New Hair Products To Try

I’ve been seeing some new hair stuff around lately that I’m very excited to try. Check these out:

Moroccan Oil Smooth! If you’ve never tried Moroccan Oil, you should. Not only does it do amazing things for your hair but it smells incredible. Like a warm vacation somewhere. One reason I want to try this line is that it’s especially great for frizzy hair. According to the their site, it has argan oil, argan butter, Vitamin E and essential fatty acids which are going to smooth and hydrate your hair. In particular, I want to try the smoothing lotion because it will help with your blow-dry time while making your locks feel like butter. This is some pricey stuff starting at $28-$43, making it more of a luxury item but if you feel like treating yourself to some lovely hair products, give this new collection a go! This stuff can only be bought online or in specialty stores or salons.

New TIGI Products- Tigi has just released some products recently to add to their already fun collection. The first is a matte wax is perfect for shorter hair or hair with fun texture as well as men’s hair who don’t want additional shine. $16.95 I believe.  Flexi Head is a strong hold hairspray but has flexibility too so it won’t leave your hair super crunchy or sticky. $13.95.

Blow out is what I’m most excited for, next to Motor Mouth and it is a golden shimmering blow creme which will help smooth hair, reduce blow dry time and enhance brunette and red tones in the hair. $16.95. Motor Mouth is a volumizer that also adds shine to your hair. Id be curious as to how this one works because typically products that are a gloss also leave the hair heavier but I bet Tigi did a good job making this a two in one without weighing the hair done. $16.95. You can get these at Ulta or any salon that carries TIGI as well as online.

 

AG Smoothing Balm-This has been out for a little bit but I haven’t seen anyone really talk about it. AG makes some excellent products and this one is no different. The thing I love about it is that its a balm for DRY hair. So as the months get colder and your hair feels a little sad or dehydrated, smooth this on your ends or your flyways or just wherever you want it to be frizz free. It has argan, marula, and mongongo oils inside ( I honestly don’t know what the last two are or how they really help the hair, but they sound exotic and like they do something awesome). This is $22 and you get this at Ulta or salons that carry AG. I’ve seen in some places that have tiny little jars so you could pop it into your purse.

 

Alterna Bamboo Anti-Frizz Curl Defining Cream and Curl Re-Activating Spray

I’m a big fan of Alterna because they are all about sustainability, contain UV protectants in a lot of their products, and are free of many different chemicals or harsh ingredients for the hair. These products are formulated for curly hair (duh) meaning that they won’t leave your curls crunchy or sticky. This has eco-certified ingredients along with their amazing Kendi oil for extra smoothness. Each are $25 and you can get this at Ulta, online, or salons that carry Alterna.

Wella LuxeOil Collection-Not only do Wella’s products smell amazing, but they deliver awesome results. Many hairstylists use Wella in their salons for color and product. This luxe oil line contains a Keratin Protect Shampoo and conditioner, a Keratin restore mask, a leave in conditioning spray, a reconstructive elixir, and a light oil shine spray. These products all contain oils like jojoba, argon oil, and almond oil. Prices range from $22-$48 and you get this at Ulta, online, or in salons that carry Wella. This product is good for those of you who lighten your hair often or have really damaged hair from either bleach or from too much heat styling. These will add keratin, a protein, back into your hair and will restore as well as smooth your back into good condition.

Fekkai Hair Fragrance Mist- Okay, I won’t lie-I’m not sure how many people will buy this stuff because I for one don’t know how worth it is to me to spend $20 on fragrance for my hair. However this is somewhat new and intriguing nonetheless. I don’t know, maybe I would buy it if I felt like I had extra money to spend. Which is basically never. Anyway, this stuff adds wonderful scents to the hair while lightly fighting frizz and adding shine all at the same time.

The pink one is rose scented, the yellow is more citrusy, and the blue is creme vanilla. The blue one sounds like my kinda scent for this time of the year! You can get these at Ulta or fekkai.com or anywhere that uses Fekkai products. Be wary of ordering stuff off other sites though because they can change the formula to make more of a profit. That goes with any salon professional product. Fekkai also came out with a blowout primer, blowout texturizer, and blowout serum you should check out if you like his products.

Billy Jealousy Beard Envy- For your man out there or if you have a beard…these products have been out for awhile. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked about what products are good for beards. While you could use a styling wax or pomade, these are formulated for beards. Which for me I think is kinda cool because I guess it sets it apart and you want to treat that facial hair gently and clean it well. This kit is $25 or you can get just the beard control or shampoo for $20. Billy Jealousy also has a tattoo care kit that I think is pretty cool if you want to keep your tattoos in tip top shape. Get this at Ulta!

 

I was trying to find some more drugstore brands that were new just to vary some of the price points but there wasn’t anything I was super impressed with it yet. Well, there ya go! Some new hair stuff to check out. 🙂

Fall Favorites and New Things!

Now that Fall is here, it’s time for pumpkin spice lattes, flannel, boots, hot chocolate, and warm hair and makeup. I’ve been thinking about what some of my fall favorites would be for this year and came up with a little list along with some new stuff I’m excited and curious about.

