Tag: sponsored

Unilever’s Rinse. Recycle. Reimagine

This past year has marked a big change in me being more aware of my impact on the enviroment. I was always fairly responsible, but these days I try and go the extra mile. Especially with my beloved California going through such an epic drought.

With that in mind, I am sharing Unilever’s latest plan to “Rinse. Recycle. Reimagine” all those beauty items from your bathroom. The new “Unilever Bathroom Recycling Index*,” an online survey commissioned by Unilever and conducted by KRC Research, uncovered some pretty amazing recycling facts about Americans:

While a majority of Americans are aware that their empty bath and beauty bottles are recyclable, less than half (34%) report always bringing empty bathroom items to the recycling bin. In comparison, 86% of Americans claim to always recycle in general, and nearly half (46%) reported always recycling kitchen recyclables.While the majority of Americans know where they should be putting their empty bottles, 42% claim that they don’t recycle because they aren’t sure an item is eligible for recycling. More than a quarter (27%) of Americans are not convinced their recycled items can actually become something new.

How does your city stack up when it comes to recycling? See which metro areas could step it up (measured as % reporting they always recycle bathroom products):

Philadelphia (52%)
New York (48% )
San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose (41% )
Seattle (41% )
Minneapolis (40%)
Boston (39%)
Los Angeles (38%)
Washington, DC (37%)
Phoenix (37%)
Chicago (33%)
Houston (30%)
Tampa/St. Petersburg (29%)
Dallas/Ft. Worth (28%)
Detroit (26%)
Atlanta (23%)

The average American has 8 products in their bathroom at a given time, yet only 34% of Americans always recycle them – that could send nearly 600 million plastic bottles to landfills each year! Join me in making an effort to get those empties into a recycle bin.

And for a little inspiration, don’t miss the sweepstakes running now through June 9th. Daily prizes and one grand prize ($500 gift card) can be won by tweeting @UnileverUSA with the tags #ReimagineThat and #Sweeps.

This post is sponsored by Unilever.

The Caress Forever Collection

My good friend, Gretchen, has raved about Caress body wash for ages. While I have loved the Caress Emerald Rush Body Wash (which is her favorite) I tend to get distracted by testing other body washes and soaps. But the new launches from Caress have made me sit up and pay attention. By that I mean I need to always have a bottle of Caress in my shower.

The new launch brings romance and fancy to the table. The Caress Forever Collection is the first of its kind with Fragrance Touch Technology. The Caress Fragrance Release Pearls™ releases bursts of perfume with each touch of your skin. Given, it is subtle effect, I love that little note that reemerges upon touch for about 12 hours after my shower.

Floral notes were designed by perfumer, Loc Dong who has close to two decades of experience crafting more than 40 renowned scents for major fashion and fragrances houses.

“Fragrance is emotion brought to Life. The Caress Forever Collection evokes love, passion, sensuality, and elegance.”- Loc Dong

Love Forever
- Top Note: Mandarin Orange and Peach
- Heart Note: Scarlet Red Rose, Peony and Freesia
- Base Note: Sandalwood and Vanilla Musk
Adore Forever
- Top Note: Raspberry and Cassis
- Heart Note: Angel Face Rose and Muguet
- Base Note: Amber, Honey and Vanilla

Available at your local drugstore or at drugstore.com.

Thank you, Caress, for sponsoring this post.

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.

My Summer Makeup Look With NYC Cosmetics and a GIVEAWAY

Looking for a way to change up your summer makeup look? And even better… at super prices? Look no further than NYC Cosmetics at Wal-Mart. This brand is inspired by the city that never sleeps with great sophisticated shades that are affordable. Below, you’ll find my steps for how I am using NYC Cosmetics to change up my summer look.

