{#Giveaway} It is @Neutrogena Rainbath's 45th Anniversary/Birthday but YOU get the presents! #Ad

NEUTROGENA® Rainbath Giveaway

Sponsored Giveaway, brought to you by Neutrogena!

Neutrogena's Rainbath is turning 45, although she doesn't look a day over 18 if you ask me!

I 'discovered' Neutrogena in my teens. I saw an ad that said that using Neutrogena's Shampoo is a good way to make your regular brand more effective by alternating between it & the Neutrogena anti-residue shampoo.

That began a period of me trying out tons of products in the line, with their Oil-Free Acne Wash, Rainbath refreshing shower and bath gel and their original light sesame body oil becoming my top three favorites from their line!

Now that I am blogging and get to try out tons of skincare and beauty products in a wide variety of price points, it is still Neutrogena I go back to. When I finish a system I am testing out, I let my skin 'breathe' again before starting on a new system to review by using Neutrogena for a week before I go testing something new.

It slays me to re-visit old posts, especially previous work for the same brand, and this review post of mine for Neutrogena's Rapid Wrinkle Repair (in conjunction with Allure Magazine and their Beauty Enthusiast's program) still cracks me up, check it out HERE (it outlines me and my eternal struggle with RBF, if you suffer from RBF too, can I get a 'what-what'!?) Another review I enjoyed re-reading that I did for Neutrogena can be found HERE. And a post for them that is near and dear to my heart as it's a rare glimpse into me and how I got into writing, HERE.

My mom taught me the importance of NEVER going to bed with makeup on, and on those nights when I come in and just straight up want to hit my bed hard, I always keep a pack of makeup remover in my nightstand, I love keeping these at the ready. I keep some in my purse too. This way between day and night events I can change makeup or after the gym (although in all fairness I try not to wear makeup when I am headed to the gym).

Rainbath is enjoying a 45th Anniversary/Birthday and what better way to celebrate a special occasion, than with presents?

I certainly love a good prezzie, particularly around holiday time! Our friends at Neutrogena whole-heartedly agree and they want to stuff your stocking with some Neutrogena 'goodies'. In fact a basket of Neutrogena Goodies, this may have to go under the tree as it might not fit in your stocking!

WIN IT:

One lucky butterfly will win a basket of Neutrogena Products including Rainbath - Refreshing Shower and bath gel!

Enter using the Rafflecopter Widget Below: (sometimes the widget gets stuck, if that's the case, just refresh your screen, that usually does the trick! If you don't see the widget but the words 'a Rafflecopter giveaway' just press that link which will take you to the entry widget)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MY TAKE:

Neutrogena will always be the brand I associate with my kick off into my skincare and beauty routine, and when I get the chance to write about products you will definitey find in my cabinets anyway - I consider it a really good day at the office.

You know how much I love playing 'Butterfly Claus' and giving you guys the chance to experience the products I am currently playing with!

Readers Sound Off: What is your favorite Neutrogena Product? Why is it your fave?

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FTC Disclosure: All products featured were supplied to Ascending Butterfly at no cost for Editorial Consideration. This is a sponsored/compensated Post, however all opinions are 100% my own! I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.

Spring Skin Care with #Neutrogena helping us all to feel #ntgbeautifulinsideout

Feeling Beautiful Inside and Out certainly doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg! For every pricey Department Store Brand, I'll bet that I can find you an equivalent product at your local drugstore! As a blogger I get to test a lot of wonderful products, but my skin tends to need a break, and when I'm not testing anything specific, the brand I usually go back to is Neutrogena! I started with Neutrogena in my teens, their iconic Glycerin Bar was the only thing that would work for my skin for a long time, and it's still the one I turn to when my skin gets angry from playing with so many different products per week.

For me beauty starts on the inside, being emotionally, mentally and spiritually in balance gives you an inner glow that you can't help but radiate outward! Getting the outer you to reflect that beauty inside doesn't have to be complicated and can definitely be super affordable.

