Sponsored Posts

Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Essential Kit Review

March 29, 2016

For the past few weeks I’ve been using these amazing products by Paula’s Choice. If you remember, I reviewed a few Paula’s Choice products thanks to Dermstore a few years ago. Skincare is fundamental for me- if your skin looks bad, your makeup looks bad. Your skin is your largest organ after all…I was lucky enough to get a ton of Paula’s Choice products to try out- including their Skin Balancing Essential Kit & a Power Couple featuring their Resist C15 Super Booster & Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol.

The Skin Balancing Essential Kit ($85) features 4 products:

Skin Balancing Oil Reducing Cleanser: a gentle foaming cleanser that strips skin of impurities. Right now I use a soap-free cleanser that I’m used to and like more, so I find foaming cleansers to be a bit harsh right now.

Skin Balancing Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30: It’s essential to have an SPF in rotation throughout all seasons. Yet again, I have an SPF that I like better, but I’ll surely use this on my body this summer!

Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid: working with eczema I have finally figured out that this one is my favorite one from the line- a liquid exfoliant featuring salicylic acid to balance out acneic skin. It makes your skin feel a bit itchy, but overnight your skin becomes baby smooth.

Skin Balancing Invisible Finish Moisture Gel: This is a very interesting gel moisturizer that is very lightweight. I think it works ideally for day time as I like a little bit more moisture at night.

And, finally, the best canker sore creams which are great moisturization boosters to the above routine:

Resist C15 Super Booster: This serum is great to use before moisturizer to make skin even smoother. It has a ton of Vitamin C in it which is a great skin brightener.

Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol: This product isn’t so much of a serum to me as it has a thicker consistency. It’s pretty silicone-y but I think it works well at adding a bit of moisture. And Retinol is great for anti aging or acne scarring. However, don’t use product with retinol during the day as they make your skin very sensitive to the sun.

Overall I think the entire Paula’s Choice range is amazing- I love that they strive for healthy ingredients in all of their products, and they even have their own makeup line!

A great bonus for all of my readers- Paula’s Choice is offering everyone 20% off their site + FREE Shipping until May 31st through this link: http://primp.in/oliviafrescuraspring – Who can resist that offer?

Also, my apologies for the cruddy photo quality…currently in the works with my Photoshop Creative Cloud not working and it’s really cramping my style…

**This is a sponsored post- for more information, please read my Disclosure Policy**

Healthy and Quick Lunch Options at Work and School with Healthy Choice

March 20, 2016

Healthy Choice Café Steamers Spaghetti & Meatballs Healthy Lunch or Dinner Options for Work or School — Healthy Choice Café Steamers Spaghetti & Meatballs

While juggling both work and school, it’s hard to find time in the day to make a healthy meal for lunch or dinner. Healthy Choice makes it easy with their Café Steamers, a line of frozen meals that feature a unique tray-in-tray system that allows the food to steam while cooking. Did you know Healthy Choice is the only major brand in the frozen meals section that can call 100% of its products “healthy” as approved by the FDA? I didn’t!

All Healthy Choice meals are made with real ingredients and no preservatives so you don’t have to worry about sacrificing taste or freshness. Since the ingredients aren’t frozen in the sauce they have a fresh, more vibrant taste. I think it’s awesome that they take into account that there has to be a mix of essential daily nutrients, vitamins, protein, etc. in each and every meal.

Healthy Choice Café Steamers are so easy to bring to the office or to school. They microwave in just a few minutes and they’re ready to go- all without breaking the bank. It’s a lot easier than going through a drive through or eating another unhealthy option.

If you haven’t tried the Healthy Choice Café Steamers yet, definitely go out and try them- my favorite is the Spaghetti & Meatballs! Find Healthy Choice Café Steamers in the freezer aisle at grocery stores nationwide for the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $3.29.

This post is sponsored by http://toplegalsteroidsforsale.com/.

**This is a sponsored post- for more information, please read my Disclosure Policy**

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

My Brunch Tea Party With Lipton | #LiptonTeaTime

February 22, 2016

I was so excited to get the opportunity to host my first *ever* party at my apartment this past weekend thanks to Lipton. I have always wanted to throw a party but was always pretty intimidated by the idea- but I knew that my friends would love a brunch + tea party, so that’s exactly what I decided to do!

Lipton’s new black and herbal varieties and improved green teas refresh the tea experience with bold and stimulating flavors, such as Enticing Chai, Pure Green, Orange Passionfruit Jasmine and Peach Mango. I have tried out quite a few of the flavors, and I have to say- I’m impressed! Personally I love the black teas. The Lipton Amazingly Grey, Daring English Breakfast, and Stirring Ceylon teas are definitely going to be finished quickly because I’m obsessed! If you’re a fan of fruity teas, try the Peach Mango or Purple Açai Blueberry flavors that would be great hot or iced. I made sure to have a wide selection of teas for my friends, because everyone likes something different, and thankfully Lipton has something for everyones tastes.

