What's in My Winter Beauty Bag.

With the change of the seasons comes the change of the items in my handbag. Just as I am changing out the colors in my makeup and switching up a few things in my skincare routine, I always make a point to go into the beauty bag that I carry in my handbag and switch out products too. I keep my beauty bag stocked with just the necessities that I might need to get me through the day. These are the few vital products I am keeping in my beauty bag this winter.

A concealer for touching up is a must! I've sung the praises of COVERGIRL Ready Set Gorgeous Concealer in the past and I think I've had it in my beauty bag ever since. This concealer is perfect for touch-ups and layering over makeup. It's super lightweight and blends easily.

I rarely touch up my mascara, but because it is party season and I've been doing a lot of running around lately, I recently added a mascara to my beauty bag. Thinking of any possible eye look, I have the Makeup Academy Amp-Up Adjustable Mascara tucked into my bag. You see, not only does this mascara feature a buildable volumizing formula, it has a really innovative adjustable bush head. That means that I can create a lash look that is natural, full of volume or length or both — it's up to me and how I use the wand.

For face touch-ups, I have a L'Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Powder Glow Illuminator in Golden in my winter beauty bag. This is a blush and highlight product in one. It adds the perfect golden bronze glow to my cheeks and it seems to blend well over any makeup look I am wearing.

Of course I have lippies in my beauty bag; it wouldn't be complete without it. I could fill up an entire bag with lipstick and lipgloss but I've learned that I only need a few good basics, so I keep it pared down.  I don't wear lipgloss as often in the winter as I do in the summer, so I've kept it to just three lipstick products for winter. Right now I have COVERGIRL Lipperfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Coco Twist, COVERGIRL Outlast Longwear Lipstick in Phantom Pink (this is super moisturizing) and L'Oréal Paris Colour Rich Balm in Nourishing Nude. 

The perfect accessory to my lipstick is white teeth, of course. I mentioned how I was working on my party perfect smile a few weeks ago, and I've been touching that up on-the-go as well. That's why my beauty bag also includes the Whitening Pen from the CVS Health™ Toothbrush & Whitening Pen On-the-Go Treatment. This Whitening Pen is a really quick and easy way to whiten my smile. I apply the gel formula (it has a refreshing mint flavor) to freshly brushed teeth and let it dry for about 30 seconds. I'm careful not to eat or drink for 30 minutes after applying and just let the clinically proven advanced formula do the work.

I use the CVS Health™ Whitening Pen when I know I am going to be out and about driving, running errands, shopping or right before a hair or nail appointment. It's one of those effortless little things that I can do that has a big payoff. I have noticed whiter teeth after only a few days of using.

The last item in my winter beauty bag is a hand cream. This year I discovered Excipial Rapid Repair Hand Cream and my skin just drinks in the concentrated formula. I've been applying it every night before bed, but I also keep a tube in my beauty bag to use it on-the-go. Cold weather and a lot of hand washing means I need extra moisturization throughout the day too.

The products in my winter beauty bag can all be found at CVS/pharmacy, where you can find me shopping often. I like shopping at CVS for a few reasons. First, it's so convenient for me with two CVS stores in my town. I love that both stores (all CVS stores, in fact) have a HUGE selection of beauty products and innovative new items like the CVS Health™ Toothbrush & Whitening Pen On-the-Go Treatment. Second, CVS always has great deals and special perks. The perks are courtesy of the Beauty Club. Members of the CVS Beauty Club get things like $5 ExtraBucks® Rewards for every $50 spent on qualifying beauty products plus $3 ExtraBucks® Rewards on your birthday. Sign up if you haven't yet; you'll get a 10% off beauty shopping pass when you first sign up.

Do you carry anything different in your beauty bag in the winter months?

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with CVS/pharmacy. All opinions are 100% my own.

Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips Review & Giveaway.

The holidays are almost here. It's that time of year when I want to look my best. I see friends and relatives that I rarely see. Beside primping my hair and wearing my newest holiday makeup, I want my teeth to look their whitest.

