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Smile Darling

Lifestyle and Fashion Blog

Archives for August 2020

Fashion, Lifestyle, Places, Travel & Adventure

Shopping Local: Tanger Outlets

August 17, 2020

Hi friends! While back-to-school for some remains up in the air, one thing I know for certain is that fall fashion is coming out in full swing! A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to collaborate with the Charleston Tanger Outlets.

If you are not familiar with Tanger Outlets, they are a shopping center that includes the best brands and the best prices all in one place! They always have awesome coupon deals with extra savings. They offer 3 ways to shop: In Store, Curbside Pick-up, or their NEW Virtual Shopper. Tanger Virtual Shopper allows you to shop your favorite styles and brands regardless of your location. They will ship items right to your door!

I know shopping may seem scary for some with the rapid spread of Covid-19. I must say though, I was very impressed with how clean the Tanger Outlets were. While other stores may have different protocols, the Tanger Outlets did require masks to be worn while in the shopping center. All the staff in the various stores and food joints I entered had masks on as well.

The Tanger Outlets has the TangerClub Program, which is their exclusive shopper loyalty program. This will gain you access to greater savings and more rewards every time you shop! They even offer an app for you to make the most out of your membership! There you can upload and track your receipts to earn club points.

Tanger Outlets of Charleston is so cute! I love the pastel color shopping plaza aesthetic. They have palm trees everywhere, and it is overall a very welcoming atmosphere. The prices and deals were really good, and I had a fun time shopping.

Right now, they have some huge fall fashion and back-to-school savings with an extra 20% OFF through August 30th! Share your back-to-school finds and WIN BIG! Parents, teachers and students can share their favorite purchases at Tanger for a chance to win 1 in 5 $2,500 Tanger Gift Cards! They have multiple locations, so check to see if one is near you here.

A huge thank you to the Tanger Outlets for having me and sponsoring this post! I can’t wait to go back for more fall finds!

xx Courtney

Beauty, Lifestyle, Skincare

Myro Deodorant- My Review

August 5, 2020

Hi babes! A few months ago, Myro sent me their deodorant to test out. I have waited to do this review because I wanted to give the product a fair chance. I promise you, this review is unlike anything I have written before, lol. Buckle up beauties, you’re in for a treat!

While I love the concept of the brand itself, this deodorant has been quite the headache for me. As always, my reviews are genuine. This post is an honest review based on my experience with using Myro deodorant.

Before jumping into my thoughts, let’s establish what Myro is!

What is Myro?

Myro is a plant-based subscription deodorant. This natural deodorant brand will send you refillable pods that are planet friendly and recyclable. The concept comes from the idea of trying to eliminate the amount of plastic wasted from deodorant. With Myro, you can pick a custom case in your favorite color. Next, pick one of their 6 scents to fill it with. You can change your scent up each month, skip refill months, or cancel anytime. Their formulas are Paraben-free, Cruelty-free, Gluten-free, and Aluminum-free. They also state they are Vegan. They claim this product is a hard-working, long lasting formula.

My Experience

I have been seeing a rise in Aluminum-Free and natural deodorants. If you have been following me for a bit, you know that as of 2019 I have gone Crulty-Free with all my beauty products. When I heard about Myro, I was really excited to try it out.

Prior to using Myro, I had never tried a “natural” deodorant. I have heard and read that it can take your body time to adjust. Going into this, I knew there was a chance I would smell for a little until I became acclimated.

When I got my cute package in the mail, I was so excited! I chose a pretty lavender case, and Chill Wave as my scent. The scent smelled amazing! It is a mixture of Cucumber, Jasmine and Spearmint. I don’t normally put deodorant on at night, but I just couldn’t wait to use it. When I woke up the next day, I smelt good and fresh under my pits! I felt that this would be a positive journey…but my armpits had other plans.

The first full day of using Myro went well. I basically sat at my desk all day at work, then went to the gym at night. At the end of the day I had minimal body odor, if any.

On day two, we took a turn for the worst. After only three hours, I really started to smell. I noticed the scent when I was trying on clothes at a local boutique. It was honestly an odor I never knew I could produce. Even on days where I’ve forgotten to put on deodorant, I don’t think I smelled that bad. The clothes I tried on smelt stinky. I was really embarrassed. I had to go shoot content downtown right after that, so I was squeezing my arms to my side anytime someone passed me on the sidewalk.

