Uncategorized Archives - Page 13 of 23

The Suggestions are In and Now the Work Begins (Blog Renaming)

August 4, 2014 Katie Marie Leave a Comment

Before I get into today’s post, let me first start off by saying how amazing you all are! On my “I’m Renaming the Blog! (Details Below)” post, the suggestions and recommendations were just pouring in the whole week! I received over 100 comments — thank you all so much for sharing your suggestions with me! They were so creative and gave me lots of ideas that I would never have thought of on my own.

A peak at my notepad filled with your suggestions!

Since there were SO many awesome suggestions, it’s going to take me a little while to think through them all and decide. But over the next few days I’ll start making changing on the blog! The first one being, of course, changing the url and name. It’ll probably take me a few days to get everything ironed out and looking well. During the process, though, I would love to hear what you all are thinking of the changes!

If you check out my blog and see some of the new changes over the next few days, feel free to leave me a comment on this post below, telling me what you think of it.

Whenever I am completely done with the facelift of my blog, I’ll be back with another post explaining all the changes — and also give you a sneak peak on what kind of posts to expect from me in the future. 😀

I’m so excited about this, you guys! Thank you all so much for your support! 😀

One Direction Is Coming Out with Their Own Makeup Line (Giveaway)

July 30, 2014 Katie Marie Leave a Comment

Do I have any One Direction fans on here??

Well, then get excited!

The Big News:

One Direction has teamed up with Markwins (who’s brands includes some lines that I love — such as Wet n Wild and Physicians Formula!) to come out with their own limited edition prestige makeup line!

This new range of makeup and cosmetic products celebrates youth, style, and
the uninhibited lifestyle of a new generation. Celebrating life with
bold shades, unique formulae and infused with limited edition
collectable packaging, Makeup from One Direction is fun, bold, often
irreverent, with a touch of cheeky mischievousness.

The best part? They’re going to be offered at prices
that every girl and woman can afford.

More About the Brand:

The irreverent attitude and colorful style of a new generation takes on a
glamorous form in Makeup by One Direction. The world’s biggest pop band
debuts a limited-edition cosmetics collection by Markwins
International, launching mid-August 2014 at Macy’s and select other
major retailers worldwide.

Much like the One Direction band members themselves, this prestige
makeup line is fun, bold and a tad mischievous, featuring vivid shades,
premium formulas and chic, collectible packaging and components.

About The Looks Collection:

“The Looks Collection” comprises three keepsake tins inspired by One
Direction’s globe-conquering albums, “Up All Night, “Take Me Home” and
the latest chart topper, ‘Midnight Memories.” Each tin comes complete
with everything you need to show off your personality. Are you a rock n’
roll girl, a fun party girl or the girl next door? We have just the
right collection for you and illustrations to help show you just how to
get your perfect look. All your beauty essentials are housed in a
LIMITED EDITION collectable keepsake tin with removable sleeve, complete
with ONE DIRECTION doodle stencils to decorate your keepsake tin and
make it uniquely your own!

Details on the 3 Looks Collection tins: http://bit.ly/1DMakeupLooksCollection

US Release Dates:

Macy’s – August 11th
Stage Stores – August 25th
Dillards – August 25th
Beauty Brands – August 25th
Lord and Taylor – August 25th

Follow them on Facebook to stay up to date on more release dates: http://www.facebook.com/MakeupbyOneDirection

The Giveaway:

I am really, really excited to be able to share this giveaway with you all, my awesome followers! The rules are simple, so just follow them below and I hope you win! 🙂

If for any reason, the giveaway form isn’t showing up in this post, you can go here to enter the giveaway.

More Exciting News:

I just received one of The Look Collections in the mail, and am so excited to start testing them out! So be on the lookout for my review of all of the products in the coming weeks!

I
received one or more of the products mentioned above for free from Markwins, sponsored through BrandBacker. Regardless, I only recommend
products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my
readers.

