makeup

NEW YEAR'S EVE MAKEUP TUTORIAL

Sunday, December 27, 2015




Does the thought of doing a smoky eye scare you? It definitely scared me. This is a great look for beginners because the dark colors are concentrated on the outer corners, so there's not much of a chance you can go overboard. This look combines light and dark with a combination of silver on the lid and dark black shadow in the outer corners, and it would be perfect for a party or specifically, New Year's Eve.


The products used in this tutorial are:

  • First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
  • Fresh Lip Treatment
  • Laura Mercier Foundation Primer
  • Maybelline Matte and Powerless Foundation
  • Maybelline Fit Me Concealer - Fair
  • Maybelline Master Conceal Camouflage Concealer - Fair
  • Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Eden
  • Tarte Tartelette Palette
  • Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette - Verve
  • Urban Decay Eyeshadow - Sell Out
  • Make Up For Ever HD Powder
  • Kat Von D Shade & Light Palette
  • Milani Baked Blush - Luminoso
  • NYX Micro Brow Pencil - Ash Brown
  • NYX Brow Pomade - Chocolate
  • NYX Brow Mascara - Brunette
  • Maybelline Gel Eyeliner - Blackest Black
  • Benefit Roller Lash Mascara
  • Tarte Lash Fibers
  • Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed - Opal
  • NYX Matte Finishing Spray


I hope you enjoy this look - I want to know if you recreate it!




beauty

REVIEW: FRESH SUGAR LIP POLISH

Wednesday, December 23, 2015





Ah, the holidays. A time when the weather turns cold, all is festive, and us in the beauty world bust out a red lip. The cold weather, in combination with the wearing of matte-red lipsticks, which are drying by nature, create the need for something to exfoliate and hydrate our lips.

A lip exfoliator is a great thing to use at this time of year, and the Fresh Sugar Lip Polish is my favorite. First, the packaging -  small, sleek, and functional, fitting in well with the rest of my beauty collection. This product not only exfoliates with brown sugar, but also hydrates with jojoba and grape seed oils to leave your lips feeling exfoliated, and hydrated. It also has a lovely sweet-tea scent which makes using this product downright lovely. Of course this is great to use during a pamper session, but I especially like the fact that it exfoliates and hydrates my lips just before putting on a matte lipstick.

Do you use a lip exfoliator? What is your favorite?

holiday

MAUVE HOLIDAY MAKEUP TUTORIAL

Sunday, December 20, 2015




Is this look traditional? Absolutely not. In fact, it probably looks more like a spring makeup tutorial, and that might be because in Western New York it's been unseasonably warm this month, and we haven't had any real snowfall yet. The days have been grey and gloomy, and it has made me long for the bright colors of spring and summer. So, if you're feeling non-traditional like me, this should be right up your alley.

I had a bit of a struggle with false lashes this go-round. I thought this would serve as a good example of the fact that even if you're new to false lashes, and are afraid that you are going to mess them up, you can still recover your makeup look and go without them!

I used the Carli Bybel Palette from BH Cosmetics (review here) to create this look, and I'm really happy with how it turned out. You can of course change the lip color to better suit this time of year - but I was truthfully going to a Christmas Party just after I filmed this, and wanted to be true to who I am - a nude/pink lip girl, through and through.




The products used in this tutorial are:


I hope you enjoy this tutorial, and let me know if you recreate it - I'd love to see your look!

brushes

REVIEW: MORPHE BRUSHES

Wednesday, December 16, 2015




Every time I watch a makeup tutorial by MannyMUA or Jaclyn Hill on YouTube I always end up being jealous of their wide collection of Morphe Brushes. Manny recently made a video of his favorite Morphe Brushes and I pretty much just went down the list and ordered everything I needed that they had in stock on Black Friday when the entire site was 20% off. I now have 6 new best friends, let me introduce them...

First, I must say that these brushes are amazing quality for the price - it's hard to believe. I honestly love all of them and have been using them regularly in my makeup routine.

M412 Mini Concealer - This is such a great small multi-purpose brush. Sure, you could use this for concealer, or you could use it to pack on pigments or eyeshadow onto the lid....like me.

