We Have a Winner!

I finally joined the iPhone cult, because Verizon was giving me hell and Sprint would work with me. But the downside is Verizon was a lost faster and I got more coverage with them, but whatever, Sprint was more helpful. ANYWAY I've been having the hardest time learning how to use this damn thing (even though I have an iPad and should know the basics) and syncing it with my computer.

But the giveaway is finally over! I will be emailing the winner or contacting them somehow. I'd rather not announce the winner publicly, just because you know, privacy issues.

But congratulations winner! You will know who you are in just a few moments! Thanks to everyone who entered, I will be doing another giveaway soon!

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I love all of you and thank you for your input and entries! Congratulations to the winner, and I will hear from you all soon. Or you will hear from me. 

Update: I heard from the winner, Erika Sorocco, and got permission from her to be mentioned in this post. Congratulations again! 

Favorite Drugstore Product Giveaway

It's giveaway time! I can't do anything too extravagant yet because I'm catching up on bills and whatnot, but I can do a little one.

All you have to do is recommend me your favorite drugstore product out of one of the categories below, and if you win I will buy that product and send you one as well for your prize. If my paycheck allows I might be able to send you a little something extra too! It should be a good prize since you picked it :P

So requirements:
1. Be a public follower on Breakfast at Gracey's
2. Comment ONE of your favorite drugstore products from ONE of these categories:

• dry shampoo for dark hair 
• hair scrunching product
• shampoo/conditioner 
• hair mask or treatment 
• heat protectant spray 

**Edit: I worded the rules strangely. Please pick a specific drugstore product that you like from one of those categories. Sorry I didn't make that clear in the first place. If you have already entered without picking a specific product, I'll still count your entries and just email you what product you would like if you do win. Sorry again! 

Extra Entries:

1. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway with your favorite product (make sure to tag @graceyloo252) +1

2. Do a blog post on the product you choose and why you choose it +3

3. Post about it on Google+  +2
4. Like Breakfast at Gracey's on Facebook +2
5. Post on the Breakfast at Gracey's Facebook page a specific drugstore product you enjoy, and make sure to link this giveaway! +3  

***If you participate in my book club I will add +5 automatically for you in my next giveaway!***

If you do any extra entries, make sure you either tag me or put the links in your comment. You can always recommend more than one product if you feel like it, but you still only get 1 entry. 

Also, make sure I can get in touch with you if you win. So if your contact info isn't available on your blog or Twitter or whatever make sure you leave your email address. 

The contest will end on Wednesday, July 16th. Good luck! 

My Winter Skincare Must Haves

My skin always gets a little drier in the winter months, but this year it just FREAKED out for some reason. I've never had such dry skin in my life (mainly on my face).

I had to change 2 main things in my makeup/skincare regimen: my cleanser and my foundation.

I was using the Cerave Hydrating Cleanser, which worked well for my skin in the summer (it get's dehydrated a lot), and MAC Pro Longwear foundation. My skin was starting to get very dry when it started getting cold, but once I switched from my Revlon Colorstay foundation to MAC Pro Longwear, my skin was very unhappy.

But on the bright side, I think I found the products that make my winter skin happy!

1. Mario Badescu Facial Spray- I've been using this since the summer, and it just works wonders. I only use night cream every other day, and in between days I just spray my face with this before I go to bed. I learned this trick on Youtube: If your skin gets little flakies on it throughout the day, take a makeup brush (stippling, powder, foundation, or whatever), spray a little makeup setting spray on it, and brush it over the flakey part. It won't get rid of the problem completely, but it will temporarily make the flakes less noticeable.

2. Body Moisturizer- The rest of my skin also gets pretty dry in the winter, so I make sure to moisturize after I get out of the shower because the hot water tends to dry out my skin more. My favorite is the Secret Wonderland scent from Bath and Body Works!

3. Mario Badescu Collagen Moisturizer- I got this as a sample when I filled out the skin care analysis questionairre on the Mario Badescu website, and I bought the full size of it when there was a Mario Badescu Hautelook sale. This is probably one of my favorite moisturizers because it doesn't make my skin too greasy, absorbs quickly, and has an spf of 15. It also works well for me in the summer and winter so I don't have to switch moisturizers (like I did for facial cleanser).

