Thursday's Beauty Buy :: Vitamin C Serum

It's almost the weekend, so hang in there! Today I'm helping you do so by letting you in on a little BIG beauty secret that I think you'll appreciate! Many of you know my obsession with Painted Earth Skincare + Cosmetics. These all-natural, organic products are the best possible thing you can give your skin. Plus, they were formulated locally here in Roswell, Georgia and the owner Joanne has become my go-to beauty gal because I love this stuff so much. She started formulating these products in her own home after reading the ingredients on the labels of many large name-brand cosmetics in the industry. She didn't want to put those things into her skin, and neither should you!Screen shot 2014-09-18 at 8.17.37 AM

My latest obsession is the Vitamin C with Ferulic Acid Serum. You put this ultra-thin, soothing and smell-good serum on your face after moisturizing and after about 2-3 uses you can already see the results. Not only is your face firmer and tighter, but it feels brighter and more radiant than before. It reduces fine lines and wrinkles, and stimulates collagen production {think PREVENTION or REDUCTION of wrinkles, ladies. Need I say more?}painted earth

Normally I'm all about bringing you new and fun makeup when I do these beauty reviews. I feel that makeup can truly brighten and enhance your face, but as each year passes and my skin changes, I'm learning that it starts at the core; when your skin is healthy, firm and bright, your makeup can only enhance that. I'm all about prevention, and this serum is the key to that!

So treat your skin to a Vitamin C refresh each day. You'll start seeing the difference immediately and you'll never want to go back to your old skincare ways!

If you're interested in learning more about Painted Earth Skincare and the products I so love, feel free to email me and I'd be happy to share! After years of shopping at Ulta and Sephora and using "high-end" makeup and skincare lines, I tried Painted Earth and will never go back.

{Please note :: This is not an ad; I did not receive compensation for this review}

the maxi dress {& painted earth giveaway winner!}

Everyone needs a maxi dress in their summer wardrobe. This easy-to-throw-on, chic & put-together look is so versatile; dress it up or down, take it from day to night, and accessorize in all sorts of different ways. Here are a few tips to go by when choosing a maxi ::

  • Find one that hits you between the ankle and the top of the foot. That gives you the ability to pair both flats/sandals as well as wedges/heels with the dress. You don't want to buy a dress that is so long that you have to wear a heel with it every time.
  • On that note, be sure to stay away from dresses that hit you mid-calf. This cuts your legs in half and gives you the illusion of wider and shorter legs; a look no one wants to achieve!
  • A defined waist is the way to go. Don't choose a maxi that hangs and doesn't accentuate your shape. Find one that defines the small of your waist and hits under the bust line for the ultimate figure-flattery. This goes for all shapes, especially larger busted ladies and petites.

 Here are some of my favorite maxi dresses for all your summer occasions ::

Splurge :: Anthropologie

Save :: Old Navy

Mid-price :: Jessica Simpson. Vertical stripes lead the eye up and down, creating a slimming effect.

Mid-Price Range :: Eliza J. Flattering neckline, and wide dark band around waistline gives illusion of a smaller waist.

Save :: Old Navy,  the LBMD {Little Black Maxi Dress}

A strapless option with a flattering chevron pattern, Nordstrom.

You can never go wrong with a red. Perfect for a night out, Topshop.

And now, the winner of last week's Painted Earth Baked Mineral Blush giveaway! Drumroll please... Ashley O'Dea! Congratulations, you are the new owner of Painted  Earth Apricot Swirl Mineral Blush {a $36 value}! Simply email courtney@lifestyledatlanta.com with your address and we'll get it in the mail to you. Thank you to everyone who entered, and stay tuned for another giveaway coming soon!

Stylishly Yours,

Courtney

 

 

thursday's beauty giveaway!

Happy Thursday! It's almost the weekend, so hang in there! Today we're making your Thursday a little brighter with another beauty giveaway from Painted Earth Skincare & Cosmetics. I have been using this Moulin Rouge Baked Mineral Blush in Apricot Swirl for a few weeks now and I am IN LOVE.

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It has an iridescence to it which gives your face a finished, soft & all-over smooth look after using it. I apply it over my powder and a little bronzer to give my cheeks a pretty pink finish.

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The apricot swirl is a soft pink, so it's not too bright or overpowering. Perfect for light makeup during the day or taking into the night, this blush gives you the perfect natural look.