 

Lorac Pro Matte Lip Stick-Pencils. These are my new favorites right now! They smell like candy-like a sweet chocolate or cocoa/vanilla scent. They glide on amazingly and have a matte finish. They don’t dry out the lips and stay on for a good few hours without having to retouch. I love the Fuchsia, Magenta, Merlot, and Nude for fall. I also love that they are twist up because I feel like you’re getting more for your money and with the tip being smaller than a lipstick, its easier to apply. Plus, its only $16 which is decent compared with many other lipstick brands. Love these!

 

Sneak Peak Lorac Pro Mega Palette-Oh man. I don’t even know where to start. I think Lorac is catching up with Urban Decay on their Palettes. This new one is coming out and it is like the holy grail of palettes. 32 Eyeshadows! Holy guacamole! It’s hard to tell the colors in this pic but there are a lot of neutral and warm browns and taupe colors along with some fun burgundy and teal tones. This isn’t out yet but I’m guessing it’s going to be around $70+ with how many shadows there are. Lorac has great shadows and the consistency is like butter. Excited for this one!

Stila’s 20th Anniversary Eyes are the Window to the…

Soul. Mind. Spirit. Body. I love these new palettes that Stila came out with recently. There are four of them but these two below are my favorites (Mind and body). They are gorgeous. The Mind palette, the one with more browns and naturals, are all matte. Perfect for everyday and every night looks. It has a dark plum color in it thats hard to find. The more colorful palette has very pretty gemstone colors, rich greens, blues, and purples. I am in love! These are a little pricey at $50 a pop but I think they are worth it. Check out the other two palettes as well. All four of them are amazing!

Sneak Peak Urban Decay Vice 3!

I’m guessing both the lorac palette and Urban’s new Vice 3 palette are holiday launches but it’s exciting to know what’s coming out soon. I couldn’t find a decent pic but this is what it’s sort of going to be. Looks like a good combo of matte’s and shimmer, natural and fun. $60

 

Bare Minerals Blemish Ready Foundation and Well Rested CC Eye Primer: 

I think Bare Minerals has been coming out with a bunch of interesting stuff lately. This new blemish clearing foundation sounds kinda cool, with salicylic acid to help clear away your acne while giving you coverage at the same time. If you’re a fan of bare minerals and have blemishes, you should check it! $27 and at Sephora at the moment.

Well rested cc eye primer has caffeine, aloe plus a hint of tint to wake up tired eyes and prime them for shadow. I actually want to try this! So far I like their well rested products because they truly brighten the under eye area. $20 and soon to be at Sephora and Ulta I believe.

Bare minerals actually has a bunch of new stuff coming out…. they have new facial cleansing oil, a mineralixer 5 oil blend, and an eye treatment so keep your eyes out for those as well.

 

 

This isn’t new but here are a few of the foundations I love for colder weather. Typically people use a little more coverage for the cooler months. Just make sure you moisturize and or prime beforehand as the air and cold will make your skin drier.

Stila Stay All Day Foundation: $44- I love love this foundation. It’s creamy and I use it on so many people for makeup applications because it blends so well and matches a lot of skin tones. It also has an expertly designed concealer to match the foundation you choose attached on the lid. I think it’s a perfect “Fall/Winter” foundation because it offers full coverage without feeling like your caking your face (a little at a time people!). Its a good semi matte finish but you can make it either more or less matte depending on the products you use before and after. I plan on switching my summery foundations/tinted moisturizers for this for the coming months because I love it. At Ulta and Sephora and of course Stila.com

 

Becca Matte Foundation: 

Becca recently came to Ulta this summer and I’m excited about it. They have both a radiant foundation and matte, one good for more dry skin and one for more oily skin. The matte foundation is amazing and is perfect for those of you with oiler skin types. This is great for all day wear as it is shine proof and won’t budge. It’s buildable coverage and you don’t need a lot. It’s $42 at sephora and ulta. Check out all of Becca’s stuff because I’m just in love! 

 

Ulta IT Brushes!

HOORAY! I’m very excited about all the new brushes that Ulta has now. It’s not that we didn’t have brushes before but I feel like now we have a huge variety and high quality brushes. These brushes are so soft and plush and have different price ranges. Check these babies out! The black ones are the most “luxe” line as they are incredibly soft. If you want to better your makeup application skills, get brushes that will make applying smooth and quick. The way a brush blends makeup and its softness helps me determine the quality of brush it is. Don’t forget to clean your brushes as well to make them last longer! (I’ve been so lazy about it…) Brushes cost $12-$50 ish.

 

 

There are so many new things out right now that I’m already thinking I’ll have to do another post of new stuff.  It’s hard to keep up sometimes! So I just post the stuff I’m interested in and know about/like. I’ll do some hair posts soon! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!

-Jessica

 

It’s been awhile…

Hello lovelies! It’s definitely been quite some time. After finishing beauty school, I got my license and have been a hair stylist at Ulta Cosmetics in Everett, WA. It’s just been a busy and crazy summer. Now that it’s Fall and my life is starting to make sense again (sort of), I’m gonna jump back on the bandwagon and try to start doing some more posts. I’m also going to add a services link as well, change things up a bit. Hopefully this week I’ll start some fun fall makeup looks/posts. It definitely felt Fall-ish today since I had to wear a coat. Cheers to being freezing for the next 6 months in style!

