Getting Started with Young Living Essential Oils

Happy Friday, friends!

I know it’s been a while since I posted something, but I’ve been working on a few things that have required some extra attention, and I’ve been focusing a little more on family- so please forgive me.

I didn’t plan to post anything today, but I decided to pop in and do a quick little post on how to get started using Young Living Essential Oils.

I know most of you are familiar with them, and at this point either already use them or have no interest- but I have had enough people asking me about them to take the time to do this.

So here we go! 🙂

First of all, it’s super simple getting started- so if you’re interested in getting started, you can hop on over to Young Living and follow the simple steps & use Member# 1932473! But if you need a refresher on how it works, and the benefits- read on! I will also include step-by-step instructions on how to fill everything out!

Is Young Living Right For You?

Customer or Independent Distributor?

• Customer(buy at retail pricing – no requirements, no fees)
• Independent Distributor asCustomer (buy at wholesale pricing – no fees, but there is a $50/year purchase requirement)
• Independent Distributor asBusiness (buy at wholesale pricing – no fees, but there is a purchase requirement – read more bellow)

Customer

This type of membership is completely FREE to join.

• No membership fees.
• No yearly dues.
• No obligation.
• No selling.

This type of membership allows you to easily order the oils and products that you need at retail pricing, plus tax & shipping. This membership does not get you wholesale pricing.

Independent Distributor as Customer (Save 24% with Wholesale Pricing)

This type of membership is signed up as “Independent Distributor” and requires the purchase of a starter kit, which you can choose for yourself. They are great kits that range in price from $45 to $260. You only have to purchase a starter kit once, at sign up – and they are useful. The Premium Starter Kit ($160) is a great value, not just because it’s at the top price tier but because you get roughly $300 worth of product! This kit comes with a diffuser (I love mine!) and includes eleven different bottles of oil to get you started, a roll-on attachment, 10 samples packets, 10 sample bottles, and materials to help you become familiar with oils and how to use them. If a diffuser isn’t something you’re interested in, or you already know what things you’d like to order, the Basic Starter Kit ($45) is a great way to get in and then you can begin ordering the products you want at wholesale right away.

• Save 24% off of retail pricing.
• No membership fees.
• No yearly dues.
• No obligation.
• No selling required.

Independent Distributor as Business (Save 24% with Wholesale Pricing)

This type of membership is with the intent of making an income! It is similar to the information above, with a few changes. If you love essential oils, chances are that you already share what you know with friends and family. By being a distributor, you can earn a commission when those people (and more!) buy oils from you, or sign up under you. Just like being a wholesale customer, you are required to purchase a starter kit, which range in price from $45 to $260 (depending on diffuser choice). You only have to purchase a starter kit once (same as above). If you wish to earn a commission check, you must also be enrolled in the “Essential Rewards” program. In addition to making a commission and being eligible for payment, you also earn Essential Rewards points that can be redeemed for free products. These points are great for buying gifts, having stock on hand, or treating yourself to something special.

Want to get Oily?

The first thing to remember is that signing up does not obligate you to anything. You will never pay membership fees and you will never be obligated to make a purchase that you don’t want. When you sign up with Young Living essential oils, it is an opportunity for you to explore without worry.

Choose a Starter Kit

You’ve decided that membership is the way for you. That’s great! That means that you will instantly start saving 24% on the products you love to use.

Because signing up as a member opens you up to earning opportunities, Young Living wants to help set you up for success. To do this, you choose a starter kit when signing up as a member.

Kits range in price from $45, all the way up to $260. You can choose any kit. If you already own a lot of oils and a great YL diffuser, you may only need the $40 kit to get you in the door. If you think you’d like to replenish, or take advantage of the deals, a premium starter kit is the way to go.

The Premium Starter Kit

The Premium Starter Kit is an exceptional value. It includes all you need to get started with Young Living:

A diffuser of your choice, this will determine the price of your kit. There are three great diffusers to choose from to fit your needs and preferences.

-Dew Drop Diffuser ($160 – 34% savings)

-Bamboo Diffuser ($170 – 35% savings)

-Aria Diffuser ($260 – 36% savings & 1 per member limit)
The new Premium Essential Oils Collection kit includes 10 bottles of oil! Lavender, Peppermint, Lemon, Copaiba, Frankincense, Thieves®, Purification®, R.C.™, DiGize™, & PanAway® ! Plus a BONUS Stress Away™ and an AromaGlide™ Roller Fitment, two Lavender Sample Packets, two Peppermint Sample Packets, two Peace & Calming Sample Packets, two Lemon Sample Packets, two Thieves Sample Packets, 10 sample bottles (these are great for sharing!), and two NingXia Red 2-oz. samples.

In addition to products, your kit contains a host of materials to make your business opportunity a success: Sample Packet Business Cards, the Welcome to Young Living booklet, Essential Oils at a Glance user’s guide, Distributor Resource Guide, S.E.E.D. Sharing for Success booklet, and more.

PLUS! Young Living recently announced that all Premium Kits would also come with an additional FREE 5ml bottle of oil. Each kit will include (at random) Lemongrass, Orange, or Tangerine essential oil! That’s 12 oils you’ll be receiving!

There are other kits to choose from, and any one of them will help you gain member (distributor) status, but this kit is by far the best value – even if you just want to stock up on some great oils!

Visit YoungLiving.com to get started!

Step 1 – Once on the page:

• Be sure that “member” is selected. (Unless you do not want the 24% discount and would prefer to sign up as a customer.)
• Check off: “A member referred me, and I have his or her information.” The member number should read: 1932473
• Fill out your personal information and check that you understand the Terms & Conditions. (This page does ask for your social. The reason it needs this is for legal tax purposes, because you have the ability to earn an income.)
• Choose a username, password and PIN. Be sure to write these down somewhere safe! You will need them to log in and/or call Young Living’s member services.

Step 2 – Select Your Kit!

• If you’d like to maximize your savings, select any “Premium Starter Kit”. These kits are the ones with the Premium Essential Oils Collection, diffuser, extras, and business starter kit. The other kits do not include the Premium Essential Oils Collection (10 oils).
• If you’re not worried about the additional savings, select any kit that speaks to you.

Step 3 – Essential Rewards (Optional)

Essential Rewards (ER) is an optional discount program within Young Living. You can choose to sign up now, later, or not at all. By enrolling in ER, you will earn up to 20% back on purchases (starting at 10% and increasing as you stay in the program) as points, which can be redeemed for free oils.

• If you would like to enroll in ER, you may choose a kit at this time.
• If you would rather not enroll at this time (or you would, but would prefer to choose specific products, as opposed to a kit) you can simply select “No, thank you” and you may enroll at any time by logging into your Virtual Office.

Step 4 – Shipping and Billing

• Enter your payment information and continue to complete your signup and purchase.
• You will have an opportunity to double check all of your information and this will be used when you make purchases moving forward. (You can change it at any time by logging into your Virtual Office.)
• Click “Activate and Place Order” button, and you are done!

Your membership is all set to go and will remain active so long as you spend at least $50 in a calendar year (on anything you choose.) There are no membership fees or additional requirements.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to ask! I would love for you to join my team and we can support each other on a healthier journey! We will always stay connected through a special Facebook group full of wonderful, supporting oil lovers!

Happy Oiling!

Young Living Products Under $20

Typically when people talk about Young Living they think of essential oils. Although Young Living is best known for their essential oils they are a Health and Wellness Company and offer a wide range of products for multiple aspects of your life.

If you or someone you love has been looking for better alternatives to everyday products, or if you have been interested in getting into oils yourself, this holiday season might be the perfect opportunity. Today we are going to cover LOTS of Young Living products all for $20 or less! Hopefully this will give you some insight on some oily Christmas gifts, or if you’re looking to start out but you don’t want to commit to the Premium Starter Kit just yet.

From now until the end of December, anyone who orders directly through me with an order of $50 or more will receive a FREE 15ml. Young Living Orange Essential Oil! Anyone who orders a Premium Starter Kit will receive a FREE copy of Gentle Babies by Debra Raybern! Just contact me about any orders you’d like to place. 🙂

*Due to FDA restrictions, all summaries on the products have come directly from Young Living’s website  and I will have a direct link to each product. You will also see two prices listed, wholesale/retail. If you would like to learn more about any of the products covered, feel free to email me and we can go into more detail.

