Norah Loves Makeup

Beauty Musings From A Makeup Artist

Revamp Your Skincare With Bioelements Age Activist® Clinical Youth Serum

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##This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bioelements Age Activist® Clinical Youth Serum##

Skincare and anti-aging are two of my most favorite topics to discuss here on the blog. As we reach halfway through an extra warm summer season in the trial-state area, taking care of my skin is always on my mind. And when it comes to skin, I have several concerns such as wrinkles, dehydration due to my dry skin, dullness (sometimes). The real question is, is there an all-in- one product that addresses all this? Yes! I have a fantastic suggestion for your daily skincare regimen that is an all-in-one solution, Bioelements Age Activist® Clinical Youth Serum. For the past weeks, I have been using Bioelements Age Activist® Clinical Youth Serum and am loving its multi-tasking properties that are meant to address several of my own personal concerns.

When it comes to your skin, one of the most important things to remember is that it does not matter how young you are, prevention and care are a must, no matter what season. Bioelements Age Activist® Clinical Youth Serum is packed with solid ingredients with very effective known ingredients such as retinol, peptides, vitamin E + Coenzyme Q10. Moreover, Bioelements Age Activist® Clinical Youth Serum boasts natural ingredients like watermelon, apple, lentil and fermented pumpkin, all known to help our skin in the long term. This skincare line was created by Barbara Salomone, a woman known to be one of the first-ever licensed estheticians in the United States in 1978. Estheticians tend to know how to best handle skin concerns and be extremely rich in knowledge when it comes to specific ingredients.

For myself, dryness is always a huge problem and I’ve been using this serum both day and night to help me replenish much needed hydration. To boot, my skin can be sensitive so I need to choose my moisturizers carefully. Luckily, Bioelements never uses artificial scents or dyes in any of its products and works well for sensitive skin. This serum was certainly a good fit me, I noticed this right away, my skin had no reaction and soaked it right in. Bioelements Age Activist® Clinical Youth Serum will help you streamline your skincare routine down to all-in- one bottle. I am able to use this product day and night, with makeup and without.

I suggest applying this serum day and night (little goes a long way). The serum settles nicely into the skin and is not heavy on contact. What I love most about Bioelements Age Activist® Clinical Youth Serum is how versatile this moisturizer is and that it ticks many boxes of skincare concerns. I also wanted to share with a coupon code that can be used on Bioelements.com to get $10 off your purchase of Age Activist® Clinical Youth Serum! Use code NORAH.

Tell me in the comments section, what is your number one skincare concern and how you currently address it?

##This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bioelements Age Activist® Clinical Youth Serum##

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Ways To Make The Most Of Summer Beauty

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##This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Single Edition Media. All views and opinions are my own##

In just a few short days, I am leaving on vacation, hurrah for time away from the usual grind! And with vacation days, beauty is always on my mind and ways to make the most of summer beauty (face/ body/ hair). Plans for my trip include visiting family and spending time in Bournemouth, Oxford and in London. On a personal note, it’s been over four years since I last set foot in England, super excited to be there in summer when it is warm and maybe sunnier than usual.

To make the most of your summer beauty, you need some good skincare tools, hair care and accessories. Today, I am sharing Babbleboxx’s exclusively curated box featuring items from Casio Baby G, PFB Vanish, Sexy Hair, Summer’s Eve, Floxsee, and last but not least GLAM Face and Eye Cupping Set. Some of these names are very familiar and some are super awesome new items I got a chance to try.

1 FLOXSEE PORTABLE TRI-VIEW MIRROR
A hangable mirror that’s 360 degrees to do your hair at home? It exists! It is called Floxsee works as a 3-way mirror that can be adjusted to any height. This mirror can be folded after being used and is made of acrylic that won’t break or get distorted. Also very cool, Floxsee donates a portion of its proceeds to the Fox Chase Cancer center, a great cause.

2 SEXY HAIR SOY RENEWAL BEACH SPRAY
Summer hair needs is all about texture and making sure your locks are looking vibrant. Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach spray is not any ordinary styling product. With excellent ingredients like Argan oil, algae extract, soy protein, pro-vitamin B5 and cocoa extract (conditioners); sea salt (texturizer), this spray is a must have for summer hair. It has a very light scent and will leave your hair looking beach ready and textured.

3 PFB VANISH + CHROMABRIGHT
In the warmer months, I definitely do more body hair removal and sometimes I get ingrown hair (ouch, not fun). When I tried PFB Vanish + Chromabright a roll gel, I loved that this product helps with razor bumps, ingrown hair and dark spots. PFB Vanish + Chromabright can be used on the face, neck, underarms, legs, back and bikini areas.

4 CASIO BABY G
If you plan on swimming and getting some pool time, a waterproof watch is a must. Casio Baby G BA110BE is available in two colors, either a pastel pink with white face details or white with pastel blue face and water-resistant up to 100 meters . I got a white watch and as you can see, it looks awesome on! I love its size, color pattern and that it is waterproof.

5 GLAM FACE & EYE CUPPING SET
Face cupping anyone? After living in Asia for six years, I can tell you cupping is very therapeutic and really does work. The GLAM face and eye cupping set are designed to help reduce fine lines, wrinkles as well as help lessen under-eye puffiness, clear sinus congestion, reduce headaches, stimulate collagen, amongst other benefits. I highly suggest watching the online tutorials on Lure Essential’s website to get a better idea on how it works (it helped me a ton). Want to try it? Use BABBLE15 for 15% off your purchase here.

6 SUMMER’S EVE CLEANSING CLOTHS
I work out a lot and while on vacation, I plan to do it on the go. Summer’s Eve Cleansing Cloths have no harsh ingredients, help maintain a natural pH, and get rid of odor-causing bacteria. These feminine wipes are hypoallergenic, soap-free, and safe for everyday use.

My Five Fitness Must Haves Plus An Update

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Hello friends! Today I am sharing an update on my lifestyle overhaul since taking this up a notch since January of 2017. I also wanted to discuss my five fitness must haves. In my humble opinion, it is a good idea to have these in your gym bag or at home. Accountability, gadgets and knowledge are important when embarking on a fitness adventure. To date, my weight is at 149 (started at 164 lbs), I am closer to my 145 lbs goal. Lots has changed from my eating habits, fitness level, mood, sleep, dropped back to pre-baby weight etc. It’s been intense and tough at times. I’d say the hardest was getting the motivation during the coldest winter months and the discipline of eating well.

#1 A Heart Rate Monitor
It is smart to understand how your heart rate works and why it is beneficial to use during your workouts. Knowing your heart rate during workout sessions can help know whether you are doing too much or not enough, this is based on your age and weight. I’ve been doing HIIT (High intensity interval training) so for me, I monitor my workouts during specific days and exercise types. You don’t need a super fancy heart rate monitor, I use the Polar Fitness and love it.

#2 Jump Rope and a Resistance Band
Back in January of 2017, I could not jump rope longer than maybe 5 seconds and my form was terrible. Since then, I took up jumping rope as a challenge. It is an easy cardio exercise that has lots of benefits like agility and endurance, (no gym is necessary and you can do it anywhere). Jumping rope for me is part of my routine and now, I am able to jump about 45 seconds on a good day. Similarly, a resistance band is a good addition if you are on the go and need a simple way to tone your arms and legs. *I got mine both on Amazon for less than $15!

#3 Nike Fit Plus App

For those days when I am not working out with my trainer at the gym or doing classes, I use Nike Fit Club App to get ideas and guidance on exercise routines. Nike Fit Plus app is free and very easy to use, it offers all levels of training as well as stretching. When I first started out, I was sore all the time and it was due to my lack of stretching know-how. I downloaded Nike Fit Plus and now I use it for my stretching routines and for exercises when I exercise alone.

#4 Protein intake is very important

One thing I learned during this journey is a) you are what you EAT and b) what you eat before and after your workouts matters. I am aware that even if I spent my whole week at the gym, if my diet isn’t right, the time I spend exercising is a complete waste and protein is a huge component here. I eat and drink a lot of lean protein, more so on the days I exercise. I really enjoy making shakes with Neocell Collagen Sport Protein (chocolate and also comes in vanilla). Protein helps build muscles when you lift weights. What I do is usually within an hour post exercise, I will drink a protein shake made with almond milk and crushed ice. Neocell is whey protein and it definitely fills me up mid morning (I tend to workout in the mornings).

#5 Use good body care items for recovery
In my gym bag I carry a towel and a body cloths. Not going to lie, I sweat a lot, some days I work out with weights and lots of high intensity cardio, some days I do kickboxing or Zumba for one hour. I love BAN Total Restore Cooling Body Cloths, they do the best job and smell divine. After I shower, I apply Yuni Wind-Down Wonder Warming Body Oil for hydration and recovery. This is a lightweight oil, free of parabens and it helps restore hydration and warms up nicely on the skin, to soothe tired/ sore muscles.

And finally, I also suggest wearing fun workout clothes and putting your best foot forward. In my updated photo, I am wearing a PAW YOU tank which goes perfectly with my mantra as a dog lover and fitness enthusiast. Feel free to ask me anything in the comments.