PS-Ulta is offering 25% off color services for September! Hurry in for a fun Autumn look~

Summer Beauty Essentials

Technically it’s still spring…but with 80 degree weather, I’m just going to convince myself it’s summer and I am definitely okay with that. I keep seeing posts on summer beauty essentials and I decided I wanted to do my own. As I was taking a shower, I thought (deeply I might add because in the shower is where you do all your deep thinking!), “What are the products that I really love in the summer?” “What new things came out that I would add to my essentials list?” So here are some of the things that I love for summer weather~

 

1.) MAC Strobe Cream

I said it. The “M” word. Yes this is a Mac product. And yes, I love it. The reason I love it-It makes your skin glowy and super soft. It has a lit within luminescence in the formula so your skin looks radiant, which is my favorite for summer. This is not for everyone, especially oily skin types. And it doesn’t have spf. But I still use it on my face and sometimes I mix it with a lightweight sunscreen. It’s just a beautiful face lotion that I wear all year round really. If you don’t like Mac products or you don’t want to spend $10-30 on it, (if you do, start with the small travel size bottle; it lasts a long time and is only $10) Olay just came out with their Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream Moisturizer that works wonderfully too. 

2.) Supergoop CC cream with SPF 35 –$32  (It’s weird on the picture it says SPF 40 but mine says 35 and the website says 35…maybe they are updating it to be 40.) I got a sample of this in my birchbox ages ago and I fell in love because I think it was one of the first “BB” or “CC” creams that I tried. I stopped using it for awhile because I started trying so many other ones (my favorite-Too Faced Beauty Balm in the tube!) that it ended up sitting in my drawer for awhile.

Well when I started self tanning this spring, I needed something that I could use that was lightweight but matched my body to my face because my face always ends up being lighter from washing. The nice thing about this is that it is “self adjusting.” Normally I’m not a fan of self adjusting formulas, but this one is awesome! I ended up buying two when they were on sale, one that was light to medium self adjusting and one that was medium to dark  so that depending on where my face was with my tan, I could get the color that matched my body. Great product! Love this stuff.

When I self tan, people ask me what makeup I’m wearing and this is usually it. Plus it has high spf in it for when you are out and about. It’s also paraben and fragrance free for those who have sensitive skin. I think it works well for all skin types from oily to dry because it has a nice lightweight texture but feels moisturizing. You can get these from Sephora or supergoop.com. Ulta use to carry them but not anymore. Really, any BB or CC cream will be great for summer so just find one you really like because it’ll offer you some coverage and SPF.

3.) A lightweight concealer/highlighter pen 

When it’s nice out, I definitely don’t want caked on thick concealer. I have a few things I really like that highlight the under eye area so that you don’t have to use a heavy concealer.

-Mac Prep and Prime Highlighter Pens- These are awesome. I have light boost which has more of a yellowy tint to it which I like because my under eye area tends to have more  purple/blue undertones, so this neutralizes it and highlights it at the same time. There is also a couple other colors that work well for all skin tones such as radiant rose, bright forecast, and peach lustre. You can also use these pens to highlight your face on your cheekbones and brow bone. They run about $25 on the website or anywhere there is a nearest MAC vendor/store. 

-Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener-$20 at Ulta, Sephora, or Smashbox.com

Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener is made specifically for under the eyes and it illuminates and highlights any dark circles. And it’s lightweight. These are -not- going to give you full coverage. The idea is for it to be light for summer since typically people don’t wear tons of makeup when its hot out.

Bare Minerals Stroke of Light Eye Brightener  OR Well Rested Face and Eye Brightener-Both $22

The main difference between the two is that the Stroke of Light has more coverage of a concealer in it. The 4 colors range from light to dark. It’s still lightweight-it just matches your face color more than other normal highlighting pens. The Well Rested Face and Eye Brightener is suppose to work well for everyone as it just is one color, a slight yellowish hue that has light reflecting pigments in it. Both are great for highlighting the under eye area.

Benefit Erase Paste-$26

I love love love this stuff. It’s one of those rare items that I actually use all of it and buy it again. Its a creamy consistency that has an orange/pinky undertone to it to help brighten up any areas that are dark. I use this under my eyes, around my nose, and top of my lip. It’s amazing! You definitely have to set it with a powder though since it is such a creamy product. Talking to other people, it’s not for everyone. No one makeup product is. If you have serious serious under eye circles, this won’t cover it. This is just to lightly conceal and brighten. One thing too, is that if you have a really deep skin tone, this might not cut it. It’ll probably be too light even though they have a “deep” shade. It’s really not that dark. Great stuff though-one of my favorites! Get this at ulta (Some Ulta stores have the entire benefit line as well as a Benefit Brow Bar!), Sephora, benefit.com.

 

4.) A Peachy Blush

A nice peachy blush can go with every skin tone and it’s very pretty for summer. Heres a few that I like:

Bare Minerals Vintage Peach $19-This is a gorgeous shimmery peach. If you don’t like shimmer or sparkle at all in your blush-Do NOT get this one. This gives you a beautiful glow in addition to the nice peachy shade on your cheeks.