LETS GET STARTED! 

When we decided that we wanted to be more mindful of the products we were using, our cleaning products were the first to go. Young Living offers a great line of cleaning products and they are constantly adding more! One of the newer products Young Living has to offer is Thieves Dish Soap!

1. Thieves Dish Soap 13.75/18.09
   

With naturally derived ingredients, Thieves® Dish Soap effectively cleans your dishes without chemicals, dyes, or synthetics. Young Living pure essential oils—Thieves®, Jade Lemon™, and Bergamot—work with other plant-based ingredients to leave your dishes sparkling clean.

Perhaps you’ve done some research and you’re looking to do away with your hand sanitizer but you still need something to REALLY keep the yuckies away?  Well Young Living offers THREE really great options!

2. Thieves Spray 9.00/11.84
   

Thieves® Spray is ideal for use on door handles, toilet seats, and any surface that needs cleansing to protect from dust, mold, and undesirable microorganisms. This small bottle is perfect for traveling or keeping in your purse or backpack.

3. Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier 13.75/18.09 (3 pack)
   

Thieves® Waterless Hand Purifier is an all-natural hand purifier designed to cleanse and refresh the hands. Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier can be used by adults and children to keep hands clean and promote good hygiene, without the use of water. Dermatologist tested.

4. Thieves Wipes 25/17.43
   

Thieves® wipes are infused with the renowned benefits of Thieves essential oil blend. Thieves wipes can be used to cleanse the skin or any surface that needs cleaning. ESSENTIAL OILS: Clove, Cinnamon Bark, Rosemary, Lemon, Eucalyptus Radiata Note: Not for use on infants or sensitive areas of the body.

Maybe you’re looking for some oral care? Young Living covers that too! With several different toothpaste options, you’re bound to find one that you, your family and friends might like to try!

5. Thieves Dentarome Plus 75/8.88
   

Thieves® Dentarome Plus Toothpaste contains ingredients such as thymol and eucalyptol that are found in clove and thyme essential oils, along with gentle, odor-absorbing baking soda.

6. Thieves Dentarome Ultra 8.75/11.51
   

Thieves® Dentarome Ultra Toothpaste is an advanced formula of all-natural ingredients that gently cleans and whitens your teeth while harnessing the power of pure, therapeutic-grade Thieves essential oil blend for fresh breath. Dentarome Ultra is preferred by those concerned with the appearance of whiter teeth.

7. Thieves AromaBright 10.25/13.49
   

This 4 oz. premium, all-natural toothpaste is made with pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils, including the cleansing and protective benefits of Thieves® essential oil blend. Its safe and effective formula provides a fortress of support for healthy gums, strong teeth, and a confident smile. It is the optimal choice for health-minded consumers. (My personal favorite!)

Some other healthy oral options are:

8. Thieves Dental Floss 8.75/11.51 (3 pack)
   

Thieves® Dental Floss is made with strong fibers that resist fraying and breakage and easily glides between teeth for those hard-to-reach places. Saturated twice with the power of Thieves essential oil blend and peppermint essential oil, this hard-wearing floss provides two layers of essential oils, offering double the protection to freshen your breath.

9. Thieves Kid Scents 7.25/9.54
   

This new formula is an all-natural toothpaste for kids that uses Thieves® and Slique™ Essence essential oil blends to gently clean and protect teeth. This safe, yet effective, blend promotes healthy teeth without the use of fluoride, dyes, synthetic colors, artificial flavors, or preservatives. (This one is usually out of stock, so if you’re interested in it, you need to grab it as soon as you notice its available!)

10. Thieves Fresh Essence Mouthwash 11.00/14.47
    

Thieves® Fresh Essence Plus Mouthwash contains a special formulation of essential oils that provides incredibly fresh breath. The unique liposome technology (using soy-derived lecithin) binds the essential oils to the mucous membrane inside the mouth for longer-lasting effects on teeth and gums.

11. Thieves Mints 12.75/16.78
    

Enjoy the cool, invigorating taste of Thieves® Mints. The sugar-free ingredients include the power of Thieves and Peppermint essential oils, providing a healthy alternative to freshen your breath.

If you haven’t noticed yet, Thieves is where it’s at!

In addition to oral support, Young Living also has hair and skin care.

12. Lip Balm Trio 10.35/13. 62 (These can each be purchased as individuals)
    

Give your lips the best with this set of three lip balm varieties—Cinnamint, Lavender, and Grapefruit. Each with their own unique blend of essential oils and other nourishing botanicals, these hydrating lip balms seal in moisture for smooth, soft lips.

13. Satin Facial Scrub Mint 16.25/21.38
    

Satin Facial Scrub™ Mint is an advanced cleansing formula designed for normal skin. It cleans, nourishes, and stimulates without damaging the skin’s natural pH balance. Safe, gentle ingredients help to exfoliate and rejuvenate the skin for a fresher, smoother appearance. Contains MSM, antioxidant vitamins, and botanicals.

14. Essential Beauty Serum 20.25/26.64
    

Essential Beauty Serums are specially formulated for dry, oily, or acne-prone skin. Young Living’s serums offer the skin care benefits of pure essential oils to protect, strengthen, and improve the appearance of the skin. Each serum also utilizes a proprietary blend of skin-nourishing carrier oils such as coconut, avocado, jojoba, rosehip seed, and wolfberry seed for ease in application and absorption and to protect the skin without over drying or clogging pores. The dry skin formula moisturizes and nourishes dehydrated skin.

15. LavaDerm Cooling Mist 13.75/18.09
    

Bring relief to stressed skin with a blend of gentle skin-soothing ingredients including lavender essential oil aloe vera. Spray directly onto the affected area and repeat every 10-15 minutes until desired relief is achieved.

16. Lavender Mint Daily Shampoo AND Conditioner 19.75/25.99 (each)
    Shampoo  Conditioner
    

Plant-based, safe and environmentally responsible, Lavender Mint Daily Shampoo and Conditioner is an invigorating daily moisture blend suitable for all hair types.

17. Lavender Volume Shampoo AND Conditioner 19.75/25.99 (each)
    Shampoo  Conditioner
    

Lavender Volume Shampoo and Conditioner™ gently conditions and volumizes fine hair. A fabulous follow-up to Lavender Volume Shampoo, it is formulated with MSM, milk protein, and vitamins to strengthen limp and weak hair. Essential oils are added to ensure that nutrients penetrate the hair follicle and leave the hair clean and perfumed.

18. Kid Scents Shampoo 16.00/21.05
    

KidScents® Shampoo has a safe, mild formula designed to provide the perfect pH balance for children’s delicate skin. It contains MSM, a natural sulfur compound known to strengthen hair, along with aloe vera, chamomile, and other nourishing herbs and vitamins.

Bath and Shower Gel-

19. Morning Start 18.75/24.67
    

Morning Start™ Bath & Shower Gel gets your day started right with an invigorating blend of the finest essential oils added to naturally cleansing and moisturizing botanicals.

20. Sensation 20.75/27.30
    

Sensation™ Bath & Shower Gel combines an enchantingly fragrant mix of oils used by Cleopatra to enhance love and increase desire with the finest natural ingredients to create a sensational bath time experience.

21. Dragon Time 20.25/26.64
    

Dragon Time™ Bath & Shower Gel combines the soothing and calming properties of essential oils with naturally moisturizing botanicals for a luxurious gel that leaves you feeling clean, relaxed, and uplifted. This bath and shower gel is particularly comforting for women during their monthly cycles.

22. Lavender 18.50/24.34
    

Relax your body and rejuvenate your mind with a soothing bath of nature’s finest lavender essential oil. All-natural ingredients work to refresh and condition your skin as you unwind from your busy day. Pour directly into the water for a luxurious bubble bath, or drop a quarter-sized amount onto a bath sponge and lather.

23. Bath & Shower Gel Base 15.50/20.39
    

Bath & Shower Gel Base lets you exercise your creativity by adding the essential oil single or blend of your choice for a luxurious, personalized bath or shower experience. Simply add a few drops of the oil, mix, and enjoy! Also works well as liquid hand soap, customized with your choice of essential oils.

