Kohl's Beauty Event Recap

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Kohl's for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

First off, a huge thank you to all of you who showed up to the Kohl's Beauty Event last weekend. I had a blast with all of you. A special thanks to Tracy and Melanie for hanging out with me all day and letting me show you the Kohl's Beauty Department. It's amazing right? If you weren't able to make it I highly suggest you head into your local Kohl's and check out everything your store has to offer. Not nearby? You can find just about everything online at Kohls.com.

A little more about the event. I had the chance to check out all things beauty during the Semi-Annual Beauty Event at Kohl's and I think it's safe to say I found a few favorites that are now sitting in my beauty closet.

First off, the beauty advisors know their stuff. We teamed up to give a customer a whole new brow look and they were on top of their game with finding just the right products to achieve a bold yet natural brow look. So, if you're on the hunt for a certain look but not exactly sure what products you want to try, you're going to want to beeline over to those gals because they are sharp and they will hook you up!

Next, I spent some time learning about the brands, what kind of products each brand offers and what how to use them. For example, they have a large selection of heat-styling tools. I got to try out the InStyler MAX 2-Way Rotating Iron during the event and it was pretty awesome. You can check me out giving it a go in the video below. It's super easy to use and you can curl AND straighten your hair with one tool. Win and Win.

Of course, every trip to the beauty department requires putting together a little haul and I definitely played favorites with theBalm (longtime fan over here of the Mary-Lou Manizer Highlighter), Real Techniques, Cargo, and Butter London. Did you know that Butter London isn't just amazing nail polish anymore? They now have a wide selection of gorgeous lip colors, mascara and eye palettes. I'll take all of the above please.

Then me and a couple of my favorite ladies got to take a tour of the skincare options. Bliss Beauty hands down being one of my favorites. Truth: I can't live without the nightly use of their That's Incredi-'Peel'! Spa-Strength Glycolic Pads. They.are.amazing. I also ended up taking home some goodies from the new-to-me skincare brand GreenSprout Botanicals. I'm loving their Vitamin-C Brightening Facial Serum and Vitamin-C Brightening Facial Cream with SPF (You need that SPF ladies!). It's actually pretty reasonably priced from $15 to $35.

See more of my favorite finds in the video and catch a peek at Tracy, Melanie and I wandering the beauty department and a few tips on how to get that summer glow.

 

Don't forget to check out your local Kohl's Beauty Department and online! Xo.

Back To School with Kohl's

This post is sponsored by Kohl's.

Now that July is nearing it's end it's time to start thinking about Back To School for the boys. While we have a good month or so until school is officially back in session, I'd much rather plan ahead and shop what I need now rather than later. Trust me on this one, it's better to beat the back-to-school crowds and shop earlier (especially when it comes to school supplies). Also it doesn't hurt that Kohl's is currently having their Friends and Family sale until the 30th so an extra 20% off (with promo code "FAMFRIENDS") doesn't hurt the situation. 

This year, I've partnered with Kohl's to kick off the upcoming school year with a few back to school styles for myself and the boys (who were more than happy to pick out a couple outfits and show off their very strong personalities during the shoot). Naturally, Aid had to show off his dance moves and even drew in a little crowd when we were shooting off Houston. So I think it's safe to say he had a good time. 

But back to the picks! For me, I wanted a back to school look that could be easily thrown together with minimal effort for those days where I'm running late for drop off or pick up (which is basically every day during the first week). So this super soft off-the-shoulder dress from Apt 9® ($25) was the most obvious choice. Comfort.is.key. It comes in a handful of colors, I just ordered it in Coral. I also wanted a pair of sandals that I can easily slip on while heading out the door. Back-to-school often means straps and laces get to be a hassle real quick, so these SO® Knot Sandals are the perfect remedy until the fall weather trickles in. These also come in a bunch of colors and are only $15! Of course I had to have a splurge item since my shoes and dress ran me under $40. This (real) leather ring bag had to come home with me. It not only has the coveted ring handles but it also has a crossbody strap when you need to go hands-free. I've been wearing it on repeat over the last few weeks and I'm sure you've already spotted it in a couple of outfit posts. It's a must! 

For the boys, they both insisted on graphic tees for their first day back. So The Beatles tee and Good Vibes tee ended up in our cart. Both were from Jumping Beans®, who has great options in the graphic tee department for under $10. 

They definitely had their opinions on how they wanted to be styled and one decided on a flat front pair of navy shorts while the other insisted on joggers. Both agreed that sting-ray leather converse in black were the only shoes for the job. 

On Aid: Jumping Bean® Good Vibes Tee, $8, Carter's Flat Front Short in Navy, $15, Converse Stingray-leather sneakers, $15 (in-stores), Wildkin Camo Sidekick Backpack, $31.49

On Ev: Jumping Beans® Beatles Tee, $8, Jumping Beans® Joggers in Quiet Shade, $10, Converse Stingray-leather sneakers, $15 (in-stores)

On Me: Apt 9® Off-The-Shoulder Shift Dress $25, SO® Knot Sandals $14.99, ili Double Ring Leather Bag $99 (I got it on sale a few weeks back for $50 so keep an eye out!)

Don't forget to check out the Kohl's Friends and Family sale this weekend for your Back-to-school needs! 

This post is sponsored by Kohl's. All opinions are my own. 

