Leah Tackles

5 EASY HAIRSTYLES FOR BUSY MOMS | FEATURING KITSCH

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Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you had a great weekend! I am back from our mini getaway and am feeling the pressure of the back-to-school hustle and schedule craziness. I am the kind of woman who gets ready every day ( read more about *why* I do that here) but I am going to share a secret with you…a couple of years ago I walked my daughter into her first day of kindergarten in my favorite I-wear-every-second-I-am-home-even-in-the-summer Ugg Slippers. YUP, it happened. So, because I know that I am going to be busy turning my three Little Loves into Gap models in the mornings, I will be needing a quick routine for myself. Today I want to share 5 easy hairstyles for busy moms featuring some of my favorite hair accessories from Kitsch.

 

 

 

Why I Love Kitsch Hair Accessories

Kitsch hair accessories are typically around $8-15 depending on the accessory, but my big tip is always go to the clearance aisles at Ulta because they almost always have a ton of super cute Kitsch hair accessories for a lot less! I have been able to snag Kitsch Hair Cuffs and Hair Ties for as much as 50% off ( I even left some clearance pictures off some of my favorites so you could see).

Pretty Bobby Pin

I like to pull a few pieces of hair off my face and use these pretty pearl Kitsch bobby pins to give it a little extra style. *Tip: I do find that the Kitsch embellished bobby pins can be a little harder to open (they’re more heavy duty than regular cheapo bobby pins), so I sometimes use a regular bobby pin first and then cover it with a pretty one from Kitsch.

Bun Comb

I shared a post last fall called How-To Do a Cute Messy Bun Featuring Kitsch and it is still one of my favorite ways to make a 1 minute hairstyle look like you tried and give it a more “done” look.

Ponytail Cuff

On days when I just want a ponytail with my hair pulled out of my face, I love using this Marble Pony Cuff to give my hair a sleek and sophisticated ponytail. It is such a classy and chic look and the perfect quick hairstyle.

Bow Hair Ties

Look at your wrist, is there a hair tie around on your wrist?! Is it a pretty one?  I absolutely love these Bow Hair Ties from Kitsch because they look like a pretty bracelet and I like having one of these on my wrist when I wear my hair down because if I’m outside at a soccer game or on the walk with the Little Loves and want to get my hair off of my face. These hair ties are so beautiful and look so much better than a regular hairstyle on your arm.

Hair Coils

If you have a lot of hair like me and it ever gives you a headache to have it in a pony all day or you don’t want to put kinks in your hair (I hate doing this and then ruining my second-day hair!) I like having hair coils like these Kitsch Clear Hair Coils to pull my hair back. I don’t think these feel as tight and secure as regular hair ties (I wouldn’t run a marathon in them) and they take time to get used to looks wise, but I do like having these when I need my hair back.

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What is your favorite quick hairstyle for busy mornings? Let us know! xx

 

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The Creme Shop Cucumber Face Mask | The Best Eye Mask For Dull Puffy Eyes

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Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I hope you are having a fantastic week! Now that summer is coming to a close, lots of activities and events for the kids are popping back onto our schedule, and I have been finding myself ready to relax in the evenings. I share face masks a lot because I use them a lot, and I think they’re the perfect way to take care of your skin and pamper yourself on a budget.

 

 

 

About The Creme Shop

The Creme Shop is a U.S brand but they do the manufacturing of some of their products in Korea. Korea is known for being a leader in the skincare game, particularly masks.

Product Claims

This mask targets puffy eyes, tired eyes, redness, and dull skin. The mask is done in a beautiful masquerade printed mask. The embellished sheet mask hugs every corner to nourish the skin. The Creme Shop Cucumber Mask is infused with fresh cucumber extract, and this mask depuffs and soothes eyes for instant rejuvenation.

My Thoughts

I typically don’t suffer from puffiness with my eyes, but I have very dark circles and dullness around my eyes. I absolutely LOVE the print of this mask, and while it may be a gimmick I don’t mind one bit! I think this would be so much fun to wear for a girls-night-in and my Little Loves got a kick out of mom rocking a printed mask (my daughter thought I looked like a peacock and one of my boys said I looked like The Incredible Hulk?!) One thing I noticed immediately was that even though the mask was very saturated it felt sturdy enough that I could unfold it from the packaging without it ripping. The mask felt incredibly cooling upon application and it really did fit the contours around my eyes and nose very well. The mask didn’t slip off and I always test this because I constantly am walking around with face masks on, just ask my hubster ; ) When I took the mask off my skin felt refreshed and my complexion around my eyes definitely looked even and less red.  I would definitely use this mask again, and I think it is one of the best eye sheet masks I have used yet!