I’m Renaming the Blog! (Details Below :-)

July 28, 2014 Katie Marie 132 Comments

I feel like I haven’t posted in forever! But, while I haven’t been posting, I have been working behind the scenes! I’ve got some exciting posts planned for this blog, but first — as you already know from the title of this post — I have some big news to share.

I will be renaming — or rebranding — this blog! 🙂

I’m sure you are full of questions, so I will try my best to answer them thoroughly in this post. But if I have missed a question, please leave it in the comments below and I’ll answer it. 🙂

Why Am I Renaming the Blog?

There are several reasons for this. The biggest one, though, is that the niche for my blog has changed drastically in the past year. When I decided on the name Legacy of a Writer, I was exclusively devoted to reviewing books. About a year ago, however, my schedule started to prohibit my ability to read often. So I started blogging about other stuff — other products, games, makeup, and skincare. As I went through Cosmetology school, I really grew a passion and enthusiasm for makeup.

With my love for beauty and a desire to bring you guys more reviews and tutorials on makeup, I feel my blog title isn’t really accurate anymore. I don’t want to confuse my readers or the companies I work with by saying I blog about beauty and my title suggests reading.

Another big reason for changing my blog — and more specifically my URL — is because I recently got married and no longer have my maiden name. I am not really sure what I was thinking when I picked my maiden name as my blog URL — *palms forehead* — ah well, who knows! But since I am going to be changing my blog name, I thought it was a good time to change the URL as well. 🙂

Does that make sense? If you’ve become a recent beauty follower, let me know if you had similar thoughts when you subscribed to my blog. Did it confuse you? Make you wonder?

Will the Changes Effect My Followers?

No. I’ve been doing a lot of research and reading up on this (one of the reasons I’ve been absent for so long), and I believe I can change it without it effecting you at all. 🙂

Of course, I will have a new website URL, so you would need to update any bookmarks you have set up…or just remember the new URL. 🙂 But if you’re a follower of my blog, you should still remain a follower of this blog and get the email subscriptions (if you are signed up for that).

What Will the New Blog Name Be?

That is where you come in — my awesome followers! 🙂

I have a couple ideas in my head for a blog name, but none that stand out from the rest. So I want to make you all a part of this transition! Give me some ideas for a blog name. Tell me what you think my blog name should be!

My blog objective will be to bring you reviews, tutorials, and hauls of skincare, makeup, and other products. These will be things that I would personally use in my own skincare or makeup routine — so, reviews to you that are from my ‘vanity’ or ‘beauty room’, so to speak. 🙂

So please leave your comments! If you have just one suggestion for my blog name, or if you have a hundred suggestions, leave them below! 🙂

There’s a Giveaway Going On?

Yep! I thought this would be a fun way to celebrate my announcement! As usual, all you have to do is enter in the Rafflecopter form below. But don’t wait — this giveaway ends in one week! Rules for this giveaway are at the bottom of the form — in short, though, USA only, must be a follower, and must be 18 years or older. 🙂 The giveaway form will close on Sunday, August 3rd, at midnight.

What’s the prize? Well, it’s an assortment of makeup! They are all full size products (except for the fragrance) that are brand new. I originally swatched the NYX eyeshadow palette, but it’s in perfect condition and has been disinfected, so all good!

I’ve listed all the products in the form below, but the total value of this makeup bundle comes to around $70! (I don’t know the exact price, because two products are not sold in the US.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for all your love and support! I’m really excited to be rebranding my blog and renaming it. I can’t wait to share my passion with you all! 🙂 Thanks for being such an awesome group of followers! I love reading your comments!

A Little Announcement

July 7, 2014 Katie Marie 3 Comments

Right now I have a little “lull” in my product reviews and giveaways, so I am going to take this time (shouldn’t be more than a week) to do some much-needed cleaning, re-organizing, and re-vamping of my blog.

I’m not sure what all this will entail, but I really want to organize things and continue from here with a clean and well-functioning blog. 🙂

If you have any advice for me — any ideas or blog posts you would like to see in the future — fashion tips, makeup tutorials, monthly favorites, etc — PLEASE share them with me in the comments below! I want to write posts that are helpful and useful for you!