24. Kid Scents Bath Gel 15.75/20.72
    

KidScents® Bath Gel is a safe, gentle, and mild all-natural liquid soap that contains MSM ( a natural form of sulfur that promotes healthy, clear skin), soothing aloe vera, a mix of antioxidant vitamins and botanicals, and fragrant essential oils to leave tender skin feeling soft and refreshed. KidScents Bath Gel has the perfect pH balance for children’s skin.

Hand and Body Lotion-

25. Genesis 20.50/26.97
    

Genesis™ Hand & Body Lotion blends coconut oil and lecithin with essential oils and MSM to promote soft, healthy skin. It moisturizes, normalizes, and protects skin against harsh weather, rough work, chemicals, and household cleaners, leaving skin feeling smooth and wonderfully fragrant. Additional antioxidants and botanicals provide protection from free radical damage.

26. Lavender 20.75/27.30
    

Bring life back to your skin with this all-natural lightweight moisturizer infused with skin-loving lavender essential oil. Added nutrients such as wolfberry seed and jojoba oils fortify your skin’s natural moisture barrier to maintain long-lasting hydration.

Bar Soap- All Bar Soaps with the exclusion of Valor list as 10.25/13.49 Valor 11.25/14.80

27. Lavender Rosewood
    

Soothe and soften the skin as you cleanse with a nourishing all-natural formulation of ingredients such as aloe vera, jojoba oil, and nature’s finest lavender essential oil.

28. Lemon Sandalwood
    

Lemon-Sandalwood Cleansing Soap™ combines exquisite fragrance with all-natural ingredients to cleanse, soothe, and soften skin. Young Living’s bar soaps are created through a proprietary process that minimizes the presence of skin-drying alkali salts, which are a major cause of dryness and irritation.

29. Melaleuca Geranium

Melaleuca-Geranium Bar Soap™ is made with pure botanical oils that are easily absorbed, while the essential oils of melaleuca, geranium, and vetiver soothe and moisturize, creating healthy skin naturally.

30. Morning Start
    

Morning Start Bar Soap™ will get your day off to a great start with an energizing blend of four essential oils and all-natural ingredients that soothe and moisturize while cleansing your skin.

31. Peppermint Cedarwood
    

Peppermint Cedarwood Bar Soap™ combines the invigorating scent of peppermint, the cleansing power of cedarwood, and a blend of natural ingredients to soothe and cleanse the skin.

32. Sacred Mountain
    

Sacred Mountain Bar Soap™ has a unique hypoallergenic vegetable base with naturally occurring moisturizers. Formulated to minimize the presence of alkali salts, a major cause of dryness and irritation.

33. Thieves
    

Thieves® Cleansing Soap is enriched with the powerful Thieves essential oil blend, moisturizing plant oils, and botanical extracts to help cleanse, purify, and promote soft, healthy skin.

34. Valor
    

Valor® Moisturizing Soap combines the empowering scent of Valor essential oil blend with all-natural ingredients to cleanse, soothe, and moisturize.

35. Lavender Foaming Hand Soap 11.50/15.13
    

As the newest addition to Young Living’s Lavender Signature Series, Lavender Foaming Hand Soap lends it’s gentle, cleansing properties to our natural product lineup. Soothing and rejuvenating on even the most sensitive skin, just a small amount of this fragrant soap cleanses and conditions your skin without leaving it dry or irritated. Infused with Young Living Therapeutic Grade lavender essential oil. Lavender Foaming Hand Soap is sure to become a household favorite.

Deodorant-

36. Meadow Mist 11.00/14.47
    

AromaGuard® Deodorants are the first natural deodorants formulated exclusively from therapeutic-grade essential oils and all-natural ingredients. They provide a pleasant and safe alternative to commercial deodorants and are free of propylene glycol and toxic aluminum salts.

37. Mountain Mist 11.00/14/47
    

AromaGuard® Deodorants are the first natural deodorants formulated exclusively from therapeutic-grade essential oils and all-natural ingredients. They provide a pleasant and safe alternative to commercial deodorants and are free of propylene glycol and toxic aluminum salts.

Young Living also has a line to help aide in weight management.

38. Slique Bars 17.75/23.36
    

Slique Bars dual-targeted satiety approach and medley of exotic fruits, nuts, and science creates the perfect functional, nutritious snack to help you feel fuller, longer. Each box contains six bars (35 g each).

39. Slique Bars Chocolate Coated 17.75/23.36
    

Members have always enjoyed Slique® Bars as a delicious weight-management tool that utilizes a dual-target approach to help manage satiety. Now this innovative bar is coated in delicious dark chocolate!

To support any weight-management plan, Slique® Bars are loaded with exotic baru nuts and wholesome almonds, which promote satiety when combined with protein and fiber. We also use a potato skin extract that, when ingested, triggers the release of cholecystokinin in the body, increasing the duration of feelings of fullness.

Slique® Bars deliver essential nutrients from a unique superfruit blend of goldenberries and wolfberries, plus pure Cinnamon, Vanilla, and Orange essential oils. This dual-target satiety approach and medley of exotic fruits, nuts, and potato skin extract create a nutritious, stimulant-free snack to help you feel fuller, longer.

40. Slique Gum 7.75/10.20 (8ct)
    

Ancient travelers throughout the Middle East used raw frankincense resin for its nutritional content and ability to help control hunger. Slique™ Gum offers those same benefits in a modern delivery system that helps control food cravings and improve oral health.

41. Slique Tea 19.75/25.99 (25ct)
    

Slique Tea is an exotic drink from Young Living that has been formulated with natural ingredients to help support individual weight goals.* This blend is rich in flavonoids, a dietary compound generally associated with helping maintain certain normal, healthy body functions. It also contains polyphenols, which may be useful as part of a guilt-free weight-management regimen when combined with a healthy diet and physical activity. This unique blend is enhanced with 100% pure therapeutic grade Frankincense powder.

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.

Young Living also offers some healthy snacking options!

42. Einkorn Nuggets 19.75/25.99 (14ct)
    

Our rich, exotic Ecuadorian chocolate delicately enrobes a sweet center made with whey and rare heirloom Einkorn grain. The benefits of Einkorn-considered one of the earliest and purest forms of the cultivated wheat- include higher nutritional value and fewer digestive concerns compared to other varieties of wheat. Young Living founder D. Gary Young recognized the value of this ancient crop and formulated Einkorn Nuggets to offer the best of both modern and ancient ingredients. This decadent snack also features whey and peppermint and spearmint essential oils. It is sweetened with sugar-free stevia and coconut syrup, making it a unique wellness snack the whole family can enjoy. Includes: Fourteen (15g) nuggets

43. Wolfberry Crisp 16.75/22.04
    

Wolfberry Crisp™ bars are delicious, naturally-sweetened meal replacement bars. These delicious bars will satisfy your appetite, provide an antioxidant boost to your immune system and supply high-quality protein for muscle building. Wolfberry Crisp bars are all-natural and certified dairy kosher.

Those are just some of the few affordable options of everyday products Young Living has to offer! Now let’s move onto OILS! Due to the amount of oils I am just going to list their name and price. If you want to know more about certain oils please visit Young Living’s website or feel free to ask me!

SINGLES-

Black Pepper 5ml 18.75/25.67

Cedarwood 15ml 11.25/14.80

Citronella 15ml 19.50/25.66

Clove 15ml 15.35/20.07

Cypress 15ml 19.25/25.33

Dill 5ml 15.75/20.72

Eucalyptus Blue 5ml 15.00/19.74

Eucalyptus Globulus  15ml 14.50/19.08

Eucalyptus Radiata 15ml 18.50/24.34

Fennel 15ml 17.25/22.70

Ginger 5ml 13.25/17.43

Goldenrod 5ml 15.25/20.07

Grapefruit 15ml 16.75

Lemon 15ml 11.25/14.80

Lemongrass 15ml 11.25/14.80

Lime 15ml 12.25/16.12

Jade Lemon 5ml 10.75/14.14

Nutmeg 5ml 13.00/17.11

Orange 15ml 10.75/14.14

Pine 15ml 15.00/19.74

Rosemary 15ml 15.50/20.39

Spearmint 5ml 10.75/14.14

Tangerine 15ml 16.00/21.05

Tarragon 5ml 20.50/26.97

Vetiver 5ml 20.75/27.30

Wintergreen 15ml 17.75/23.36

BLENDS-

Awaken 5ml 20.50/26.97

Christmas Spirit 5ml 10.25/13.49

Citrus Fresh 5ml 15.25/20.07

Envision 5ml 18.75/25.67

Grounding 5ml 17.75/23.36

Melrose 15ml 19.75/25.99

Peace and Calming II 5ml 20.75/27.30

Purification 15ml 18.75/24.67

R.C. 5ml 10.25/13.49

Taste of Italy 5ml 19.00/25.00

As you can see there are many items to choose from! One oil can be used for multiple things so you aren’t limited even by ordering one oil. Do some research and see if there is something you’d like to try out. Ask your loved ones if they are interested in trying something new! Young Living offers something for everyone.

