We Mothers (And Our Daughters) Deserve More: Olay Total Effect 7 in One Toning Moisturizer $50 VISA Giveaway

This is me. No filter. Me, after that outrageous Bob-Harper-is-the-Devil workout last month. I am flushed, but I feel good.

Trying to avoid having it go to my head, but in the worst shape of my life with my self-esteem in the dumps, this picture resulted in an incredible number of positive, glowing reactions.

Maybe some readers were happy I was finally doing the right thing for myself. Loved ones enjoyed that I actually took a self-portrait -- there are very few pictures of me in existence when I am not happy with how I look.

Certainly my kids will be happy to add another to the handful of photos I've allowed during their childhood.

Personally? I think the reason I received so many compliments was that I was, for once, not smothering my skin in a thick blanket of foundation. Yes, foundation as in what they layer under houses in cement like slabs. My skin was much more luminous.

What was I wearing in the picture? A little something I got in the mail called Olay® Total Effects Tone Correcting UV Moisturizer. It's moisturizer, sunscreen and a light dreamy toner all in one.

Perfect for a quick stop into the grocery store after a workout at the gym. I had slapped it on between errands and appointments.

It's a multi-tasking mother's dream.

Yes, it offers hydration plus sheer illuminating coverage, which my vanity loves. But even more important, given my fair Irish complexion and years of deep sunburns, it has sunscreen. I finally started using sunscreen and sunglasses in my thirties. Thirties! And this wonder bottle has sunscreen too!

Yes I know, by now most of the damage has been done. Actually, experts agree the majority of damage to our skin happens in our youth, but the damage doesn't show up until decades later. My friends, I have the age spots to show for my recklessness in the California sun.

In my teens I burned my nose so badly that it peeled for two years.

As a mother of one gorgeous daughter who happens to have inherited the olive skin tone from the rest of my family, I still worry and know I can help her prevent the kind of sun-damage I have. She is a swimmer and is reluctant to wear sunscreen, especially the stingy kinds with fumes that irritate eyes. All she wants to do is tan.

Lucky us, we received two bottles of Total Effects Tone Correcting UV Moisturizer in the mail and I gave the medium shade to her because I think it's never too early to start protecting our skin from damage.

With the fun bottle and the allure of the light toner and, more important, no stingy eyes, she's hooked and so am I.

Even better, the vitamin-rich complex combines SPF 15 sunscreen, a sheer tint and an anti-aging moisturizer which works to reduce the SEVEN signs of aging:

1. Line Minimization: Reduces the appearance of fine wrinkles
2. Nourishing Moisturization: For a radiant, healthy glow
3. Tone Enhancement: Balances color and reduces appearance of age spots
4. Gentle Exfoliation: Smoothes and evens skin texture
5. Eye Puffiness Reduction: Massages to reduce the appearance of eye puffiness
6. Free Radical Defense: Helps prevent damage to skin’s surface
7. Dryness Defense: Reduces the appearance of dryness

So guess where my bottle now resides?

In my purse!

This way I have no excuses to go bare in the sun.

I will always have a beauty tool with me to expedite my beauty routine when time runs out between carpools, kids' activities, and my work.

In the long run, I know spending a little time now will save me years of damage on my skin (and my daughter's) later.

So my friends, what do you do as multi-tasking mothers and women to carve out time to take care of your skin?

Tell me about it in the comments for the chance to win a $50 VISA card -- maybe to buy a few bottles of Total Effects Tone Correcting UV Moisturizer for yourself.

Take care of yourselves and take care of your daughters!

Contest closed:

Congrats to my winner, Holly Chernoff!!

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to U.S. Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by email. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 4/9 - 5/16

Be sure to visit the Olay TE page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers' reviews and find more chances to win! While we're on the subject of looking good, you might want to check out the "Looking Your Best" posts in the Life Well Lived section of BlogHer.com. There are some great tips and expert posts!

I was compensated and provided free product for this post. The opinions expressed herein are my own.

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'lisciously scribed by Heather Murphy-Raines @ 8:16 AM