Clarisonic Mia 2 with Her Campus

If you know me, you know that I am super diligent about my skincare routine.  I always wash my face (morning and night) and always ALWAYS take off my makeup.  I've had skin troubles over the years, but recently my skin has been looking pretty good.  I had no idea that it could look and feel even better!

I've always wanted to try the Clarisonic products, but could never really afford it and I didn't think it was something I needed.  I was totally wrong.  I got to try the Clarisonic Mia 2 for myself as a gift from them and Her Campus.  Let me tell you just how much I loved it.

The set that I got is the Clarisonic Deep Pore Mia 2 Kit.  It came with the actual Mia 2 Sonic Cleansing device, Deep Pore Daily Cleanser, Deep Pore Detoxifying Clay Mask and a Deep Pore Brush Head.

The device is easy to use and gentle enough for all skin types, as well as to use twice a day. I chose to use mine every morning, as I usually just use coconut oil at night. The Mia 2 has two speed settings and is 60 seconds of pure scrubby goodness.

Using warm water, I splashed my face and wet the brush. It's waterproof so if you get it wet or take it in the shower with you it's all good. Then, I took about a dime size amount of the Deep Pore Daily Cleanser and gently spread it over my face and neck. The device times each section out for you so you know exactly how long to spend on each part of your face. The manual suggests 20 seconds on your forehead, 20 seconds for your nose and chin, and 10 seconds for each cheek. I also like to drag each section down to get my neck as well, since I personally have some scarring and acne there that I am trying to eliminate.

When your done the device will shut off automatically! Then I just splashed my face again with water and quickly cleaned the brush off using warm water and scrubbing it on my hand. If it picks up any makeup residue, like deep rooted foundation gook, you will see it. It makes me feel like I really got a good, deep cleanse!

The set also comes with the Clay Mask, which is great if your skin is feeling particularly yucky. I like to use it at the end of a week where I've worn a lot of makeup. It feels great on and gives your skin a nice clean glow!

I've been using the device and the cleanser for about three weeks now and my skin looks ah-mazing. It's smooth, supple and so soft that I find myself touching it because it just feels so darn good. I also noticed that my skin tone has evened out a good deal. Spots that were noticeably red before are much more subtle now. Check out the before and after! (please excuse the totally unfiltered mess that is me in the morning and my out of control hair lol)

BEFORE

AFTER

Overall, I really love this product and am so happy to have the kit in my life. It will now be a permanent part of my daily skincare routine! The kit is great for those that need a good cleanse but don't want to exfoliate daily and it also makes a great gift! Check it out on the Clarisonic website HERE and use the code HERCAMPUS until November 20th for an additional 15% off!

***This is a sponsored post in partnership with Clarisonic and Her Campus Media. All words and opinions are my own

Studio Gear Cosmetics Dual Identity Wet/Dry Foundation

Hurray for multi-function products! I love a good two-for, so when Studio Gear Cosmetics asked me to try out their new Dual Identity Wet/Dry Mineral Foundation, obviously the answer was YES!  The set came with the powder foundation (in Sand), their Revitalizing Day Serum, and the #3 Domed Foundation Brush.

I will say my first impression was slightly confused.  I had a little trouble figuring out how to use the dual identity aspect.  But after playing around with it for a bit I found that this foundation is super versatile. They also have this handy-dandy video to show you how to use it! Check that out HERE.

There are several ways to use it: mineral powder foundation, liquid/cream foundation, mattefying finishing powder, or cream contour. I used it as the first three, since it wasn't dark enough for me to contour with (and I don't really like to contour, honestly.)

First I put on the Revitalizing Day Serum to create an even base for the foundation. This can also be used to mix with the foundation.  I really liked the serum! It wasn't sticky or super oily like some others I've tried and it seemed to make the perfect primer for the makeup!  The first picture is only the basic mineral powder foundation.  I'd probably only use it like this if I wasn't really going to wear makeup and just wanted to even out my skin a bit.  It didn't have much coverage on its own, and I need a little bit more on a regular basis. (Also, yes this is how I get ready in the morning. Bath robe and all.) Notice how visible my dark circles and accidental forehead tan are. I think once I can even out my skin tone it will look a great deal better!

In the second photo, I mixed the powder with a little bit of water to create the liquid foundation.  You could also try using the serum or your favorite moisturizer, but I didn't want my skin to look too oily.  I found that had a lot better coverage, but was a little hard to blend.  But once I did get it where I liked it, it looked great! My skin looked close to airbrushed; like I could not see a single pore.  I did find that I needed to layer a little bit on my problem areas (redness, dark under eyes, etc.) but overall I think it worked very well.  