I created a fun DIY tea bar so my friends could come up and make their tea just the way they like it. An electric kettle is a must for a tea party to ensure you always have hot water. Don’t forget cream and various sweeteners to appeal to everyone’s tastebuds. For some added flair, I got a banner and put letter stickers on to say “Tea Time” and I thought it looked super cute! I decorated the table with flowers, a chalkboard frame, and some gold- a fringey table skirt and some confetti! The place cards are a nice touch so everyone knows what everything is- taking out the guesswork!

I really wanted to create a fun selfie photo booth wall to take pictures at. I used the same table skirt (you can also use a long version meant for a door!), a tassel garland, and some balloons all in the same color scheme. I put a soft box studio light in front to ensure that it was the perfect selfie lighting!

Sugar cubes are a tea time classic, so I made my own using a cute jewel candy mold I found at a craft store. You mix a small amount of sugar with water (1/4 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons water) and food coloring and press it in the mold to dry overnight. They didn’t turn out perfect, but they kind of looked like rose petals so I thought they were cute anyway! And how cute are they in the classic tea set sugar dish?!

I made a fun tablescape with a white tablecloth, striped placemats, paper doilies, and the same gold confetti. I had a great flower arrangement in the center of the table and made sure to have lots of brunch snacks for my guests to enjoy! The name place cards to go with the teacups was a fun added touch that everyone enjoyed. You can easily do a party on a budget- everything I got was either borrowed, or from stores like Target, Paper Source, and Hobby Lobby. Overall I think the party was a hit & now I’m coming up with more ways to have parties in the future.

Don’t forget to try out the new & improved Lipton Teas- check out the full line-up of Lipton Green, Black and Herbal tea flavors here.

**This is a sponsored post- for more information, please read my Disclosure Policy**

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

My Relax Routine | Lipton Tea

February 2, 2016

Lipton Tea Greentea Superfruit Purple Acai Blueberry Amazingly Grey Luscious Herbal Tea Lemon Ginger Review 2 — Tea Time with Lipton

Lately my life has been crazy busy. Between work, school, and events, I hardly have any time to come up for air. So, I’ve been trying to make the most of my me time by making what little spare time I have as relaxing as possible. One way I like to relax is by drinking tea. I recently picked up some different flavors of Lipton Tea to put to the test. Lipton’s new black and herbal varieties and improved green teas refresh the tea experience with bold and stimulating flavors, such as Enticing Chai, Pure Green, Orange Passionfruit Jasmine and Peach Mango.

Morning Relax Routine with Lipton Amazingly Grey Tea — Rise and shine

I am not a morning person in the slightest, so I don’t get out of bed until the veeeerrryyy last minute. I like to wake up slowly by lounging in bed with a cup of tea while checking my social media. I love the Lipton Amazingly Grey Tea because I prefer black teas as they have a higher caffeine content, which is perfect in the morning!

Throughout the day, sipping on tea instantly relaxes- there’s something about the combination of the aroma & warmth of tea that soothes the soul. The multi-sensory teas refresh standard tea time, creating an exciting and unique tea-drinking experience.

Later in the night, it’s perfect to have an at home spa night with your favorite face mask and using your leftover cooled tea bag to soothe and depuff your undereyes.

I also tried the Lipton Purple Açai Blueberry Green Tea & Lemon Ginger Luscious Herbal Tea. I still like the Lipton Amazingly Grey the best, but all of them are great depending on your taste in tea. If you like fruity teas, the Purple Açai Blueberry Green Tea is bursting with flavor, despite being calorie-free! The Lemon Ginger Luscious Herbal Tea is going to be a go-to with honey for when I get stick, but, if you love the combination of lemon and ginger you’ll love this one- it has a kick to it! Check out the full line-up of Lipton Green, Black and Herbal tea flavors here.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Achieving The Perfect Plump Pout: My Lip Injection Experience

October 26, 2015

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Restylane® Lyft and Restylane® Silk. However, the thoughts and opinions are my own.

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend an event hosted by Restylane^®. There, I learned all about their injectables, Restylane^® Silk and Restylane^® Lyft.

Restylane Lyft is the first and only FDA-approved filler to treat smile lines and add lift to the cheek area.

Restylane Silk provides natural looking lip definition and smooths wrinkles around the mouth.

I had the opportunity to get my own injections, and at first, there was no way I was going to do it. I didn’t see myself as needing a treatment like this, and I was honestly a little scared! But, after talking it out and thinking about it with a few people, I decided to schedule my appointment for the morning after the event. One of the things which helped me to make up my mind was after I went online and found the Cosmetic surgeons Perth website. Their clients had nothing but positive comments for the surgeries which they had got done and reading them gave me the confidence to go get my own surgery done. So the next morning I was all ready for it.

I have seen some people that have gotten lip injections before and they looked terribly bruised after, or just had that “trout pout” look, but I can tell you that couldn’t be further from what I experienced.

Olivia Frescura Restylane Silk Lip Injections After — A few hours after my injections

I visited Dr. Jason Emer, a Cosmetic Dermatologist in Los Angeles for my treatment. It was a very straightforward process. I was told beforehand to pick up some arnica tablets from Whole Foods, which would be good to prevent swelling bruising, and pain. I wound up taking them a few days before I got my injections because I had a pain in my back, and I think that helped my healing process a lot.

Once I got to the office, I filled out some paperwork and took before photos, then my mouth area was cleaned off and a numbing crème was applied. I’d recommend you to not wear any makeup because it makes the process quicker. The numbing crème was left on for a while, maybe 10 minutes, and then removed. My lips were super numb! I didn’t even know that they numbed the lips beforehand, so I think that’s why I was more scared than I had to be. Then, after that, it was time for the injections. I don’t remember how many there were in total, as I was closing my eyes the whole time (I’m kind of wary of needles). But halfway through I had to stop because I was feeling lightheaded. If you’re like me, don’t hesitate to take a break, because it’s not a bit deal at all! Then, the other half was a lot easier. The injections didn’t hurt much, they just made me feel uncomfortable. I’d say I was only nauseous about the idea of the needle, not the pain. After that, we applied an ice pack before taking the after photos.

Olivia Frescura Restylane Silk Lip Injections Before and After Front — Before & After, front

The healing process wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I’ve seen girls with huge bruises around their mouths with huge swollen lips as well. I didn’t experience ANY bruising, which was amazing. I was swollen for a few days, I started feeling normal again maybe 5 days after my injections. There isn’t really any downtime, I was at the Dodgers game the same day that I got my treatment, and besides having swollen lips and a little pain, it was normal!

Olivia Frescura Restylane Silk Lip Injections Before and After Right — Before and After, side

As you can see, the before and after made a huge difference. In these photos I was still pretty swollen, but you can see my *true* after in the first photo. I thought I had nice lips before, but the Restylane Silk really added a nice plump effect. Now, I don’t have to pout my lips in pictures anymore! I’m really glad I had my Restylane Silk treatment done. It isn’t something I would have ever thought I would want, but I’m obsessed with my new pout!

Important Safety Information

Indications: The Restylane family of products includes Restylane®, Restylane-L®, Restylane® Silk, Restylane® Lyft with Lidocaine, and Perlane®. Restylane, Restylane-L, Restylane Lyft with Lidocaine, and Perlane are indicated for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds. Restylane and Restylane–L are indicated for mid-to-deep dermal implantation. Perlane and Restylane Lyft with Lidocaine are indicated for implantation into the deep dermis to superficial subcutis. Restylane Silk is indicated for submucosal implantation for lip augmentation and dermal implantation for correction of perioral rhytids in patients over the age of 21. Restylane Lyft with Lidocaine is also indicated for cheek augmentation and for the correction of age-related midface contour deficiencies in patients over the age of 21. Restylane and Restylane-L are also indicated for submucosal implantation for lip augmentation in patients over the age of 21.

Products in the Restylane family contain traces of gram-positive bacterial protein and are contraindicated for patients with allergies to such material or in patients with severe allergies that have required in-hospital treatment, these is complicated process in which many times professionals from www.the-medical-negligence-experts.co.uk have been involved due to the lack of professionalism coming from hospitals. These products should not be used by patients with bleeding disorders or by pregnant or breastfeeding women. Restylane and Restylane-L for lip enhancement and Restylane Silk should not be used by people under 22 years. Restylane-L, Restylane Silk and Restylane Lyft with Lidocaine should not be used by anyone with a known allergy to lidocaine. Products should not be injected anywhere except the dermis, superficial subcutis (Perlane and Restylane Lyft with Lidocaine only), or lip submucosa (Restylane, Restylane-L, and Restylane Silk only). Next session I will ask the doctor to do a breast lift surgery to maintain my healthy breasts.

Speaking of surgery, people are now into it. In fact, some people are so worried about the appearance of their nose that it holds them back from being as confident and happy as they could be. Good thing is that there’s now a rhinoplasty in Washington DC.

Use of products in the Restylane family at the site of skin sores, pimples, rashes, hives, cysts, or infection should be postponed until healing is complete. The most commonly observed side effects are swelling, redness, pain, bruising, headache, tenderness, and itching at the injection site.
(Related: Read how I found the treatment for eczema itching).

These are typically mild in severity and typically resolve in less than 7 days. Serious but rare side effects include delayed onset infections, recurrence of herpetic eruptions, and superficial necrosis at the injection site. Do not implant into blood vessels. Use with caution in patients recently treated with anticoagulant or platelet inhibitors to avoid bleeding and bruising. If taken in large enough doses they may be violent, paranoid or hostile. They might also experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, blurred vision, dizziness, sweating, and chest pains among others, Click here to learn more. The effects last for about 6 to 8 hours if the drug was ingested and if it was smoked they could last around 10 to 12 hours. The effects of Amphetamines & Methamphetamine are very similar but those of meth are much stronger and they come about more quickly when compared to amphetamines.

The Restylane family of products is available only through a licensed practitioner. Complete Instructions for Use for Restylane, Restylane-L, Restylane Silk, and Perlane are available at www. RestylaneUSA.com. Complete Instructions for Use for Restylane® Lyft with Lidocaine is available at www.RestylaneLyft.com

**This is a sponsored post- for more information, please read my Disclosure Policy**