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Have you used this face mask? What is your favorite sheet mask? What is your favorite eye mask? Let us know! Thank you for reading! xx

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WHAT SHOES TO WEAR WITH PAPER BAG WAIST PANTS

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Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you had a great weekend : ) Our weekends are once again filling up with soccer game and other activities with our kids, but I am trying to hang onto the last bits of summer while I can. I have been wearing an amazing pair of paper bag pants lately dressed up, dressed down, and even just hanging at home, so I wanted to share with you how I style them with different shoes for three very different looks.

 

 

What Are Paper Bag Wasit Pants?

Paper bag waist pants are high waisted, gathered or cinched at the top, and often have a sash style belt.

What Shoes To Wear With Paper Bag Pants?

With paper bag pants, much like trousers, women tend to stick to a plain black flat or basic black pump, and while that is completely appropriate and chic, it is really limiting the diversity of the paper bag pants! I like pairing my paper bag waist trousers with sandals, loafers, strappy nude heels, flats, and even sneaker!

 

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Paper Bag Waist Pants

Target Loafers (Similar to the Gucci Loafer)

Just Fab Pearl Sandals (sold out!) Similar Pair from Target

Nike Flex RN 7 Sneaker

Do you have any paper bag waist trousers yet? If not, PLEASE DO! They are incredibly comfortable (legit, they’re like pajama pants!) and look effortless chic dressed for work or for play!

Have a wonderful start to your week! I’ll talk to you on Wednesday! xx

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NEUTROGENA RADIANCE BOOST HYDROGEL MASK REVIEW

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Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Product Claims

The Neutrogena Radiance Boost Brightening Hydrogel Mask is unlike ordinary sheet masks because this mask’s unique hydrogel material seals in the formula for maximum absorption into your skin. Neutrogena’s Brightening Hydrogel Mask moisturizes skin and helps even out skin tone, leaving skin luminous, even toned and radiant.

My ThoughtsThis mask smells like rosewater and feels so good after a hot day in the sun! There really is something to the hydrogel material because even though it’s a jelly-like material it stays on my face, even when walking around running baths for the kids or helping with pajamas, much better than other jelly masks. My skin looks and feels calm after using this mask, and I like using these once or twice a week. I will definitely continue to purchase these, because they’re very affordable and often on promo at Ulta Beauty.Shop

 

Have you tried any hydrogel masks? Have you tried any Neutrogena skincare? Let me know!

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DRUGSTORE LIQUID HIGHLIGHTER | L’OREAL TRUE MATCH LUMI LIQUID GLOW ILLUMINATOR

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Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope you had a great weekend! We enjoyed a ton of family time, and celebrated my Big Love’s birthday (Happy 32, Boo!) Today I want to share a drugstore highlighter that I have been using a ton this summer, and share my favorite ways to wear it.

 

 

Product Claims

The L’Oreal Liquid Lumi Illuminator is designed to enhance key features or illuminate all-over. True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminator enhances all skin tones and undertones. Ice enhances pink or blue tones. Rose enhances yellow, peach, pink or blue tones. Golden enhances peachy or yellow tones. Product benefits boast highlighting key features or it can be used to illuminate all-over, lightweight formula, and shades for every skin tone.

My Thoughts

For years I avoided liquid highlights because I have combo/oily skin and the idea of a dewy glow scared me, but I’ve eased my way into liquid highlighting and now it helps me achieve some of my favorite looks. Liquid highlight gives the look of a natural glow from within that is beautiful. I was excited to try the L’Oreal Liquid Lumi Illuminator because it is hard to find a drugstore liquid highlighter. The packaging is pretty, and I love the tube for both sanitary reasons and function (get every bit out!). The tube doesn’t come with very much product, but a little bit does go a very long way, so even though the price-point is a bit high for the drugstore, I think it will last for a long time. I do think that because this has a fair amount of shimmer (not glitter, but shimmer) you need to be careful to not use too much near fine lines near the eyes. You should be careful not to use too much so that you can ensure a smooth application and look.

My Routine and How I Use It

I like to use this product in two ways, and the first way is to use an e.l.f Small Stipple Brush to apply the L’Oreal Liquid Lumi to my cheekbones, and forehead. I do highlighting as my final step, so after my T-Zone has been powdered I will sometimes dot the very tip of my nose with the tiniest bit of highlight. The second way I have been doing a lot is mixing a couple of dots of the L’Oreal Liquid Lumi in Ice in with my liquid foundation and applying with my favorite affordable beauty sponge.

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NADINE WEST REVIEW | AFFORDABLE CLOTHING SUBSCRIPTION BOX

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Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you are having a great start to a fresh week : ) I have shared my outfits from Nadine West before on my blog (read the posts here) I have been wearing some items from my last several boxes a lot lately, so I was so excited to receive a new box in the mail from them. Nadine West sent me this box for my consideration for review but I was not paid to write this post and as always all opinions are my own.

