Here’s what I’m buying for all the special women in my life (mom, sister, mother-in law, sister-in-laws, & friends):

click each item to shop

Tell me, what is your go-to last minute gift?

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My sister actually introduced them to me. It was one of those, “What are you wearing?” moments, where she proceeded to give me all the details and let me try the lipstick on. With one swipe, I knew I was in love. Thank goodness for sisters.

Since trying out one, I now own four. They’re about $7 each, so they don’t break the bank and I don’t feel bad having options! These lipsticks have a matte (not shiny) finish and they feel just like chapstick on my lips! I love it. No cracking or dry lips. Just color.

from top: innocence, naked, darling, orchid

If I could only pick one, my favorite color would have to be Matte Naked. It’s the perfect everyday lip color, just a few shades darker than my actual lip color.

If you’re looking for a fun pop of pink, try Matte Orchid! It brightens up a whole outfit, especially a simple one. These lipsticks are super easy to apply!

To apply:

1. Apply chapstick first. I find this gives me a smooth base and helps the color go on better.
2. Use a lipliner if you like. I usually use a lip liner that is the same color as my lips, or the lip color I’m wearing. NYX  has some great affordable ones!
3. Then I do a swipe or two of the lip color and blot! You’re good to go.

Have you tried any of these Miliani lipsticks? Which one is your favorite?

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Keeping your teeth white can sometimes be a challenge, and it has been one for me! I am a daily coffee-drinker and enjoy a glass of red wine occasionally (ok, often). While I wouldn’t dream of giving either of those up- hah!- I do start to notice stains on my teeth, and that’s no fun. After three years of braces (thanks Mom & Dad!) and still wearing my retainer every night, I always want my smile to look it’s best.

I’ve used plenty a whitestrips over the years, but I was definitely intrigued by Smile Brilliant and their professional teeth whitening system. It ended up being SO easy and something I would recommend to all my friends. Here’s what I love about it, and keep reading for an amazing giveaway!

Why I love Smile Brilliant:

1. Custom Trays– Smile Brilliant is so unique in that you get custom trays that fit your mouth perfectly.One of the things I used to hate about teeth whitening is that it was a major struggle to get the little strips to stay stuck to my teeth for the full 30 minutes. Then they would slide around and it was so uncomfortable. Thankfully that’s not the case here. They send a kit with everything you need to take a mold of your teeth. It might sound intimidating but I promise it’s not. It took me about 10 minutes and was really easy. You’ll receive your trays a few days later, and I was impressed at how well mine fit! I also noticed the quality, and I’ll be using these for awhile because the trays are made to last.
2. Great Packaging- As I mentioned above, you get a kit with everything you need. They’ve seriously thought of it all! The whitening gel and desensitizing gel are in little syringes, so you only use what you need. If you’re like me, I like to whiten a little at a time, and since the gels are in sealed packages there’s no rush to use it all right away.
3. Desensitizing Gel– This stuff is seriously what sets Smile Brilliant apart from the completion. Every whitening product I’ve ever used has made my teeth sensitive, so I’d always have to be careful and it was a pain. Not with Smile Brilliant. After using the whitening gel, you put the desensitizing gel in the trays for about 20 minutes. After that, there is virtually no teeth sensitivity. It’s amazing and allows me to whiten sensitive teeth as much as I want!
4. Excellent Customer Service- Smile Brilliant does a great job at keeping you informed of the process. Besides detailed instructions with photos, they are in constant communication with you. I received an email saying they got my impressions, an email telling the impressions were good, and an email saying the custom fitted teeth whitening trays were on their way! That might seem like a lot of emails but it wasn’t, and I really appreciated being informed of what was going on. It also shows how “on top” of things the company is.
5. Most importantly, RESULTS! Of course reasons 1-4 wouldn’t matter if the product didn’t actually work, but it does. I thought my teeth were pretty white before using Smile Brilliant, but I was pleasantly surprised and noticed a huge difference. I love that the gel trays allow my whole tooth to whiten, not just certain surfaces (which has happened with whitestrips).

If you’d like to give them a try, you can enter a giveaway to win your own set of custom trays and teeth whitening kit! Go to www.smilebrilliant.com/g/sheknowschic to enter for your chance to win a $139 credit to Smile Brilliant! (giveaway runs for 2 weeks and is open to USA, UK, Canada, and Australia residents)

Even if you don’t win, you can still use code sheknowschic15 for $15 off a tray! And if you do give them a try, be sure to tell me how you like it.