I am now days away from my birthday (April 4th), and as you know after me spending a year in the hospital, 3 different hospitals in fact, this year I want to go all out for my big day, I want to have fun and just be happy that day, so when a package arrived at my door with Neutrogena's essentials for Spring I couldn't have been happier! I considered it an 'Easter Basket' Blessing for us grown ups!

Here is a picture of the goodies:

From Left to Right: Top left: Oil Free Cleansing Wipes, Shine Control Primer,   Shine Control Powder,  Top Right: Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock with SPF 45, Far Left Center row: Neutrogena Shine Control Makeup w SPF 20 in color Fresh Beige, Very Center: MoistureSmooth Color Stick in color 'Sweet Watermelon', Bottom Row/Far Left: New Healthy Lengths Mascara in color 'Carbon Black 01', Bottom Row Center: New Crease Proof Eye Shadow in color 'Constant Copper 40', and Bottom Row Far Right: Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes

Not a bad haul right? (Happy Birthday to ME!)

Here is a closer look at what I received:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Pink Grapefruit line

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - RTR Moisturizer

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Ultra Sheer Sunscreen

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Shine Control line

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Healthy Lengths Mascara

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - MoistureSmooth Color Stick

Let's Break Them Down One-by-One:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - The Oil-Free Cleansing Wipes in Pink Grapefruit is geared to those with Acne Prone skin, the premoistened wipes help cleanse the skin of pore-clogging impurities leaving your skin clean and with no greasy residue. I personally always carry makeup remover in my cosmetics bag, and I never thought of remover wipes formulated for acne prone skin until I tried these!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Neutrogena® Ultra Sheer® Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 45 - This is a light weight formula that provides heavy protection from UVA/UVB rays. It provides 80 minutes of water-resistant coverage, and it's non-comedogenic so it won't clog your pores and it's PABA-free! Please protect your skin from the sun butterflies! I lost my Aunt/Godmother to Skin Cancer!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Shine Control Line - The Shine Control Primer is step one for a shine free face all day, you then follow it with the Shine Control Liquid Makeup and then lastly the Shine Control Powder is a quick 3 step system to help keep you shine free and beautiful inside out all day! Oily girls or just those with an oily T-Zone will love this system!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Healthy Lengths Mascara - Exclusive Vitamin E and Olive Oil formula will nourish and strengthen your lashes so they stay strong day after day, it lengthens and I can tell you I have experienced absolutely NO clumps, flaking or smuding, it replaced a different very popular 'available in drugstores brand' that I was previously using. I really do love this mascara!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - MoistureSmooth Color Stick - These moisturize and continuosly condition your lips so they are softer and smoother day after day. Made with fruit extracts along with Mango and Shea Butter, it goes on easy and it's sheer tint of color lasts for hours. It's a twist up color so you don't need to sharpen this. I loved the feel, but on it's own I found the sheer color too light for me, so I use this over my lipstick to give myself more pigment. (I might have to get these in the darker shades like Plum or Raisin to see if those colors give a slightly deeper pigment as I lean toward a darker lip even on a day-to-day basis)

My Take:

I am a long time Neutrogena user, it's what I started with to care for my skin as a teen, and it's what I still use now to regulate my skin between product evaluations! I think I've probably used every product in their line at one time or another, but I will admit the Eye Shadow, Mascara and Primer were new to me, and I greatly enjoyed the chance to try them out! All of them are a re-buy, but the Mascara really stands out, it doesn't clump, it gets really good distribution and I haven't had to double dip and it really applies easily and smoothly. If I get another bundle of love from Neutrogena, I hope it contains their Body Oil (light sesame formula) as that has been my favorite Neutrogena product for what seems like my whole lifetime as my mom introduced me to it first many years ago and I still use it just out the shower with my skin still slightly damp! This Body Oil was a life changer for me, I love the way it leaves my skin feeling and I use it for all four seasons!

I feel ready to face Spring with a fresh face and beauty from the inside out! I will definitely be using these again on my birthday!