 

 

 

What is Nadine West?

NadineWest.com is a company that sends you an outfit to try on and you keep only what you love. The outfit is a surprise, but you take a style quiz and the stylists get to know your style more each month. The outfits are affordable with pieces costing about $10-$30 each, which is very affordable compared to other similar services.

How Does It Work?

On the Nadine West website, you take the style quiz so that the stylist can get to know what you are looking for in an outfit. You will receive a pink package in the mail with your personalized outfit. Try on the outfit and keep what you love and send back what you don’t.

My Thoughts

The style quiz was super easy to do, which was great because I wanted something that didn’t take too much time but I was still able to make notes to make sure the stylist knew my preferences. I really loved the surprise aspect of this, and it was like opening up a girly gift from a really stylish friend. I cannot stand having to return things, it is such a bummer, but I LOVE the way this company does it because your outfit comes with return shipping.

Discount Code

Use the referral code “Nadine” on NadineWest.com (not an affiliate code for me, just sharing the one they currently have on their website) to waive your shipping fee which means you’ll get your outfit in the mail without paying anything!

What Did I Get?

This month I received a pair of gold dangling earrings, an aqua wrap style bracelet with magnetic closure, a teardrop necklace with a blue stone, a  black striped wrap dress, a sheer floral shirt, a gray and white light sweater, and a pair of olive shorts.

My Outfits

Did I Keep It?

I kept everything, and loved almost all of it! The earrings aren’t my style, I am such a studs girl, but I will be able to pass these on to a friend who I think will enjoy them. The aqua wrap bracelet isn’t something I would have picked, but I actually love it on! The bracelet has beautiful details, like the tassels, that makes it a lot of fun to wear. The necklace is GORGEOUS! I got a very similar one, almost identical except it was turquoise and didn’t have the bar detail, that I received in a previous Nadine West box that I wear all the time. The white dress with black stripes is super cute and comfortable, and I am excited to wear it, but it’s a little more lowcut than what I usually prefer. The sheer floral shirt surprised me because I didn’t think I would like it, but I do think it is pretty. The gray and white sweater is a great basic that is very much my style and I am sure I will wear it a lot in the evenings when it is chilly and this coming fall and winter. The olive shorts are so comfortable, not too short, and very much my style. I am overall very happy with this months box.

Final Thoughts

I love getting my Nadine West box each month! Each month I get a few things that I love, but I do wish that there was a simple form to update style preferences or check-in each month to see what I’d like to find in my box. I have been liking my boxes more and more lately, which I am pleased with.

 

Have you tried any fashion boxes like this? Have you tried Nadine West? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

 

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Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pads | Sunless Tanning Towelettes For Face

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Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I hope you are having a great week so far! Thank you to those of you who have checked out my new website, SmallWorldShirtsCo.com, it means so much to me : )

I have a very fair complexion, and I am religious about using sunscreen, especially on my face. Most days I just give my face a little color with some bronzer, but on day when I want a little extra glow I have been using a sunless tanner for the face that I want to share with you.

 

These self-tanning towelettes for the face develop to a color and also provide anti-aging and exfoliating benefits. The color develops in about 3 hours, so I like to use them the night before a special occasion or even the morning of. The formula dries quickly and is enriched with vitamin D which helps intensify the color of your tan. The towelettes contain Alpha Beta ingredients which give it anti-aging benefits, help exfoliate, and help give you an even application.

My Thoughts

I love these because they are not messy and give you the perfect amount of product every time! No fuss. If I am having issues with breakouts, I don’t usually use these, and because when I use this I don’t do the rest of my skincare, it isn’t something I use on a daily basis. Using these once or twice a week can maintain your glow. These dry very fast, which is aweomse because I don’t feel like I can’t touch anything or cuddle my kids like I do with other sunless tanners.

My Routine

After cleansing my skin in the evening I pat dry my face and then use a Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pads.

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Have you tried any sunless tanning towelettes? Do you use sunless tanning products? Do you have a favorite sunless tanner for the face? I would love if you let us know in the comments!

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AFFORDABLE MORNING CLEANSER FOR COMBO/OILY SKIN | CLEAN & CLEAR MORNING BURST® Skin Brightening Cleanser

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Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Before we get into the topic of skincare, I have to share an exciting annoucement (NOT pregnant!)…

I launched my own Disney inspired t-shirt company! You can see my first shirt here and check out the Small World Shirts Co website. You can also see it on my LeahTacklesDisney Instagram.

Alright, now that the housekeeping notes are done, onto skin : ) It’s summer and while I like using anti-aging skincare now that I’ve entered my 30’s, I still have combo/oily skin that needs a little something to that in the summer months. I found a drugstore cleanser that is super cheap and has been working well for me that I want to share with you.

