BEAUTYHACKS that changed my life!

 Beauty, along with fashion, could always cheer me up even on my worst days. As a teenager I wasn't afraid to experiment or explore with new beauty trends. Naturally, it didn't always work out for the best but, it gave me a chance to see what does work.

Scouring the internet and reading other blogs and magazines helped me discover beauty hacks that has made my life easier. As you grow older your beauty needs and preferences will no doubt change, but looking put together will always be in style. In this post I'd like share some of my favourite and most treasured beauty tips.

* Fill in and shape your brows

I have never considered filling in my brows before reading about it on beauty blogs. It gave my face a whole new look. I tried powder but, a pencil is definitely better for me. Groomed brows frame the eyes and makes a huge difference to any face. What's even better now  is that there are more permanent options now like brow tinting or tattooing so you can knock of a few minutes off your make up routine.

*Wear a primer+ setting spray

Like I have said in my previous post, I have never found primer to be much of a necessity but, after discovering a few cult favourites I don't go without it. Not only does it make your foundation look a million times better but, some primers you can even wear without foundation and look amazing. The exact same goes for a setting spray. Its like putting a very delicious cherry on an already delicious cake.

*Invest in a good foundation

Nothing is worse than a foundation that's either the wrong shade or one that does not give proper coverage. You might have to spend a little extra time and money in order to find a suitable foundation but, it will be worth it. Also, make sure you put foundation on your neck and ears too. You don't want to be walking around like it's your face with someone else's neck. Spend time testing foundations and finding the correct colour. This is a marathon, not a sprint.

*Put your dry shampoo on the night before
I have made this mistake many times. Putting dry shampoo on in the morning and heading out. My hair would end up looking all powdery and dull. Now I make sure I put it on the night before so the product has enough time to work. This doesn't happen with all dry shampoos but, I would rather not take the chance.

*Wear lipstick when you can

I used to be the girl that never wore lipstick. Now, I own way too many to even excuse. I have so many shades and it perks up my mood and face even when I'm not wearing other make up. Lipstick is a confidence booster. 

*Take care of your skin

For me, this is probably the most important one because no amount of make up will make you feel as good as having healthy good looking skin. In fact, the better you take care of your skin, the better your make up will look and the more confident you will feel. This includes wearing sunblock everyday, drinking tons water, never going to bed with makeup on and getting enough sleep to name a few. Trust me on this one.

What are some of your go to beauty hacks? The ones that you swear by and pass on every chance that you get. Do share them with me. I would love to hear from you.

TILL LATER, LAUREN!

* I do not take credit for the images in this post

#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!

Hair 911!

I have been on a major mission to get my hair back in shape. And by shape, I mean looking at least decent enough. It gives my confidence such a boost. When my hair looks good, I feel great. So for the past few months I have been going out of my way to find hair care products that will improve my hair overall. In this post you will find three products that I adore at the moment.

*Elvive Extraordinary Oil Low Shampoo
This shampoo is pleasantly creamy because it contains Amla oil and 6 precious Flower Oils. It promises to nourish and detangle leaving hair more manageable. It's made especially for very dry, curly of afro hair and while I dont exactly fall into either of those categories I thought the shampoo would still be perfect for me. I love that it's a gentle cleanser and prevents breakage. This retails for about R99,99.

*Marc Anthony Grow Long Super Fast Miracle Treatment
I was very intrigued by this tiny little pink tub. For starters, it says "super fast miracle treatment" on the lid and that was enough to persuade me to pay a little bit more than R50 for a 30ml treatment. I've heard amazing things about the Marc Anthony brand and I love this treatment. I've been using it for less than a month so I am yet to see how much of a miracle it really is but, I'll continue using it. I love the thick consistency and the delicious smell.

*Pantene Repair & Protect Instant Split End Mender Serum
I've  been trimming my ends every six weeks but, I still needed a little extra help. The Repair and Protect range have always been good to me so this serum was a no brainer. It leaves my hair extremely nourished without weighing it down or making it greasy. I appreciate that. I paid R39,99 for this serum on special.

Getting my hair back to being even half way decent won't be an easy journey but, its one that I am looking forward to. What are your favourite hair care products at the moment? I would love to hear from you.

TILL LATER, LAUREN!

Review : Nutri Women Skin Rejuvenation Serum

If you follow me on twitter (@CkoBlog ) you would know how much I have been raving about Nutri Women products. For the past month I have been trying a few of their products and so far I am most impressed with the Skin Rejuvenation Serum.

"Helps reverse signs if ageing. For hydrating, tightening and brightening ". While the packaging is is pretty self explanatory, I have to admit I was not too sure about this serum. Partly because serums have never been a big part of my beauty regime. Nevertheless, I wanted to give it a fair chance and, since I am awful at following through, I was especially diligent with this one.

After a few weeks of using the serum I am happy to the report: the packaging does not lie. My skin is visibly brighter and tighter. I also feel like my skin looks alot less tired (although it could just be wishful thinking).

Nutri Women products are exclusive to Dischem and with a slogan like "beauty from within" I figured it was worth a try.  I use it in conjunction with another Nutri Women day cream but I'll save that for another review. I'm definitely going to continue using this serum.

Have you used any of the Nutri Women products? I would love to hear your thoughts on it.

TILL LATER, LAUREN!