 

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Blissful (Warm Peach)-$26. This is also a beautiful blush and tarte’s blushes do last a long time which is nice when it’s hot out and you don’t want your makeup melting off your face. The maraca airbrush blush in shimmering peach is awesome as well.

 

 

5.) Waterproof Mascara-Lights, Camera, Splashes-$20

With hot weather, no one wants smudgy runny eyes. This is my go to for waterproof mascara. Another good one is Urban Decay Cannonball also.

6.) Setting Spray-Urban Decay De Slick-$30

This is a great setting spray for the summer or for those with oily skin or both! Just spray after you put your makeup on and your done!

 

7.) Alterna Bamboo Beach Line– Protective Spray, Leave in Conditioner, Tousled Waves and Dry Shampoo

These are perfect for your hair for summer. You need some extra protection from the sun and salt. Look for any products that fight UV rays so that your color doesn’t fade and your hair doesn’t get super dry. Leave in conditioners are great because they give you some extra hydration. These products range from about $18-25 and you can get them at Ulta or Sephora.

 

 

8.) Victoria Secret Foaming Body Wash and Shave Gel-$14

An amazing scented body wash and shave gel in one! Another product by Victoria Secret that I love that I felt too lazy to put a picture (my summer essentials list is starting to get long…haha) of is their body oil. They have some different oil sprays that are great for moisturizing after shaving for a silky sheen.

 

 

9.) Victoria Secret Self Tanning Tinted Spray-$15 Smells great and doesn’t streak. You can also see where it is being sprayed.

 

10.) Sunscreen~!

There are so many sunscreens out there. I really like spray sunscreens or something that’s lightweight and easy to put on. I haven’t tried this one yet but it looks awesome and I think it’s going to be my next sunscreen for all over. Again its by Supergoop. It’s a Sunscreen Oil Spray SPF 50. It has meadow foam seed oil and argan oil inside which help moisturize and help fight free radicals and aging. $10-26 depending on the size you get. Supergoop.com or Sephora.

 

11.) A Good Book! 

Summer reading is the best because it’s warm out and you can lay on the beach with a good book and relax. I’m reading The Giver right now because I’ve never read it before and even though I’m almost 26,  it got me this idea that I really need to read some new books, even if they are young adult fiction novels…

I’m going to make a summer reading list soon. Any books you guys are wanting to read for summer or books you’ve read that are great for summer reads? 

12.) A good drink! Green Tea Lemonade! 

I went to the store today and was thinking about all the different drink cocktails (with and without alcohol…) I could come up with. I got sparkling lemonade and some different flavored crystal light packets. I got some green tea and regular lemonade. I also got dragon fruit peach ice tea. Cookies and cream iced coffee (when I need to cut back on spending at Starbucks…). Orange mango juice, etc.

 

 

Even though books and lemonade aren’t technically “beauty” I think relaxing and enjoying yourself has beauty benefits to it so thats why I added those. What are your beauty summer essentials?

Summer Collections 2014: Tarte

Tarte’s Summer 2014 Collection!

I wanted to just show you the stuff that Tarte just came out with for summer real quick. I love Tarte products. I have to say that their products are ones that I use probably most often. I love that it doesn’t have synthetic fragrance in their products (great for those with rosacea) or other crap that might be harmful to our bodies. They are all cruelty free. Plus their products work really well. Some of the more natural lines of cosmetics kind of suck sometimes but this is one of my favorites!

I keep looking at the picture on the right because her makeup and hair is beautiful. I know it’s the same person but I’m mesmerized by that right picture! Smokey brown eyes and a peachy bronze look.

Eyeshadow Palette-$36 at Sephora and Ulta. I love the colors but I already have so many of the colors that I don’t feel like I need any of them in particular. Great shadows for warmer days!

Captivating blush-$26 At Sephora and Ulta. This color works on just about everyone. Its a nice warm peach color that is more on the matte side. Maracuja Bronzing Serum- $47 This one I’ve only seen at Sephora so far. It’s not at Ulta so I’m not sure if it’s not there yet or if its just exclusive to Sephora. If it wasn’t $47, I’d buy this stuff right now! Rich in Omega fatty acids which are great for your skin and is a self tanner! For a nice bronze glow for summer!

Self tanning towelettes! $21 for ten at sephora and ulta. I’ve head nothing but great things about the regular Maracuja self tanner so I bet these are going to be awesome!

Maracuja Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover Wipes-$12 at Ulta and Sephora. Tartes never really came out with face wipes so I’m curious as to how well these work.

Volumizing Brow Powder-$25  I’ve always liked Tartes brow products. I use their little clay pots for my brows and I love them! This will be great for sparse brows or for refining your brows. Basically, anyone can use this. Colors come in blonde, medium brown, rich brown, and grey! I saw that you can actually use this at your new growth on your scalp to cover grey hair as well! If you buy this brush down below separately ($21), one of the ends of it is for your hair on your head and the other end is for your brows. Pretty cool!

Another brush Tarte came out with is the slenderize and contour brush down below
. I have to say I love all of Tartes brushes. They are fantastic! Pricey, but definitely worth it in my opinion. This brush runs $32 (at sephora and ultra) and its double ended for contouring your face. The domed side is to contour and the fluffier side is to blend any lines.

