Birchbox #2: Clarity.

Wow, January got a little more busy than I anticipated. Between school and work ( been working with an amazing photog on some rad shoots) I haven't had time to catch up on everything else. I mean, here it is 3 days into February and I am just now reviewing my January Birchbox (and it's a good one too!). So let's cut to the chase...here's my review on January's BB.



Clarity is this month's "title/theme"



And you open up the box and see....

So, let me just tell you what all came in the box and you will understand why it's so rad...

• a Larabar mini bar...an all natural bar of dried fruits and nuts...like a luna bar...yummy and good for you.
• Stila Smudge Stick (looks full size!)...it's a waterproof eyeliner in a pretty deep purple shade (purple long). I love Stila eyeliner, not only because the colors are gorgeous, and this purple really is a great alternative to black, but they last a really long time with very minimal smudging. A definite recommendation to pick one up for yourself!

• 

  Stila Smudgestick in Purple Long

  Jouer Body Butter...love this stuff too! It's really good for rough patches of skin, like the elbows. It's made with shea and olive and avocado oils, so it's great for the winter months when you're skin is feeling a little under-moisturized.
• Borghese CuraForte Moisture Instensifier...a serum you apply before you moisturize, or you can mix it in with your favorite lotion to give it a little boost. I honestly haven't tried this one yet but it sounds amazing and maybe I will do a little review on this product alone.
• Sample of Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy fragrance...okay, who doesn't love this. Don't really need to say more.
• And, as a little Bonus Jonas, if you will, there was also a little Birchbox logo magnet. Cute.

So, that was January's box, and February's box will be here next week I believe. That's exciting stuff in my little world of glam! I hope everyone has a stellar weekend, and I will try and post a little something something this weekend since it's a 3 day one for me!!

XOXO,

J.



Birchbox #1

Happy Christmas Eve! Well, those who know me know that I haven't been that much of a festive person this season given that January 1st will mark the one year anniversary of my dad's unexpected passing. But we finally put finishing touches on the tree this morning...instead of going with our usual array of ornaments of all sorts, we used all of my dad's collectible wolf ornaments and in the middle hangs a special ornament with my dad's picture etched onto glass, so that's pretty special in my book. I also went full force on the wrapping of this gifts this morning! I am really into black and white wrapping paper this year with colorful bows! The husband I and also spent most of the morning cleaning out our closet and drawers and getting all things laundry related situated. I also want to try and make some cake balls before dinner! The time has flown by this morning, and my sore back is in desperate need of a massage...sleeping uncomfortably and then sitting on the floor for a few hours doesn't help...but Christmas. Let's not get the reason for the season that a lot of us mask with bows and garland and glitter...it's to celebrate the birth of the rockin' baby Jesus! So, please, take the time to remember that and spend time with your loved ones all at the same time. Yay!



Point of this blog: I have always heard about Birchbox and seen countless YouTube videos on it and finally I signed up for it last month, so my first box was the December box I received a few weeks ago. Basically, if you don't know what it is, it's a monthly service that sends you a little box of the latest product samples, and it's pretty rad. (visit http://www.birchbox.com/ for all the details). So, I got my first box and already found some little gems I looooove!



This is how the box arrived at my door! Even the outer packaging is super cute!







What the actual Birchbox looks like.

So when you open the actual box there's a little "greeting" note that also tells you about all the samples you'll find inside.

Greeting note inside: "Frolic & Fancy"...cute!

So, here's what was in this month's box!!

• a sample of the Harvey Prince fragrance "Yogini"...it has a scent mix of sandalwood, Egyptian myrrh and grapefruit...the sweetness of the grapefruit really balances out the darker scents. I actually really like the way this smelled and am totally considering buying the full-size bottle.
• Jouer's moisturizing lip gloss in Birchbox Pink...Birchbox actually joined forces with Jouer to create this signature pink shade, which is so pretty on!
• L'Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil...a lightweight oil that is meant to boost shine and tame frizz.
• Befine's Gentle Cleanser...a face cleaner made with sugar, rice, and oat extracts to hydrate your skin, especially during these winter months.
• Prep ShowStoppers...double sided fasion tape.
• Recharge EBoost...an orange flavored natural energy booster packet that you can add to your water.

