Drugstore Skincare Product Of The Week: Nivea Moisturizing Body Wash Care Almond Oil Hibiscus Scent.

Nivea is one of my favorite brands for drugstore body care, their  body products are hydrating and just the perfect amount of scent. I started using the almond oil and hibiscus scent moisturizing body wash, and my skin loves it!  

It is formulated with Nivea's Hydra IQ Technology and Almond Oil, to intensely moisturize your skin, but without the greasy feel. Priced under $5, I have compared it to more expensive body washes and if not equally better its very close. 

What I like to do for extra dewy soft skin is to apply it with just my hands, like a lotion. Then I rinse it with cool to cold water. I pat dry my skin. I come out and hydrate with lotions and or oil to lock in the moisture. My skin has been so soft and hydrated this winter, I am so happy to have a budget friendly routine that works for my super dry skin. 

Sold: Target, Walmart

Price: $3.49

My Easy Glam Makeup Look Using All My 2017 Favorite Makeup!

I am so happy to be back you guys, I took a quick pause on blogging so that I can get my house back to normal. My biggest challenge as a work from home mother of four is time managing and well the laundry was starting to pile, and the mess was just too much to handle. I also found that because the house was not to the standards I like to keep it in, my creativity was down. 

A good o'l cleaning happened and bam! I finally edited a video, the main purpose of it apart from trying to dust some cobwebs off is to show case my favorite products of 2017. I will be playing around with different length and styles, please tell me which ones you guys like the best.  

List Of Products Used: Benefit Poreless Primer Urban Decay B6 Priming Spray Huda Beauty FauxFilter Foundation In Tres Leche Tarte Shape & Tape Concealer In Medium Charlote Tilbury Flawless Powder In Medium Anastasia Beverly Hills brow pencil in Ebony Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Tom Ford Eyeliner Morphe Blush 9N Palette Kat Von D Contour Palette Jeffree Star lipstick in Celebrity Skin Lancome Mascara Lancome Highlighters Buxom Bronzer In Maldives Ardel Lashes In Demi Wispies

DIY Of The Week: Have Minty Fresh Breath Always With These Three Home Remedies!

  Lets start this post off but stating the following, there is very few things more tortures than speaking to someone that has bad breath. Its also one of the most uncomfortable feelings when you suspect your own breath is not as fresh as it can be so here is three reasons people can have halitosis (aka stinky breath). 

1. Poor Hygiene is probably the most common and the most obvious. If you don't brush your teeth, floss and rinse properly at least twice a day then this might be the cause of your not so fresh breath. Its also important to not forget to regularly clean your tongue. If you are doing all this and still don't feel like your breath is as fresh as it can be, invest in a mouth wash that contains Zinc like Tom's of Maine Wicked Fresh! mouth wash sold HERE. 

Supplementing with oral zinc and eating zinc-rich foods like spinach, oysters, pumpkin seeds, and wheat for instance, might be an even better approach, as it can address the problem from the inside. 

"Zinc deficiency is associated with poor healing, immunity and inflammation. Halitosis from oral disease can benefit from zinc supplementation".-via The book Drug-Free Guide To Digestive Health By: Heather Caruso .

2. Another main cause of bad breath is not drinking enough water throughout the day. Our mouth is filled with Bacteria that feed off the food particles left behind after we eat. Rinsing your mouth out with water after every meal or snack can help prevent them from eating, which avoids the releasing odor-causing byproducts that end up stinking up breath. There now you have another very important reason to start drinking more water. 

"Believe it or not Dehydration is one of the most common causes of bad breath" - via @foodmattersfilm. 

3. Gut health is also a main cause of bad breath and one very effective way to keep your gut clean is by consuming probiotics. Probiotics are good live bacteria and yeast that are good for your digestive system and overall health. I take HUM Gut Instinct available HERE  if you want to purchase ever Code:121384 to save $10 off your order of $29 or more. 

Extra Tip: Herbal Teas also help flush your system of heavy metals, bad yeast and many other toxins in our body. Teas like stinging nettle tea, fennel, sage, peppermint or lemon are all great options. 

Please Note: These are not sponsored links or a sponsored post, all opinions are my own from research and if not my own word the author is given credit. 

Life Update: Four Girls, A Breast Lift And Lots Of Goals!

As some of you may know I have been giving this blogging thing a go for a LONG time now, way before it was even so popular. Its something that I genuinely love to do and every time I let life get in the way and stop doing it, I cant stop thinking about it. I wanted to start making these life update, this way I not only keep my self accountable for the goals I set for myself but to also keep it 100 with all of you. According to my Facebook history it was a little over six years ago that I first uploaded a video to youtube, six years is a long time. 

