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.

For the last five years, my kids have been top priority and my looks have gone to the back burner. I admit that I haven’t done much with my hair or clothing except on special occasions. It just didn’t seem possible to achieve the style I wanted while focusing on being a mom and I always resorted to a pony tail or a braid if I wanted to get really fancy. But what if it was actually pretty simple to get all dolled up and look cute quickly all while staying within your budget?  It’s possible!  I’m living proof.  Whether your style is bouncy curls, smooth straight strands, or you simply need to add some more shine, you can find all the products you need at Walgreens.com/GetYourStyleFix. And make sure to check out the sale we have shared with you below for some April savings on these products!

Here are some directions for a textured look that is really quite simple to achieve! It is perfect for my morning routine as the kids are waking up, and a bonus that I don’t have to have a hot hair tool out as they run around.

Texture:
1. Cleanse & Condition with TRESemmé® Moisture Rich Shampoo and Conditioner.
2. Prep hair for styling by applying Nexxus® Diametress Lavish Body Gel Spray to towel-dried hair.
3. Style hair by making a few loose braids and letting it air dry. Then, remove braids and tousle hair with your hands.
4. Finish the look with Nexxus® Comb Thru Touchable Hold Finishing Mist.
Tip: Revive your look with Dove Refresh+Care Invigorating Dry Shampoo. (I’m loving this stuff!)

And guess what?! There’s a great sale going on at Walgreens from 4/3/2016 – 4/30/2016. You will get 2,000 points when you buy any THREE (3) of participating TRESemme, Dove, Nexxus or Suave products with card.*

Looking for volume? Walgreens has put together a short video with steps on how to achieve a voluminous look. This is next on my list of styles to try!

*Offer good 4/3/2016 – 4/30/2016. Excludes trial size. Due to state and federal laws, points cannot be earned or redeemed on some items, and points will not be earned in a transaction where store credit or redemption dollars are used. See full terms and details at Walgreens.com/Balance.

A while back I read something about saving a smile for your kids.  The article talked about the importance of smiling at your kids even on days when you don’t feel like it.  Even though I can’t remember where I read that the message has stuck with me and I’ve tried to intentionally smile more.  Do you know what I’ve learned since trying to smile more?  It truly improves my mood.  When I smile more my kids smile more and life is just better.  Give it a try it sometime; it’s remarkable.

Charles Gordy once said, “A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks.”  I love that.  A person does tend to be better looking when they smile, don’t they?

Smiling leads to a decrease in the stress-induced hormones that negatively affect your physical and mental health.  Here are two great examples:

• – In the famous yearbook study, where they tracked the lives of women for 30 years who had the best smiles in yearbook photos compared to the rest. The women who smiled the most lived happier lives, happier marriages and had fewer setbacks.
• –The baseball card study found a clear correlation between how big a smile someone made on a baseball card photo and how long they would live. The people with the biggest smiles turned out to live 7 years longer than those who didn’t.

Smiling not only improves your mood, your looks, but also your life!  We should all actively try to smile several times a day now, right?  I think so!  If you lack a confident smile, cheer up because I have a few tips to help you improve your smile.

Tips to Improve your Smile

– Practice Smiling

Can you think of someone you know that smiles a lot?  They have a comfortable smile.  People who smile often can break out into a toothy grin effortlessly.  Everyone feels at ease around them.  Having a comfortable smile of your own will take a little practice but it will be worth it!

Practice smiling in the mirror.  Do you like your smile best with your mouth open or closed?  Practice smiling with your eyes.  After you’ve done this for a while purposefully make eye contact with strangers and smile.  Not everyone will smile back but chances are you’ll help brighten their day anyway!

– Brush, Floss, Rinse

Make sure your smile is the best that it can be by brushing with Colgate Enamel Health.  It will leave your teeth sparkling white and your enamel protected.  Flossing will help keep your teeth and gums healthy but will also reduce bad breath.  Rinse with mouthwash for a clean feeling mouth and fresh breath.  Good oral hygiene is essential for a confident smile.

Thanks to Walgreens’ Saturdate last month I was able to picked up a great deal on Colgate Enamel Health.  Be sure to check your local Walgreens for all the supplies you need to have a winning smile.

This holiday season, make a conscious effort to make eye contact and give genuine smiles at other people whenever possible. Smile at your kids—smile at your co-workers—smile with confidence at every opportunity!

I’m a big fan of Walgreens.  It’s my go-to store for cosmetics, hair products, and photo developing.  It’s right down the road from my house and it’s so nice to get in and get out when I’m running errands.  Not to mention that their weekly coupon deals combined with their Balance Rewards card program saves me BIG money on the things I use most!

