September Empties!

My empties have started to pile up quite a bit, so I thought I would share them before my trash mountain gets out of hand. I've been trying so hard to use up products I have before opening or buying anything new, hence why I have so many products. I must say I'm proud of myself for sticking with it! Let's see what I used up this month!

Hair Care:

I love my Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush! It does a great job of soaking up oil, refreshing hair and delaying the need to wash my hair another day. Shea Moisture Curl & Shine Shampoo is my FAVORITE shampoo. Ever. It sometimes is more moisturizing than my conditioner for my curls and waves! The Shea Moisture Age-Defy Color Protect Conditioner on the other hand, I was not a fan of. It didn't have enough "slip" to it and felt like I had to use way more than usual to coat my hair. 

The Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist Deep Conditioner is a great, affordable conditioner to supplement your hair care routine. Repurchased many times! I also like the Herbal Essence Naked Cleansing Conditioner in between actual shampoos. It conditions while gently cleaning the hair of buildup. The Coolway Smoothing Lotion and Gorge I'll Make You Look Amazing Daily Spray Leave-In Conditioner are items I got in my Boxycharm. The Coolway was okay, but had a weird smell that I wasn't digging. I enjoyed the Gorge much better because it smelled nice, has a spray nozzle instead of a pump and locked in moisture to tame my frizz. 

Body and Skin Care:

I used up the Up & Up Deep Clean Exfoliating Scrub, which is nice to use in the shower in the morning. The beads in it are much bigger than the Clean & Clear version, which I oddly enjoyed. The Dr. Brandt Pores No More Cleanser is a repeat from last month, which I luckily got again in my Birchbox! It's a basic, gentle cleanser that smells like a spa. The Body Shop Tea Tree Gel wasn't my fave; I just felt like it didn't work on my blemishes at all. I won't be repurchasing.

The Clarisea Sea Salt Solutions Rapid Detox Charcoal Exfoliant is one of my favorite exfoliants ever! I got it in a Birchbox a forever ago. It's a charcoal powder that you can add water to or add it to any cleanser to transform it into a scrub. A little goes a long way, so this sample lasted me a long time. I see this brand on Hautelook once in a while, so I'm going to purchase the full-size next time I see it!

Today I morn the loss of my favorite scented lotion, the Bath & Bodyworks Triple Moisture Body Cream in Into The Wild, a discontinued scent. I still have the body spray fortunately in the same scent. The smell is like a rain forest after a rain; so refreshing and not over powering.

Makeup:

I finished three mascaras, the Maybelline Rocket Volum' Express, L'Oreal Voluminous Original, and Well People Expressionist Mascara. The Rocket is my absolute favorite! It volumizes and lengthens my lashes; plus it has a plastic brush which I prefer. The Voluminous and Well People (from Birchbox) I wasn't overly impressed with, but they got the job done. I went through yet another Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles in Brightener, my favorite concealer ever.

The e.l.f HD Undereye Setting Powder is so cheap and does a decent job, but it has micro glitters that aren't super visible on the face but still make me a bit nervous. It is brightening though! I also finished up a whole C.O Bigelow My Favorite Night Balm, and I liked it! It's pretty thick and great for putting on right before you go to sleep.

Lastly, I used up the Beauty Blender Liquid Cleanser and had to throw away a Beauty Blender. I always feel so bad throwing away a Beauty Blender because they are so damn expensive, but this one is just destroyed and gross beyond repair. The Liquid Cleanser I didn't like because it just doesn't hold a candle to good ol' Dawn Soap to get my sponges clean. Plus, the pump gets clogged easily and makes for a mess on your bathroom counter. Would not recommend. The Beauty Blender on the other hand, is a necessity for me! 

What did you use up this month? 

xoxo

Jessica

 

September 2015 Favorites

October is tomorrow, and I am BEYOND excited because that means I can partake in Halloween festivities! Namely eat candy corn while watching my favorite Halloween movies, but the end of September also means another round up of my most loved beauty products in September!

Revlon Colorstay in the combo/oily skin line, why did I ever leave you? This is my favorite foundation of LIFE, not just September. I just picked it up again and it's just the best. It's full coverage, has a satin finish that keeps the shine at bay all day and just always looks so flawless.

I've been switching back and forth between powders and pencils for my brows lately, but this month my NYX Microbrow in Taupe has come out on top. I love the shade because it isn't too dark or too brown, which is hard to come by. I'm sure it comes as no surprise that the L'Oreal Infallible Shadow in Amber Rush is still my jam. I'm boring, I know, but it's just so good.

To go with my Amber Rush, I've been using my Urban Decay Naked 3 a lot this month. I especially love the two matte shades, Nooner and Limit, both amazing dusty rose/mauve crease shades!