Also, I just want to take a minute to talk about the brush.  It's amazing.  It was just the right amount of stiffness to really blend everything out but soft enough to not feel like I was scraping my face off (haha). But I really did like it and will absolutely use it for more than just this foundation.

For the final look I went back in again and used it as the finishing powder on top of the liquid, which really brought it all together by getting rid of any unwanted shine and nicely setting the makeup.  As for wear, I think it lasted pretty well throughout the day.  I noticed it fade a little bit but nothing out of the ordinary.  Overall, I think it's a great product! The coverage, while buildable, wasn't quite enough for me but I will absolutely continue to mess around with it to get a heavier coverage.  My favorite thing about the Studio Gear Dual Identity Wet/Dry Foundation is how smooth it made my skin look! Even though it didn't really help in covering those dark circles (I've honestly given up.  Nothing will cover them) I'll give it the benefit of the doubt, lol.  I would definitely recommend it, especially for those of you who are all about the natural look and want something easy and versatile.

You can nab your own Dual Identity powder at Studio Gear Cosmetics website HERE! Plus, Studio Gear is currently offering $5 off your purchase of the foundation when you sign up for their emails! Also, don't forget to check out the Revitalizing Day Serum and the #3 Domed Foundation Brush! Make sure you take a look at these for more details on these wonderful products!!  If you decide to try it for yourself, let me know what you think in the comments!

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Back To School Flawless with Johnson & Johnson

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MajorBeauty #MajorSteals #CollectiveBias

As much as I am not ready to think about it, we can't avoid the fact that school starts back up in just a few weeks.  When I'm getting ready to go back to school, I'm always sensitive to what I'm going to wear, how I'm going to do my makeup, which bag I'm going to take etc. You never know what you're going to wind up doing or who you're going to run into. 

When I dress nice and spend an insurmountable amount of time on my makeup it makes me feel like a million bucks which gives me confidence! Whether it's for meeting up with that cute guy in your study group or giving that big presentation, there is no denying that when you look good you feel good! For me, the key to my confidence is maintaining beautiful, healthy skin. Because let's be honest, not even my prettiest dress or highest coverage makeup is going to cover that giant pimple that showed up unannounced. Thankfully, we have some little miracle workers to help us make sure that will never happen!  

While there are plenty of fantastic skincare products on the market, I am working with a few of my favorites from Johnson & Johnson. I made my way to Target to snag the awesome sale they are having on most of the Aveeno, Clean & Clear, and Neutrogena products. Two of them wound up being buy one get one for 25% off, which was great! Plus there was also a coupon on the Cartwheel app for an additional 5% off my Clean & Clear cleanser, so I was able to knock a decent amount off of my total! Even better, I used my Target card and got another 5% off my whole purchase!  So I was feeling like the bargain queen when I walked out that day.

The deals I got only run until the end of August, so make sure you make it in time to take advantage of these awesome discounts!  The deals are exact as follows:

Buy any one participating Neutrogena® facial, Neutrogena® cosmetic or Clean & Clear® facial product and get one 25% off from July-August 2016.

Buy one, get one 25% off select Aveeno® items from July 31, 2016-August 20, 2016.

So to give you an idea of how I keep my skin looking #flawless, I'm going to give you a little tutorial on my back to school skincare routine from night to morning! 

First up is the Aveeno Ultra-Calming Makeup Removing Wipes. There is nothing more important than getting all of that gook off of your face after a long day. Even if you don't wear makeup, your skin is still exposed to all kinds of bacteria and dirt especially if you're walking a lot outside.  Also, I know being in the south I find that walking outside in between classes I tend to sweat which is horrible for your skin. These wipes are great for all of those things and they also help reduce any redness you make have. Plus they can totally stand alone for your whole night time routine since they don't require rinsing and also feel quite moisturizing. Just simply wipe your face and don't be afraid to scrub a little to make sure you get all of that mascara off! Check out Target's selection of Aveeno products HERE.

In the morning I wash my face with the Clean & Clear Blackhead Eraser Scrub. I just take about a dime size amount and scrub for about 25 seconds, focusing on my problem areas (which are my nose and chin.)  I don't personally get acne but I do have blackheads now and again so this scrub gets rid of them quickly. However, if you do get a pimple or two, the scrub has salicylic acid which helps prevent those pesky bumps and get rid of them more quickly than a normal cleanser. It also has an exfoliant that helps to scrub off any dirt and oil, leaving you a nice, smooth canvas for putting on your makeup! Check out Target's selection of Clean & Clear products HERE.

