March 28, 2018 1 Comment

8 Spring Fashion Trends To Add To Your Closet

There’s something exciting about spring that makes us want to shake our hair loose and reinvent our personal style. Spring fashions are exciting! It’s time to wear lighter fabrics and playful colors. Maybe it’s the fact that the weather is warming up and the flowers starting to bud and bloom that makes spring the perfect time to refresh your closet. Here are this spring’s hottest fashion trends that are worth trying out.

8 Spring Fashion Trends To Add to Your Closet

1. Feminine florals

After wearing dark colors all winter long, florals are a welcome change, and it’s a good thing because they are totally in fashion this season! Everything from floral blouses, to dresses, to shorts—florals are fun and organic and you can get them any which way from printed to embroidered. A floral accent makes a great outfit pop!

2. This season’s color: lavender

According to Vogue Italia, lavender tops the list as one of the top ten color trends for spring and summer. This color is forecasted to dominate runways and collections giving this season’s fashion a lovely airiness.

3. Stripes

Stripes were all the craze at London fashion week, especially bold striped bottoms and cropped pants like these. As Rachel Zoe says, stripes never go out of fashion and this season be bold and rock those lines!

4. A simple blazer or jacket

One item essential to any closet is a well-fitted blazer or jacket. Spring months are especially unpredictable as far as weather goes, so having a fashionable blazer or jacket to slip on and off is both practical and stylish.

5. Play with layers.

Spring is the perfect time to play around with layers. Get creative with cardigans and a cropped tops with a blouse underneath. Layer an oversized sweater with a dress or a vest with a feminine top. Have fun experimenting with textures, lengths, and prints. I loved these smart ways to layer from winter to spring.

6. A spring maxi

The maxi dress has staying power. This season, look for off-the-shoulder maxi dresses, wrap maxi dresses, and high-low maxi dresses that show off just a bit of leg.

7. Nod to the 60s

The 60s will always be one of my favorite decades as far as fashion goes. High-waisted, wide leg pants, collared shirts, and drop waist dresses are making a comeback. Look for them in spring collections and your favorite retailers.

8. The long skirt

Long skirts are the new sexy and you can see celebrities and fashionistas wearing them pleated, patterned, and belted. Here are some great ways you can join the long skirt trend!

You can spot my favorite denim jacket in this post, along with some more fun spring inspiration. Happy spring!

March 16, 2018 1 Comment

Celebrate Spring with FREE Mrs. Meyer’s Seasonal Scents

Every year, I look forward to the return of spring.

Spring means finally planting the seeds I ordered this winter, drying linens on the breeze, and baking a pie with the rhubarb that’s popping up in my garden. It also means Mrs. Meyer’s spring scents are here!

I eagerly wait all winter to see which new scents will come out and for the return of old favorites. This year, the limited-edition spring scents are mint, peony and lilac.

I’ll tell you more about each scent in a second, but first I want to tell you how you can get your hands on them for FREE. When you place your first order of $20 from Grove Collaborative using this link here, you’ll get this free kit in your choice of scents:

+Free Mrs. Meyer’s Spring hand soap
+Free Mrs. Meyer’s Spring dish soap
+Free Mrs. Meyer’s Spring multi-surface spray
+Grove Collaborative Spring apron (new! Pink linen)
+Free Shipping & 60 Day VIP Trial

Existing customers will receive free Grove walnut scrubber sponges, which are perfect for spring cleaning.

Mint is Mrs. Meyer’s new scent this year. Like all of Mrs. Meyer’s scents, it has a garden-fresh smell thanks to plant-derived ingredients and essential oils.

I put the mint multi-surface spray to the test the other night after I made salmon and asparagus for dinner. It gets rid of cooking messes and odors, and smells like a refreshing spring breeze — even though it’s still too chilly to have the windows open!

Like the multi-surface spray, the dish soap is super effective on tough messes. You only need the tiniest amount, so this bottle will last us well beyond spring. I usually shy away from floral scents because they often smell like perfume, but Mrs. Meyer’s peony smells just like a bouquet of lush blooms.

Mrs. Meyer’s hand soap has me hooked, so I always have a bottle in our kitchen and bathrooms. The soap is thick and rich, and the pump dispenser is much sturdier than the ones you get at the grocery store. When my husband tried the lilac scent for the first time, he said, “Wow! This smells like lilacs. What is it?” I guess it’s safe to say I’ll be ordering more of this scent!