Beyond what you see here, Young Living offers different oil collections, system support, multi vitamins, pet care and more!

Another great option for the holiday season is splitting a kit! When you purchase a Premium Starter Kit you will receive 11 oils total- perfect for splitting up as seperate gifts!

I would love to be the one to help you get your oil journey started!

Happy Oiling!

**The products/statements above have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All pictures, descriptions and prices were taken directly from Young Living’s website and I do not own the rights to any of the pictures above.

We Did Everything “Wrong”

We did everything “wrong”.

It’s true. Lots of people have told us and we have been doing it all wrong from the beginning…

Growing up I always thought I would finish high school, graduate from college, get a great job, meet someone, have this big beautiful wedding, buy a house, and eventually have children. That’s how I thought everyone did it… I just thought that’s how it was done.

But that’s not how we did it…

Toby and I went on our first date when I was just 17. Long story short, he was a loser and I wasn’t interested.

Flash-forward a couple of years and a bunch of bad decisions later and suddenly we are back in each other’s lives. We were head over heels for each other and after just a few shorts months, living together.

That was our first “mistake”. Moving in with someone you just started dating? How crazy, right?

Right. It was very crazy. We probably shouldn’t have moved into together so soon- we barely knew each other, but we quickly learned a lot about one another and I treasure that time as some of the best memories I have.

Looking back, it’s hard to believe we had nights where we could stay up past midnight without hating ourselves for it the next day. That we could sleep in past seven, or that we could call out of work for being hungover and not think twice about it.

There were times we had more beer in our fridge than groceries. Times of loud music with words I haven’t spoken in years, random people passing in and out of our house, and just being crazy kids.

Another mistake I made was partying too much and being so wrapped up in life and this guy that I completely brushed off school.

Then I got pregnant, and boy did that all change.

There I go again, doing things I “shouldn’t”. Pregnant at 19? GASP!

But we were so happy to find out that we were going to be parents. I thought I loved Toby before, but I was so wrong… I had no idea the kind of love I would learn while growing with this man.

Something about him just felt right and when we decided to get married, although I knew I would have to hear everyone’s opinion about it- I knew I wouldn’t have to listen and I knew it was going to be a good thing. And it was.

It’s true. Toby and I had barely been dating and then suddenly, we were going to get married and have a baby.

What were we thinking?

I will tell you.

We were NOT thinking about what everyone had to say- that was too difficult.
We were thinking about moving into a calmer scene.
We were thinking about if we wanted to have a big wedding, or go to the Court House. We chose the Court House and I don’t regret that one bit.

We were thinking about our job situation and how we would adjust to the new addition to our life.
We were thinking about being as healthy as can be.
We were thinking about how blessed we were to have such a loving, supportive and excited family.

We were thinking about this new life we suddenly had…

We were thinking if this was going to work…

But let me tell you something… it did.

All of those “mistakes” we made were not mistakes at all.

If I had the chance to do it all over again, I would.

Sure we moved in with my parents for a year, and it was tough being a newly married couple sharing a house with your parent’s/in-laws. It was difficult raising a newborn while your rowdy teenage brother tried to live his life upstairs. But we eventually moved into a little, two bedroom apartment where we spent way longer than we would’ve liked for way too much money—but now here we are, just under 4 years of marriage and we have our first home.

No, I haven’t made it back to school yet and don’t know if I will, but Toby and I both have jobs that provide more than enough for us.

You see, people want to make up all the rules for how YOU should be living YOUR life. And it seems that people will always find something to say about EVERYTHING you do. It’s been a difficult lesson to learn, but I’m finally learning not to care and to live my life.

I missed out on a lot of happy times because some people didn’t approve my marriage- and looking back, that’s so silly because how does my marriage affect them?

Just because you choose to do things differently than someone may expect, doesn’t mean you did it the WRONG way, just a different way.

But here I am, 23 and happily married with a beautiful, spunky three year old who can light up a room. Looking into those big, beautiful, blue eyes of hers and holding her amazing daddy’s hand makes me feel so secure in all of the choices I have made. Because that’s exactly what they were, choices- NOT mistakes.

You shouldn’t feel ashamed of the choices you make if you’re doing what’s right by you and your family.

We all come from different backgrounds, and take different paths in life but when it comes down to it, we are all valuable people just trying to make it through life, and the opinions of others can truly hinder what we are trying to accomplish. I know this post was kind of all over the place, but my point is that your choices are your own and YOU have the power to make GREAT things happen out of any situation.

Don’t give up,

August Favorites

Happy Friday, beauties!

So as most of you guys know, I get sent a lot of the products I cover on here and I always let you know my honest feedback on whatever it may be. But when I am not reviewing things, what do I use? I love seeing other people’s favorite post and I’m a little obsessed with monthly favorite videos on YouTube, so I thought it might be fun to do my own F A V O R I T E S!

So here are 10 things I am currently loving for the month of August!

St. I’ves Naturally Soothing Oatmeal & Shea Butter Fresh Hydration Lotion 
$4.97 Walmart

If you’re not familiar with this lotion, it’s actually a spray and I love it. I recently mentioned this in my Swap Box post that a did last month. This lotion is made to soothe dry skin. I love how deeply it moisturizes with just a couple of sprays and it doesn’t leave you feeling all sticky. Not to mention how cozy it smells. 

Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub in Passion Fruit & Guava
$7.49 Ulta

This scrub has whole sugar grains that give a gentle and cleansing exfoliation. I read that the scrub also has Shea Nut Oil to help preserve your skin’s natural moisture. It’s made with Certified Organic Shea Butter, it’s paraben free and DMDM free. I make a lot of my own sugar scrubs, but there is something about how this one smells that gets me every time! I also received this in my swap box. I’m almost out of it! 😦 It’s perfect for using before you shave and leaves your legs feeling extra smooth. Follow up with the St. I’ves spray and your legs will be good to go!

Desert Essence Tea Tree Replenishing Shampoo
$8.99

I have been sent a couple of natural shampoos to try out but the formula is super tricky when you don’t have all of those extra chemicals, so finding one that works good is a bit of a challenge. I purchased this at Sprout’s and our entire family uses it. I really love the packaging. On the side of the bottle it has what IS in it and what is NOT in it listed and it really gives you an idea of what crazy things you’ve been using on your scalp! This is a newly formulated version and from other reviews I’ve read, the old formula was better. I can only go off this one– and it isn’t something we use daily because it can leave your hair looking a little heavy. But it always leaves me feeling refreshed. It does have essential oils in it, and the smell of this shampoo is incredible!

I pulled this straight from their website:
“The natural medicinal properties of Eucalyptus are formulated with powerful, yet gentle Australian Tea Tree Oil to help bring healing to a flaking scalp. Aromatic Peppermint Oil offers reviving, cooling comfort while Yucca conditions for a shiny, beautiful finish.” 

Cult Nail Polish in the color Catalina
$12.99

I received this in my July TOM Box  and I have been wearing it like C R A Z Y. The quality is so good, the color is so stinkin’ beautiful and I always get compliments on it- which I love because it gives me an opportunity to talk about this company. All Cult nail and makeup products are vegan-friendly, ethically made, and 5 FREE. This is a bonus for me, especially because I have a small daughter who loves having her nails done and this is a safer polish for to use. This is on the pricier side, but it’s a quality product, made by strong women who firmly believe in their products.