Last, but definitely not least, is the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel. After I've washed my face and patted it dry, I slather this all on my face and neck.  I'm obsessed with this stuff because it feels sooo good. I have combination skin which gets really dry in areas so it drinks this up like crazy. With a lot of other moisturizers I feel like I put them on and then just hope it's working, where with this one I can feel it soaking into my skin and I also find it has a slight cooling sensation which is very refreshing. It's also a great base for makeup!   Check out Target's selection of Neutrogena products HERE.

And that's it! Pretty simple right?  Because the last thing we want is to spend 8 hours on our skincare routine before and after a long day.  What would your flawless skin routine include? Let me know in the comments!

If you love my routine, why not try it out for yourself!  Enter the #MajorBeauty Sweepstakes to win 1 of 30 $50 Target gift cards to try these products out or create your own flawless routine! 

Neutrogena, Clean & Clear, and Aveeno #MajorBeauty Sweepstakes

This post is sponsored by NEUTROGENA®, CLEAN & CLEAR® and AVEENO®. I only recommend products I use personally and believe my followers will also enjoy! Some of the products mentioned were provided by NEUTROGENA®, CLEAN & CLEAR® and AVEENO® for this review.

Christine Shampoo & Conditioner by Van Thomas Concepts

About a month ago, a friend of mine, Jason Griffin (celebrity stylist) so kindly told me he would love to work with me on my blog. I was so thrilled to have someone who not only lives in a completely different world from me ( LA baby!) but also is influential in the fashion industry. So for our first project, he hooked me up with a wonderful agent from Pistol & Stamen and she soon sent me some shampoo and conditioner to try out!

The set is called Christine and it's by Van Thomas Concepts. I received the The Christine Shampoo and The Christine Reconstructive Conditioner. I waited a little while to write the review because I wanted to thoroughly test the products. So after about a month of using them, these were my results!
First off the product itself. One of the most important thing to me about hair products is the smell. I pride myself on having fantastic smelling hair every day of my fashionable life. So therefore, I must have simply delicious smelling shampoo and conditioner. These definitely fit the bill. It smells amazing. It leaves your hair smelling like citrus and flowers. There is no way a girl won't feel good about herself smelling that wonderful.
Next is what it's made of. The shampoo is sulfate-free and paraben free, with no harsh chemicals, avoiding the stripping of essential oils and dryness. It uses grape seed and apricot oils for added shine and blackcurrant oil and essential omega-6 fatty acids for healthy hair growth. Also the shampoo is made to cater to all hair types!  The reconstructive conditioner uses hempseed oil, aloe veraextract, grape seed oil and olive fruit oil that hydrate, restore, and repair hair.

I particularly like products that use natural products. My hair seems to take better to them. Since my hair is curly, it tends to be more temperamental and harder to tame. All of the reparitive and hydrating treatments did wonders for my frizzy, dry curls. After only a few uses I started to see results.

Here I am with no product in my hair!!

After using the shampoo and conditioner together for a little over a month, I have noticed drastic results in the texture of my hair and how it behaves. When I wash it, it's less knotty and easier to brush after washing. Since I wash my hair every other day or more if I can, my curls tend to knot up and make my life a living hell after waiting those few days. I find myself sitting and brushing my hair for like twenty minutes just trying to detangle it! But ever since I started using the Christine products, it's gotten a lot better. My hair is also less frizzy, thank god. Since the start of spring, my hair has pretty much turned on me. Most days I just give up and rock the afro that is my un-tameable hair. I even started referring to it as Miley (because it "can't be tamed" Get it?) Anyway, the reconstructive conditioner really worked wonders in that department. I saw a noticeable difference in the size of my afro, especially after I'd been using it for a couple weeks. I can now go to bed with freshly washed hair and wake up with nearly perfect curls that only require a bit of tousling, some of my John Freida Miracle Cream, and some climate control hairspray and I'm good to go! It takes me a maximum of like, 3 minutes. So thank you, Christine products for making my hair a lot happier!

Close up of the Christine products doing their job!