Imagine looking great but having yellow teeth? When it comes to your teeth, you can take precautions to avoid a yellow smile. The truth is that over time, your smile can yellow from everyday activities such as drinking coffee, tea or just indulging in your favorite meal. Yellow teeth is not an option for me. And it's a fact; if you're not whitening, you're yellowing. My answer to yellowing teeth? Crest 3D White Professional Whitestrips.

Imagine my daughters surprise when she came home from school and kept looking at me funny. You see, I played a little trick. I actually "yellowed" my teeth to see if anyone would notice. She was the first person to see me and she couldn't put her finger on it at first, but then finally said, "What happened to your teeth, Mom?". I told her I hadn't been whitening.

She basically told me to do something about it and quick. Ha! I had to simply brush off the yellowing agent to get my teeth looking "normal" again. But I also knew that I had to get my smile in better shape for the season, so I put these Crest 3D White Whitestrips to good use.

These new Whitestrips are super easy to use. I simply peel off the strips and carefully place them over my teeth. With the advanced seal no-slip technology, the whitestrips conform to my teeth and stay in place for 30 minutes. When the time is up, I simply remove them and brush my teeth. After 20 treatments (you can use them once a day for a 20 day treatment or twice a day for a 10 day treatment), teeth are noticeably whiter and brighter; ready for a great holiday smile. These strips work to remove over 10 years of set-in stains with the same enamel-safe ingredient that dentists use, but at a fraction of the cost. I am happy to report that they are gentle on my super sensitive teeth and gums too.

Look for the Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips at your favorite drugstore or mass retailer. They can also be purchased online at www.3DWhite.com. One kit retails for $49.99.

One lucky Beautiful Makeup Search reader will win one box (twenty treatments) of Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips. To enter, leave a comment on this post (by clicking the comments link above or filling out the form below) telling my why you want your teeth to look their best this holiday season.

Crest 3D Whitestrips Sweepstakes
OFFICIAL RULES

The Crest 3D Whitestrips Sweepstakes (the “Sweepstakes”) is intended for participation only in the United States (excluding Rhode Island) and shall be construed according to, and governed exclusively by, United States law.  Do not participate in the Sweepstakes if you are not a legal resident of the United States (excluding Rhode Island) physically located in the United States (other than in Rhode Island)  at the time of entry or do not fall within the eligibility requirements set forth in these official rules.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  A PURCHASE, DONATION OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE CHANCES OF WINNING.
PROMOTION DESCRIPTION:  The Sweepstakes begins on or about November 12, 2012 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (“EST”) and ends on or about November 19, 2012 at 12:01 a.m. EST (the “Promotion Period”).  By participating in the Sweepstakes, each entrant unconditionally accepts and agrees to comply with and abide by these Official Rules and the decisions of Beautiful Makeup Search/Crest(“Sponsor”), which shall be final and binding in all respects.  Sponsor reserves the right to modify or terminate sweepstakes if conditions arise that compromise its integrity or intended play.

ELIGIBILITY:  Only legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia  (excluding Rhode Island) who are eighteen (18) years of age or older and located in the United States and the District of Columbia (excluding Rhode Island)  at the time of entry are eligible to enter the Sweepstakes. Employees of Sponsor and Sponsor’s advertiser partners and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, distributors, retailers, sales representatives, advertising and promotion agencies and each of their respective officers, directors and employees (and immediate family members and those persons living in the same household of any such officers, directors and employees) (collectively, the “Promotion Entities”), are ineligible to enter the Sweepstakes or win the prize.  Subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.  Void in Rhode Island, Puerto Rico, all U.S. territories and possessions and overseas military installations, and where prohibited.

TO ENTER: Leave a comment on this page stating why you want your teeth to look their best this holiday season.  Winner will be randomly chosen on or about November 19, 2012 and be notified by emai. Be sure to leave your email in the comment form where required, not in the comment.  Winner has 48 hours to respond or prize will be forfeited. All decisions by the sponsor are final.

PRIZE DELIVERY: Sweepstakes prize will be delivered within 4 weeks of sweepstakes promotion period ending.

By entering this sweepstakes, you agree to all official rules.

Update on 2012-11-19 15:27 by Teri Cosenzi, Editor

Congratulations to commenter #56 Johanna whom was randomly selected as the winner!