I’ve written about a few Walgreens’ special Saturdate events and I’m here to tell you about another one – one that’s happening tomorrow!

It’s short notice, I know, but if you can manage to hop in your nearest Walgreens you could get a complimentary sample of Colgate Enamel Health Toothpaste.  There will be helpful Walgreens employees on hand to help educate shoppers about this new toothpaste and to answer any questions you may have about it.  Our Walgreens’ staff is always so friendly and eager to help.  You can learn more details about this Walgreens’ Saturdate here.

I think that a person’s smile can be one of their best traits.  Taking care of that smile is important.  Drinking coffee, soda, and acidic drinks can not only terribly stain teeth but it can also wear away at tooth’s enamel.  Colgate has been my go-to toothpaste for quite some time now and Colgate Enamel Health is my new favorite Colgate toothpaste.  Head over to Walgreens tomorrow to pick up your sample!  Even if you can’t make it there tomorrow you should try and swing by there some time.  It’s good stuff.

Are you going to the Saturdate tomorrow?

Update: I went with my grandma and picked up a sample for each of us.  They were having a killer sale and coupon combo.

If you went to your local Saturdate event and took a picture share a link to it in the comments or share it on social media with the hashtag #EmbracingBeauty and #ColgateEnamelHealth.

This summer Degree Men and Walgreens are celebrating and cheering on U.S. Soccer! As the Official Deodorant of U.S. Soccer, Degree wants to reward fans who Do:More with a great offer. Head in to Walgreens 6/29–7/5 and get 1,000 Balance Rewards points when you buy 2 Degree Men Deodorant products. So move more, cheer more and Do: More this summer with Degree!

Degree is also the Official Deodorant of U.S. Soccer. Cheer on Clint Dempsey and the U.S. Men’s National Team with Degree as they play in Brazil this summer!

No matter if your man is playing soccer with the guys, mowing the lawn, or chasing the kids around the yard Degree is there for him.  Degree’s long lasting protection just got better with their  new and improved MOTIONSENSE that has been developed to respond to your body to keep you feeling cool and confident for up to 48 hours!

Win a $100 Walgreens Gift Card!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are you feeling less than beautiful this season?  Do you need a few makeup tips to perk up your demeanor?  With the dropping temperatures it’s common to have a dull complexion, frizzy hair, and blotchy skin.  I’m here to share my favorite 10 tips {and products} to help you banish your winter beauty blues.  Are you ready?  Let’s get started!

1.)  Choose a new foundation.  As the seasons change so should your makeup…and I’m not just talking about colors.  As the cold weather approaches it’s important to choose a foundation that leaves your skin feeling dewier than the one you previously used in the warmer months.  I recommend skipping powder all together.  If you’re skin has a tendancy to shine here and there try CoverGirl’s mattifier.  It will tame the shine without settling in your wrinkles or drying out your skin.  This is one of my new favorite drugstore buys!  Products to try: Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse Makeup and CoverGirl TruMagic Mattifier.

2.)  Swap out your shampoo.  Most shampoos contain sulfates, which do a great job at cleaning hair so much so that they can also strip away important oils.  Using these shampoos will leave your scalp feeling itchy, flaky, and dry during the colder months.  Look for sulfate-free shampoos and moisturizing conditioners to keep your locks looking lovely.  Products to try:  Yes to Cucumbers, TRESemme, and Organix shampoos and conditioners.

3.)  Paint your nails.  A new shade of nail polish can brighten anyone’s spirits.  You could go with a natural or a bold polish, the choice is yours.  When removing polish use an acetone-free nail polish remover to help nails maintain their moisture.  {Check out my natural secret to beautiful nails.}  Products to check out: Sally Hansen Salon Manicure, Revlon, or Maybelline.

4.)  Ban the hot water.  Okay, if you’re like me and just can’t give up your long, hot baths, try substituting your regular bubble bath with a few drops of  bath oil.  You can also swap your old bar of soap for a moisturizing bar or body wash.  When you get out of the shower don’t try off completely and apply body cream all over.  Body creams are better than lotions.  The thicker and richer the product the more moisture it gives your skin.  Products to try: Olay moisturizing beauty bar or body wash and Gold Bond Soothing cream.