During those six years I stayed active for maybe half the time, I would start blogging consistently make a little progress then stop. Well my friends that is why today November 20017 I am not any where near as successful in the blogging word as my peers that started blogging around the same time  as me. There are days that this makes me feel a little frustrate with myself, but these past six years, while I have not been consistent with my blog I have been consistently growing as a wife and mom. 

I am now the mother of four beautiful girls, we moved in to a dream home last year and I am now more clear and focused on what I want to gain from "influencing". 

The one thing that people fail to realize is that blogging takes A LOT of work, I find my days struggling to make time in the day to get some post up. There is so much details that go into it now, everything is so saturated and there is where someone starting can get discouraged.

I always get asked the same questions, how do I start a blog, how can I be successful. My answer is always the same: do what I haven't done, be CONSISTENT!! I cant stress that enough, its unbelievable the amount of engagement I get when I'm consistent. The second most important, be genuine I refuse to post or share anything that I wouldn't recommend to my family or use myself. Last, make sure its something you truly love and enjoy or it will not work out. My last advise for anyone wanting to start a blog? make a schedule, plan out your week every Sunday, this is where I struggle because I have five lives that depend on me and can change the course of my day on any given moment. That being said if you have it written down on a calendar it will most likely get done. 

I will end this part of my life update with this quote that its as real as the Six and a half years that has passed since I uploaded my first video: " Don't think about what can happen in a month. Don't think about what can happen in a year. Just focus on the 24 hours in front of you and do what you can to get closer to where you want to be. 

Mama Got A Boob Job 

Breastfeeding my girls was always the plan, it was something that I can never imagine not doing. I bonded with them in a way that no one else in the world can. That beautiful experience however left your girl with her Double D boobs looking like a hot mess! I knew I needed a lift and a reduction even after Gabi (13) but there was no way I could ever live with the idea I wouldn't be able to breastfeed any of my kids so I patiently waited to be completely done having babies. 

The truth is I always felt guilty for wanting to get a breast lift, my family however were all so supportive that after Camila my angel baby, I went and did something for me. The thought of going under the knife was the most stressful thought I ever dealt with. I could not shake the possibility that I could die. I cried so much and honestly thought of not going thru with the surgery many times. 

I will not get to into the whole logistics of it but I am happy to say even after some complications I am happy I did it. I was hoping for a smaller cup but because of all the excess skin I had, the implant had to be of a larger size. Today almost 3 months post-surgery I am almost back to normal. I think when all the inflammation is gone I will be a true C cup which will be great. 

So thats my life update, I look forward to 2018 being the best year of my life! 

DIY Of The Week: Depuff And Brighten Your Under Eyes Instantly!

Lets face it, the holidays can be both fun and stressful at the same time. The days seem to only get shorter and your list of to do's only get longer. I show this stress in my eyes, they get so puffy and dark that it looks like someone punched me in both eyes. 

As much as I love to rely on my daily routines to treat my skin imperfections, nothing works quite as good as my DIY's. The ingredients are fresh and the results are always more noticeable. One of my favorite ingredients for skin lightning (brightening) are in this amazing mask. Use it and let me know if you love it as much as I do! 

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon Mashed Banana

1 Tablespoon Raw Potato (Shredded) 

Lemon Juice 

Mix together banana and potato and add just a squeeze of lemon juice. Place mixture in the fridge for 10-30 minutes before applying under the eyes. Make sure you don’t get any in your eyes when applying. Let sit for 5-10 minutes before removing gently with a wet towel. Repeat up to Three times a week if needed.

Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer Review!

I think we can all agree when I say that concealer is one of the most important makeup items. A great concealer is supposed to conceal, even out, and the most important not crease like crazy. I have been a fan of Nars concealers for sometime now and I just became obsessed with their most recent one.

Nars soft matte concealer is perfection, I love it so much that as of late, I exclusively use it for doing my makeup. I carry it in my makeup bag to apply it on the go with confidence. It comes in my skin color, it needs minimum setting, and does not crease on me at all.  The coverage is full and the finish is exactly a "Soft Matte" the best way to describe it. 

I have very dark and noticeable veins in the side of my eyes as well as dark circles and the concealer cancels everything out. I also use it all over my face where I need a little coverage and it gives my skin such a natural healthy look. It's the perfect tool for the "no makeup" makeup look! My daily routine consists of this concealer, mascara, blush and lips. I highly recommend it and think its one if not the best concealer I have tried.