Maybelline Fit Me Matte Poreless Foundation
$7.99 Ulta

I have been loving Maybelline pretty much all Summer and this has been my number 1 go to for foundation. I have a little bit of oily skin, with some dryness between my eyes and it can be difficult to find a foundation that can help with both and still manage to leave me with a natural finish. I don’t feel that I have very large pores, so I can’t really speak for how well it hides them. I actually bought this by chance. I was going for a different foundation and they didn’t have my color. I was in a hurry and in need of a foundation, so I found the perfect shade in this and I have been loving it ever since. It doesn’t last as long as I would like, but if you use the Fit Me Matte Poreless Powder  with it, I have found that it increase its wear. I have been extremely impressed with this foundation and will continue to keep it in my collection.

 Lush Eau Roma Water  
$21.95

Can we just all take a second to appreciate how awesome this stuff is? I THOUGHT I was obsessed with Rose Water, and I still am, but I KNOW that I am MORE obsessed with this stuff. Man, I wish I would have documented how insanely fast this guy cleared up my redness. I have been struggling for some time now with this intense redness and dryness in my T-Zone, the tops of my cheeks and my chin. I have been doing a number of things to help even out my skin tone, and then after Nicole from Young Wild and Polished mention this in her July favorites video, I looked into trying it out. So glad I did, I will DEFINITELY continue to repurchase this.

Stila Eye Shadow Trio in Venus
$20.00

This was my first Stila purchase and I got this little guy on sale, but he actually retails for $20 so when I pulled out this tiny little thing- I was kind of shocked. However, I was blown away by the quality. The colors are extremely pigmented and gorgeous. The color is long lasting and you can do more than one look with just these three colors. I still don’t know if it is worth $20, but it is a great eye shadow trio.

All Natural Canyon Oats Oatmeal in Sweet Honey Cinnamon with Golden Raisins 
$3.19

YUM, YUM, YUM. As many of you know, I am gluten free and it can be hard finding delicious alternatives to the things you once loved. Although oats are naturally gluten free, cross contamination is a BIG factor so I only buy products that are Certified Gluten Free. I picked up some Canyon Oats at Spout’s a while back and fell in love. I think this is some of the best oatmeal I’ve ever had. It’s really hard to find, and I buy as much as I can when I find it. They have several flavor option but this is the only one I have tried. It is a good size cup and I don’t usually finish it all, but you definitely get your money’s worth.

Young Living Valor Essential Oil
Out Of Stock

So if you’re familiar with Young Living, you’re probably just as obsessed with Valor as I am– and probably just as heart broken that is gone for a while. Luckily, it has been one of my favorites and I had some stock built up! I mentioned in my April Oil Order post that Valor wasn’t always one of my favorites and now I ration it out because I don’t want to be without it.

Young Living Thieves AromaBright Toothpaste
$10.25 Wholesale

This was also on my April order and I have some more coming in this month’s order. I thoroughly enjoy this toothpaste. I have been using it so long that when I use my old toothpaste I get grossed out.  If you’re familiar with Thieves but you haven’t tried out this toothpaste, it might sound overwhelming because Thieves has such a strong smell. No worries, though it is not near as intense. It’s actually very tasty and I’ve heard stories of kids wanting to eat it! It takes a little getting used too for some people because it doesn’t have any chemicals in it to suds your mouth up and a lot of times people will associate that with things getting clean, but that’s actually just a useless chemical that you don’t need in your mouth everyday! So if you’re looking for a new toothpaste, you should give this a try!!

Well, those are my 10 favorites for August. What were your favorites for this month? Did you like this post? Let me know and I can start doing them monthly! 🙂

Stay beautiful,

Interested in trying out Young Living Essential Oils but don’t know where to start? The Premium Starter Kit is the most affordable option and it starts out at just $160 including $300 in product. It’s an incredible offer that made a huge impact on my life. If you’re looking for a way to get started I would be more than happy to enroll you! I don’t even have to be with you, all you need is my member number! #1932478 or you can email me at BusyBeingLisenba@gmail.com

Maybelline Super Stay Better Skin 3 Week Challenge

Hey beauties!

About three weeks ago I got an unexpected package from a company called Influenster. I wasn’t really sure what was in the box, but I was excited because it had Maybelline written right across the top of it! If you keep up with me on Instagram then you know I have been on a mega Maybelline kick here lately.

But before I go into what was in the box, let me explain a little more about Influenster.

WHAT IS INFLUENSTER?

Influenster is a website that allows you to discover new products and read reviews about them to help you make better informed purchases. You can compare products, reviews, become apart of discussions and interact with other users. Influenster values your opinions and offers an exclusive rewards campaign for their top reviewers. It doesn’t cost anything to join, and they will send you the product. All you have to do is set up a profile, and in return for the product, share your opinions. They have a really easy website that will walk you through every step of the process. They also give multiple opportunities to earn bonus points to be eligible for more rewards.

If you’ve been looking for a way to start reviewing products and don’t really know how, Influenster is a great place to start!

WHATS IN MY VoxBox? 

So here is my very first Influenster VoxBox

When I came in and saw this box on my table, I was a little confused because I didn’t remember ordering anything so I immediately cut into it.

I was pleasantly surprised when I opened it up to a FULL SIZE Maybelline foundation.

I received the Super Stay Better Skin foundation in 20 Classic Ivory & this foundation retails for $11.99 on Maybelline’s website. For the next three work weeks I will be using this foundation and documenting my experience along the way. I’ve never done anything like this before, so it should be interesting!

EXPECTATIONS?

This product is advertised to be long lasting, for an “all-day flawless coverage” and is reported to improve the skin of unevenness, reduce the look of spots and dullness, and to give a brighter, stress free look. I am actually a perfect candidate for this product and I am truly looking forward to using it. 

My hopes by doing this challenge is to help reduce the appearance of some scarring I have on my left cheek, and to help with some unevenness on my nose, and above my brows.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS?

WONDERFUL!

For starters, I loved the packaging. It was simple, easy to read, and the color was listed right at the top of the bottle. I’m also a fan of the square bottle. I have been using the Maybelline Fit Me! (LOVE IT) and it comes in a square bottle as well. One thing I dislike about the Fit Me! foundation that the SuperStay Better Skin foundation beats is the fact that it has a PUMP. I love it when a foundation has a pump. So that was a B I G plus for me. Another thing that I like is that it has SPF 15 in it. Honestly, that’s not very much but for people who don’t typically apply sunscreen under their makeup it’s better than nothing. I will still apply sunscreen under my foundation, though.

I can’t wait to use it!

Week One:
So my first week of using the Maybelline Super Stay Better Skin foundation has come to an end and so far, I really like it. The color I was sent was absolutely spot on. I was a little nervous because it looked almost too dark in the bottle but it went on very nicely and was a perfect match!

My only complaint so far is that the lid is a little unstable. Whenever I take the cap off it feels like its really loose. I have it standing up in my makeup drawer but it makes me think it might leak if it were tossed into my makeup bag.

    

WEEK TWO:
By week two I could tell a small difference in my t-zone area. It wasn’t as red and that was something I was really hoping for. I wish the coverage was a little better but it was decent and really did last all day long!

WEEK THREE:
As week three comes to a close, I’m kind of glad. I started out really excited about using this foundation but I got burnt out on it very quickly. I did notice some improvements with redness but I also started getting some breakouts around my chin and I haven’t broken out in a very long time.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Over the course of three weeks I was able to wear several different looks- from a rushed Monday at the office to a night out at a concert and in both environments I felt the foundation truly stood the test of being long lasting. As I’ve mentioned a few times above, I really see a difference in the redness around my t-zone area. In that aspect I feel it serves it’s name “Super Stay Better Skin”. However, speaking as someone who is a true Maybelline fan, I did not think that this was one of their better foundations.

I had high expectations for this one because I love the Fit Me foundation so much and I just expected this to be as good. I will most likely not purchase this on my own, but it was a cool opportunity and I had fun trying it out!

Have you tried the Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Foundation? If so, let me know what you thought about it in the comments below!

Stay fabulous!

This product was sent to me for review purposes but all of the opinions above are that of my own. If you have a product you’d like for me to review, please feel free to email me at BusyBeingLisenba@gmail.com

TOM BOX July Review

Hey beauties, and happy Friday!!

Today I have a ANOTHER Tom Box to review for you ladies!

TOM BOX
                

WHAT IS TOM BOX
TOM Box (Swaag Box) is a monthly subscription period box for women meant to ease the strain of the unwanted, monthly visitor that we women have to put up with. I like the concept—A LOT! Each cycle they include makeup and jewelry as well as your choice of feminine hygiene products. They also have an option to add razors or double makeup or jewelry for a small cost increase.