So that was this month and I'm already curious to see what January's box holds! If you are into trying new things in the world of beauty this is definitely something you want to check out and consider signing up for. You also earn points with the company that can be used to get even more goodies.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday! God bless.

XO,

J.



Beauty D.I.Y.: Volume 1

I consider myself to be a pretty creative/crafty person, and who doesn't love a good do-it-yourself (D.I.Y.) project?! Even if this sort of thing isn't normally up your alley, why not try it out anyway. These particular little gems are actually things that can benefit your beauty routine, so try one or both and leave feedback if you want.

Let's start with something really simple:
At-Home Hydrating Masque

You'll need: A container of plain Greek yogurt.
What to do: Smear an even layer of yogurt all over your face and let dry moderately, then rinse off. The yogurt contains lactic acid which softens and hydrates the skin. It's easy as that!

This next one comes from "Cosmo's Sexiest Beauty Secrets" and I think you'll love it!
Homemade Lip Masque

You'll need: Petroleum Jelly
                    Honey
                    Cinnamon
                    An empty lip balm pot
What to do: Mix 3 teaspoons of petroleum jelly with one teaspoon of honey and a dash of cinnamon. Store in an empty lip balm pot. At night, massage some of the masque onto your lips and let sit for about 30 minutes. After wiping the masque off your lips will feel extra smooth!
See how easy at home beauty can be?!
Bonus Jonas: Interested in some other at home projects? Check out this link to learn how to make Kandee Johnson's t-shirt necklace. It's pretty rad.
http://youtu.be/BW78xxXyJDA

XOXO,
J.

VS Fashion Show 2011 Top 10

Some may say they shamelessly admit to things, but actually I am not sorry to say that the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is one of the things I always look forward to this time of year. So, I could not help myself...I had to write some kind of blog post/list/memo to get all my thoughts (or most of them) out there. So agree, disagree, share your own "love" moments from tonight's show. Here are 10 of mine:

1. The runway....hello, it was literally paved with glitter...love and love.
2. All the sweet moments between the angels and their men, haha. Orlando Bloom's endless applause for Miranda Kerr (who just had a baby, dang), and then Adam Levine's little kiss to Anya while he was performing with Maroon 5. Little "awww" moments, I dig.

3. 

   Adam Levine and his angel girlfriend Anne

   The hair and makeup...duh. It's fabulous as alwaaaays!! My dream job (legit) is to do hair and makeup for this show!!
4. The clothes, in general.
5. THE WINGS, in general!! Ugh, I could write allll day about the wings. Love.
6. Adriana Lima...she's my fave and she looked killer tonight!!! (Miranda Kerr a close second and Alessandra Ambrosio in 3rd....they all looked amazing though).
7. 
   

   

   Adriana Lima in the "I put a spell on you" walk.

   The music...good this year, Jay-Z and Kanye, Maroon 5 and Nicki Minaj...and of course the runway tuneage was on point.
8.  The themes! Always genius. This year my favorite was "I put a spell on you"...loved all the cameo jewelry, it was just incredible!
9. Looking for other celebs in the crowd! Who did you spot? I caught Orlando Bloom (duh), Beyonce (duh) and Joe M....the dude that plays the yummy Alcide on True Blood, Tyson Beckford...just to name drop a few.
10. The awe inspiring work of all the talented people that worked behind the scenes to make the show a success. Their work is truly impressive. Lots of whimsy (and you know I love whimsy) mixed with classic pieces. It doesn't get much better. I'm inspired, for sure.



Miranda Kerr rocking the multi-million dollar bra

Not only am I inspired by the esthetics, but by the bodies of those model. Let's face it, no matter who you are, at some point you thought "I want to be her" about one, if not all, of those gorgeous ladies. Adriana Lima is my girl! So, I got my coupon on deck for the free VS show undies tomorrow and I have already added the pink backstage robe to my Christmas list. What was your favorite part of the show/your favorite set/your favorite ensemble/wings/model, whatever? Comment below....sharing is caring!