E32 Oval Concealer - Yeah, yeah...you could use this for concealer, or you could use it to apply shadow to the lid. I also really like this for highlighting just under the brow.

M507 Pointed Mini Blender - I don't have a brush like this in my collection so I'm really glad I picked this up. There are many times that I want to use a small amount of a dark color in my crease, and all of the brushes in my collection have been too big until now. This is perfect for applying color in a specific area.

E13 Oval Shadow Fluff - This brush is great for general eyeshadow application all over the lid, or for blending out the outline of a color after you've packed it on the lid.

M501 Pro Pointed Blender - Jaclyn Hill uses this brush for highlighting so naturally I had to have it. She's right - it's just perfect for the job - applies and blends color like a dream.

M527 Deluxe Pointed Blender - This was the brush I was the most excited to receive. I was in desperate need of a bronzer brush, and this fit the bill. It picks up the right amount of product and is soft enough to blend out the product perfectly.

The good news? Morphs brushes are great quality and have a very reasonable price tag. So, what are you waiting for? Get ordering! Jaclyn Hill just released a video of her favorite Morphe brushes so I'll be placing another order very soon.

What Morphe Brushes would you like to add to your collection?


holiday

HOLIDAY MAKEUP TUTORIAL

Sunday, December 13, 2015





The holiday season is here! I am not one to wear red lipstick, but when I heard about Sephora's Cream Lip Stain and the fact that it doesn't transfer, and holds up nicely through eat and drink, I had to give it a try for myself. 

This lip color is incredible, and I wanted to do a look that was focused around it. This look is about perfected skin, a shimmery eyeshadow, and this red lipstick is the star of the show. I added false lashes to this look to make it extra-special for the holidays, so if you've ever been curious about them, I give you a mini-demonstration of how to apply them in this video.


This video is a bit out of focus for the majority of the time (I'm sorry!) but you can definitely see what I'm doing, and I hope the photos above are helpful.

The products used in this tutorial are:



What is your favorite makeup look for the holidays?



makeup

REVIEW: TARTE CC UNDEREYE CORRECTOR

Wednesday, December 09, 2015






A peach-colored under eye concealer....whaaaat? Let me explain.

The Tarte Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector has a peachy-tone that is intended to offset the blue or green under eye bags that some of us have the misfortune of dealing with...myself included.

Girl, I struggle with my dark under eye circles - but this product works wonders. I used it in one of my makeup tutorials (which can be seen here) and it magically made them disappear. This product is great to use on an every day basis alone, or if you're gearing up for a night out you can layer it under your regular concealer. Since this product has a thick consistency, I recommend using your finger for application as the warmth of your hand will blend the product into your skin more easily than a brush or beauty blender would.

Have you tried a corrector before?

empty products

EMPTY PRODUCTS II

Sunday, December 06, 2015


Gear up boys and girls because we're going through some of my trash! In this video I chat all about the most recent beauty, skincare, and haircare products I've used up, and give a mini-review on each of them. 

The Products Mentioned in this Video are:




Click here to catch up on my first Empty Products post.

What are some of the products you've used up recently?









Eyeshadow

REVIEW: CARLI BYBEL PALETTE

Wednesday, December 02, 2015





I have been watching Carli Bybel on YouTube for a long time, and when I heard she was collaborating with BH Cosmetics to create an eyeshadow palette, I could hardly wait until it was released. This palette came out 2-3 months ago, and was sold out almost immediately. The palette has finally come back in stock, and with a price tag of $12.50, I jumped on it.

I've heard a lot of people talk about BH Cosmetics as being an affordable, yet quality makeup brand, so I was excited to try something from them. The Carli Bybel Palette has 5 matte shades, 5 shimmer shades, and 4 highlighters. The shadows are pigmented and soft, and blend very well. I have created some beautiful looks using the mauve shades in the crease and a light shimmer shade on the lid. Every time I have worn these shadows they have lasted the entire day without fading, so I'm very happy with the quality. There are also 4 highlighters ranging in color from light to dark tones. Even if a highlighter is too light or dark for your skin tone, they would make great eyeshadows.