HOW MUCH IS IT
This box is $16 a month, but just in case you’re not too sure about it, they offer your first box for just $8! You can go get your first $8 box HERE.

WHATS INSIDE

I honestly wasn’t expecting this box, so I was happy to get it the other day and anxious to get into it.

The first thing I pulled out was this Escada Marine Groove perfume sample  and it smells so wonderful! I’m not a huge perfume girl, but I do like this. I couldn’t find how much this size cost, but I did read somewhere that it retails for $4.97 -but don’t hold me to that. (:

The next thing I pulled out was a small pack (8 count) of La Fresh Travel Lite makeup remover wipes. It retails for $2.49 and they included a 30% coupon! I haven’t opened these yet. I’m kind of a makeup wipe hoarder, so I would be happy if these came in every box. I hope these work!

I also got another brush! I got a brush in my last box too, but I was very excited about this one. It is really soft and made very well. There wasn’t a brand name on it at all, so I have no way of buying more or even giving credit to whoever made the brush. I also don’t know how much it is.

Since I wasn’t expecting this box EVERYTHING I got was going to be exciting to me BUT I swear, just earlier in the day that I got this I had been texting my friend telling her I was looking for a good blush and then I came home to this girl! I have never heard of Hikari Cosmetics, but this blush is awesome. It retails for $15.00 and I believe the color I got was Bikini and it’s a coral color. It goes on real nice and it last my entire work day. I’ve worn it every day since I got the box.

My favorite thing that came in this month’s box was definitely this CULT Nail Polish in Catalina. CULT makeup and nail polish are 5 Free, and vegan friendly & if you keep up with my blog, you know that’s always a bonus for me. Me and my daughter are both wearing this color right now. My biggest complaint about this is that it chips kind of easily, but I just threw it in my purse to keep on me for touch ups. It dries insanely fast and I loved that.

I also got this little cutie of Joanna Vargas Daily Serum, I wasn’t able to find a price for this and I haven’t tried it yet but I did find a listing of it on Amazon.
I have been looking to change up my skin care routine, so maybe this will be something to add!

Another makeup item I got was this Be A Bombshell lip gloss in Diamond. I really like the fact that it’s clear and I wore it today and it’s not too sticky. I am not a fan of sticky glosses. This retails for $14.00

The last two things to cover are the accessories. Now if you read what I got in my last box, you know I didn’t think the jewelry and makeup complimented each other. The makeup was such great quality and the jewelry seemed cheap or for a younger audience. Well this month not much changed.

These are the ear rings, I’m not sure who they are made by or how much they are but they are cute- just a little too young for me. But just like last time, I can pass these along to my niece.

However, this time the other accessory they included was really cute!

I liked this headband and I can see myself wearing it. If it doesn’t fit well on me, I can always putting it in my daughter’s hair.

Also, not pictured is a box of Playtex Tampons and who doesn’t love having them delivered to you? (;

Overall, I thought this was an awesome box. It stomped my last box.
The value of this box was around $50 just off what I could find a price on and your first box is only $8 and only $16 after that. Totally worth it.

I do wish there was a product card so I could credit all the companies. And as always, my biggest complaint is chocolate… Where are the yummies? (;

Great job TOM Box, I really enjoyed this one!

This box was provided to me for review purposes but all opinions are my own.

Best Friend Swap Box

So I’m a big YouTube junkie. And even though I justify it to myself a lot of the time as “research” I will admit that I binge watch product reviews, makeup tutorials, unboxings and my latest craze– SWAPS.

I don’t know who started swaps, or why but its seriously one of my favorite things to watch right now.

WHAT IS A SWAP?

There are several different types of swaps floating around YouTube, but the point is the same- you and another youtuber decide to send each other a box full of goodies and when your box of goodies arrive, you film yourself opening it. Your swapee will do the same and you are both to link the other parties channel/video in the description so your viewers can go see what the other person got.

It’s a great way to help build your channel, especially if a bigger youtuber than you swaps with you. Their dedicated viewers will watch their video, then go see what they got you and most likely subscribe to your channel. It’s a simple, but fun concept and everyone wins… MOST of the time.

There are some cases where one of the people swapping wasn’t so kind and never sent a box, or sent a bunch of junk over. What do I classify as junk? Well, in most cases, swaps have a set of guidelines- a price limit, maybe a theme… so if you receive a box with something that didn’t fall into those rules, then I think that falls into getting ripped off.

Some of the most common swaps I see are international swaps where maybe someone from the U.S. will swap with some from New Zealand and they trade things that might be harder to find where they are. Another popular one I see is high-end makeup products generally with about a $300 limit, or something like your 5 favorite drugstore products for under $10.

Not only is it a fun way to spoil a friend while getting spoiled, it also allows you a chance to get new products you may have never purchased on your own.

OUR SWAP

So our swap was a little different. One night my mom, and our friend Melissa and myself were hanging out watching swap videos (just like any addict, I had to bring my friends down with me) and we all kept saying how fun it would be to do a swap. Even though I have a YouTube channel, it can be a little scary swapping with someone you don’t know so we just decided to swap with each other!

GUIDELINES 

We had pretty simple rules. It could be anything, just a box of fun but we did say to keep it in the $30 range. We also didn’t know who we were buying for. We didn’t set a date or anything, we just kind of let it play out.

My mom got so excited hers was done with in like a day… but me and Melissa took a little longer to get ours done so mom just had sit there with a fun box of goodies waiting to be opened.

OUR BOXES

For the next couple of weeks we spent time looking for stuff for our boxes. I LOVE buying for people so the shopping was the most fun for me.

We planned to have dinner at my house Friday after work, and then SWAP!!! So after some delicious chicken tacos made by yours truly, we got right down to the gifts.

Now I need to mention that we did not leave Tegan out of this! She was so sweet helping me pick out items, and wrapping everything. She never once asked me for a box, so when I told her she would get one too she was THRILLED.

So here we are with the boxes we will open. We decided to just pass to the right so Melissa got my box, Mom got Melissa’s bag, and I got my mom’s box.

We let Tegan open her box first because she was being so patient to get her “prizes”.

She had the prettiest box!

I just grabbed her a couple of things from Walgreens and the Dollar Tree. Her box had a few snacks, a new Doc McStuffin’s hairbrush, some beads, a coloring book, a dry erase board and markers, and some other little trinkets.

We went youngest to oldest, so I was next. Clearly I was excited when I opened mine.

I got the box my mom made. Funny story- she bought several of the items I bought.

If you follow me on Instagram you already saw what I got- but here it is!
I could tell where my mom had me and Melissa both in mind while picking everything out. Those gummy bears, DEFINITELY bought for me, those Lindor chocolates? Definitely Melissa.

If you can’t see what all is here, I got:

-St. Ive’s spray lotion- this stuff is hard to find. I’ve been wanting this stuff for a long time but I can NEVER find it anywhere. I was super excited to get it.

-St. Ive’s travel soap and it smells soooooo good!

-3 little hand sanitizers

-3 face mask

-Physician’s Formula Shimmer Strips Nude Eyes set (I was actually going to put this my box but couldn’t find it at three different stores)

-Tree Hut Sugar Scrub (Again, I was actually going to get this in coconut lime but they didn’t have it when I went to buy it.)

-Owl notepad

-Candy

My box was wonderful!

Next up was Melissa, she got my box!

I kind of had a feeling she was going to get my box, so did Tegan but I still tried to be very balanced with my box when buying everything. It was almost perfect enough for mom and Melissa to split.

I know you don’t know our personalities, but I bought different things with each person in mind.

Melissa got:

-St. Ive’s spray lotion -Remember how hard I told you it was to find? Well I found ONE bottle left and I decided to put it in my box. Good karma, because I got one anyway! (one of the items mom and I both bought.)

-2 Face mask… again, like my mom.

-Mini Lindor Chocolates -with Melissa in mind

-Mini Faroe Rocher Chocolates -with mom in mind

-Coloring book and markers -with Melissa in mind

-Puzzle -with mom in mind

-2 Wet n’ Wild nail polishes, a color for Melissa and a color for mom

-2 Wet n’ Wild eyeshadow pallets- again, the color choices representing both ladies

-Baby Lips because I loveeee Baby Lips

-Pur Nature soap and loofa -that soap smells sooooo good and I really wanted it for myself, but I wanted it to go in the box more.

