Top 10 Beauty Posts of 2015.

Wow! Can you believe that 2015 is coming to an end already? As I always do at the end of the year, I am running down the most popular beauty posts of the year. In case you missed any of these posts the first time around, now would be a great time to go back and take a look at the most popular posts of the year.

Here are the top 10 beauty posts of 2015.

1. Top 10 Contouring + Highlighting Products with Tutorials.

2. Top 10 Must Have Palettes for the New Year!

3. Top 10 Drugstore Nude Lipstick + Lipgloss.

4. Top 10 Best Highlighting Makeup Products.

5. Top 10 Summer Makeup Palettes 2015.

6. National Lipstick Day: My Favorite Lipsticks.

7. Top Hair Products by Hair Type.

8. Top 10 Spring Blushes.

9. Top 10 Favorite Eyeshadow Palettes.

10. Best 10 Foundations for Every Skin Type.

Happy New Year!

Best Skincare Discoveries of 2015.

With everything I tried over 2015, I think I am most excited about all of the great new skincare discoveries that I made. I really did a 360 where my skin was concerned this year as I noticed significant aging that came on due to instant menopause with a hysterectomy at the end of 2014 and another health crisis at the beginning of 2015. I looked 10 years older almost overnight and I had to do something.

It took a series of products and treatments, but I have to say that after everything, my skin is glowing and looking younger and better than it did ten years ago Now, not all of these are new products, but they are new to me. These are my best skincare discoveries of 2015.

1. Botox® - What the heck took me so long? I finally started on the Botox® Cosmetic treatment plan this year at age 47. While I probably should have started 10 years ago, I finally broke down and started getting Botox® injections between my eyebrows, right above my brows to take care of forehead lines and in my crow's feet. I get the injections every three months after figuring out what was best for me (apparently my body metabolizes the toxin pretty quick) and I LOVE the result. My wrinkles have pretty much flattened out where I want them to. Botox® DOES NOT HURT. I go to a plastic surgeons office in my town that has many, many years of experience with Botox® injections and the Nurse Practitioner that does my injections does them all day long. She is amazing and well trained. I do not use numbing cream or ice; I just have it injected. I swear to you, it feels like nothing more than a toothpick prick multiple times very quickly. I get a slight headache a few hours after being injected (completely normal) and that is even getting less and less each time I have it done. Also, the results are better each time I have it done (very common). For those that say they cannot afford Botox® Cosmetic, think of it this way; I pay $450 each time I go, and If I divide that over three months, it's about the price of a fancy coffee each day. It is affordable if you make room in the budget and give up things like the fancy coffee (if you want to). It is not for everyone, but it was for me and something I wanted to do for years.

2. NuFACE® - I am in love with this facial toning device that I started using this fall. I started using the NuFACE® Mini everyday and the results were so amazing that I have moved onto the full-size NuFACE Trinity® with targeted toning attachments. I'm telling you, this handheld facial toning device seriously has lifted and toned areas of my face like my cheeks, brows and jowls. It works by using microcurrents, which is basically soft wave technology. Soft wave technology gently stimulates the skin to improve and gently lift it. You can literally see it working after one use! The longer I use it, the better my skin is toned and lifted.

3. Vitamin C - I added this must have ingredient to my skincare routine in a big way this year. My skin had been dull and sallow and Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin as well as lightens and brightens it. I have tried a lot of Vitamin C products and use it in my serums daily. I also try to incorporate into other skincare items like peels and day creams/night creams from time to time. My favorite Vitamin C products include: SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic, Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum and Paula's Choice Resist C15 Super Booster.

4. Hyaluronic Acid - I've been a fan of this ingredient for some time, but I made it a point to add it into my routine in a lot of ways this year. I read labels (if you don't, please do so) and I make sure that my nighttime moisturizer, serum and eye cream have Hyaluronic Acid in them. Hyaluronic Acid is a powerful ingredient that draws in and retains moisture in the skin. It can add in volume where it wasn't. Some of my favorite Hyaluronic Acid products that I use regularly include GLAMGLOW THIRSTYMUD Hydrating Treatment, Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask, Kate Somerville Quench Hydrating Face Serum, Clinique All About Eyes Rich, L'Oréal Revitalift Daily Volumizing Concentrated Serum and Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream for Eyes.

5. Monthly Facials - So, another one of those, "I can't afford that", but yes I think you can! I decided that I really needed to treat myself and my skin to a lot of extra treatment this year, so I started getting monthly facials. I knew it could benefit from the peels and extra pampering. It's a lot more affordable than you think too as I get monthly facials at Massage Envy. They offer amazing facials and they use Murad products. I adore my esthetician who customized a treatment plan for me which includes a pretty deep peel. This peel has really helped to turnover my skin. And at just $69.99/month when you sign up for a year and pay $59.99 month + $10 for the facial, it's the most affordable facial I've ever had. No, I'm not being paid to say any of this — I just really believe in the affordable service that is seriously changing my skin for the better.

Have you made any new skincare discoveries this year?

Top 10 Drugstore Beauty Faves of 2015.

With the end of the year near, I like to reflect upon the best of the best beauty products that I covered over the year. I discovered so many great new things! From new makeup, skin care, bath and body items and hair care items, it is definitely hard to narrow down the list. To make it easier, I'm going to start with my favorite drugstore beauty products of 2015.

In no particular order, here are my top 10 drugstore beauty faves of 2015.

1. COVERGIRL Full Lash Bloom Mascara - I use this mascara a few times a week! COVERGIRL Full Lash Bloom Review

2. TRESemmé Perfectly (un)Done Ultra-brushable Hairspray - This drugstore hairspray is my new daily favorite. I left my $12.99 can for this one in the dust!

3. Suave Professional Weightless Blow Dry Spray - This is my pre-blowout go-to spray for volume. Suave Blow Dry Spray Review

4. Simple Skincare Micellar Make-Up Remover Wipes - These wipes changed the way I remove makeup for the better. Simple Skincare Micellar Make-Up Remover Wipes Review

5. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream for Eyes - This eye gel really plumps up my eye area and drenches it in moisture.

6. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion Sheer Hydration - I love this lighter version daily moisturizing lotion and use it during the warmer weather months almost exclusively. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion Sheer Hydration Review

7. COVERGIRL Outlast Stay Luminous Foundation - This tops the list of my drugstore favorite foundations and I'm not sure anything could top this one; it's that good. COVERGIRL Outlast Stay Luminous Foundation Review

8. L'Oréal Paris La Palette Nude - This ten pan palette is so amazing that I hardly ever remember that it came from the drugstore! L'Oreal Paris La Palette Nude Review

9. Sally Hansen Miracle Gel - I am obsessed with this nail color that is super glossy and lasts for more than 10 days. It's all that I use on my toenails. Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Review

10. L'Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Powder Glow Illuminator Blush & Highlight - I use the Golden Illuminator daily. L'Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Powder Glow Illuminator Blush & Highlight Review

An InLinkz Link-up

Favorite Beauty Trends 2015 with New COVERGIRL Makeup + a Giveaway!

I can't believe that 2015 will be over in just a few short days. With the end of the year, it has me thinking about all the beauty trends I covered of the year and what trends I embraced myself.

From the sleek pony and loose waves, the perfect smile with the help of teeth whiteners and just the right lipstick color to lots of lashes, I think I tried them all. I also concentrated a lot on my skin this year — more than I have in years past. From having softer, more smooth skin all over my body to my face, I spent a lot of time practicing what I preach. Sunscreen is always on trend, but I was more serious about it this year. Of course, the key to any beauty trend is the right products, like those I have pictured above. These are just a small sampling of mine that helped fuel my favorite beauty trends of 2015.

For makeup, I was all about neutral smoky eyes and lots of lashes this year. We saw this trend all over the red carpet and on the models at the season's hottest runway shows.

With so many neutral eyeshadow palettes to choose from, it is easy to create the perfect smoky look in no time. COVERGIRL has 4-pan nude shade palettes that I've used from time to time, but they just launched a brand new TruNaked Eyeshadow Palette and I'm loving it! This palette has 8 silky, pigmented shadows that range from satin to shimmer in ivory and cream to deep, smoky brown shades. This one palette can create so many looks. I use the lighter shades all over, accent with the shimmer shades on my lid, put the medium brown shades in my crease and then line with the darkest shade. The finished look is so glam, gorgeous and perfect for any of life's red carpet events.

For lashes, you know how much I love COVERGIRL mascara. I use COVERGIRL Clump Crusher Mascara for everyday and discovered Full Lash Bloom and The Super Sizer earlier this year. They are both definitely faves of 2015. COVERGIRL had another new mascara just launch and this one delivered the biggest, boldest lashes yet! This is Plumpify blast PRO Mascara.

Plumpify Mascara has the strangest mascara brush I have seen to date but it WORKS! It is actually two mascara brushes twisted together that plumps up the volume and lifts lashes to the extreme. It claims up to 50X the volume. I can't say if it actually does just that, but it gives my lashes a ton of volume without weighing lashes down. I like that it does so while giving lashes separation and length too. I also love the little short ball tip that I can wiggle into the hard to reach places. If you want a lot of lashes without extensions of falsies, Plumpify Mascara is the one to use.

I'm so excited to see what 2016 has to offer. One of the first places we will see the new beauty trends will be on the red carpet. Awards season kicks off with the People's Choice Awards on January 6, 2016.

GIVEAWAY

P&G and Walgreens are partnering with the People’s Choice Awards (PCAs) to help you be red-carpet-ready for any big night out. Walgreens is awarding us with both a great look and great offer on our favorite brands this season. Check out the offers on favorite brands like CoverGirl, Pantene, Crest and Secret, to name a few.

Not only does Walgreens help me look good by offering my favorite beauty brands, but they make me feel good by shopping there as well. Walgreen’s supports some really great causes like Get a Shot Give a Shot and Vitamin Angels among others, so whenI purchase P&G products at Walgreens I'm helping them continue to provide vital resources to those in need around the globe. I love that!

I've also partnered with my friends at P&G and Walgreens to give one lucky reader a PCAs prize pack to help you get red-carpet-ready. One person will win the following:

$75 Walgreens Gift Card
COVERGIRL Eyeshadow Quad
COVERGIRL Plumpify Mascara
COVERGIRL Outlast Longwear Lipstick
Secret Clinical Stress Response
Venus Razor Swirl
Olay Body Wash Ultra Moisture
Crest 3-D Whitestrips
Pantene Total Damage Care 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner

Enter for your chance to win in the widget below.

PCA Prize Pack

TWITTER PARTY

Be sure to join in the red carpet Twitter party happening on January 6, 2016 at 8pm EST. Follow the #RocktheRed hashtag for all the fun. I'll be there!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Procter & Gamble/Walgreens. The opinions and text are all mine.

MAJOR Sephora SALE on SALE Alert!

I have a MAJOR Sephora SALE alert for you! It's time to start spending that holiday cash NOW. Not only is Sephora having an incredible sale on some of their best selling products (many of them were in my holiday gift guide), but they are offering an additional 20% off on these sale products through January 1st with the code EXTRA20.

Just check out some of these incredible deals!

Urban Decay Vice4 - $60 on sale for $39 with 20% off = $31.20

TRIA Hair Removal Laser 4X Essentials Kit - $449 on sale for $399 with 20% off = $319.20

TRIA Age Defying Laser Bundle - $505 on sale for $495 with 20% off = $396

MUFE Artist Plexi-Gloss Kit - $43 on sale for $29 with 20% off = $23.20

bareMinerals READY To Go Complexion Perfection Palette - $32 on sale for $27 with 20% off = $21.60

BLISS The Youth As We Know It Anti-Aging Night Cream - $79 on sale for $59.25 with 20% off = $47.40

Plus SO much more. There are three full pages of items on sale.

Now this deal is only available online, so no need to run to the store. Stay on your phone, tablet or computer and SHOP at sephora.com. Just be sure to navigate to the SALE section or go through the links I have posted which will go right to the sale section: sephora.com sale section. And don't forget the code EXTRA20 for the additional 20 percent off.

Get shopping soon, because I know some of these amazing deals will sell out and fast.

10 Last Minute Beauty Gifts!

With just TWO days left to shop for Christmas, it is time to finish up your gift list NOW. Check off a few items with this last minute list filled with hot holiday beauty items! All of these items are in store at Sephora or Ulta so you can get it, get out and get on with all of your holiday celebrations!

1. Urban Decay UD | Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette

2. Glamglow GIFTSEXY Dazzling Hydration Set

3. philosophy The Gingerbread House Set

4. Clinique A Case of the Pretties

5. It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Must Haves Eye Set

6. Ultra CHI Glitter Sweet 1" Flat Iron

7. Sephora Collection Precious Elements Brush Set

8. BUXOM Don't Miss a Beat Full-On Lip Polish Collection

9. philosophy Fresh Cream Duo Set

10. Fresh Skincare Heroes

Last Minute Gift Idea: Spa in a Basket.

It's almost Christmas! If you are like me, you are probably still scrambling for some last minute gifts and you are probably running out of ideas AND time. Well, I have a fun gift idea that any girl will love!

As I regularly turn my bathroom into my very own little sanctuary and DIY spa, I am creating some unique spa in a basket gifts to share with some special girls in my life. They are fun and super easy to create. I know these gifts will be useful as EVERYONE wants soft, smooth skin this winter!

As I want everybody to step out renewed, refreshed and ready to take on the day, my Spa in a Basket includes products from Dove. I selected Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash and the Dove White Beauty Bars as these are SO good for the cold winter months and very nourishing for the skin. Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash is one of my everyday favorites and I love using it on my DIY spa night. This body wash makes my skin super soft and smooth after just one shower. It's a really mild formula but it has a super rich lather that I simply love; it's really luxe feeling. Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash provides skin with more natural nourishment than most body washes and it rinses quickly and cleanly. And everyone knows about the classic Dove White Beauty Bars. With 1/4 moisturizing cream and mild cleansers, the Dove White Beauty Bar leaves skin ultra soft and smooth.

The best thing about my Spa in a Basket is that the products can be easily found at stores near you — no heading out into the crowded mall. I picked up my Dove favorites from Sam’s Club and put them into a crate that I bought at my local craft store. Buying the large packs at Sam's Club, I can create a few gifts at once and have left overs for my own shower. Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash comes in packs of 3 and Dove White Beauty Bars come in packs of 16! I bundled these nourishing bath and body products with other products that I use to create my shower sanctuary and put them in the Spa in a Basket as well. I included a few candles, a bath pouf, a loofa and exfoliating shower gloves. Voilá!

Stop by your local Sam’s Club to pick up the Dove products you love.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for which I was compensated and received products for testing in partnership with Lunchbox. All opinions are my own.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Plexi-Gloss Collection.

There are so many great makeup sets out for the holiday season and a few have really caught my eye as great values and true must haves. One that I am really loving is this MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Plexi-Gloss Collection. This is a very complete lipgloss collection with shades ranging from very sheer to full-on bright and bold.

The MUFE Artist Plexi-Gloss Collection really has it all. This collection comes with 12 full sized Plexi-Glosses. The shades range in color from sheer to opaque, like I said, and it contains a real wardrobe of colors for the lipgloss lover.

The Plexi-Gloss Collection contains the following shades:

• Pearly Light Beige
• Brown Beige
• Sweet Pink
• Pop Pink
• Fuschia Pink
• Pearly Golden Pink
• Orange Coral
• Orange
• Red
• Pearly Plum
• Burgundy
• Lilac

Being the neutral lip girl at heart, of course, I have been using Pearly Light Beige, Sweet Pink and Pearly Golden Pink often.

If you have never used a Plexi-Gloss it is the ultimate; it is a super shiny lip gloss that lasts! Think of it as a long-lasting lipstick in a gloss form as it is very pigmented with almost a vinyl finish. It is somewhat sticky, but not overly so where it is annoying. They are rich and moisturizing. I really like how it feels on my lips and I am super picky!

The MUFE Artist Plexi-Gloss Collection sells for $150 at Sephora where it is a limited edition online exclusive. That might seem like a lot, but if you were to buy them all individually, it would run you $228 so it really is a great deal with a savings of $78. This is the ULTIMATE holiday gift for the gal who loves lipgloss.

Dolce&Gabbana The Essence of Holiday Collection.

Dolce&Gabbana has created an elegantly beautiful makeup collection for the holiday season called The Essence of Holiday Collection. It totally speaks of the season with the antique gold, passionate red and classic black shades. If you are looking for sophistication for yourself or a luxurious gift, these products are for you.

The products include a beautiful Bronzing Powder, Shimmer Powder, Mono Eyeshadow in a choice of 3 shades, Classic Cream Lipstick, Sheer Shine Gloss and Intense Nail Lacquer in a choice of three shades.

I was drawn to the Glow Light Lids, Lips and Nails products from the line up for the light ethereal glow that these products bring on.

I really like The Illuminator Shimmer Powder in Glow Light for this season, which leaves the most beautiful luminous barely there pearlescent golden glow wherever you want it. The Sheer Shine Gloss in Glow Light is a subtle glossy shimmer. You barely see the flecks of gold shimmer in this gloss, it's more like a really glossy topcoat to wear over lipstick where the shimmer adds further dimension to the gloss. The Intense Nail Lacquer in Glow Light is a beautiful light shimmery nude gold shade. Again, it's very sheer and barely there, perfect as a top coat over a bold shade.

Buy the Dolce&Gabbana Essence of Holiday Collection online at dolcegabbana.com or at saksfifthavenue.com.