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And, it's great for both fair & tan skin; you can see here where I applied to the underneath of my arm, where my skin is more fair, and then to my hand which is tan after spending time at the beach!

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This Baked Mineral Blush can a sunny addition to your spring & summer makeup palette! To enter to win, simply leave a comment below. A winner will be drawn on Monday, April 28th so stay tuned to see if you're the lucky one!

Until tomorrow,

Courtney

spring beauty giveaway!

Radiant Orchid is the Pantone Color of the Year for 2014, and that doesn't mean it has to end with fashion. I'm bringing this fun purple-y hue to the face with Painted Earth Skincare's "Orchid Luxury LipstickPolychromatic Eyeshadow in "Purple Night". I absolutely love this brand for so many reasons; one of them being that was started right here in Atlanta. All of their products are natural & organic, so you can feel good about wearing their cosmetics and using their skincare. Scroll down to the bottom for the details on this BEAUTY GIVEAWAY!

I am loving radiant orchid this spring. It is such a flattering color on virtually any skin tone and hair color. I have to admit, I was a little nervous about trying this lipstick. I tend to stick to corals and reds, so I have never gone towards the purple side! After using it once, I was in love. The orchid lipstick is not only a great shade for lips, but it glides on so easily and looks smooth & creamy.

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Here's my orchid lip & eye look ::

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Finished product!

How would you like Painted Earth's Orchid Lipstick & Purple Night Eyeshadow for yourself? They can be yours, free!

Enter into our giveaway between now and Monday morning by commenting on our facebook page, "Pick me!"

OR

 re-gram the Instagram photo  & use the hashtag : #orchidlipsgiveaway

The winner will be picked on Monday {4/14} and you will receive a Luxury Lipstick in Orchid along with a Polychromatic Eyeshadow in Purple Night {$30.50 + shipping value}

*note - all of my makeup used in this post is Painted Earth. I will be sharing more products with you each week, so be sure to stay tuned for giveaways, tutorials, reviews & more!

Stylishly Yours,

Courtney

 

These are a few of our favorite spring things...

SPRING WISH LIST

Happy Hump Day, y'all! Today I'm sharing my Spring Wish List. From bags, to clothing, to beauty buys and more, these items are sure to make their way into my hands before spring is through...

First up, this to-die-for foldover leather clutch from K.slademade. I love the soft leather, the size, the color options and the fact that you can add a simple gold monogram to any bag!

K.slademade Foldover Clutch in Navy

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Second, the Stella & Dot Norah Pendant. Citrine is a must-have in your closet for spring, and trust me when I say that you can wear this beauty with EVERYTHING! From navy, to coral, to neutrals and patterns, the Norah is the perfect necklace to take you into spring & summer.

Stella & Dot Norah Pendant

Next on the list is one of my splurges :: Anyone who knows me knows that I am a sucker for Tory Burch! The heel height of the Savannah Wedge is perfect for a sweet daytime dress, andtaking it into the night with a white skinny jean or fun skirt.

SPLURGE :: Tory Burch Savannah Wedge

The fourth thing on my wish list is a beauty buy. Too Faced "Return of Sexy" eye palette is full of bright colors that I'm dying to experiment with this spring. I love a pop of bright eye color blended in with other neutrals; especially those fuchsia tones. Radiant Orchid, anyone?

Too Faced "Return of Sexy" Eye Palette

I always say that if I were forced to only shop at one store for the rest of my life, it would be Anthropologie. {I could go into the reasoning behind this, but I will keep it short and sweet by saying that they carry all of the basic necessities, plus the prettiest patterns and the most unique, compliment-receiving pieces} So naturally, there are a few {okay, twenty} things on my spring wish list from Anthro.

Everyone needs florals in their closet this spring. This skirt will help do that. It's girly, pretty and flattering. I would pair it with a navy and white striped tee, or a silky white blouse for a simple, put-together chic look.

Anthropologie Pomme Blossom Skirt

Last, but certainly not least on my Wish List is some pretty gear to {hopefully} inspire me to work out! Great justification, right? And let's be honest - I will be hanging around my house in this even if I don't make it to the gym! The color is perfect for spring and I love the built-in bra. Lulu Lemon works her magic once again!

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Lulu Lemon Tuck Me In Tank

What's on your spring wish list? I could have gone on all day... We'd love to hear from you!