I've forgotten how good my Hard Candy Baked Bronzer in Tiki is, and I've used it heavily to give my cheekbones a golden glow. It says "bronzer" but it's really a highlight. I believe it can only be found at Walmart, so definitely pick this up!

My tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Bronzer in Park Ave. Princess has been my go to because it's a lovely satin, golden bronze shade. I actually have been preferring this to my more matte bronzers!

For my blush, Colour Pop Blush in Birthday Suit is the most beautiful satin pink that I've been using a majority of the time. It blends like a dream, has great staying power and the formula is just so unique! I'm not a cream blush person, but this cream (gel?) to powder is simply outstanding. It's affordable too in a whole range of colors!

What were your favorites this month? What are you most looking forward to doing in October to celebrate Halloween besides watch Hocus Pocus a million times like me? Do share. :)

xoxo

Jessica

Fall Nail Colors

I just did a post on my transition to fall makeup, and now I've got my fall nail color picks for you!

Fall is the time when I break out some of my deeper, darker nail colors and *try* to tone down my neon nail obsession. I also love throwing in a few copper tones too, like this Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Copper Penny, an orange copper glitter and Sally Hansen Lustre Shine in Copperhead, a duo chrome purple/blue-copper.

I also love wearing a classic red polish, like Essie A List and bright plums like Essie Bahama Mama. Both are beautiful and bright, yet fall appropriate.

Darker, deeper and more neutral purples are also my jam! Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Grey Area is a wonderful dark grey-purple color. It's also a dupe for a well-loved Essie polish (check out my post here to see what it's a dupe for!). Sonia Kashuk Nail Colour in Russian Roulette is a deep purple-brown with some purple and gold shimmer that's absolutely gorgeous. If dark colors aren't your thing, try L'Oreal Xtraordinaire Gel Lacquer in In With The Nude is a purple toned nude shade.

Greys and blues are also very chic and stylish, like Essie After School Boy Blazer, a dark, almost black navy. OPI Nien! Nien! Nien! Ok Fine! Is a dark grey with green under tones. a unique shade to sport during fall. For a pop of color, I love throwing a green shade into the mix like this OPI Jade Is The New Black, a stunning jade green (mine is a little separated because it's hard to shake up since it's a mini bottle).

What are your favorite fall nail colors?!

xoxo

Jessica

Behind The Blog: Beautable by Tiana

Hey guys! My fellow blogger Tiana, creator of the blog Beautable by Tiana, and I teamed up to bring you a collab post about some of our favorite beauty products! We each answered a few questions, so you can check out her post to see my answers as well as check out her sweet ass blog.

Check out what she said!

1. What are some of my current beauty favorites?

I am constantly loving new face products, I just have a sick obsession with concealers, foundations and powders! This time around I am loving the Icings Face expert baked bronzer. This shade is much more of a highlight obviously due to my darker skin tone but I know they carry a few different shades in this bronzer powder as well! Then as if that wasn't enough of a highlight I have been loving the NYX born to glow liquid illuminator, and this is what I would like to call a lingering favorite...I have been using/loving this all summer so why not carry it into fall? 

The Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation I actually just bought a few days ago but the results so far has been great, its  full coverage, but it seriously feels so light on the skin so that just made my week! And then both the Sonia Kashuk Chic Luminosity powder and the Sephora Gel Serum concealer have both been life-saving and I think they look so beautiful and glowy (great word choice huh) together!

2. Which do you prefer, strobing or contouring?

 Contouring all the way, don't get me wrong I love a good dewy finish and a slight obvious highlight but I think I need to contour to give my face the dimensions I prefer. I couldn't imagine not chiseling out my cheek bones and narrowing my nose, I do this with my Ulta contour kit palette...it's a necessity.

3.One of your favorite high-end and drugstore eyeshadow palettes?

Unfortunately I'd hate to answer this question untruthfully because I am still on the lookout for a favorite high-end eyeshadow palette; if there is one that you are loving let me know! But for drugstore I really love the L'oreal Color Riche La Palette in Nude. I just think the colors are super fitting to my own personal taste and very practical.

4. Some of my favorite beauty YouTubers?

-Carli Bybel (The first beauty guru I ever subscribed to)

-Nicole Guerriero

-Sonjdradeluxe

-Casey Holmes

5. What do you prefer, a bold lip? Or a bold eye look?

 I love a bold lip... like LOVE. It is my favorite look to pull off. These are definitely some of my favorite bold lipsticks and they are definitely bold!

Tiana is a beautiful, super sweet and talented girl when it comes to makeup, so please check out her blog and follow her!

(All photos are courtesy of Tiana)

What would be your answers to these questions?

xoxo

Jessica

Top Favorite Drugstore Single Shadows

Aw man, I remember when my eye shadow collection was just a handful of eyeshadow singles from the drugstore. Obviously, I've now turned into an eye shadow palette fiend who has stacks of them. Oh my humble beginnings! I still use them from time to time, and wanted to round up some of my favorite drugstore single shadows! 

