What Happened to BeautyCounter?

May 14, 2024 by Ashley Leave a Comment

Last week BeautyCounter announced they’re closing up shop.

Their website says, ” Something new is on the way. We are currently working to build a new company but don’t worry, we’ll be back later this year with the safer, high-performing products you know and love, as well as some other surprises. In the meantime, you can find your Beautycounter favorites at Ulta locations around the US (through July only) and at Ulta.com (through July and beyond). If you want to be one of the first to hear about our launch later this year, drop your email below and we will be in touch as soon as we have more to share. Thank you for your support and for being a part of the better beauty movement.”

This is heartbreaking to the many loyal customers who relied on their clean beauty products. I feel even more for the women who made their livelihood selling it. According to CNBC in Jan. 2024, as many as 65,000 people promoted the products on social media and received a commission for sales.

As of right now, there are no further details about the relaunch. Until then, we’ll keep an eye out for BeautyCounter’s Instagram page.

Filed Under: Skincare Tagged With: Ulta Beauty

POPSUGAR Must Have Box August 2017

August 16, 2017 by Ashley 1 Comment

POPSUGAR gave me one of their Must Have boxes so I could tell you all about it. This is their August box and it was incredible!

It was full of things to make a girl happy. Isn’t that what subscription boxes are all about after all? With this box they were celebrating that they’ve been around for 5 years! Yay! I love POPSUGAR’s Must Have boxes and it’s hard to believe 5 years has gone by since they were first introduced!

Here is the rundown of what was in my box and scroll down below that to find out how much money I saved by getting them in the box as opposed to buying them individually. Oh, and you can save $10 on your first Must Have box with my link and discount code below.

-Fringe Cheers Lacquered Tray – FringeStudio.com
-Free Spirit Journal – FringeStudio.com
-Gift card – Shoptiques.com
-5 in 1 Bouncy Mask – FirstAidBeauty.com
-Gold Glitter Candles – ShopMeriMeri.com
-DOGEARED Friendship Bracelet – DOGEARED.com
-Goodie Girl Cookies in Chocolate Chunk – GoodieGirlCookie.com

This box has a retail value of $150! That’s a great value for what you spend ($39.99 a month) on a POPSUGAR Must Have box! They did a fabulous job with their 5-year anniversary box. Everything feels special and I feel like celebrating myself…maybe I’ll celebrate the first day back to school!

Want a box for yourself? You can find out all about the POPSUGAR Must Have Box here and when you use the discount code PARTY (expires 8/31/2017) you’ll save $10 off your FIRST Must Have Box!

Oh, I almost forgot! You can enter the JEEP giveaway here to win one of 1,500 POPSUGAR Must Have boxes or the grand prize of a new JEEP Compass!

Filed Under: Deals, Skincare Tagged With: Must Have Box, POPSUGAR

Be Your Own Beautiful + Walgreens Deal!

April 4, 2016 by Ashley 15 Comments

Post sponsored by Lunchbox. Opinions are 100% my own.

Some of my favorite brands are on sale at Walgreens during the month of April – Dove, Simple, and Vaseline. These are some of the brands that make me feel great, and they can help you feel beautiful from head to toe, too!

During the Be Your Own Beautiful event this April, you can stop at the beauty counter at your local Walgreens to test out select skin care products and pick up coupons. Plus, you can get 2,000 Balance Reward Points ($2 reward) when you purchase any 2 participating Dove Personal Wash, Dove Men+Care Personal Wash, Simple, or Vaseline products through 4/30.

Here are some of the coupons and samples to look for:

Samples of Dove Revitalize Body Wash
In-store testers of Simple Micellar Wipes and Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Lotion
Tear-pad coupons for $1.50 off 1 Dove, Vaseline, or Simple skin care products
$1 off 1 coupon for Dove, Dove Men+Care, Vaseline, or Simple skin care products (see your beauty advisor for coupon)

Some of the products highlighted in this event:

– Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash – “Provides softer, smoother skin after one shower”
I would have to agree with this as Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash is a product I have been using for several years. My dermatologist recommended it in college as a way to combat my dry skin while avoiding sensitivity issues. It is still my go-to body wash, 10 years later!
Benefits: Hypoallergenic, improved lather rinses cleanly and quickly, #1 dermatologist recommended
– Dove Men+Care Clean Comfort Body Wash – “Hydration for Healthier, Stronger Skin”
Benefits: Ultra-light formula rinses easily and cleanly. For best results, use with Dual Sided Shower Tool.
Dove Men+CARE Body Wash hydrates with Micromoisture for healthier, stronger skin and rinses off easily, leaving skin feeling comfortable and refreshed.
– Vaseline Advanced Repair Pump – “Clinically proven to moisturize to heal very dry skin in 5 days”
Benefits: Relieves even stubborn dry patches, appropriate for sensitive skin, absorbs fast for a non-greasy feel.
– Simple Micellar Water – “Our most advanced yet gentle cleanse”
Benefits: An effective yet gentle cleanser, instantly boosts skin hydration by 90%, removes makeup and unclogs pores, no rinse required.
– Simple Micellar Water Wipes – “For makeup free, instantly hydrated skin”
Benefits: Removes makeup and instantly hydrates, unclogs pores, gentle cleanse, no residue.
Contains micelles, smart cleansing bubbles which attract and gently lift impurities and makeup out.
– Vaseline Deep Moisture Jelly – “Instantly increases skin’s moisture by 250%”
Benefits: Infused with Vitamin E, keeps skin moisturized for 18 hours, suitable for people with eczema and sensitive skin. Great for especially dry areas like hands, elbows and heels.

Certified dermatologists Dr. Nussbaum and Dr. Luftman have provided some tips to keep your skin in tip top shape:

“Seriously, your skin care routine doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, sometimes simpler is better. All you need in the morning is a gentle cleanser and a moisturizing lotion with SPF (yep, even on cloudy days). Then, wash away the day with that same gentle cleanser and a moisturizer before bed. To round out your routine, add in facial wipes with micellar water for those in-between touch ups and a twice-weekly exfoliating cleanser. See? It really is that simple.”

For more tips from certified dermatologists Dr. Nussbaum and Dr. Luftman, visit: Walgreens.com/BeYourOwnBeautiful

Now who is ready for a giveaway???

I’m giving away a $50 Walgreens gift card! To enter, go to Walgreens.com/BeYourOwnBeautiful then come back here and comment what product you would like to try or what healthy skincare tip you found to be most important to your skin. Good luck! The giveaway ends June 1, 2016. See all the giveaway details here.

Offer Details: *at select stores, while supplies last. Valid 4/1-4/30/16.

Filed Under: Skincare Tagged With: Dove, Walgreens

Dove – True Beauty and a Deal

November 1, 2015 by Ashley Leave a Comment

Post sponsored by Lunchbox. Opinions are 100% my own.

Self-esteem is vital to a healthy life. When we believe we have worth, we treat ourselves better and others around us better. Dove wants to encourage this mindset through their Self-Esteem Project to help girls build self-esteem, reminding them they’re beautiful the way they are. You can help support Dove’s initiative by shopping your favorite Dove products at Rite Aid. (Plus, you’ll get savings!)

The Dove Self-Esteem project has reached 15 million young lives with its self-esteem education. We see girls in our society who want to revamp their looks. I encourage you to watch Dove’s video, “Change One Thing.” Spread it to help girls realize that they don’t need to change anything about themselves; they are beautiful the way they are. Your repost of this video helps girls and women realize their beauty.

Check out my cute little Tae Kwon Do cutie! 🙂 It’s one of my missions in life to teach her about real beauty. True beauty. Beauty that is deeper than skin. Beauty that no amount of make up will every form.

The deal I mentioned: buy $12 in Dove Products from 11/1-28/15 at Rite Aid and earn 400 Plenti Points*. Here are a few items to fill your basket. Dove Deep Moisture Body wash is dermatologist recommended and even provides softer, smoother skin after one shower. The Dove White Beauty Bar hydrates skin better than any other bar with its moisturizing cream making skin feel more firm and elastic compared to ordinary soap. Dove Intensive Care Shampoo and Condition has Keratin Repair Actives immediately repairs the hair surface ending hair damage. Dove Advanced Care Nourished Beauty Deodorant delivers 48-hour odor and wetness protection plus an elegant floral scent.

Offer: Buy $12 in participating Dove products at Rite Aid and earn 400 Plenti points*. Plenti point offer good from 11/1/15 through 11/28/15. *Plenti is a rewards program. Limit 4 offers per card. Terms and conditions apply, See Plenti.com for details. Offer good from 11/1/15 through 11/28/15.