 

 

MORNING BURST® Skin Brightening Cleanser

You may be familiar with the orange version of the MORNING BURST® Skin Brightening Cleanser, but I was excited to try out the yellow because the color seemed happy for the morning and I love the idea of the scent of lemons waking me up. I also was intrigued about the caffeine element in skincare, and hopeful it would offer great brightening properties.

Product Claims

MORNING BURST® Skin Brightening Cleanser is formulated with a unique blend of caffeine, lemon and papaya and cleanses to help brighten the appearance of your skin while releasing an invigorating fruit fragrance that awakens your senses. You skin will look brightened right away.

My Thoughts

I love the cheery yellow color of the packaging, and the lemon scent is very refreshing first thing in the monring. Caffeine in skincare can help temporarily reduce swelling and shrink blood vessles which can help reduce dark circles and tired looking skin, and as someone who gets less sleep than I should I love these benefits worked into my cleanser. I have to use a couple of pumps to get it to lather like I want, but I really love this cleanser. The cleanser doesn’t have a lot of the microbeads, but it is just enough to feel a very gentle efoliation. I like this as a basic, not very intense or abrasive, cleanser to use on a daily basis.

My Routine

The first thing I do every single day is wash my face with cold (yep, cold) water to wake myself up and get my day started. I use the MORNING BURST® Skin Brightening Cleanser, mostly with my hands but sometimes with my Clarisonic, before moving on to the rest of my morning skincare.

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Have you tried this cleanser? What is your favorite drugstore cleanser? What is your favorite cleanser for combo/oily skin?

Thank you, as always, for reading : ) Please let me know what you think about my first Disney inspired shirt design! xx

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Not Your Mother’s Way to Grow Leave-In Conditioner | Affordable Leave-In Conditioner

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Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I hope you are having a wonderful week so far! My hair is something that I work hard to take good care of, and whenever I find new haircare products I love to share them with you. Today I want to share a leave-in conditioner that was a purchased on a whim but is now a staple in my haircare routine.

 

 

Way to Grow Leave-In Conditioner 

 

Product Claims

This salon formula leave-in conditioner is infused with procapil, a breakthrough combination of ingredients that’s been clinically proven to help your hair grow stronger and longer faster, Not Your Mother’s Way To Grow Leave-In Conditioner will moisturize, detangle and smooth hair while building the strength you need for healthy hair.

My Thoughts

I purchaed this because I had run out of my grail leave-in conditioner (It’s a 10) and wanted to purchase a larger size on Amazon instead of paying more for a small bottle in the stores. My first impression was that it didn’t detangle as well as It’s a 10, but it did make it much easier to comb out after showering than using no product. I kept using the product and noticed that I liked how light the spray is, how it doesn’t leave a residue or weigh down my hair, and how smooth and shiny my hair looks. I don’t notice my dry split-ends as much and my hair feels healthy! Is it making my hair grow faster? I am not sure, I am admittedly skeptical, but so far I have definitely noticed it making a healthy difference. The reviews on Ulta seem to show that it works great for those with curly hair and frizzy hair, too.

My Routine

I was my hair about three or four days a week, depending on weather and activity, and so I have been using this product several times each week. Once I am out of the shower I lightly towel dry my hair, being carefully not to rub back and forth but rather lightly squeeze out the water, and wear it in a hair towel until I am ready to comb out my hair. I like to use a Wet Brush to comb my hair, and before I do I spray my Way To Grow Leave-In Conditioner into my hair, focusing on the back and ends.

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Have you tried this? Have you tried any other Not  Your Mother’s products? Do you have any favorites? I would love it if you shared them in a comment so others can hear your thoughts too! Have a fantastic weekend! xx

 

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FORMULATE CO LAUNCH | CUSTOMIZED HAIRCARE | GIVEAWAY!

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Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

 

I have been SO EXCITED to share with you Formulate Co, personal haircare products perfectly engineered just for you! You fill out a form that asks questions such as your hair type, hair struggles, hair goals, geographical location/climate, heat usage, scalp health, scent preferences and sensitivities, and more! Does your shampoo or conditioner do that? Formulate Co is made in the lab JUST. FOR. YOU! It is so cool, and I am thrilled to share it with you!

I have EARLY ACCESS CODES available (but only a couple, so PM me on my @LeahTacklesBeauty Instagram or Facebook quick!) to use before the launch is available to the masses. Also, you can ENTER THE GIVEAWAY to win some Formulate Co for yourself, made just for you in the lab!

Do you have more questions? Let me know in the comments and STAY TUNED for more information once I receive my very own lab created personalized customized shampoo and conditioner! You can also find more info here.

Have a fab weekend! xx

 

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