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Beautiful Skin for the Holidays With POND’S #PONDSPLUS

December 17, 2014 by Tara Kuczykowski Leave a Comment

We all want skin that’s in tip-top condition for the holidays, right?!? Well, just as I updated my skincare routine for the hot summer weather, I also revamp it for the colder, dry months…

My skin has a tendency to get dry and flaky toward the end of fall leading into winter, so right now my BFF is once again POND’S Cold Cream Cleanser. Not only does it keep my skin looking fabulous by moisturizing it deeply, but it also primes it to make makeup application smoother and more natural looking. No more flakes!

That’s not to say I give my POND’S Towelettes the boot completely, though. I still find that I like to use them to help remove all remaining traces of eye makeup (and they’re certainly useful in a pinch when I’m too tired to do much more), but I prefer to use the Evening Soothe variety more often because, with the Chamomile and White Tea, these towelettes seem to be a little more gentle on my sensitive skin.

These two products, used in combination, make taking off holiday makeup — even bold eye makeup, sparkly finishes, and red lipstick — a snap. They gently and effortlessly removed it all, PLUS they leave my skin feeling moisturized without an additional step!

But don’t take my word for it… Try POND’S Cold Cream Cleanser or POND’S Towelettes for yourself with this $1/1 POND’S Product printable coupon! Use it to give either the POND’S Cold Cream Cleanser or Towelettes a try — I’d love to hear your thoughts on it!

One last thought, though… I’ve found that it definitely takes some trial and error to figure out exactly which routine will work best for your skin. AND I’ve also noticed that for my skin to look its best, I definitely need to remain vigilant about taking off my makeup and/or cleansing my face every single night. Inevitably, when I’m feeling lazy or too tire and skip a night, that’s when I find myself breaking out later in the week.

Do you PLUS Up your beauty routine with POND’s Cold Cream Cleanser in the winter?

I’m thrilled to announce that I’m partnering with POND’S for the year as part of the POND’S Beauty Brigade to share how I’ve been able to PLUS UP my beauty routine with their timeless products!

Childhood Dreams + A Chance To See The Rockettes Perform Live!

November 3, 2014 by Tara Kuczykowski Leave a Comment

When I was four years old, I looked forward to my Saturday morning ballet class with Madame Battin all week long. Madame Battin fascinated me because a) she was French, and b) I knew that she had been a Rockette when she was younger. So naturally I daydreamed about someday taking the stage in a gorgeous costume to perform their famous high leg kick sequence…

I continued to take ballet for another eight years, but as I’m sure you’ve guessed, I never had my moment in the spotlight. But I’ve never lost my fascination with The Rockettes, and finally on Thanksgiving two years ago, I had the chance to see them perform in person. My family and I got up before crack of dawn to snag a spot right by Radio City Music Hall to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and then we also got tickets to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular later that day.

They were amazing, simply everything I’d imagined as a child! If you ever have the chance to watch them perform in person, their precision is nothing short of breathtaking.

As you know, I’ve been working with POND’s for the past several months to simplify my skincare routine. I can’t tell you how excited I was to hear that POND’s and the Rockettes are teaming up! Their high energy routines and heavy stage makeup require hard-working skincare products that will remove their makeup and help prepare their skin for tomorrow’s routine.

POND’s Cold Cream Cleanser and Wet Cleansing Towelettes do just that by removing every last trace of makeup and dirt, PLUS leaving skin moisturized, soft and glowing. They’re Rockettes tested and approved!

Here’s a fun fact that I wasn’t aware of… The Rockettes performers are actually responsible for their own hair and makeup prior to each show — so these women know a thing or two about beauty products!

Enter the POND’S + The Rockettes NYC Holiday Getaway Sweepstakes

And now for the most exciting news — you could win a two-day Manhattan getaway to meet the Rockettes and attend the Radio City Christmas Spectacular this December! I have to say I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t just a teensy bit jealous of the lucky duck that wins this…

Visit Ponds.com/Rockettes to enter, and good luck!!!

Updating My Skincare Routine for Summer

August 11, 2014 by Tara Kuczykowski Leave a Comment

Perhaps you recall my post sharing my simplified skincare routine using POND’S Cold Cream Cleanser and POND’S Towelettes a few months ago. At that time, I was using the cold cream for cleansing at night and the towelettes to refresh in the morning and after workouts.

As I’m sure you’re aware, skin care is not one size fits all, and even when you find a routine that’s working, it still may need some tweaking from season to season. So I wanted to share a quick update on how I’ve modified my routine for the hot summer months!

I’m still using both the POND’S Cold Cream Cleanser and Towelettes in my routine; however, I’ve found that the cold cream can be a bit heavy for my skin in the summer month, because it’s naturally more oily this time of the year. I do think it’s more effective at removing my stubborn eye makeup, so I use it for that, PLUS it provides the extra hydration that I do need in my eye area.

I cleanse the rest of my face with the towelettes, which do a fantastic job of getting my skin deep clean, PLUS they instantly provide just enough hydration to keep my skin glowing in the summer months.