The price is nothing to shake your head at either, by the way. The shampoo retails for $18 and the conditioner at $32 for a 12 oz. bottle. On average, my shampoo and conditioner costs about $12 combined or less, so these are a smidge out of my normal price range. But if you're really battling unruly or unhealthy hair, these are definitely worth the splurge. Also, there are 2 additional products in the line that I haven't tried: The Protective Glaze and the Body Wash. If they are anything like their fellow products, I have no doubt that they will be great!

Contents of my package!

Overall, I had a wonderful experience with both of the Christine products!  They worked particularly well on my hair, and I have plenty left to enjoy for another month or more!  Much thanks to Jason and Pistol & Stamen who were generous enough to send me these great hair products!  Look forward to hearing more from them soon!  If you want to learn more about the products I talked about, here is the website!  Let me know your thoughts if  you decide to get your hands on these!!

XO, Briana

Get Tropical with BA Star!

Hey everyone! I'm so excited to show off this awesome new eyeshadow I just got!  It's the Tropical Shadow Pallet from BA Star Pro-Makeup!

The BA Star makeup is typically used for dance, cheerleading and stage, which it is perfect for.  The shadows have high pigmentation, giving you bright, vibrant colors without the work of layering!  However, anyone can use them if you're looking for a bold look.

Depending on what you do for a living, this makeup could definitely come in handy.  Back when I worked at Pirate's Voyage, I used to do my eyeshadow with tons of bright colors and lots of glitter.  Just because I could.  I mean, who wouldn't? Anyway, I really wish I'd had this pallet then, because it would have been perfect!

Fortunately, I am still convinced that I'm a mermaid, so why not do my makeup like one?!  Now mind you, I didn't wear this look to work, but I might for a luau party or tone it down a bit for a day on a tropical island. Definitely a summer thing, but it came out so pretty!

But first, I did some swatches for you!  The pallet comes with 5 colors, all with glitter.  There is Lime Green, Blue, Purple, Hot Pink, and Silver.  Here they are swatched side by side.

Also, with the pallet, I received the BA Star Glue Base, which is an eyeshadow primer/glitter base.  I have used several eyeshadow primers in the past, and this one worked pretty well in comparison.  I tried it out with a simple rub test.  The first photo is the same color without the primer on the left and with it on the right. I noticed the color was brighter and shiner with the primer.

Then I just rubbed them both with my finger to test the staying power!  As you can see, there was a big difference.  I don't doubt that this shadow will stick all day or through a pretty intense dance routine if that's what you're doing.

So no makeup review is complete without a look!  Like I said, I decided to do a mermaid look in the spirit of the tropical pallet.  I wanted to use all of the colors, but there is a lot of potential for them on their own! The silver would be awesome for a smokey eye!

This look was pretty simple.  First, I put on the BA Star Glue to prime my eyes.  Then I used the silver on my entire eye as my base color.  Next I put the green on the center of my lid, then put the blue on the outer edge and blended it into the green.  Then, I used the purple in my crease.  Now for the blending.  I put some more blue to blend the purple and blue in the outer corners.  Last, I lined my bottom lashes with the pink, and put a little bit of silver on the inner corner of my eyes as a highlight!!

Besides the shadow, I used Urban Decay Ink for Eyes liquid liner, Benefit They're Real mascara, and e.l.f. gold glitter liner.

I was pretty happy with how it came out!  The colors looked glittery and vibrant and they blended particularly well!  I will definitely use this pallet whether I'm just playing around, doing some stage makeup, or anything that requires some punchy color!!

BA Star has some wonderful products from shadow pallets, glitter, tools and more!  And we both want you to try it!! Check out the website and enter the code 50TROPIC for 50% off your purchase!! You're welcome!! ;)  If you do buy something, I want to know what you think and how you used it!  Link me to your review or comment and tell me all about it!

XO, Briana

This post is sponsored by Brand Backer!!

#PowerofPlants: The Boots Botanics Ionic Clay Mask!

Hey everyone!  So today I'm going to tell you a little bit about the Boots Botanics Ionic Clay Mask that I received courtesy of influentser!  I finally got the time to try it out and it did not disappoint!

First a little bit about the product.  This mask, when used, "actively removes impurities and deeply cleanses." It's also supposed to make your skin less shiny.  In the directions, it suggests that you use it a couple times of week for best results.  So seeing as I've only used it this one time, I'm just going to give you my initial reaction to it and how it made my skin feel.  The mask is made up of mostly organic materials, it's star ingredient being Willow Bark Extract.  Also, all of the Botanics products are free of parabins, mineral oils, parafin waxes, SLS, and SLES.  It's not tested on animals and the packaging is made of mostly recycled materials.  Save your face and the environment simultaneously!