The Sculptor-$24 This product I’ve only seen on QVC and now Sephora has it as an exclusive. I love the idea of using a creamy pencil to sculpt your face and cheekbones. That slenderized brush above and this product are the perfect combo for contouring your face.

 

Smooth Operator Pressed Finishing Powder-$34: This will be great for those with oily skin because it has amazonian clay in it to absorb any excess oil. It’s great for anyone who wants to set their makeup and make it last all day without the mess of a loose powder.

Brow Architect-$23 at Sephora and Ulta- Again I love Tartes brow products and I bet this one will be a hit. It has a nice creamy pencil on one end and a spooled brush for shaping and blending on the other. Comes in fair light, medium tan, and deep.

Lights Camera Lashes Precision Longwear Liner-$20 in black. I think this one is exclusive to Ulta because I didn’t see it on the sephora website. Perfect for a cat eye!

 

I feel like I might be missing one or two things but for now, these are the items that are fairly new and now out on shelves. Tarte came out with a lot of stuff! Check it out-I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. It’s a brand you can feel good about and it works!

 

April: Ipsy VS Birchbox

I received my Ipsy and Birchbox for the month of April and I decided to do a post on which one “won” for the month. I really do love both of them because it’s like a present just for you every month. Sometimes you get some really awesome stuff. This month, I have to say, I got some really good stuff that I was impressed by. Here we go:

BIRCHBOX!

Numero uno: Oi All in One Beauty Milk by Davines

I use Davines at the beauty school I go to and it’s honestly an amazing brand. I was super surprised to get this in my box and really excited because this is definitely a “luxury” item. I love all of the Oi products. They have a sweet floral scent that is hard to trace in memory. I have no idea really what its suppose to smell like, I just know that it smells good. It has Roucou oil in it which is so good for your hair because it prevents it from aging with antioxidants. Its very moisturizing and leaves your hair soft and silky. I recommend ALL of Davines products because they are amazing and are a good brand for the environment in general and excellent as far as actually working. I hope to one day work in a salon with their products. They just make me happy.  Check out their website: http://us.davines.com

Cynthia Rowley Eyeliner

I have never heard of this person/brand but her eyeliner is pretty awesome. I’d rank it up there with Urban Decay (Is that okay to say? Haha). I can never have enough black eyeliners and this one is good! Long lasting. Dark black. Creamy feel. You do have to sharpen it though.

Color Club Nail Polish in Aquamarine

This seems like your standard nail polish. Nothing terribly fancy about it in my opinion. Its a light blue which is a pretty color for summer. Can’t wait for summer! Again, nothing spectacular-just another hue to add to my collection of polishes!

Bija Body Daily Body Serum:

This was created by an esthetician and has organic honey and botanical oils inside. This oil is really lightweight, not thick like a hair serum. It smells sweet but again, another one of those products where I have no idea what it really smells like because it’s a combination of things-it just smells really good. The sample size seems to hard to use all over your body so I’ve just been using it on my arms and neck area. I’d buy it just for the smell. I don’t know how great it is for you but I’m guessing if an esthetician made it, it probably has really good skin benefits.

Lastly I got KIND Snack Bar with Maple Seeds and Sea Salt

I always think its interesting to get food in my box (What if people have allergies?) but I’ll always try it for the heck of it. This was actually pretty good. I’m not typically a fan of pumpkin but because there was maple in it, it actually tastes like a yummy granola bar. It’d be great for a snack like when you go hiking or something. It has oats, quinoa, millet, amaranth, and buckwheat which give you a whole serving of whole grains. No artificial crap!

Another thing in my birchbox was this little “Tip Card” which I personally thought was the coolest idea! It’s a tip for a rainy day. It rains like every day in Seattle…so it’s nice to have ideas on what to do instead of laying in bed all day. This one said: “Browse art for sale online-it’s more affordable than you think. Some great options to get you started: Artsy, Artspace, and the Tappan Collective.” I find it funny that it says to go on the computer when it’s raining but hey, the cute little card made it worth it.

Now to go and do my reviews on the birchbox site so I can get my points and moneys for more stuff!

 

Ipsy

This bag was full of great items this month. Heres what I gots:

St Tropez Anti Aging Face Self Tanner Plus

This is new by St Tropez and if you know anything about this line, you know that their self tanner is one of the best! Top of the line as far as not looking like an oompa loompa. This is new because they added the little ” Anti Aging Plus” at the end. This is what Ipsy had to say about the product on their website:

“The St. Tropez Gradual Tan Plus Anti-Aging Multi-Action Face hydrates skin for 24 hours without blocking pores and provides a natural bronze glow. Prolongs youthful skin with Matrixyl Synthe 6, which rejuvenates cells and boosts collagen synthesis to firm, plump and visibly lift fine lines and wrinkles.

Dermatologically tested. 100% Natural Ecocert approved DHA. Paraben free. Sulphate free. Aromaguard ™ fragrance technology eliminates the tell-tale self tan smell.”