Filed Under: Skincare, True Beauty Tagged With: Dove, Lunchbox

Positively Radiant with AVEENO

October 12, 2015 by Ashley Leave a Comment

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for AVEENO® POSITIVELY RADIANT®. I received product samples as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

All moms want to look beautiful, don’t they? Of course they do, they’re women! Women want to feel beautiful…positively radiant even. If you’d like to feel a bit better about your skin, check out AVEENO’s new Positively Radiant Collection.

AVEENO has always seemed like the cashmere of skin care products to me. I don’t know if it’s the sound of the word or just its association with quality, but I love using AVEENO. I can still remember the first oatmeal bath product I used from AVEENO as a child. I was so intrigued that it used natural ingredients even then. I mean, oatmeal for the bath? Being a kid, I thought that was great! Now, as an adult I’m learning about the benefits of soy in their products.

AVEENO is a brand that I use for myself and it’s the only lotion I allow near my kids. It is known for using active naturals ingredients, and I’ve recently been enjoying the new AVEENO Positively Radiant Collection, which is formulated to help even out skin tone and texture. The line is made to make dull skin brighter and “more radiant.” While I don’t like to consider my skin “dull,” I have to admit that it is. I’m attracted to anything that illuminates or brightens my skin. The make up removing wipes were refreshing and removed my make up in a breeze. I am addicted to these! The daily moisturizer has a smooth texture, a soft scent, and SPF 15!

The Total Soy Complex helps to visibly transform the 5 FACTORS OF RADIANCE® including:

– Tone
– Texture
– Dullness
– Blotchiness
– Brown Spots

The benefits of soy were initially discovered when workers who regularly handled soy in Asia’s soybean factories found that their hands were especially smooth and even toned. How neat is that? AVEENO scientists devised a way to process soybeans that retains the integrity of the proteins to provide immediate and long-term skin benefits.

Naturally, we all want to look good, and we can naturally. I really like AVEENO and their other lines for their natural elements. Some days I just don’t feel radiant, so it always helps to have an extra boost from AVEENO.

If you’d like to check out more about the line you can look at Aveeno’s website, and of course you can buy them through Target (one of my favorite places to shop!).

OR you can win the full AVEENO Positively Radiant Collection! AVEENO Positively Radiant AET

Filed Under: Skincare Tagged With: Aveeno, beauty, Influence Central, Skincare

Bella Mia Skin Care Spa in NC

September 27, 2015 by Ashley 48 Comments

S.P.A. Spa… SPA!!!!!!!! I went to a spa! I was given a couple free services at Bella Mia in exchange for my honest opinion. My time at Bella Mia was a lovely experience. Bella Mia is a quaint and elegant spa and salon located in Advance, North Carolina. The place was very clean, classy, and cozy. I loved every minute there! The service was fantastic, professional, top of the line. I can’t wait to go back.

I had a foot massage which was utterly fabulous. I’ve had a couple full body massages elsewhere and the short massages when you get a pedicure at the mall but this was all together different. It was amazing! A-maz-ing! I’ve already requested gift certificates for foot massages for every holiday from here on out.

I also had a facial, which was a completely new experience for me. It was relaxing and enjoyable but the best thing was how clean my face felt afterward. I kept feeling and looking in the mirror for the rest of the day. My face was so soft! The shoulder massage during the facial was an unexpected bonus.

I left feeling pampered and refreshed. I’m excited about planning another visit soon.

Bella Mia also sells make-up and skin care products. Beautiful make up products and judging from my facial, fabulous skin care products. If you want to make a complete day of pampering, they have a full salon! Which reminds me, I need to schedule a hair cut there soon. Bella Mia is the perfect place for a special day out!

If you live anywhere near Advance, NC and want a little “me” time, you definitely should book an apt. or two at Bella Mia. Visit BellaMiaSkinCareCenter.com for more info.

Filed Under: Body, Skincare Tagged With: Bella Mia, Spa

Aqua Beauty Giveaway & Coupon

July 10, 2015 by Ashley 11 Comments

Sponsored post by Lunchbox, all opinions are 100% my own.

When it comes to my beauty concerns, nothing is more important than finding products I can feel good about, use every day, and that leave my skin glowing! That is why I’m excited to share with you about a brand that is new to me, Aqua Beauty. It’s probably not new to many of you because it’s available at Walmart locations nationwide but I somehow managed to pass it by. Aqua Beauty has luxurious products without the hefty price tag.