Now lets get to the fun part.  Me and my fails at using new products.  So after reading the directions on the package (which as with anything else are extremely vague) I proceeded to put the mask on.  Now, it failed to tell me to shake well before using, so it was running everywhere and made a huge mess.  So please if you buy this make sure you shake it first to avoid a green goblin esq crime scene.

Next, I just smeared the now appropriately thick mask all over my face and neck, avoiding the eye area and making sure to put enough on.  You want to make sure you use enough to cover your face and not see skin peeking out, but not too much where it takes forever to dry.

Bonus ridiculousness

Once you feel like you've put an ample amount on, you get to sit around for ten minutes with a green face.  I proceeded to sing Defying Gravity for as long as possible before it was too stiff and I could no longer move my face. (LOL)  So don't expect to have a conversation for that short bit.  And don't laugh either. Seriously.

P.S. I wasn't trying to look miserable, i just couldn't make an expression

After your ten minutes are up, your face should have turned a lighter, less putrid colored green and be hard as a rock.  Make sure you touch it because it feels really cool.  Then proceed to your bathroom (if you're not already there) to take it all off.

On the package, it says something about tissues, and whatever.  I just rinsed it off with warm water and that seemed to do the trick.  I would recommend using tissues to make sure you get off all of the slime, I mean mask, as to not get it on your clothes or your white towel.  Luckily, my towel happened to be green.  I patted dry and Voila! good as new!

My skin now feels tighter, softer, and cleaner.  It's also more even in color and less oily.  It kind of feels like getting a mini facial!  This is definitely one of the best masks I've used.  I don't know about you guys, but I like to see/feel results right away and this one for sure hit the mark.  I would recommend this to just about anyone who needs a little R&R for their skin!  Enjoy!

XO, Briana

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GlamST Virtual Makeup Tester

Hey everyone!! So recently I was given the opportunity to test out the website GlamST.com, a virtual makeup tester.  And can I say, this website is so cool!  It's super easy too!  The company is pretty new and the website is still in the works, but for now I can give you a mini introduction.

The site was made for girls like you and me who have that oh so horrible problem of buying makeup online. After all, how am I supposed to know if that $25 lipstick is going to look good on me in that shade without trying it on?  Enter GlamST.  They have a growing selection of products to test in all different colors.  So that whole annoying process is pretty much eliminated!   So shall we try it out?

After logging in, you can choose to use a model with a face/coloring similar to yours, or upload your own picture.  If you choose the later, the site will take you through a few steps to calibrate your photo and then you're all ready to go!

Once you have your pic ready, it's time to start trying stuff on!  You can go through step by step, or skip around as you please.  There are three sections: Face, Eyes, and Lips.  Each section has a few subsections, for example, concealer, liners, and gloss, amongst others.

I first did my face: foundation, concealer, powder, blush. (in that order.)  As you try things on you have options of color and amount.  And if you don't like it, just click the trash can to take that makeup off! If you decide you like something, you can like it to save for later, or add it to your shopping basket right there! It's that simple!

For my makeover, I chose a natural, summer look, because I'm sooo ready for summer right about now.  I did a light base just to cover my skin imperfections, a coral blush, brown shadow and liner, purple mascara, and pretty pink lips to top it off.  Here's my before and after:

Before (no makeup)

After GlamST Makeover

And here is the list of products I used:

Foundation: Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35 in light
Concealer: Bareminerals Stroke of Light Eye Brightener in Luminous 1
Powder: Givenchy Le Prisme Visage Mat Soft Compact Face Powder in 83 Peach Plumetis
Blush: Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks in Calypso Coral

Eyeliner: Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes in Pearly Brown 2L
Eyeshadow: Laura Mercier Shimmering Neutrals Eye Trio
Mascara: Givenchy Noir Couture 4 in 1 Waterproof Mascara in Purple Velvet

Lipstick: Nars Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in New Lover

My overall review of the site would be an A!  The concept is awesome and the site is adorable.  Also the products currently on there are really nice ones and a good selection.  My only cons would be that the site runs a little bit slow and there are still a few glitches, but that's totally understandable for a new site.  I can't wait to see how it is after it's been up and running for a while longer!  Regardless, I know you are all gonna love it! So please go check out this site!  I promise you won't be sorry!  Even if you don't buy anything, it's always fun to give yourself or your friends a makeover! Also, don't forget to check out their Facebook profile for updates!!

XO, Briana

This post brought to you by Brand Backer