4. Yes to Carrots Nourishing Cleanser and Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser- I had used this before but I stopped using it during the summer because my skin didn't need the extra moisture like it does in the winter. This was the main thing that saved my skin, the only dry parts I have no are around my nose and above my eyebrows, as I do year round. I am in LOVE with this cleanser during the cold months. I also bought the exfoliating cleanser to use a few time a week just to get rid of any dead skin cells.

5. A good lip butter/balm- My lips need a little extra attention in the winter time. I always keep a chapstick, lip butter, lip balm, etc., with me when I'm out and apply it when they start to feel dry. I also apply before bed and when I wake up in the morning. I have so many different ones I use I can't even choose a favorite, haha :)

6. A lip scrub- This is especially important to get all of the dead skin off your lips. If you are applying lip balm to your lips but don't get rid of the dead skin cells, the lip balm won't do much. There are tons of DIY lip scrubs you could do, but I'm kind of lazy and I use Sara Happ's the Lip Scrub.

7. Revlon Colorstay Foundation- Since I couldn't afford to get the foundation I wanted (Vapour Organic Beauty foundation), I switched back to my Revlon Colorstay for normal/dry skin. It was a lot nicer to my skin than the MAC Pro Longwear was, I'll have to use that one in the summer instead.

Well that's all of my winter skincare items. Well not all of them but the most important ones :) Does your skin get dry in the winter? What helps you keep it hydrated and healthy?

What I'm Loving: August

Wow, school and work has really been taking up a majority of my time lately. I'm so sorry for being slack! I figured since it's already the beginning of September, I need to do a What I'm Loving for August!

1. Morn Creations Shark Backpack- Yep, I did end up buying it. I made a lot of purchases with my last paycheck and this was definitely the one I was most excited about. Sharks are my favorite animal and this bookbag is just so adorable! I was a little worried that it was going to be too small, but it's a great size for me. I'm a small person anyway so it's a great size for me. It doesn't hold as much as previous bookbags I've had, but it gets the job done.

2. RMS Beauty "Un" Cover-Up- This has become a new staple product for me. First of all, the ingredients are great, natural, and safe. Second, the coverage is great and it looks very natural. RMS beauty makes their products so you can use them many different ways. I use this as a concealer for under my eyes and on any trouble spots, and also to touch up my makeup throughout the day.

3. Vapour Organic Beauty Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation- I use this foundation with the Vapour Organic Beauty Stratus Soft Focus Instant Skin Perfector (a face primer by the same brand). At first I didn't really know what to think. It was a very odd product for my first few uses. When I applied the primer the texture felt slightly oily and gross. Then after I applied the foundation, my skin looked very dry in spots it didn't look dry before. When I looked in the mirror a few minutes later, it looks absolutely amazing. I don't know how but it did. And it was so natural looking I couldn't even get over it. Favorite foundation ever! It also has great safe ingredients. The only complaint I have about it is that it isn't as long wearing as I would like, but I carry my RMS Beauty "Un" Cover-Up with me to touch up any spots that need it.

4. Korres Lip Butter- This is probably one of the BEST lip butters I have ever used. It is incredibly moisturizing and it really sinks into my lips instead of just sitting on top of them. It smells great, kind of like fruity candy, and has a perfect flush of color. I will be repurchasing multiple times as I go through these!

5. 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Mascara- I did a full review on this mascara here, but in case you didn't read it, I LOVE this mascara. Since switching to more natural and chemical free beauty products, this was one of the fist I tried. It's a lengthening mascara pigmented by fruit! It smells like fruit, and I mean real fruit not synthetically scented. It makes my lashes extremely long and it doesn't smudge or flake throughout the day!