I hope you guys will like how things progress when I come back. 🙂

Stay tuned!

A CC Cream that has AMAZING Coverage! (Beauty Review)

July 2, 2014 Katie Marie 4 Comments

Disclosure: I received this product for reviewing purposes.

About It Cosmetics’ “Your Skin But Better” CC Cream with SPF 50+…

Retail Price – $38

It’s
your full coverage foundation, brightening color, anti-aging serum,
pore minimizing primer, dark spot corrector, moisturizing day cream,
plus UVA/UVB broad spectrum physical only SPF 50+ all in one easy step!
Infused with cutting edge anti-aging technology and is clinically proven
to improve skin texture, brightness and increase skin hydration by
179%. Formulated with plastic surgeons to merge high-performance
skincare with the benefits of color-correcting makeup. Plus, it delivers
luminous and healthy looking skin with powerful anti-aging repair
benefits for perfect coverage. Your supple and flawless skin but better!

• Anti-Aging Hydrating Serum ( 50+ Hydrating Anti-Aging Peptides,
Essential Lipid-Rich Oils, Vitamins, Extracts & Soothing Botanicals)
• SPF 50+ UVA/UVB Physical Only Broad Spectrum Sunscreen

My Review…

First Impressions & Packaging…
Looking at It Cosmetics’ CC Cream on the website, I didn’t realize how much product actually comes in this tube. There’s just a little under 2 ounces of product — almost double how much product typically comes in foundation bottles. I love that this tube has a pump on it! It ensures that no bacteria can get in and contaminate the rest of the product. And, all around, it just makes it easier and cleaner to dispense the product onto my hand or brush.

Product & Application…
The product itself has a very thick and creamy consistency. I’ve handled a few CC creams from the drugstore before, and I know none of them had the thickness and opaqueness of this product! And it’s not just opaque in appearance — It Cosmetic’s CC Cream has amazing coverage! I was very, very surprised by how well this covers my acne and redness. Even more than some of my drugstore foundations ever have! Which is awesome, considering that this is better for your skin than typical foundation. It’s a total win-win! 🙂

Application is awesome! I’ve applied it with a brush, sponge, and my fingerss — and with each method it blends almost flawlessly into my skin. I personally tend to prefer using my fingers, as I feel the warmth from my hands really helps it melt into my skin. When the CC Cream sets, it has a very dewy finish. It’s not straight-up shiny, but it does give the skin a very healthy glow. I typically set this with a light powder on top, to cut away some of the shine. But, in recent days (with my move to dryer climates), I haven’t been using the powder as much and have really been appreciating the glow and moisturize it gives my skin.

As far as how long this CC Cream lasts once on your face, I’ve put it to the test both with and without primer. And both times it has held up very, very well. With primer, it stays more fresh-looking for longer, but even without primer it will last the majority of the day. For example, I put it on in the morning (without primer) and it will look great all day, though I will usually touch up a few acne-areas right before my husband comes home. Just to ensure everything stays covered.

Major Likes & Dislikes…
There are a LOT of things I like about It Cosmetics’ CC Cream! I think I’ve already touched on them all above — consistency, blend-ability, longevity. While the price may seem rather expensive at $38, it’s actually not a horrible price considering that it has double the product of most drugstore foundations (which can range between $10-$15). And this is definitely a very high-quality product, so you are definitely getting your money’s worth out of this! As for dislikes…there is nothing I can think of! I’ve been using it for about 3 or 4 months, and haven’t come across any cons. Which is pretty awesome!

Final Thoughts…
If you haven’t been able to tell yet…I totally love this product! For being just a CC cream, this has amazing coverage! Depending on how bad my acne is flaring up, sometimes I doesn’t even have to both with concealer. That’s pretty awesome, in my eyes! 🙂 All around, I highly recommend you try out It Cosmetics’ “Your Skin But Better” CC Cream! Once it sets, it doesn’t even feel like you are wearing anything on your skin. Whatever It Cosmetics’ did to this product…they did it right and have a BIG fan (me!). 🙂

I was sent the product mentioned above for free from It Cosmetics’ in order to review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use
personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Question for my Readers: Do you have a tried-and-true CC or BB cream that you love to use on the days you don’t want to pack on the foundation? Share your favorites with me in the comments below. 🙂

A Facial Serum Infused with Mineral Goodness! (First Impression Review)

June 30, 2014 Katie Marie 4 Comments

Sorry for my absence the last week — Dan and I flew back home for my older brother’s wedding! 😀 Everything went very well at the wedding — it was so beautiful! I enjoyed the time I spent with my family SO much! But Dan and I are back home in California now, so just trying to get back into the groove of things. 🙂 I hope to do a post with pictures from both weddings very soon, so keep on the lookout for that! 🙂

But for today, I have a fun first-impression review to bring to you. 🙂

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

About the Adovia Mineral Lift Facial Serum…

Firms and Tightens skin with a visible lift that can be felt immediately
Highly concentrated serum infuses skin with Dead Sea Minerals, Green Tea, Seaweed, Vitamin C and much more.
Protects skin from pollutants and weather damage that can clog pores and cause wrinkles and breakouts.
Feeds skin the nutrients it needs to look youthful and naturally beautiful
Use as a base under your moisturizer or anti wrinkle cream for maximum anti aging effect or use just the serum.

Imagine taking all the legendary beauty properties of The Dead Sea
Minerals and salts and concentrating them all into a highly potent
serum. Now imagine adding to that an advanced formula of anti-aging
ingredients and vitamins including Bearberry, Green Tea, Seaweed,
Vitamin C and more. What you get is our highly concentrated, mineral
rich serum designed to effectively smooth and firm the skin.
This deep absorbing, light gel is formulated with natural ingredients
to reduce fine lines and wrinkles by increasing your skin’s elasticity
and firmness. Based on a unique formula of Vitamin C, Evening Primrose
Oil and Dead Sea minerals, it instantly moisturizes to improve your
skin’s texture – giving you a radiant, smooth and even complexion. Amino
acids combined with Green Tea extract and Vitamin C help your skin
naturally regenerate – creating a firmer, more youthful appearance.
Additionally it protects skin from daily pollutants and weather damage
that can clog pores and cause wrinkles and breakouts.
All these natural, age-defying ingredients are what make this serum
so powerful and effective. A little goes a long way with this highly
concentrated product; just a tiny bit every day will make your skin look
fantastic and revitalized. This unique, light gel will absorb deep to
reduce signs of aging and your skin’s elasticity and firmness.
With amino acids, essential vitamins, and Green Tea, it moisturizes
and softens skin. Just apply a few drops to the skin on your face and
neck; be sure to reach the areas around the eyes and mouth where
wrinkles develop. Using the Mineral Anti Age Serum daily will help skin
naturally restore its youthful health and appearance.

My First Impression Review…

Packaging…
I’ve been able to review a few of Adovia’s products and I like how they package all of their products. It’s very clean and polished looking. The Adovia Mineral Lift Facial Serum was in a smoky-glass bottle with a pump to dispense the product. I love liquid products that come with a pump, as it allows the product to stay clean and bacteria-free, so that was a major plus with this item. The bottle came encased in a really attractive box that ensured it arrived to me undamaged – and it did. They were really fast about shipping out this product, which is another bonus!

Product & Ease of Use…
For some reason, the pump on my original bottle wouldn’t work, which was unfortunate. But I contacted the company, to let them know of the error, and they were quick to offer my a replacement bottle at no extra charge. I really appreciate good customer service, so definitely loved how quickly they solved the problem. 🙂

The product itself is a very light-weight and thin in consistency. This allows for very easy application, and it doesn’t take long for this serum to soak into your skin and be dry enough to put another product on. I really like that! It can be irksome to have to wait several minutes between each step of your skincare routine as you wait for something to dry, so I always appreciate and love products that don’t take a lot of time to dry into the skin. 🙂

Any Major Likes & Dislikes…
Well, the fact that the bottle came broken might be seen as a dislike, but I can’t really make that claim — it was probably just a fluke, and since they were so quick to offer me a replacement, I in no way thought this downgraded the product. I liked the way the serum felt on my skin. I’ve never used a serum of any kind before this, but I certainly like having it in my routine now. 🙂 The price for the Adovia Mineral Lift Serum is on the high-end side — $49 — but if you are the type who wants to spend the money on worth-while skincare products, then this might not be so steep for you.

Final Thoughts…
I haven’t been using this product enough to see how much of a difference it made to my skin. I don’t really have skin that needs a ‘lift’ yet, but appreciate that those ingredients are in this serum — you can never start too soon on your anti-aging products, so I’ve heard. 🙂 All in all, this is a really wonderful product. If you are in the search for a moisturizing serum that will give your skin the vitamins it needs, I would recommend looking into this product, for sure!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Question for my Readers: How much do you spend on your skincare? Does drugstore do it for you? Or do you shop more high-end for your sensitive skin? I know I do a fair mixture of both for my picky skin. 🙂

A Sleek and Stylish Food Scale, Perfect for Any Kitchen! (Product Review)

June 16, 2014 Katie Marie 6 Comments

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

About Kitchen Guru’s Glass Top Kitchen Food Scale…

Easy to read
Easy to read 2.4″ high contrast LCD display.

Accurate
4 high precision sensors provide reliable, accurate measurements every time.

Weight loss and Diabetes Management
Let our scale assist you in tracking your special diet requirements such
as calories, carbs, sugars or fat. Measure portion sizes to know what
you’re really eating.

Bake By Weight
Cook like a pro, and measure ingredients perfectly every time when baking. Make your own nutrition-packed breads and foods

Hassle Free
We have a 100% satisfaction guarantee and stand by our product with a 5
year warranty. We’re not perfect and occasionally a product is defective
or broken in transit. Those times is why we’re here! Just email:
[email protected]

Product Specs:
1. Easy to Clean, Durable Tempered Glass Construction (11lb capacity)

2. Measures Grams (g), Ounces (oz), Fluid Ounces (fl oz), Kilograms (kgs)

3. Tare / Zero feature to add additional ingredients or remove container weight.
4. Designed in the USA!
5. Easy to Read, Large 2.4″ High Contrast LCD Display
6. Auto-Off Technology
7. 4 High Precision Gauges with 0.1lb resolution
8. 1 Lithium Long Lasting Battery (included)
9. Touch Sensitive Buttons
10. Low Profile Design (15mm thin)
11. Responsive Customer Support
12. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

My Review…

Packaging & Appearance…
I was really excited to get the opportunity to try out the Kitchen Guru’s Glass Top Kitchen Food Scale. When I first pulled it out of the box, I really liked the edgy, sleek design that makes it both nice to display on the counter and easy to store in the cabinets — whichever you want to do. I received the black one and love the appearance of it! It’s really thin and compact, and the digits on the screen are a good size so that you can easily see them.

Ease of Use…
It was pretty easy to figure out — there aren’t any buttons you can press, so it’s all touch/heat-sensitive, I guess. It has two buttons to tap on either side of the digital screen. One says “zero” and has the power sign and the other says “units”. I like that you can easily switch between seeing it in ‘ml’, ‘g’, ‘oz’, ‘lb&oz’. I really like everything about this scale and know I will be getting very good use out of it in the near future. 🙂

Any Likes & Dislikes…
There is honestly nothing about this scale that I consider a ‘dislike’. The price is normally $35, but right now it’s on sale for only $25. Which is a pretty good price on a high-quality scale that will last you forever! My biggest ‘like’ for this is definitely the design. I LOVE how sleek and smooth it is!

Final Thoughts…
I love it! It works well, I can easily see the digits, it’s thin and easy to store! All around, an awesome product and definitely worth the price you pay. I would highly recommend that you check this product out on Amazon. If you are in need of a scale, The Kitchen Guru’s Glass Top Kitchen Food Scale is the one to go to! 🙂

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.