XOXO,

J.

Breaking Dawn Top 10

*Potential minor spoilers*
Ok...so I finally dragged my husband to see Breaking Dawn today and I am more in love with that sparkling vampire Edward than ever. And being the Twilight fan that I am I was, in true nerd fashion, on the edge of my seat for the whole film, and I am not sorry. I think my husband thinks its actually funny to watch me watch the movie. I fall for the Edward-Bella storyline every time! So, being said nerd, here's my top 10 things I loved about Breaking Dawn on the big screen, in no particular order.

1. Bella's wedding dress (particularly the back)
2. The flowers and lights dripping all around the wedding ceremony (ngl, I cried, haha)
3. The fact that Iron&Wine's "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" was played during the ceremony (the same song from the prom scene in the first film!)
4. Edward's toast to Bella..."no amount of time is enough, so let's start with forever", total awww moment.

5. Bella's wedding makeup...she looked her best ever! tied with her makeup in the blue dress after her transformation.
6. Jacob picking Bella up while dancing (umm, yeh, I am a hopeless romantic...Twilight placates that in me)
7. Jacob imprinting the baby.
8. Jasper and how he always looks so dapper, regardless of what he's doing.
9. Edward Cullen...just in general, that counts as one.

10. Edward breaking the bed with his hands...hot damn, yes.

So, obviously I can't wait until Part II!! I am so excited I can't even talk about it.

I realized though that we all have our Edwards and Jacobs, like Bella...who is your Edward and who is your Jacob??

XOXO,
J.

Review: Palladio Eye Pencil

Wow, I can't believe I haven't posted anything since the first of last month!! Well, as Jay-Z says "I got my swagga back". I have been so busy with school and freelancing and much needed family time but I decided I needed to jump back on here and pick up the slack. I'm basically starting my portfolio over again, working with professional photographers to have professionally taken images in my book and not just a picture taken by somebody's aunt or cousin or whoever at an event. So, I have a smaller book now but it's quality work, but since they supposedly say you are only as good as the worse picture in your book then I guess I'm cool with that.

Anyway, I thought I'd come back with a product review! This one is on Palladio's Eye Liner Pencil.

I am writing this review based on using their eye liner pencil in "black"; I only mention that because sometimes colored liners will review differently even if they are from the same product line.
What I like about this liner specifically is that is so much easier to apply than your standard issue wooden liner pencil. The texture is creamier, which not only helps with application but with blending as well. I'm always able to attain that smooth, precise line, and the pencil sharpens without splitting or breaking at the tip like other liner pencils.

The color also doesn't fade as fast as other mid-end pencils I've tried have done. I've been using a felt tip liner and other liquid and gel liners, and I initially picked this liner up in black to use as a guide, or foundation, for my liquid liner. However, this penicl liner has become a must have for both my kit and everyday use. Another plus is that the texture of the liner is not harsh on the water line--it glides on smoothly without feeling stiff or irritating. (just make sure you keep it sharpened to a nice, rounded point for that smooth application).

Price wise, the Palladio liner is totally affordable (as is the rest of Palladio's product line), retailing for about $3 at stores like Ulta or Sally's. It also comes in a variety of colors: sky blue, silver, expresso, taupe, midnight blue, white, charcoal, dark green, brown, black, lavendar and light brown. I like the black, personally, because it is really dark and pigmented; a deep hue almost like a kohl color.

The creamy quality to the product itself is what helps it glide so smoothly along the lash line but the pencil is also firm enough that you have good control when creating a line. I will say, there are liners that claim to have and do have a longer lasting power but I've tested Palladio's to work about 6 or 7 hours before I noticed any smudging...but for the price of this liner it's a great deal. If you want more lasting power you can of course set it with powder or setting spray and extend it's wear. But, like I said I use this on both myself and clients and it's a win in my book.
Have your own review on another eye pencil or Palladio product, share your comment or link below!
XOXO,
J.