One of the things I love most about this Mrs. Meyer’s trio — aside from the lovely scents — is that the bottles come in such cheerful colors. That’s also why I love this blush linen apron. It’s almost too pretty to use, but I’ve been wearing it for cooking and potting plants and it does a great job of keeping my clothes clean.

That’s exactly the quality I’ve come to expect from Grove Collaborative. They hand-select natural products that really work and deliver them (carbon offset) right to my doorstep, on my schedule. Plus, they have their own line of amazing household products.

To show you how much you can save by using Grove Collaborative, here’s an example of what your first cart might look like:

+Free Mrs. Meyer’s Spring hand soap – FREE
+Free Mrs. Meyer’s Spring dish soap – FREE
+Free Mrs. Meyer’s Spring multi-surface spray – FREE
+Grove Collaborative Spring apron – FREE
+Arm & Hammer baking soda – $1.59
+Bon Ami powder cleanser – $1.49
+Walnut scrubber sponges – $3.95
+Method daily shower spray – $2.99
+Grove Collaborative recycled plastic loofah – $3.95
+Grove Collaborative dish brush – $6.95
+Seventh Generation disinfecting multi-surface wipes – $2.99
Total: $23.91

When you place your first order of $20 using this link here, you’ll also be signed up for the free 60 day VIP trial. For 60 days, save even more with free shipping, free gifts, price matching, exclusive sales and personal service.

This offer is good until 3/18/2018, but don’t wait! Mrs. Meyer’s mint, lilac, and peony are limited-edition scents, and these kits always disappear fast!

How it works:

Sign up for Grove Collaborative here. You will receive Mrs. Meyer’s Spring hand soap, Mrs. Meyer’s Spring dish soap, Mrs. Meyer’s Spring multi-surface spray, Grove Collaborative Spring apron (new! Pink linen), Free Shipping & 60 Day VIP Trial for free when you sign up!

To receive this offer, your order needs to be a minimum of $20. Choose the combination of products and scents you love and receive your first box within a few days.
You made it! Click Finish & Pay and place your order.

We love our Grove membership so much! Happy Spring Cleaning,

Kylee

March 2, 2018 Leave a Comment

6 Tried-and-True Ways I Used To Fade Acne Scarring

About two years ago I was dealing with some difficult acne. You can check out some of my videos from that time and see that I was either wearing heavy makeup to cover the mean, red acne on my face, or you could visibly see the acne scarring left behind. I wish I could say that fading acne scarring was an easy process, but unfortunately it’s not. It takes time.

Today I’ve been able to get acne under control and successfully fade a lot of the scarring that I had from my teens and early 20s. It took two years and consistent facial care, but now have the best skin I’ve ever had. It didn’t happen overnight, and if you want to decrease signs of acne scarring, you’ll need to be patient and use a few of these tips below.

6 Ways To Fade Acne Scarring

1. Use organic, raw apple cider vinegar.

Hailed as quite the miracle-worker, apple cider vinegar can do everything from clean your bathrooms to sooth a sore throat. I happen to use Bragg organic apple cider vinegar as a facial toner. It is amazing! The naturally-occurring acid in apple cider vinegar restores the acidity to our skin and kills acne-causing bacteria, removes excess dirt, makeup, and dissolves dead skin cells. You can spend big bucks on high-end cleansers and toners or you can use apple cider vinegar that is 100% natural and significantly cheaper.

If straight apple cider vinegar seems to strong, you can dilute it with filtered water.

2. Indian clay healing mask.

Maybe you’ve heard me rave about the Indian clay healing mask before, but I swear it is one of the biggest reasons I finally got control of my acne and got rid of acne scarring. You can get the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay on Amazon and it basically deep cleanses your pores, sloughs off all dead skin cells, and allows your skin to regenerate and create new skin— layers without acne scarring. I mix apple cider vinegar into the mask to double up on powerful properties and get new, glowing skin tissue.

3. Daily skin exfoliation.

My acne-prone skin needs daily exfoliation to refresh and regenerate. Dead skin cells, old makeup, dirt, and oils like to hang out on your skin’s surface and simply rinsing and wiping doesn’t take all of that junk off. You’re going to have to exfoliate. You can do this by using a granulated scrub or mask, using a loofah in gentle circular motions, or by using a small exfoliating beauty brush (you can find these in the cosmetic sections of most stores).