6. Phyto Phytodefrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm- I've tried many products to help my hair be less frizzy, more shiny, and straight especially for when I let it air dry. Most of them weren't bad, but not the special product I was looking for either. I got this as a sample in an Ulta sample bag and I've absolutely fallen in love. I use this every single time I get out of the shower. It keeps my frizz tame and it helps straighten my hair. I take my showers at night on school nights and wake up and straighten it. Sometimes I'll wake up late and not have time to, but when I use this I feel like I don't need to sometimes. Before I used this, my hair got pretty out of control even if I let it air dry overnight. I definitely recommend this for anyone who has straight/wavy, frizzy hair.

That's all my favorites for this month! Let me know if you've tried any of these products. I'm going to try my hardest to keep up with my blog this semester. Physics is absolutely killing me haha. Gave a great week everyone!

What I'm Loving: June (early)

I'm going to be moving into our official new house at the end of the week, which also happens to be the end of the month so I figured I should do what I'm loving for June a little early.

1. Ice Breakers Ice Cubes in cool Lemon- I have been SERIOUSLY addicted to this gum this month. I'm like a chain smoker when it comes to this stuff, when a piece looses its flavor, I'll spit it out and put in another piece. I can go through probably 2 packs of this in a day if I wanted to. It tastes like fresh squeezed lemonade, and it even has that cooling effect which is PERFECT for hot days!

2. Benefit's Creaseless Cream shadow in Flatter Me- I picked this up at Ulta so I could get that little gift set with 3 of their mini products that I could include in my giveaway. I've been wearing this pretty much every day. I use to just wear MAC's painterly, which is great for concealing and going for the "no makeup look", but this is for the days when I want a little color on my lids. So easy to apply! Also works great as a base.

3. Winnie the Pooh Quotes- I've always been a Winnie the Pooh lover. A.A. Milne definitely has a way with words! You can read some of the Pooh quotes here. They are just so sweet and so inspiring :)

4. The Lip Scrub by Sara Happ- My lips get very dry and flakey if I don't take care of them properly. I think there are good DIY versions of this that are just as good, but I'm kind of lazy and fail at most DIY things, so I like the convenience of this :) Plus I got the Cinnamon Sugar flavor because I LOVE cinnamon. I exfoliate my lips with this at night and my lips are so soft and flake free in the morning!

5. C.O. Bigelow Lemon and Black Cherry Lip Balm- I got this at the Bath and Body Works sale for like $2! So cheap! This is one of my favorite daily lip balms, for giving my lips a little moisture throughout the day. The best part is it smells SO GOOD! It moisturizers just as well as the Nivea a Kiss of Moisture, but has an added amazing smell and sweet taste.

6. My Ray Bans- Sunglasses are a must have for summer and my favorites are still my Ray Ban Wayfarers! Very classy and simple, and awesome quality. I always keep them in my car because the sun likes to blind me, and I'm often too short for my visor to do anything for me :P

7. Garnier Fructis Anti Humidity Hairspray- I mentioned this in my how to fight summer humidity post. My hair is straight on most days and I spray it with this hairspray to lock in my sleek style and keep the humidity out. I have the flexible control one, so it doesn't weigh my hair down at all or make it stiff, and smells incredible. I don't usually use this for curling my hair though, I need something much stronger.

8. Victoria's Secret So Sexy Straight & Silky Styling Mist- Long name, but works wonders for my hair! I spray this in my hair before I blow dry it (if I blow dry it, I try to avoid that as much as I can). It's my favorite heat protectant and my mom's favorite too! It keeps our hair smooth and straight as well as protects it from our heat products!

9. Breakfastatgraceys.com!- Yep, I finally paid the $10 and got my custom domain switched from breakfastatgraceys.blogspot.com to breakfastatgraceys.com. Yay!

What are your favorite things this month?

What hair product can't you live without?

Have you found a hair product you can't live without? Shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, etc.?
Mine is John Frieda's Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Creme.

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It truly is my secret weapon. If I'm having a bad hair day, this instantly makes it looks at least 5 times better. It keeps my hair shiny and de-frizzes it very nicely. I've only ever used it on my straight hair and wavy-ish hair, so curly girls proceed with caution. And it's only about $6!! Yay!

What's your hair's secret weapon?