The next day I tried it one more time. Again, I smelled. It was strong. I could not wait to go home and shower. Even after showering, I still had a lingering odor. I was annoyed! I had plans to get drinks with a friend that night, and I had to run late to take care of my smell. The life I live!

It took two more showers for the smell of my body odor to be gone. I was traumatized. I had truly never smelt myself with that bad of BO. For me, that was the deciding factor that I could not continue on this natural deodorant journey, haha.

When I went back to my regular deodorant brand (Dove), I was fine. The thing that surprised me the most was the amount of minimal movement I was doing. I think I wore it to the gym once. On the other two days where I really smelled, I didn’t go to the gym at all.

After taking a break for a few weeks, I thought I would try it out again. I was working from home, and felt more comfortable testing Myro out again in a private setting. During this time, something weird happened-a good weird. The deodorant worked! I wasn’t smelling! Even after sitting out in the hot South Carolina sun! Did I just fall in love with this brand?! It held up way better than even my sisters non-natural deodorant too.

I was so excited about Myro working for me, that I bought 3 more pods. This is where I jumped the gun, lol. After doing so, I started getting a weird reaction I had not gotten before. My armpits were red and burning. Like, WTF! The burning sensation went on for a few days, so I couldn’t shave under my arms. The skin under my arms then started to peel.

Simply put, it all around sucked. The reaction went away, and then I thought I was in the clear. But you guessed it…I was NOT! I got this reaction three more times. During the time of these rash breakouts, I had stopped using the product. I was so annoyed I spent $30 on three refills I didn’t think I could use.

After taking another break, I went back to Myro. I don’t know why, but I did. The deodorant hasn’t done me wrong since. It’s been working really well, even on hot days in the sun or while working out!

What I Like

  • The scent of the deodorant smells really good! I like that they have a variety of scents that are not all fruity. They are unique and naturally crafted.
  • I like how you can customize your case. I chose lavender. You can leave it out on your bathroom counter or dresser, and it is aesthetically pleasing.
  • I love the concept behind the brand! I admire how their packaging is recyclable and how they are trying to eliminate plastic waste.
  • I like that the deodorant goes on clear. I do not get any deodorant balls under my armpits.
  • I like that it doesn’t stain my clothes.
  • I like that it is Aluminum free, cruelty-free, and Vegan!
  • Having the ability to skip shipments or cancel anytime is nice.
  • When it chooses to work, I don’t smell at all! Even after the gym or being at the beach!

What I Do Not Like

  • The deodorant itself went on wet.
  • My arm pits were left feeling sticky throughout the day the first few times.
  • The scent does not last. Even on lazier days of me doing minimal movement, I began to smell within a few hours (Before I liked the product).
  • Subscriptions…while convenient, are not for everyone.
  • It made me smell really bad in the beginning.
  • The deodorant gave me rashes on my armpits and made my skin peel.

To recap: As much as I love the concept and wanted to like this product, I am hesitant to recommend. I read many reviews on this brand and there are a lot of mixed feelings. Some people have had major success and love it! For others, it did not work.

With natural deodorant brands on the rise, I honestly feel there are others you should try first. Myro does advertise if you don’t like it, you can send it back within 30 days! So, if this is something you want to try for yourself, they do have a nice return policy. At the end of the day, I am currently using Myro and I am happy with it!

Thanks for reading!

xx Courtney

Fashion, Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

N-Sale 2020

August 4, 2020

Hi friends! It’s that time of year where the Nordstrom Sale completely takes over your Instagram feed for the next 2-3 weeks. I know it can be overwhelming, annoying and stressful. This year I am approaching the sale in a completely different light.

This will be my third year shopping the sale as a “blogger” and fourth year in general. I can comfortably report that in my opinion the sale is overrated. It is definitely hyped up way too much, but I get it. Most of the bloggers you see sharing the sale probably blog full-time. This sale is one of the ways they make their income. For me, I blog as a hobby and literally make no money, lol. I don’t mind being honest and spilling the real tea.

I do not think this sale is worth putting yourself into debt over. I do not want anyone to feel pressure to shop the sale. You’re not missing out on too much! Also, with everything going on with COVID I think it is important to spend more wisely.