-A cup filled with candy and a nutella snack!!

Last was mom and she got Melissa’s cute Snoopy bag— we are big Snoopy fans!

I was having so much fun and I couldn’t wait for mom to have her turn!

So mom got the most quality box for sure. I think it’s interesting to see how we chose to make our money go.

Mom got:

-Coconut bath wash and it smells sooooo good.

-Revlon PhotoReady eye art in gold and I had never seen it before but it was really neat.

-Revlon lip gloss in this shimmery baby pink and it’s so cute and soooo my mom.

-Purple nail polish and I love the color but my mom was so excited, she went and got her toes done the next day so she could wear her new polish.

-NYX Nude eye shadow pallet. Super cute and super nice and the colors would’ve been perfect if me or my mom got it but she went out Saturday night a wore this pallet and it looked really good on her.

 CONCLUSION 

Swaps are awesome, especially when you’re just celebrating the people you love just because.

We didn’t film our swap because we had never done one before, and we all had a long day and had we been worrying about filming, we would’ve missed out on absorbing each other’s energy while being together but I am glad we took a few pictures to remember that fun night. I had the best time just being together.

Remember, you don’t have to have a reason to celebrate someone you love!

Keep shining,

If you enjoyed reading this, keep an eye out because we’ve already set the guidelines for the next swap!
If you have any swap theme ideas, pass them along- we’d love to do them! 🙂

A Little Thanks!

Hey beauties, HAPPY FRIDAY!!! 🙂

I hope you’ve had a wonderful week and that this weekend treats you right! I took a small break from blogging this week simply because the Back to School Giveaway has kept me very busy! Every time you leave a comment, share or post about the giveaway I pull out a special book and write it down. I have kept up with every single entry and I want you to know that I value each and every one of them! I wish I could give back to you all because you have helped my blog base grow quicker than I ever thought it would. I love reading through your comments, and whenever you add me, I always stop and go check your profile out too!

I started this blog as just a little side project- a small outlet for me. I enjoy writing and I’ve had a lot of fun things to write about. I was averaging about 20-40 views on the days that I posted a blog and maybe 1-5 throughout any other time. Now I am averaging 20 views an hour…DAILY. Do you know how much that makes my heart grow? I know I don’t have the deepest topics, or life changing advice but I do enjoy keeping this blog simple, light and informative about products I am currently using or the occasional post about my family.

My Instagram -which is my most used platform, has grown by about 400 followers.

My YouTube -which I hardly use, but I am trying to get better with uploading, has grown by almost 30 subscribers (and if you know how incredibly awkward I am in front of the camera, you know why this is such a big victory!) We even had one of our videos hit views over 1,000!

It’s important to me to share with you these milestones because YOU are who makes it happen. You are the reason that I feel the need to keep on writing, and sharing!

I am always looking to connect with others, and grow a bigger blog base- because the more people I can get to connect, the better stuff I can review.

Maybe one day I will have something incredible to share with you all and possibly change your life… but for now, this is a place for me to get away from everyone else’s opinions, and talk to you about how obsessed with my daughter I am and how good this shampoo I just got sent smells. (;

Again, thank you for reading and subscribing and following… and being interested in my little life. I have a lot of stuff planned for after the #BBLB2S Giveaway so I hope you stick around for it all!!

Enjoy your weekend, and soak up every second of it with someone you love!

Back to School GIVEAWAY!!

Hey guys!

It’s G I V E A W A Y time! I know I just recently had a small Instagram giveaway, but it went so nicely that I wanted to do a Back to School giveaway. It will be a little bit bigger and hopefully more people will enter. I am doing this one a little differently so I thought I would do a post about it!

I will also be sharing this picture on my Instagram and you can screenshot & share using the hashtag #BBLB2S for an extra entry. Feel free to repost as much as you’d like.

The Rules:

1. Follow me on Instagram -you’re welcome to unfollow me after the contest is over, but in order to qualify you must be a follower.

2. Subscribe to my YouTube channel

3. For an additional entry you can leave a comment on THIS post telling me who you’d like to win this for. Yourself? A friend? Your child? Let me know!(:

4. The contest will run today through August 1st!

What’s the Prize?

So in this Giveaway you will have a chance to win:
1. Backpack
2. Binder
3, Filler Paper
4. Divider Tabs
5. Folder Set (3 pck)
6. Notebook
7. Composition Notebook
8. Mini Composition Notebook
9. Notecards
10. Glue Sticks (2 pck)
11. Pencils (12 pck)
12. Mechanical Pencils
13. Black Pens (2 pck)
14. Blue Pens (2 pck)
15. Color Pens
16. Highlighter Set
17. Pencil Pouch
18. Makeup Bag
19. e.l.f. Eyeshadow
20. e.l.f. Compact
21. e.l.f. Eyeliner
22. e.l.f. Mascara
23. Wet n’ Wild Lipstick
24. Essie Nail Polish
25. Travel Size Secret Deodorant
26. Travel Size Toothpaste, Toothbrush, & Mouthwash
27. Pink Calculator

I know a lot of other Back to School Giveaways are much bigger, but I am just starting out and I hope this is enough to help you start out as well!! I look forward to seeing who wins! (:

How To Enter:

Visit HERE

e.l.f. Cosmetics Review

Happy Monday!

Today I have another product review. It’s been a while since I have done one that wasn’t a subscription box so it will be a nice little change. I have recently ventured out on trying some different beauty products. I try to stick to mainly natural/organic products and even though this company doesn’t exactly fit that, I still enjoy their products very much.

Today I will be reviewing a haul of products I got from eyes lips face, better know as e.l.f. Cosmetics.

WHAT IS e.l.f.?

e.l.f. Cosmetics is a line of high quality beauty products at an affordable price. YouTube has tons of videos dedicated to e.l.f. hauls, one brand tutorials, monthly favorites and endless reviews. I also have read about their products being cruelty free and that is always a bonus for me!

It had been a while since I had splurged on makeup and I was looking for something new to write about, so that’s when I decided to go on a little e.l.f. shopping spree- and this what I got!

Essential Bronzer with Brush -Sun Kissed

So I ordered this bronzer and a blush, AND contouring kit with a blush and bronzer– but the bronzer that came in the kit is too dark, so I was super happy I went ahead and got this one too. I thought it might be a little too dark, but it actually is a very nice color on me and I am very fair. It’s name fits PERFECTLY because it gave me a nice sun-kissed finish and I was very pleased.

Essential All Over Color Stick -Persimmon

I wasn’t real sure what I was getting when I ordered this but when it came in the mail I was so excited by how CUTE it is! It’s like a tiny, fat lip balm shape with the beautiful shimmery color stick inside. You can use for eye shadow, highlight, or maybe on your shoulders to create a glow… anyway, I went back and bought more and added to a giveaway I had because it was so cute.

Studio Eyeshadow Primer -Sheer

I am by no means a beauty guru- nor do I try to be… I am very busy mama with a even more busy three year old and I work full time, I do my best to get my hair and makeup done on the same day before rushing out the door. The thought of adding an eyeshadow primer just seemed five more seconds of getting ready that I didn’t have- but because I wanted to be able to do a full face review, I went ahead and got it. I will say that this mama is now making time for that extra five seconds because this primer actually makes a difference! I really feel like it helps my eyeshadow last all day and it’s not oily or greasy and dries within a few seconds. I don’t have red spots or veins on my eyelids, but if I did, this would definitely cover it all up. I will most likely continue to buy this.

Studio Cream Eyeliner -Black

I love eyeliner and I have a lot in my drawer, but I have very few that I REALLY like. I have been using this for about three weeks now and even though I like it– especially for the price, I can’t say that I love it. It does go on real smooth, but you get A LOT of product on it, so you have to really be careful. And I wasn’t too crazy about the applicator it came with. It goes on too thick, but I just used another applicator I had and I have started using my eyeliner brush & I seem to achieve more of what I like using it. I will probably buy this again because the price is just too good.