While I can’t say dating in the forefront of my mind right now, I am loving this smokey eye – something new for me. And you know my new found love for a bold lip. Here is my how-to for Date Night (or an evening on the town with the girls):

Starting with the Individual Eyes Custom Compact in Smokey Charcoals, I apply the included primer. I like using the lightest shade all over my lid and then the third shade in my creases for a natural looking eye. But as you can see in the video, if you want to amp up the effect, the four available shades allows for that.
Using the Show Time Velvet Eyeliner in Noir, an intensely dark, pigmented eyeliner, I line my waterline. I then follow up with the High definition Liquid Eyeliner in Extra Black along the lash line.
It wouldn’t be date night without bold lashes, so next I apply Big Bold Volume by the Lash Mascara in Extreme Black. My new favorite budget mascara for intense, full-bodied lashes.
In the summer, bronzer is my jam. So I like to use the Color Wheel Mosaic Face Powder in All Over Bronze Glow. It is easy to sweep across cheeks, temples and jawline for a natural looking glow.
Last but certainly not least, lips that can withstand a date – dinner and maybe a smooch or two. The Expert Last Lipstick, Traffic Jam lasts for hours on me and is the perfect summer red.

Now is the ideal time for a complete update because on the NYC New York Color page you can watch NYC makeup artists show you how to five different looks for under $20. Bonus: when you’ve watched a video you’ll be eligible to download a coupon for $1 off any NYC New York Color product! Here’s the NYC makeup artist’s Get Date Night Ready video tutorial for a slightly different take than my go-to look!

And who can resist a giveaway! One lucky reader will win the products used in one of the five looks and a $50 Wal-Mart gift card. Enter using the widget below:

#NewYorkColorMakeover

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Lunchbox. All opinions are my own.

la prairie’s new Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal Collection

No surprise that la prairie does it right. Their latest and greatest is a Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal Cream and Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal Dry Oil that is nursing this girls’ dry winter skin right back to radiance. Not only that, but it helps with anti-aging. Think nourishment at its best – luxury and healing.

Classic Nude Nails With A Twist!

For my second installment with Suave^® and Q-tips^® for their awesome ManiCure Pinterest sweepstakes, not only am I sharing how to get awesome DIY nail art looks, I’ll also be sharing tips on keeping skin hydrated and nails looking clean and healthy. This week is all about classic nail looks. And today, I am showing off a look inspired by a classic French style manicure. Nude nails with a reverse metallic moon – how’s that for a twist?

Up first, a little detail about the ManiCure Pinterest sweepstakes– make sure to head over to the Suave Beauty Pinterest page and pin one of my featured looks (or any other looks by my fellow influencers) and copy the pin URL to the Suave Beauty Facebook page to enter for the chance to win Suave^® Skin Solutions Body Lotions and Q-tips^® Precision Tips^™ cotton swabs or $500 for the ultimate day of beauty and style!

After a week of moisturizing with Suave^® Skin Solutions Smoothing Body Lotion with Cocoa Butter & Shea, I can tell my nails and cuticles really do look richer and healthier. I pushed back my cuticles and prepped nails with a base coat. Before the base coat, I used a little alcohol on a Q-tips^® Precision Tips™ cotton swab to make sure my nail beds were oil-free.

Next, I layered a relatively opaque nude in two coats and allowed to dry thoroughly. I love the Q-tips^® Precision Tips^™ cotton swabs for cleaning up any mistakes on the cuticle and around the nail. They really help me achieve a precise finish without having to be perfect along the way.

Using those re-enforcements from our Trapper Keeper days, lay one on each nail at your desired length above the cuticle to shape where the reverse half-moon will appear. You really want to make sure polish is completely dried before doing this because the adhesive on the stickers can pull off your nude polish if it is the slightest bit wet.

Paint in a metallic polish from the bottom of the nude polish up to the sticker. Make sure the sticker is adhered well for the most defined line. Again, you can use a Q-tips^® Precision Tips^™ cotton swab with a little remover to clean up any mistakes around the cuticle.

Allow to dry a couple of minutes and remove. Voila!

This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Influencer for Suave® and Q-tips^®. Visit www.facebook.com/SuaveBeauty for the chance to win Suave^® Skin Solutions Body Lotions and Q-tips^® Precision Tips^™ cotton swabs or $500 for the ultimate day of beauty and style.