If you are someone who normally shops designer brands, then this sale is for you! You are buying Fall 2020 season styles at a discounted rate. This is great for people who like designer bags, high end jeans, and booties. The sale is also great for getting ‘basics’ at a lower price. Usually, I will pick up a cardigan, get a few plain tees, and then bottoms of some sort. If you have been wanting Spanx Faux Leather Leggings, this is definitely the time to score those!

Other than that, I personally feel you can find booties, jeans and sweaters at TJMaxx, Target, Abercrombie, Amazon, or local boutiques for much cheaper. Not to mention, a lot of boutiques usually come out with DUPs on products you see in the sale anyway.

I’m breaking up this post into three sections. First, I will share what I plan to purchase. Then, I will show you all the items I like but I am not necessarily getting. Lastly, I will have product links for items I already own from previous sales. To shop, simply click the photo! Please Note: You will be unable to add anything to your cart until it is your time to shop. You can add things to your Wish List though! I do politely ask if you plan to purchase anything you see in this post that you use one of my links. I do make a small commission at no extra cost to you! It also helps me figure out what does well/ what you like to see. If you have any questions or want additional links just message me!

What I Plan to Purchase:

Items I Like:

Items I Already Own:

Beauty, Lifestyle, Skincare

Summer Smooth Skin- Fighting KP

August 3, 2020

Hi little angels! It’s been a hot minute since I’ve talked about skincare. With summer in full swing, I have been spending a little extra time trying to take care of my skin. Today, I am sharing with you how I fight those annoying little bumps known as KP.

Before I dive into my go-to products, let’s chat about what the heck KP (aka “chicken skin”) is. KP is short for Keratosis Pilaris. It is a common long-term skin condition that causes small, scaly bumps where there are hair follicles. The bumps are actually extra keratin buildup. Keratin is the protein that protects skin, hair and nails from infections and other harmful things. The buildup forms a plug that blocks the opening of a hair follicle. Doctors don’t know what triggers the buildup.

I never dealt with KP until three years ago. I have it on the back of my arms, and it actually makes me really self-conscious. People will sometimes ask me if I am cold, LOL. This past year I noticed it got pretty bad in the winter. I wanted to do everything I could to tame it.

Unfortunately for me, you cannot prevent or cure Keratosis Pilaris. The best way to treat it is usually with a topical exfoliant, topical retinoids, or lotions. After much trial and error, I found three products that work the best for me! Please note: Everyone’s skin is different and what works for me may not work the same for you.

The first product is the First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub. I use this scrub in the shower 2-3 times a week. It helps exfoliate to remove dead cells. The Glycolic and Lactic Acids help skin appear bright, and the Bisabolol soothes skin. This product is vegan, cruelty-free and gluten-free. It has pretty good reviews! This product is a little pricey at around $28 for 8 oz. It definitely lasts a while though! They also make a “mini” size for $10, which is a great way to test the product out before buying the full size.

The next product I use is the AmLactin Rapid Relief Restoring Lotion. It works almost instantly with visible results. My only complaint is that it smells pretty bad. I will usually use this at night before bed a few times a week. You can find this product at any drugstore like Target, CVS, Walmart, etc. I believe it is around $15. To my knowledge, this product is not cruelty-free.

I have tried other lotions, like the skinfix Resurface+ AHA Renewing Body Cream. I personally found that it did not work as good as the AmLactin, and it is more expensive ($45).

The last product that I’ve found to be a real game changer is actually a serum made for your face. I have been using The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA. I have been rubbing it on the backs of my arms twice a week. Out of all three of the products mentioned, this probably works the best! It is also the cheapest at around $7.

If you’re struggling with KP, know you are not alone. I know how frustrating and embarrassing it can be. I hope these products give you smoother skin and more confidence!

You can find all products mentioned linked below! They are associated with LikeToKnow.it, where I have the potential to make a small commission at no extra cost to you!

xx Courtney


About Me

HELLO

I'm Courtney! I'm just a girl who loves clothes, skincare and trying new things. With this blog, I hope to share a blend of topics that interest & excite me. Let's get inspired! And remember, Smile Darling!

Recent Posts

  • Luxury Hair- The Beacon Salon
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