Check out all of their great beauty care products:

– Skin Conditioning Cloth Facial Mask – Combats impurities with Vitamin B, marine & tea tree extracts. Their one time use packs are easy to use, create a fun spa experience at home, and left my skin feeling amazing!

– Hydrating Body Serum – Improves skin tone and texture with algae & marine extracts. This has a feature I’ve never seen on a body product before – it has a roller ball applicator!

– Sea Foaming 2 in 1 Soap and Sponge – Gently cleanses and massages skin with algae extract & sea salt. I’ve never seen a body sponge like this before and I just love it! The attached soap even massages you as you wash.

– Ocean Fresh Salt Scrub + Polishing Glove System – Dual exfoliation reveals younger looking skin with sea sale & marine extracts. I’ve never tried exfoliating gloves before and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to. I don’t think my skin has ever felt so smooth! …especially after I added the Hydrating Body Serum afterwards. Heavenly!
– Hydrating Cloth Facial Mask – Replenishes dull, dry skin with Vitamin E, aloe, & marine extracts. This is another one of their one time use masks and I found it to be wonderfully refreshing as well!

Right now by taking your very own Aqua Beauty product quiz you can get a $1 off coupon for Aqua Beauty at Walmart!

I took the quiz, which only took me about 5 seconds, and it gave me their recommended products to address my beauty concerns!

After you take the quiz you can scroll up, click the + sign near any of the products, and click “Save $1” to print your money saving coupon.

YOU CAN WIN AN AQUA BEAUTY SPA KIT!

One lucky winner will win an Aqua Beauty at-home spa kit featuring all of the products I have mentioned today!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Body, Deals, Skincare Tagged With: Aqua Beauty, Body, Coupons, Lunchbox, Skincare, Walmart

My #BeautyStory and Beauty Inspiration

May 6, 2015 by Ashley 6 Comments

This is a sponsored conversation on behalf of Dove and The Motherhood.

Mom knows best, right? I think that’s true most of the time and when it comes to beauty I definitely think that’s true – in my case it is! My mother was, and still is, a beauty. Here are a few of the beauty tips that I learned from her, that she probably learned from her mom.

– Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. A good moisturizer is a woman’s best friend.
– My mom taught me that my neck and clavicle have the same skin as my face so I should moisturize it just as often and with the same product.
– My mom taught me to wash my face with Dove every night before bed. I was eager to try fancy scrubs and masks but she said a simple gentle cleanser is all I needed.
– Use baby oil as an eye-makeup remover. It’s cheap, gentle, and works great.
– “Never leave the house without lipstick” is something my grandmother ingrained in me from a young age. At times I might opt for lipgloss instead but there’s always something colorful on my lips. Like mother, like daughter. From a young age, I remember admiring my mother’s skill for applying lipstick without a mirror.
– Drink water all day long. It’s good for your body and your complexion.
– “Don’t touch your face.” My mom used to give me a hard time about how much I touched my face and how it would give me breakouts. I’m still working on this one!
– Use conditioner on the ends of your hair every time you wash it.
– “If you’ve got a good complexion make up will just be icing on the cake.” My mom had me using good skin care products since before I was 18.
– Age gracefully. My mom still doesn’t have grey hair but when she does I know she’ll embrace it with gusto.
– She always encouraged me to learn what colors and styles looked good on me and ignore the fads.
– Last but not least, my mom taught me to smile. She told me that a smile always makes you appear prettier. I try to remember this every day but especially on days when I’m not as put together as I’d like to be you can bet that I’ll be smiling.

A Dove survey finds that most women (84% in fact) trust the women in their lives more than celebrities for beauty tips and advice. From all the advice I learned and still incorporate from my mom and grandmother, I’d believe that to be true!

What tried-and-true beauty advice was passed onto you from the women in your life? Share your own #BeautyStory to celebrate the real women who have shaped it and take a look at this video from Dove for even more inspiration.

Filed Under: Makeup, Skincare, Tips, True Beauty Tagged With: beauty, Dove, The Motherhood, Tips, True Beauty

Ulta Beauty 21 Days of Beauty Steals 2014

September 12, 2014 by Ashley 16 Comments

It’s that time of year again! It’s time for the bi-annual Ulta Beauty 21 Days of Beauty Steals! It’s back and you can score some killer deals on the hottest beauty products! The sale started on Sunday and every day they will feature deals in store and online. Each deal and event will last for one day only, so plan ahead and check back often.

