#ChooseAvonGifting

I always enter the festive season with the intention of getting my gifting situation sorted early. I plan on buying and wrapping my gifts early and not leaving it to the very last minute. Needless to say, things rarely go according to plan, and this year has been no different. Luckily for me, this year I don't have to panic. Avon has come to my rescue!

Avon gifting has something for everyone. Whether you are looking to spoil your parents or nieces and nephews: the variety of options will make the task much easier. Their gifting options range from world class fragrances to luxurious bath essentials and everything in between. I recently joined the #ChooseAvonGifting campaign and I am super excited to share the gifts I received.

I think the absolute best thing about it is that I get to forgo busy shopping malls and long queues. And so  can you. You can shop online using my link and relax while your gifts are delivered straight to your door. It's that simple!

Really liked this makeup. 

So what are waiting for? #ChooseAvonGifting right this second and spread the joy this festive season. Follow the conversation by searching for the #ChooseAvonGifting hashtag on social media and see just how many gifting gurus have chosen Avon this season.

I would love some support on my socials.

Instagram: laurenvogel

Twitter : @CkoBlog

Facebook : Cool kids only blog

TILL LATER, LAUREN! 

BEAUTY: Avon Anew Ultimate Day Firming Cream SPF25

Once I turned 30 my interest in anti-aging skincare grew leaps and bounds. I've been using this firming day cream from Avon for a few months now and I am in awe of the results. I wanted to wait to do a proper review and I am glad I did. I love the texture so much. As soon as I apply it, it absorbs quickly leaving my skin feeling moisturized and not greasy.

This day cream contains Protinol. This is clinically proven to restore both types of collagen in healthy skin. It also helps with mimicking the perfect collagen equilibrium found in baby skin. That little bit of information was enough to win me over for good. I am not even exaggerating when I say my skin looks smooth and supple throughout the whole day.

Protinol is a gentle alternative to retinol although they both rank equally high when it comes to anti-aging effectiveness. I am not sure when I will introduce retinol into my skincare regime so I'm especially thankful to have gotten my hands on this product. Protinol is a game changer for me because I have never seen my skin react this way to any other ingredient. It's safe to say that this will be one of those products that I keep purchasing. 

I should mention that you might want to think about keeping it away from your eyes. I made the mistake of applying it to my whole face, eyes included, and I ended up a little teary eyed for a while. However, I am not sure if this will be the case with everyone. This month the 50ml day cream is retailing for R329 and, believe me, it is worth every cent. It is definitely one of those beauty products I plan to keep in my skincare routine for a while to come. 

Have you started using anti-aging products yet? What are some of your must have products? I would love to hear from you!

P.S you can shop Avon products using this link to my online store here

TILL LATER, LAUREN!

New in: AVON edition

We have just started a new month and I am particularly excited to be adding new products to my beauty and skincare regime. This month the theme I had in mind was "luxury". Let's face it, the year had been more horrendous than anyone could have anticipated so a little luxury in my life was certainly welcome. I recently picked up two products from Avon and I thought I would do a quick review just to share my initial thoughts.

Let's start with this amazing shower cream. I really jumped at the chance to use this because I am obsessed with everything that is coconut scented. In addition to the coconut it also has Tiare Flower (This is the national flower of the islands of Tahiti and the name tiare is derived from the word tiara suggesting that the tiare flower is the queen of all flowers in French Polynesia). Apart from the fact that it made me feel like royalty (see what I did there) every time I used it, I could not get over the smell. There is something so calming about these two ingredients together that it feels like I just got back from a vacation after using it. I got it in the 720 ml and I am definitely going to repurchase. It retails for R 84.90

 The second product that caught my eye was this ageless protecting day cream with spf 30 and green tea extract. According to the packaging this day cream is packed with vitamins and antioxidants to help hydrate (thank you) and protect skin against signs of premature aging. I have to admit, I am pretty set in my ways when it comes to day cream and I insist on having a cream that hydrates. I'm also really happy that the cream contains spf30 because I don't always remember to put sunscreen on (yikes). Especially when the weather is cooler. While I drink green tea religiously, I had never considered incorporating it into my skin care routine. As an added bonus the green tea extract does not only diminish signs of aging it also calms irritation, evens out skin discoloration and protects the skin against UV radiation : to name  a few  a benefits. The cream is lightweight yet, super luxurious and, just like the shower cream, has a super calming smell. This 50ml retails for R209. 

I absolutely love when I am right about products and I was spot on with picking these two. With the seasons changing and the weather heating up I think it's the perfect time for you to also give these products a try. I know for sure they will be staying in my routine for the rest of the year.

If you are keen on trying Avon products you can also shop at my online store here or find an Avon representative near you.

TILL LATER, LAUREN!

Make Your MARK

I only have one requirement when it comes to mascara and that is: I want the brush to be thin. Needless to say, when I was gifted this MARK mascara from Avon I was sure I would not enjoy it because the brush is anything but thin. In fact it's the complete opposite. 

The mascara promises to give you big and daring lashes and the packaging does not lie. While it took me a moment to get used to mascara,the results are impeccable. Collosal lashes was what I got. The brush picks up a bit too much product at first but, its not a train smash.

The waterproof formula is perfect for those humid summer days but, it removes easily with a little bit micellar cleansing water. Listen, let me tell you I was not too keen on using the mascara but,I'm really glad I did. Although the brush is, at first glance, uncomfortably big, it does an amazing job of giving you beautiful, voluminous lashes.

I enjoyed using it so much I'm actually going to go and repurchase it. Have you used this mascara? What is your go to mascara at the moment? I would love go hear from you.

TILL LATER, LAUREN!

Beauty on a budget #3

I could probably write a couple of books about the many ways I have changed since becoming pregnant almost 5 years ago. Physical changes, emotional changes and mental changes all took place.  While my body was the most obvious change, I was somewhat prepared for that. What I was not prepared for was the way in which I perceived myself after giving birth. I became a lot less of a risk taker and way more conservative. My confidence was at the lowest it has ever been my whole life.

Even now that I almost completely back to my old self I find my confidence wavering from time to time.  I have realized, however, that being confident will always be a work in progress and that there are little things I can do to improve my self esteem daily. Lipstick is definitely one of those things. I feel like lipstick is something that pushes you to be a little surer of yourself. Adding some colour to your lips forces you to step out of your comfort zone and embrace something new.

Since this was the first time I was going to wear lipstick (can you believe that) these two cuties from AVON were the perfect picks to ease me into it. I couldn’t decide whether I wanted Foxy Fuchsia or All Fired Up so I got both. I definitely made the right choice. First of all they look like lip crayons which I love. I like to call it the dressed down version of the traditional lipstick tube. I think for a lipstick virgin like me it makes it less intimidating to use.

The slim design makes it easy to pop into a clutch or make up bag and the lid shuts and stays on tightly.  The colour pay off is incredible and it has such a smooth finish which really surprised me. I still chose to wear a little lip balm underneath because my lips are super dry lately. I had to reapply once or twice throughout the day but I really didn't mind because I got both of these at such a steal. I have to say that the Foxy Fuchsia definitely suites me better but I’ll be wearing both frequently this season.  These AVON lippies are currently available for R34, 95 each in brochure 13 and you can also visit www.avon.co.za

Left: Foxy Fuchsia and right: All Fired Up

Which lipstick are you wearing at the moment? Any recommendations for a lipstick newbie like me?

                                                       TILL LATER, LAUREN!