As the saying goes, “Happy girls are the prettiest.” So take care of that smile!

Teeth Whitening Reviews

The post At Home Teeth Whitening appeared first on She Knows Chic.

top, shorts (Limited old), sandals, bag (Kate Spade outlet)

I have been enjoying these warmer temperatures so much lately! As a teacher, I definitely associate summer with relaxing and getting a break, since I get the summers off. I don’t know how other working professionals do it, not getting summer breaks! Since I’ve become a mother, having that break means even more to me. So when the wether warms up, I get a happy feeling knowing that I’ll get to relax and recharge. As much as I can with two kids!

I love dresses and shorts, but at the beginning of the season my legs are always so pale. I definitely don’t go for a dark tan like I used to in high school, but a little color on my legs is nice. It disguises spider veins and just makes everything look a little better! Plus, taking care of my skin is important to me so you won’t find me in a tanning bed or laying out all the time.

I’ve been using St. Moriz sunless tanner for years, and I love it. It’s super affordable and easy to use. My biggest fear is looking orange, and I’ve never felt that this stuff gives me an orange tan! They make a few different types, but I love the foam version.

Here are a few sunless tanner tips:

1. Shave and exfoliate before applying! After you shower, make sure to dry off all the way. If you’re worried about the tan being too dark or uneven, apply a little lotion first. I like to do this and wait 15 minutes, and then apply the tanner. I feel like it looks so much more even! Besides, my legs are always itchy after shaving so I need lotion!
2. Use gloves! Don’t think you can just wash your hands right away, You’ll still have stained palms. I ordered a box of medical gloves and just put on a pair every time I need to apply sunless tanner. You have to get a little creative to get the tops of your hands, but it’s totally doable.
3. Let it dry! I feel like it only takes 5-10 minutes for the sunless tanner to dry. If I’m going to bed, I usually wear pajama pants as added protection. I’ve never had a problem with stains!
4. Lastly, continue to apply lotion the following days! After you wash off the tanner and have a glow, you have to protect it. So make sure you use lotion to keep your skin hydrated and that tan will last a little longer.

Hope you enjoyed these tips! What’s your favorite sunless tanner?

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1. The ipsy bag & Tarte lip paint. If you haven’t heard of ipsy, it’s a monthly subscription of samples of beauty products. I love makeup so it’s fun to try out new trends, and I’ve definitely found some items that I’d actually buy again. When I first started getting the bags each month, I wasn’t too impressed because it had a bunch of face products, and I’m really pick about what I use for my face. I stick with what I know works and am not into the newest cleansers. However, I started logging in and reviewing my bag (it took 2 minutes) and now I get mostly makeup, which is what interests me most. It’s a fun little monthly treat that costs about $10, and you get cute bags each month. I’ve been able to find a million uses for these little bags! This month the pink bag is giving me all the heart eyes. If you’d like to try it out, here’s my referral code: ipsy Glam Bag.
2. My Cabine candle. I did a post last week about spring decor, and this soy candle was part of it. I have the Amber, Teakwood, and Leather candle and it smells so good. Even my hubby was impressed! Cabine is giving my readers 15% off with code ‘sheknowschic’ so head over to their site get your own candle!
3. Alex & Ani bracelets. These bracelets are so fun and there are a million different styles. They remind me of the old charm bracelets, but updated. They have a bracelet for every occasion, and they just look better the more you wear!
4. Dock-A-Tot. Where was this when I had Ben? Charlotte took a minute to warm up to the Dock-A-Tot, but now she loves it! I love it because I can move it around the house. I haven’t used it for co-sleeping yet, but I plan to! Something about how it “hugs” the baby must be comforting. Love!
5. This man. What else can I say? He’s just so good. This week I pushed it a little too much physically (still recovering I guess, whoops) and he was there every step of the way to take care of me and do all that he could around the house and with the kids. Sometimes I hate his fire schedule with him being gone for three days straight. But on the flip side, I get him for four straight days and that’s pretty amazing! We are so lucky he’s ours.

That’s it for Friday Favorites. Now go enjoy your weekend!

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