Stay Stylish,

Courtney

Friday Feature :: Painted Earth Skincare

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TGIFF! I hope all of you had a fabulous week. Today I'm spotlighting one of my favorite new skincare brands, Painted Earth, based right here in Atlanta. Here is a little bit about the company, as adopted from their website ::

"Painted Earth was founded to offer an alternative to pore-clogging chemical skincare products, and our exclusively organic, natural and non-toxic products don't force users to sacrifice health for beauty; instead they make accentuating beauty a healthier process. Why settle for a basic skincare line? Painted Earth products are infused with advanced ingredients, making it easy to transform skin from blah to beautiful. When it comes to finding the perfect skincare products for any complexion needs, it all starts with the ingredients."

Below are a few of my favorite products from their line. I will be highlight many more in the future!

Painted Earth SuperWear Pen Eye Liner

This eyeliner is everything. It goes on like a marker, giving you full control over it that you don't get with a liquid liner. It also has a sharp, precise line that you won't see with a pencil liner. The best of both worlds!

Painted Earth Mineral HD Concealer

This Mineral HD concealer is the perfect under eye concealer. It instantly camouflages dark spots, leaving your skin looking light and bright around your eye area. I also use it over any blemishes, and around my nose, chin & forehead for added brightness. A tip for extra bright eyes? Buy a shade lighter than your skin tone.

Painted Earth Boo Boo Gel

Last but CERTAINLY not least, a true miracle product. Yes, I said it. A miracle! "Boo Boo Gel" is the perfect fix for any of your skin problems ; from blemishes, to dark spots, to burns and scrapes. It is anti-aging, skin-perfecting and pore-reducing. All natural and organic, this product has been a true miracle worker for both myself and many Painted Earth customers around the country. It is a skin saver!

You can check out Painted Earth and all of their fabulous products on their website HERE. You won't be disappointed!

Wishing you all a stylish weekend ahead. Until Monday!

xoxo.

Friday Feature :: Favorite Eyeshadow Palette

TGIFF! This Friday, I'm featuring my favorite eyeshadow palette, the Lorac PRO Palette. Everyone seemed to be all about the Naked Eyeshadow Palette this season. I happened to ask for it for Christmas, and ended up getting both the Naked2 and the Lorac sets. Let me tell you, this Lorac set blew the Naked2 out of the water! The shadows go on super easily, while I found that you had to get a lot on your brush with Naked2 for it to even show up on your eye. The colors in the Lorac palette are much more vibrant, and there are shades to compliment every eye color; from blush & champagne, to mauve, to espresso & plum.

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A few tips ::

  • the eyeshadow primer is a MUST. It helps the shadow stay on all day long, and into the night. It also helps prevent the loose powder that can sometimes drop below and around your eyes during application.
  • here's my regimen with this -- I start with WHITE directly beneath my brow. I then move to LIGHT PINK and cover the rest of my lid with that. I apply MAUVE in the crease of my lid, followed by GOLD ontop of that and LIGHT BRONZE on my lower lid. I then use SABLE in the crease for a more daytime, casual look, or ESPRESSO or DEEP PURPLE in the crease for a more dramatic, nighttime look. This is perfect for brown eyes. Follow with a thick black {or brown} liner and you'll be good to go!

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What is your favorite go-to eyeshadow palette? Please share! You can hashtag #fridayfeature on Instagram, or comment on our Facebook page!

Wishing you a stylish and relaxing weekend with {hopefully} some lovely spring weather!

:: Friday Feature ::

TGIF! Today is the first of many "Friday Features" to come! Each Friday we will highlight a different product that we are loving; whether it be clothing & accessories, beauty or skincare. We'll be sharing our favorite things with you!

Today's Friday Feature :: Lorac TANtalizer Bronzer

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I was in the market for a new bronzer a few weeks ago, and decided to trust the advice of the Ulta makeup consultants {which I rarely do}. I'm glad I did! I love the slight shimmer to this bronzer. It immediately brightens up your face, no matter how pale or tired you are. {A tip :: when applying bronzer, apply it not only to the apples of your cheeks, but also to the tip of your nose}

Another great thing about this bronzer? It is huge, and it only takes a few sweeps of the brush to get enough for your whole face. With this product less is truly more, so don't be overzealous! I can guarantee this bronzer will last you for at least one year. Last but not least, it is the perfect shade to take you from season to season. This is great for pale winter skin, but will also highlight your bronzed summer skin perfectly, and keep your skin bright and warm for all the months in between.

What are your favorite bronzing products? Share with us! We'd love to hear from you.

Wishing you a stylish {and warm!} weekend!

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