You can take a look at the full calendar on Ulta Beauty’s website. I’ll be shopping this sale online since I’m sure the stores will sell out of the items fast. Get your wallets ready, this is going to be good! Here are my favorites from the sale:

Week 1

Friday 9/12 – Smashbox 24-Hour Shadow Primer $10 (reg. $20, Ulta.com) – I love Shashbox primers. They are worth every penny and at 50% off, it’s a huge steal!

Saturday 9/13 – butter LONDON 2 for $15 (reg $15, Ulta.com) – This is great one, guys. I’m a big fan of butter London and this is a phenomenal price. Shop early for the best selection!

Week 2

Sunday 9/14 – Tarte Lights Camera Lashes! Mascara $10 (reg $20, Ulta.com) – This is a great one!! If you don’t buy anything else, buy this! You won’t be sorry. I have a review of this product in the works right now. : ) It’s good, trust me!

Monday 9/15 – LORAC Front of the Line Pro Liner 50% off (reg $23, Ulta.com) – This is a lovely liquid eyeliner with a felt tip. If you’re a fan of liquid eyeliners or if you’ve wanted to give them a try now is the time!

Wednesday 9/17 – Clarisonic BOGO Brush Heads BOGO (reg $27, Ulta.com) – I’ve been putting off buying a new Clarisonic brush head and I’m so glad I did. I’ll be stocking up on Wednesday!

Thursday 9/18 – Too Faced Shadow Insurance 50% off (reg $20, Ulta.com) – I’ve wanted to try this for a while so I might take advantage of the 50% off sale and give it a try. It’s Too Faced, how could I go wrong?

Week 3

Friday 9/19 – Urban Decay Naked Beauty Balm (reg $34, Ulta.com) – I’m all about BB creams lately instead of pure foundations. I think I might have to try this!

Wednesday 9/24 – Anastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Brow Gel 50% off (reg $22, Ulta.com) – When it comes to brow products, Anastasia is tops. I highly recommend all of their gels, powders, etc. etc.

Thursday 9/25 – Stila One Step Correct Primer $20 (reg $36, Ulta.com) – This is a fabulous primer that calms your skin if you’re prone to redness and irritation.

Friday 9/26 – IT Cosmetics No-Tug Waterproof Gel Eyeliner $10 (reg $22, Ulta.com) – I absolutely adore IT Cosmetics’ make up and brushes but I’ve never tried their eyeliners. For $10, why not, right?

Check out ALL of the great deals on Ulta.com! Happy shopping!

What deal are you most looking forward to?

Filed Under: Deals, Makeup, Nails, Skincare

Back to School Skin Care with Healthy Essentials

September 9, 2014 by Ashley Leave a Comment

This post is part of the HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® 2014 program by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. and The Motherhood, who sent me a box of products and compensated me for my time. Opinions, experiences and photos shared here are all my own, and I hope you enjoy them.

Back to school is a great time to reevaluate your schedules, priorities, habits,….and skin care routine. Back to skin care! A good skin care regimen determines how your face glows or doesn’t glow, how your make up lays, and more importantly how you feel in your skin.

Welcome to Skin Care 101! I’ll help you get your skin back in shape just in time for fall.

– Let’s start with the basics, moisturizing your hands. Anyone can get botox but your hands will always show your age if you don’t moisturize well. Keep a pump bottle of lotion near all of your sinks as a visual reminder to moisturize every time you wash your hands.
– Wash your pillowcases at least once a week. All of that oil, dirt, make up, and drool that is on your pillow ends up back on your face.
– Wash your make up brushes at least weekly. Daily is even better.

– Use a killer night cream. I’ve recently given RoC Deep Wrinkle Cream a try and I’m in love. It’s very light weight but leaves my skin feeling very moisturized.

– Beauty rest may sound like something out of a fairy-tale but it’s far from it. Getting 6-8 hours of sleep a night will help keep your skin looking clear and refreshed.
– Even if you don’t shower immediately after a workout it’s important to wash the dirt, sweat, and oil from your pores. Try Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash with Pink Grapefruit. It’s refreshing, especially in the morning or after a workout!
– Gently exfoliate. Aveeno’s Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Scrub is effective but gentle enough to use every day.
– When you get a spot or two of acne, keep calm and use Clean & Clear to well, clean and clear your skin.

If you want to check out some of the items I mentioned above click here for $40 in coupons to save on them! Give them a try and I bet you’ll like them as well as I do.

Class dismissed!