5.)  Cleanse gently.  Washing your face with a product that over dries it will cause your face to produce more oil, lots of it, leaving you with shine and if you’re like me, acne.  If you can stand creamy facial cleansers that don’t require rinsing those would be great to use during the winter.  {I personally can’t use them because it seems so wrong to have a creamy cleanser.  It just weirds me out.  I know that’s stupid but I can’t get past it.}  Instead, I opt for facial cleansing cloths that remove makeup and grime without rinsing.  Products to try: Aveeno Ultra Calming Makeup Removing Wipes, Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes, or Oil of Olay Facial Cleansing Cloths.

6.)  Moisturize your lips.  The winter temps and wind can quickly chap and crack your lips.  Protect your lips with a nourishing lip balm, not the waxy ones, or enjoy a creamy layer of Vaseline Lip Therapy like I do.  {I know it doesn’t treat or moisturize my lips but it seals in moisture and well, I just like it.}  {Check out 15 Beauty Uses for Vaseline}  I also alternate between Vaseline Lip Therapy, Burt’s Bees colored lip products and Carmex.  I love all three brands so much that it’s hard to chose just one.  I keep one, at least one, in every diaper bag, purse, and if I’m honest…in just about every room of our house.  I hate to be without my lip products in winter!  Nobody likes dry lips, nobody.  Products to try: Vaseline Lip Therapy, Carmex, or Burt’s Bees lip products.

7.)  Hydrate while you sleep.  Indoor heat dries out the air in every home so grab a humidifier {or two} to help combat itchy, dry skin.  Products to try: Crane humidifier.

8.) Drink more water.  It’s no secret that water is good for you but many of us don’t drink the recommended 8 glasses a day.  Thinking about why I’m drinking water it a good motivation for me to continue to drink.  It helps flush out things that shouldn’t be there, keeps your body hydrated, and drinking water also helps improve the appearance of your skin.  Win-win!

9.)  Use a primer.  A primer will help protect your face and keep those blotchy spots at bay.  It also prevents a cakey look that can happen when makeup is applied over dry skin.  A good primer will help your makeup go on evenly and last all day.  Don’t forget to quickly swipe on a coat or two of your favorite mascara to make your eyes pop.  Products to try: L’Oreal Paris Anti-Redness Skin Primer, CoverGirl Bombshell Volume.

10.)  Sleep!  This advice isn’t specific to winter but it’s a good thing to be reminded of all year long.  Wanna know a little secret?  Beauty sleep is a real thing.  It’s true!  Our bodies repair themselves while we’re sleeping so not only is our mood improved with a good night’s sleep but so is our skin.

Because I love affordable beauty products all of the items I suggested above can be found at your local drug store.  The items I pictured above were purchased at my local Walgreens which has a great makeup aisle and incredibly friendly makeup department workers.  {They always have extra beauty coupons on hand, I love these ladies!}  Here’s a picture of my husband making a silly face while shopping with me in the Walgreens beauty department.

What changes do you make to your beauty routine during the winter months?  Also, what are your favorite winter beauty buys?  I’d love to know!

I have what some would call an obsession.  I’m a nail polish fanatic.  Hoarder even.  I’m too embarrassed to show you just how many nail polish bottles I actually own.  I love experimenting with nail designs and adding a fun splash of color to my nails to accentuate my outfit.

I’ve been eager to try a new design so I set a date, invited friends, and went shopping at Walgreens.  They have the biggest selection of Sally Hansen products that I’ve ever seen!  I was impressed.  I tried to think of what colors I had at home and which ones would be good to buy to match those.  I decided to let my daughter pick out which ones she wanted and I would make it work.  She loved picking them out and holding a few as we went through the store.  You can check out my entire Walgreens shopping trip to see all of the great varieties of Sally Hansen nail polish…and more pictures of my little girl!

My little basket was full to the brim with everything I needed to host an excellent manicure party, that is, except for nail design tape.  I knew I could order some online but I wanted it quicker than that.  I searched up and down the isles but I couldn’t find what I was looking for.  I wanted to do color block nail art and to do it neatly I wanted tape.  Scotch tape works but I wanted the good stuff.  I asked a Walgreens associate if she knew if where I could find some.  She immediately stopped what she was doing and joined me in my search.  We could both picture it but we couldn’t find it.  She found some thin craft tape that we thought might fit the bill.  I’m happy to report that it worked wonderfully.  If you’re store is ever out of nail design tape (or you just can’t find it) check the craft isle!

When I got to the check out the cashier told me about two $5 coupons I could have used on my purchase if I had only gone to Coupons.com.  Being a teacher of couponing I felt like smacking myself on my head.  Even though I missed out on the coupons, I did get the 2/$5 deal w/ 1,000 points added to my Walgreens Balance Rewards Card (3/31-4/27).