4. Choose a cleanser with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.

The best cleansers for tackling acne are the ones that contain either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. You’ll find that most over-the-counter acne cleansers are going to be one or the other. Personally, my skin does not handle salicylic acid well so I like to use a benzoyl peroxide cleanser. If you deal with acne, use trial and error to determine which works best for you. My favorite benzoyl peroxide cleanser is PanOxyl. It’s helped fade my acne scarring by lightening my skin.

5. Use a brightening moisturizing cream.

One thing I discovered about six months ago that I am loving is the Burt’s Bees Brightening Moisturizing Cream with daisy extract. This is an even skin tone moisturizer that brightens the skin and reduces the appearance of acne scarring. You can get it at any drug store or here on Amazon. This is a great product to use in conjunction with the apple cider vinegar toner.

6. Always, always use sunscreen.

Twenty years ago sunscreen wasn’t such a big deal. Today it is not only recommended, but pretty much a beauty law. Simply put, you have to protect your skin from sun damage. Not only that, but when you have acne or acne scarring like I have dealt with, every time you get sunburnt or tan, that pigment actually darkens your acne scars and stays there. If you don’t wear sunscreen, it will take a really, really long time to get rid of acne scarring. Protect your skin by wearing sunscreen or a hat—it’s so important.

You can check out my quick video on this topic here:

Thanks for stopping by! You can check out more beauty videos here. And feel free to share any secrets you have for reducing acne scarring.

February 20, 2018 Leave a Comment

14 Creative Uses for Baby Wipes That Will Rock Your World!

We just welcomed baby #3 into our home and I’m amazed at the amount of baby wipes needed just for one little man. What’s even more amazing are the ways you can use baby wipes every single day to make your life easier! You don’t need to have a baby at home to utilize the amazing possibilities of baby wipes. After reading these, it just might convince you to always keep a pack or two handy!

14 Creative Uses for Baby Wipes That Will Rock Your World

1. Use a baby wipe to pick up tiny pieces of hair.

Whenever my hubby shaves, he inevitably leaves little tiny pieces of hair around the sink and bathroom counter that are a bugger to clean up! The trick: use a baby wipe. One sweep of a baby wipe will pick up all of those minuscule hairs left by pets, hair cuts, and beard trims.

2. A convenient makeup and mascara remover.

Baby wipes are created for sensitive baby skin and so they do wonders on your face as well. I always keep a travel pack of wipes in my makeup bag or travel bag for convenient makeup removal. A baby wipe will even take off my toughest mascara!

3. Removes faux tan stains.

If you’ve just had a spray tan and notice lines where they’re not supposed to be, take a baby wipe to them. Baby wipes can take off stains from all types of faux tanning whether it be from a spray tan or a self tanner.

4. Always keep wipes in the car!

Even after babies, it’s a smart idea to keep wipes in the car. You can use them to wipe dust off your dash, clean up spills, or get an annoying bird poop splatter off your window. Whenever I’m at a stop light, I pull a wipe out and give the car a quick clean.

5. Use a baby wipe as a quick mop.

Spot mop in between mop jobs with a simple baby wipe. Just put one under your shoe and walk around to any trouble areas, scrubbing until clean. It’s the best thing I’ve done to prolong the time between having to mop again.

6. Remove pen and marker from skin and home surfaces.

Countless times my kids have come to me with pen marks up and down their arms and legs. Apparently it’s fun for them to give each other “tattoos” just like Maui in the movie Moana. Whenever this happens, a baby wipe will take the pen marks off in a jiffy. Wipes also remove pen and markers from home surfaces as well, like walls and floors.

7. Takes foundation stains off your clothes.

You know when you take your favorite sweater off only to find a trail of your foundation left behind? I hate when that happens, but luckily I’ve found that a baby wipe will act as a quick foundation stain remover!

8. Removes deodorant markings from clothing.

Similarly, a baby wipe can remove deodorant markings from your dark clothing when you take them on and off. It’s a trick that sales associates use in clothing stores when we all go in to try on clothes.

9. Tame erratic eyebrows.

I’ll be the first to admit that some mornings, my eyebrows are cray-cray. I just take a baby wipe to them and smooth them flat. It works every time! I wonder if a baby wipe could work like that on my little boy’s cowlick?

10. Clean your shoes.

It’s no secret that I love shoes and I’m a stickler for keeping them clean. One of the biggest ways I use baby wipes, besides on my babies, is to keep my shoes clean. That’s why I’m always grateful to have a small pack of wipes in my purse.

