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.

Top 10 Luxury Beauty Gifts.

With Christmas just ten days away and it being a top ten Tuesday, I thought I'd put a fun spin on today's theme of 'Luxury Beauty' and share my favorite Luxury Beauty gifts. I sure have expensive taste when it comes to some beauty goodies and it's not all that luxurious when you think about it; some of these items are actually very effective beauty tools that I use. Affording DIY beauty tools are definitely a luxury so I included them! These are my top 10 favorite luxury beauty gifts for 2015.

1. NuFACE Chic Black Trinity + Eye and Lip Enhancer Attachment Bundle - $449 ($564 value)
Featured in my holiday gift guide

2. SkinCeuticals Age-Defying Laser + Antioxidant System - $649
Previously reviewed here

3. Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X Essentials Kit - $449 ($469 value)
Featured in my holiday gift guide

4. Illuminage Sleeping Beauty Deluxe Set - $99
Featured in my holiday gift guide

5. Clarisonic Mia 2 Keith Haring Pop Skin Cleansing System - $149 ($206 value)
Featured in my holiday gift guide

6. CHANEL Lower the Shades Eye Set - $127

7. Kevyn Aucoin Beauty The Essential Brush Collection - $650 ($710 value)

8. Christian Louboutin Beaute Rouge Louboutin Starlight - $675

9. Laura Mercier Limited Edition A Work of Art Colour Collection - $285

10. Kate Somerville Limited Edition Youthful Radiance Trio - $298 ($430 value)

Make sure you click on the reviews or features from the earlier gift guides to learn more about the products. If I haven't reviewed them, these are products that I have on my wish list and am definitely lusting after myself.

See what my beauty friends have on their luxury beauty top ten lists!

An InLinkz Link-up

My Perfect Holiday Pedi with Amopé™.

I've been on the quest for soft and smooth feet for sometime now. I spend a lot of time at the beach (I travel to Florida about once a month) and my feet pay the price. I am constantly pampering my feet because they are usually in pretty rough shape. I was introduced to the Amopé Pedi Perfect™ and added it to my routine just in time to get the perfect holiday pedi. 

Amopé Pedi Perfect™ is an electronic foot file that quickly and easily helps to remove dry, rough skin from the feet.

It's really easy to use; so easy to use because the unit does the work for me. The secret is the specially designed Micralumina roller head that rotates as I pass the unit over my feet.

I've been making a point to use the Amopé Pedi Perfect™ once or twice a week and the difference I see and feel is amazing. The unit is lightweight and easy to hold. The file does not hurt one bit as I glide it over the rough areas of my feet. I am amazed at how fast it works to remove the dead skin. The secret is to keep moving the unit around and not to leave it on one area too long. I continually pass the Amopé Pedi Perfect™ over the areas in slower movements until the rough areas are gone.

My first Amopé Pedi Perfect™ treatment took about 10 minutes on each foot — my feet were pretty rough. Now, with using it once or twice a week, I only need to spend about three or four minutes on each foot to keep them looking and feeling their best. A coat of pretty polish (red for the season) has my feet holiday pretty and perfect.

I like the Amopé Pedi Perfect™ so much that I think it makes a great holiday gift. I'm giving one to my sister as a Christmas present this year — I know she will love it. My sister Cindi is just as obsessed with pampering her feet as I am. We often go and have pedicures together and giving her this gift so she can keep up the routine of smooth feet at home will certainly be a treat for her.

Save $5 on the Amopé Pedi Perfect™ Electronic Foot File this holiday season with the $5 coupon on coupons.com. It's redeemable at Walmart nationwide! I bought the bonus pack (which included the extra refill) at my local Walmart. I couldn't miss the huge display right by the entrance to the store.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Amopé™. The opinions and text are all mine.