If you have a smart phone, I recommend downloading their app to your phone.  They have several different handy services they offer including bar-code scanner, coupons, and you can keep track of your Balance Rewards right on your phone.  I really racked up on the reward points during this trip!

I had simple snacks for our “block party” so that we could eat while painting our nails.  Yep, you can tell I’m experienced at this!!  We had gummy bears, popcorn, and a few other little goodies.

The nail designs were so much fun to experiment with.  I wanted to get brave enough to do a complicated design like a stained glass window or a bunch of bricks each with a different color.  I decided to mix it up a little and do puzzle piece nail art.  Not too complicated but still kind of classy.

This simple stripe design was made using our craft tape.  It held strong enough not to let the paint bleed through but not strong enough to pull off the original color.

Here is a diagonal stripe with the most amazing sparkle polish over top!  Trust me, this photo doesn’t begin to show it’s beauty.

Here are a few simple steps that I think make for a great at home manicure:

1. Trim, file, buff, & push back cuticles.  Buffing might seem like a waste of time but it will help your nail polish last longer!
2. Apply a base coat.
3. Apply your base color of choice.  I recommend starting with your lightest shade.
4. Allow to fully dry.  This could take a while so I usually add a quick drying top coat here so I can get to designing my nails (the fun stuff) right away.
5. Apply tape and paint the remaining areas.
6. If you’re doing the puzzle design that I did, take a dotting tool (or a toothpick) and dip it into the polish and then onto your nail on the  opposite color.  Repeat with each square.
7. Apply a top coat.
8. Take a picture and post it on Instagram with the tag #EmbracingBeauty so I can see it.  (Really, I want to see!)

I had a great time and I hope you enjoyed reading about my latest nail art adventure.

If you end up catching the “color block bug” feel free to share your art with Sally Hansen on Facebook for a chance to win some great prizes.  Check out the Pinterest Party Walgreens and Sally Hansen are hosting where you could win a year’s supply of Sally Hansen!  You can always purchase Sally Hansen in Walgreens stores but did you know that you can also get it online?  It’s true, you can!  You can also connect with Sally Hansen on Twitter and Walgreens on Twitter.

*UPDATE! I have posted a step by step Puzzle Nail Art Tutorial here for those interested!*

What’s a nail design you would like to try?

*Disclaimer – I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias®  and COTY #cbias #SocialFabric.

Here are the best Walgreens deals for the week of February 17-23, 2013. 
Always 20 pk. Liners – $0.99
$1/1 Always Feminine Care Product, exp. 2/28/13 (P&G 01/27/13 R)
FREE after coupon!

Ricola Bags – $1.29
$1/2 Ricola Bags, exp. 3/6/13 (SS 01/06/13 #2)
$0.79 ea. wyb 2 after coupon!

Campbell’s Condensed Tomato or Chicken Noodle Soup-$0.79 with In Ad Coupon
$1/5 Campbell’s Condensed Soups printable
$1/10 Campbell’s Condensed Chicken Noodle or Tomato Soup, exp. 3/15/13 (SS 01/13/13 R)
As low as $0.59 ea. wyb 5 after coupon!

Carmex Lip Balm – $0.99
$0.55/1 Carmex Lip Product, exp. 2/28/13 (SS 12/02/12 R)
$1/2 Carmex Lip Conditioner or Lip Product, exp. 2/28/13 (SS 12/02/12)
As low as $0.44 after coupon!

Velveeta Shells & Cheese Dinner-2/$4
$1/2 Velveeta Shells & Cheese Dinner printable
$1/2 Kraft Mac & Cheese Deluxe or Homestyle or Velveeta Shells & Cheese or Skillet Cheeseburger Mac (Walgreens, Feb)
$1 ea. wyb 2 after coupons!

Velveeta Cheesy Skillets-2/$4
$1/2 Velveeta Cheesy Skillets or Casserole Dinner Kits printable
$1/2 Kraft Mac & Cheese Deluxe or Homestyle or Velveeta Shells & Cheese or Skillet Cheeseburger Mac (Walgreens, Feb)
$1 ea. wyb 2 after coupons!

Arrid or Arm & Hammer Deodorant-$0.99 with In Ad Coupon
$0.99 after coupon!

Thanks, Passion for Savings for helping with these match-ups!

Here are the best Walgreens deals for the week of February 10-16, 2013. 

Walgreens has Aquafresh Fresh & Fruity Kids Toothpaste on sale for $1.50. Plus, when you use the $1/1 Aquafresh printable coupon you can get them for just $0.50 each!

Thanks, Moms By Heart!