Birchbox: Finishing School

     It really is no secret that I have been anything but friends with technology lately. I still can't figure out how to upload pictures from my new phone to my blog posts, my new camera takes rad pictures but I have no clue where the cord is to connect to the computer, and my old point and shoot camera keeps acting up and despite having the warranty, Best Buy is not being too helpful in getting it replaced. However, I can load to Facebook, so if you visit my business page (Pretty & Clever by Jacqueline Clark) there are pics from the AUGUST Birchbox there, along with a lipstick swatch. I'll get it all together soon and hopefully for the September BB (which I got in the mail yesterday) I will be back on track. So, regardless, here is the breakdown for the August Box.

Becca Radiant Skin Satin Finish Foundation

This is sitting right on my makeup table ready to try. Several shade samples were included too. It's a lightweight foundation that is supposed to have a sulky texture to brighten, perfect and soothe the skin with ejitsu rose. So, obviously there are some natural ingredients in this, but rose is one of those that, for me, is really hit or miss when added to products. This Becca foundation is also supposed to be buildable, which is good if there are days you need a more full coverage application. Full size retails for $42, so as far as foundations go this is on the higher end price point wise.

ModelCo Party Proof Lipstick

I really don't have anything bad to say about ModelCo. I like their lipgloss, even though it is sticky compared to others I use, and their mascara is actually pretty good for getting that ultimate combination of length and volume. ModelCo now has these Party Proof lipsticks ($24 for a set of 3), that have a semi-matte finish that hydrates your lips and provides a lasting pigment. As for hydrating, my lips have been really dry lately so I still put on a lip balm first regardless. But I do feel that the pigment does last a fair amount if time, longer if you are finishing with a gloss top coat.

Number 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect

This is a sulfate-free leave- in conditioner that protects color and blocks UV Rays. I believe everyone can benefit from a leave-in conditioner and this one retails full size for $32. My favorite is 7 Seconds by Unite, which is a slightly less expensive salon product. Comparable would also be the leave-in by Healthy Sexy Hair, which has a moderate price point.

Whish Exfoliating Body Wash

My extent of use for this one so far is to pop the top and smell it...which, it smells amaze; most likely due to the fact that it is a coconut-rich scrub that brightens and exfoliates with sugar cane and bamboo powder...pretty much everything I look for in a quality exfoliator, so I will be using this bad boy in the next few days. Full size retails for about $20

And finally...

Whish Hair Inhibiting Deoderant Swipes

Now this is certainly something I've never seen before!! These are wipes that not only fight odor like a Deoderant, but also slow hair growth. I really don't know how I feel about these, haha. You "sweep" a wipe across your arm pit in the morning, or whenever you need a refresher throughout the day. Personally, I would just much rather have my Degree take care of that department, but if something works, it works!! We shall indeed see.

Hope everyone had a fabulous summer and is enjoying September so far!! Since I didn't post yesterday I just want to take a minute to remember all those we lost on September 11, 2001. Always in our hearts and never to be forgotten. Stay safe all. Peace and Love.

XO,

J <3.  

Birchbox: Wanderlust.

    Is it really almost the end of June?! Wow. I'll be 5 weeks cancer free tomorrow!! Last weekend my best friend and I took a little time off for a girls day to celebrate the 1 month mark. We got manis/pedis, took a Target trip, ate some yummy food, did a little shopping and got tattoos (I got some Royal Teeth lyrics on side of my leg)... Talk about an amazingly rad day. Speaking of talking...lets talk about the June Birchbox!!

New Box packaging.

**Birchbox + Color Club Wanderlust Collection nail polish**

There were four neon pastel shades released. I received the pastel green one named London Calling...which I was pretty stoked about, one, because it's a lovely shade, and two, I have what you might call a mild obsession with British things. This shade is comparable to Essie's Absolutely Shore and comparable price wise as well since a full size bottle costs $8.

**LAQA & Co Lil' Lip Duo**

This is essentially a lip color that comes in jumbo pencil form. It has a creamy texture when applied and there is a little minty "taste" left behind as a sort of afterthought. The color is actually quite pigmented. I love mine, in a pretty bright rosy pink shade, especially paired with my NARS Easy Lover lip gloss. A full size is $16 for 2, so definitely worth checking out.

**ORIGINS Clear Improvement Active charcoal mask to clear pores**

ORIGINS is always a brand I love to see since I really love their products. I'm a big fan of masks right now so I can't wait to try this out this weekend! It's a white clay and charcoal based mask that tightens your pores and draws out impurities, all while making your skin appear less dull. It's supposed to be a great once a week mask and the full size product retails for $23.

**Oscar de la Renta Something Blue perfume sample**

This is a new scent from Oscar de la Renta, but it smelled really familiar. A lot of designer fragrances carry such similar notes. It starts with notes of mandarin and linden blossom and picks up to notes of bourbon vanilla and white musk. It's definitely a warmer scent, something I would find more wearable for an autumn date night or the like. With a price point ranging from $85-$115, there are other very similar scents at more affordable prices if you are looking for something more economical. 

**ORIGINS GinZing Energy-Boosting Moisturizer**

Another ORIGINS product!! This moisturizer contains ginseng and coffee to combat lack-lustre skin. It's also supposed to make your skin look energized and radiant. Now, I don't know what "energized" skin appears like, but, my skin did have a radiant, dewy gloe! It also felt good, no greasy residue or anything!! Very lightweight and great for everyday use. The full size is $26.50.

****BONUS JONAS****:

Check out my new tattoo!! ((Royal Teeth lyrics))...and make sure to pick up the band's full-length album, "Glow", out this August!!