This palette is being offered for a limited time so if these colors and the price tag appeal to you, I would grab it before it's too late!



gold eye

GOLDEN EYE FALL MAKEUP TUTORIAL

Sunday, November 29, 2015


Fall is quickly coming to a close and winter is creeping in, so I thought I'd sneak in this last fall makeup tutorial. This is one of my favorite, go-to looks for events where I want a look that is special, but not completely over the top. This look can be as dramatic as you make it - pairing it with a bold lip, or a more nude/pink lip color. I really hope you enjoy this tutorial!


Products Used:

  • Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar
  • Fresh Lip Treatment
  • Smashbox Photo Finish Primer
  • Rimmel 25 Hour Lasting Finish Foundation
  • Tarte CC Undereye Corrector - Light/Medium
  • Maybelline Fit Me Concealer - Fair
  • Make Up For Ever HD Setting Powder
  • Kat Von D Shade and Light Palette
  • NYX Micro Brow Pencil - Ash Brown
  • NYX Tinted Brow Pomade - Chocolate
  • Covergirl Clear Mascara
  • Maybelline Color Tattoo - Barely Branded
  • Urban Decay Half Baked Eyeshadow
  • Maybelline Gel Eyeliner - Blackest Black
  • Younique 3D Fiber Lashes
  • Milani Baked Blush - Luminoso
  • Becca Glow on the Go Kit
  • Maybelline Creamy Matte Lipstick - Touch of Spice

What is your favorite fall makeup look?


foundation

REVIEW: L'OREAL INFALLIBLE PRO-MATTE FOUNDATION

Wednesday, November 25, 2015






I used to exclusively wear powder foundation because I couldn't stand the way liquid foundation felt on my face. I also couldn't find a liquid foundation that stayed on my face all day...and looked equally good at the end of the day as it did in the beginning. 

I can't bring myself to pay high-end prices for foundation. Let's be real: this is a product you use every day so you're going to go through it fairly quickly. Spend upwards of $20 on a foundation? No thanks.

L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation is the solution to all of these things. This foundation applies like a dream - applies beautifully with your hands, a beauty blender, or a brush.  Something I pay close attention to with liquid foundations is if it cakes up or applies unevenly - I specifically have an issue with foundations settling around the sides of my nose; no issues with that here. Amazingly, this product dries down to a matte-powder finish. What this means to you: you can go right in with bronzer, blush, and the like without setting it with a powder. The best part is that I can go straight from work to an evening outing with zero touch ups. Now that's amazing.

What is your favorite liquid foundation?

highlight

HOW TO HIGHLIGHT

Sunday, November 22, 2015






Highlighters have been around for a long time, but it's the beauty "trend" I waited the longest to try out. Highlighters have quickly become one of my favorite products to use. Even if you don't feel they are a product to add to your every day routine, it's nice to have one in your makeup collection to wear on special occasions. There are many highlighting products out there, and thought it would be helpful to make a video dedicated to the different products you can use to highlight, and how to apply them.



The products mentioned in this video are:
How do you feel about highlighters?

fall makeup tutorial

COPPER BRONZE FALL MAKEUP TUTORIAL

Sunday, November 15, 2015



Another fall makeup tutorial is coming your way! Fall is in full swing, and so are warm, neutral tones. This is one of my go-to fall makeup looks - it's warm and slightly smoky, which is what I love about fall makeup looks. 

 This video is longer than any other that I've posted, and I found it really difficult to edit it down to this length. Do you like longer tutorials where I can really explain what I'm doing, or would you rather see the process without as much talking? Apparently I'm a pretty chatty girl, even when I'm sitting alone with a camera!