I feel like single shadows are often looked over for some reason. There are a lot of great quality, stunning single shades that are great additions to anyone's makeup bag! ( I didn't include any brands you can't walk into a drugstore to buy; sorry Colour Pop).

Side note: Since I chose my Harry Potter books as a prop, I'm so stoked that the theater close to me is now re-playing all 8 Harry Potter movies, one every week! I just saw Sorcerer's Stone yesterday and it was just as incredible in theaters as it was in 2001, minus the cloak, fake glasses and tattoo scar I sported back then at the midnight premiere. Holla at my HP peeps! 

MOVING ON. Some of these shadows I've had for a loooooong time, and are still among some of my favorite shades. 

The newest singles to my repertoire are the NYX Prismatic Shadows in Fireball and Liquid Gold. They are uber metallic and creamy with excellent pigmentation. With a bright and bold color selection to boot! 

Obviously, the L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows are among my favorites. I mean, I can't shut up about Amber Rush! I also love Iced Latte and Bronzed Taupe.

Crazy metallic and pigmented, they add high impact shine to the lid. It's like creamy fairy dust in a pot.

L'Oreal also has another line of shadows called the Studio Secrets Professional Eyeshadow Singles that are also pretty great, and affordable too. I own the shades Satin TuTu and Violet Petal, both beautiful, shimmery pastels. 

They are not nearly as creamy as the Infallible ones, but still deliver decent pigmentation for a softer look.

Maybelline also delivers some of the best shadow singles in the drugstore with such a wide variety of colors and finishes. I own Constant Toast ( a satin, almost matte warm brown with a strange name), Pink Wink (peachy pink with gold iridescence) and Amethyst (my favorite purple shade in the old school packaging that I've hit major pan on).

These are the quintessential drugstore shadow single that we all have loved at one point but have forgotten about, myself included. WHY?! They are so cheap and really are good quality! 

 

Wet n' Wild has the cheapest singles, at around $1 a pan. The three I have are Creme Brulee (nude beige), Sugar (white) and Nutty (bronzy taupe).

They are so cute and compact! Super blendable and creamy too. I love using Creme Brulee all over the lid to kind of set my primer to help blend my eye shadow better since it basically matches my skin tone. Sugar is a great shade to highlight the inner corner and brow bone, and Nutty is a beautiful lid or crease color since it has a satin finish.

Lastly, my lonely Revlon Diamond Lust in Night Sky that I'm pretty sure is discontinued but I think can be hunted down on Amazon. It's a dramatic, multi-glitter black. Perfect for going out or special occasions.When I want a dark, dramatic look but with a shit ton of glitter, I pull this out.

There is quite a bit of fall out however, so you have to be extra careful and use a good primer and set it with a setting spray. Otherwise it's spectacular. Everyone needs a fancy black shadow!

These are just some of my personal single eyeshadow favorites, but there are so many more hidden gems out there!

What are your favorites?

xoxo

Jessica

September 2015 Boxycharm Unboxing! #RunwayReady

My Boxycharm has finally arrived! And the box looks super beat up, so I'm glad everything inside is still intact. Much like Ipsy, Boxycharm decided to theme their box after New York Fashion Week! Let's take a peak at what they sent out for us to be #RunwayReady!

In this box, I got Nail Wraps by Scratch. I've never tried nail wraps before so I was a little intimidated, but they are actually pretty neat and surprisingly easy to use. For my first attempt I didn't do too terrible. The design is pretty too, very art deco.

I've tried a Previse product before, and I enjoyed it so I'm looking forward to trying the Previse Skincare HydroMilk Hydrating Lotion. It's a full size moisturizer at a whopping $48! This better have unicorn tears infused in it at that price.

I've gotten a Vasanti brush before in my box, and wasn't terribly impressed, especially at the price they are supposedly going for. This time I received a Vasanti Professional Foundation Brush. I don't ever use foundation brushes, and the bristles on this one are not my fav because they aren't that soft. I'll probably pass it on or find some other use for it, like applying face masks with it.

I also got the Tarte SmolderEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner in Fig. It's a really creamy, chocolate brown eyeliner with a slight sheen. It comes with a smudger too! Sweet.

The Chella Eyebrow Defining Gel looks nice too, just a basic clear brow gel that is a MUST for me. I'll see how this one compares to my NYX Control Freak Brow Gel!

This month we got a bonus item! A sample of the Kardashian Beauty Black Seed Dry Oil. I can never have too many hair oils, and I've never tried anything from their line before. I'm curious to see how this works for me!

That's what was in my Boxycharm this month! This is definitely the best value box out there in my opinion.What did you guys love from this months box?

xoxo

Jessica