So I’ve been wearing this for about a week now and I absolutely love it. It’s a great consistency. Smooths on easy and gives you a nice glow. Love it. I like it because it’s not watery or terrible smelling and looks even. However I would give it some time to dry before sleeping if you put it on at night because it seems really moisturizing so it leaves that kind of dewiness on your face before it dries completely. Some other self tanners for the face that I like are Xen Tan and Norvell. Norvell is really good for oily skin because it has salicylic acid in it which will make sure your pores don’t get clogged. Xen tan is good for normal to dry skin and I would say this St Tropez is good for normal to dry skin as well.

Urban Decay Black Velvet Glide on Eye Pencil

Urban Decay is one of my favorite brands so whenever I get anything from them in Ipsy, I get excited. This black velvet (like the song) pencil goes on smooth and is perfect for that smudgy smokey eye look. Once it dies, it stays put! People never believe me until I put it on my hand and rub the crap out of it and its still there like I just applied it. UD has two other black pencils, Perversion (which is a matte dark deep black) and Zero which isn’t matte. This one seems pretty similar to Zero honestly but again…I can never have enough black eyeliners!

Elizabeth Mott Pop! Goes the Eyeshadow

Despite the really cute name and light golden brown color, I didn’t care for this product as much. It’s suppose to a crease free and easy to blend eyeshadow. “The ultimate eyeshadow that will change your life.” When I put it on my hand, it had that slightly chalky feel and I had to layer it to get the color pigment that I wanted. It is cruelty free which is cool but I just wasn’t impressed with it.

Mary Kay At Play Jelly Lip Gloss in Berry Me

This lipgloss was okay. The color was probably the only thing I loved about it. It didn’t smell like anything and went on pretty thick. I haven’t used a lot of products by Mary Kay and I was surprised to get it in an Ipsy bag but hey, having an extra lipgloss isn’t a terrible thing.

Lastly: Dr Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant

I was excited about this product because it’s a fairly expensive full size product in stores. It has a lemony mint scent to it. It has jojoba oil, aloe, grape seed, and chamomile in it. I was trying to figure out what the exfoliant was because some exfoliants can be too harsh on your skin. So thats the only thing I’m unsure of is if this is too abrasive for skin or not. I tried it and I like it but I’d definitely not scrub too hard.

 

So who won this round?

It was a toss up between the Oi and eyeliner in the Birchbox and the St Tropez and Urban Decay in the Ipsy bag. I’m going to say Ipsy won this round because I got at least 3 products that I really liked and I felt that it was worth my $10 for. The St Tropez, Urban Decay, and the Dr Brandt exfoliant. Those are good quality products! I am excited for Oi though too! We shall see who wins next month’s round!

Bare Minerals Liquid Foundation Update!

I finally received my order from QVC for the bare minerals liquid foundation and brush. I’m still playing with it and I have to be completely honest…I don’t know how I feel about it. I’ll give you the pro’s and con’s of this new foundation from my perspective.

Pros

• Very good for normal to dry skin. It has coconut and jojoba esters (not sure exactly what that means…) in it which are very moisturizing.
• Light to medium coverage which is great for this time of year when we all want to wear a little bit lighter makeup for a fresher look.
• The brush, although smaller than I thought, is pretty good. I wish it was a little bigger for more surface area, but it’s perfect for buffing into the skin. Again, I’m still messing with it. I would definitely recommend setting it with a powder and buffing it in a little more. I want to try the brush with other liquid foundations to see how I like it.
• Silicone free, oil free, paraben free, and fragrance free. Non-comedogenic. Hypoallergenic. And Determatologist tested.
• Lightweight-“serum” foundation.

Cons

• It’s kind of difficult to squeeze out of the bottle. It has that hard plastic where you really have to squeeze to get the drops to come out. I’m sitting there thinking, “WHY IS THIS SO HARD TO GET OUT?!” It’s not messy like the powder foundation because they made it impossible to get out. But maybe my fingers are wimpy.
• Even though it’s oil and silicone free…it feels oily to me on my skin, which is why I recommend it to drier skin tones. Maybe I’m just crazy. There seem to be a lot of maybe’s because I feel like I got my hopes up. I just felt like I was putting a lightweight colored oil on my face.
• Because the foundation is somewhat of an oily consistency, I feel like I have to wash my brush after every use. Not that you shouldn’t do that already but I’m lazy sometimes (maybe more than sometimes) and it just left this residue on my brush. And if you do set your face with a powder like the mineral veil with a different brush, guess what? That residue is now on that brush as well.
• It feels weird getting full coverage with this foundation. It says you can by adding more drops, but I think they lie. I felt like I had to keep putting it on and I could still see my freckles. My picture below don’t do justice honestly because the lighting was bad and the rest of my face isn’t done. Plus you can’t see it up close. My skin is a little on the drier side. I have combo dry to normal skin. I freaked out when I got the color because I thought it was going to be too dark but it seems to blend in okay as long as I go past my jawline with it. I got the “bare shell” color. So pale…

Final thought: It’s good but it’s not the most amazing foundation I’ve ever tried in the entire world. I’m going to play with it more to see what I think. Personally, I like the powder foundation WAY better. Even with it being a powder and my on the drier side skin, I just like the way it feels and looks. And my brushes don’t get oily with their so non-oil foundation. 😉

Summer Collections 2014: Too Faced and Lorac

Here are some more summer collections that are coming out if they aren’t already that you should check out. Summer time is my favorite time for makeup so I get really excited for all the new fresh looks.