Get Social:

You can connect with Neutrogena on Facebook or Tweet them with the hashtag #NTGBeautifulInsideOut

Happy April Fools Day Butterflies! What is your Neutrogena Beauty Favorite?

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FTC Disclosure: I am participating in a compensated campaign with Neutrogena via Latina Bloggers Connect, products were sent to Ascending Butterfly free of charge for editorial consideration, however all opinions are 100% my own. That Body Oil really did change my skin!

Half Way There! Easy ways you can #WaveforChange - Small Effort, HUGE Impact!

I have always had the ability to 'write', I loved creating poetry, short stories and being all around creative as a child. Thankfully my mom was smart and fostered my creativity, unfortunately my guidance counselor at school....well  not so much. He told me writing wasn't a 'real' job, pursue an education that gives you a 'trade' in the end, because that 'trade' is how you'll earn your living.

Needless to say I came home that day with the wind totally knocked out of my sails. My mom picked up on it and asked me why I was so sullen, and when I told her why she was fit to be tied that anyone in the eductional system would so easily try to dash a young person's dreams, and not just any young person, HER daughter! She had experienced something very similar by her favorite art teacher when she was young so she understood how I felt.

She spent years making up for that counselor's mistake by nurturing my creative side at every given opportunity. And finally in High School an amazing teacher who taught Creative Writing, 'got me'. He got my style, liked my writing and totally encouraged me (Huge shout out to Mr. McKinnon!). He taught me my writing was my power. And took me straight to the guidance counselor's office to find all the essay writing contests they knew of for scholarship funding, and with both of their help and a lot of nights spent writing, I wrote the essay that got me accepted into 3 different Universities, and landed me a multitude of Scholarship Funding.

I went on to become to the first College Graduate in my family. And I did find creative ways to make a living writing (starting with articles in a variety of newspapers, time spent as a film critic for a well known local paper, and as a newswriter for a local cable news television station!).

My education impacted my life in more ways than one, earning power, career potential, work ethics and even in emotional ways like self-esteem and pride.

But for every student with the courage to stand up to a devastating 'no', or a 'you can't make in that profession, pick another'; there are students who don't ever tell their families about it and remain silent and worse still, take it to heart and believe it may be true!

When I started Ascending Butterfly it was to share affirmations of empowerment, to encourage, to inspire. And when I was first approached by brands, I wanted something 'better', I wanted to work with brands doing Social Good, making a difference, giving back. And somewhere along the line, I got known for doing so. And now I get more giveback initiatives and campaigns in my inbox than I can possibly cover. I of course wish I had the time to cover them all, but the chance to make a difference to help support education, students and their dreams is one I just had to share!


About:

Neutrogena®, the #1 dermatologist-recommended skin care brand, launched Wave for Change® in 2009 and has benefited disaster relief & environmental charities around the world, as well as provided hope for kids through education. The campaign has raised almost half a million dollars in almost three years and has facilitated scholarships, school uniforms, backpacks, and school supplies to children from unprivileged communities.

Ways to Give Back:

JUST WATCH:

Just by watching the video below, Neutrogena® Wave for Change® will donate $1 to GlobalGiving to support U.S. educational organizations such as: Knowledge is Power Program, Para Los Ninos, and Education Through Music. (As The Official #TwitterPartyDJ you know I love any program that fosters the love of music and education!)

OR SHOP:

An additional $1 will be donated to GlobalGiving with each participating Neutrogena product you purchase.

Visit the Neutrogena® Wave for Change® site or their Facebook page to activate the purchased products with one quick click!

And:

Here's an even bigger win/win, you can join @LBConnect for a Twitter Party on July 25th, 2012 from 9pm-10:30 pm EST. I am NOT hosting or co-hosting this party, so if you have any questions, please visit the twitter page we linked to above!

Super easy right? I hope you will join me in the Neutrogena 'Wave for Change'. If you haven't already done so, GO watch that video, seriously like NOW! :)

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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Neutrogena® Wave for Change® through Latina Bloggers Connect. All opinions are my own. Questions about Ascending Butterfly's Disclosure Policy? See HERE for more information.