Flawless Foundation.

Busy. Busy. Busy. I've been staying that way lately, good thing right?? I thought so too, but being so busy with this cosmo school venture has cut into my ability to work on set with photographers, or consult with brides, all at the peak of my profesh portfolio building. I can't wait to be licensed and be a triple threat: hair, makeup, and awesomeness! I haven't even had time to blog, but since I have a 3-day weekend laying at my feet here's my chance. Today's topic: flawless looking foundation!

Everyone has facial flaws, everyone. There's really no denying it. But with today's market offering a virtually endless variety of facial products, the proper techniques can give you that flawless finish to your foundation, all while evening out your skin tone, covering blemishes and correcting dark circles that like to hang out under our eyes.

Before you begin your foundation routine, first make sure you have selected the right shade and formula for your skin type and tone. This means testing your foundation before purchasing. There are a couple of ways to do this: If you're at a department store/makeups store/makeup counter then select 2-3 shades you think may match. Swatch the colors along your jawline to see which shade best matches and blends into your face and neck. However, if you're at the drugstore (Walgreens, CVS, Target, etc), things are a little different since you obviously can't open up packaging and swatch away. So, first decide what category your skin tone falls into: pale, medium, dark. If the foundation is liquid it will most likely come in clear packaging, so you can hold it up next to your wrist for comparison. SN: some stores even have swatch charts that hang next to their foundation line so you can place your hand under the chart and compare. However, if you aren't able to see the foundation in it's container, there are a few other tricks you can try: Pale skin tones should avoid any foundation with a pink tone, rather they should look for colors containing the words "beige" or "buff". Medium skin tones should look for labels that contain the words "warm", "medium" or "golden". Darker skin tones should look for colors like "tan", "sable", or "chestnut".

My current foundation picks: Revlon Colorstay and Rimmel Stay Matte (I prefer liquid foundations, and as a rule, always make sure your face is nice and moisturized before you begin applying any of your makeup). A lot of people ask me why I don't use MAC foundation since I use MAC in my kit...well, it's nothing against MAC (love them), but Revlon Colorstay is highly comparable to MAC; I've done a blog post in the past on this and so have many other makeup gurus..so, that being said...

Before applying your foundation I reccomend applying a primer (My recc: Smashbox Photo Finish). Primer prepares your skin for foundation and gives you a nice smooth base on which to apply your makeup; not to mention it also adds that staying power to your makeup.

Applying:
When doing my own makeup (not a client's) I like to use my fingers to apply my foundation. The warmth of your fingers helps the foundation blend easily into your skin. Sponges are also good for blending thicker foundations (and for working on client's if you're a MUA). Tap the foundation into your skin instead of rubbing it around on your face so that you achieve an even finish (this tip comes from Jemma Kidd). Even if you apply your own foundation with your fingers it's good to switch and use a sponge every now and then to avoid breakouts caused by the oil transfer from your fingers. A third option is to use a foundation brush. Celebrity makeup artist Bobbi Brown reccomends this method for a more polished look because it gives a heavier velvety finish since your literally painting on your foundation.

Which comes first, the foundation or concealer?
Answer: Foundation. Your foundation is your base for everything (aside from primer). So after applying it you'll be able to then see if you actually need concealer or not.

Note: If you don't need the full-coverage effect of a foundation, opt for a tinted moisturizer. This is basically a moisturizer that contains some pigment and SPF, for a more sheer coverage. You can either buy a tinted mositurizer or make your own by mixing equal parts foundation and facial moisturizer together.

Now that you've applied your foundation and have your flawless face you're ready to move on to the rest of your makeup application.
Note: After finishing my foundation application, I like to take a large fluffy brush and dust a light layer of translucent powder or mineral skin finish to my face to set my foundation.
Here's to gorgeous faces and an awesome weekend!!
XOXO,
J.

P.S. I can't believe in 2 months I will have been married for 4 years. OMG. Just a little Bonus Jonas, FYI for ya.