Too Faced Summer 2014

In particular, the A La Mode Palette, Melted Liquid Lipsticks and the Bonjour Bronzer palette are what’s really new and summery. They redid some of the colors for the natural eye palette and came out with a brow kit. The other eye shadow palette is from last summer but I definitely recommend the A La Mode because the colors are beautiful with warm browns, light neautrals, peach tones, and an awesome navy and magenta. I’ll have to do an eye look with this one later.

This little bronze kit is perfect for summer because you have a matte bronzer, a shimmer bronzer, and a shimmer blush. I do think this is a little pricey but it is sort of like buying three of Too Faced Bronzers in one pack so in a way you are saving IF you will use all of the colors. I think I would but I have a lot of bronzers and shimmers and stuff that I don’t know if I really need to buy another one (First world problems…). Also, I think this is good for light to medium skin tones. The shimmers would be pretty no matter what your skin tone, but I don’t think the matte bronzer would show up as well for you darker gals and gents. 😦

I haven’t tried the lipsticks on my lips yet but I did play with the tester and I really want one of these bad boys! The sponge applicator is kind of neat and makes it so it’s not so messy putting on. It stayed on my hand pretty well, almost like a stain after it dried. But it’s glossy going on. These would look amazing no matter what your skin tone and are gorgeous for every day and going out as well.

The brow kit is awesome. However, it does come with a “blonde” AND “brunette” color so if you only want one color for your brows….then you waste another color. I think this kit would be great for makeup artists or someone who wants to play around on other people. I think if it was just for me, I would buy their bulletproof brows that they just came out with. Or if you like lighter brows during the day and maybe darker brows for dressing up a bit, this kit would be great. It is cool because it comes with everything you need for beautiful full brows…tweezers, a spooley brush, a regular powder brush, highlighter and a setting wax.

 

A La Mode Palette- $36 (It’s $36 at Ulta just for the palette…at Sephora they have it for $49 and it comes with an eyeliner, a mini mascara and eye primer, and a cute sailor like makeup bag-Really good deal!)

Bronze Bonjour Palette- $44

Melted Liquid Lipstick- $21

Brow Envy Kit-$39

Your nearest Ulta or Sephora will have these or you can get them online.

 

Lorac Summer 2014

 I’m not going to go into a huge discussion about this as this stuff just came in stores. I’m a hit and miss gal with Lorac. Some of her products (Lorac is Carol spelled backwards for Carol Shaw, the makeup artist who created the line) are amazing and some of them just haven’t worked for me.

I bought her summer palette last year and I LOVE the colors but they weren’t as pigmented as I would’ve hoped, especially considering how amazing the Pro Palette is. Maybe this year the eye shadow palette will be different. The colors are a little different with some peach and teal and purple. The lipsticks are new too and I’m excited for the more orchid colors. We will have to see. The eyeliners all look interesting but I definitely have to try them before I know if I really like them. I’m an Urban Decay girl all the way honestly (and Stila eyeliners are awesome too!).

Lorac is great for it’s bronzers and foundations I would say. It’s also good brand for sensitive skin as well as there isn’t a ton of chemicals or crap thats put in it. Also, if you need a primer that does not, DOES NOT have SPF in it, check hers out. Some people don’t like spf in their products for whatever reason and hers is a good one to check out if you are that person.

AfterGlo Eyeshadow Palette- $24 (I haven’t been to Sephora in a little while and when I looked online, they didn’t seem to have their products in there so I’m not sure if Sephora carries the full line. However, ULTA does carry Lorac!)

Alter Ego Cream Lipstick-$16

3-D Lustre Liners- $19

Back to Bronze Collection- $36 

Spring/ Summer 2014 Products: Urban Decay

I’m so happy it’s finally starting to warm up and become sunnier out. It’s my favorite time of the year, not only because of the weather and how happy it makes you feel, but the products that come out are my favorite because they remind me of escaping reality for a bit. Bronzers, beachy lotions and sprays, fresh makeup and fun colors, etc. I feel alive again.

This post/category of posts is about some new products that are out for spring and summer that you should check out.

 

#1: Electric Palette by Urban Decay (one of my all time favorite brands!)

 

When I saw that UD was coming out with a fun colored palette, I got really excited. A lot of other people weren’t as excited because it wasn’t their more natural looking palettes they’ve come out with lately with the Naked’s. But to me, this is classic Urban Decay. Their fun colors are what pulled me into their cosmetic line when it started out. It was edgy and different. I fell in love immediately with this brand because of the attitude that represents the line. And I love that they are making colors for EVERYONE. No matter who you are, you can wear Urban Decay (well, unless you have some crazy allergy….you probably can’t). I’m in love with the colors #2,4,5 and 7 in the Electric Palette. The brush looks pretty cool because its slender enough on one end to get into the crease for a cut crease look or for lining the lid. The other end is more fluffy for blending.

I get sad when older people tell me they can’t wear bright colors. They have this block in their mind that color will age them. However, I think there are subtle ways and less subtle ways to wear vivid pigments. And if you like color, play with it. I hope that I will wear vibrant hues until I’m 80 because thats just who I am. Lately my go to look for spring has been bright green eyes and pink lips. I love that color combo. I will post a couple pics below.