11. Stop licking your envelopes—use a wipe!

Hate the feeling of licking an envelope like I do? A simple solution is to use a baby wipe. And when it starts to dry up, just wet it again!

12. Wipe off a chalkboard.

Nothing beats a baby wipe when it comes to cleaning off a chalkboard. Hands down, it works the very best.

13. Throw ’em in with your camping supplies.

Wipes are incredibly handy to have while camping. They can keep hands and faces clean when there’s no running water; they can squash bugs that come into your tent, and you can even drop a few drops of lavender essential oils into them to act as a natural bug repellent.

14. Keep them in your gym bag.

Lastly, and possibly one of my favorite creative uses for baby wipes is at the gym. Keep a package of wipes in your gym bag for wiping down equipment or for freshening up after a workout. Wipe off sweat from your neck and underarms before you head home.

Got any more creative uses for baby wipes? I’d love to hear them!

February 17, 2018 Leave a Comment

False Eyelashes 101: How To Apply Them Like a Pro!

I often get compliments on my thick eyelashes, and although I wish I could take all the credit, I have to say that false lashes are one of my secret weapons. False eyelashes are fun! They give you incredible fullness and a natural, lush look if you apply them correctly. They’re perfect for that special occasion like a wedding or date night and can give you an instant glam look.

Here’s an easy crash-course in applying false eyelashes. It’s really not hard—you can do it and do it like a pro! Follow the step-by-step guide below or watch exactly how I apply my lashes in the Facebook Live vide at the end of this post.

How To Apply False Eyelashes Like a Pro

Get your false eyelashes and lash glue. I use Ardell lashes and Ardell Duo dark glue (it dries black instead of clear.) I’ve used everything from high-end lashes to low-end ones and I always, always come back to Ardell 110 lashes. I LOVE them! They make my eyelashes feel even more full. You can get Ardell false lashes and Ardell Duo glue at Target and Amazon. For beginners, I recommend the demi-wispies. You can get glam ones, but the Ardell 110 lashes are a good place to start.
Draw a fine line eyeliner on each eye. You want the lash to look full and defined so applying a thin line of black eyeliner will help your lashes blend and pop.
Apply a light coat of mascara. Not too thick, but a delicate coat of mascara will help the lashes grip better.
*BEGINNER TIP: Measure and clip. Before you apply any false lashes you need to measure them to your eye. My hot tip for beginners—clip the lash into three segments. I can’t even tell you how much easier this makes applying fake lashes! (Watch the video for example.) To measure the lashes, tilt your head up and lay the lashes on top of your real lashes (no glue). I don’t like them too close to the corners of my eye—it irritates my eyes. Trim off the edges as needed and then clip the lash into three equal sections.
Dab the base of the lashes in glue. Dab a blot of glue to the back of your hand, a small paper plate, or the container the lashes came in. Dip the base of the false lash into the glue.
WAIT 1 minute before applying. This is key—you have to wait about a minute until the glue is tacky before you apply it. If you don’t wait, the lashes will slide and it will drive you crazy. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP! If I could share one secret to applying false lashes, this would be it! Wait until the glue is tacky before applying.
Start on the outer part of the eye (closer to the ear). After the glue on the false lash is tacky (sticky), place it on top of your lashes, right next to the lash line. Hold it there for a second until the lash sticks without sliding. (Watch video below.)
Repeat for each of the three segments by dabbing the base of the false lash into the glue, wait for 1 minute until the glue turns tacky, then apply to the base of your lashes. The biggest trick to applying false lashes like a pro is WAITING until the glue turns tacky.
Once all lash segments are applied, you can use tweezers to pat them down.
Apply a coat of mascara and you’re done!

If you see the lash band, just dot eyeliner over the top of the band to conceal it.

How long do the lashes last?

Good question. You can count on false lashes to get you through one whole day. I like to take them of before bed each night.

Are they easy to remove?

Another good question, and yes, false lashes are easy to remove! Grab top of the false lashes and lightly tug; this should remove your false lashes fairly easily. You can also take some warm water in your fingertips and squeeze your lashes. This will warm up the glue and the lashes will slip right off.

False lashes are a lot of fun, especially when you’re going for that glam look and eyes that pop! Thanks for joining me at Kylee’s Korner! If you love makeup and beauty, you might also like:

Natural Dewy Makeup Tutorial

Save vs. Splurge Self Tanners