The Description Of Product The Product On Nars Website: 

Natural look. High coverage. Soft-focus smoothing complex blurs, conceals, and smooths imperfections. Complete comfort. Completely natural-looking. Concealing hits an all-time high. Oil-free. Long-wearing. Non-drying. 16 shades for all skin tones.

INSTANT RESULTS: Soft-focus blurring with high-performance coverage. Optimal Diffusion Powder helps maximize light diffusion with spherical surface powders designed to absorb and refract light for soft-focus perfection. High coverage with weightless wear. Advanced powders with a unique structure lay flat, staying in place without settling into fine lines and pores.

 LONG-TERM BENEFITS: Softer, smoother skin. Collagen-boosting peptides and hyaluronic acid reduce the appearances of wrinkles and pores by helping plump the look of skin. Antioxidant Daily Defense delivers a protective cocktail of Vitamins A, C, and E.

Product: Nars Soft Matte Concealer 

Purchased: Barneys 

Price: $30

Thanksgiving Giveaway!

I have been wanting to do a giveaway for you guys in a long time, because I cant think of any better way of thanking all of you for reading my blog, liking and commenting on my pictures on Instagram. 

As most of you know I love skincare, its definitely my number one love. I love it when my skin looks great and I don't need any makeup, not to mention that when my skin looks great it makes my makeup look airbrushed! So thats why I found it most appropriate to giveaway these amazing products to one of you. I took my time in selecting products I use and I can thank for my good skin days! 

• Dermaflash: Want to know how amazing this is? Check out my review HERE. 
• Dr. brandt microdermabrasion: Its one of my favorite products to prep my skin for makeup and I live using it before a mask as well. Find out more info about it HERE. 

• Juice Beauty Smoothing Eye Concentrate: This eye cream works amazing at brightening my under eye circles. Find out more HERE. 
• Karuna Hydrating + Face Mask : Improves hydration by 40% and promotes elasticity. To find out more about this mask click HERE. 

• Cover FX Illuminating Setting Spray:This spray sets your makeup and also illuminates your face. I like using it alone when I'm not wearing any makeup for an extra glow. Find out more info HERE. 
• Lancome Dual Finish Highlighter Illuminating Powder: This highlighter is absolutely stunning. I will be giving the lucky winner which ever shade you want. For more info click HERE. 

I appreciate you all so much, and I want to take this opportunity to promise to always stay true to myself and to you. If you are reading it in my blog then its my honest opinion, wether they are paying me or no. I can not be bought and I will not talk about it if I don't genuinely and truly love it. 

To Enter: Make sure you follow me on Instagram, Like and tag your bff on the picture with the giveaway announcement. That's it! The giveaway begins 11/14 and Ends 11/23 Winner will be announced on Black Friday 11/24. 

Make It Cold To Look Hot!

I love little changes that don't require much effort but that improve your health, hair and skin significantly. I have been taking cold showers for a few months now and let me tell you, it has improve my lifestyle significantly. I come out of that shower feeling energized and ready for whatever the day brings. My skin also loves it, I have noticed an overall improvement in my skin tone and hydration. My hair is falling out less, looks shinier and air dries frizz free. If my experience isn't enough to convince you, below are the medical reasons why taking cold showers might be what you need to add to your daily routine.  

My Tip: Always start showering in warm water. I start to gradually reduce the amount of hot water, until its completely cold. Shower in cold water for 60 seconds.

Cold Shower Benefits:

• Strengthen The Immune System
• Improve Circulation
• Increase Metabolism
• Alleviate Depression
• Detox
• Speed Up Healing 
• Prevent Post-Workout Injuries
• Decrease Chronic Pain
• Improve Hair Health
• Heal And Tone Skin
• Improve Sleep
• Anti-Aging Benefits

I challenge you to take a cold shower, I know is tough, especially now in the cold months but I promise it will make you feel AMAZING! Try it and let me know what changes you immediately felt. 

The Sweetest Gift This Holiday Is At Fresh Beauty!

Shopping for the perfect holiday gifts can be overwhelming, there are budgets, taste, and so many details to consider. Well this post will make your decision making so much easier, Fresh Beauty has all your heart and wallet desires to give the most beautifully wrapped (Always Complimentary) gifts. 

If you follow my instagram or snapchat stories then you have seen me use and rave about their Seaberry Skin Nutrition Cleansing Oil and I have used some of their masks and Sugar lip treatments. So I was already familiar with some of their products, but nothing compares to shopping directly in their store. The smells, the decor, all the samples and they even offer a mini-facial!

The first thing my eyes were driven to was the beautiful packaging. The designs and color are the perfect blend of holiday glam and elegance. 

When shopping for gifts no matter what my budget is, I like it to have a great presentation. It also needs to look like it cost more then it actually did. 