Anyway, this palette is wonderful for spring and summer because it makes your eyes pop and your skin glow because of the contrast. The Electric runs about $49 at your Ulta or Sephora store. You can also purchase it online at urbandecay.com.

I actually haven’t purchased this palette yet because I bought a POP Bright Up Your Life palette not too long ago, which was 50% off at the time and all of the shades are matte and bright. This is my Urban Decay Electric Palette Dupe.

The POP palette runs about $24 for full price and I’m not sure if certain stores are discontinuing it but you can purchase it on popbeautycosmetics.com. I would say that the Urban Decay shadows are higher quality which means that the pigment shows up right away so you don’t have to keep layering. They have a smooth consistency. However, the pop palette has pretty good pigmentation for the price. I really don’t have to layer a lot and the colors on the palette match the color that will be on your eye.

I figured since I had a bright colored palette, I’ll probably wait a little while till I get my hands on the electric. Both are amazing though and if you want a little (or a lot) of color in your life, get these!

I am wearing the Pop colors that are the top 2 and bottom 2 on the right side of the palette. All green/yellow hues. I’m also wearing the Pop lip crayon (I got this in an Ipsy bag awhile ago) in Fuchsia Flirt. Tarte’s Lights Camera Lashes mascara.

Also: Some other things coming out by Urban Decay: New Flushed palettes for your cheeks! Eyeliners! BB creams! And glitter!  I am so excited that UD finally came out with a retractable liner! No sharpening needed! I’m waiting for them to come out with retractable pencils for all of their colors. They also have a gel liner, an angled brush, and liquid liner.

With the glitter you have to buy the bonding adhesive that UD came out with too. Too Faced also has a glitter glue you could use as well.

 

The flushed palettes look beautiful! I want to try out the Native one or Streak with my fair skin. Streak and/or Strip will look amazing on those with medium to dark tones.

I ❤ Urban Decay!

The Power of Hair and Makeup: Before and After

There is something to be said about beauty in its natural state. No makeup. Natural. Clean and fresh faced. We are all unique and beautiful in our way. Flaws and all-freckles, pimples, wrinkles, scars, you name it. It’s what makes us who we are and although we try to hide everything with makeup, makeup is just masking the unique person underneath. If you like to not wear makeup, all the power to you! Flaunt that fresh face!

There is something also to be said about wearing makeup and having hair that compliments you and what it can do to transform your confidence. The reason I got into the beauty industry is because I’ve seen how hair and makeup can really change how a person feels about themselves. It can make an older woman who has lost her confidence in her appearance feel like the younger self that has always been there (I get a lot of these clients!). It can make a girl who has struggled with acne all her life to see herself in a different light. It can make a guy feel cool. It can enhance your most beautiful features.

I use to worry SO much that I was going into a “superficial” field where I’d be working on valley girls who said the word “like” too many times in a sentence. It’s rarely the case. I come into contact of people of all ages, sizes, complexions, etc. I discovered that beauty is fun. It’s life changing. It’s artistic. In this way, hair and makeup can truly be powerful. So I wanted to share with you some before and after pictures that I’ve collected on Pinterest and a few that I’ve done myself while in school. Subtle changes can make a huge difference in the way you look and feel about yourself. Check these crazy transformations out:

This is a before picture of my dear sweet friend. She is a busy mom with two kids. She barely has time for herself and never had anyone teach her about hair and makeup. Even in this picture, you can see she has a beautiful face and pretty blue eyes. Up close, she has the longest lashes I have ever seen! I wanted to doll her up a little bit with a cut, color and makeup.

After

This is a before picture of a gal that I worked on for a photographer for a maternity photo shoot. The photographer is Gaby Cavalcanti and she does amazing work. I had the opportunity to do the hair and makeup for this shoot. This lovely lady was so cute and nice to work with.

After:

Again the photography (and costume design!) is by Gaby Cavalcanti. These are also part of my portfolio pictures.

Heres another before pic. This another friend of mine who is a busy mom and full time worker. Doesn’t have a lot of time for herself. Honestly, this isn’t the best lighting for the picture. She actually has a normal sized forehead I promise.

After

Now here are some before and after pictures I’ve collected from Pinterest. These transformations are amazing! None of these are my work, but the work of other amazing makeup artists, hair stylists, and those who have learned the art of beauty themselves.

These next few are by one of my favorite beauty bloggers/makeup artists Maskcara. She does makeovers all the time and I love that she does because it’s so fun to see how she transforms people.

The power of a good contour:

These last few are from another one of my favorite makeup artists, Jade from Kissable Complexions. She has her own business and truly does an amazing job with makeup (including airbrush makeup).

Pretty crazy right? Some of them I can’t believe how different they look. I want to be the master of transformation! If you want to see some more transformations, follow my “Before and After” Board on Pinterest. http://www.pinterest.com/jjjones0688/before-after/

You should also check out Kissable Complexions and Maskcara because these ladies are always doing makeovers and give a ton of tips. I hope to be as good as these girls someday!

And just for the fun of it:

Haha even Barbie can’t look all dolled up all the time (pun INtended)