I alternate between all three varieties — Original Fresh, Exfoliating Renewal, and Evening Soothe — depending on my skin’s needs on any given day. Original Fresh is a great all-purpose formulation, while the Exfoliating Renewal is perfect for using a few times a week to gently polish away dull, dry skin. Evening Soothe is my go-to product on those evenings when I realize that I may have gotten a little too much sun earlier in the day. On these days, I also use a little extra POND’S Dry Skin Cream to soothe away any redness.

As the weather turns colder, I’m sure I’ll be adapting my simplified skincare routine yet again, but the beauty of using the combination of POND’S Cold Cream Cleanser and POND’S Towelettes is that both products pair to keep my skin beautiful year round!

Try POND’S Cold Cream Cleanser or POND’S Towelettes for yourself with this $1/1 POND’S Product printable coupon!

What’s In My Bag? #PONDSPLUS

June 9, 2014 by Deal Seeking Mom Leave a Comment

I love those features in magazines where you get an inside peek at the contents of a celebrity’s purse. It’s always so much fun to see the mix of items that they consider “must haves” — isn’t it?

So when POND’S invited me to do a “What’s In My Bag” post, I was all for it! Of course, I definitely am not celebrity status, but I thought you might be a little curious to see what products I keep with me at all times. So here are the contents of my purse right now, along with a little background on why they’re my faves…

Items pictured:

Pond’s Original Fresh Wet Cleansing Towelettes — Great for more than just removing makeup, these towelettes get skin deep clean PLUS instantly hydrate. I use them for cleaning up sticky hands, dirty and dusty faces after baseball, touching up wayward mascara, and soothing slight sunburns!
Travel Size Tweezers — I always seem to spot an unruly brow or facial hair after I’ve left the house, so I tuck a pair of travel size tweezers into my bag. Also great for splinters!
Waterless Hand Purifier — Gentler on your hands than an alcohol-based sanitizer, we go through a lot of this waterless variety year round.
Nail Emery Board — Because nail snags almost never happen at home, right?
Hair Ties — I have fairly long hair, as do both of my girls, and we often need to pull it back out of the way at sports or when we have the top down on our JEEP. I also use them to tie back too long tees!
Peppermint Gum — Perfect for freshening breath, curbing hunger pangs, and as a bribe for good behavior in a pinch!
Stainless Steel Sharpie Marker — I use these non-toxic markers to write my cell phone number on the inside of my younger kids’ arms when we’re in a crowded space, much cheaper than those temporary tattoos I used to purchase!
Cell Phone — I think this goes without saying, my phone is my lifeline to my family and my work. Plus it’s great entertainment when waiting in line!

Items not pictured:

Lanolin Balm for Lips — Lanolin is the best, inexpensive moisturizer I’ve found for my lips!
Bright Pink Lip Tint — Even if I don’t have time to put on any other makeup, a bright pink lip tint brightens up my face and makes me look a little more polished!
Essential Oil Stress Relieving Roll-On — Not only great for relieving stress, it serves as a pretty, feminine fragrance, and I’ve used it to soothe a bug bite in a pinch!
Sunglasses — I rarely leave the house without my favorite sunglasses!
Simple, Healthy Snacks — I always carry some kind of healthy snack in my bag, plus extras for sharing!

What are your must have items on the go? I’d love to hear about them!

Pull out your Sunday inserts from the weekend of 5/18 to find a $1 off POND’S products coupon. Use it through 6/15/14 to give POND’S Towelettes a try for yourself!

My Simplified Skincare Routine

May 20, 2014 by Deal Seeking Mom 1 Comment

My skincare routine has been all over the map — from high-end products to drugstore finds, simple to complex multi-step regimens. I’ve finally come to the conclusion that basic is best, and my skin is thanking me for it. It’s never looked better!

One product in the evening and one product in the morning is all I need for healthy, glowing skin… Oh, and they’re both available at drugstores nationwide at a price that won’t break your budget. Are you ready for this?

Yes, it’s POND’S products! Did you know that POND’S Cold Cream Cleanser has been loved by generations of women for over 100 years? I’ve been using it every evening, and I’ve been amazed at how it gently and effortlessly removes all of my makeup, including my mascara. PLUS it leaves my skin feeling moisturized without an additional step!

In the mornings and after working out, I like to freshen up with POND’S Towelettes. I use the Original Fresh variety most often, but every few days I’ll swap them out for the Exfoliating Renewal Towelettes for a little extra exfoliation. Like the Cold Cream Cleanser, the towelettes contain ingredients that gently remove dirt and oil, PLUS leaving your skin hydrated without the need for additional moisturizer.

And I’m in great company — Nashville star and spokesperson for POND’S, Connie Britton, uses POND’S products in her daily routine, as well! I’ve loved her since her days on Friday Night Lights, and I’ve always admired her simple and timeless day and evening looks.

Be sure to check your Sunday inserts from this past weekend (5/18) for a $1 off POND’S products coupon! There’s also a $1 off POND’S Towelettes printable coupon available currently. Use either one to give POND’S Cold Cream Cleanser or Towelettes a try for yourself — I’d love to hear your thoughts on it!