Beachy Waves with the NEW Conair Curl Secret 2.0

My summer beauty routines are all about getting things done with the least amount of effort and heat. Especially when it comes to hair. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that the last thing anyone wants to do when it's 90˚degrees out is pull out the blow dryer and sit under it for 30 minutes. Hard pass. So air drying it is. But I will admit my waves don't always dry evenly, so I DO need a little help with styling tools (thankfully their heat emission is a fraction of blow dryers so I can walk away without sweating a big ol' puddles worth). I usually grab a styling wand but it's been proven that I sometimes can't manage it without burning myself. (Note the nickel size scar on my right wrist for proof of wand vs. Megan take 100.) Anyhow, I'm always looking for something a little more user-friendly to get the beachy wave look without the hassle (or the 2nd degree burns).

If you've been reading along for a while you might remember me teaming up with Conair to try their Curl Secret last September. After finally getting into a rhythm with it, I found it was way easier than using a curling wand, and I got some seriously fun bouncy curls. Well, Conair just launched the NEW Curl Secret 2.0 in-stores nationwide now for just under $100. Now you have the choice of a tighter bouncy curl or a beachy wave with the interchangeable titanium ceramic chambers in 1" and 1 1/4" sizes. I feel like at this point there's no need for a surplus of curling wands because this styling tool basically does-it-all. The curl chamber gently draws hair in and holds it while it's heated from all directions. *Hair should be without tension in the chamber, if it feels tight remove hair immediately and start over.

The Conair Curl Secret 2.0 features 2 heat levels, 6 timer settings and allows you to choose the direction of your curl with right, left and alternating curl direction settings. It doesn't hurt that it heats up in 30 seconds and maintains constant temperature. It also has an auto shut-off after 60 minutes and a sleep mode to lower the temperature after 20 minutes of idle time.

The before:

(Truth: I braved the heat of the blow dryer and definitely tripped the breaker to make sure it was straight and smooth for a dramatic before and after photo.)

The After:

Tips for using Conair Curl Secret 2.0:

Make sure you don't let any flyaways into the barrel, or your hair may get tangled in the styler. It took me 4-5 times of my hair getting tangled to narrow it down to random fly aways getting drawn in with the hair piece I was trying to curl. If you take too much hair, or your hair is not going through the center of the appliance, the Curl Secret 2.0 will stop and beep to indicate a problem. So, take the extra step to make sure it's just a smooth piece of hair going in, you'll thank me later.

The smaller the piece of hair, the better the curl. Work with 1/2" - 1" sections of hair.

You should be working with clean, dry and tangle free hair. Yes, it has a tangle safety feature, but it's always better to be safe than sorry. No one wants to have to gently work their hair out of the curl chamber.

Don't let the learning curve throw you off. It takes some practice to get the hang of it and once you do it's way easier and quicker than using a wand.

The Curl Secret 2.0 is now available in stores nationwide and online for $99.99. Find out where to buy and more info athttps://www.Conair.com/co/101/where-to-buy/168.

Pin It For Later:

For more information about Conair's full line of hair styling products, visit www.conair.com, and follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for great hair tips and product giveaways!

This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation that contains affiliate links. I received the InfinitiPRO by Conair® Curl Secret® 2.0 for my own personal use.  All opinions, text and experiences are my own.

Little White Tassel Dress

It think it's safe to say that my summer uniform has consisted solely on light-weight, floaty dresses that can be taken from day to night. While I'm usually drawn to a bright and playful print I couldn't resist the tiny pop of texture on this little white linen dress. I mean, everyone is wearing tassels right now so having add some color and texture to my dress definitely doesn't hurt the situation. Add an oversized market bag and fun sandals and we're talking summer uniform status. 

Dress Chicwish, Bag ASOS, Sandals Forever21 (similar)

 

3 Summer Hairstyles To Try This Weekend

This post is sponsored by Sexy Hair.

It’s officially summer which means it’s time to take measures to protect your hair from the heat. I’m not sure about you but the second humidity and/or higher temperatures hit my tresses, the waves fall flat and frizzy. All that effort spent with the curling wand goes down the tubes the second I walk out the door. I know I can’t be the only one with this struggle, right?

Well, this season I’m taking special measures with the help of Sexy Hair’s Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play volumizing hairspray. Gimme all the volume with a good, firm hold! Waves and curls, stay in place. Just spray into your finished (dry) style and boom, a super firm hold with an added boost of volume while keeping your hair manageable. It dries super fast and adds a little extra shine to your do’ while fighting the dreaded UV rays (my red hair thanks you).

Because, summer hair essentials go hand-in-hand with summer styles, I put together three that will take you from Friday to Sunday without fuss. I’m personally living in the loose, messy side braid but I have a feeling the braided headband is going to become an essential for date night outings. Cute, right?

Check them out and try them for yourself with Sexy Hair’s Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play hairspray…

Half Up Twisted Hair with Braided Crown

1. Brush out hair and curl hair as usual. I used a 1 ½” barrel to achieve these waves. Lightly spritz with Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play.

2. Next, part hair down the middle and pull two large pieces (one from each side) from the crown of your head. Pull out a small ½” piece out from each side. Twist the remaining hair, pinning to the back.

3. With the ½” piece, create a small braid and gently pull the pieces away to create a loose, larger braid. Repeat on other side.

4. Pull across your crown and pin under your twists.

5. Finish with Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play.

Loose Side Braid

1. With a 1 ½” curling wand create loose waves around your head.

2. Start from behind your right ear and carefully pull 3 pieces to start your braid to across the back of your head over to your left side. Secure with elastic.

3. Pull loose pieces out and touch up with curling wand. Finish with Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play.

Mini Buns

1. Part your hair down the middle from front to back. Pin one side out of the way.

2. From the top of your hair pull hair up to a high pony (parallel to your ears).

3. Twist into a bun and pin. Repeat.

4. Loosely pull at the bun pieces to add volume. Finish with Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play.  

Pin & Save For Later.