our stockings among the fun stuff. It’s always the last gift opened and we take our time appreciating each treat. For this gift guide, I teamed with SheKnows.com and Kohl’s Beauty to share my top stocking stuffers.

When I was in Wisconsin a few weeks ago at the Kohl’s Beauty Trade-in event, the team showed me the most clever sleep mask from Earth Therapeutics. It looks like an eye bra, but that shape makes it so your lashes and eyes don’t get crushed. I also picked up this Hello Kitty Headband for my nieces. It is seriously the cutest.

Nail polish is a stocking staple and the colors from Essie’s winter collection are perfect. My favorite is the pale blue Parka Perfect. I love this trio of lip products: the Sugar Lip Scrub that smells like cake, the moisturizing H2O Plus Lip Mender and Pur Minerals Lip Gloss Stick for a little hint of color. All three make for a lovely lip wardrobe.

I always try to gift others with my favorite things…channeling my inner Oprah and all. The Real Techniques makeup brushes are some of the best, especially the Stippling Brush which applies cream blush like a rock star. Everyone needs this brush!

There are also the stocking stuffers that you can’t help but treat yourself to in the process. I could not resist the LORAC Red Hot Lashes set. The studded lash curler did me in and it even comes with a full-sized mascara.

Note: This post is sponsored by SheKnows Experts Among Us and Kohl’s Beauty. All opinions, tips and recommendations are my own.

Kohl’s Beauty Trade-in Event Redux

November 20, 2013

Kohls-BeautyTradeIn-Wausau

Thanksgiving is a mere 10 days away and my Christmas tree will be up in about half that (I literally cannot wait!) My nails seem to be getting sparklier by the week as are my outfit choices. Officially the most wonderful time of the year? I think so. Let’s talk holiday beauty. If you’re running from work or find yourself with just a few minutes to freshen up, a red lipstick is by far the easiest way to insta-glam (I love this one by Cargo) Probably safe to stash your favorite red in your purse now. But why not have a little more fun with your makeup and try something different? I’m inspired to take myself out of my liquid liner comfort zone and play up the eyes by layering shadow.

Lorac-Kohls

I bought this LORAC ‘Sweet Temptations’ Natural Eyeshadow set at Kohl’s a few weeks ago when I was checking out the new beauty department digs. Packaged like bars of chocolate (I know!), there are four different neutral color palettes: classic bronze, plum, smoky grey and a covet-worthy set of taupes. Each set of shadows is soft and creamier than the next and layer on like a dream. No expert skills required – just a solid set of brushes.

Lorac-Truffle

Lorac-Sweet-Temptations

The “White Chocolate” palette has a perfect silver shadow that you can use to concentrate all around the eye in a dramatic way. Or the natural “Satisfying Toffee Crunch” (these names = yum!) palette that makes getting the plum and bronze eye simple. All you do is layer the two deep colors from the lash line to just above the eye crease and buff the edges out with the soft beige. The bronze bar of shadows has a vibrant copper that looks incredible with a red lip. As for the plum, it has everything for that jewel-toned lid.

A girl needs options, right?

Beauty inspiration photos via 1, 2, 3, 4

Note: This post is sponsored by SheKnows Experts Among Us and Kohl’s Beauty. All opinions, tips and recommendations are my own.

Kohl’s Beauty Trade-in, November 16

November 13, 2013

Beauty words to live by. Less really can be more, especially if your version of less looks like mine. I tend to favor the snooze button more than I should, so I’ve got a quick, no-fail beauty look to fall back on. Arm me with concealer, bronzer and highlighter and I can pretty much do anything. I call this look mascara optional.

First…reach for a concealer that wears a lot of hats. theBalm TimeBalm Concealer works under eyes and all over on any redness, blemishes or discoloration. I even pat it on my eyelids as a primer. The shade ‘light’ is the exact tone of my skin so it blends (melts, really) in flawlessly. It also has vitamins A, C and E to brighten and protect skin and linoleic acid and phospholipids to moisturize and prevent fine lines. I blend with my fingers because it’s quick, but there’s a tiny little sponge included, too.

Second…strategically place highlighter. One of my standby favs is theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer, which is a seriously pigmented champagne creamy powder. Sweep it on lightly–a little goes a long way– on the cheekbones, in a ‘C’ shape around the outer corners of the eyes, above your lip in the cupid’s bow, down the middle of your nose and pressed on the eyelids. It seems like a lot, but it’s the secret to looking 22 again. Trust me.

Third…bronze and sculpt. By now, you’re glowy and fresh. The final step, should you be pressed for time, is to multitask with bronzer, on the hollows of your cheekbones, in the crease of your eyelids, along the jawbones and temples. One of the bronzers I like for all over dusting is Pur Minerals Mineral Glow Powder. It’s subtle and not the least bit orange.

theBalm and Pur Minerals are brands that I’ve previously shopped for at Sephora or Ulta and now they’re both available at Kohl’s. As a Wisconsin girl, I can’t tell you how jazzed I am that Kohl’s has expanded its beauty department! I grew up shopping this department store and still do. Kohl’s remodeled its beauty department in close to 300 stores and got a makeover online as well. I’m working on a fun series with SheKnows.com and Kohl’s Beauty – so more to come very soon on the new (to Kohl’s!) beauty lines.

Note: This post is sponsored by SheKnows Experts Among Us and Kohl’s Beauty. All opinions, tips and recommendations are my own.