Products Used:
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
First Aid Beauty Lip Therapy
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer
L'oreal Infallible Foundation - Shades 101 and 102
Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer - Fair
Make Up For Ever HD Translucent Powder
Kat Von D Shade & Light Palette
NYX Blush – Pinched
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector – Champagne Pop
NYX Micro Brow Pencil - Ash Brown
Covergirl Clear Mascara
Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer – Eden
Tarte Tartelette Palette - Force of Nature, Dreamer, Free Spirit
Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette – Chopper and Half Baked
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner – Trooper
Covergirl Full Lash Bloom Mascara – Black
Clinique Lipstick - Creamy Nude
Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss - Pink Ice
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray

 Are there any other tutorials you would like to see? Do you like the videos, or would you rather just read a blog post and look at a few photos? I want to hear from you!

haircare

REVIEW: NOT YOUR MOTHER'S DRY SHAMPOO

Sunday, November 08, 2015



I used to wash my hair every.single.day...and I cringe at the thought of doing that now. It was just such a process; wash your hair, condition your hair, now it's a tangled mess that you have to try and comb out. Nuh uh! I was DONE with it.

Years ago, my friend Gina told me that she used dry shampoo and I just couldn't wrap my head around the idea. How could a few sprays of something magically transform your hair into looking just-washed? I was intrigued, so you know me...I headed to the drugstore.

My morning routine is forever changed. I could wake up with my hair looking a wreck, and somehow dry shampoo fixes it. Dry shampoo is offered by many different companies, and most of the time comes in an aerosol can. Just section your hair and apply the product at the roots. Then use your hands to shake the product around - dry shampoo is intended to absorb excess oils and clean your hair without water. By nature, the product is white and chalky, so you want to make sure you're distributing the product evenly so that it blends in. My favorite is Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Dry Shampoo (psst, they're always buy one get one half off at Ulta, get it girl!) I never have any issues with any product showing on my hair, and that's saying something considering my dark hair color. Thanks to this product, I can now go 2-4 days without washing my hair, and that has made Jen a very happy girl.

What is your favorite dry shampoo?

makeup

EASY, FRESH FACE MAKEUP

Friday, November 06, 2015



Happy Friday!


Let's face it...most people don't want to spend upwards of 20 minutes doing their makeup every day. This is an easy, fresh face makeup tutorial. This is amateur YouTubing at it's best! This was the very first time I sat down to attempt to film a video and you'll see it all - my mistakes, even my dog walking around in the background. I wasn't even going to edit this video, but once I started it was just too funny not to continue and post. I hope you enjoy the makeup look, and have a few laughs along the way.





What products do you use for a fresh, easy makeup look?

favorites

OCTOBER FAVORITES

Sunday, November 01, 2015






Well, well, well, ladies and gentlemen...it's the first of the month and you know what that means -- it's Monthly Favorites time! Let's do this!

Let's talk about the non-beauty items first...

Threshold Mugs - Oh Target, why do you do this to me? The seasons change and BAM there's another display calling my name. These mugs felt very fall to me and I'm a sucker for a good mug. I initially bought the Rise and Shine mug, but then I was there on another trip and spotted that this line of mugs was on sale (let's not be dramatic, the full price was $3.99 and the sale price was $2.98) but that was enough to make me buy the Freshly Brewed one. I love you, Target.

La Croix Sparkling Water - Again, Target! I follow Bob Harper on Instagram and each time he would post a meal, it would always include one of these waters. So, clearly the next step was for me to buy them. These are naturally flavored sparking waters that do not include sweeteners, sodium, or artificial flavors. I drink at least one a day and find that they're a refreshing break from my regular ice water.

Now onto those beauty thangs...

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer - I've been using this concealer for a while, but have been reaching for it a lot this past month. It is creamy, blendable, and never cakes up under my eyes. The doe-foot applicator makes it perfect for applying to the under eye area, or other areas that need concealing like blemishes or redness around the nose.

Real Techniques Setting Brush - I don't know why it took me so long to pick this up, but I'm so glad I did. Lily Pebbles has been talking about this brush for ages, but she uses it to blend in concealer. I like to use this brush to set my under eye concealer with loose powder - it gives an even application and is a perfect size for the job.