Studio Eyebrow Kit -Medium

So again, I wasn’t one much for makeup so when I saw the brow kit I was kind of confused. I mean, I know people are crazy about eyebrows being on “fleek” right now but waxing is about as far as my eyebrow “routine” goes. But I ordered this to what it was all about because from other reviews I had watched, it sounded like a newer product and I was curious about it. It is super simple to use and I really like it. It comes with a gel and a powder. It wasn’t until I filled my eyebrows in that I realized how thin they really are. I also have a small scar going through my left eye and even though it’s not very noticeable, I was super happy how they looked all nice and filled in. I will definitely be looking into other brow kits to learn more, but I will also repurchase this IF I need to because you get a lot of product!

Studio Volume Plumping Mascara -Black

So I have learned something about myself during all of this and it’s the fact that I am kind of mascara picky. I couldn’t really tell if I liked this or not, and I have decided that I am not a fan. Again, it’s hard to complain when something it priced so nicely, but I really tried to like it and I just don’t. I have a drawer full of mascaras and only really like two– so the problem is not the mascara, it’s me. haha.

Studio Matte Lip Color -Rich Red

Probably one of my favorite lip products I have ever bought. I have been searching for a good red color that didn’t make me look like a hussy, or wash me out– and this is it. I wish I would have bought more than one because I love it. I also love that it’s a matte color. It really last too.

Studio Lip Stain -Lucky Lady

Okay, so I love the shade because it’s a peachy nude and looks real nice on my lips, but it definitely doesn’t last like a stain- especially compared to the other stains I got, so I was a little let down but I still love the color and will probably buy it again. I also LOVE the gloss. It’s not too sticky and that’s a HUGE bonus for me. It’s a nice shine but not too much stick!

Essential Lip Stain -Nude Nectar

So this is another lip product I wish I would have gotten multiple of. I am OBSESSED with this color. It’s a deep brownish red, and I feel like it really suits my skin tone. I love how it last and it really says a lot when a lip color last on me because I drink A LOT throughout the day, and even though it might be a stain, we all know not all stains really last like one– as I mentioned above with the Lucky Lady, but this one definitely pass the test and that’s why I went back and bought the next product.

Essential Lip Stain -Pink Petal

So I pretty much just explained why I bought this. I loved the Nude Nectar stain so much that I decided I would try out another shade. I really like this one too, not near as much as the other but this is definitely a sweet pink that looks very natural. You can’t even really tell I am wearing anything on my lips, but I don’t look like I have zombie corps lips either.

Studio Lip Exfoliator  

This is a product I have been wanting to try so I was excited to finally buy one. It’s pretty self explanatory- this lip exfoliator comes in a little lipstick tube and you apply it in little circular motions and then gently clean them off and apply a lip balm after to help hydrate and prepare your lips for your lip color. I have only used it once, but it did help smooth my lips out.

Studio Pressed Powder -Sand

I watched a video where a girl was using sand, and it looked like it was going to be pretty dark, but when she applied it, it was actually very light, so when I went to get my face products I also ordered in sand and even though this picture doesn’t look dark, the liquid products did so I was a little nervous, but it was actually the perfect color and I am fine with this powder. I have bought a different brand since I bought this, but not because I don’t like this one, it’s just that I am looking for something that helps a little more with oil control, but I will definitely still use this one.

Studio Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 -Sand

So remember when I said I wasn’t a beauty guru? Well apparently I don’t know very much at all when it comes to face products. I was really confused when I got this. I just went to apply this all over my face like a foundation…not really understanding that it’s just a tinted moisturizer. I just assumed it would go on like a BB cream so that’s how I used it. hahaha well I had to go back and get some BB cream because this definitely went on like mud and I felt totally silly. I still don’t fully understand– I guess this just goes on under everything else? Someone feel free to explain– KINDLY, if you will.

Studio HD Lifting Concealer -Brightening

I have never been one to put on a lot of makeup but I have always had really dark circles under my eyes and I do use concealer. I had been using a NYX concealer that I do like a lot but I am almost out so I am glad I picked this up. I really like this a lot and will definitely buy more but I think next time I will get two because I don’t feel like this is going to last very long.

Studio High Definition Powder -Sheer

Okay, so this is your basic sheer setting powder. I almost bought this one and the under eye setting powder but I wasn’t sure if there would really be a difference so I only got this one. Thank goodness because this powder comes with SO much product. It’s HUGE. I will never need to buy it again.

Studio Mineral Infused Face Primer -Clear

Before purchasing this one, I was using an all natural face primer that I still have been using but I do like this one. It makes my skin feel so smooth and soft and I like it, but I think I like my IQ Natural Primer better, so I probably won’t buy this one again, but they do have a new one I’d like to try.

Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder -St. Lucia

So this is the contouring kit I mentioned earlier, with the bronzer being a little too dark. That being said, the blush it perfect- I love it so much. But I still have used the bronzer and it’s not overly dark, just a little darker than I’d like for an everyday look, but they do compliment each other. They recently came out with a cream kit in these same colors and I would like to try it out. I am so new to all of this, I just get excited about everything!

Essential Shimmer with Brush -Gold

So there isn’t much to this product, it’s just a little compact full of shimmer and I have been using it with my highlight over my cheeks and it just leaves a nice little glow and I really like it.

Studio Baked Eyeshadow Trio -Peach Please

I LOVE these! I wish I would have bought them in every color. You can use these wet or dry, and they are pretty dry but they are GORGEOUS wet and they last and put off a wonderful color.

Essential Blush with Brush -Shy

So this was kind of a miss for me. It’s one of the only things I bought that I probably wont use. I picked this up thinking it was going to be close to the blush in the St. Lucia contour kit but even though they look similar side by side, it was way more intense and I am so fair, a little bit of blush goes a long way on me. I do like an intense cheek sometimes, but I don’t want to look clownish.

Essential Natural Lash Kit -Black

I have just recently started using false lashes. I don’t have very long eyelashes and I have a lot of blonde in my lashes. I bought a set just for fun one day and I was actually really good at applying them and they really made a huge difference on my face. I thought I would only be able to wear them if I was going out one night or something, but really with the natural lashes, it just helps add to your everyday look. I bought three sets.

Essential Eye Shadow Brush

I just recently bought a bunch of new brushes but I didn’t get a lot of eyeshadow brushes so I thought I would pick up a couple. This is definitely one of my favorite brushes. It applies nicely and I really like it!

Essential Defining Eye Brush

So this was the other brush I picked up and I like it too!

Studio Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths

I picked these up because so many people rave about how good they are, and I agree- I do like them. They are a great price and you really only need one. It doesn’t leave my face feeling like some got left behind and it doesn’t sting or irritate my face. I have been using Pacfica wipes, which I really love and they are still my favorite but I will say these e.l.f. cleansing wipes are really great. I though I read that they have a coconut wipes, but I haven’t been able to find any. I would love to try them, though.

Studio Makeup Clutch Palette -Makeup Clutch

This was the one item I was sent by e.l.f. and I haven’t used it too much, but I have played around with some of the shadows. I like the fact that it has some color, because I normally stick to nude or smokey tones, so it was fun being sent something I wouldn’t typically buy for myself. This clutch it very nice and perfect if you’re on the go because it pretty much has everything built right into it. I was very happy to receive this. Thank you, e.l.f.!

So there you have it guys!

Everything I have gotten so far and what I think about it. I didn’t realize how much I had gotten over the past couple of weeks until I started talking about it all. I guess it’s easy to buy so many things when they are such a great price.

I thought I would include a picture of me in a full e.l.f. products–
I typically wear glasses and I typically smile more, but my eyes are so squinty and I wanted you to be able to see the eyeshadow so I cut the smile back some.

Just in case you were wondering, that is Peach Please and the lavender color from the clutch on the eyes, and St. Lucia contouring kit for the blush, but the Sun Kissed bronzer, and the Nude Nectar lip stain.

This was my first time blogging something like this, so let me know what you thought about it.

Have any Must Have products from e.l.f.? Leave me a comment letting me know what they are!

Have a product you’d like me to review? Leave a comment or email me at BusyBeingLisenba@gmail.com

Disclaimer:
Unless otherwise noted, everything in this post was purchased by me. I am not sponsored by anyone and all of the opinions stated above are my own.

Here is a video of my e.l.f. haul! 
*Please note that all of the products mentioned in the review are not in this video. These products were all purchased within a two week span of each other and although mostly everything is covered in the video below, a few products are not.