The most important is that it needs to be a gift that will become a hit! I love it when I give someone a skincare recommendation, or introduce them to a brand and they love it. Its really why I love blogging and sharing! 

I got to pick out a few gift sets and thats when it got tough, I mean how can I choose from so many options! I think that the first one I put in my bag was this Body Care Besties set. It comes with their bodycare bestsellers: 
Brown Sugar Polish
Hesperides Grapefruit Shower Gel
And
Hesperides Grapefruit Body Lotion 

The brown sugar polish is like nothing I have tried before, my hands never felt smoother. What I loved about it is that I didn't even feel the need to moisturize after. Even after washing my hands a few times my hands still felt smooth! 

The skincare solutions was a must try for me, its their age defying best sellers. Who doesn't want younger looking skin? Inside; Soy Face Cleanser, Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask, Black Tea Firming Corset Cream and Sugar lip treatment.  

The no brainer for me? A Mask Wardrobe!! I get to try their top sellers and decide which one my skin likes the best. The beautiful thing about them is you can also mix them and make them fit all your needs! The set comes with a Sugar Face Polish, Rose Face Mask, Black Tea, and Vitamin Nectar Vibrancy Boosting Mask!

   

 Last but not least Fresh Sugar Lip Lovelies, first of all the packaging is just too adorable. Its the perfect stocking filler, and whats inside makes it even better. A sugar lip polish, Sugar nourishing lip balm, and Sugar rose tinted lip treatment. 

I had the most amazing time and will definitely visit the store instead of shopping online from now on. The customer service was excellent, and they are so knowledgeable! I will be using and reviewing all the products one by one so stay tuned! 

Note: This is a Sponsored post, however the opinions are my own, I only share products that I actually use and give always my honest opinion. 

Steffany's Choice X Lulus Date Night Look!

My husband and I have a date night almost every night, right after the kids are tucked in their beds and Im done with my night time beauty routine. We cuddle in the couch or bed and watch a movie or series, we make a snack (which I'm trying to stop) but its our time to talk, and plan out the next day. We don't get to go out as much as we used to, so when we do I always like to dress up a bit and make it more special.  

We wanted to go into the City so my husband scheduled an appointment with Blank Label to get fitted for a new shirt he's a killing two birds with one stone type of guy ;). He gets custom made shirts there at least once a year, the quality is excellent and they have endless options (Not An Ad)! 

The weather was nice enough to wear a dress but I still wanted some form of layers and nothing too overly "sexy" so I wore this beautiful and romantic lace bodysuit under my chic bodycon LBD and paired with my favorite essential heels from Lulus. I think it has something to do with the Fall season that makes me want to layer, and make my summer outfits still work. 

LB Bodycon Dress 

Sexy Black Body Suit 

Sexy Single Strap Heels 

Black Clutch (Sold Out) Similar Here 

I Tried Scentbird And These Are My Thoughts!

I have quite the perfume collection, I'm very much obsessed with perfumes! The excitement of finding that perfect scent, the scent you want to leave behind when you walk out of a room is priceless. I have my favorites but I have to make sure I'm not missing out on any better ones out there. 

That is why Scentbird, a monthly perfume subscription makes perfect sense! I honestly can't believe I had not heard of Scentbird before. I received two beautiful fragrances that I'm seriously in love with. 

Catherine Malandrino 

Romance De Provence 

• Top Notes: Mandarin, Apple Blossom, Black Currant, Anjou Pear
• Middle Notes: Jasmine, Orange Flower, Rose, Violet, Lily, Green Tea
•  Bottom Notes: Vanilla, Patchouli, Tonka Bean, Amber, Caramel, Powder Musks

• Top Notes: Exotic wood, patchouli, and black amber
• Middle Notes: Night-blooming jasmine 
• Bottom Notes: Vanilla Orchid

How It Works: 

1. Start Your Subscription for $14.95 a month with free shipping by signing up on Scentbird enter Code Stef25 to save 25% off your first subscription!

2. Pick A Scent You Want to Try From Their Vast Collection Of Designer Brands And Niche Fragrances. 

3. Receive Your Month Supply Of A Gorgeous Fragrance With A Free Refillable Case With Your Free Order! 

I'm so happy with this monthly perfume subscription, and it makes a great gift that anyone would love and appreciate! Now I don't have to spend on perfumes I will only want to wear every few months. I can try them and then decide if its worth owning the full size!

PSA: I received This Products In Exchange Of A Honest And Unedited Review. This Opions Are My Own And I only Share Products I love And Actually Use! 

Is It Fall Yet?