Urban Decay Chopper Eyeshadow - This eyeshadow can be purchased individually, or as you see above, as part of the Naked 2 Palette. This is a beautiful copper-shimmer with a touch of glitter that works great for fall as a color all over the lid. If you think this color is too dark for you, just try it - I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Maybelline Touch of Spice Creamy Matte Lipstick - This was my first real attempt at finding a wearable fall lip color, and I must say, I think I hit the nail on the head. I wore this in my Fall Makeup Tutorial and absolutely love the color and finish. While matte lipsticks can be drying, as the name would suggest, it is also creamy, which provides a great texture and finish. While there are no claims that this is a long-wearing product, I'd venture to say it is. I'm excited to try other shades of this popular lipstick in the near future.

What are some of the products you've been loving this past month?







fall

GET READY WITH ME: FALL EDITION

Sunday, October 25, 2015


I'm equal amounts nervous and excited to share this post with you. I have been watching videos on YouTube for a long time, and have secretly wanted to start my own channel. The tutorial below is my very first attempt. This is a fall makeup look paired with two different lip options. 

I absolutely love fall. I love pumpkin spice candles, apple anything, the addition of sweaters and scarves to my wardrobe and bringing in warmer tones to my makeup in the fall. Believe it or not, this is the first dark lipstick I've ever worn and truly loved. For those of you who don't care for a dark lip, there's a nude option as well (which is my favorite for day-time wear). 



I do hope you enjoy the video. I know the quality is not the best, but I'm working with what I have until I get a new camera.

Here's a full list of the products I used:

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
Fresh Lip Treatment
Benefit The Porefessional Primer
L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation - Shell Beige
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer - Fair
Make Up For Ever HD Translucent Powder
Kat Von D Shade & Light Palette - Lyric
Kat Von D Shade & Light Palette - Shadowplay
Kat Von D Shade & Light Palette - Sombre
Milani Baked Blush - Luminoso
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed - Champagne Pop
NYX Tame and Frame Brow Pomade - Chocolate
Covergirl Clear Mascara
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Eden
Tarte Tartelette Palette - Force of Nature
Lorac Unzipped Palette - Unbelievable
Lorac Unzipped Palette - Unconditional
Maybelline Gel Liner - Blackest Black
Covergirl Full Lash Bloom Mascara - Black
Revlon HD Lipstick - Magnolia
Maybelline Creamy Matte Lipstick - Touch of Spice

If you hop over to YouTube to view the video, please "like" the video and leave me a comment saying what you think! Thank you for reading my blog, and watching my first video. Your support means so much to me!

What are your favorite makeup items for fall?


beauty

REVIEW: BECCA CHAMPAGNE POP

Sunday, October 18, 2015






Oh, highlighters...you seem so unnecessary. My cheekbones are pretty much non-existent (not anymore thanks to you, contouring!) and this highlighter gives them a glow that I never thought was possible...or would look normal.

I had heard so much about Becca's Shimmering Skin Perfectors in their classic shades like Opal and Moonstone, but highlighters just seemed like such an unnecessary step to me. Yes, beauty gurus look stunning and glowing when they top off their makeup look with a highlighter, but I thought real people like me would look crazy in every day life wearing something glowy on my face.

Girl, I was so wrong. I have watched Jaclyn Hill's videos on YouTube for a while now, and she always wears a beautiful highlighter. I had been considering the more affordable highlighter on the market, The Balm's Mary Lou-Manizer, when Jaclyn Hill announced her collaboration with Becca Cosmetics to release her own shade of their famous Shimmering Skin Perfector - called Champagne Pop.

YAAAASSSS, JACLYN! This highlighter is stunning. It is the perfect mixture of warmth and glow. I was worried that this would be too warm of a highlight for my pale skin, but it's perfect. This thing ain't cheap, but hear me out. This highlighter will last forever. FOR.EV.ER. The way I like to use it is by applying it to the tops of my cheekbones, and sweeping it along the apples of my cheeks to give a radiant glow.  I also apply a bit just above my eyebrows, down the bridge of my nose, and on my cupids bow.  But it doesn't end there; this highlighter makes a beautiful eyeshadow, too! 

Do you use a highlighter?What is your favorite?