Check out my Instagram for more pics: jacquelinecxo

Hope everyone has awesome weekend plans in store!!

XO,

J <3.

Review: L'Oreal Infallible Stars Collection-Beyonce Red.

     This Halloween my niece was going out as the Queen of Hearts (and sn: she had the most amazing tutu costume, made by yours truly). So, I was putting a little bit of makeup on her and went to grab a red lipstick to complete the look. I had picked up the Beyonce red by the L'Oreal Infallible line. If you haven't seen what the lipstick casing looks like, its pretty cool actually:

Outer case.



tubes pop out of the case and there's a handy little wand!

This particular lipstick is advertised as a 16 hour long-wear color that won't fade or flake. It comes with a conditioning top coat (the white tube), which contains marine collagen and vitamin E to seal in color and prevent moisture loss. Then there's the base coat, the color tube, which has the little wand for precise application. L'Oreal notes something called "Science behind the Beauty" which includes lip gripping polymers with elasticity that form a flexible color network that moves with your lips so that the color doesn't flake, cake or crack.

But does it work?!! My answer...YES. I put it on my niece at 5pm, didn't take it off of her before bedtime, and at 7am it was still on her, flawless. I didn't even use the top coat on her! I think it would have lasted even longer, but we had to scrub it off with makeup remover so she could go to school! Now, the key to long lasting color is also having moisturized lips. So, make sure you aren't applying color to dry, chapped lips, as you might not achieve optimal results. And the Beyonce red is such a pretty color, I swatched it:


a beautiful, intense red!

Isn't that red gorgeous! It is so long wearing that when I went to wipe off the swatch color I had to literally scrub my hand, and as I'm looking, there is still some residue left behind.
The application of this line of infallible, the stars collection, goes on so smooth and the pigment is true to the color as it appears in the tube. There are 5 others in the collection besides Beyonce Red: Diane's Tuberose, Kate's Plum, Andie's Rose, Linda's Beige and Eva's Caramel.
I only wish I would have picked up some of the other shades when I purchased the Beyonce on sale at Walgreens.
I, personally, love the L'Oreal infallible lipsticks, and this particular collection has also proven to be equally rad!

XO,
J.





Kiss, Kiss.

Hey guys! This is a post on getting soft kissable lips and the perfect red pout, with a little bonus jonas product review on Victoria's Secret "VS Pro Smooth FX Lip Scrub & Balm".

Everyone gets dry lips, and it's no secret that applying lip color on top of dry, cracked lips can be, well, disasterous. Today I will offer a trick on conditioning your lips with products you probably already have at home, as well as a review on my new favorite lip scrub/balm combo. Also, I will go over some quick & simple steps on how to achieve that perfect red lip that everyone seems to be rockin' these days.

Conditioning Your Lips:
When my lips are feeling dry, or I just want that extra, kissably-soft feeling, I go ahead and condition my lips (usually at bedtime if it's not needed before applying my lip color). A popular way to get soft lips is to exfoliate with vaseline.

1. Coat lips with a generous amount of vaseline.
2. Using a toothbrush (not one that you use to brush your teeth with!) gently rub your lips in small circles to work the vaseline in and remove dead skin. Do this for 30-60 seconds and then tissue off the excess vaseline--leaving just a little sheen of vaseline on your lips that will continue to sink in. Do this 1-2 a week, depending on the condition of your lips.

Over the holidays I received a Victoria's Secret gift card (always a good way to go!) and I decided to check out some of their new professional beauty products...that's when I cam across this next little gem that I adore and definitely reccomend you pick up: the VS Pro Smooth FX Lip Scrub & Balm! This is what I use to condition my lips.
Smooth FX:
The container (8g/.635oz) contains 2 products (see pic below)--mainly a lip sugar based lip scrub with a flip-up compartment on top containing the lip balm. It costs about $14. What you do is this:

1. Massage the scrub onto your lips for about 30 seconds, the tissue the gritty leftovers off.
2. Finish off with a light layer of the balm.

It's that simple!
This product makes your lips feel so soft; I was definitely pleasantly surprised with the results. You can go around with your lips soft & kissable as is, or apply lip color for a different look!

The Perfect Pout:
How to get those perfectly luscious red lips (or any color lip you choose!).

1. If you haven't just exfoliated/conditioned your lips, I reccomend applying a coat of lip balm and let it sink in before applying any color. My favorite keep-on-hand balm is "Nivea's a Kiss of Smoothness Hydrating Lip Care SPF 4".
2. To add some depth & definition to my lips I select a lip liner close to the natural shade of my lips (or one matching the lip color you're using to add extra depth). First line your lips with the liner, then take the pencil and actually fill in your lips with the liner.
3. Take the lipstick you'll be working with (red, pink, mauve, whatever...) and apply to your lips. Apply with a lip brush for a more precise application.
4. Smack your lips together, don't rub them (by "smack" I mean to tightly press your lips together & then release--you'll hear the "smack" sound when doing so).
5. Next, blot the lipstick off your lips (don't wipe it off)...just use a tissue.
6. Now, reapply the lipstick again. I know it may seem odd to put on lipstick & wipe it off just to put on more, but blotting between layers actually helps the lipstick last.
7. This is an optional step--if you want to apply a gloss for a little bit of shine you can go ahead and do that now. Otherwise, just rock them matte and beautiful!

Tip: If you rock bold lips, stick with a neutral eye so you don't look too overdone--unless you're going for that glam bombshell look!
XOXO,
Jacqueline

VS Pro Smooth FX Lip Scrub & Balm