Its almost Halloween you guys and can you believe we are still having 70 degree days? I don't want to sound like I'm mad at that, scared? yes! but not mad, I mean who could ever be in a rush to be cold? 

The nights do get cooler, so I make sure to either dress in layers or always have a jacket to throw on top if it gets too cold. Im loving this sweater by Missguided, its the perfect way to take advantage of these warm fall days but still be in season. 

I paired it with this super cute fit and flare skirt by Guess and super comfortable, stylish and affordable boots I purchased last year from LULUS. 

Top: Misguided 

Skirt: BCBGMaxazria

Boots: Lulus 

Bag Celine

I Used Carbon Coco To Whiten My Teeth And This Is My Results!

I know by now we have all heard by now about the efficiency of charcoal to whiten teeth. However I had never used it before so this is my review.  I was sent a little package from Carbon Coco to try and give my honest opinion to my readers!

A description From their Website:  

Made from 100% certified organic coconut shell charcoal, Carbon Coco not only brightens your smile, but also improves your overall mouth health.Our medical grade activated charcoal powder removes toxins, stains, and plaque from your teeth through a process called adsorption, in which activated charcoal binds with these particles and flushes them out of your teeth and mouth.The super finely milled polish won’t damage your enamel or gums and also contains bentonite clay, a natural ingredient that helps remineralise teeth plus a hint of lemon myrtle, which has gentle and non-acidic antibacterial properties.

How do I use it?

Wet brush in small and dip into the carbon, gentle circles (no need to brush hard!) for 2-3 minutes. Rinse, then brush with Carbon Coco toothpaste for 3 minutes. This is best used before bedtime to allow residue (if any) to dislodge overnight.

My Review

I have been using Carbon Coco for five days in a row now and I'm ready to give my review. I used it as recommended and can say it works! Its definitely not an overnight thing were you will get instant results but every day my teeth look whiter. 

       The Pros:                                            The Cons: 

         All natural                                              Messy 

        No Sensitivity                                 Time Consuming   

I have to say, the charcoal can get messy, when opening the jar no matter how careful I was there was always fallout on the sink. Also it takes about 7 minutes to the whole process and add 5-15 minutes if you add the oil pulling which I did not receive to try and review. 

That being said I prefer to use this versus other methods that make my teeth sensitive and only targets the color. Carbon Coco has so many more added benefits that really gets me excited about brushing my teeth! 

Product: Carbon Coco 
Price: $59.90
Website: Carboncoco.com

 I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my viewers. This review is not sponsored by Carbon Coco but they did send me the products to try and give my honest opinion. 

I Got To Try Dermablend New Flawless Creator Foundation Drops And These Are My Thoughts!

I get so excited to try new makeup, will I love it?, will I hate it?, will this product become a holy grail? These are all questions going thru my head right before the product touches my skin. I know, I know it just makeup but well makeup is a very important thing in my life. I got to try Dermablends new foundation and I'm just going to cut thru the chase and tell you I LOVE IT! I was so relieved, yes relieved when I applied this foundation looked in the mirror and saw perfection. I could end this review right here and leave it at that but I'll tell you more details about why its AMAZING.....

Heres some important details about Dermablends Flawless Creator Foundation Drops: 

• Contains 33% concentrated pigments for weightless, customizable coverage anyone can wear.
• Uniquely silky texture is blendable, buildable and customizable.
• Multi-use: water-free and oil-free foundation formula for seamless blendability when used alone or mixed with skincare.
• Flawless Creator is formulated without parabens and is a vegan formula: no animal-derived ingredients or by-products.

I loved it because of all that and it simply made my skin look perfect, even my grandmother commented how great my skin looked. The wearability is like no other foundation I own, the first day I used it I wore it for 16 hours, yes you read that correctly 16!!! I looked at the mirror right before I jumped in the shower and to my surprise my face was still on, even my highlight was still barely but showing. Thats a big deal for us makeup lovers, especially for me, a mother of four two of them under two that are constantly touching my face, I'm kissing them all day, I sweat a lot, I have combination skin that starts to get oilier by mid day. These are all factors that play against the longevity and quality of my makeup, but on this day it was not even an issue. 

As I demonstrated on this video I mixed it with my favorite sunscreen, my idea behind this was to make it more of a bb cream, and then I applied it solo on the areas I wanted to contour/bronze. Since then I have used it almost every way possible. However as my summer tan sadly is fading this shade is a little darker then my complexion so mixing it for a lighter coverage will definitely be my go to. 

I also tried their translucent powder and a buffing brush, they both work to perfection. 

FTC: Sponsored by Dermablend Professional. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my viewers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising.