Beauty over 9 years ago by Liz Adams

Little Beauty Luxuries {Giveaway Closed}

Blue-Mercury-12Blue-Mercury-11Blue-Mercury-7Blue-Mercury-9Blue-Mercury-5Blue-Mercury-2Blue-Mercury-3Blue-Mercury-13Blue-Mercury-6Blue-Mercury-1Blue-Mercury-8In the past year I’ve discussed my recent obsession with skincare. After some signs of aging seemed to grace my face in a few short months I decided it was time to up my game. I talked a little bit about this before our wedding but since getting pregnant {and enjoying the beautiful side effects of extra dry skin, brittle hair, etc.} I’ve since become even more obsessed with keeping my skin happy and healthy. This pertains to my general beauty routine overall and my go-to destination for everything and anything beauty is Blue Mercury.

If you’re not familiar with the brand it’s an amazing store for the most luxurious beauty, hair, and skincare brands out there. I grew up in a town that happened to have Blue Mercury so I have been familiar with the brand for a long time and it just so happens that there is a store 2 blocks from our apartment in Chicago which I visit frequently. Visiting a department store to restock or find new skincare/beauty lines to fall in love with is great but I love that Blue Mercury is a well curated collection of EVERYTHING I want and need and the fact that it doesn’t require a trip to Michigan Avenue, a mall, and browsing long aisles not really knowing what to look for – is a win in my book. I’ve been playing around with a few of my favorite products from Blue Mercury and wanted to share them with you…

1. M-61 Skincare. I’ve talked about my love for Blue Mercury’s exclusive skincare line before and there are two specific products I’ve been using consistently for over a year. The M-61 Power Glow Peel is seriously a 60 second facial that will transform your skin. Before our wedding my makeup artist told me that I really needed to exfoliate my skin and that’s exactly what this little wipe does in under a minute. It is the fastest way to make sure your skin is fresh and clean and ready for any other products you’re using, too. Honestly, if I go one day without using one of these I notice a difference in my skin – I keep them stocked! Another M-61 product I love is their Hydraboost Eyecream. It is filled with healthy nutrients that help reduce the appearance of fine lines, under eye circles, and puffiness. It also helps to repair and soothe the skin surrounding your eye since it it can typically be extremely dry and it contains white mulberry which helps improve circulation making the skin brighter and more youthful. Plus it is seriously feels like a cloud on your eyes, so soft and full of moisture.

2. R + Co. Dry Shampoo. I’m really picky when it comes to dry shampoo because I typically wash my hair everyday so on days when I can’t I really need my dry shampoo to work wonders. The first thing I noticed about this dry shampoo is that it smells amazing and not like baby powder which was a huge draw for me. It makes my entire hair smell like I’m fresh out of the shower! It also provides a great amount of texture for that ‘I just got a blow out!’ look. Their shampoo and conditioner is magical, too.

3. Bumble & Bumble Hairdressers Invisible Oil Primer. This protective primer has been a game changer for my hair since I started using it. I spray it on throughout my hair and let it set for 5 minutes before blowdrying/styling. It conditions and protects my ends from getting too dry. For even more protection I use the Invisible Oil just on my ends to keep them soft all day long {this is especially useful in between hair cuts!}.

4. Darphin A Precious Youth Elixir. This little miracle is a godsend for my skin. It’s made of 8 pure essential oils to detoxify your skin, reduce fine lines, and renew your skin’s natural glow. I like to use a M-61 Power Glow Peel followed by a few drops of this on my face and neck before bed and the aroma itself makes you feel like you are lying at a spa rather than in your own bed. After a week of using this every night I noticed a difference in my skin – a more natural glow and dewiness. Well worth the money!

5. Smith & Cult nail polishes. Not only is their branding spot on but their colors are so buttery and gorgeous! Definitely a must for the girl who loves her polish collection {like me}.

6. Trish McEvoy Eye Opener Set. I am CLUELESS when it comes to makeup but there is no doubt that some eyeliner and good mascara can make your eyes pop! If you’re like me then putting on eyeliner and perfecting your eye makeup is not an easy task but this set makes it so much easier. You get everything you need in one and each product balances the other perfectly. Dave told me after I tried this out that my eyes looked “amazing.” Win!

7. Tocca Isabel Eau de Parfum. My new favorite scent for spring! Vibrant, exciting, and classic.

8. Caudalie Beauty Elixir and Anti Wrinkle Defense Serum. This beauty elixir is my newest obsession. Dave yells at me because I spray it on my face at least 3 times a day. It’s the perfect refresher on a long day, gives you a boost of energy and an instant burst of radiance to your skin, and immediately tightens up any droopy eyes. The anti wrinkle defense serum is the first thing I put on my face when I wake up! It’s the perfect base to my moisturizer and helps to keep my skin fighting any signs of aging. The entire Caudalie line is amazing.

9. Darphin Ideal Resource Radiance Cream. I’ve tried a lot of face lotion in my days and this cream greatly outweighs the rest. A lot of face creams can be incredibly moisturizing but way too heavy for my skin. This product is so light on the skin but hours later you can still feel it moisturizing even the deepest layers of your skin. Honestly after using the Youth Elixir at night, Power Glow Peel in the morning, followed by Caudalie anti wrinkle defense serum and this radiance cream – my face feels significantly tighter, more smooth, and honestly more buoyant {ha! if you can visualize what that would be}. Think supple baby skin!

Blue Mercury has put together an exclusive offer just for Sequins & Stripes readers! The first 45 readers to make a purchase on bluemercury.com will receive a free Blue Mercury tote bag filled with a variety of deluxe samples from Trish McEvoy, Bumble & Bumble, Clinique and more! Be sure to use code SEQUINS at checkout.

I’m also giving two readers the chance to win 1 of 2 $50 gift cards to Blue Mercury! To enter simply leave a comment telling me what you would purchase from bluemercury.com and a winner will be announced on Friday! *This giveaway is closed.

Congrats to Brittany Schwartz and Tina, you’re the winners of the Blue Mercury gift cards! I’ll be contacting your shortly.

This post was done in collaboration with Blue Mercury. All opinions are my own!