Magnolia Aesthetics
HerKentucky Partner Magnolia Aesthetics provides beautiful results!
Dress: Lilly Pulitzer | Sandals: Jack Rogers (old)
I’m so excited to share a new collaboration with y’all today! I’ve partnered with Magnolia Aesthetics to provide HerKentucky readers with honest reviews and let you know about the latest services and promotions. Magnolia Aesthetics is located at 149 Chenoweth Lane in Louisville’s St Matthews neighborhood. You can keep up with all my Magnolia reviews on their HerKentucky Partner page!
I don’t know about y’all, but I find all the information that’s out there about beauty treatments to be more than a little overwhelming. I mean, I love a good facial, have always been curious about Botox, and have never loved the chemical peel process. But, there are so many spas out there, so many treatments I don’t really understand, and a lot of folks whom I’ve seen use the wrong treatments. I’ve found myself really shying away from preventative treatments because I was a little intimidated by the whole thing. Recently, however, I started to notice some lines that I didn’t want to get any deeper and a few other issues that really needed professional help. I sat down with the team at Magnolia Aesthetics to put together a plan that would help me look like myself, only better.
There are so many things that I love about Magnolia. First of all, it’s in my neighborhood and located in the shortlist for the best selfie spot in Louisville.
I also love that I don’t feel pressured to buy products or treatments that I don’t want or need. I’ve worked closely with my aesthetician and my injection specialist to determine the level of treatment that would help me feel more confident without an overdone or “fake” appearance. It’s really important to me that I age gracefully, with just a little help. Kimberlie Mobley, the co-owner and injection specialist, has been fantastic in working with me to find exactly the treatments that work for me!
I’m excited to share these treatments with you, and I hope you’ll visit Magnolia Aesthetics for your skincare needs. It’s wonderful to know that they’re a team I can really trust, and I look forward to sharing my experiences with y’all. Look for Magnolia Monday posts in the upcoming weeks!
My Beauty Survival Kit
The on-the-go essentials that HerKentucky blogger Heather C. Watson can't live without.
Macy's recently contacted me about their new Beauty Survival Kit. They've teamed with a group of social influencers to talk about breaking your beauty needs down to the essentials. I loved checking out the Beauty Survival Kit; I especially liked the part where a blogger whom I've read for years, Carly of The College Prepster, admitted that part of her "necessity" kit is a tennis ball for her dog. With two big ol' hunting dogs of my own, I can certainly relate.
Macy's Beauty Survival Kit
Another thing I can relate to is this Huffington Post statistic that Macy's provided: the average American woman has about 30 minutes to get ready in the morning. I don't know about y'all, but there are days when I'm running between meetings and obligations where 30 minutes sound like an outright luxury. That's why I've tried to pare my own beauty routine down to products that I know will work well for me.
Here are the things I can't live without in my own bag. Most of them, indeed, came from Macy's in Oxmoor Center.
Ray-Ban Aviator Sunglasses. Love them; never go anywhere without them. They just make me look so much cooler than I actually am...
Benadryl: Crazy dog lady alert! My big Labrador retriever, Max, has severe food and seasonal allergies. I always have dog-safe allergy medicine on board, in case he needs immediate relief.
Notebooks: I wear a lot of hats -- freelancer, blogger, charity board member, crazy dog lady (see above!), fiancee, etc. -- and I am constantly taking notes, jotting down ideas, and, sometimes, writing a chapter or two while I'm waiting in a restaurant or coffee shop. I keep small notebooks handy at all times.
Estee Lauder Lip Conditioner: Oh my goodness; this product is a game-changer for chapped, weathered lips. It goes on like a creamy lipstick, with none of the waxiness of lip balm.
Estee Lauder Lash Primer Plus: There are plenty lash primers out there, but this one gives you lashes that are "just right." Your lashes look long and thick, but never clumped or "fake."
Estee Lauder Modern Muse: In case you can't tell, I'm really on an Estee Lauder kick these days. I always thought of the brand as something my grandmother wears, but their recent products have maintained that classic sophistication while adding a polished edge. There's no reminder of my granny's old favorite Youth Dew in this fragrance -- it's a powdery floral with a crisp note. I just love it.
Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Liquid Makeup: Y'all, this foundation. It doesn't come off until I wash it off. And, yet, it doesn't clog my pores. It's pretty much magic.
Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette: These colors are just perfect. They're perfect for my coloring, and they're perfect for my wardrobe. They work for professional settings or for nights out. They're just wonderful!
Nars Blush in Orgasm: This is the only blush I wear. It's just the best shade ever.
Let us know what's in your Beauty Survival Kit by snapping a photo and hash tagging it #mybeautysurvivalkit on Twitter and Instagram!
Surviving the Holidays Beautifully
Our new contributor Julie Jorgensen, aka The Beauty Junkie, has holiday beauty under control, y'all.
“Just Like a Duck....”
How does that saying go? “Smooth and calm on the surface, but paddling like the Dickens underwater.” If any of y’all are like me, you know that exact feeling during the holidays. Trying to balance the shopping and cooking and wrapping with #alltheparties and the accompanying stress can rattle even the best multi-tasker’s cage. Take a collective deep breath, ladies. I've put together the best holiday survival kit you’ve ever seen, and will have you gliding into that after-work party like you own the place. Y’all ready? Okay, let’s go.
At some point or another during the holidays, we all find ourselves rushing around to this function or that party with no time to go home after a long work day. We look in the mirror in the car and think, eek! Faded makeup! Limp hair! These busy-woman woes are easily addressed in a flash, provided you have the right products. I like to keep a separate little makeup bag in my car for my on-the-go products. Some of the products are duplicates of what I keep in my makeup drawer at home, others are little bits of genius that are perfect for looking pretty in a rush. Clarins Beauty Flash Balm is at the top of the “genius” list. This velvety cream pats on over my makeup and for an instant boost of radiance. Fatigued skin doesn’t stand a chance on its watch. A penny-pinching alternative is the travel Evian atomizer. Tired, thirsty skin gets a welcome drink of mineral water delivered in a fine mist. A little touchup around the eyes and nose with Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer, and you’re back in business.
Now, let’s tackle those peepers. I’m never without Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel (to tame any stray hairs) and a pair of mini Tweezerman tweezers (to address what I may have missed the last time I tidied my brows). For a subtle lift that prompts “did you get a nap today?” questioning, glide a shimmery highlighter under brow bones, at the inner corners of your eyes, and above cheeks. The Multiple from Nars is perfect, and its chubby-stick format is foolproof. My favorite shade is Copacabana, a glistening pearl. Nothing makes eyes “pop” like jet-black mascara, and the holidays are the perfect time to rock a more-dramatic eye. I am never without a tube of Cover Girl Lash Blast mascara in my travel makeup bag. The volumizing formula and big ol’ rubber-spoke brush fatten up my lashes without clumping, flaking, or otherwise making me mad. Lastly, rim inner lower lids with either a nude or black eye pencil. Nude will make eyes appear larger, while black will add extra oomph and smokiness.
Get your pout ready for some party pucker-ups with a quick swipe of e.l.f. Studio Lip Exfoliator. Brown sugar granules banish dry, chapped lips faster than you can say, “happy holidays!” Top with Beautycounter Lip Conditioner for soothing moisture and a blue-based lipstick to make teeth look whiter. Dab a little of The Multiple at the center of your bottom lip over your lipstick or gloss for a fuller look. Don’t pop a stick of gum-- it looks tacky at parties. Opt for a breath spray or strip instead. Keep a travel-size spool of dental floss in your purse to avoid any hors d’oeuvres disasters.
Refresh your hair with a dry shampoo and a good brushing, or throw your tresses up into a high ponytail or messy bun. I like Dry Shampoo Invisible Spray from Oscar Blandi. Use your eyebrow gel to tame any flyaways. Slick on a fast-absorbing hand cream and, if you have time, add a spoonful of sugar or salt for a manicure stand-in. Scrub, rinse, and go. A little Past Tense essential oil blend from DoTerra on the back of your neck will stop tensions headaches in their tracks, and Whish deodorant wipes eliminate any embarrassing “stress sweat.” Spritz on a sample of your favorite perfume, smile, and walk into that party like you own the place! Cheers and happy holidays!